I am 60 years young. I have been out of work for 5 years, and am limited to the possibilities due to being partially handicapped. I have tried a few things, but to date, nothing has worked out. I suvive based on the kindnesses of friends and family. That is hard on one’s ego, i.e., pride. I am learning, after walking with the Lord for 37 years, to lean and to submit. I am one of those willful, hard-headed believers like Peter. In all honesty and transparency, I am one step away from living on a street corner or the local Mission. It’s all about trust, obedience and faith. Those are the only things that can sustain us for real. It has been a hard lesson for me, but I am oh so thankful for the lesson and the learning of it.
Please know that I am not comparing myself with Job. That man was amazing. I am saying that I have had a little taste of what it’s like to be totally, I mean totally, dependent upon God for survival. God is so very good and always faithful.

I have experienced enough suffering to know that all those truths are precious. I never thought I would say this, but how PRIVILEGED I feel for that! It places me in a position where when something seemingly senseless and bad happens to me nowadays, I may fully trust that it is okay, and it is in God’s hands. What really stood out for me in this post is that we are all called to suffer, no exceptions, so our goal should be to suffer WELL. Yes! Thank you for that perspective.

It’s definitely my emotions that has always been my down fall. I depended on my emotion for truth, you know where that would get me. When I would feel low which was a lot of the time I question God, my salvation. I was like that most of my life, It is this year that I am understanding and learning alot about myself and realizing that I do have control over my emotions, trusting on Gods promises. It is a difficult struggle when your emotions are all over the board but Praise God he is faithful.
Ps Dose anyone no why the abounding hope won’t download for me. I bought it but it won’t open

What I have found to be hard sometimes, is when life hits you hard or things come at you, you have to try to keep moving forward. Sometimes you feel like you’ve just used all you strength to stand up and another wave comes in and knocks you off your feet. Or when you’ve been going through a tough season, and it doesn’t look like there is an end coming soon, you can get so tired and weary just trying to hang in there and cling to God. … I have found during those times when you feel weak and discouraged, I have cried out to God to give me some sort of encouragement to get me through. And He is so good in providing. There are days when we need the extra help. I think that sometimes we as Christians feel that we have to try and be strong no matter what we’re going through, and that’s when God is wanting us to run to Him. I Peter 5:7 “Casting all your care upon Him, for He careth for you.” I have to remind myself of this verse often, especially the “all” part. He wants all of it, not just some or none, but all.

While my life is now happy and easy, I recently went through a difficult trial that took me trusting in God completely and not letting Satan get the best of me. In the midst of my trial I realized that all the other trials similar to this one which I had experienced in my past prepared me for that moment, that particular trial. I was able to thank God for my previous hardships and, having done that and given him all the glory, I was able to walk out in obedience. I am proud to say the trial has ended, for the most part, and my life is now filled with joy. It’s still hard now and again to walk in obedience when my human nature tells me to do the opposite, but memory of God’s faithfulness and love through that dark time has kept me on the right path. To God goes all the glory.