When Trials Arise
“I always had on my ‘Sunday best’. Whether or not I truly felt my best was a different story.”
Growing up, my family went to church as much as possible. All the Sunday services, Mondays, and Wednesdays, we were at church. Whether it be for rehearsals, services, or setting up for an event, you could find us there. Because of this, by a young age I could tell you nearly every bible story, I could recite to you all the verses I memorized in Awana, and I always had on my ‘Sunday best’. Whether or not I truly felt my best was a different story.
When I reached my twenties I had fallen out of all my religious routines. Being a nurse and a graduate student, it was easy to just say I was too busy. Without church as a compass in life, I began to look for meaning and direction in all the wrong places. I was constantly working, thinking that my wholesome profession would bring peace and happiness back into my life. But nothing could prepare me for what was next.
As I was finishing graduate school, I spent every moment I wasn’t in class or working with my brother. He was set to be deployed back to Kuwait in a matter of weeks and I wanted to soak up as much family time as I could. But the day before he was to be deployed, he had a sudden stroke and died five days later.
“I was in shock. My heart had never been broken like this before, and I had no idea where to turn.”
I was in shock. My heart had never been broken like this before, and I had no idea where to turn. On one hand, I could see myself falling into a path of destruction, shame, and hurt. On the other hand, I could push myself to go back to my roots in Christ. I wish I could say that it was an easy choice, but it wasn’t. Ultimately, I decided to stay home with my parents and give God a try.
Home with my parents, I had seventy-five acres of God’s green creation to explore. While watching His handiwork with each season change, He worked on my heart. Month by month, I began to see and feel his power and mercy again. With the help and encouragement of my family and friends, I began attending small groups and got involved with Radiant Church. Through Radiant’s community, I not only found God’s love, but I found a husband!
My husband and I both came with our fair share of baggage. But with Radiant’s premarital class, blended family class, and small groups, we are navigating and working through marriage and life with God in the center of it all. Every day, we work to make God the focus of our lives. And now when trials arise, the first thing we do is pray about it. I finally feel whole again, and that is all due to God’s grace, love, and patience. There is no greater place for peace, especially during trials, than in the loving arms of our Heavenly Father.
“And now when trials arise, the first thing we do is pray about it.”
Do you feel your story can serve as a hope and inspiration to others? Contact us at mystory@radiant.church.