The Sadness of a Testimony

Mercy · #1 04-22-2009, 12:32 PM

Hi everyone.

I have a question for those of you that God has delivered from something and He has given you opportunity to use that situation (testimony) to witness to others.

Background:

Several years ago (although it seems like this morning) I was in a very bad automobile wreck. I remember sharing it on a testimony thread but I think it was a different board than this one. NEhoo, I broke everything, literally, (head on collision with an 18 wheeler going about 70 mph) lost my fiancé, and spent several months in the hospital, and several years after that rehabilitating to some level of physical normalcy. Most people when they meet me now only see the physical scars I have from all the breaks and surgeries, but don’t know what they are from, or notice the limp I have perfected.

Ok,

So about a month ago one of my co workers that I am super cool with had a kid have a pretty bad accident. He was riding his bicycle and was hit by a car. He broke his leg pretty bad but didn’t really damage anything else (which is awesome cuz he wasn't wearing a helmet).

So the kid has been in and out of the hospital cuz of the break not healing right, he got an infection and has to do the IV meds, etc. So his dad talks to me everyday about it...some for the knowledge I have cuz his situation is a very small scale mirror image of mine, and some for comfort that his son will be ok… cuz I am ok.

I have been using the opportunity to share God's goodness and healing power.

But....

It has also been super, super hard for me reliving my situation everyday. Everyday. I don’t know what to do. I don’t want to discourage him from talking to me about it cuz I know he's struggling with his emotions, and it gives me a chance to talk about God, but I don’t have an outlet for this sadness. I don’t know what to do.

It was a pretty horrific experience, not knowing if I was going to live, not knowing how to deal with the loss of someone so, so close to me, and trying to adjust to the constant physical and emotional pain. So talking about it everyday, all the stuff I had to go through (whether I am saying it or its just replaying in my mind) has been maddening.

I am currently actively working on dealing with this….residual….that was never properly addressed when the situation occurred, but that is on the side of this current situation.

I would like to know what do you do when you have to share a painful testimony….for the sake of giving God glory? What do you do with the sadness that abounds?

Elizabeth · #2 04-22-2009, 12:47 PM

Looks like God is turning the pain you experienced to an opportunity to minister to someone. He never wastes a trail we went through-

Ultimately, we belong to God and in our service to Him we have to willing to minister to who ever God has us to minister too, and share what He would have us to share.

I know it's horrible to have to rehash such a horrible event, but you are really helping someone--sometimes it's not the easiest thing to be used of God, it isnt always comfortable.

Have you ever read 90 minuets in Heaven? The man in the story was killed by someone driving a semi, but was brought back to life and suffered termendous physical pain in having to recover.

Now he travels the world sharing his experience--I think this book would help you-seeing he went through what you did.

Mercy · #3 04-22-2009, 12:53 PM

I think I have heard of that guy before. I know I am helping him, that is why I dont want to tell him to stop coming to me! (smile)

My question is...it's taken me a long time to even admit that I deal with sadness about this...and now it is so "in my face" it is over whelming, and I dont know what to do.

Elizabeth · #4 04-22-2009, 12:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mercy

I think I have heard of that guy before. I know I am helping him, that is why I dont want to tell him to stop coming to me! (smile)

My question is...it's taken me a long time to even admit that I deal with sadness about this...and now it is so "in my face" it is over whelming, and I dont know what to do.

I don't know you, forgive me for being blunt-

But it's not about you ok, it's about sharing what you have with someone else.

Perhaps sharing with him will take the sting out of talking about it.

God will help you, He totally will- you might have to pray like you never have had to pray before.

Mercy · #5 04-22-2009, 01:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elizabeth

I don't know you, forgive me for being blunt-

But it's not about you ok, it's about sharing what you have with someone else.

Perhaps sharing with him will take the sting out of talking about it.

God will help you, He totally will- you might have to pray like you never have had to pray before.

I think that is a misconception that allows for hurts to never be healed among church folk. It "is" about me...sometimes. God wants us to be free, and to use our experiences to bring others to him. He wants us healed, or else he would have never taken stripes for my healing.

We over come by the blood of the lamb and the word of our testimony. I was just asking for advise on how to ...be...while I overcome.

Elizabeth · #6 04-22-2009, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mercy

I think that is a misconception that allows for hurts to never be healed among church folk. It "is" about me...sometimes. God wants us to be free, and to use our experiences to bring others to him. He wants us healed, or else he would have never taken stripes for my healing.

We over come by the blood of the lamb and the word of our testimony. I was just asking for advise on how to ...be...while I overcome.

Right it is in a sense about us that he saved, but still he saves us to minister to other people.

He never said it was going to be easy.

But when we minister it is not about us at all, it is about someone else-even if it is uncomfortable.

I am sorry about your terrible accident, but praise God he is turning it around to help someone else.

I think it's something that is going to make you pray like never before.

A lot of times no one can helps us or understand us like our creator.

Sorry I wasn't trying to be offensive.

MawMaw · #7 04-22-2009, 03:14 PM

Quote:

I would like to know what do you do when you have to share a painful testimony….for the sake of giving God glory? What do you do with the sadness that abounds?

I certainly have not been through anything as bad as what you described sister...I do understand that this is very hard for you to have to think about it so much now that you are helping this man with his son's accident. God surely has you in this position now to help this man with much more than just the accident. What confidence the Lord has in you!

I will remember you in my prayer time. God bless you.

Mercy · #8 04-22-2009, 03:26 PM

Thank u Lacey, for your prayers.

Rhoni · #9 04-23-2009, 10:08 AM

Mercy, Don't listen to the naysayers. Unfortunately healing is rare among church believers. For some reason it makes them feel superior that they have never suffered so. The Bible speaks about self-righteousness but that appears to be a more minor sin than discussing your pain and trying to find healing. Many times I have been healed through helping others go through similar circumstances.

I disagree that it is all about the one you are ministerring to. It is about both the one being used and the one being ministered to.

Don't wallow in your injury but be strengthened by the word of your testimony. Change the story to what God has wrought in a circumstance than what the devil meant to do when it happened.

Praying for your healing,
Rhoni

Mercy · #10 04-23-2009, 10:16 AM

I thank you all for your words/comments.

I am not trying to "get away" from the testimony, or anything like that. I am just mainly looking for advise on how to handle the residual sadness of reliving a traumatic event....after you've brought it back to the front of your mind. I am ok with being there for my friend. Just wanted to know what others did with the human side of the fallout of rememberance.