Hope in Jesus Archives - Seeking God with Jaime Wiebel

A Mother’s Testimony: Heartache To Peace

Jaime Wiebel — Wed, 08 May 2019 18:00:42 +0000

My grandma always inspires me. Today, I am sharing her testimony. The testimony of a mother’s heartache turned to peace through Jesus.

I grew up in the upstairs apartment of my Grandma and Grandpa. I loved being there. They were so very special to me.

My grandpa could be found regularly reading his Bible and outside honking his horn as he waited impatiently to get us to church on time.

To be honest, I never considered my grandma’s faith. She always seemed like the support crew to my grandfather. She was always at church. Always serving in many capacities. Always supporting whatever my grandpa was leading.

But their testimonies reveal a very different picture.

As I have learned over the years, she was the catalyst to their faith. My grandpa shares in his testimony how my grandma “nagged him into heaven.” She says in spite of her nagging God did what He does and turned my grandpa’s heart toward Him.

I have had the privilege to sit with her so many times and pour over scriptures. She is my mentor and greatest friend. I often say that she is a walking concordance because if I need to know where something is in the Bible, a quick phone call and a bit of deliberation and I will be pointed in the right direction.

Yesterday, I had the honor of sitting down with her to type out her testimony. Dashes and all. She read it allowed as I typed. We both sat in tears, as we usually do because we are constantly moved by the glory that God brings to dark…
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Get to Know Our Story: A Mother’s Testimony – From Heartache to Peace

My grandma grew up during the Great Depression. Times were hard and beyond my understanding. I remember the stories of her picking up cabbage off the railroad tracks so they would have a bit of food to eat. I remember her stories of how people were kind to them and helped them with things. But nothing moves me more than how God preserved her to show His light through her for generation after generation.

She was my confidant during one of the most difficult times in my life. The time when my husband and I lost our twins. In a few moments, when you read her testimony, you will see how her grief was my saving grace.

So last night, I called my grandma and asked her if I could share her testimony. Although hesitant at first, after encouraging her about how much her own testimony could bless others she quickly agreed.

Friends, if you have a testimony. Don’t keep it inside of you. Many times we may think our story isn’t exciting enough or it is too personal. But it is the hope that Jesus has given you that is so important.

I think that as you read this you will be encouraged, as I always am, about how a gracious God can turn a heart of stone into flesh. He can take our brokenness and turn it into peace. He can comfort those places in our hearts that were made only for Him.

If you are hurt, feel broken, or incomplete by what this life has to offer then I want to introduce to Jesus through the words of my grandmother.

Just share your story!

But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect. 1 Peter 3:15

Before you get started, I want to encourage you with one more thing. A testimony is someone’s story. Your testimony is your story. It doesn’t have to be perfect. It just has to point to Jesus. I loved how my grandma didn’t care if it was perfect. I love how she wanted it preserved in her own voice and style, and I just love how she felt compelled to share.

A Mother’s Testimony: Heartache to Peace

The year was 1951 – Dec 16^th a tiny precious baby girl was born to my husband and I. Twenty seven and a half hours later she slipped away from us. That left an impact on my life that I can not talk about sometimes to this day – the period that followed was the darkest of my life – because of my guilt and the feeling that God was punishing me by taking my baby it almost drove me over the brink – such depression I wondered why I was even alive – the first six weeks after her death I did not eat or sleep – at my checkup my doctor told me to go to work – that eventually the work would wear me out instead of my nerves and he was right that did help some.

Sometime after that, I asked George to go to church with me – I just had to find peace somewhere! What followed was nine years of doing everything I could to be good – trying hard to do what was right but always failing. The pastor would say be perfect even as I am perfect – me be perfect – what a laugh – I couldn’t even be good enough for me let alone a holy perfect God.

In 1953 I had Lori – what a sweet baby – so pretty – just like a doll – was I happy? Sometimes – did I have peace? No! In 1954 I had Lylie and Linda who was stillborn – another sweet little girl and even though we only got to keep one of the twins it was a happy time – I had so much any woman would have been completely happy wouldn’t she?

March 17 my husband was injured at work – very bad!

I was due to deliver another baby and it was a very stressful time not knowing if my husband would lose his arm or not – but on the 18^th sure enough, I started labor – oh no not now! I need to be with George but baby was not going to wait – I delivered about 6:41 pm a beautiful 10 lb 5 oz baby boy!

So I had my hands full – Lori was 2 years 5 months – Lylie was 1 year 5 months – a new baby and a husband that couldn’t do much with his arm in a cast up to his shoulder. Three babies – a good husband – a nice home – a very busy life – everything to make you happy right? But I was always wanting something and never finding it!

Four years later another baby girl – stillborn – more pain.

By this time we had gone to another church. We had a very good Sunday School teacher. He always taught the lesson and now I know but I didn’t know then he would always weave the gospel into his lessons – one time I heard all afternoon taste and see that the Lord is good – echoing in my head and another time it was like being like a baby and learning to start all over – learn to live all over again – what does it all mean? I am a pretty miserable person – one morning I was home alone all morning – where were my children – I don’t know!

Everything I had ever done began to pass before my eyes – and with many tears, I began to tell God what I sinner I was and he impressed on my heart that Jesus had died for me not for everyone else but me. I asked him to be my savior and take away my sins and make me clean – did he? He said he would and he did! I have felt his presence with me since that day – that was the most important day of my life.

Life does have meaning – life is in Christ and he is in me –

I have eternal life because I have him – everything settled in place for me. In the years since I have had doubts – I have been unfaithful I have failed him many times but he has been with me through it all – patient loving and gently drawing me to the place where he wants me to be.

I know that I do not have to do anything to make him love me he just does – I don’t know why – but I am just so thankful that he does and

I love him.

September 10, 1992

Thanks for joining me on this journey as we read A Mother’s Testimony: Heartache to Peace

You, too, may be feeling a bit hopeless but be assured that we can have hope and assurance in Jesus. We don’t have to feel alone. We don’t have to keep searching for everything else in life to fill us up.

If you would like to talk more about how you can move from heartache to peace, I would love to talk to you. If you feel that there are empty places in your heart that just can’t seem to be filled by anything else, I would like to talk to you about my best friend, Jesus, who has been there with me through it all.

I would love to hear from you in the comments.

Maybe a snippet of your testimony. You can read parts of mine here.

Also, if you are looking to write your own testimony but don’t know where to begin, check out this document that you can print from the CS Lewis Institute, which is a really great resource and can get you started.

Writing your testimony makes it easier to share. Writing out your thoughts beforehand helps you clarify the parts of your story you want to preserve. Not that you have to memorize it, it just helps you be prepared to give an answer for the hope that you have in you. (1 Peter 3:15) It is also a great exercise in remembering God’s faithfulness (John 1:17)

If you have a testimony to share, I would love to hear it. I would love to read it. You can email me at yoursewtrendy@gmail.com Subject: Testimony. They always truly bless my heart.

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A Mother’s Testimony: Heartache to Peace

A mother’s testimony: heartache to peace

The post A Mother’s Testimony: Heartache To Peace appeared first on Seeking God with Jaime Wiebel.

5 Ways to Seek God with Hope and Assurance

Jaime Wiebel — Wed, 06 Feb 2019 11:00:11 +0000

We may go through life uncertain about many things. Uncertain if we are going to land that job we recently applied for.

Uncertain that our parenting skills will not fail our children. Even uncertain if we are going to come out of the latest health crisis we are facing.

Whatever your current uncertainty is, there is one thing that we can be certain of. That is our salvation in Christ. We can be certain to Seek God with hope and assurance.

The story In Acts 17, has to be one of my favorites because it addresses our frailty as humans to want something greater than what we can see.

The Greeks created gods to explain what they could not understand. They grasped at everything and when they were not certain what it was or how to fix it, they created a new god for it.
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They had it right in looking to the Heavens, but so far off by seeking everything but the True God.

Bottom line was they were looking for hope. They were looking for assurance in this life and they looked in everything they could think of.

In fact, they even left that open for a possibility, the unknown. They had resorted to every god they could think of to fix something but still were left feeling broken.

In Acts 17, Paul visits Athens. What he notices is their city of full of idols. There is one particular altar, however, that is dedicated, “To An Unknown God”. Paul addresses the people who seem to be seeking everything, even the unknown.

Are We Different Today?

Not much is different than today. People are constantly seeking unknown gods. Seeking fulfillment in nearly everything except the source of life.

We try to find it everywhere. In riches, fame, work, hobbies, activities, even family and friends.

Yet, somehow, we are left empty. Seeking more.

There was a time in my life when I lived in complete rebellion against God. I sought fulfillment in everything this world had to offer. When one thing didn’t satisfy me, I moved onto another.

But every time, I came up feeling less and less satisfied. I had worshipped what this world had to offer. I looked for gods to be made out of a career, lifestyle, and even pleasure.

When those things could no longer fulfill my needs, I found myself in the bottom of a pit with only one way out.

Looking Back to Jesus.

Are Christians Exempt?

As Christian people, we can find ourselves doing much of the same things. We are guilty of filling our time gaps with all of these things in pursuit of this one thing.

Maybe it’s not as blatant as worshipping the ways of the world. Maybe is it something we so often do; create our own God to worship.

Maybe it’s the God who only loves or the God of only grace. We create gods out of attending worship service or following the legalistic rules we have created.

Yet, no matter how hard we try and make our own god, the one that may be more palatable to us or to the world, we feel empty.

This purpose, this fulfillment that just can’t seem to be met no matter how hard we try.

In this Seeking God Series, we are going to take in God’s Word. My purpose is this one thing. This thing we seem to be missing. This thing we are in hot pursuit of, only to be left empty-handed.

His name is Jesus.

We are going to be learning and living and breathing Him in. We will be seeking His heart so we can find our identity in Him and not in the unknown.

Getting to know God so we can know who we are in Him will be our great reward.

How are we going to do this? Great Question!

God has left us all He wants us to know about Him, about us, in the pages of Scripture. If we are in Christ, He has given us the Holy Spirit to lead us, guide us, convict us, and teach us.

There is one way to know God. We have to dive into His Word! We are going to do just that.

One concept at a time.

Learning and holding tight to scripture to get us through all of our life’s circumstances.

We are going to hide His Word deep in our hearts so when times of uncertainty flow from our lives, we can bathe in the certainty of God’s Word.

We are going to be able to breathe out the truth when we are filled with the unknown and with lies that seem bigger than we are.

5 Ways to Seek God with Hope and Assurance

As believers in Christ, we want to know God personally, intimately, and deeply and the great news is… we can!

Combat the Lies of the enemy

If your anything like me, you want something tangible you can hold onto. Sometimes, our faith feels alone. Even when we have God, He may feel at a distant or silent. I want to seek God with hope and assurance.

Often times that is the lie of the enemy. Telling us God is not here for us or that He leaves us for another more important assignment.

How long must I struggle with anguish in my soul, with sorrow in my heart every day? How long will my enemy have the upper hand? Psalm 13:2 (NLT)

Let’s not give the enemy the upper hand. Let’s combat him with the Word just as Christ did!

Our feelings don’t get to dictate the truth and reality of God’s Word. To know God is to love His commands and to love His Word and that is exactly where we are going to start.

Being uncertain is okay. We just don’t want to stay there.

If you are here, I know you are seeking. That’s awesome and completely excites me. I am so glad you’re here. Let’s Get started!

Ready to have something to hold onto?

Swords in the Air! (Hebrews 4:12)

Take a look at these verses and pray over them. Let God sink His Words into your heart and to a place where you will begin to have full assurance of Him.

You can start with the assurance of this verse.

ASK. SEEK. KNOCK.

Matthew 7:7-8 (BSB) Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

God says for everyone who asks receives, who seeks finds, and to him who knows He will open the door for you.
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One time, I had a guy online get really mad at me, well honestly, he was mad at God. He said, “I tried to find God and I couldn’t” He felt empty after his pursuit. Friends, let me assure you God is not trying to hide from us.

But He will be hesitant to reveal Himself to us when we don’t really want to find Him. He knows our heart and our motives.

He is not a genie that grants wishes and shows up when it is convenient for us. Honestly seek Him and you will find Him.

RECEIVE. FIND. BE WELCOMED IN.

Every work which he began in the service of the house of God in law and in commandment, seeking his God, he did with all his heart and prospered. 2 Chronicles 31:21 (NASB)

We want to seek God wholeheartedly, just as Hezekiah did. Then we, too, will prosper in the will of God.

Why do we want to seek God? Why do we want to do His will wholeheartedly by faith?

The author of Hebrews tells us without faith it is impossible to please God. We want to please God because we love Him and there we will find our rewards, His blessings.

Hebrews 11:6 (NIV) And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

We will find God and we can rest in His hope when we are earnest seekers of His will, not just our own.

Face to Face

I love this next verse. It always reminds me of the hope I have in Christ. To See Him face to face.

You have said, “Seek my face.” My heart says to you, “Your face, LORD, do I seek.” Psalm 27:8 (ESV)

The longing that I have for that glorious day wells up inside of me. It is a fresh spring that quenches my soul when my heart grows faint.

I can look forward to the day where my gaze is no longer on the clouds or a hope in the future but on my Father who will someday return in the clouds just as He left.

Our eyes will meet, just as all eyes will see Him in His glory, and I pray for this day when my knees will bow before my King.

Don’t put off till tomorrow what needs to be done today

Finally, David, gave instructions to his son Solomon to serve God wholeheartedly and willfully.

I used to believe that spending time in God’s Word was a task. A to-do. Put it on the list and mark it off.

That didn’t excite me or keep me very dedicated. Especially because I am a procrastinator and my to-do can always wait until to-morrow.

Not my time with God.

Now, I realize this is a relationship I depend so deeply on. This verse reminds me of God’s Authority over my life and King over All.

It puts me in proper placement to Him. It also reminds me that He will be there when I seek Him. I love to know my unchangeable God.

“And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches every heart and understands every desire and every thought. If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will reject you forever. 1 Chronicles 28:9 (NIV)

We can use these verses as reminders to Seek God. We are reminded that when we do, we will surely find Him and the hope that He offers through His Son Jesus.

Seeking His ways gives us hope and assurance not only in this life but in our eternal life to come.

Knowing God’s Word is key to having this truth reign in our lives.

Do you have other ways or verses that you hold onto that help you seek God with hope and assurance?