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.

Being God’s Witness

This morning I attended a funeral of a friend from the local church. There is no better place to help you reflect on life and our mortal bodies than at a funeral. I wondered as I sat there if I had done enough to be God’s witness.

It gives us the opportunity to see the gift that we are given in each day and in each breath we take. We are never promised tomorrow and never guaranteed our end won’t catch us off guard.

Days like these always make me wonder if I am doing my part. Am I telling people about Jesus? Am I sharing what life is really about?

Kid’s Say

This evening as my son and I were talking, he asked me what is this all about? A pretty loaded question for a 10-year-old who was supposed to be going to sleep.
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I let him talk. It seemed to be weighing on his mind. He said these were the questions that he was really trying to figure out.

Why did God create us and why didn’t he just leave the world in darkness?  Why the animals and why do we have books and fans? Who decided to call them books and fans, why not a wind machine?

10-year-olds ask the same questions as adults? Who is this God and why did He create us? They’re good questions. They’re honest and real.

As I began to talk about God creating people. His most precious creation for fellowship with him (of course he was stuck on the names of things) he continued to wonder why we weren’t left in darkness.

Created for His Glory

Sometimes it feels as if we were left in this darkness. With questions, not being answered and circumstances not working out. Disaster consuming us all around.

Why was the world not left in darkness? What is our purpose and how can we fulfill that?

Tucked in one of my favorite chapters in Isaiah we see the answer. Although it may seem short it is quite complex.

Everyone who is called by My name, And whom I have created for My glory, Whom I have formed, even whom I have made. Isaiah 43:7 (NASB)

Did you catch that in the middle there? We were created for God’s Glory.

Sounds quite contradictory to our culture where our own glory seems a way of survival. If we are not glorifying ourselves we are not trying hard enough.

Verse 8 and 9 say bring out the deaf who have ears and the blind who have eyes to be gathered. Let all the people be brought forth. The one who knows of their former ways, let them be a witness so others may be justified. (my summary)

Who Is This Jesus?

If you are here today, I want to be a witness for you. I don’t want you to suddenly come to the end of the road. Standing before your creator and say you did not hear or see a single witness to who this Jesus is.

My former self – was selfish. I was prideful, greedy, deceitful and I lied not thinking twice about it. I was a sinner in every sense of the word. All this, I had done greatly offended the God who created me.

Because of that sin, we were separated. Because of the separation, I needed a Savior. Jesus was that Savior.

Perfect. Without an ounce of sin. He came. Died on the cross. Took all of my sins and put the full weight of it on himself.

I know it doesn’t make sense. I know that I deserve whatever I would have gotten. But I was justified. The punishment that I should receive was given to Jesus. I stood trial and was made right. My guilt on Him.

Trust Him

I was made right before the Father’s eyes because I trusted Christ to save me. I trusted that if I let Him put the full weight of my sin and bear it on the cross, He would and could make me new.

Jesus is the answer. He is the reason I am who I am. He is the reason I do what I do. Not for my glory but for God’s Glory. To be a witness to all that He has done for me when I least deserved it.

He took it all for me and for you. But it is not an automatic pass. It is not something that you can work for or earn. Trust me I tried and failed miserably.

God’s gift of salvation is a free gift. Yours for the taking. You just have to be willing to give yourself to your creator. You have to realize that the full weight of your sin can only be carried by Jesus and that it was taken care of on the cross.

I Was Made Right

I’m not perfect but God sees me through the scope of the cross. I don’t know about you but that is quite a bit of relief for me. Many years were mine trying to do things my way. I understand. He understands. But ultimately you have to put your trust and faith in Jesus because He is THE WAY!

If you have not made that decision for yourself, don’t wait another day or moment. Time is a gift and not one that we are guaranteed.

I want you to be able to stand before Jesus and say, I am not sure who that lady was but she told me about you and it changed everything.
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He is the answer to all those questions.

Why were we not left in darkness? Because we were exposed to the Light. Jesus is the light. And His light chases away the darkness.

Personal Reflections:

1. Have you made the decision to accept Jesus as your personal Savior?
2. If you have, share with us below so we can hear your witness to a Risen Savior?
3. If you have not, I don’t want you to go away without contacting me. I would love to continue this conversation with you.  I don’t want you to come to the end of your life and think if I had only known.
4. Where and how can you be a witness right where you are?

The post Being God’s Witness & Sitting Among Friends #92 appeared first on Seeking God with Jaime Wiebel.