Song: Testimony by Anthony Brown and Group Therapy
There’s something powerful about hearing testimony from those who’ve been through incredible storms. I’m discovering that it’s equally, if not more powerful, to hear the testimony of people who are currently still in the storm.
I’ve been bombarded with messages about authenticity. I thought I was, but obviously not enough. Every post I write is a struggle; struggling against sharing, against discomfort, against my upbringing and a bunch of other stuff. I got an enlightened moment that made me pause. As my sister goes through her renal failure journey, she’s running into a few complications. My pause came when she told me that she didn’t want to tell me how she was feeling and what she was going through. I asked why, she said it was because it doesn’t compare to what she’s seen me go through.
Hmmm…
While this is totally understandable, I had to hurriedly tell her that there is comfort in talking to someone who knows exactly where and what you are. I hope my understanding doesn’t come off as “suck it up, it could be worse”. I believe in the power of sympathy, but there is something extra about being with someone who has been exactly where you are.
So, I did a little introspection….
How often do I not take my issues to God? I’ll be honest, when I get deeply mired in me, I don’t want to bother anyone. Not God, not my family, sometimes I don’t even want to be bothered with myself. So I remind myself,…after whatever snack I have fixated on, that God is intimately acquainted with me (Psalms 139:3). I have to remind myself that God is not bothered by me coming to Him several times a day about the same issue, expressing the same emotions, crying the same tears and walking away with the same affirmation He gave me, the first time.
If this is my journey, then let me say this; if you have anyway to contact me and you feel I could help, even if it’s just to listen, contact me.
Just as I may be able to help you, you might be helping me realize that there is more to life than what I’m dealing with.