Mindy's Story "Everything in life seemed to be going according to plan until I faced a time of intense suffering". I grew up in a Christian home and was blessed to be taught from God's Word at a young age. Even as a young child, I became sorrowful over my sin. The Holy Spirit began to open my heart so I could understand the gospel message, that Jesus Christ came into the world to save us from our sins by paying for our sins on the cross with his own life's blood. By the time I was elementary aged, I really had a desire to know God. One day I repented of my sins and placed my faith in Jesus Christ to save me and become my Lord. I hadn't lived a long life of sin, but even one sin put me in need of a savior. I'm so thankful that Jesus saved me from many sins in advance. By giving me a new heart at such a young age, the Lord Jesus directed me into a path of godly living that I wouldn't have found otherwise. My relationship with God continued to grow as I studied His Word throughout my high school and college years. But the gospel had more to teach me about trusting in Christ. Everything seemed to be going according to my plan: graduating from a Christian university, marrying my wonderful husband, getting a job as a teacher, and traveling the world. Suddenly my world came to a crashing halt when I was struck with a puzzling illness in 2002. As I suffered from a range of symptoms I sought answers from doctors, family, friends, and the internet, but no one could explain why I was suffering. I turned to the Bible in search of a divine explanation for my affliction. And I found it!! My sickness was not a surprise to God at all. In fact God's Word says in 1 Peter 4:12-13, "Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you, but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation." The Bible teaches that suffering and trials will be part of our life here on earth. I was so caught up in trying to achieve my own goals that I had lost that eternal perspective. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 says, "Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal." During this time of testing, all my human strength was stripped away. I realized my inability to do anything on my own. 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 says, "And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong." God was not punishing me with an illness because He was mad at me; He was giving me the opportunity to rely on Him completely, placing my life in His complete control. Before my illness I was prideful in my own accomplishments and sought to achieve my own goals. Now, God has changed my heart through the transforming power of His Word. I desire to love Him with all my heart, soul, mind and strength and follow His commands. I can now look back on my experience with sickness as a blessing because it caused me to put my full hope and trust in the Lord and not in myself. I do not need to seek answers from the world, but everything I need is in the Bible. 2 Peter 1:3 says, "seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence." I continue to grow in my faith, knowing that the gospel will always have lessons for me to learn as I prepare to meet my Savior.