A Testimony of Hope

By: Duane Keeney

This is a word of encouragement for anyone who might be going through a season of difficulty in their life.  I have been walking with the Lord Jesus Christ for nearly 24 years.  During that time, I have experienced ups and downs, joys and sorrows, and difficult times as well as good times.  But through it all, my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ has been with me and He has been my hope in all things.

Over the past year and a half, I have been dealing with the loss of many good friends and brothers who have gone home, some never to be heard from again.  I have also been dealing with some personal issues in my life which involves my attitude and behavior.  All of these things together became a very overwhelming force for me to deal with on my own.  It was so overwhelming that I fell into a deep state of depression.  I would pray for the Lord to help me, but it was as if He wasn’t listening to me.  I fell so far down that I was battling fleeting thoughts of looking for ways to find quick relief in order to stop the pain.

Through all of these difficulties, I never doubted my salvation because I know salvation only comes through faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ.  He is the one who will deliver me from this life and get me to the next life.  So, salvation has not been an issue for me during my season of difficulty.  The issue for me is why is it necessary for me to experience all of this loneliness and pain while I am on this earth?  Why don’t things improve?  Is it so I can be a better witness for Jesus?  These are some of the questions that I still ask today.

Over the past seven months, I have taken a step back from my responsibilities in the Lord’s work in order to reassess my life as a Christian and to make some necessary adjustments in order to get my heart back to where it belongs.  I knew I needed to do some repenting to the Lord and I needed the Spirit of God to refresh my heart.  It was at this same time that I started this class known as Life Above Reproach.

I can honestly say that the Life Above Reproach class has been a true blessing to me because it has helped me to be honest with God and myself concerning the specific issues I have been dealing with in my life.  God does not intend for anyone to be alone because He created us to be relational beings.  However, our first and foremost relationship must be with God.  This is only possible through a personal and intimate relationship with our Savior Jesus Christ.  Once that relationship is firmly established and is continually nurtured, our earthly relationships will be meaningful and satisfying.

Since I first started attending the Life Above Reproach class, Jesus has strengthened my walk with Him as I have recommitted my life to Him.  I am daily growing in the grace, love, and joy of God. My faith in Jesus has been affirmed more than ever.  I think the Apostle Paul said it best in 2 Cor. 4:8-11, “But we are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.  For we who live are always delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.”

I thank God for the unconditional fellowship I have received in this class.  It has been instrumental in my healing from the loneliness and abandonment that I was struggling with for so many months.  I must admit that I was not interested in the class when I was first invited to attend, but the Lord spoke clearly to me letting me know that this was something I needed to do.  I wanted to wallow in my self-pity.   I knew I needed to make some positive changes in my life.  Jesus made it clear that this class was one of those changes I needed to make.

In closing, I encourage anyone who is going through a difficult season in their life to not give up.  Trust Jesus to hold you up, no matter what you are going through.  And, be obedient to what God tells you to do.  He knows what you are going through and He also knows how to best get you through any situation.  He will provide a way of escape (1 Cor. 10:13).  I praise Jesus for all that He has brought me through.  I am thankful to the brothers who, through their obedience to Christ, have helped me to move out of the rut that I was in.  All praise and glory goes to our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ.