Miranda's Women's Retreat Testimony

We’re so grateful that Miranda overcame her fear of public speaking and shared with us about the ways the Lord met her at our 2019 Women’s Retreat. Here’s what she shared:

The women of this church recently went to a retreat up in the mountains on “Faith, Hope, and Love.” On Friday, Kirsi Turbedsky said that she was going to speak about suffering. A lifetime of suffering in various ways has deeply imprinted me with one thing: God is faithful, and that He is the only lasting faithfulness I would know.

Kirsi went on to teach about how we tend to be disappointed when we hope in the wrong things. She spoke on Romans 5 and how we are to only hope in the glory of God, and when our expectations fail, it has nothing to do with His glory. We were reminded to rejoice in our suffering because it brings endurance, character, and hope.

Kirsi then stated something that hugely impacted me: the Lord was kind to give you just the suffering you need to build your character, and that every bit of our suffering is designed to give us hope. I briefly thought about the darkest memories of unexplained suffering of my past, and I was reminded that these were the moments I live for: the hope of the glory and faithfulness of God. These were the moments when He was the lasting faithfulness I knew.

This message on suffering and hope changed my perspective with one word: kind. How could I not see God as kind in those moments? My eyes had been opened to His glory, and I couldn’t help but thank Him.

If I can encourage you in any way, it would be to always thank God that in the midst of the greatest suffering you could imagine, God is faithful to finish the work He started in you and will be glorified in your suffering. Thank Him for His kindness of reminding you that He is our only hope.

And that being said, for the short time I was up at the retreat, there was one thing that was truly evident in those women: kindness. So thank you for reflecting our Lord, and thank you Kirsi for bearing your soul and being real with us.