Blazing through the Challenges
From the "Memoir Mondays" and "Parables" series
By: Susan Deborah Schiller
Through this chapter of my memoir, I want to hand you four keys that will unlock your destiny, causing you to to blaze through any challenge.
In May 2009, I was on the edge of an abyss that nearly engulfed my life. My husband and I were living on the edge of a vast Indian reservation. Although I looked for help, there was no one, at that time, who understood the adversity I faced. I was feeling lost and so far from home.
With no transportation of my own, I was frequently left alone for days and weeks at a time. I became the "Lone Rancher". Our ministry network never questioned my husband taking weeks away from the ranch to minister on the road – it was expected that I support him.
My physical challenges took the shape of wild bulls and horses to move from pasture to pasture, complex gates, fences, and all things foreign to me. I had never been a rancher up till then. Day by day, Papa God walked with me through the ranch and showed me how to do the practical things.
The farm began to prosper and succeed. My daughter and granddaughter joined me, and later my son followed. We didn't realize an active volcano, in the form of sociopathic abuse, was about to erupt and engulf our lives.
Like David preparing to meet Goliath, tackling the bear and the lion first, I was in preparation for the greatest spiritual test of my life.
>> Key 1: Our physical troubles, in the form of resistance, are often given to us by God, as provision, to meet our spiritual needs. Rejoice and be glad for the trials! <<
>> Key 2: Despite it's negative force, resistance functions like a compass needle, pointing in the very direction our destiny lies. It tries to stand in the way, threatening us with the opposite of what God wants to give us. Look beyond the challenges to the provision God wants to give you! Pretty nifty device, eh? <<
I discovered this at a time in my life when my identity was daily attacked through my husband. He openly confessed he was intentionally sabotaging my life. He told me he wanted to watch me suffer.
In the wee hours of the mornings, he used terror tactics to intimidate me. Just before my body failed and descended into a pit of sickness that nearly took my life, at the darkest of all times in my life, I had a dream that totally changed the game:
I was paired with a mentor – a man who would walk with me through a series of challenges. We proceeded to the first challenge and immediately I began struggling to overcome the obstacle. I listened for his guidance and tried very hard to do everything he told me to do.
Listening was helping, but I still wasn't overcoming the challenges.
At the next obstacle, my mentor suggested he go first. After all, he had already been through every single challenge and knew how to blaze through every challenge.
I watched, listened, and imitated every move he made. Wow! Major success!
Sometimes I would doubt my mentor's wisdom and begin to question his moves. It slowed us down, as a team.
>> Key 3: I had to learn to trust him. I had to tell myself to lean on him, and not on my own understanding. I had to give my all, and that is when my heart began to burn with a Holy Fire, and I blazed through challenges one-by-one. Guard your heart by monitoring your thoughts at all times. Watch your focus! <<
>> Key 4: I fixed my eyes on my mentor and decided to give him my all, and that meant relentless trust. Passion for God fueled my heart with the Fire of Love, which overcomes all evil. It was a cool dream… and by writing it down and pondering it, it became written into my future! Keep writing; change is happening! <<
"Romans 8 "… Instead of redoubling our own efforts, simply embrace what the Spirit is doing in us!
"… This resurrection life you received from God is not a timid, grave tending life. It's adventurously expectant, greeting God with a childlike, 'What's next Papa?'"
Hebrews 12:2 "Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we’d better get on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he’s there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!"
Ephesians 5 "Watch what God does, and then you do it, like children who learn proper behavior from their parents. Mostly what God does is love you. Keep company with him and learn a life of love…" (Bold, mine)
It took a few years, but I got my life back, my family is stabilizing, and we are happier than ever before. Today I find my story is helping survivors of sociopathic abuse find their way back to Normal.
It's your destiny to rise up and defeat your Goliath.
It's your destiny to laugh on the battlefield.
It's your destiny to see the impossible become possible.
All things are possible to those who believe!
Other stories in this series:
Life Story of Mattie, the Border Collie
With all my love,
Sue
PS This is another chapter in my own memoir. As a life story mentor, I know I must blaze through the challenges of life story writing ahead of you, so I share my own chapters here.
Now, it's your turn! It's time to sketch out a "blazing through the challenges" story. Don't try to imitate me or anyone else… let God show you a time in your own life when you were up against impossible odds. What did you learn through the failures? What led to your successes? Consider starting your first paragraph with an intention. What is your purpose in writing?
Want to read some samples? Carolyn Hughes writes "Believing for Breakthrough" and other readers share stories at "Readers Write". Hey, I'd love to see your story here, too!
Susan Schiller knows how it feels to lose everything: marriage and family, church and reputation, finances and businesses, and more. Susan's upcoming, interactive memoir, "On the Way Home," tells the story of how she came to be known as "the most abused woman" her counselors had yet met and how she learned to navigate her way out of hell to a rich and satisfying life. In her lifetime, Susan has served in duties ranging from home school mom – to pastor – to full-time deliverance minister – and to Midwest regional prayer coordinator for a large international ministry. These days you can usually find Susan soaking in her favorite hot springs pool, reading a book (or several), blogging, baking bread, or hanging out with her family and friends. You can pre-order a free copy of Susan's upcoming book, "On the Way Home" by registering here.
All Rights Resevered. Copyright Susan Schiller http://TeamFamilyOnline.com. For reprint permission or for any private or commercial use, in any form of media, please contact Susan Schiller.
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
What a moving and touching story to share. I feel like you have so much advice, you could take some of these pieces and turn them into unique blog posts of their own that would also hav e alot of impact by themselves. Thank you for sharing and reminding us how powerful we all are by blazing through our challenges.
You have good ideas, Kathy – thank you! 🙂
Sometimes it's hard to rejoice through the trials. But, this is a good reminder. And, well, we must keep going, so hopefully we can go with a smile and love in our hearts. Thanks for these tips. This was great!
Thanks Debi for coming by and sharing 🙂
October 14, 2014