This post was written by Sue Burmeister. Sue and her husband, Bill, have been members of Brook Hills for six years where she leads a women’s small group on Wednesday mornings. They have four adult children.

[caption id="attachment_193" align="aligncenter" width="430"] This is from a short-term trip that Sue took to Venezuela.[/caption]

“If God is for us, who can be against us?” -Romans 8:31b

In 2005, I found myself face down on the floor crying out to God for His help. It was the first time I had ever truly humbled myself at His feet, and the above verse became a light to my husband and me.

I’m probably like lots of people. I was raised in a church, believed in Jesus, knew Him as my Savior, prayed to Him daily, and was a very active member of my church. Unfortunately, my church didn’t spend a lot of time in the Word. Oh, we had an Old Testament reading and a New Testament reading, but then we heard about how to be a “good” person, how to live a “good” life, so I had some head knowledge but lacked a heart connection with God. I was essentially squelching everything the Holy Spirit was trying to teach me about a personal love relationship with God.

I thought I had been living a pretty good life up until this point. I sinned, but I was forgiven, right? I didn’t feel like I needed God for the little things in life. I was getting things done on my own ability and praying for things like health and safety for my loved ones, but I felt like I shouldn’t bother Him for anything else. Truthfully, I didn’t know I could. See to me God was too big to be bothered with me on a personal level. Sadly, I think there are lots of people who believe this.

The wonderful thing about God, though, is He loves us! He loved me so much that He stood at the door and knocked (Revelation 3:20) until I heard His voice. He wanted me to learn something invaluable. He wanted me to learn about Him. So the strength I had wasn’t enough; the people I knew couldn’t help; the church I attended abandoned me; all I had was God, but He knew all I needed was God. He certainly didn’t cause our family crisis but He allowed me the privilege of this trial to see a much greater and personal picture of who He was.

I was driven to the Word spending most of each day for a year letting His Word bathe me in His truth and promises. Funny thing was, I had already read the Bible several times from cover to cover, but it wasn’t until this point that I let the Holy Spirit show me the One who gave me His strength and became the strength of my heart (Psalm 46:1; 73:26). I was led to a quiet place where I could “be still, and know that He is God” (Psalm 46:10). My Sovereign Lord gave me a peace that surpassed all understanding and a comfort that quieted my fears at night (Philippians 4:7; 2 Corinthians 1:3-4). Best of all, He became my Life, my Love and my Friend for all eternity! Someone I walk with throughout my day, every day!

“Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” -Ephesians 3:20-21