Sharing in Suffering/Peterson

I am responding to Randy's request to share about how God has delt with us through difficult times. Neil and I have been married almost 8 years and up until about 2 years ago we always lived around lots of family and friends and a very "comfortable" environment in AL. We both became christians at a very young age and have always been very active in the church, and absolutely loved our last church home in AL.

When we (Me, Neil, Hayden-11 and Landon 10 mo.'s old) moved to MS for Neil's promotion in Oct. of 2005 my Mom and Dad helped us moved up here. Dad had been diagnosed with cancer (lymphoma) about a yr before that, and after they helped us they were headed to TX for further treatment and to stay close to my sisters. By March 2006 and 5 trips to TX to see my Dad, he was never able to return to AL. There was nothing else the doctors could do. It was Dad's time at 60 yrs old. During this difficult time I searched within myself and came closer to the Lord, I thought.

By March Neil and I struggled with the transition to MS and the time he had to spend away from home, but we thought considering the circumstances, we were doing ok.
By the summer of 06 I had began reading the word "more" (which is not saying much) and how I could be a better wife and things would get better, all the time I felt as if something just wasn't right. Neil and I faced a major trial in our marriage by the end of the summer. Many things were revealed and we needed help. I wanted to run away and put the blame somewhere on Neil, but God put a huge mirror in front of me and made me deal with all the baggage, strongholds, unmet expectations, basically sin in my life that was keeping me from a deep relationship with Jesus and definitely not being very affective for His kingdom!

Basically, we had never truly put God first in our lives and we were trying to find "comfort and happiness" in our marriage, relationships, and"things." Believe me I thought I was an A - #1 christian, but God let me know differently and that the struggle had just begun in this life so I better get serious about reading the word and finding "meaning and comfort" in Him and His word! Neil and I did go to marital christian counseling at that time and it was one of the best things we could have done. I would have never gotten through that time if God had not revealed himself to me and making the decision to ultimately in all circumstances lean on him. Since Sept of 06 Neil left the company he had been with for 5 yrs (and promotion) that brought us to MS (b/c God said so!). And we went without a job for a couple of weeks and God gave him a job at Integrity Online in Jackson, which was temporary until this past March. At that time we went without a job for 4 wks. After a lot of prayer, struggling, faith, and depleting most of our resources Neil was offered a job in Medical Sales, which was his goal, in VA. Right now we have not sold the house yet , but we now know Who is in control and we will get through this time with "prayer, humility ,and expectancy!"

Thank you for this oppurtunity to share what God has done for us!!

Tricia Peterson