Growing in Christ and looking back at how I use to be

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Hi Everyone,

I can look back at my life and see how in the past I used to have negative/unhealthy attitudes and behaviours. WIth God’s grace I have overcome them to a large extent. I am not going to say I am over them but I do see a lot of progress.

The problem. When I was a kid/even now, there seems to be a prevalent mentality that when someone overcomes an obstacle, they will have a lot of understanding for people living the same struggles. I can not count how many times people have told me ‘once you are over this, you will see you will be a great help to others who what to overcome this.’

And for me, nothing could be further from the truth. All the things I had to overcome, I am so GRATEFUL they are over, I don’t have energy to help someone else. I just DON"T have it in me to relive it. Also, when I see someone with unhealthy attitudes and behaviours I use to have, it humiliates me. I see how I use to come across and I just want to run and duck my head in the sand.

I can’t help but think this is a common experience but it is taboo to come out and admit it

Anyone else feel the same way?

 

[LillyFaith]

I’m sorry to hear your struggles with this issue. I feel like there have been times where I have felt the same way, overcoming an issue but not having the energy to help someone else out. What you could try is baby steps. Just pray in your heart that they overcome their issues like you have and go from there. I have been struggling with OCD for almost 2 years now and I help others by answering their questions and trying to give them some advice. It does make me feel ashamed that I suffer from a condition, but usually that shame is only when I am confessing my sins lol. Don’t worry about others suffering from what you used to suffer from. Your issues are in the past now and you can’t change it anyways. Not sure how helpful this was, but I pray God is always with you. Have a nice day.

 

[margaret42]

I often see the same traits now in other people with OCD, that I have too. It looks odd, when you see the same traits coming out. Like seeing another person counting money constantly has a different effect from you doing it?

 

[Mtatum1958]

Nothing unusual in your view, in my opinion. There are issues that I wouldn’t or couldn’t share for one reason or another. Other times, I may feel that having gone though a trial I might have some insight to benefit another. Even then, my approach or solution may net be helpful to the other.

 

[Dorothy]

And for me, nothing could be further from the truth. All the things I had to overcome, I am so GRATEFUL they are over, I don’t have energy to help someone else. I just DON"T have it in me to relive it. Also, when I see someone with unhealthy attitudes and behaviours I use to have, it humiliates me. I see how I use to come across and I just want to run and duck my head in the sand.
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Please don’t want to run and duck your head in the sand. Just say a prayer of thanks to the Lord for His grace.

 

[Seagull]

I never look back on my life -

If I do, I catch myself, immediately.
I try to keep it in the day - the present moment.

Always observe “ your thoughts “
and be in a prayerful mood - no matter what.

It sounds like you have scored some major victories in the spiritual warfare department !

 

[JoyToTheWhirled]

Well, be encouraged. Even openly acknowledging that you have overcome something is really helpful to people, even if they don’t know the specifics. Maybe it’s more helpful because it’s more general. So you will have helped people even with this post.

But further, there is absolutely nothing wrong with feeling the way you do about your past. I have a very chequered history myself, and there are parts of it that will have been experienced by others for sure, but I am not in the place in my life where I can be ok sharing those things.

Some things, I can. My post-abortive experience is one that has really changed over the years. For the longest time, decades even, I found it almost impossible to acknowledge what I did, even to myself. It physically hurt to think about. But over time, and much healing in God’s grace, I have been able to turn that around and be able to help others. That may happen to you, in time.

But if it doesn’t, there is nothing wrong with that, or you, and you shouldn’t beat yourself up about it. God helps us all overcome in different ways.

 

[Reuben_J]

Others can be our mirror images. What we see in others we can see in ourselves - what we want to be and what we don’t want to.

It’s difficult to see ourselves. Sometimes we know what we are from difficult lessons that happened to us. Therefore always thanks God whatever coming our ways because even in the worst of situation something good can come out of it.

Thanks for sharing your experience.

God bless.