Chad's Story

Listening to people's life stories on www.iamsecond.com always makes me start to cry. There is something really powerful about hearing a person's whole life story in just a few short minutes, with all the ups and downs that comes with living in this broken world. It becomes very clear that we will all face some really tough struggles in this life, nobody will be able to live a life that is always easy and happy. What will matter in the end is how we handle the challenges that come our way in life.


Chad Robichaux went to Afghanistan as a marine after the 9/11 attacks on the US. What felt exciting in the beginning, an opportunity to do something noble, quickly became a traumatic experience. Having to witness the evil of mankind up close and watch what people can do to other human beings for their own selfish gain led to Chad developing PTSD. Chad was forced to quit his job and his family life also suffered from his traumatic experiences in Afghanistan. Chad and his wife Kathy eventually decided to separate and filed for divorce.


Chad became a pro MMA champion and for awhile he felt like he had found a cure for his PTSD, while he was fighting he had a distraction that kept the memories from Afghanistan in the background. As time went on Chad wasn't able to run away from his issues and trauma any longer and he became very suicidal. During this time Kathy was going to church and started praying for her husband. Kathy was asking Chad not to give up on his life or family. Chad listened to Kathy and asked her to find somebody in her church who could help him. Chad got a mentor from church who helped him start to fight for his life and family again and do whatever it takes to find healing in his own emotional life and in his marriage.


As Chad developed a personal relationship with God his PTSD became something that no longer controlled him but something he had control over. Chad and his wife continued to work on their relationship and over time God brought restoration into their marriage and Chad moved back in with Kathy and the kids. After God saved Chad and Kathy's marriage and brought healing to Chad they both felt that they wanted to help others. Chad and Kathy decided to start a foundation that offers help to veterans and their families who are struggling with the effects of combat trauma. Today Chad and Kathy have been married for 21 years.

ALONE

The one thing that can ruin your relationship

The War

Are we there yet?

Who likes waiting for things in life? Probably nobody. I'd much rather have each one of my dreams come true without any waiting seasons in between. The reality of life looks a lot different than that, we often find that we have to spend a lot of time waiting before our dreams come true. So why does God seem to keep us waiting so much in life?

Although nobody likes waiting the waiting seasons in life are often the times when God can grow us the most, while we wait God teaches us to trust and obey him. When we find ourselves in a waiting season there is usually something God wants to change within us before we are ready to enter our own "promise land". God knows that if he would let us enter the promise land before he has changed a few things inside of us we would be in danger of ruining that next assignment in life. God works in every waiting season to prepare us for the next stage in life.

God knows what we need to thrive and be successful in life. Each waiting season usually includes an area where God is waiting for us to obey him. We often know exactly what God wants us to do next to help us grow, but we don't want to do it. I like what Elyse says in the sermon: "But I can promise you that your promise land is on the other side of your obedience."

I can definitely relate to the message in this sermon. Many times I've found myself in a stage in life where I know exactly what God wants me to do next, but I'd rather do anything else than obey His will for my life. Why? Usually because it would require me to step outside of my comfort zone or because I'm afraid. Once I've finally decided to take that step of faith into the unknown it's always been worth it.

Pastor Elyse Murphy gives us a few tips on what to do when we feel like we can't get to our promise land, when we feel stuck walking around in circles in the wilderness. Elyse teaches us what we need to do to get up, get focused and get going toward that dream that seems so far out of reach at the moment.

Romance

Back to Life

Here in my heart

You found Your place

Replacing fear with your freedom

You lift me up

You lift me up