Comments on: Elisa’s Testimony

By: Rajah

Rajah — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 02:55:23 +0000

Lucy, along with what Angela said about herpes not being a punishment, you might take a look at this thread over at HHP about “Things Herpes Has Taught Me”. http://racoon.com/dcforum/support/24441.html

Rajah

By: Angela

Angela — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 01:42:05 +0000

1.) God is not punishing you. 2.) You have got to forgive yourself and move on. 3.) When you realize that having Herpes doesn’t define you then things “might” get better for you. Right now you need to work on improving your outlook. 4.) Herpes is NOT a Horrible disease. 5.) Having herpes should not put a damper on your personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Give Him the Glory instead of yourself. You are putting way too much emphasis on how unhappy you are. You are the one that chooses this path.

By: Lucy

Lucy — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 16:23:26 +0000

Angela, I know you’re right…but I don’t know how to get past it. I’ve cried out to God for decades for His help to appropriate His forgiveness which He so freely and graciously provided through Christ’s death. He has been so faithful in providing for me as a single woman and has never let me down. But I’m still left as a sexual leper and nothing can change that. I don’t blame God…He was merciful not to destroy me. All that has happened to me is completely my fault. As a result of my sin in college, I’ve forfeited marriage, family, and now am an old maid in my late fifties. How does one get past the reality of the physical filth of this horrible disease? How can I have spiritual victory while living with the reality of incurable venereal disease? I loathe my body and know that death will be the only release from this awful thing that I’ve brought on myself. How do I live victoriously in light of this?

By: Angela

Angela — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 15:49:47 +0000

So what you’re saying is that you would prefer to live w/shame and regret. As a believer don’t you realize that is what satan wants?

By: Lucy

Lucy — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 00:35:00 +0000

Elisa, I can very much empathize with you. I’ve had herpes for 35 years and have never married. Although two men accepted me in spite of it, we didn’t marry for other reasons. However, I’ve always assumed God has not brought the right person along because I’m no longer qualified for marriage. The desire has always been very, very strong. I know that God can do anything, but He in His Own wisdom has chosen not to intervene. I wish I could be so absorbed with His merciful forgiveness that I wouldn’t keep dwelling on the shame and regret, but I don’t seem to be able to do that.

By: Angela

Angela — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 03:13:05 +0000

Love what Cecilia had to say! Beautiful name too BTW. :-)

By: Cecilia

Cecilia — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 15:07:47 +0000

Elisa,

Please don’t give up on the possibility that God has someone out there who will love you in spite of your affliction. I too got H from my husband, but we had been married for over 3 years when I contracted it, and I have had it for over 30 years now.

We are no longer married, mostly because I could not live with his infidelity any longer. I did nothing wrong to get H, only trusted that my husband was faithful. I don’t believe God is punishing me by allowing me to have this. I think maybe I have been given the opportunity to help others.

Don’t let H define who you are! You are a beautiful person, loved by God, and He has a plan for your life. Let yourself be open to what He has planned for you. Life is a tapestry that we see the unfinished side of, but God sees the finished product, and it is beautiful. Don’t give up hope and don’t let an opportunity to be truly loved by someone, and to love them, pass you by.

Cecilia