I know my early salvation kept me from a lot of potential problems growing up, but there have still been a number of difficult trials. Of those, depression has been the longest running. It had started probably when I was much younger (I was always somewhat melancholy), but really started manifesting itself in college during my sophomore year. I progressed to the point of an attempt to take my life and later a hospitalization for depression. Although I had cried, prayed, and begged God to take this way during this time, it progressed, and for a long time I was quite angry with God. I came to the place where I had to decide if I was going to just give up on God (since He seemingly had not answered my prayers) or continue to try to hang on to Him despite my hurt and confusion. I decided that without God, life has no real purpose; yes, one can accomplish great things in life without God, but in the end, there is nothing. I chose to hang on despite everything around me and He brought me through it. I finally had to ask Him to either give me an understanding of why it happened or give me a peace about it; He opted for the peace, although I know someday either here or in heaven I’ll understand.

Since that time God has gotten me in and through all of my medical training and into a good job position for helping the elderly of our population. In addition, He has blessed me with a tremendous wife, two wonderful (most of the time) children, and great in-laws (all of which are Christians). For me to explain all He has done in my life regarding bringing me through my medical training, meeting and marrying my wife, my occupational obstacles, financial difficulties, and many other trials would take too much time. But God is greater than I realize, more powerful than I can comprehend, wiser than I can fathom, more gracious than I could imagine, more merciful than I could merit, and more deserving of everything I could ever do for Him.