Discipleships in Healing
Guest: Ricki Brooks and Allison H.
Allison has been in one of the abiding discipleships for 2.5 years, and she shares her journey in
the abiding discipleship. When she began in the group, she was already a Christian. However,
she was at rock bottom emotionally and spiritually and knew something had to change. She
desired the fruit of the relationship with God that she saw in others around her.
Allison notes that abiding wasn’t an instantaneous process, rather it was and is a journey with
mile markers. Her commitment to showing up each week, discussing and learning with her
community, even in the hard times, have led to true transformation.
Background:
Allison grew up in the church, but didn’t become part of bodies that were more theologically
sound. She participated in Bible studies, was faithful to attend services, and she read the Bible
for information. However, she relied more on what others told her about God and His
character. When Allison turned 5 and two weeks later, her sister died of a terminal illness. The
tragedy that struck their family, left her to navigate the emotions internally. Her mechanisms
developed to turn her hatred, anger internally on herself. Not God, not her family, but herself.
She didn’t know the security of what love can really do as a result. She shares her discovery of
her sin patterns and the result of running to these mechanisms, which was despair and
depression. However, her time with God in the abiding discipleship has changed her viewpoint
in all these aspects. She finds grace and hope when she slips to a pattern briefly. She doesn’t
live in the pattern cycles, rather lives in her new identity in Christ.
The abiding discipleship allowed her to understand, process, walk, and uncover God’s word in
community. After two and half years in discipleship, her circumstances are still there (kids,
family, singlehood), but her perspective has changed drastically. How she handles the situations
are different, as well as she rests in His strength and assurance. God has shown her that she can
depend on Him repeatedly.
Allison shares that she has learned through that NOTHING can satisfy and fill the hole within
her apart from God. She has learned to give her wounds to God to heal, and He has done just
that. She reminds us that our relationships are not linear, we each have our own journey with
God. She has learned what it means to be a believer after being saved, to truly walk with God. 2
Peter 1:3: His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life godliness, through
the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence. “
Jesus is the Master that is leading and teaching Ricky, Chris, and Allison. Jesus is building their
faith. Jesus is upholding the promises in scripture, and her faith is building as a result. God can
change your heart.
