Welcome to Unbreakable Faith!

Please be sure you know about Jesus and His Gospel before you find out about me.  He should be far more important to you.

Hi. My name’s Troy Eckhardt.

I am a Christian, husband, father of seven, teacher, author, accountant, and all-around nice guy.

Welcome to my website. This page is intended to let you know a little bit about who I am and where I am coming from.

I love my family, learning, reading, writing, and eating cashews and dates. My vice used to be Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, but I went paleo. Dates are almost as good – at least that’s what I tell myself.

I’m a long-time Boy Scout: an Eagle Scout to be specific. I love the outdoors, and I camp as often as I can, usually in my home-made bridge hammock. I am a scoutmaster to a few dozen boys whom I often bring along on my adventures. I even like most of them. The scouts, I mean.  I like ALL of the adventures.

I believe

I believe that every word of Bible is true, and that no one comes to the Father except through Jesus. I believe that God is not willing for any person to go through life without knowing Him, or to go through eternity without Him. I believe that we were all put on this Earth for a purpose, and that we can know what that purpose is. I believe that fostering a relationship with Jesus and discovering His will for your life are the keys to complete joy and fulfillment as you travel through this side of eternity.

Some history

I’ve been saved since I was 15 years old. Growing up, I always thought I would be a preacher of the Gospel and a minister to God’s people. Somewhere along my path that dream was put on the back burner for the most part as I sought higher education. I spent my first career as a German and physics teacher for about a decade. Then I went back to school in 2000 to become an accountant, following in my father’s footsteps. He and I have worked together in our public firm ever since.

But that burning notion that I was created to minister to God’s people just kept surfacing. Sure, I witness to the lost, and I lend a hand to my Christian brothers and sisters when the opportunity presents itself, but I felt there was more I was called to do; I just didn’t know what exactly my calling was. Over time, and through a lot of experiences, some great and some horrible, a vision of what God would have me do began to form.

I had an idyllic childhood.

As a youth I was a good student and a good son. I was neat, organized, and polite. I had both parents at home, and although we dealt with some degree of dysfunction, it was nothing out of the ordinary. I was loved, cared for, nurtured, and encouraged to be the best man I could become. I worked joyfully to please my parents, and I was happy, healthy, and largely care-free.

I grew up, married my high school sweetheart, and had children: lots of lovely, smiling, goofy children. Some are prettier than others, but I love them all. Life was perfect.

Then, I was booted out of Eden.

In 2005, when I was just shy of 35 years old, I became ill. No one knows what the issue is, but for over nine years I have suffered with a chronic painful condition. It might be Lyme disease, and it might be Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. I really don’t want a diagnosis, to be honest. I’ve sort of lost faith in our modern western medical system. I cope well most of the time.

As if a chronic mystery illness were not enough, in 2011, all hope of returning to my Eden was lost. Our fifth child Elijah, known to us as Weeble, died in an accident. If you have experienced the loss of a child, you have an idea of what we went through. If you have not, you are probably saying to yourself, “I can’t imagine…” No matter your frame of reference, I’m sure you understand that it is an immeasurable grief.

The sun through the clouds

I knew all along that God is good, and He is faithful, but that’s so easy to forget in times of trouble, tribulation, and torment. I’m growing through my experiences, but I’d rather not have paid such a steep price.  Unfortunately, we don’t always have a choice.

Because of the pain I have experienced, I have become a far more compassionate person. I now feel the grief of other people like a knife in the chest, and I’ve been given a new desire and ability to help them. I am learning to live in the present, and to be thankful for EVERYTHING, including the life experiences I didn’t want.

I miss my health and the man I used to be, but I’m getting to know the man I am becoming, and he’s not such a bad guy. He’s not as good-looking as the old me, though.

I miss my son terribly, but I know I will see him again in Heaven. I like to say that he has just run up ahead of the rest of the family. He’s right over the next hill.

Now I know that I will get my Eden back. I will return to being a child, cared for in a blissful setting by the most benevolent Father a kid can have. Sorrows will be forgotten and lost relationships restored as though there never had been a parting.

I found my purpose

The Refiner’s fire is painful, but these afflictions, which are really so light in the grand scope of eternity, are preparing us for eternal glory (2 Corinthians 4:17). Through mine I discovered God’s will for me. My purpose is to:

• Serve fellow believers by comforting them in their pain
• Serve fellow believers by reminding them of the reason for the hope they have in Jesus
• Serve fellow believers by helping them to find God’s will for their lives

I don’t know if you have an Eden to look back on as a foretaste of what’s to come, but my goal is to help you along in your journey by showing you the light at the end of the tunnel. I know you hurt sometimes. Maybe your tribulations seem like they have no end. I have learned that healing comes through thanksgiving and service, so let’s be thankful to God and of service to one another.

Let me help you find God’s purpose for your life so that you can experience complete joy in Him.

How can I help you?

You can reach me through the following media:

Facebook
Twitter
My Contact Page

 

In the service of our Father,
Troy