Before I even begin this week’s message, I want to first say, THANK YOU!
Thank you for reading, for allowing my story to encourage you, to lift you up and comfort you in knowing you are not alone!

Continuing the Message of Grace

I want to continue to minister to you about God’s amazing grace. As I ended last week’s message, I wanted you to see how being patient, trusting in God’s will and timing, and committing to being still (even in those moments of heartbreak because I wasn’t seeing my “desires” come to pass) led to an overflowing of answered prayers (IN HIS TIMING)!

This life I live now—also noting, not perfect and never will be—but bless-ed nonetheless, took time.

Life’s Highs and Lows

The ups and downs, twists and turns of our existence as human beings will continue until the day we are united with Jesus in Glory.
Literally, I am either high up on a mountain top, content on land, or low down in the valley. For me, these are great visuals as to the reality of life on God’s green earth.

My Journey: Grace Since 1998

I am 46 years old.
I was saved by God’s amazing grace, my Lord, Jesus Christ, in September 1998 – I was 19 years old.
My testimony is real, it is raw, it is mine.

From birth to today, God has been with me, never leaving nor forsaking me (Deuteronomy 31:8)—this is His promise.

Growing Pains and Spiritual Growth

From 2001 (the year I was married and divorced) to 2006, I consider myself to have been amid major growing pains as a Christian woman.

It is said that as a Christian, you are either falling behind or growing in your relationship with God—there is no in-between. I didn’t realize the validity of this statement while I was living it, but, as the rule states, “hindsight is always 20/20.”

How do I know this now? I’ve lived it.

Defeat and Desire for Control

Once my divorce was final, I was defeated.
Defeated mentally, spiritually, and emotionally.

Of course, I prayed.
My gosh I prayed… for a new relationship (I hated being single), for things to just come easy.
I wanted my cake and wanted to eat it too, so-to-speak—living in bitterness, and not realizing where my focus should’ve been.

That focus should’ve been to:

• Accept responsibility for being impatient
• Forgive myself
• Commit to uninterrupted time with God

Learning to Press On

I had no idea the reality of the enemy and his lies.
Knowing what I know now, I wish I would’ve understood what Paul meant in Philippians 3:14, when he said:

“I press on (push against the resistance of the enemy) toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”

That analogy is to reflect a spirit of dependence on God:

• To resist impatience and idleness
• Trust Him for future happenings
• Allow Him to meet the desires of my heart

Visualizing the Race

Today, I visualize a runner in the Olympics, out on the track.
Those athletes don’t skip or walk lackadaisically—they push, they press forth, as hard as they can. Why?
Because they want the gold medal, they want the prize.

This analogy helps me always remember:
The enemy is continuously coming after me to break my spirit, so I can’t risk being weak, but must always be on guard and ready to push through whatever circumstances come my way.

With God’s direction, He will always show HIS strength in our weaknesses (Ephesians 6:10–18).

Growing Through Trials

Throughout those five years of my life, there were times when I would really work on my faith, but at times, my impatience got the best of me.

Was I growing even though I was enduring hardships and leaning on my own understanding?
Yes, because trials grow us spiritually.

According to James 1:2–4, he tells us:

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.”

Beauty From Ashes

Beauty from ashes—we all have them.
They are transformations and healing after suffering or loss (Isaiah 61:3).

Remember this, loved one:
You are NOT ALONE!

You’re Here for a Purpose

Please continue to read and stay connected here with me.
I pray for you confidently, as the only reason I am here is to encourage you to hold fast to God’s amazing promises.

You are not here by accident.
You are here for YOUR PURPOSE (Proverbs 16:9).

Enjoy the additional encouragement in song. Click the link to hear the song pertaining to this week’s message of hope: Never Alone by Barlow Girl