This is a continuation of a series every Friday where I will be highlighting the growth and healing of one of my readers, a new reader each week. These, my sweet ones, are their brave and vulnerable stories. Take heart…you are not alone. -Elisabeth
In 2003 my marriage went through the most difficult time. I was ready to throw in the towel. There were days that I had no desire to even work at it but out of obedience to the Lord I stayed. It would be months of intense study in the word through biblical counseling that the Lord began to heal areas in my heart that I did not even know were hurt. My husband and I would find ourselves on bended knee asking forgiveness of our children for not being the godly example He had called us to be.
This was only the beginning. We would later see that this was the solidifying that our marriage needed for what was to come. The next two years would include the death of my husband’s sister at age 60 after a short battle with cancer, the death of our 53 year old sister in law after a 17 year battle with cancer, the diagnosis of my mother in law’s dementia, the death of our 31 year old nephew who had just had his first baby a few months earlier.
And during this two year period me being in the hospital three time and a zillion medical tests and still no diagnosis for my blackouts.
Had the Lord not dealt with us our marriage would not have survived all this.
I look back and see that there have been seasons of my life when I wandered and I wondered how I would make it through. There were days that it took all I had to get out of bed in the morning – and I am talking about after I knew the Lord. There were days that I shuffled through to make it through the day. Seasons when days turned to weeks and weeks to months.
There were days I wish I could take a nap long enough to wake and find the finances were ok, the marriage was solid. And the kitchen was clean.
But through it all my God was my source of strength. And it was those seasons that molded me and drew me closer to Him. It was those days that I could not muster any energy that I knew God carried me because all I could say was “ Calgon take me away”. And he gave me grace to make it through, and reminded me that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
As we go through the deserts of our lives we must remember that on the other side is the promised land and through the desert God is preparing us. HE is giving us a testimony and a ministry.
I remember being in those seasons and wondering how much longer I would be there because I felt I was wasting time. I am an accountant so I am the queen of efficiency,
But nothing is wasted with God.
And after those deserts we come through stronger and more useful for God.
-CG
If this sweet woman’s post resonated with your heart, please know that you are not alone. Here are a few resources for you:
If you would like to find out more about coaching with me, fill this out.
If you would like to join my closed Facebook group called Hope & Healing, you can find it here.
If you’d like to receive my free e s-book, You’re Going to Make It Through, you can get it here.
If you need a nudge in your healing, I would love to work with you! Join me for one of my coaching courses.
If in a difficult marriage: Surviving in a Difficult Christian Marriage is available as a PDF/e-book: www.elisabethklein.com/books
If separated/divorced: Unraveling: Hanging onto Faith through the End of a Christian Marriage is available in paperback/e-book: http://tinyurl.com/phowp95
If a single mom: Moving on as a Christian Single Mom is available in paperback/e-book: www.elisabethklein.com/books
