For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.
Jeremiah 29:11-13
That is the verse that my oldest daughter has been clinging to for more than a month.
You may remember me writing Pressing Through ~ A Wedding and Home Education.
The gorgeous gown purchased. Wedding bands tucked away in her daddy’s side of the closet. The venue secured. Preparation in full swing. The promised relationship, union, covenant is broken. It is over.
Daydreams of what was soon to be burst into micro splatters.
Even with her chin up and no tears flowing, the immediate question of “Now what?” rolled from my daughter’s lips.
Plans have changed. Her desires remain the same, but she gets to walk different path.
“Okay girl! You are breathing today. You didn’t die from the heart pain. Time to move forward. You heard your Daddy (Abba) telling you to trust Him. Run with that!” I said to her a few days later.
She feels God loving on her even more; comforting her. Support from her friends has been the best. It sometimes stills my heart to know and experience with her what she is going through, but I know that her faith in Christ is unwavering. No God blaming or saying, “Lord, why did You allow this?”
At this moment she knows what the next step is, and she is leaning on God for every step for the big picture.
She’s still preparing, growing, abiding in God’s Word, serving, worshiping.
I didn’t want this post to be a downer, but I did feel that since I invited you in to the beginning that I needed to tell the end of the story.
Life is real. Hurt and pain…real. BUT GOD!
But God…
- Is our hope
- Is our comfort
- Is the One that we find our worth in
- Knows everything! He is the Alpha and the Omega
- Is our refuge
- Is our vindicator
- Is our shield
- Is our Daddy (Abba Father)
Your path may change several times in the course of this life, but God promises not to leave us nor forsake us (Deuteronomy 31:6).
Take Him at His word!
Oh I ache for her. My husband clung to those verses when He was near to giving up before we met.
Thanks. Proof that God’s Word can be our sustainer when we allow it to be! Glad your husband clung to that!
((hugs)) Beautiful words..
Thank you so much!
“hurt and pain are real. BUT God…” love it!
Not a downer at all. It is so easy to write about the sweet babies and cute things the toddlers said. Writing about sadness is much harder, yet much more necessary. All of us will hit these hard times, and it is great to have the words of godly women who have already walked this path to guide us through.
Sheryl
Thank you for your encouragement, Sheryl!
Oh how I hate that this all happened to her. She is very blessed to have a mom and dad who are so much in the Word and loves God, to support her.
I also am thankful for this post. Your words are beautiful and truly did speak to my own heart.
Blessings.
Joy, thank you for being a true friend during that time.
I’m glad that this post spoke to you 🙂
Blessings back atcha!!
Kela, I’m so sorry to hear this! I want to encourage you all – man’s rejection is always God’s protection. God is protecting her and has a better plan – one that she could never imagine! I just know it. Sounds like she does, too. 🙂 What a precious young woman!
Leslie, thank you. Beautiful words that I’ll have to share with her. “Man’s rejection is God’s protection.” is so right. She’s definitely a young woman of strength.
Oh Kela, my heart is acheing over this. I seriously just had that sinking feeling. Praying for her as the Lord shows her her new path. Praying she embraces the beauty in seeing things with fresh eyes and heart yearning to embrace what He holds before her. Thank you for sharing this.
Amen, Heidi! Thank you for your prayers for her!
How heartbreaking! Many prayers for you all as God prepares you for a different path.
Thank you, Jen! He is surely directing her steps!
Tears. However, I’m not sure what kind of tears. Tears for her hurt (pain) or her heart (joy). Oh, to see a young girl with that kind of faith. It just makes my heart burst. You and your man have done a beautiful job with her, Kela. You are an inspiration to those of us mothers that are just waiting for our teenager to “get it”. Yes, God has plans for each and every one of them … of us. ((hugs))
Cheryl, thank you for sharing in the joys and now the hurt. Thank you for encouraging her during the happy times and giving her little pointers. 😉
God knows better than we do and His plan is always perfect. We are each responsible for our own part in that plan. I’d say she did a wonderful job and God will richly reward her.
Oh how my heart breaks for her. Praise God that He is the author and the finisher of our faith. He is our comforter. He will never call us to walk down a road that He has not etched His foot prints in. A scripture that i cling to is….”May your unfailing love be my comfort; according to your promise.” Psalm 119:76
Many prayers to you and your family and thanking God that she has such amazing parents to lead and guide her in the Father’s love.
Powerful words, Semone! Thank you for sharing this and for your encouragement! He began a good work and is faithful to complete it!