Devotional Archives - Page 13 of 25

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I vividly remember conversations with my then 6-year-old daughter (that took place for many years to come) telling her that she doesn’t have to be a statistic. While the facts regarding children of divorced parents are alarming, she doesn’t have to be one of *those* numbers. I remember reading articles about the difficulties of single parenting and the effects on the children. I hated it. As a young girl, I never prayed, “Lord…please sent me my Prince Charming. Allow us to divorce. Allow me to remarry and then lose that husband to suicide.” Who would ask for something like that?

But…

I’ve also not been one to play the victim. While some of the ugly things I’ve endured in my life could have been reversed had I made better decisions, there are others that were completely out of my control. Irregardless, I’ve never been one to linger in Victim-Land. Now, I’d be remiss to say I’ve never spent anytime there. That’s simply not true. I’ve had my own share of pity parties. I’ve asked God, “Why me?” before. I’ve thought about running off to a deserted island somewhere and just “starting over” without the baggage of my past.

But…

I think there’s an element of beauty in pulling ourselves up by our bootstraps, dusting ourselves off and moving forward into the land of the living. I’ve known far too many people that have chosen to “die” in Victim-Land. While they may not die a physical death, so to speak, they are so completely stuck in placing blame on everyone around them that caused them to be in the situation they currently find themselves in. True or not…I’ve discovered, first-hand, that’s not going to help anyone heal from the pain.

Some of you might be saying, “Easy for you to say…you don’t know what’s happened to me!” That’s true. I don’t. Maybe I can relate, and maybe I can’t. But, at the same token…I can say the same thing. While I openly share many details of my life here at Out of Deep Waters, please know it’s only a fraction of it. I share the segments that I do in hopes of helping someone else. If even one other person emerges from the deep, painful waters of life victoriously healed by God’s hand…then it’s worth it.

I don’t share to get attention, pats on the back, “bless your heart” expressions of love and concern. I don’t share to draw attention to my drama or past mistakes. I don’t share due to a need of co-dependency. As a matter of fact, all of these things go against every fiber of my personality, because I’m introvert, by nature. I gain energy from being alone. I’d rather others know nothing of the hurt and betrayal of my past. But God…

God won’t let me keep quiet. Just like I told my daughter that she can choose to be a statistic or choose to rise above it over a decade ago…I say the same thing to you. Regardless of where you might be in life…in a pit, just out of one, or never even stepped into one. I can assure you that the day will come (if it hasn’t yet), and I just want to equally encourage you…you don’t have to be a statistic. You can rise above your circumstances…not in your own power, but in the power of the living Lord, Jesus Christ! Attempting anything in my own power never stuck. Only relinquishing everything to Him brought me restoration and kept me out of the “statistics”.

Be blessed!

I remember the first time I laid eyes on her. My eyes were red and swollen from crying, and her smile was full, yet tender. Her eyes spoke to me…they knew my pain. She opened her arms, and we hugged for the first time. I knew who she was, even though I’d never met her before. We had a mutual friend, who told her about me. She wanted to be there for me on this day, in particular. This was the day of my late husband’s funeral.

Just nine months prior, Kathy also said goodbye to her husband, Fred, following his tragic suicide. She was already that much more ahead of me on Grief Road. She knew the awfulness of the days ahead, and she could pray for me like few others could. It’s amazing how the Holy Spirit drew us together.

I remember when she drove to the house one evening to visit with me. It had been several weeks since Chris had died. She knew the time would come when we would need this time together. The time had arrived indeed. She stayed and talked/prayed with me for hours, but yet it only felt like a few minutes. When she spoke, I felt as if the Lord God Himself was speaking to me. I knew He gave her the words to share. Again, such tenderness…yet boldness (an example of the lion and the lamb rolled into one)!

Kathy had her share of bad days. I remember several times the Lord prompted me to pray for her, and without fail, I would discover later (often just in reading her Facebook posts) the very reason for the prayer prompting. At the same time, I could see and sense the Lord brewing a mighty work in Kathy. You see – Kathy also spent her share of time in “deep waters”, much like me. God had already reached for her…He had already rescued her…and, He has restored her and is continuing do so until He calls her home!

Fast forward a couple years, Kathy is this very day in the nation of Pakistan! Yes…you read that right…Pakistan! She’s teaching these hungry people all about Abba! She’s living out a restored life! I’ve been following her status updates, looking at all of her pictures, interceding in prayer for her while she’s away. Just yesterday morning, we were chatting on Facebook, and Kathy made the comment, “Would you have believed what He is doing through both of us?”

In my finite mind…definitely not. But, in my Spirit-filled mind…absolutely!

God is Who He says He is! He will do what He says He can do! Kathy (and I) are living proof of His miraculous power! Only God, my friends. Only God!