Through It All | Previous Challenge Entry

how it works

TITLE: Through It All | Previous Challenge Entry
By Marilyn Meiners
04/04/09
LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE
SEND A PRIVATE COMMENT
ADD TO MY FAVORITES

Rrrriiinnnnggg. “Oh no! Is it morning already?” It seemed she had just put her head on the pillow. Morning came too soon. Her pastor husband had arisen early so he could spend some time in study before he had to preach his morning message. She had three children to get ready for Sunday school and church. Getting up, she moved like a robot, simply going through the motions of her typical Sunday morning routine.
As she sat at the kitchen table, with her cup of coffee, she wondered, for the hundredth time, what she was doing here - in this City, living in this parsonage, having agreed to the role of a pastor’s wife. Her heart wasn’t in it. She longed to be back in Illinois, where her family lived. Living nine hundred miles from family was slowly causing her to be depressed, a place she knew she could not go – not her, a pastor’s wife!
She had married a farmer. They had been happy living on their Illinois dairy farm with their two little boys. Her family lived nearby. Family gatherings were anticipated and enjoyed. Life was good, until that day when her husband said, “God is calling me into the ministry. I feel led to enter college and prepare for ministry.”
Being one who loved the Lord, and wanting to obey God in everything, she agreed. They would leave the farm, move to Chicago where her husband could begin his theological studies for ministry. God was in their move, as he provided the perfect place to live. God provided employment. Indeed, God was good and they were all excited at the possibilities for their future. God proved to be faithful over and over again during those difficult years of preparation.
So what was wrong now? Why so downcast? What changed? Did God move away? Why was she so lonely? For several months now, she had no answer to these questions. She was slowly slipping down the slide toward depression. No one knew. Not her church family. Not her husband. She kept her feelings well hidden.
But God knew. How many times had she cried out to him for deliverance? How many times had she begged God to restore the joy? Yet Sunday after Sunday she pasted a smile on her face while her heart was breaking.
Finally, with her three children ready for the morning, she left the house with, yet again, a broken spirit and heavy heart. When would she find joy again?
Unbeknownst to her, joy was on the way! The morning service began as always. With tears gently falling down her cheeks, she listened and she prayed, “God help me.” He did. Her heart was ministered to that morning as the soloist began to sing. Her words penetrated this hurting heart.
I’ve had many tears and trials. I’ve had questions for tomorrow….
“Oh, Lord, you know all the questions I’ve been asking. Answer me today.”
…in every situation God gave blessed consolation that my trials only come to make me strong.
“God, please make me strong.”
…there’ve been times I felt so all alone. But in that lonely hour in that priceless lonely hour Jesus let me know I was His own.
“Father, thank you for being there.”

So, I thank God for the mountains, and I thank Him for the valleys, I thank Him for the storms He’s brought me through.
“Father, I will make it. You will see me through.”
If I never had a problem I wouldn’t know that He could solve them, I wouldn’t know what faith in his Word could do.

Through it all, through it all, I learned to trust in Jesus I learned to trust in God. Through it all, through it all, I learned to depend upon His Word.
“Father, forgive me. I’ve been so blind. The answer was waiting for me if I had only opened your Word.”
How awesome God’s presence. His Word is true. God would remain faithful and, yes, she would find joy again. The devil would not win this battle by keeping her down. There would be victory today because God had picked her up and reminded her that no matter the path the Lord led her on, or the loneliness she might feel, God would always remain faithful, and, “through it all”, He would be there. He promised, “The Lord is good. When trouble comes, he is a strong refuge. And he knows everyone who trusts in him.” Nahum 1:7 (NLT).

PREVIOUS ENTRY | NEXT ENTRY
SUBMIT YOUR ENTRY FOR THIS WEEK'S CHALLENGE

The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.

If you died today, are you absolutely certain that you would go to heaven? You can be right now. CLICK HERE

JOIN US at FaithWriters for Free. Grow as a Writer and Spread the Gospel.