United States of America
God was there during the hurricane season, and my friends and family’s homes weren’t destroyed.
God has been there all the time. That seemingly hard experience, in fact, was God’s way of helping my friend live in a better home, removed from the abuse she was enduring from her stepfather.
And then, during the early part of this year, there was a threat at the school. Someone was threatening to shoot up the school. Once again, God answered many prayers. No one got hurt! Everyone got home safely to their families.
Once again, God came through, this time for me. My dad’s girlfriend was putting her hands on me when I was around 13 years old. I was glad I was old enough to call my mother and godmother. God sent understanding, belief, and help before anything could’ve gotten worse.
Da’Najah
Germany, United States of America
After 14 years of marriage, I found myself in a foreign country with a 13-year-old son. I was in a challenging mental state, and I was all alone, no family, not many friends or associates to talk to. All my sadness, thoughts, and concerns were bottled up and festered.
I started to bury myself in my jobs, neglecting “self-care” and needs of my teenage son. My family in Germany was not supportive of me marrying a black man, and for the most part, cut off all communication with me. I felt ALL ALONE in a loveless world. I had to take a look at myself and my relationship with God.
I started with simple conversational exercises, just to be able to lift all the pressure that built up inside, then went to prayers for the ones around me and started to forgive people for the things done to me, which lifted a lot of weight off me. Through spiritual guidance, I achieved inner peace and was able to concentrate on self-care and ensuring my son is taken care of. Those were the two most challenging years of my life that in the end, helped me grow to be the woman I am today.
Alexandra
United States of America
Forgiveness changed me forever. I never understood how much forgiving my abuser would free me I the process.
You see, I was physically and emotionally abused for most of my life. First and foremost, my abuser was my dad. My first example of a man’s love.
It wasn’t until I came into a beautiful relationship with Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior, did I realize how important it was to forgive as I was forgiven. Forgiveness did not mean he could do it again or that I would forget the past. It allowed me the grace to be an example of Christ’s love to my dad. Ultimately, leading him back to the Father. God is so good when we allow Him to take the lead.
Lisa
United States of America
Oh how I wanted to go to Helderberg College after high school! Mama said no. I slammed some doors, hollered, “How could you go against God’s choice for me?” Tears streamed down my face. She couldn’t let me go. Yes, there was a young man there who wanted me to go. We both knew if I didn’t, there’d be no future together.
Life moved on and I moved with it; captured by a smart, musician optometrist. I dropped out of college to marry and start a business together, relinquishing my dreams for his. Before we knew it, we had a little girl and a few years later, another. Had this all not happened when it did, those beautiful women would not have been.
During the early years of marriage, God gave the vision of the Place. A place for healing for women from hurt, to strengthen, and to find purpose. It was crushed, and the long journey of healing, learning, preparation for its due time and place began. Because of this marriage, we moved to the USA. Life fell apart, and it seemed to begin again and again. A new marriage. Girls have grown and are blessed.
I walked away from God during these years of survival. How thankful I am that God brought me back to Himself and the Place He prepared for His work through me. Pulled me into my calling. Placed me right where He intended for what He created me for! Through all the twists, turns, rebellion, and healing – He won!
“…All thing work together for (God) good, to them that love God, to them who are called according to His purpose.” -Romans 8:28
Yes! Yes! And Yes! Believe it!
Emra
United States of America
August 2020; in the middle of a global pandemic, my two younger boys, my husband and I decided to temporarily move to a different area. We all arrived masked up and unaware of what lay ahead. One month and a few days into our arrival, my husband of 19/20 years at the time went back to our home country to work. Little did I know, he would be spending most days, weeks and even months there.
I found myself in this country, another culture, homeschooling, or at least attempting to for the first time in my life. Cooking, cleaning, and doing laundry were all foreign to me, as back home, my housekeeper would cheerfully perform all of these daily, routine tasks. It was her job to do so, and she did with a grateful heart.
Now set in an environment of Resort Living, I found myself alone and uneasy. Drinking would sometimes allow me to enjoy vacuuming and doing laundry. Well, to be honest, not even drinking allowed me to like doing laundry. But the other stuff, cleaning a bathroom or cooking. Slowly the drinking progressed, and nightcaps helped me fall asleep after a long day of taking the boys to school, picking them up, making breakfast, lunch, and dinner as well as packing their lunches.
Fast forward years later, and we are still here. For this new season, it is just my little one and I. My 16-year-old, I knew, would thrive alongside his father and older brother. back in our homeland. Even during my drinking days, I always sought the Lord and a true connection with him. I really did. It was my heart mostly. As my relationship with my husband drifted and became physically, emotionally, and intimately distanced in the past 2 ½ years, I learned to feel seen, valued, desired, and thought of, specifically by a male figure. I am sure this has a lot to do with my biological father-wound. Growing up with an emotionally unavailable father, who was verbally abusive, alcoholic, and drug dependent, I longed to feel accepted for who I actually was and seen. The reason for which I was probably the lead female role of all my high school plays. My father had no choice but to go and SEE his daughter.
Anyways…back to my unmet needs. Today, as I sit here writing, the Lord has removed the obsession to numb my feelings using alcohol. He has sent me a mentor, His dear child and my angel here on earth. I didn’t even know I would need her, or that I would even be here. The battle, this spiritual battle for my soul and my purpose in the Lord, has been so fierce. I mean so fierce that it brings tears to my eyes as I write. But my Lord, my heavenly Father has been so gentle, so patient, so forgiving, so compassionate, so detailed, so present! He has literally sent angels my way, spiritual warriors, Jesus-loving women into my life to see me through. I am eternally grateful.
Shirlz
United States of America
Miracle House Story
After searching for 10 months for a home, God made the impossible possible. The housing market was treacherous. There was limited availability, the prices were extremely high, and they were sold quickly. I put an offer on a house I loved with a higher offering price, but it fell through because another bidder outbid me. My sister-in-law told me about a house that was vacant near them. I reached out to the owners, but they weren’t ready to sell.
A few months later, another house on the same street that the first house I put an offer on came available. I didn’t like it as much, but I liked the area and the house had potential, so I put an offer on the house. Unfortunately, someone else got the house because they could close sooner than I could. I was so discouraged because I had to live with a few different families because I didn’t have a place to call home. I dreamed of living near my nephews and raising my kids with them. I don’t have children yet, but that’s another prayer of mine.
I reached back out to the family who had the vacant house near my brother because I still had hope. My realtor felt it may be a waste of time, but I didn’t want to give up on my dream of living near my nephews. After reaching back out to them, which was about nine months since I talked to them, they finally were open to sell “as is”. I didn’t think that I could afford the home because of its being in a beautiful neighborhood and the price range. Thankfully, after a couple of weeks, I was able to go see the home. I gave them an offer without it being put on the market, which would have definitely increased the price, and they accepted it.
I was so thankful, and I was able to see God’s hand in the whole process. Through all the doubt, pain, tears, and fears…God showed his hand in this and blessed me measurably more than I ever dreamed. Thank You, Lord!!
Steph
