Do you ever reflect back over your life? Ever take a moment and think about where you were ten, five or even two years ago? I’m only asking because my husband reminded me this morning of how far we’d been bought by God’s grace. Yea, I could have easily said, how far we’d come but we only made it by being carried by God’s grace. And as I look at the tattoo on my right wrist, I know exactly when the renovation process, for us began. It was August 29, 2014, the day after I accepted God’s call. See, I toiled for over a year trying to figure things out on my own, struggling and barely surviving and fighting spiritually against myself. I blamed the enemy when truth is, it was me, I was fighting God. I was against everything God was trying to do in my life because I was worried about what ‘they’ would say. And it almost cost me everything. I don’t usually get this personal but I need our testimony to speak to somebody on the verge of giving up. I need OUR testimony to become somebody else victory speech. I need somebody else to trust and know God won’t leave you. Even when you’re fighting Him, He’s still there. Even when you’ve walked away, He’s still trailing behind. Even when you act like He doesn’t exist, He does. I learned this, the hard way and yet, it is part of the process I wouldn’t change because it taught me to trust God more.
Look, my husband and I were young when we bought our first house and the entire process wasn’t in our favor. We stayed there ten years before we moved into an overpriced apartment, we couldn’t afford. Stayed there four years until 8/29 when God told us we had to move. And we did! We moved the contents of our family in 2 days. Didn’t even have a place to stay but we moved. Lived in an extended stay for a month before moving in with my husband’s parents for a few weeks. We went from there to a home we rented for two years. But let me tell you what was different. From 2000 (when we bought our house) until 2014 (in the apartment), we struggled. BAD! Yet we moved when God said move and from November 2014 to October 2016, we never missed a bill. Our credit score started to rise and things were different. It was God keeping His promise. Never paid rent, gas, electric or car notes late. Never went hungry. God did it! And this year, 1/31/17, we became re-NEW-ed home owners. And as I was leaving this morning, I began chanting, “Thank you Lord.” Whoever you are, hold on. Don’t give up but be patient while trusting God. He’ll show up for you just like He did for us.
“Dear God, Help me to trust you even when it doesn’t make sense. Guide me and don’t take your hands off. Although I may fight, I won’t and can’t let go until you bless me. Amen”
Lakisha, the Author 