There is a tremendous thunder storm going on as I sit quietly on my back porch**. It’s a little damp, a little loud, a little chilly but it is a lot nice. I love it.

I can’t tell you how blessed I am to have this sweet moment to think. On one hand I feel that I have so many unspoken words and on the other I feel as though I have nothing to say.

But I do have something to say, we all do. Some message of our lives that God has given us to share…some hope, some faith, some perspective.

For the past ten years it has felt as though I just barely get past one challenge before another begins. Sometimes it is as though these challenges are the defining feature of my life, but I have realized the things that define me are more subtle, more precious, quieter…

The moment of quiet in the midst of the storm…the ability to find hope when things seem so very hard…unexpected comforts.

This past week my daughter Lizzie got braces…Ally has had hers for quite a while and had no trouble adjusting to them…Lizzie’s are so very painful and through many tears she has pleaded to have them removed.  I get it.

Why in the world choose something that not only hurts, but keeps you from sleeping and eating? Why in the world choose hard?

I keep telling her this short-term pain will have long-term gain!  Ugh. I hate saying things like that. Who wants to hear that when things aren’t “right”?

So after trying the pep talk route once or twice, I decided to just sit down with her. It might sound funny but I convinced her to braid my hair while I read her a chapter of a book. She was reluctant but I persisted and we climbed onto her bed and while she braided I read a new book. By the end of the chapter, she was smiling and felt loved…and I had a rocking braid in my hair!

We have had many such moments since those metal torture devices were attached to her teeth. And each time I’m amazed how a simple thing like just being with her, comforts her. She relaxes and even smiles some.

I think it is because she doesn’t want to feel as though she is facing this pain alone. She wants the comfort of someone beside her. I get that too.

How often as a single parent do I feel like the burdens, whether big or small, are just too much to bear alone. The decisions, responsibilities, and challenges sometimes make me want to plead for a change. Thankfully, sometimes all it takes for a perspective change is a friend to come alongside and love me with their presence.

I can’t take Elizabeth’s pain away, but I can comfort and love and be there in the midst of it. I can’t change the circumstances, but I can help with the perspective.

That’s what we do for each other. That is what God does for us.

When I first became a single parent, I was much better about spending time in the word. It was the way I survived. I had friends pouring into me, but that Scripture the Holy Spirit poured into me was life-changing.

I needed those friends showing up, but even more, I needed God staying put. Those words, “He will never leave you nor forsake you” took on new meaning.

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.   Deuteronomy 31:6

I am not facing an army as Joshua was…I don’t have to take a land…but I do have battles ahead as I retake my family back from our tragedy…I do have to move forward when I want to lie down.

Sometimes I wonder if the Israelites ever thought, “Ya know, this wilderness…not so bad. After all, we have survived here. Why face an army and possible destruction just for the promise of a new and better land?”

I think it would be easy to feel that way – not put on the braces of life. To hunker down in survival mode and not move forward…not face the challenges. Not be strong and courageous. Forget that God goes with us and will not leave us.

Even when God didn’t answer the prayers I cried out to Him regarding my marriage and family, He didn’t leave me. Even when God hasn’t made things easy (or easier) these past several years, He hasn’t forsaken us. At some point there will be a Promised Land…a place of peace and joy and love. I know in the end there is heaven…I think maybe heaven happens in small glimpses here.

A braid and a story even when things hurt.

A porch in the storm.

A friend on the other end of a phone who listens and loves even though the story kinda never changes.

There is comfort in companionship. There is comfort in knowing that God has a plan…and even though I know the outcome will be grand, the way there is not at all what I’d choose.

Like braces, there is a lot of pain involved. A lot of adjustments that make me uncomfortable. A lot of things that rub me the wrong way.

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly  we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.  2 Corinthians 4:16-18

I know that many of us balk at the words “light and momentary troubles” because sometimes life feels anything but light and these moments are taking FOREVER! And it can be near impossible to fix my eyes on anything but all the stuff right in front of me…so how in the world do I fix my eyes on what is unseen? Eternal?

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. Hebrews 12: 1-2

Fix my eyes on Jesus.

I realized something as I wrote that…in the book of John, Jesus is called the Word. So maybe one of the first steps to fixing my eyes on Jesus is putting my eyes on His word.

Filling myself with scripture…like I used to do before 2 jobs and life happened…The words of truth to counter the lies I sometimes allow to change my perspective, mood, and attitude. Things about being a failure, about being in control, about not surviving, about no hope, about loneliness. A good dose of the truth of Him and I change.

Circumstances don’t always change, but I can.

When I fix my eyes on Him, the circumstances blur into the background. Like when you put a magnifying glass on a word and everything else blurs around it When I fix my eyes on Jesus He becomes bigger and everything else becomes less overwhelming.

Siting on this back porch while thunder booms, lightning crashes, and drops of rain are blown onto me, I think how like God to show me where I am with Him.  

Life is a storm, but God is my back porch…my refuge in the storm.

I love you, Lord, my strength.  The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.  Psalm 18:2

* The picture is NOT the view from my back porch as much as I’d like it to be :)!

I love writing, but lately I’ve found it difficult to click on that post button.

I believe part of the reason, besides being too busy to put two coherent thoughts together, is that a few voices in my head have made it seem like I really should be in a better place by now.

Some of those voices are the echoes of others who have said as much in their comments and thoughts on my writing and my life, but I believe the loudest voice is my own.

The voice that repeats the refrain of “you are such a failure” more times in a day than I can count.

Those voices are not the ones to listen to and I know that, but I have allowed them to define my thinking and my writing and to some degree my talking.  My thoughts overflow my mouth sometimes. Those negative refrains about myself muttered too often. Those I’m sorrys that don’t need to be said. How easily they slip through my lips…and what little ears have heard those thoughts spoken and modeled?

There is not a person who doesn’t struggle with something, and anyone who says they don’t is struggling with denial or pride or both.

My struggles are no greater or lesser than anyone else’s…they are just different. Uniquely my own in some ways and common in others. And whether they are of my own making or things that have happened to me or circumstances I find myself in…they are all allowed by God to influence and impact me.

And there is the lesson God has been teaching me…that I cannot judge my life by my challenges and struggles or difficult circumstances. The only thing I can be judged on is my response to the life God has given me…allowed me to have.  And even then, judging isn’t the word I want to use. I don’t think that God judges us on our struggles. He simply loves us through them. Is that too mushy? Probably, but it is where I am right now. Being loved by God. Trusting that God loves me despite my struggles, in the midst of my failings, and relentlessly just because He does.

So how do I view my life?

Do I appreciate the blessings or only see the burdens?

Do I fight through the challenges or falter in my faith and find myself fearful?

Do I accept the circumstances I find myself in, or do I act as though I am despairing and desperate?

Do I choose an eternal perspective or can I only see the problems right in front of me?

I would have to say that I have been all the latter ones and not many of the formers. It’s very difficult to see beyond the endless to do lists, problems, decisions, and second-guesses. My life is a one-thing-after-another kinda life. One thing hasn’t been dealt with when another thing happens. 

Thankfully, God is continually reminding me that my faith is not determined by my circumstances…it is strengthened, resolved, and authenticated by them, but not determined by them. What I know about God is not based on my circumstances, but my experience…by my faith.

One of my favorite verses when things were nuts in life was

“In all this you greatly rejoice though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith – of greater worth than gold, which pershes even though refined by fire – may result in praise, glory, and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.”  1 Peter 1:6-7

Sometimes I want to write down all the things in life that are struggles or stresses or perceived failures and I want to say, “See! This is hard stuff for a girl like me!”

This girl who just wants to do it all perfectly.

But that is NOT what God has called me to right now…smooth, uncomplicated, and easy. Nope. Not at all.

So if my life isn’t the way others want it to be, does that make my story less important? Less valuable? Less encouraging?  Believe me there are definitely things about my life that aren’t the way I want them to be either! When I consider my story I can be a bit discouraged, until I turn things around in my head and heart and consider what God IS doing, how he IS loving me, and the blessings He clearly has given me. Then I see the value in sharing my story and saying, “But God….”  

But God DOES love me! God does have a plan for me.  God has not left me in my distress.

I want to share my story – my story of what God is doing in my life…the honest truth about where I am, not where I want to be. This is where God has me…so this is where I need to be whether it is ideal or not.

The other day my daughter and I had a conversation about movies, particularly Christian movies, where everything is wrapped up with a little bow…all the loose ends are tied together on the most beautifully wrapped present. Everything ends “happily ever after.”  She and I agreed that it was not a great way to end a movie because that isn’t life. She said that, if we present that idea, we are wrong because following Jesus doesn’t mean pretty bows, it means we have Him and the pretty bow is promised, but not here. Wow. That was a blessing to hear from my daughter. She gets it.

Yes, there will be a big, beautiful bow, but it will be given to us after we have walked this long journey down here with all its tripping hazards, scraped knees, and twisting paths.

Jesus said we would have trouble here…so why can’t we share how He walks us through the trouble? Because He always does.

And maybe that’s the reason for them…that’s the answer to the whys…because when things just won’t let up, He won’t leave.

No matter what we are facing whether it be single parenting, financial troubles, work difficulties, bad decisions, health issues, or any other thing, big or small, God stays with us.

He has not left my side once. He hasn’t fixed everything…He hasn’t made life easier, but He has made it good.

My children… not perfect…but wonderful.

My home…serious issues…but cozy.

My work…too much…but a blessing.

My finances…a mess…but not desperate.

My health…shaky…but hanging in there.

Is it discouraging to hear that someone else’s life hasn’t reached paradise yet? I don’t think so. I gave up social media for the most part because “Facebook Perfection” was discouraging to me even though I know we often only share happy snapshots. Sometimes reading about other people’s perfection is boring. (OK, so I’d take boring perfection every once in a while.)

And I can’t name one person in the Bible who had a perfect life. Not one. Good gravy! Jesus had troubles! One of the people I most admire, other than Jesus, was Paul. That man had troubles and not the run of the mill troubles I have. He had more than one shipwreck, multiple beatings, scourgings, and prison…just to name a few things.

Paul who shared his life – the good, the bad, and the ugly (as the saying goes)

Paul who said he was content in any situation.

Paul with his eternal perspective.

Paul who reminded us that we are to give thanks in all circumstances, to pray with ceasing, and to rejoice continually.

Oh I love little words that change things. Paul said to give thanks IN all circumstance…not for them, in them. I have to admit that’s a bit easier!  

Praying continually – I think that’s acknowledging that Jesus is with me throughout my day. Taking a minute to re-order my thoughts.

Rejoicing always is recognizing all the promises that God has made, all the ways that He is working in my life, all the blessings, and worshiping Him for who He is and how He loves me.

No matter what, I want to share what Jesus is doing in my life. He might not be answering all my prayers in the way I want them answered. He might not be giving me the rest I long for, or making things easier at work, or fixing all my wonky house issues, but He is loving me.

I know it when I sit down and have a conversation filled with laughter with my children.  I know it when I sit across from someone I love at dinner. I know it when a friend encourages me unexpectedly. I know it when I have a moment when I don’t have to do anything. I know it when I read His words:

“I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you.”   Jeremiah 31:3

“It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.”    Deuteronomy 31:8

I was standing in the shower thinking. It might be the only place that I can think because it drowns out all the other noises in my house, including the child jiggling the door knob and calling my name. I was thinking how I so want to write something encouraging.  Right now God has me as a single parent…a well-loved and supported single parent, but a single parent nonetheless. I don’t want to write just about the trials and tribulations or challenges and chaos of single parenting, but rather, I want to share the moments of triumph and the beauty of trusting God. Unfortunately, I don’t know where to start. I’m so busy living this life, I haven’t had time to write about this life!

Single parenting was never something that even crossed my mind…it wasn’t even on the list of things to avoid because I thought it was a given I wouldn’t ever be faced with these circumstances.  After all, I love the Lord. I married a Christian man. We didn’t even use the dreaded “d” word. It was super easy to avoid any thought of single parenting. Even seeing a single parent at church or out and about…all I felt was a bit of compassion.

I had no idea.

No idea how difficult this life is and I’m ashamed that I never reached out to any single parent that I can recall. Not once did I offer to babysit, make a meal, drive a child somewhere, visit, listen…not once did I even think about them. Maybe I did and I don’t recall, but I really don’t remember.

Single parents were the invisible people. The tired, harried looking people. Did they make bad life choices and now were suffering the consequences? Ugh. Did I ever really think that?  Maybe. I hope not, but I can see that my black and white  life of judging others would have led me to a self-righteous attitude towards those in less than perfect life situations. Oh my goodness, how difficult it is to think that about myself.

Thankfully, I do know that one of the benefits of going through adultery, abandonment, divorce, and single parenting is that my faith is softer, gentler, more grace-filled. I see people as people not their circumstances. I understand that although God’s truth is absolute, life is absolutely not.

Life is not an absolute. Unless we are going to say that it is absolutely not predictable. There is no formula for perfect success. There is nothing in the world that guarantees health, wealth, and happiness. The only solid foundation and hope and source of joy that does not disappoint is Jesus.

Even as I write that, I’m reminded of my prayers the other night. They were not the type of prayers that start or end with “Thank you Lord that you never disappoint me.” My silent prayers were angry and frustrated. I told God what I thought about what my child was experiencing. How it was simply, completely, and disappointingly unfair. “Lord, why does she have to suffer more? Why can’t things just be easy? Just one thing, Lord. Can just one thing in our life be uncomplicated and simply happy? No issues. No questions. No quandaries. No second-guessing. No frustrations. Just one blasted thing. Especially when it comes to these little people who just shouldn’t have to deal with this stuff.”  

I’m thankful that I can do that…that I can be totally honest about how I’m feeling with my God. No lightning hit me. No sudden illness overtook me. No ill-effects whatsoever. There is comfort in being honest. It isn’t like He was unaware of the situation or my feelings about it.

The interesting thing is my daughter who was sharing and crying in my arms, stopped and looked up at me. (Thankfully she was unaware of my tumultuous prayers.) She said, ‘You know Mommy, I was watching a boy sing on a show and he shared about his life. It was really bad. He didn’t have anything, even any parents. He’s adopted now, but he wasn’t until he was 9. And I thought that I shouldn’t be always complaining about my life. His was much worse. My life is not bad.”  (actual words)

Out of the mouth of babes…as they say…into the ears of the old. Yes Lord.  

Not that I think we should live without recognizing our struggles and challenges because God allows things to happen in our lives that can feel and are very difficult. But sometimes it is good to be reminded that even with those struggles and challenges we are blessed.

I am blessed.

Maybe as we talk about single parenting, that is the best place to start.  Recognizing that even though these life circumstances are not awesome, we are still blessed. Those small (or sometimes big) people God has graciously given us to love and raise are blessings. Huge blessings. It seems like a no-brainer to say that, but sometimes I act like this parenting thing is a burden not a blessing. Sometimes I get so overwhelmed by the stuff involved in parenting, I forget to just look at these precious people.

Just look at them…oh my heart!  

And honestly, I can think of about a hundred little things I take for granted that I shouldn’t. Like the fact that I can read words, type on a laptop, have a moment of quiet early in the morning, drink my hot cocoa coffee, sit on a comfy sofa in my comfortable and safe home, sleep on a bed loaded with pillows and blankets, feed my children 3 meals a day, drive us all to school together, buy the clothing and supplies that we need, wash and dry my clothes at home, afford to eat out every once in a awhile, talk to friends any time I need to, fellowship at church every week, and occasionally buy a book I can’t wait to read.

Better than all the small things – God has given me people who graciously love me.  Friends who never wavered when my life exploded or imploded or however you want to describe it.  Friends who include a single parent and her people in their family activities. Friends who love me regardless of my life circumstances. 

And even better, Jesus loves me…relentlessly, unconditionally, and compassionately.

I am not invisible to Him. Never was. Never will be.

I truly am blessed.

I love letters.  Not the actual letters…like “a, b, c, d…” although they certainly are handy…but I love hand-written letters.  It’s been a disappointment of my busy life.  That I can’t write long letters. I’m relegated to short texts with massive amounts of typos.  

I suppose I could say each blog is a long rambling letter sent to many friends.  But there’s a difference.  I’m not quite as personal or vulnerable as in a letter.  Someone is thinking, “More personal?!?  Sharing more vulnerably?!?  Woman, you share a lot!”

I’ve been reading Paul’s beautiful letter to the Ephesians, rich with imagery and encouragement, praise and prayer.

Prior to becoming a single parent I’d been studying the extraordinary armor of God with the hope of someday writing about it.  But things happened and I see how God has deepened my understanding of that armor.  The ponderings of that younger, less-overwhelmed-by-life me, although not wrong, are not as insightful or even to some degree applicable as I’d like.  

To prepare to study what that armor is, why I’d want to wear it, and how to put it on, I’ve turned back again to the beginning of Ephesians eager to see how the letter is a preparation for the introduction of the armor of God.  

The first chapter is a powerful presentation of the gospel, but this morning I am particularly impacted by Paul’s prayer in chapter 1.  A godly man’s ceaseless prayer for awesome things for his siblings in Christ.

What powerful things to pray for those we love…

That they may have a spirit of wisdom

If you could read my journal, you’d see that my #1 prayer is, ‘Lord, please give me wisdom.”  I pray that prayer for my children… occasionally.  I am convicted.  

Sometimes when I pray for wisdom, it’s more like a “Hail Mary” prayer thrown out in desperation.  ‘Lord, help!  I need wisdom!”  And often I think I doubt that I’ll get it in time. I forget that God gives generously to those who ask.  It’s His desire as well as mine that I live wisely.  He will give me wisdom to walk well with Him. And He has given me His word, an imperative part of getting wisdom.  I just need to ASK.

As a parent with children reaching their adult years, I can’t begin to tell you how desperately I pray my children will live and act wisely for their sake.  But I want to pray more that through wisdom they will know and love God more deeply, passionately, and fully.

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who give generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.  But let him ask in faith, without doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.  For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. James 1:5-8

That they may have a spirit of revelation in the knowledge of Him.

I looked up revelation – it means “uncovering”.  I’m trying to figure out what a spirit of uncovering means.  Feels like there is some deeper meaning to it.  But maybe it’s like an “aha” moment.  Like uncovering a gift and seeing it, possibly for the first time.  This gift is the knowledge – the understanding – of Him.  The wonder of this gift is I can continue to uncover it more and more….each uncovering revealing another beautiful understanding of who He is…and who I am.  

And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ.  He is the true God and eternal life.  1 John 5:20

That the eyes of their hearts will be enlightened

The eyes of my heart…rather an odd phrase really.  But when God says to fix my gaze on Him isn’t He also saying to fix my heart on Him?  A fervent prayer is that my heart be toward Him…my affection be directed to my Lord. It’s my wish for all my children’s hearts to be God’s.  That they will love the Lord with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength. (Deuteronomy 6:5) That because their hearts are toward Him they will not just know of Him, but truly know Him.  

That they may know the hope to which he has called them, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints.

HOPE.  There is something wonderful about that word.  Who doesn’t want hope?  And our hope, well it’s pretty amazing.  The expectation of things to come.  The assurance of something better.  The beauty of our hope – it isn’t some far-off hope that someday we get to have or do something.  It is the promise of our salvation.  The guarantee of a heavenly party, a heavenly feast, a heavenly mansion and, most wonderfully, Him for eternity.

Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.  Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. Hebrews 10:22-23

That they may know what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe…

Sometimes doesn’t it just feel like we are at the mercy of our circumstances, the decisions of others, our emotions (dare I say it, hormones?) and the dictates of life?  It does to me. Sometimes I completely forget that God is all-powerful.  The power that created the universe, that designed and made each delicate feature of the smallest creature, that made me fearfully and wonderfully, that created me with a purpose, that loved me to the Cross…that same power that raised Jesus from the dead…that power is at work within me! And for some reason today, that phrase ‘his power toward us who believe” is particularly poignant.  It comforts me to know that not only do I have His power working in me, it is working on my behalf.  Always has been working for me.  The same power that saves me, sustains me.  I want my children to know that power…to understand the strength that God gives not just for salvation, but for every day.  

So today, I will pray for my children, my family, my friends…for you and even for me.  That God will bless all of us with wisdom, revelation, knowledge, enlightenment, hope, and the comfort of knowing that God’s power is in you and toward you.

In Jesus’ name. Amen.