"Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong. And do everything in love." I Corinthians 16:13-14
Kicking and screaming in 2007. Like a disobedient and overwhelmed toddler drama queen, that's how my heart responded to the circumstances I found myself in. And no choice. No way out. Really God? I mean, hadn't He given me enough in the past year? A husband deployed to Iraq for a year, a senior in high school applying to colleges, a daughter getting married in the summer, a junior higher with a bad case of mono and a cancerous lesion on her shoulder needing surgery? And now I was supposed to move to Germany? Leave two daughters and aging parents an ocean away? We were to ship our car and household goods, saunter back and forth across the entire country for the wedding, drop our daughter off at the college dorm curb and move to Europe. All within 2 weeks. I felt abandoned. I didn't know how to physically do it, much less emotionally readjust to a husband who had spent the last year in a war zone and say goodbye to two daughters at once. I wrung my heart out to God, "Why have you abandoned me?"
The next Sunday, I took my angry heart to our military chapel with our two youngest daughters. Another well-meaning military wife had just encouraged me, "Oh, you'll love Germany!" I didn't want to hear it again. Not one more time. How could they understand? And why was I attending a place of worship? I sat during the singing, arms folded tightly. Don't. talk. to. me. The chaplain took his place in front of the congregation. What he said next I'll never forget.
"I had a sermon all prepared, and last night, God told me to change it. There's someone or maybe several people in here who feel like God has abandoned them. And so, today, my message for you is: God has not abandoned you."
I'd like to say that after that glimpse- into- eternity encounter, my heart changed completely. It didn't. Yet this God of grace took the screaming toddler inside of me and held me close. He did not condemn. He held my hand across the country and back, at the wedding, and on the dorm curb. He took it again as we crossed the Atlantic Ocean. I learned that saying yes to God means saying no to me.
I have met many women who live out extraordinary circumstances in what may appear to some as mundane existence. Some reside in small, Midwest towns where they were born and will probably live out the rest of their lives. Some don't know where to call home because the military has moved them so much. Others press on in ministry, whether it be in rural churches or urban soup kitchens. Women who have turned their palms up and said, "Yes, God!" with bowed hearts to the Creator, even though they may not understand His ways. Women who may never be well-known by the world's definition of fame, but by exemplifying strong faith inspire others to follow Christ with abandon.
The beautiful, energetic Army wife whose second son was born with Downs Syndrome. She and her husband named him William for William the Conqueror. And he conquers milestones. His optimistic, hilarious mother handles her life with grace, humor and
thanksgiving. She said "no" to self-pity.
Yes, God.
The mother of 4 naturally born children and one adopted who was given an opportunity to adopt 4 more from one family. She and her husband brought these 3 girls and 1 boy into their hearts and home. 9 children. And then she quit her full-time job to love them through their past into a hopeful future, because God nudged her to
trust Him with finances. She said "no" to fear.
Yes, God.
The 80 year old senior who can't make it to church very often anymore because her husband is chair-bound. She loves visitors, because she cares for her groom, sitting with him for hours and ministering to his needs. She's been taking care of him since 1969. 44 years. She lives out the covenant of marriage vows that she took so many years ago in
sacrificing love. She said "no" to self.
Yes, God.
The church planter's wife with a passion for Jesus and His Word who wonders every day, "Who will you put in my path to introduce Jesus to? When will You establish this church?" She homeschools 3 kids, clings to God's promises with her husband,
stands firm and
shows courage. She said "no" to wavering faith.
Yes, God.
The great-grandmother whose 3 children, 7 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren still live within 50 miles of where she was born. She and her retired farmer husband keep the house and land that his parents owned. She still works part-time as a pastoral care coordinator in the church she has been a member for 59 years, participates in the women's ministries, and
passes on her humble heart and joyful faith to the generations in her family. She said "no" to discontentment.
Yes, God.
A young teenage girl over 2000 years ago who met an angel and was told she would bear Emmanuel, Jesus, conceived by the Holy Spirit. Literally, breath. God chose her because she was an ordinary girl-woman whom He knew would say yes. She said "no" to needing all the immediate answers.
Yes, God.
Ordinary women. Extraordinary faith. What can we learn from those that God has called to say no to say YES to Him? Palms up!
