Gathering a few (not so) random thoughts from the last chapter of This Was Never the Plan by Vaneetha Rendall Risner (subtitled: “Walking with God Through the Heartache of Divorce”).
On waiting: “God’s timing is precise, not random, and He will not let us wait even a moment longer than necessary.” (p.139-140). My take: God is seldom early, but He’s never late.
On Satan’s influence: “Satan’s goal is always the same: to push us from God.” (p.141). My take: Satan’s goal has been and always will be to get us to stumble, thereby, destroying or hindering our testimony.
On permission: “God permits what He hates to accomplish what He loves.” (Quote by Joni Eareckson Tada-p.143). My take: God’s purpose is the opposite of Satan’s (see previous thought). God’s goal is to always bring about good, not evil.
On finishing: “God’s story never ends up ashes.” (Quote by Elizabeth Elliot-p.146). My take: God is an expert at taking the ash heap of our lives and making something beautiful out of it.
One final one: a writing by ulli-Kaye called fires.
“and if you have ever been abandoned, be a constant. if you have ever been wrapped up in nights so dark, you could not find your way back home, be light. if you have ever fallen apart in a thousand, fractured pieces and wondered where on earth everyone has gone, be present. if you have ever felt unworthy. unbeautiful. unseen. unknown. unheard. be love. i tell you the truth. some of the most precious things we learn, are from the fires we’ve endured.” (p.137-138) {Note:written exactly as she wrote it}
I hope these thoughts stirred your heart this morning. They did mine last night. Which one touched you the most? (I highly recommend this book-divorced or not. For the one who is or has been it will be a game changer).
God can always make beauty from ashes if we allow Him to. These are all wonderful quotes and observations this morning, Bill. May we all be open to how the Lord is working for good in our lives.
Blessings!
I remember the song by Crystal Lewis years ago called “Beauty from Ashes.” I believe that! He works differently in all our lives. As you say, let’s be open.
Having been through a divorce that I did not want, my ex-husband’s affair. I still tried to keep the marriage together and forgive him, but he chose to leave to be with her. That was a broken heart that lasted a really long time. However, in that heartache, I ended up leaving the catholic church, and my oldest brother (Gary) started me down the path of understanding the difference between religion and a relationship with Christ. So God took those ashes, and changed my life forever. Even though that was an extremely hard time in my life to go through, the lessons I learned from God, the relationship I found in God, I learned how to forgive completely without ever getting an apology. God does take brokenness, and make something beautiful out of it.
You brought tears to my eyes Gail. What a beautiful testimony of God’s forgiving love and grace and your willingness to follow Him into a relationship and forgiveness yourself. Thank you Gary! I hope to meet him someday to tell him to his face.