Keep the Faith

Dear PW,

   I have been going through a transition of sorts these last few months and I just wanted to let you know that I feel blessed that you are my cousin. I hate that as we grew up we did not get to spent more time with each other but I wanted to let you know that I feel lucky to know you.
   I've been going through some horrible things recently... husband troubles mostly. Through reading about your life through your family blog and the stories of your friend Sarabeth it has helped me renew a faith that had long ago been lost. And out of all my so called friends, Sarabeth is the one that reached out to me. A person that does not even know me and really shouldn't care- but does.
Much love!
Cousin in Crisis

Dear Cousin in Crisis,

   Thank you so much for this sweet note! I love you and I wish that we had spent more time together when we were closer too. It is funny how things work out and if it was not for my move that took me over 700 mile away from my family I would have never made that  family blog and then we might not be having this conversation right now.
   It just goes to prove that we know nothing about the plans of God. In so many ways I can look back on my life and see times when I had little faith in how God could really be working things out for the good in my life, but when I chose to continue to trust in Him, He worked things out in a miraculous way.
   I had no idea about your failing marriage and I would love to help in any way. If you ever need to talk I am always here for you. Like I said I have really no clue what all is going on, but I am sure that all of this started about the time that you decided to let the Lord make a change in your life.
   That is how Satan works. In my short years as a pastor's wife I have run out of fingers to count the times that I see this same thing happen to new members in our church. Satan's stratagy always seems to be one of division. It is so much easier to bring down a family from serving the Lord by stirring up trouble between the husband and the wife.
   I know that it is hard to keep the faith through all this, but I strongly encourage you that if you stay on the path the Lord has for you HE WILL WORK ALL THINGS FOR YOUR GOOD! Read this verse daily and remind yourself that God has got it all under control: "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28

A few facts that I have learned in times like you are facing:
 -God does not always, actually rarely ever does He reveal His "plans" to us until after they come to pass.
 -and that He is on His own time schedule not ours, He will show up and show off at just the right time:)

   I love you and I think that when you are weighing whether or not following the Lord is worth losing the life you have known, remind yourself of your childern's recent decission to turn their own life over to the Lord and become a Child of God. I promise that it will make all the difference.
-PW