If there is one thing through this storm that I have learned, we all have storms that we go through and hide from. I know that I am not the only one going through the same trials. People have been here before. But why do I choose to hide? Because I feel that I will be judged. I feel like if I hide, no one will know. No one will see. No one will know that I am crumbling on the inside. Instead, I put my big girl pants on and swallow to hide the pain. Truth be known, we all do that. We don't want everyone to know our biggest, darkest secrets. We feel as though there is a huge sign above our heads like a cartoon bubble or something that is blasting out our secrets. We try to run and hide from that.
I have felt a tugging at my heart lately that it may be time to share the story. I'm not sure exactly how to do that but I know that God will reveal that in HIS time. I feel that we have a story that God will do great things with, and I am clinging to that. One that we can help change lives with. I feel like I keep hiding from this but I read another blog today that said something to the effect of "if you keep hiding from it, how will anyone ever know your story or where you came from." I know that was not her exact wording in her blog but that is exactly what I needed from her post. So true. How can I hope and pray that God will use our experience(s) to help other lives if we are not willing to share our path.
Most of our "situations" revolve around a similar date of September 17th. That is the "dating anniversary" Keith and I always celebrated because that was our first date. A date very important to us in our first years together. Little did I know that date would mean so much more to us later. A friend told me that God may be using that date for a bible verse. I started looking up every 9:17 verse in the bible and Romans 9:17 was the verse for us! It says: "...I raised you up for this very purpose that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth." There is was, a missing puzzle piece. This confirmed to me that I do need to let go of the fear of embarrassment, judgment, hate, anger, etc. etc. God has Keith and I going through storms so that HIS NAME would be proclaimed. Did I look at our situations of praise to God. Absolutely not! Many people do not praise his name during storms, sadly they do call out his name but not in praise! Many people question God through storms wondering why they go through the storms they do. Not gonna lie, I have asked MANY times why? But now I know, so that HIS NAME would be proclaimed.
It will be difficult to face the truth in the light but I am excited for what may come of it. Maybe ways of council to ones going through similar trials, maybe through writing (I really do love it) and maybe through public speaking one day. I don't know. That is up to God to decide. But I know one thing, we are ready. Ready to face whatever God has in store for us. I said that several years ago when we started new journeys with closing our businesses and starting fresh. I said that when we decided to open our homes to foreign exchange students, I just had no clue what God really had in store for us.
I am very thankful for all he has brought us through. He has helped us to discover love like no other. He has helped us to depend on each other when we didn't know what else to do. He has helped us to turn to him no matter what puddles or rivers we are walking through. He has blessed us with a beautiful little family that depends on us and that is exactly what we will do.
~Randi
