By Heather Randolph (A MOPS mom)
I want to share with you a part of my beautiful mess. I have received countless blessings in my life, including my two beautiful children. One particular blessing is how God has impacted me, and worked in my life.
Most certainly the lowest point in my life was my recent divorce. It was like trying to find my way through a pitch black cave, with just a lighter. Everything was new, unknown, and scary.
I questioned everything. Was I making the right decision for me? How will this affect my children? Can I make it on my own? I felt incredibly low, depressed, and helpless. I was treading water for too long. Floundering in self-doubt, and misery.
It was like trying to find my way through a pitch black cave, with just a lighter.
One night, while lying in bed, God spoke to me. He threw me a life vest, just when I thought I couldn’t tread anymore. Without having to paddle, my arms were free to let go of everything. I could let go of past guilt. I could let go of all the bad decisions I had made, all the heartbreak, and the vengeance I felt so deeply.
I could let go of all the bad decisions I had made, all the heartbreak, and the vengeance I felt so deeply.
I grew up just like a lot of people I know. I went to church every Sunday, but had no concept of what faith was. There was no feeling, just habit.
Shortly after God spoke to me, I decided to start attending the church I grew up going to, more regularly. I started taking classes to help revive my faith, and soon I was baptized as an adult. God was now part of my life and in my heart. I began to look at the bible with a new perspective.
God was now part of my life and in my heart.
As I continue to grow in my faith and understanding of God one thing I have been striving to work towards is putting God first. Matthew says, “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”
It can be very hard to let everything go and trust in God 100%. With a good foundation in the Lord, and making His will a priority, all other priorities will fall into place. You will have the tools to excel.
But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Philippians also mentions this in 4:13 saying, “I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.” It is okay to ask God for help. It is so easy to get caught up in our own lives. Worrying about how to be the best wife, mother, daughter, the best worker, the best boss.
Things are going to happen. Casseroles are going to get burnt. You may want to leave your kids at their grandmas because they just won’t stop misbehaving. Your boss might be on your last nerve or your bills might be towering over you. Trust in God, and he will give you the tools.
I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.
Another thing I’ve been trying to do on this journey is pray. It’s so hard to do, until you think about it and realize that with minimal effort, you have all the time in the world. You can pray while brushing your teeth, waiting at a stop light, in the bathroom, during a commercial break, wherever, whenever.
It is written in John, “ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.” We are moms, we can multitask. We can juggle a prayer or two throughout the day. Thank God every day.
Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.
God has already given me so much. He has given me courage, given me guidance, and helped me remember that there is a plan for me, and that I am worthy of that plan. He answered my prayers.
There is a plan for every one of us. Love yourself, and what you have become. God has helped me improve upon this. I love being a “glass half full” person, and it feels good. Nobody is perfect, and that’s okay. We don’t need to be, Jesus was perfect for us. We can all be striving for progression, and find perfection in Jesus.
God has worked wonders in my life, and hopefully my beautiful mess has helped at least one of you have an “aha moment,” or relate to something, or rethink a certain situation in your life. I pray that we can all love ourselves, love God, and let him guide us.
Remember that wisdom comes from experience…..and experience comes from making mistakes.
There isn’t a wise person out there that doesn’t have a trail of messes behind them. In the end, I think there is beauty in all the imperfection and I love where this beautiful mess is taking me.
This is a testimony to how God has worked in Heather’s life. She shared this testimony at the St. Luke MOPS annual Tea and Testimony meeting in April.
