I married at 19. Had a baby at 20. Another at 23, and another at 25, and I was sure my path, my life's course was set in stone. A good baptist girl who mostly followed the rules. I did not see myself being one of "those" women who crash and burn. But I did. My marriage ended after 12 years, and I found myself confused, ashamed of my choices, and broken. I felt hopeless... Like I had thrown away (by choice) my chance at a happy and peaceful life.
That is exactly where I found Jesus. I thought I knew him.... But I did not really know Him until He met me in that place. That place that everyone else seemed to think would be the end of me. He came there. And He stayed.
The labels were hard... Divorced, home-wrecker, adulterer, mistress... I thought those were the names I would carry the rest of my life. And maybe in the minds of some, I still wear them... But not in my own heart.
After the brokenness came healing. After the labels came restoration. After the painful consequences came redemption. And I can't despise a past that brought me those things. I am thankful I am not who I was. And I am thankful to belong to the God of the "after".
Wow. Soooo powerful. God of the after... Sooo true!! Hold your head high and swim in 2 Corinthians 5:17. I love your post!! God bless!! (First time visitor from Five Minute Friday) Blessings!!
ReplyDeleteThat was brave and bold and I'm so amazed that God works and finds us when we need Him most and busts down the doors of our hearts to show us His love. Thanks for sharing your "after"! Just stopped by from Lisa-Jo's place and I feel blessed that I did.
ReplyDeleteHopping over from FMF...
ReplyDeleteLove your words of hope:
I am thankful I am not who I was. And I am thankful to belong to the God of the "after".
Thanking Him with you today!
Blessings,
Angie
Praise the Lord! I love the way you refer to yourself (and us all, after Christ enters our lives) "After the brokenness came healing. After the labels came restoration. After the painful consequences came redemption. And I can't despise a past that brought me those things. I am thankful I am not who I was. And I am thankful to belong to the God of the "after". " It's true, we can't despise learning about our merciful and full of grace Father.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your post. Jenn
PS - I've saved a post for your post on my blog sometime this week. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteKari - to belong to the God of Afters is such a beautiful place to be. We all have a before - a past so we need to be able to see the hope in order to move towards the after. Thank you for pointing us in that direction.
ReplyDeletePS I see you are from AL and I am only a couple of hours south of Huntsville. Small world
This is so beautifully written - praise God for your afters! And for your befores.
ReplyDeleteI loved you before and I love you even more after! :) Continue to allow Him to give you more afters...every morning is a new after and it is filled with new mercies!
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