By Janet Perez Eckles:
If you are overwhelmed by devastating news, turn to God to give you freedom from worry and fear.
My hubby, Gene and I walked in the house, exhausted yet delighted by the moments of joy with our grandchildren.
“Think of all that we would’ve missed.” He said, “Aren’t you glad we stuck together?”
He was right. There was a time when our marriage was close to the cliff of divorce And I had been on the verge of despair.
Nine years into our marriage, he confessed he had another person in his life. I froze with shock, and burned with rage.
He was the man I truly loved and who had promised to stay with me for better or for worse. And now, the father of our three sons ripped his affection away from me and gave it to someone else.
Rejection mixed with anger was the poison that took me to the verge of complete defeat. What was it that kept me going? I don’t know. Maybe something I read, maybe a message that came in someone else’s words of encouragement.
Looking back, God was with me and I didn’t even know it. He nudged me to cling to life. He was the force that kept me from giving up.
Even when the circumstance didn’t show a glimpse of hope, God was at work, carving a solution. He was creating an answer. And little did I know that darkest of despairs, the most searing pain and the heartache of rejection would turn to good.
Eventually, trusting in His Word, receiving His promises and believing in His ways. I learned three important lessons:
*Another person, even my husband is not responsible for my joy and happiness.
*God is the only one who can make me whole.
*My provision didn’t depend on my husband, but God would be the one who would provide for my every need and that of my sons.
*I drew wisdom to react, to face each moment and to endure each day from God’s Word.
Hope trickled in. Courage shone for the first time. And self-respect nudged me to confront my husband.
“I didn’t force you to marry me,” I said, “And I won’t force you to stay with me either. You’re free to go.”
Days later he made his choice. “I’ll be devoted to you and the boys,” he said, “I’m leaving everything else behind.”
Twenty five years after that episode, we’re more in love than ever. At times, the “what if’s” come back. What if I had decided to end it all? I’d miss the sweetness of reconciliation. What if I had given up? I would have missed the pure joy of our grandchildren. What if I had listened to the despair that mocked with hopelessness? What I would allowed fear to take over? I never would have seen that God has the solution. He has he answer in ways we never expect, in the timing we cannot comprehend.
And in the circumstance no one else could foresee.
©Janet Perez Eckles. Janet is an international speaker and author of best-selling Simply Salsa: Dancing Without fear at God’s Fiesta. Visit Janet at www.janetperezeckles.com, on Facebook or on Twitter as @janteckles
About the same time, Janet began to lose her sight. In this video she shares how God helped give her freedom from worry:
