by Barb Roose | Jul 1, 2021 | Uncategorized
Three years ago today that I backed up a 18’ U-Haul truck down a narrow alley behind a newly renovated apartment building.
It was over 90 degrees that day, so I couldn’t really tell the difference between my sweat and my tears.
When I took French in school, we learned the phrase “C’est la vie” which is translates “such is life.” This phrase is used when life doesn’t go as planned.
Three years ago today was never in my plans.
The addiction that robbed our family of its wholeness and then came back and suffocated us until we had to leave wasn’t in my plans.
Leaving my home of over 20 years where I raised my kids was never in my plans.
The divorce, starting my life over at 45 alone, still attending family addiction recovery support meetings…none of that was never in my plans.
C’est la vie.
No doubt, you’ve got a few days on the calendar in your life that didn’t go as planned. Maybe right now, you’re in a life-or-death grip, holding on to someone or something that you’re trying to keep together…but it’s tearing you apart.
The best that you can give yourself in life’s “C’est la vie” moments is the Gift of Surrender.
Surrender isn’t giving up.
Surrender isn’t giving in.
Surrender is a gift that we give ourselves.
We surrender when we give over what we love or care about to God because we finally humbly accept that only He can handle it.
Surrender is your only path to peace.
Today, there is still grief and sadness in remembering, but in my living there is blessed shalom. Over the years, God has been abundantly faithful to His promise to give me the peace that truly does blows my mind.
God's love held me together when I was falling apart.
God has provided more than I could ask or imagine.
He healed the heartache.
He surrounded me with the support that I needed.
God wants to do the same for you. Is there something that you’re trying to hold together, but it’s tearing you apart?
What or who do you need to surrender today?
If you need a simple prayer, you can use this: God, I can’t, but You can and I will let you. Amen.
by Barb Roose | Feb 21, 2018 | Better Together Podcast
“I read Bill’s words as he confessed that he had lied to his family and had stolen, and spent, $1,000,000 from his aunt’s trust fund. It was obvious he confessed at trial to get a reduced sentence. I was numb and in shock. I had asked God for the total truth but had never dreamed that the truth would be so painful.
How could my husband and best friend, who I had known since I was five, be a liar, a thief , and a convicted felon? It was excruciating.” -from Lynn’s Story: A Journey of searing, Inspiring Growth and Ultimate Healing
For over 30 years, former corporate trainer Lynn Kampfer lived what most people would consider the American Dream. Married to her childhood sweetheart and raising two kids, Lynn and her family enjoyed the best that life had to offer.
Yet, as Lynn began to search for God the outer edges of her lovely life began to crack and crumble. In this episode of the Better Together podcast, Lynn shares not only her dramatic story but more importantly, incredible lessons learned about God’s faithfulness, provision, forgiveness, and hope. Lynn will definitely inspire you as she shares about surviving breath-taking heartache and how to thrive even as life takes an unwelcome left turn.
As you listen to today’s podcast, I want you to draw hope and encouragement from Lynn’s story especially if you feel like your life is falling apart.
What you’ll hear from today’s podcast:
- How God plants seeds in our lives, even when we’re unaware;
- Even after rock bottom, things can always get worse;
- When you don’t forgive, you’re in a prison doing hard time with the person who hurt you;
- Two important things to know and do when beginning the journey toward forgiveness;
- How God never abandons us when the unthinkable in life actually happens.
Forgiveness is a difficult and often misunderstood concept.
There’s not enough space in this post to properly cover the topic, but I hope that you listen to Lynn’s podcast because you can learn a lot from her journey to forgiveness. It wasn’t easy, but she is so wise in how she journeyed through it.
POST A COMMENT BELOW: Can you tell us about your forgiveness journey? What was hard? How did God help you? If you’re still struggling, how can we pray for you?
