I thought I had my life together. I had a loving husband, four wonderful children, and a fulfilling life as an aid worker. We had moved to Indonesia to work with a sheltered workshop for disabled children under the sponsorship of the International Council on Social Welfare and were truly enjoying our experiences.
However, after the birth of my fifth child, things took a different turn. I began struggling with nightmares and depression that overshadowed every aspect of my life. Then my marriage fell apart.
Around this time, I made friends with some other expatriate mothers. They were Christians, and not only did they open their homes and lives to me, but they also prayed for me and pointed me to God’s Word.
With their encouragement, I started finding my answers in the Bible. As I was reading one day, these words in Isaiah 54 moved me to tears:
“Fear not; you will no longer live in shame. Don’t be afraid; there is no more disgrace for you. You will no longer remember the shame of your youth and the sorrows of widowhood.
“For your Creator will be your husband … He is your Redeemer.
“I will teach all your children, and they will enjoy great peace.” 1
Although the passage had been written thousands of years earlier, somehow I felt God speaking to me personally. I didn’t understand all the verses perfectly, but as I read them over and over, I felt comforted.
This was a turning point for me. Not long after, the sad dreams completely stopped, and for the first time in months, I was able to sleep peacefully. My days were happier, too, and my outlook became more positive. I continued living in Southeast Asia and raised my five children, now grown and married, who have already blessed me with fourteen grandchildren.
Looking back now, I realize the extent to which God has fulfilled those promises. He took the broken pieces of my life and put them back together.
- Isaiah 54:4–5,13 NLT ↑