Have you ever found yourself in a dark place in life, where it seemed impossible to see a way out? Sometimes, it feels more comfortable to remain in that darkness than to take any steps forward. For me, one of those dark moments was going through a divorce. Divorce is an incredibly challenging, lonely, and often embarrassing experience. It’s not something anyone aims for in a marriage. However, even in the depths of despair, I discovered a glimmer of hope. Deep down, I knew this wasn’t the end of my journey.
Growing up in the church, I’d always heard that God could accomplish anything without failure. So, I understood that I needed to fight through this adversity. I was a parent to three young children who couldn’t comprehend the turmoil surrounding them. Although the situation appeared bleak, I refused to accept that it was insurmountable. The very foundation of our lives had crumbled, but it marked the beginning of a transformative journey. A journey where we would conquer. It felt like I had been living in a state of numbness for an extended period as if that numbness was my safest refuge. My divorce had a profound impact on the ministry I was part of, ultimately leading to its closure. I lost not only my home and my car but also came dangerously close to losing my faith in the true and living God. However, I understood that I couldn’t allow this ordeal to defeat me because doing so would mean my children would be affected as well.
Initially, I couldn’t always hear God clearly, but I recalled a sermon that had left a lasting impression, particularly a part of a scripture: ‘I shall not die, but live.’ That’s all I could remember. It was from Psalm 118:17 (KJV): ‘I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the LORD.’ I didn’t know where it was found in the Bible, but I held steadfast faith in it.
During that phase of my life, that scripture became my slogan, the air I breathed: ‘I shall NOT die but live.’ I had nothing else to place my faith in but that scripture. At the time, I worked at a daycare. When the children playing during recess would fall and cry, I would reassure them, telling them they ‘shall not die but live.’ At night, as my children slept in their bedrooms, I would stand over them and declare that scripture over their lives. I did this for years, not just for my children but also for our finances, our well-being, and our mental state. It became the scripture I invoked in every situation we faced. Remarkably, we never went hungry, and our lights never went out. God provided for us in ways that left us in awe.
I learned through that time of our lives that it is important to have a village of people in your life that encourage you. Also, God is always with you therefore you will overcome. Indeed, there is immense power in the Word of God.
