My hope grew dim and faded, my faith in Jesus tested after my 25 year marriage came to an abrupt end on 24 April 2010. Overwhelming grief struck like a tsunami tide invading my soul.
I had many questions that I asked myself and many of those questions remain unanswered to this day.
My biggest question was how is it that even walking this journey as a Christian that I am not immune to this epidemic of family breakdown??
Statistically in 2010 there were 50,240 divorces granted in Australia an increase of 792 (1.6%) compared to 2009. www.abs.gov.au/ausstats.
One of my siblings and her family helped me pack up my car and assisted me in moving to Queensland to be closer to other family relatives to be nurtured and loved on through this time of difficulty.
Leaving everything behind that was familiar: my family, friends, home job and church was extremely difficult, but necessary for me to start the healing process.
One of greatest encouragement and comforts in my healing are the people who have truly loved me without judgement and accepted me for where I was at - grieving the loss of everything that was.
In and through our afflictions God shows us many valuable lessons. My lesson has been and continues to be in the area of trusting in Jesus for everything, not in my own strength but His.
Alexander Maclaren wrote that each of us can be sure that if God sends us over rocky paths, he will provide us with sturdy shoes. He will never send us on any journey without equipping us well.
"Thy shoes shall be iron and brass; and as thy days, so shall thy strength be" Deuteronomy 33:25
God has proven faithful to me and has provided for my needs. He has been and will always be faithful to his Word as I learn to continually trust in Him, because the word of God says that I can be secure and confident through Jesus Christ.
The Israelites with Moses as their Leader did not enter the promised land without moving forward into the things promised by God. In following God, Moses took his staff and continued the journey with the Lord as his guide.
In the same way I am learning to take hold of the staff in my hand and move forward, for I know that God is always by my side cheering me on in my journey with Him.
Veronica Harris is a qualified nurse who has recently relocated from Tasmania to the Gold Coast closer to her family.
Veronica Harris' archive of articles can be viewed at www.pressserviceinternational.org/veronica-harris.html