(NLT) Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for him to act. Don’t worry about evil people who prosper or fret their wicked schemes.
Its hard to wait on God’s timing, I know this all too well. But his timing is perfect, his timing is divine, and his timing is right on time. We tend to get caught up in our own timing, and it’s easy to forget amidst the hustle and bustle of life’s schedules. It’s easy to overlook the fact that we aren’t perfect, nor were we born to be perfect. There is only one who is perfect, and that’s Christ our Lord and Savior. Whenever we are waiting for an answer from God, we expect the answer to come quickly, but that’s not always going to happen. Yes, we ask, and we shall receive, as it is said in scripture. Jesus says in John 15:7 (NLT), “But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be given.” It’s hard to understand this because we expect answers to be bestowed upon us right there and then. However, that’s not how it works. God’s timing is deeply woven into a tapestry of patience and growth, as he waits for us to produce good fruit and remain in alliance with him. He first prepares you for his answer, nurturing your spirit and shaping your character, and then he may humble you in the process. This preparation is not a mere waiting game; it is a transformative journey that builds you with the strength and resilience necessary for what you’ve asked for. Sometimes he says wait, sometimes he says no, and sometimes he says not until you’re ready, each response tailoring the path that leads to our ultimate good. The hardest part is indeed the waiting, where our faith is tested, but he is waiting on your trust, knowing that he possesses the profound wisdom of what is truly good for you and what is not. You have to cultivate a sense of peace with the answers of no and the inevitable waiting that comes with faith, understanding that sometimes the lessons in patience can be just as valuable as the requests we bring before him. As you navigate this journey, remember that each moment of waiting is filled with potential, a chance for deeper understanding, and an opportunity for spiritual growth that prepares you to embrace the blessings that lie ahead.
Waiting for God to send my daughter back to me was beyond agonizing! I had to stand firm on my foundation of faith, stay in the true truth of God, and trust that His timing was perfect. He had to prepare her and myself for what I was asking, a process that required deep reflection and immense patience. We both needed time to cool off and be strengthened for what was waiting for us ahead, a journey that was not just about reunification but also about personal growth and healing. Although my daughter has not yet grown her faith as I have, I knew that God was still working on her, gently nudging her toward rebuking the enemy that tightly gripped her young, innocent mind. The powerful hold the enemy had was abundant and coming primarily from her father, who was telling her lies that sowed seeds of doubt and confusion. She felt she had nowhere else to go, and this feeling filled her with disillusionment and deception, creating a ravine between us. It was heart-wrenching to witness, but I had to believe that God’s love was greater than any barrier or falsehood, and that in His time, we would both emerge stronger, united in faith and understanding.
By the end of October, she was all moved in and back home. My instincts were still to tired lighting as I did not want to interrupt her healing and unraveling of the manipulation that was done. I let her talk when she wanted and didn’t push the healing process. I just simply showed her love and patience one day at a time and she eventually started to open up more and more. It still breaks my heart how this man turned into such a hateful person after 19 years of marriage never once raising his voice at myself or the girls.
At this point, it was the Fall of 2024. My younger two girls were entrenched in the thickness of an ongoing custody battle, a chaotic period fraught with emotional upheaval. They were still constantly arguing with their dad, whose decision-making felt increasingly alien to them. These girls, at the tender ages of 14 and 16, were struggling to navigate not only their teenage years but also the complexities of their fractured family dynamics. He was determined to change everything he could about them: their interests, their friends, and even the small traditions that had defined their experience as students and family members. The attempts to rewrite outdated parenting rules and impose strict limits backfired, driving a wedge deeper into their relationship. The girls didn’t really care for these threats, so naturally, he was turning his own kids against himself, unable to see that his actions were fostering nothing but resentment. Once your kids reach a certain age, there’s no going back; you can’t change them and alter the rules that they have always abided by from the beginning. The constant threats made them worry, leading to anxiety and panic attacks for our middle daughter, who often felt overwhelmed by the pressure to comply. Anger built up in our younger daughter, causing her to fight even harder against her father’s demands and expectations. The girls felt very strongly about not having overnight stays with him and firmly refused to do so, believing it simply wasn’t their home or their beds. They missed the comfort of their own space, where they could find solace away from the fighting, and their unwavering stance served as a testament to their desperate need to reclaim their sense of stability and safety amidst chaos.
He made them feel uncomfortable by trying to force them to take showers at his house, which not only made them feel unsafe but also weighed heavily on them, realizing the complex reasons behind their parents’ divorce. They were acutely aware of the unsettling reality surrounding their father’s infidelity—knowing that he was involved with another man who had been arrested for pandering obscenity of a minor, an unsettling fact that shattered their youthful innocence. The psychological impact of this knowledge took a toll of confusion on the girls, as they grappled with the conflicting emotions stirred up by their father’s actions. How could he, someone they once looked up to, be engaging in such morally questionable behavior? This complicated dynamic of trust began to erode over time, creating a rift in their understanding of familial bonds. They often found themselves mulling over the unanswered questions that arose in their minds: how could he possibly be that reckless without knowing the true nature of the man he was involved with? As discernment settled in their thoughts, their father’s motives became increasingly questionable, leading them to reflect on the many layers of deceit that often lie beneath the surface of seemingly every day circumstances. The innocence of their childhood was tarnished, leaving them to navigate through a landscape filled with uncertainty and heartbreak. Their father couldn’t grasp that what he did to our family caused his children hurt leaving behind a mountain of lies. He didn’t understand why his children no longer trusted him.
The holidays were quickly approaching as it was nearing Thanksgiving, a time usually filled with warmth and joy, yet this year felt strained. It was cold, and the winter months seemly moved in, casting a chill both outside and in our hearts. Football games had come to a close, and basketball games had taken their place on our calendar, creating a rhythm we were all too familiar with. Once again, we were going through the same motions as football season, but with a slightly heavier air of uncertainty and confusion. The girls desperately longed for normalcy, yearning to be like other kids, chasing their school spirit and supporting their classmates with excitement and enthusiasm. My oldest daughter and I drove the girls to their dads one Saturday and they absolutely refused to get out of the car. He tried yelling at them from the door of his front porch. They still wouldn’t budge and closed the car door and said no. They were tired of the fighting and just wanted a normal weekend. Just days before this particular day, their dad had threatened them with words that cut deep. He told them that if they didn’t do as he said that something bad would happen. The girls grew fearful of these words as they didn’t know exactly what he was trying to threaten. This was the main reason for not wanting to go see him on his parenting day.
I tried to get out of my car that day to help with the situation, feeling a surge of urgency to intervene and mediate the escalating tension. He held up his hands, a frantic gesture, and yelled at me not to go near him, his voice trembling with an unsettling mix of fear and anger, insisting that I was to get back in my car immediately. This was a side of him that I had never experienced before, a dark transformation that sent chills down my spine. His eyes were black, filled with an overwhelming hatred directed towards me, making my heart race with anxiety. His demeanor was strong-willed and imposing, his voice raised as he threatened me with contempt if I didn’t make the kids get out of the car, pushing me further into a corner of confusion and despair. I wrestled with the reality of the moment, feeling as though I was not physically wrestling with my daughters, who were 14 and 16 years old, but with the very fabric of our family’s safety and well-being. This man was out of control making threats that something bad will happen if the girls didn’t follow his commands.
His threats have left a lasting impression on all of us, now understanding that this is a portion of the trauma left behind bleeding over into our current lives, seeing everything as a threat. A haunting reminder of the fear that once consumed our thoughts and actions. The weight of those words lingers, intertwining with our memories and shaping our future interactions. As we navigate the complexities of our emotions, it becomes clear that healing will require confronting this painful legacy, acknowledging that we have to surrender this to God.
This man no longer has a permanent hold over us; he can no longer control us or hurt us. We have to break free from the chains that hold us hostage and begin to reclaim our lives. This case is still ongoing, and while we await its resolution, we need to consciously let go of our past burdens and allow God to regain the control He has over our lives moving forward. It is essential for our healing journey to embrace faith, trust in divine timing, and understand that what lies ahead is a pathway to peace and renewal. By surrendering our worries and fears, we open our hearts to the possibility of new beginnings and brighter days, allowing God’s grace to guide us through this challenging chapter.
Walk By Faith Not By sight 