“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:5, 6).
Washington Irving, the American author famous for Rip Van Winkle and The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, wrote, “There is in every true woman’s heart a spark of heavenly fire which lies dormant in the broad daylight of prosperity, but which kindles up and beams and blazes in the dark hour of adversity.”
How true. Hard times often draw from women creative and shining courage that carries their families through the crisis times.
I have a list of women who I admire and want to be like. One of them is a grandmother who lives in East Timor. During the recent war there, she lost everything when dissidents burned her house for the third time. Although she’s a national religious leader, she was ready to give up. She prayed, “God, my husband is in heaven and I’m already old, take my life now.”
God told this courageous woman to go to the site of her former home and offer Him thanks while standing in the ashes. With a sick feeling in her heart, she obeyed him. As she stood and gazed at her home, she slowly began to thank God. While she did so, God filled her with true thankfulness, hope and the desire to go on living.
Since that day, Senora Gomez has led many people to safety and is now guiding them as they rebuild their lives. God has helped her become a light to a whole nation. She overcame the dark hours. The key to her victory was an obedient spirit and a thankful heart.
Kimberly Snider is a missionary to the Philippines.
From “Moments for Moms,” a free email subscription.
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