The Arkansas Trip: Part 1

Hey y’all!

Please forgive me for the delayed post!  I’ve been out of town this past week and I’m working to get caught up on everything. I just got back from Arkansas where I attended my baby brother’s high school graduation. I can tell you that this is the first time in a while that I wasn’t quite ready to head back to San Diego. At last, it doesn’t hurt to go back (and you’ll soon see why). Arkansas is home and always will be. It’s quite a humbling feeling to know that God would allow such healing in my heart so that I can go home to enjoy my family, friends and all my sweet little blessings back there.

So back to the other Arkansas trip home! That trip was not the glorious adventure that I had hoped. In fact, it was one of the most painful moments of my life. A girl whose heart thought that love could stand against anything in the world was shattered into pieces. And girlfriends, let me tell you something, in the next few lines of this story I pray that I’m careful not to let the enemy get an ounce of glory for the hurt, pain, and devastation the betrayal of divorced caused. Yes, I will acknowledge the real pain and hurt, but I’ll also thank the good Lord for being so much bigger than my circumstances.

When I drove to Arkansas, I hadn’t a clue why my husband wanted a divorce. I knew that his actions and decisions in the past week seemed a bit off, but I couldn’t understand what was going on and I wasn’t sure why or what caused the abrupt change. Before I left to make the 1700 mile drive, my sweet roommate prayed for me and asked God to shine light into the darkness of the unknown. Little did we know that God would powerfully and truthfully answer that prayer, and that He would continue to do so in the years to come.

As I searched for answers, I found that the truth was being revealed to me slowly, in bits and pieces. And thank heavens it was. Because I’m not sure I would have survived as gracefully as I did otherwise!

God answered many of my prayers, not all of them, but many of them. Looking back, I’m thankful there were a few He decided not to answer my way. I’m positive that God knew better … that I didn’t need a big billboard or pink motorcycle in my name! (More on that later.) God revealed answers to my prayers through phone records, a professional counselor that-just-so-happened to return a phone call six weeks later, on the day the divorce petition was filed.  God showed me truth through the deceit, wisdom beyond my years, and family and friends who had my best interests at heart. Even at that point, I wasn’t quite sure what was going on. But I did have a much better idea of it.

Arkansas Trip: Part 2 is soon to follow. I didn’t want to make this post too long, so please expect to see the rest in the next few days.

Much love,

Jes

“To God belongs wisdom and power; counsel and understanding are His. He reveals the deep things of the darkness and bring utter darkness into the light.” Job 12: 13, 22