He Was There All Along
Have you ever found yourselves in the thick of a difficult time wondering where God is? Difficult times plague us all and none are exempt from Satan’s attacks of doubt. Just a few weeks ago, amidst great turmoil in my life, I found myself doing just that – wondering where God was. That night as I was driving to pick up my daughter at the train station, I had the radio on as I prayed for something to give me direction. As I was crying and asking for God’s strength a song came on. Its words were “Don’t give up, I am with you!” “Don’t give up for the Son will shine on you soon.” I was amazed as I sat and listened to the song in its entirety. God used that song to let me know that He heard my cries and confirmed that He is with me and will guide me through this difficult time. Looking back at my life I can see now that there was many times just like this one that God revealed himself during difficult times.
Beginning at age 7 my abuse began by my grandfather, and continued on at the hands of my stepfather into my teen years, needless to say my childhood was not like that of my friends. As a young girl, my days were spent running from my abuser instead of exploring the wonders of childhood, hiding my shame instead of gaining confidence, blaming myself instead of seeing that “it’s not my fault.” My spirit was weak and I wanted nothing more than to be free to grow and enjoy life. I had gone to church as a young girl, but it had been some time since I walked through a church door. Did God love me? If He did, where was He in my life? I had so many questions. Remembering back to those earlier days, I could still feel the happiness that going to church brought me, and I longed to feel the warmth of God’s presence in my life once again.
In my teen years, I baby sat for our neighbors two small boys across the street. Her husband had left her and she was spending her nights going out to bars. One night, while she was dressing to go out, she asked me to go out with her. Wanting to feel better about myself and overcome my self esteem problems, I considered her question. Knowing full well that someone my age was not supposed to be in a bar, I said “yes” anyway. She helped me dress and do my hair and place makeup on to hide the fact that I was only 15 years old! Looking at myself in the mirror I saw a scared little girl who was broken and beaten who could barely hold up her head. Looking again I saw this beautiful young woman filled with confidence waiting to be unleashed, who could take on the world! Could I do this? Could I go out and fit in and still hide the fact of my abuse? Before I knew it, I found myself getting into my neighbors car. We were on our way to the bar of choice for the evening.
As we pulled up to the bar, we found that we could not park in the parking lot. Thinking nothing of it, we parked down the long dark road that the bar was on. Enjoying the evening, we danced till closing. As we walked to the car, my neighbor became fearful and told me to keep walking and don’t look back. Not knowing why she said this I just obeyed. As my heart raced, I could see our car getting closer. Approaching the car, my neighbor said again in a stern voice “Just get in and don’t look back.” As we got in the car, I quickly found out why she was saying this – someone else had gotten in the car with us. As I sat in the passenger seat watching to be sure my neighbor got in, the man in the backseat of the car placed a long knife blade up against my throat as he told my neighbor to drive. We drove endlessly, following every direction we were given by our assailant. He was unsure as to what he wanted to do to us – “do I take all your money and steal the car or do I beat you and tie you to a tree” were his spoken thoughts. The whole time, the knife blade never left my throat. Suddenly, to our surprise, he ordered for us to stop the car and let him out. As quickly as he appeared is how quickly he disappeared. Driving home, the events of the evening replayed themselves over and over again in my mind. I knew that going to a bar at 15 years old was not a good thing, but why, why would God allow something so horrible to happen? Again, I couldn’t help but wonder, “Where is God in my life?”
Watching as my childhood passed me by, I wanted nothing more than to go on dates, go to prom, and prepare for high school graduation with my friends. With my abuse continuing, I struggled daily with depression; lacking motivation to even get out of bed. Would I be able to make it to senior year? Could I hold on till then? With pain and guilt taking full hold of my life, I dropped out of high school, leaving behind my dreams of prom and graduation. My childhood was gone, my self esteem was low, how was I ever to get past this and make something of my broken life? Wanting nothing more than to leave my past behind, I struggled to look on to my future.
As I entered my late teens, my focus was on leaving the pain of my past behind and move out on my own. In my search for a way to do that, I met a man. This man was much older then I, but wanting nothing more than to be free from my stepfather and be out on my own; I accepted his invite to go out to dinner. Before I knew it, 6 months had past, and he had asked me to marry him. Even though I felt as though I barely knew him, I was leaning towards saying “yes” but couldn’t stop my heart from screaming out “Do you love him? Can you take care of him when you are not sure of how to take care of yourself?” Being unsure of my love for him or the fact that I was 18 and he was 27 didn’t stop me and we married.
Early on in my marriage, I knew that there was something wrong. Things were not the same as when we were dating. When angered, my husband would lash out at me, becoming physically violent. I became very confused. What have I done? I was free from the bondage of my stepfather only to find myself in the grips of abuse again! Desperately needing guidance, I sought out God once again. Walking through the doors of a church after so many years had passed brought with it an awkward yet happy feeling. Could I feel the warmth of God that I felt when I was a child? I didn’t know what would happen next, or if God even loved me, but I did know that church was where I belonged.
As time passed, my marriage continued in the path of abuse and distress. Wanting nothing more than to know where God was in my life, I continued going to church. I threw myself into learning all that I could about God and sought Him for direction in every aspect of my life. This brought with it a peace I had never experienced before, even though I still had so many unanswered questions. As I studied God’s word, I could feel changes beginning to happen inside my heart. A new found confidence that I might be able to regain what the thorns of abuse had stripped away was born. Could it be that God was the answer to being free to live again? This confidence prompted me to want learn who I was for the first time. I was excited to see that there was life outside of the walls of the home that I hid in. I began teaching Sunday school, and began to run the sound for the music in our church. It was exciting to see the fruits of my labor; to see that people appreciated the help that I was giving them. This in itself was liberating as I began to see a purpose for my life. Although I was on a journey to learn more about God and His purpose for my life, the trials did not stop coming. A visit to my husband’s cousin’s house quickly comes to mind.
My husband frequented his cousin’s house to hold business that I was not fond of. It was to purchase and sell illegal substances. When he stated that we were going one evening, I requested that we stay home. His answer was “no.” I told him that I felt that something was not right and we should stay home. He would not listen. At that time, my husband was the maintenance man of an apartment complex for which we lived, and received a phone call from one of the tenants complaining their toilet would not go down when flushed. Upon my husband’s visit to their apartment, he found that he would need to call a plumber. Could this keep us from being able to go to his cousin’s house? I was hoping that it would, for the bad feeling that I was experiencing did not subside. Just as we were going to call off the trip, the plumber came and resolved the problem. Not listening to pleads to stay home, we got into the car and started our trip.
The drive to their home required that we use the Garden State Parkway. Heading towards the entrance, we veered onto the ramp that dumped us onto the Parkway itself. It was not long before we realized that we were going the wrong way! Again, I pleaded with him that we should go home for this was truly a sign that we should not go to his cousin’s house. Once again, he argued that nothing was wrong and he would not go home. He turned the car around, found the right entrance and proceeded to his cousin’s house.
Upon our arrival, his cousin’s wife could see that I was distressed and asked if I needed some air and encouraged me to go with her to the store. Wanting nothing to do with what was to go down at that house I said “ok” and told her that I would be glad to drive. I could not get out of that house fast enough. I wasn’t sure what was going to happen, I just knew that something would. Just as we were getting into my car parked on the street, she said “let’s take my car; you are too upset to drive.” Looking at my trembling hands, I agreed. Just as we got in her car parked in the driveway we heard a loud screech and then a bang! Looking to see what happened, all we could see was a car crashing into the back of my car pushing it down the street right passed us as we sat in her car watching the whole thing! Why Lord, Why? Why would you allow this to happen?
By now you can see that my life was not filled with champagne and roses. I would like to share another similar story to the one above, then I will begin to pull it all together for you, and I promise that in the end you will see something amazing. At the height of the abuse in my marriage I continued to push through and uncover who I was – embracing a new avenue to serve others I became an emergency medical technician. I found being there in someone else’s time of need to be extremely exhilarating! I loved every aspect of my new venture. One day, traveling home from picking up my children from school, I saw danger in front of us. The car traveling on the other side of road began to cross over into our lane. Doing a quick visual scan of the situation, I saw that the car crossing over was going to hit the car in front of us head on! Looking in my rear view mirror, I saw that a bus was right behind me. Not sure of what was going to happen, I told my children to put their heads down in their laps in case we crashed. Watching in fear as the car veered into our lane, it did crash head on into the car in front of me. Not wanting to be sandwiched in and possibly crushed under the bus, I drove my car into the oncoming traffic in the other lane, swerving, hoping not to hit anyone. To my amazement, within seconds, I found my car miraculously at rest in a yard, untouched.
We all have our share of difficult times where we may wonder where God is. Amazingly enough, as I look back at my life I can see God’s plan unveiled right before my eyes. Our God is a loving God who cares deeply for us. Even though He does not promise that our lives will be trouble free, He does promise to walk through the trials with us. He was there with me during my childhood, planting a seed deep in my heart through my Sunday school teacher. This same seed would grow over the coming years prompting me to seek refuge in the Lord. I thank God that he loved me during a time when I did not love myself. The evening I chose to go into a bar knowing it was not a place for a young girl, God was there with me. His hand protected me from harm in the car as that knife was pressed at my throat, for our assailant freed us but he killed his next victims. God was also with me at my husband’s cousin’s house even though I knew that what was happening there was against the law. His hand prompted us to get out of my car just before it was smashed beyond recognition. This incident along with the knife assailant became powerful witnessing tools over the years helping others to see God’s love. Lastly, God was with me in the midst of the oncoming car. To this day, I don’t know exactly how I got into that yard, but I thank God that I am alive. He saved me from harm only to have me tend to the victims in the car in front of me who were critically harmed, clinging to life.
We may not understand our troubles at the time they are happening, but if you look close enough you will see that God is with you. Our human nature wants to see the negative in our trials but the spirit of God prompts us to see that there is good as well. When you look for the good in your trial that is when you will see that God is walking with you. As I looked closely at my life, I began to see that God had been walking with me all along.
Looking into my not so distant past, I saw God’s hand in an even more amazing way then I have seen to date. My marriage had ended due to the circumstances I was living in. I was scared; could I make it in this world as a single mother? Was there someone who would love me knowing about the past I had endured? Preparing for my youngest daughter’s birthday, shopping for last minute items, I met Bill. We seemed to keep bumping into each other in the aisles of the Hammonton Shoprite right here in town! He was so cute; he wanted to talk to me but was so shy about it. I was hoping that he would say something, but he didn’t. As we were in line paying for our items, I had one last chance for him to talk to me but again he didn’t. I watched as he walked away. Saddened, I turned to start bagging my things. To my surprise, as I reached my hand down to pick up my groceries to bag them, my hand touched someone else’s hand! As I turned around, there he was, bagging my groceries! Nervous yet excited we talked as we walked to our cars that amazingly enough were parked just a car apart.
As we dated, we began to share our life’s stories. It was found that we both loved Cape May. It did not take us long to find out that I was the 16 year old camera girl who took his families picture when I worked at their favorite restaurant in Cape May. One day, on our way home from the shore, I asked if we could stop to get ice cream. He said “sure” and proceeded to pull into the same ice cream stand that I always went to. Being amazed by how many times we may have crossed paths, we began to look further into our past. As we were sharing pictures, we found that we both had taken a picture of a favorite rest spot in the river that we canoed in. It was found that we canoed in the same river during the same time period and stopped at the same rest spot! Had God had us in mind for each other all along? Curious, we talked more and discovered even more times that we crossed paths. I bought pizza every Friday night at a Five Points; he too went there most Fridays on his way home from work. He used to sell plants at the Berlin Flea Market, and you guessed right, I bought plants from him. I too had a shop, a skateboard shop in Egg Harbor City. I was excited when I found that I had customers coming all the way from Atco, the city Bill lived in, just to shop at my store. When I showed up at Bill’s house for our first date, I was met by his son holding a skateboard in his hand. I asked to see it. Looking at the back, I found our shop sticker on the board. I asked him where he got it. He stated “from a shop it Egg Harbor.” As we looked at each other, we realized that it was me who put his board together.
Even though I made some very wrong choices for my life, God still walked right beside me, righting my wrongs, preparing my way for a better life. Bill and I had been “bumping” into each other for several years, but when the time was right, God lead us to meet, fall in love and marry. God did not stop there; he revealed one more time he was walking with me, preparing my way. I was almost 50 years old and was working with a chiropractor in Cherry Hill. I loved my job. I was learning so many things and was moving up in the office. To my surprise, my boss offered for me to become a Chiropractic Assistant and that he would pay for the course in full. Excited, I began my one year journey. I was diligent to complete my course work in full and turn it in on time. About 2 months before my course was complete, I was advised that upon completion there would be a graduation ceremony. Could it be? Was I finally going to hear my name called out along with my classmates, as I walked up to receive my diploma? Would the dream of graduation that I left behind so many years ago finally come true? As I gained information about the ceremony, I found that it was true; I would be wearing a cap and gown and walk up to receive my graduation diploma. Upon finding this out, tears came streaming down my face. I was in awe as to just how much God loved me. God did not stop there, not only did I graduate; I was chosen as Valedictorian of my graduating class.
When trouble comes knocking at your door, it is Satan’s will that you to believe that you are alone; to stop you from seeking answers; to stop you from growing strong. It is God’s will that you see the good in your troubled time for it is then that you will see that you are not alone. It is then that you will see that God loves you and is walking with you, guiding you through. It is then that you will see that “He was there all along.”
Beginning at age 7 my abuse began by my grandfather, and continued on at the hands of my stepfather into my teen years, needless to say my childhood was not like that of my friends. As a young girl, my days were spent running from my abuser instead of exploring the wonders of childhood, hiding my shame instead of gaining confidence, blaming myself instead of seeing that “it’s not my fault.” My spirit was weak and I wanted nothing more than to be free to grow and enjoy life. I had gone to church as a young girl, but it had been some time since I walked through a church door. Did God love me? If He did, where was He in my life? I had so many questions. Remembering back to those earlier days, I could still feel the happiness that going to church brought me, and I longed to feel the warmth of God’s presence in my life once again.
In my teen years, I baby sat for our neighbors two small boys across the street. Her husband had left her and she was spending her nights going out to bars. One night, while she was dressing to go out, she asked me to go out with her. Wanting to feel better about myself and overcome my self esteem problems, I considered her question. Knowing full well that someone my age was not supposed to be in a bar, I said “yes” anyway. She helped me dress and do my hair and place makeup on to hide the fact that I was only 15 years old! Looking at myself in the mirror I saw a scared little girl who was broken and beaten who could barely hold up her head. Looking again I saw this beautiful young woman filled with confidence waiting to be unleashed, who could take on the world! Could I do this? Could I go out and fit in and still hide the fact of my abuse? Before I knew it, I found myself getting into my neighbors car. We were on our way to the bar of choice for the evening.
As we pulled up to the bar, we found that we could not park in the parking lot. Thinking nothing of it, we parked down the long dark road that the bar was on. Enjoying the evening, we danced till closing. As we walked to the car, my neighbor became fearful and told me to keep walking and don’t look back. Not knowing why she said this I just obeyed. As my heart raced, I could see our car getting closer. Approaching the car, my neighbor said again in a stern voice “Just get in and don’t look back.” As we got in the car, I quickly found out why she was saying this – someone else had gotten in the car with us. As I sat in the passenger seat watching to be sure my neighbor got in, the man in the backseat of the car placed a long knife blade up against my throat as he told my neighbor to drive. We drove endlessly, following every direction we were given by our assailant. He was unsure as to what he wanted to do to us – “do I take all your money and steal the car or do I beat you and tie you to a tree” were his spoken thoughts. The whole time, the knife blade never left my throat. Suddenly, to our surprise, he ordered for us to stop the car and let him out. As quickly as he appeared is how quickly he disappeared. Driving home, the events of the evening replayed themselves over and over again in my mind. I knew that going to a bar at 15 years old was not a good thing, but why, why would God allow something so horrible to happen? Again, I couldn’t help but wonder, “Where is God in my life?”
Watching as my childhood passed me by, I wanted nothing more than to go on dates, go to prom, and prepare for high school graduation with my friends. With my abuse continuing, I struggled daily with depression; lacking motivation to even get out of bed. Would I be able to make it to senior year? Could I hold on till then? With pain and guilt taking full hold of my life, I dropped out of high school, leaving behind my dreams of prom and graduation. My childhood was gone, my self esteem was low, how was I ever to get past this and make something of my broken life? Wanting nothing more than to leave my past behind, I struggled to look on to my future.
As I entered my late teens, my focus was on leaving the pain of my past behind and move out on my own. In my search for a way to do that, I met a man. This man was much older then I, but wanting nothing more than to be free from my stepfather and be out on my own; I accepted his invite to go out to dinner. Before I knew it, 6 months had past, and he had asked me to marry him. Even though I felt as though I barely knew him, I was leaning towards saying “yes” but couldn’t stop my heart from screaming out “Do you love him? Can you take care of him when you are not sure of how to take care of yourself?” Being unsure of my love for him or the fact that I was 18 and he was 27 didn’t stop me and we married.
Early on in my marriage, I knew that there was something wrong. Things were not the same as when we were dating. When angered, my husband would lash out at me, becoming physically violent. I became very confused. What have I done? I was free from the bondage of my stepfather only to find myself in the grips of abuse again! Desperately needing guidance, I sought out God once again. Walking through the doors of a church after so many years had passed brought with it an awkward yet happy feeling. Could I feel the warmth of God that I felt when I was a child? I didn’t know what would happen next, or if God even loved me, but I did know that church was where I belonged.
As time passed, my marriage continued in the path of abuse and distress. Wanting nothing more than to know where God was in my life, I continued going to church. I threw myself into learning all that I could about God and sought Him for direction in every aspect of my life. This brought with it a peace I had never experienced before, even though I still had so many unanswered questions. As I studied God’s word, I could feel changes beginning to happen inside my heart. A new found confidence that I might be able to regain what the thorns of abuse had stripped away was born. Could it be that God was the answer to being free to live again? This confidence prompted me to want learn who I was for the first time. I was excited to see that there was life outside of the walls of the home that I hid in. I began teaching Sunday school, and began to run the sound for the music in our church. It was exciting to see the fruits of my labor; to see that people appreciated the help that I was giving them. This in itself was liberating as I began to see a purpose for my life. Although I was on a journey to learn more about God and His purpose for my life, the trials did not stop coming. A visit to my husband’s cousin’s house quickly comes to mind.
My husband frequented his cousin’s house to hold business that I was not fond of. It was to purchase and sell illegal substances. When he stated that we were going one evening, I requested that we stay home. His answer was “no.” I told him that I felt that something was not right and we should stay home. He would not listen. At that time, my husband was the maintenance man of an apartment complex for which we lived, and received a phone call from one of the tenants complaining their toilet would not go down when flushed. Upon my husband’s visit to their apartment, he found that he would need to call a plumber. Could this keep us from being able to go to his cousin’s house? I was hoping that it would, for the bad feeling that I was experiencing did not subside. Just as we were going to call off the trip, the plumber came and resolved the problem. Not listening to pleads to stay home, we got into the car and started our trip.
The drive to their home required that we use the Garden State Parkway. Heading towards the entrance, we veered onto the ramp that dumped us onto the Parkway itself. It was not long before we realized that we were going the wrong way! Again, I pleaded with him that we should go home for this was truly a sign that we should not go to his cousin’s house. Once again, he argued that nothing was wrong and he would not go home. He turned the car around, found the right entrance and proceeded to his cousin’s house.
Upon our arrival, his cousin’s wife could see that I was distressed and asked if I needed some air and encouraged me to go with her to the store. Wanting nothing to do with what was to go down at that house I said “ok” and told her that I would be glad to drive. I could not get out of that house fast enough. I wasn’t sure what was going to happen, I just knew that something would. Just as we were getting into my car parked on the street, she said “let’s take my car; you are too upset to drive.” Looking at my trembling hands, I agreed. Just as we got in her car parked in the driveway we heard a loud screech and then a bang! Looking to see what happened, all we could see was a car crashing into the back of my car pushing it down the street right passed us as we sat in her car watching the whole thing! Why Lord, Why? Why would you allow this to happen?
By now you can see that my life was not filled with champagne and roses. I would like to share another similar story to the one above, then I will begin to pull it all together for you, and I promise that in the end you will see something amazing. At the height of the abuse in my marriage I continued to push through and uncover who I was – embracing a new avenue to serve others I became an emergency medical technician. I found being there in someone else’s time of need to be extremely exhilarating! I loved every aspect of my new venture. One day, traveling home from picking up my children from school, I saw danger in front of us. The car traveling on the other side of road began to cross over into our lane. Doing a quick visual scan of the situation, I saw that the car crossing over was going to hit the car in front of us head on! Looking in my rear view mirror, I saw that a bus was right behind me. Not sure of what was going to happen, I told my children to put their heads down in their laps in case we crashed. Watching in fear as the car veered into our lane, it did crash head on into the car in front of me. Not wanting to be sandwiched in and possibly crushed under the bus, I drove my car into the oncoming traffic in the other lane, swerving, hoping not to hit anyone. To my amazement, within seconds, I found my car miraculously at rest in a yard, untouched.
We all have our share of difficult times where we may wonder where God is. Amazingly enough, as I look back at my life I can see God’s plan unveiled right before my eyes. Our God is a loving God who cares deeply for us. Even though He does not promise that our lives will be trouble free, He does promise to walk through the trials with us. He was there with me during my childhood, planting a seed deep in my heart through my Sunday school teacher. This same seed would grow over the coming years prompting me to seek refuge in the Lord. I thank God that he loved me during a time when I did not love myself. The evening I chose to go into a bar knowing it was not a place for a young girl, God was there with me. His hand protected me from harm in the car as that knife was pressed at my throat, for our assailant freed us but he killed his next victims. God was also with me at my husband’s cousin’s house even though I knew that what was happening there was against the law. His hand prompted us to get out of my car just before it was smashed beyond recognition. This incident along with the knife assailant became powerful witnessing tools over the years helping others to see God’s love. Lastly, God was with me in the midst of the oncoming car. To this day, I don’t know exactly how I got into that yard, but I thank God that I am alive. He saved me from harm only to have me tend to the victims in the car in front of me who were critically harmed, clinging to life.
We may not understand our troubles at the time they are happening, but if you look close enough you will see that God is with you. Our human nature wants to see the negative in our trials but the spirit of God prompts us to see that there is good as well. When you look for the good in your trial that is when you will see that God is walking with you. As I looked closely at my life, I began to see that God had been walking with me all along.
Looking into my not so distant past, I saw God’s hand in an even more amazing way then I have seen to date. My marriage had ended due to the circumstances I was living in. I was scared; could I make it in this world as a single mother? Was there someone who would love me knowing about the past I had endured? Preparing for my youngest daughter’s birthday, shopping for last minute items, I met Bill. We seemed to keep bumping into each other in the aisles of the Hammonton Shoprite right here in town! He was so cute; he wanted to talk to me but was so shy about it. I was hoping that he would say something, but he didn’t. As we were in line paying for our items, I had one last chance for him to talk to me but again he didn’t. I watched as he walked away. Saddened, I turned to start bagging my things. To my surprise, as I reached my hand down to pick up my groceries to bag them, my hand touched someone else’s hand! As I turned around, there he was, bagging my groceries! Nervous yet excited we talked as we walked to our cars that amazingly enough were parked just a car apart.
As we dated, we began to share our life’s stories. It was found that we both loved Cape May. It did not take us long to find out that I was the 16 year old camera girl who took his families picture when I worked at their favorite restaurant in Cape May. One day, on our way home from the shore, I asked if we could stop to get ice cream. He said “sure” and proceeded to pull into the same ice cream stand that I always went to. Being amazed by how many times we may have crossed paths, we began to look further into our past. As we were sharing pictures, we found that we both had taken a picture of a favorite rest spot in the river that we canoed in. It was found that we canoed in the same river during the same time period and stopped at the same rest spot! Had God had us in mind for each other all along? Curious, we talked more and discovered even more times that we crossed paths. I bought pizza every Friday night at a Five Points; he too went there most Fridays on his way home from work. He used to sell plants at the Berlin Flea Market, and you guessed right, I bought plants from him. I too had a shop, a skateboard shop in Egg Harbor City. I was excited when I found that I had customers coming all the way from Atco, the city Bill lived in, just to shop at my store. When I showed up at Bill’s house for our first date, I was met by his son holding a skateboard in his hand. I asked to see it. Looking at the back, I found our shop sticker on the board. I asked him where he got it. He stated “from a shop it Egg Harbor.” As we looked at each other, we realized that it was me who put his board together.
Even though I made some very wrong choices for my life, God still walked right beside me, righting my wrongs, preparing my way for a better life. Bill and I had been “bumping” into each other for several years, but when the time was right, God lead us to meet, fall in love and marry. God did not stop there; he revealed one more time he was walking with me, preparing my way. I was almost 50 years old and was working with a chiropractor in Cherry Hill. I loved my job. I was learning so many things and was moving up in the office. To my surprise, my boss offered for me to become a Chiropractic Assistant and that he would pay for the course in full. Excited, I began my one year journey. I was diligent to complete my course work in full and turn it in on time. About 2 months before my course was complete, I was advised that upon completion there would be a graduation ceremony. Could it be? Was I finally going to hear my name called out along with my classmates, as I walked up to receive my diploma? Would the dream of graduation that I left behind so many years ago finally come true? As I gained information about the ceremony, I found that it was true; I would be wearing a cap and gown and walk up to receive my graduation diploma. Upon finding this out, tears came streaming down my face. I was in awe as to just how much God loved me. God did not stop there, not only did I graduate; I was chosen as Valedictorian of my graduating class.
When trouble comes knocking at your door, it is Satan’s will that you to believe that you are alone; to stop you from seeking answers; to stop you from growing strong. It is God’s will that you see the good in your troubled time for it is then that you will see that you are not alone. It is then that you will see that God loves you and is walking with you, guiding you through. It is then that you will see that “He was there all along.”