When I first learned I would be writing a book, I thought, “No way, Lord! I read for FUN, and I only write for myself! Besides, I don’t have a story!” He whispered to my heart that everyone has a story and I was to share mine. That same afternoon, my girls and I were sharing a devotion time together and we read some Psalms. Psalm 34 and 30 in particular caught our attention because of David’s praises to the Lord for turning his mourning into dancing and girding him with gladness. The last two verses of Psalm 30 were underlined in my Bible with a note written next to it, “Waiting for that day when my mourning turns to dancing.” Tears welled up in my eyes and spilled down my cheeks. I wiped them with the back of my hand as I continued reading the last verse: “To the end that my glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent. O Lord, my God, I will give thanks unto thee forever.”

The past two years of my life have been unstable to say the least. Several months ago I took an online stress test and I remember telling my husband afterward, “If I ever do anything crazy, tell everyone I wasn’t even ON the charts for the stress test! Make sure they know I had it coming!”

After thinking on it a while, I thought I could at least try writing my story for others to read, but I instructed God, “I’ll write for you, but just don’t make me speak in front of people!”

I spent endless hours trying to write my story but it wasn’t working so I finally gave up and prayed, “Lord, if you want me to write, You’re going to have to give me a story!”

He gave me Sarah’s story.

Abraham and Sarah’s story is one of the most historical and well-known stories of the Bible. Their story is inspirational not because they were perfect but because they were used by God despite their imperfections. Sarah struggled with many things –inadequacy, inferiority, unworthiness, disbelief, and the list goes on. Despite her struggles, God still used her in a mighty way. He gave her grace when her faith wavered and strength when she was weakened.

And this is where my story is similar to Sarah’s. Being a mom is not easy. Being a mom when you unexpectedly lose your own mom is even worse. Being a mom to six precious children including newborn twins WITHOUT my mom was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to go through. It was a dark time for me but I clung to the Lord and His promises and He was faithful through it all.

This isn’t a story of grief or even surviving—it’s a story about thriving when life doesn’t go as you planned. It’s about being the mom God intended you to be when difficulties arise and you suffer hardships. It’s about God’s grace, His forgiveness, and faithfulness to see you through every situation. It’s about trusting God instead of your emotions and believing you are a special creation when the world says it’s not cool to be a mom, especially a mom to “the masses.”

God had a very specific plan for Sarah and she has been called the “Mother of all Nations.” Yet, she experienced unbelief when she was at her darkest hour—everyone else was experiencing the blessing of offspring in the midst of her barrenness. She was barren, heartbroken, and lonely but not forgotten. Never forgotten. God was with her every hour and gave her grace. Despite her wavering faith, He even saw fit to include her as the first woman named in Hebrews in the “Faith Hall of Fame.” What an honor!

I love that Sarah is noted as a woman of faith. It’s such a picture of grace that through our sufferings, insecurities and struggles, we aren’t disqualified from being used as God’s vessels. If God can use Sarah, He can surely use us. As long as we are willing, God is able!

Psalm 34:1-8 says, “I will bless the Lord at all times: his praises shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make her boast in the Lord: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad. O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together. I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears. They looked upon him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed. This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the Lord encamped round about them that fear him, and delivers them. O taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man that trusts in him.”

My prayer is that as you read this testimony of God’s goodness, faithfulness, and deliverance in my life and Sarah’s, you’ll be encouraged and inspired to tell of the Lord’s goodness and his praises will also be in your mouth. Let’s exalt His name together!

 

Warmly,

Amanda

P.S.

Since I wrote this to include with my book proposal over the summer, I thought I would update you on what God has been doing in my life since then. Not only am I writing a book and keeping up with this blog, but God has opened many doors for me to begin speaking in front of people. I often think of Moses when I picture myself speaking in front of people. I’m absolutely terrified to be in front of a crowd but since I attended the She Speaks conference this summer, God has pressed on my heart to lead a Bible study in my home which was scary but I love it now! I’m still teaching precious first graders every Sunday and I absolutely love teaching them God’s Word. AND….I had the opportunity to speak to a group of mothers and daughters last weekend about True Beauty and what God has to say about our appearance. I’m not gonna lie–there were no nerves of steel to be found that evening and I valiantly kept my dinner down, but I found myself enjoying it and I’m just thrilled God is allowing me to testify of His goodness and what He has done for me and what He can do for you!