Every now and then you meet another writer who just “gets it”. Michelle Crawford’s story and mine, are so similar. Sometimes, brokenness is the way to our Promised Land.
Read and make your mark, here.
I was introduced to struggle early in life, when my father walked away from my family. Since then I have been haunted by abandonment, poverty, and low self-esteem. After two failed marriages and a trail of broken relationship, I had given up on any hope of having a normal relationship. I spent most of my life bitterly resenting the people who walked out of my life. I was in and out of poisonous relationships that were laced with fear and mistrust, but deep inside I wanted to be loved. It wasn’t until I was introduced to Jesus that I discovered that it takes courage to love, and that courage can only shine when we face our darkest fear. It also takes courage to face your Red Sea when your enemy seems to have the upper hand. I can remember standing at the shore of my Red Sea with my knees knocking and my feet planted firmly in the sand. It took every ounce of courage and every bit of trust in God to take that first step. But when I did, that’s when I began to see miracles.
I had given every ounce of my life to being a wife. For twelve years I believed in a covenant that was broken from the moment we said “I DO”. I believed that I could fix it with enough love, hard work, and dedication. It was then that I learned that hurt people, hurt people and two halves do not make a whole. It wasn’t until I began to grow closer to God that I could see the severe dysfunction that was normal to me for so many years. When I began to initiate change in my life and in my marriage, I was met with religion and resistance like I had never seen before. I spent so many nights stunned and knocked to my knees in prayer that I decided to just stay there. Eventually my journey through tears and prayer led me to my Red Sea. It took several heart wrenching wake up calls but I finally got up the courage to cross over.
Crossing over for me meant walking away from an unhealthy marriage that we both knew was beyond repair. It meant waking up to the truth that my marriage was over. To go to the other side I had to admit failure, receive God’s forgiveness and forgive myself. My walk through the parted sea was a journey all in its self. Although I escaped the hand of the enemy, the thought of standing in the unfamiliar place called the promise land was scarier. You see, courage is not only needed to walk away from chaos, or to stand in the mist of trials. But courage is essential on the road to change.
My journey to the free land I stand on taught me that struggle, enemies, set-backs, tears, and pain are tools that develop trust and courage deep inside of me. When I understand this truth, I can count it all joy knowing that I am being perfected. When I embrace struggle as an opportunity to be strengthened, I can triumph over whatever the devil brings my way. When I cry out to God for courage, then and only then can I escape the bitter grip of my past. I can cross over to the other side and walk into the land God has promised me.
Michelle Crawford is a native and resident of Chattanooga, Tennessee. Her life’s story of personal triumph and faith has inspired women from every walk of life. Her love for God has given her a heart to see people healed emotionally through her writings. Michelle’s accomplishments include speaking at women’s retreats, conferences, and hosting small group bible studies. In 2011 she wrote her first collection of bible studies for women. Titles include, “Walking in High Heel Shoes”, “Life Quest”, “Rescued”, and “The Biggest Loser”. She also shares daily encouragement on her blog, “New Life”. Michelle’s greatest accomplishment is her five beautiful children in which she accredits as her inspiration and motivation in life. Her life today is spent being a mom, enjoying her grand kids writing and inspiring others with her story. To purchase a devotional by Michelle Covington-Crawford visit Amazon.com.
To get more encouragement from Michelle Crawford, you can visit her New Life Blog at www.thisnewlife.blog.com , visit her Facebook page, New Life Blog, or you can get the encouragement you need on her BrownGirl Audio Podcast at http://www.buzzsprout.com/12650 .
