(I am thrilled to welcome Terri Sherrow as my guest blogger. Terri serves on the Prayer Ministry Staff of Christian Grandparenting Network.)
I have been a single mother since my forty-year-old daughter was six years old. I didn’t choose for my marriage to end, While I did what I could to hold my marriage together, the divorce happened, and I had to move on to a new way of life.
Raising my daughter alone was overwhelming. I was filled with guilt, financial struggles, fear, worry and sadness. The self-help books, magazine articles, and websites for single parents only served to reinforce these feelings. Eventually, I gave up on outside resources and decided to do the best I could.
Looking back upon these years, I now realize that I HAD a book for guidance. The Bible, God’s Holy Word, was my foundation for strength and wisdom.
Did I struggle and have difficulties? Of course. Being a single parent is hard when you’re trying to meet the emotional, spiritual and physical needs of your child as well as for yourself. I erroneously thought I was raising my child on my own, but I wasn’t. I now see that I was never alone. In fact, many of my memories from this time are filled with God’s peace, tenderness, and all-encompassing love.
Christ tells us “…My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9). The LORD’s grace was with me when my walk was strong, and His grace was with me during my periods of weakness. Whenever I felt distant from God, I would turn to Isaiah 41:10 for assurance that He was with me: “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
God’s Word never failed me. He was faithfully beside me every step of the way. He gave me everything I needed. Nothing was missing, and nothing was lacking. He was my provider, protector, and my peace when life got messy.
If you are a single parent, you don’t have to do it on your own. Dwelling on all the unpleasant or bad things that have happened will only keep you imprisoned by them. Choose instead to cling to God, trust in Him, and seek His wisdom. As difficult as it may be for you, nothing is too difficult for our God. He will give you everything you need (Philippians 4:19).
God remains faithful to me, and I’m still bearing fruit. I cultivated faith in my daughter; and now I am blessed to cultivate that faith in my grandson.
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