Last Sunday at LECC we wrapped up our summer series of testimonies. You can’t have a testimony without a test. In the New Testament letter of James, the brother of Jesus, wrote these tests to help early Christians who were enduring tough circumstances as they struggled to follow Christ. James stressed the vital Importance of patiently waiting in a time of suffering “because the Lord’s coming is near. Don’t grumble against one another, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged.” (James 5: 8,9) We are not responsible for the conduct of any who may wrong us, but we are responsible for our own! Three wise LECC ladies shared how they tackled responsibilities after catastrophes beyond their control, and with patience and God’s help turned their sorrows into contentment.

Mistie married her high school sweetheart, a man who’d told her before they’d ever had a first date that he was going to marry her. They were married for 23 years and had two children.

“I thought we were the perfect family,” Mistie said, “until he came home and told me, ‘I love you, but I’m not in love with you.’” Mistie found out about his unfaithfulness. But a Christian since childhood, Mistie didn’t want the legacy of divorce. This started her test of patience. She knew that if they could stick it out together, it would show others an incredible testimony. Unfortunately, it became public how he had been unfaithful many times over and was brought up on public charges.

Blindsided, Mistie lay weeping on the porch and prayed, “Lord, I can’t do this alone.” “As I was praying, I felt a hand at the top of my head, so powerful, but yet so gentle,” she recalled. She heard a voice saying, “Even when you’re broken, I’ve got you.”

Kassie also married her high school sweetheart whose job kept him on the road often while she was a teacher and coach caring for their two children. Shortly after their 15th anniversary, he came home and said, “I don’t want to be married to you anymore.”

“I was devastated,” she said. “My main goal was to always be a good wife and mother, so this felt like the death of my marriage and former life.” She started getting more involved at church where her faith grew and many of her church family were very helpful, and then a second catastrophe hit. Her son decided that he wanted to live with his father, not her for a while. With their daughter away at college, she was alone and literally stayed home in bed.

“I felt abandoned and ashamed,” she said. Encouragement from church members and pleading from her girls’ basketball team and fellow coaches got her back to a more routine way of life again. She learned to practice patience awaiting more joyful times.

Courtney had a happy marriage until her husband started drinking heavily.

“I felt like a single parent in a two-parent home.” Then, at 35 years old he had a heart attack, and when doctors gave him a choice of heart transplant treatment or alcohol, he chose alcohol.

For the next six years Courtney was both the family breadwinner and his caregiver.

“I was angry,” she said, “but God was still speaking to me even when I wasn’t speaking to Him. He sent people to encourage me, to grow in my faith, and to pull me out of my dark place.”

Since his death she’s written a touching account of their life together, and she now finds pleasure in dedicating time helping those in need.

These three ladies faced catastrophic tests that turned into testimonies validating the benefits of Godly patience.

They are living examples of the truth of Romans 8:18, which says, “The pain that you’ve been feeling can’t compare to the joy that’s coming.” If you ask any of them today, they will tell you that God has redeemed their suffering. He has brought them closer into a relationship with their Lord and Savior who also suffered because of the choices of those He loved. In their patience, these ladies now serve God’s kingdom each week with gratitude and joy. Looking back, they see their Savior holding them and walking with them every step of their journey.

At LECC we joyfully practice patience as we await even more! Join us at 415987 Highway 9, Eufaula, for small group Bible study at 10 a.m., worship at 11 a.m., and Wednesday night all-age activities at 6:30 p.m. Please remember however difficult your road, it is marked by your Savior’s footsteps.

God Bless You!

Jeremy Little, Minister