Unexpected Lessons

My family, with my oldest daughter, in February

My family is so very precious to me.  We've been through so much together.  While I wish my husband and I had lived all our lives for Christ, the truth is that we didn't.  We followed our own way for many years.  When Christ found us, we were both in our 30s.  Neither my husband nor I had spent much time thinking about or talking to God since our childhood.  Together, we were raising our blended family the best we knew how.

It's amazing and wonderful how Christ can turn our messes into something beautiful.  This blended family, which statistically should not succeed, is full of people that love Christ and each other.

We recently went through a challenge that tested our faith and trust in our Lord.  My oldest daughter moved away from home. I realize that is a normal part of life.  However, I think this was a search for my daughter.  The lives we led before Christ include the father of my oldest daughters.  My daughter wanted to live with him for awhile, spend time with the brothers she doesn't see often, and see what life is like somewhere else.  Her father doesn't live close, and is in the military.  She only sees him a couple times a year at most.   I let her go, and covered her daily in prayer.

I didn't pray that she would come back.  I didn't want to be selfish.  I knew God had reasons for her going, even if they were different than the reasons she had.  Her dad and his family aren't Christians, so I knew this was going to be more tough than she realized.  It took a lot of trust in Jesus to let her go.  The phrase "unequally yoked" went through my mind a lot, even if that seems harsh since she was moving with her dad.  However, I know she has a Father in Heaven that loves her more than I ever can.

I am proud of my girl.  Alone, she went to a new church in a strange place.  She stayed and helped with her brothers while her step-mom dealt with some cancer issues.  She forged a relationship with her father even if it isn't as close as she wanted.

She is coming back home soon.  I think she feels disappointed because things weren't as she thought they would be.  She feels a little like she failed because she wanted to be able to see her family there saved.  I told her that God isn't done yet, even if she knows it is time to come home, and to keep praying!  Some of the lessons God has for us happen unexpectedly in this journey. 

It is tough, knowing that the choices we made as adults before we knew Christ still have consequences for us and for our children.  I trust that God will use our mistakes for good... Beauty for Ashes.  My daughter loves Christ, and is depending on Him to guide her.  She is coming home to continue her education and see what God has next. 

I have missed her greatly, so I am happy she will be home.  I am very thankful that God  has kept His mighty hand on her while she was several states away.  I am also thankful that He kept her heart, not allowing it to stray from Him, even in an environment not centered on Him.  I know, because of His faithfulness, that He will answer the prayers of my daughter one day for her father and his family.