Gill

I know without doubt that God had His hand on my marriage, even through difficult periods, and made it even stronger than before.

I grew up in a beautiful country having many wonderful childhood experiences. In my teenage years a civil war increased in intensity, meaning the war touched us in ever increasing ways. Family and friends fought in active contacts, some died, some injured, all affected. Ordinary civilians suffering some awful atrocities, and no-one was left untouched by this war. This was the background to my becoming a Christian.

I can’t remember exactly what was the trigger to my deciding Jesus loved me, and I wanted to belong to Him, but I knew about Him and saw how deeply many of my friends loved and were loved by Jesus. I attended church formally, but most of my experiences of God and the way He intervened in my own and others’ lives was through sharing this in a small group of younger Christians. Many had experienced God’s protection whilst in battle or under civilian attack. This was my first experience of just how going through difficult times brings me closer to trusting God and growing in my faith.

Over the years, like most people, I have had tough times. During one of several operations relating to a cancer diagnosis I physically felt the arms of Jesus as He carried me from operating theatre to ward bed. I knew it was Him standing beside the nurses caring for me. What love and comfort I felt. He ‘had’ me.

After yearning and praying for another baby for years whilst believing that I was now infertile following chemotherapy, I finally asked God to help me accept His will in not giving me another child. Very soon I was pregnant and had a healthy baby. Doctors warned that this might bring my cancer out of remission, and that due to my ‘geriatric’ age my baby might not be healthy, and I should test and terminate if necessary. After a fleeting panic, I reminded myself that God was in control of my life and that of my baby, and if my baby was not healthy, He would help us with that too.

I know without doubt that God had His hand on my marriage, even through difficult periods, and made it even stronger than before.

My most painful and hard times have been when God has shown Himself most clearly and powerfully and taught me, once again, that I can trust Him to be with me through the rocky bits. God shows His love for me daily, and challenges me regularly to grow in my faith.

I fail all the time to live as God intends for me, but His patience and forgiveness is as great as His love for me. How good is that?