I know many of you who reading this are single parents. Some of us, are full-time in that role...our children are with us 24/7, 365 days a year and the responsibility of our children and household, lies solely on our shoulders. I know from letters I receive, that there are some of you who aren't technically a single parent, but because your spouse is gone frequently or is in the military or incarcerated, you find yourself handling things on the home front by yourself. Unless someone has walked in those shoes, it's hard to understand how difficult it is to be responsible for everything in your home, on top of parenting a special needs child/children.
I want to write a word of encouragement to the single parents who read this blog, but this really applies to all parents. Just as you are a loving parent that sacrifices and gives of yourself to care and provide for your children, you have a Heavenly Father, that does the same for you. You are loved and cared for more than you can imagine. He sees all that you go through. He knows how hard you try. He knows the weight that you carry on your shoulders...and He wants to be there for you, like you are there for your children. He wants to be the One you turn to and depend on. When you are weak and don't know how to go on, He will infuse you with His strength. We can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens us. Cling to Him...trust Him to provide for your every need. He doesn't want you to feel like you are on your own. God wants to be with you in every moment of every day. He will never leave or abandon you. Your children are not just yours, they also belong to God. He is your co-parent, your spouse, your friend, the lover of your soul and He cares deeply about your family...He loves them more than you do...
I want to share an example of how God came through for me in a miraculous way. I live in an area with a homeowners association. A few years ago, because of a clerical oversight on the association's part, I received a letter from my association saying they were taking me to court over my yard. I had done some work and they had not credited me for it and so they were demanding that I finish the whole yard. I had received an estimate to fix the problem, and what they required was going to cost $1200.00...and that was a wholesale price. The person who gave me the bid was not going to take a penny to do the yard, they just needed me to come up with the cost for the materials...which was a total blessing, but I did not have $1200.00. With a feeling of panic, I prayed and I said "Lord, you promise to be my husband. You promise to meet my needs. You promise to take care of us, so I give this to you and I am trusting you to handle it, because I can't. Less than 5 minutes after praying, I received a phone call from one of my son's doctor's that I owed money to. She told me that God had just put on her heart to not charge me and to write off all that I owed her. I don't know about you, but I have never had a doctor tell me that before! I had set aside $1,000.00 to pay her and now I could use that to take care of the problem with my yard and the association. In that moment, I felt such love from my Father...I knew that I might have been abandoned my husband, but we were not abandoned by God.
God hasn't always worked in such miraculous ways in our lives, but He has always been faithful...faithful to get me through sickness, faithful to help me pay the bills when I didn't know where the money was going to come from, faithful to give me energy when I have none, faithful to make a way where there seemed to be no way. He will do the same for you friends. Whatever mountains or deficits, you are facing, He knows....He cares...He has not left your side and He will see you through. Count on Him...Lean on Him...lay your burdens and cares at His feet and trust Him to be true to His word to carry your burdens and give you rest. Let me say a prayer for you right now...
Dear Father,
We come before you and I lift all the single parents to you. Father, help them to remember that they are never alone. You are faithful, just and true. You know our needs and you are our hope. We know that this life is not easy, but we are more than over-comers through Christ who strengthens us. Father, for all those who are needing encouragement, I pray that you would show them that you care and that you are there in the dark and hard places. Help them to see your hand on their lives and we ask for your Holy Spirit to fill them with your peace, comfort and joy.
Help them to draw closer to you than ever before, Lord. Teach them to lean on you and depend on you, just as their children depend on them. You will never disappoint us, Lord. What the enemy has meant for our harm, you will use for our good. You will renew and redeem the broken places in our hearts and lives. You will always make a way where there seems to be no way. Father, may they feel your presence today like a refreshing breeze on a warm day. Restore and renew all those who are weary and worn out. For each need...physical, emotional, mental, financial and spiritual...we ask that you would meet them according to your will and in your time. May our children learn to trust in you, as they see us trust in you. May our lives, actions and decisions always point the way to you Lord. Help us to be the best parents we can be, Lord. Be glorified in us, Lord. Help us not to just survive, but to thrive no matter how difficult our circumstances may be. In the name of Jesus we pray, Amen.
Blessings to you all!
Debbie Kay
www.hopeforthebrokenhearted.com
