We sat in shock as Maggie shared the tragedy that had ripped her heart wide open. It was a story of the deceit, hidden secrets, a double life almost, that took place around her, and it all came crashing down with one powerful knock on the door. There was no more secrecy, no more hiding in darkness, only the consequences of the choices that her husband had made. She wondered aloud to us if she would be strong enough for the challenge ahead.

After 14 years of marriage, she was loved well by her husband. Their marriage hadn’t been easy, but there was no doubt of his love. Thus, the early morning knock on the door by the detective was completely shocking to her because while life wasn’t perfect, she had no idea that his secrecy had taken on this form, requiring legal intervention.

Over the next few months there were phone calls to be made, there were meetings and required expenses, and there was fear, Maggie said, lots of fear. She faced difficult and embarrassing conversations with many, including those who questioned why she didn’t pack up her husband and ship him back home – or why she didn’t take the kids and hit the road. Why would anyone stay when someone else has almost utterly destroyed life?

She told us that her answer wouldn’t be enough for us.

She wasn’t even sure it was enough for her own heart in the midst of all the pain.

What could possibly entice her to stand beside her husband despite all the wrongdoing?

“The grace of God,” she stated, firmly and with a strong voice.

“The redemptive grace of God that is freely available for even the worst of sinners.”

Some who questioned Maggie’s reasons laughed right in her face, or shook their head at her seemingly-misguided judgment.

Yet she stood, asking, begging and almost daring God to prove Himself faithful if He was, indeed, asking her to remain steadfast in her marriage.

Maggie described the peace that God gave her in the midst of the tumult she faced. It was more than just a feeling – you could tell her peace was soul-deep, a peace that passed understanding. We certainly could not understand it, others would not attempt to understand it, and she herself was blown away by the power of such peace.

“It’s God’s hand on my head,” she whispered, “keeping me right where I am, and not letting me move. I believe He is asking me to be still and to watch while He works in my husband and in the various circumstances of our lives.”

A glance around the table revealed a mix of emotions, mostly disbelief. Maggie was the good one – the one who was raised well, educated well, the one who balanced and juggled everything that was thrown at her. Yet, we now witnessed a different view of her – complete brokenness. She was stuck in this mess, unless she left. She had an easy ticket out, but chose not to use it.

And with that, the questions swirled in my head:

Why? Why did her husband have to go and mess up so badly? Why did she choose to stick it out? Why not check out of her marriage and move on to a life without the legal hassle, where she could move past the loss and rebuild her own life?

I heard her say that she had no choice but to trust God through this.

But really, who has that much faith in God?

Maggie explained that she wanted her husband to experience the grace of God’s forgiveness and redemption in his own life. It may be the last chance he would ever get, given the situation he had to overcome.

“God has given me hope from the very first moment,” she shared, while gently adjusting the wedding band on her finger. “I trusted Jesus completely when my eternal salvation was on the line. This is my beloved, with salvation – both spiritually and physically – on the line. If I truly believe that God can do what He says He will do, why wouldn’t I stay to see God work?”

“It’s an unpopular decision and I know it,” Maggie whispered.

She spoke of loss that resulted from her decision to stay, of friends who chose to let go, of mental, emotional and spiritual turmoil.

Yet in the next breath, though her voice shook, she told us of catching a glimpse of Jesus every step of the way. She shared about gifts of grace and mercy that were extended to her by complete strangers and by family and friends.

Maggie’s situation doesn’t deserve the favor of God – at least that seems to be the general opinion of most, maybe even my opinion, too, if I’m being honest.

But that’s the thing about grace – it’s undeserved.

Despite the mess that Maggie shared with us, she shared an even greater measure of the grace of God within her marriage. Maybe it’s because she asked for grace, time and time again, that it was heaped upon her in overflowing measure.

Or maybe it’s simply the way of God – full of grace and mercy for those in need.

Maggie’s story is a difficult one, one that won’t be completed for her anytime soon. The worst is hopefully behind her, but the future remains uncertain.

For all that she has endured, for all the doors that have closed, she remains confident that God is moving her family in a new direction. While she’s not sure what that is, she has confidence that God will open new doors at just the right time.

Maggie’s confidence in God? It’s unshakeable. Unwavering.

The reason for that confidence?

Purely, the grace of God.

*names have been changed to respect privacy

Has God ever moved you on? I’m sure we’ve all faced that in our lives, in one way or another. There may be fear and insecurities in the transition process, but when we are following God’s will, we know He will redeem those fears and be faithful in what He’s called us to do. Today, my friend, Kaylene, shares her redemption story of Leaving the Amish culture and how God showed His faithfulness to her.

* * * * *

“Have I not given up enough already?” I cried.

I collapsed onto my bed, weak and feeling suffocated by the sheer weight of what I knew the Lord was calling me to.

Hot tears streamed down my face, each one carrying fear, anxiety, disappointments and anger at the uncertainty of it all.

He was calling me to the unthinkable. I was to follow my husband to a vast, unknown world beyond the Amish community and culture I had known my entire life.

My heart was broken, my dreams shattered, hopes crippled and, I was sure, my prayers unheard.

How could I give up everything I knew, loved and understood? Did God not know that what He was asking was beyond my capabilities? Did He not understand that this meant purposely putting myself and my little family in a spotlight of scorn? Our friends and relatives would not understand. They would turn away. How could I bear watching lifelong relationships dissolve?

Did I even have the courage or the faith it took to leave my Amish heritage?

* * * * *

You can read the rest of Kaylene’s story at her blog. I’d encourage you to click over because her story is so beautiful, so compelling, and one that you don’t often get to hear about, simply because of the culture. She has bravely shared, her experience, for God’s glory! I’m so thankful for this glimpse into how God works so beautifully, even in major transitions in our lives.

If you have a redemption story to share with us, we’d love to hear yours as well. You can get the details for that here: Jump In - What’s Your Story?

He came bounding down the stairs, arms outstretched, shouting, “Daddy, Daddy, you’re home!” His feet couldn’t carry him quickly enough and he went flying into his father’s arms. Pure joy was evident as a son was reunited with his beloved father. It was the first time he had ever responded that way to his dad coming home.

Tears welled up in my eyes as the relationship we’d been waiting for finally began to grow. See, my son has always struggled to form relationships. It’s not that he doesn’t want to be friendly or to love his family, but he struggles with understanding how those relationships work. He has delays that don’t allow him to develop those friendships and relationships at a “typical” age.

That’s the amazing thing about love, though - there’s no “typical” about it. Long before the relationship between my husband and son looked like a typical father-son relationship, there was love there. When my son offered a favorite car to play with, he was showing love. When they walked outside together, that was love. When my son put on his dad’s shoes - love.

I watched my husband carefully over the years; the lack of “typical” relationship was evident, but my husband never let it bother him. He was appreciative of all the other ways that he was able to connect with our son. And then the evening came where our son bounded down the steps, showing his true excitement about his father being home.

Through a lot of perseverance, my son started to understand relationships. And he began to show more affection. The day he actively ran to my husband was the start of something new. It was like the flip of a switch - the understanding that we are family, that we love each other and that we, all of us together, are home.

I will never forget that evening, nor the privilege to be able to see it with my own eyes and experience the moment with my own heart! That was an evening for rejoicing!

And it was a tiny glimpse of what happens in heaven.

I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent. Luke 15:7

Okay, my son wasn’t repenting but he was acknowledging his true need for, and love of, his father in a very meaningful way.

My husband had waited years for that moment, just as any father would.

Just as our heavenly Father waits for us to acknowledge our need for Him and our love for Him.

The verse above is from Luke 15, which is a collection of 3 different parables of Jesus. Each parable talks about a lost item - a sheep, a coin and a son. And each parable in that chapter has a verse that says how much more important the one “lost” item is, than the ones that aren’t lost.

Why is that?

In the parable of the lost sheep, there are 100 sheep and one goes missing. Why is that one so important?
The parable of the lost coin talks about a woman with 10 silver cons who loses one of them. She still has nine - why is that one so important?
And in the parable of the prodigal son, the father has one son who remains devoted to him. Why is the lost son so important to him?

Worth.

It has to do with the worth of the lost item. It was valuable to the one who lost it, therefore it is important.

And so are you, and so am I.

God has made a way, through His son, Jesus, for us to be with Him in heaven. Eternally. Forever. He isn’t willing that any of us should perish - He doesn’t want us to miss out on the opportunity of eternal life.

And that is why He paid so dearly - with the life of His own Son:

to assign worth to our lives.

Think about it - has anyone else paid a price for your life?

Fortunately, many of us come from loving families where our father, or our husband would willingly lay their life down for our life if need be.

But, friends, Jesus has already done that.

Someone has already made the ultimate sacrifice for your life. He’s paid in blood and death.

And while it’s not a beautiful image to conjure up in your mind, the truth is that Jesus’ death gives you the opportunity to choose eternal life.

That’s important there - His death gives us the opportunity to choose eternal life.

The truth is, you can also not choose eternal life.

But God isn’t wanting you to choose eternal death; He wants you with Him for eternal LIFE!

His death assigns WORTH to your life.

He is the father, waiting for His son to realize his need for his father and come running home.

That’s why the night my son came running down the stairs to his father was so precious to me. It was that moment in his mind, and in his world, where he visibly and purposely chose to acknowledge his father. And there was great rejoicing in our home!

When you choose Jesus, when you choose heaven as your eternal home, there is rejoicing in heaven. The angels, Jesus, God the Father - they celebrate your choice! Can you imagine?

If you have chosen home, wonderful!

If you haven’t made that choice yet, today could be your day. Heaven is waiting to rejoice over you. The Father is waiting for you to come running into His arms. If you’ve never made that choice, and you are ready to, it’s just a matter of a simple prayer - and there’s no right or wrong prayer. Just something like this:

Dear Lord, I acknowledge that I need you. You have paid the price for my wrongdoing, for my sins. You’ve placed worth and value on my life because you love me and are full of grace and mercy. Please forgive my sins and make me whole. Thank you for loving me. Thank you for the opportunity to live with you eternally. Help me to learn and grow in You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

If this is your day, please share that in the comments below or find me on social media (icons are at the top of the page) and let me know. It would be an honor to know that another sister or brother is coming home!

Today I have the privilege of introducing you to my new friend, Elizabeth. She has a story to share with you that moves from mourning to dancing, from grief to joy. Elizabeth shares a heartfelt story of girlhood dreams, “Tutu Tuesdays” and the sudden, unexpected loss of her father-in-law. Her daughter’s performance, one that should be full of joy and beauty, was to take place the day before Father’s Day - the family’s first Father’s Day without her father-in-law. How do you grieve such a fresh loss and enjoy such beauty all at once?

Elizabeth’s story is one in which God weaved beauty through the grief, joy into the tears, and drew a family together for all to feel well-loved. God worked beauty through the hard time that this family dealt with, and offered redemption in the situation as only He could do.

Please head over to her site to read the rest of this story. There is so much evidence of God at work, loving this family and working as He does to show just how much He loves us!

Please click over to read Elizabeth’s story.