Embracing a Vision
Speaking to hundreds of people was not my idea of fun when the Lord showed me a vision 12 years ago. Frankly, it scared me to pieces. I always knew God had a plan for my life because He gave me a new hope when I found Him after being in an abusive relationship. After sharing the vision with my husband, I quickly proceeded to block it out of my mind. I really didn’t want to embrace such a bold thought as public speaking.
In the following years, trials came and went and life went on. Then, I was dropped into the biggest valley when we had our first child. I had Post Partum Depression. It was a huge test of my faith in more ways than one and I thought I was losing my mind. I put on the ‘good’ face of a ‘good’ mother, but I almost lost hope. At times I felt I would certainly melt under the heat of intense pressure right between the floorboards and disappear. Of course God had other plans. The sharp pain of heartache, guilt and shame throughout this valley in my life was part of the process that my Maker was taking me through. Instead of melting into oblivion like I wanted to, I was being shaped and made into a person who wanted to share her story. I found myself talking about post partum depression with friends and my heart went out to those who were suffering and felt alone. I knew what it could be like after having a child and I wished I knew of a Christian resource I could tell them about. After coming away from encouraging another hurting mom, I prayed ‘How can I help?’ I didn’t really expect a reply but ‘Write a book’ was God’s response. Even though I assured Him I wasn’t a writer, He said ‘He didn’t ask if I was a writer’. I just needed to be willing.
Only God could have orchestrated the way things came together during the three years of development. It was a dream come true to see Letters of Hope through Post Partum Depression published in September 2008. I had the privilege of sharing my story for the first time that fall. It just happened to be in front of a few hundred people. After coming off of the church platform my husband reminded me of the vision. Like a flashback in a movie, it was just as I had seen it 12 yrs ago.
Since then, God has taken this little resource through Revival Nation Publishing to many places; from the U.K. to the U.S. and places locally like our cable TV channel. I’m glad to have a part in raising awareness about Post Partum Depression. It is unfortunately widely misunderstood and often suffered in silence. There is a hope and a higher plan for our tough times and the shaping of our character. During the process of our struggles God can transform our tragedy into triumph and make us the people He wants us to be. My prayer is the same today as it was when He started this project. ‘Lord, this is your book…take it where you want it to go…I am willing.’
At the end of 2010, Revival Nation Publishing closed it's doors and Letters of Hope went out of print. There were plans with Revival Nation for an expanded version but, was God shutting the door?... or was this just a speedbump in the journey that required a slight change in direction? Again my prayer was the same, "Lord this is your book...take it where you want it to go…I am willing". Time and again God amazes me with how He orchestrates each journey and even though times are tough, He is there! After much prayer and waiting on the Lord, I'm happy to say that More Letters of Hope is being released Fall 2011. I'm reminded of verses found in Jer 29:11-13 that reassures us of God's plan and his faithfulness. "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." There is hope and I'm excited to see where the journey leads!
In the following years, trials came and went and life went on. Then, I was dropped into the biggest valley when we had our first child. I had Post Partum Depression. It was a huge test of my faith in more ways than one and I thought I was losing my mind. I put on the ‘good’ face of a ‘good’ mother, but I almost lost hope. At times I felt I would certainly melt under the heat of intense pressure right between the floorboards and disappear. Of course God had other plans. The sharp pain of heartache, guilt and shame throughout this valley in my life was part of the process that my Maker was taking me through. Instead of melting into oblivion like I wanted to, I was being shaped and made into a person who wanted to share her story. I found myself talking about post partum depression with friends and my heart went out to those who were suffering and felt alone. I knew what it could be like after having a child and I wished I knew of a Christian resource I could tell them about. After coming away from encouraging another hurting mom, I prayed ‘How can I help?’ I didn’t really expect a reply but ‘Write a book’ was God’s response. Even though I assured Him I wasn’t a writer, He said ‘He didn’t ask if I was a writer’. I just needed to be willing.
Only God could have orchestrated the way things came together during the three years of development. It was a dream come true to see Letters of Hope through Post Partum Depression published in September 2008. I had the privilege of sharing my story for the first time that fall. It just happened to be in front of a few hundred people. After coming off of the church platform my husband reminded me of the vision. Like a flashback in a movie, it was just as I had seen it 12 yrs ago.
Since then, God has taken this little resource through Revival Nation Publishing to many places; from the U.K. to the U.S. and places locally like our cable TV channel. I’m glad to have a part in raising awareness about Post Partum Depression. It is unfortunately widely misunderstood and often suffered in silence. There is a hope and a higher plan for our tough times and the shaping of our character. During the process of our struggles God can transform our tragedy into triumph and make us the people He wants us to be. My prayer is the same today as it was when He started this project. ‘Lord, this is your book…take it where you want it to go…I am willing.’
At the end of 2010, Revival Nation Publishing closed it's doors and Letters of Hope went out of print. There were plans with Revival Nation for an expanded version but, was God shutting the door?... or was this just a speedbump in the journey that required a slight change in direction? Again my prayer was the same, "Lord this is your book...take it where you want it to go…I am willing". Time and again God amazes me with how He orchestrates each journey and even though times are tough, He is there! After much prayer and waiting on the Lord, I'm happy to say that More Letters of Hope is being released Fall 2011. I'm reminded of verses found in Jer 29:11-13 that reassures us of God's plan and his faithfulness. "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." There is hope and I'm excited to see where the journey leads!