Through It All

I had many ideals and ideas regarding the way I imagined my life would turn out. These included not remaining poor, not having children out of wedlock, and marrying a loving, lovable, and godly Seventh-day Adventist gent. We would work for the Lord and have six children. We would own a house in the countryside, with a small spring running through lush fields and gentle hills. I had many daydreams back in the day. Reality struck.

Life is certainly not a bed of roses. I suspect that I am not alone. As preteens, the dreams were to start our monthlies and begin wearing training bras.

As teens, the dreams—in fact, earnest prayers—were to have one of the fine young men as an escort to the youth camp meeting dinner or the prom.

As young adults, the dreams were renamed aspirations and were educational, professional, and financial. They also encompassed social growth and development, also known as establishing self as cultures dictate. As maturing women, especially if unwed, marriage and children become the next focus of our prayers. We then become caught up with the needs of our children, who become the focus of our earnest prayers as we teach, train, and love them. Our middle-age years can be filled with prayers on behalf of our husbands, homes, and marriages, which can sometimes face rough waters during this season. By the time we reach our sixties, our prayers erupt in earnest on behalf of our adult children who may have wandered far from their childhood faith. By our seventies, we are paying and praying for ill health that the stresses of our yesteryears have birthed. It would seem a woman’s life is filled with unending demands, distresses, and deficits were it not for God. He is our Peace, Balm, Healer, Helper, Comforter, Hope, Friend, Savior, and Lord. He remains with us always. He is faithful, and He cannot lie. He “is not slack concerning His promise” (2 Peter 3:9, NKJV). He will keep unto the end that which is committed to Him. Sister, “peace, be still” (Mark 4:39, NKJV). Unto Him who is able to do so much more than we could imagine or think, be all the glory (see Ephesians 3:20, 21, NKJV). In whichever season of life you find yourself, may you sense His presence now.

He is near.

Keisha D. Sterling-Richards