I feel like I’ve known this gorgeous gal for ages – as Facebook tricks me frequently into thinking I know people better, and for longer, than I actually do.
She gets giddy while talking about trees, will happily run to the corner store and buy deodorant for you if you’re speaking at her church and have absent-mindedly forgotten to apply said product (ahem), and is one of the most gracious, humble humans I know.
Meet Jennifer…
WHAT’S YOUR STORY, MORNING GLORY?
I begin by borrowing words from the very wise Fresh Prince of Bel-Air:
“Now this is a story all about how my life got flipped- turned upside down. And I’d like to take a minute, just sit right there. I’ll tell you how I became redeemed by the Glory in a small town near nowhere.”
I knew there was something amiss during our honeymoon. Twenty eight days after our wedding vows were exchanged, I was served divorce papers. This catapulted me into a faith journey I was unaware I even needed to go on yet thankful for the trek. Unprepared I stumbled and made terrible mistakes. But our God is great and each day of my journey He wooed my heart back to His. His grace allowed forgiveness to permeate our shattered marriage and with perseverance we rebuilt our holy union. Many of the lessons we learned were small stepping stones for the next phase in our marital life. After five years of marriage we decided it was time to expand our family. Only God would have known how imperative it was for us to learn what we were capable of as a couple as we scaled a mountain of infertility for the past 11 years. Heartbreak birthed hope once again as we continue to surrender our family plans to His plans. We may not have children of our own yet, but God has answered our prayers by giving us many nieces, nephews and Godchildren we can love on, speak into their lives and be an example for them. We have become stronger together through each of these trials. We praise God for revealing many of His character’s to us so we have hope for each day and know the power of the Holy Spirit’s peace. We have learned to trust Him in our walk as a couple and we encourage each other to remain obedient to where the Lord is leading us next.
WHAT DID YOU DISCOVER ABOUT YOURSELF DURING THIS TIME?
The ugly discovery was I realized just how incredibly stubborn and prideful I was. Luckily, God had His was with me and redeemed me. From there I discovered no matter the circumstance, infidelity or infertility, God’s peace can be present anywhere you need it. Having this peace gives me the hope I need to go through the day and continue to seek God where I need Him in my life. Now I find myself eager to share the hope I have because we all have access to it, no matter the trial we find ourselves in. There really is nothing we cannot get through when we have the power of Christ to draw our strength from.
WHAT DID YOU DISCOVER ABOUT GOD’S CHARACTER IN THE PROCESS?
You are never alone, despite what you might feel. God does not leave us and is ever present to the brokenhearted and hears every pleaded prayer. Though He may not answer your prayers the way you would like, He does answer them with His quiet resolve.
WHAT HELPED YOU OR SERVED YOU MOST PRACTICALLY IN THIS SEASON?
Applying the principles of love into everyday life has shaped many life seasons. The best tip I ever received when I am hurting is to insert my name where “love” is in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7. If I am not being how love is defined, I need to humble myself and go before God for forgiveness and help. With His corrections and taking the focus off what I want, I am better equipped for the life He has planned for me.
HOW DID THIS EXPERIENCE EFFECT OR SHAPE YOUR PASSION AND PURPOSE TODAY?
I see things pretty black and white. You can drink society’s negative kool-aid becoming soul toxic or recognize life is a gift so find the joy in each day. Both are a choice you have to make, choose wisely! I hope you seek God because each day with Him you will experience life with purpose.
I understand the concept now that God is more concerned with what He does in me rather than through me. It’s not about what I have done, instead its sharing my story about what God has done in me. I want those who listen to my journey hear God’s glory in my heart. I would be a bitter angry mess if it was not for Him scooping me up and loving me in my pain. It is because of Him I have the testimony I do.
WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO A WOMAN FACING A SIMILAR STRUGGLE?
Recognize you have an enemy who is out to kill, steal and destroy you. Sometimes he will use a spouse or a heart’s desire as his arsenal. Your spouse is not your enemy and just because your heart’s desire has not come to pass does not mean it will never will. So guard your heart! In daily prayer put on your armor of God. Protected in Him and with sword at hand, you WILL have victory in your life.
IS THERE A FAVORITE SCRIPTURE YOU’VE CLUNG TO?
Deuteronomy 1:30-31 NKJV “The LORD you God, who goes before you, He will fight for you, according to all He did for you in Egypt before your eyes, and in the wilderness where you saw how the LORD your God carried you, as a man carries his son, in all the way that you went until you came to this place.”
These verses jumped out at me 16 years ago and continue to bring comfort, courage and confidence into my life today.
WHAT DOES THE WORD HOPE MEAN TO YOU, AND WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE IN YOUR EVERYDAY LIFE?
Hope is how I roll. I get asked frequently about when we are going to start a family and I can honestly say after 11 years of trying, I still eagerly expect God to reveal those plans in His perfect time. Our story is not over.
WHAT ARE 2 THINGS YOU ARE LOVING RIGHT NOW?
Right now, I love being outside at home in the wee morning hours listening to the birds wake up and watch the sun peek over the skyline trees. There is something about a new day that breaths endless possibilities. I feel closest to God in these quiet mornings.
My second love right now is I am secretly crushing on YouTube puppy videos. There is something about those cuties that just makes me smile and I cannot stop watching their adorableness.
THANKS JENNIFER! WHERE’S THE BEST PLACE FOR READERS TO FIND YOU?
You can find me over at www.jenniferswoish.com. Although I am not Instagram fabulous or Twitter savvy – yet, I am there
