Teresa's Story...Never Alone

 As I am sitting here writing this it is with a heart of thankfulness and praise for a faithful and loving Father who never gave up on me.  God allowed me to make the choice to walk away from Him in anger and experience the world for what it is a place of people who need and long for their Savior, and in desperate need of His love and grace.

I grew up in a home where I experienced and witnessed a lot of abuse.  Yet, even in that I knew that Jesus was with me and His angels would help and protect me. 

I went on to marry and have 3 beautiful children.  They grew and I then had 6 grandchildren who God has protected and blessed despite my choice to drink.  My first husband was killed in a car accident after 20 years of marriage and then about 2 years ago my second husband passed away from sudden heart failure while I was at work making me a widow twice over.  At the age of 55, I was completely alone.  I had made my husbands my god and without them I didn't know what to do or who I was.  After their deaths I drank even more not really wanting to continue on and was overwhelmed with depression, tiredness and loneliness.  Also, my heart and mind was burdened with Satan's lies and my own sin.

I now know the all-consuming loneliness was my Spirit  

longing for the intimacy with my Lord.  The one who never leaves and loves unconditionally.  I had put God on man's level of love and how horrible that is to live like that.   

At Teen Challenge God has unveiled so many revelations.  His wonderful grace, His agape love.  He has broken strongholds to bring light to dark places that I had never gone before and to replace with the wisdom of His Word.  A verse that God unveiled for me that I claim in victory every day is this,  

"I do not fear because I will no longer live in shame.  The shame of my youth and the sorrow of my widowhood will be remembered no more.  For my creator will be my husband, the Lord of Hosts is His name.  He is my redeemer, the Holy One of Israel, the God of all the earth." Isaiah 54:4. 

I have been in an earthly refuge at Teen Challenge away from a lot of everyday challenges of life that bring inner storms in order to be able to heal, grow and to see and hear with the Spirit of my Lord and the guidance of staff.

I leave here with the knowledge that I am never alone my spiritual refuge is always with me.  I go into the world to turn this knowledge into wisdom as I apply God's grace and love to the world.  At the age of 56, I am so grateful He walks with me always! It is never too late with God!