GOD'S PLAN FOR MY LOSS

BY DONNA WALES

I thought my life was over When my husband threw me out of our second-floor apartment door and down the thirteen concrete stairs, I lost everything important to me I lost my marriage, church family, and job as a Christian school teacher

But similar to God's plan for Esther in becoming queen, He had plans for me, too "Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?" (Esther 4:14b NKJV) I discovered God's amazing love and grace in second chances

When I filed for divorce due to domestic abuse, my pastor called to admonish me In so many words, he said that if I didn't take my abuser back, I would be excommunicated or removed from church membership for living in willful sin. Though I was sobbing into my cell, I told the pastor that I could not take him back. He had threatened to kill me I told the pastor that I would not go back to my abuser in a moment of God's strength I never returned to the church, and I don't know if they removed my name from membership

But God has given me a new church family I am part of an online group of amazing Christian women who love Jesus and strive to serve Him in all that they do These ladies challenge and encourage me to live for Christ during our weekly Bible study and sermon discussions

After leaving an abusive marriage, God gave me an amazing man who loves me unconditionally. We are making many happy memories together.

I lost my job as a Christian school teacher, but God provided an opportunity to teach in public schools As a public school teacher, I cannot share the gospel unless the children ask Again, God provides the opportunities I teach grades 6, 7, and 8 in computer technology, and we begin the year by discussing ethics, expectations, and cybersecurity Ethics starts with Moses and the ten commandments in the Bible as a basis for the laws of our country

Here in Rhode Island, Good Friday is a state holiday One day a student asked, "why is that Friday called Good?" So I shared that the Bible says that Jesus died on the cross to take the punishment for our sins, and that is the Friday that we remember His death On Easter, we remember his resurrection God provides these opportunities to share His word with children who may not have heard before

I get to share my life with a loving man. I share my faith with my students at my job, and I get to share in Bible study with a beautiful ladies' group through my new church. I thought my life was over when I divorced my abuser and lost my church family and job I could not see how anything good would come from my loss; however, God's plan is more wonderful than I could ever ask for or imagine