Turning Darkness to the Light of His Grace

Kerrville Daily Times Article

October 2013

Four years ago this week,  life as I knew it changed dramatically when my late husband left this earth. He had been a part of my life since I was sixteen. As I flip through the pages of my life since then, I see each page stamped with God’s grace. What do I mean by that statement? God’s power to uphold, cradle a broken heart, lead me into the unknown and give me life again has sustained me. II Corinthians 12:9 was one of the scriptures that God would always remind me of in times that I thought I could not go on. “But he said to me, My grace is sufficient for you, my strength is made perfect in weakness.” (NIV)

My father always taught as a child to be strong. Even though I was a girl, my dad would always say, “Suck it up, be strong, you are a Jones.” So for much of my life, that is what I did. Yet, I find in scripture, God wants our dependency to be on His strength, not ours. That was a freeing revelation for me as I found it was ok to be weak and dependent on God and embrace our emotions, instead of burying them. I had permission from God to embrace my weakness. I didn’t have to be strong, I just had to trust in Him more, instead of myself.

As I look at the chapter of my life story now, things look very different. Much has changed. There are new people in my life, , a new husband and grand babies, new people I work with, and many new adventures. God’s grace, his power and love have brought me to a new place in life. The key in trials and uncertainty of life is not letting the trial overwhelm you. Many many times, I had to push the overwhelming feelings away and preach to myself to simply trust God in the pain and look to His power, not mine. The greatest thing I’ve gained, is experience with God in the valley of life. Those experiences have made me a rich woman, although the cost has been great. The beauty is, I get to give that life to other broken and afraid people. 

Isaiah 42:16 is marked and dated  about two years ago in my Bible. I held on to the promise and now I know it is true. It says, “ I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them.” (NIV) God has navigated me when I was on an unfamiliar path learning to live alone. He has guided me and we have had some really fun adventures along the way. When grief would knock my feet out from under me and life seemed dark, God put me back on my feet and turned the light on. He has given me strength in the rough places and grace to extend to others that haven’t walked where I’ve walked and caused me more pain. God never forsake me, although at times it felt like it.

I am living proof that His grace is sufficient. Wherever you are in life, grab on to His grace. Let God lead you through the darkness at home, in your job, in your relationships, illness, in your grief, or in your finances. He loves you dearly and so do I.

Kathleen Maxwell-Rambie is a native to the Texas Hill Country, a writer and speaker. She is passionate about helping people discover their value and worth and God’s love, You can reach her at kathleenmaxwell1@gmail.com or visit her blog at www.themaxwellminutes.blogspot.com 

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