by Shayla Asselin
God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early.
Psalm 46:5
Whether I’ve known them my entire life, have become friends with them through the years, or have simply admired them from a distance, my life has been full of strong women.
It’s been full of the kind of strong women that stood their ground as all of Hell waged a war against them.
She stood at her husband’s casket with one arm wrapped around her son’s shoulder and the other arm balancing her little girl on her hips.
She sat on a church pew, so weak from the disease that ravaged her body; yet still her hands were raised in worship.
She cried herself to sleep because her baby was getting angel kisses instead of mommy’s kisses.
She prayed that her husband would be saved for 26 relentless years before her request was answered.
She held her children together while her entire world was falling apart.
She lost someone she had to see everyday.
She chose to tell her truth instead of suffering in silence.
She opened up her heart and home to children she may never get to love forever.
These are the kind of strong women I’ve been blessed to know.
She never pretended that life was perfect; and, to be honest, that made me admire her more. She felt all the pain, all the heartache, all the fears - and she still chose not to quit. I saw beauty shining through her brokenness, grace through her grief, triumph through her trial, and faith through her fears. Yes, I saw the struggle. But so much more than the struggle, I saw the survivor. Despite the scars and the pain, she chose to keep fighting. She chose to keep living.
Her heart’s cry became Psalm 46 : 1 - 5:
1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
2 Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
3 Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.
4 There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High.
5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early.
Although the world around her was shaking, she was not moved. God was her rock. She kept her faith, even when her heart couldn’t find a prayer. God heard her silent tears. God saw her unwavering trust. And God spoke peace into her troubled storm. God took what was meant to break her and blessed her. Now, every moment is surrounded by all of the many beautiful reasons why she never quit. She held on to the One who never changes.
I can't write this from her perspective. I've never known such immense pain. However, I can write from the perspective of someone who was inspired by the strength of a Godly woman. If a battle is raging in your life right now, please don't quit. Please keep fighting. Someone needs you - it may be your daughter, it may be your niece, it may be your friend, it may be someone you’ve never even met. This test is producing a testimony that will strengthen not only you, but those around you.
Those battle scars are nothing to be ashamed of. They are signs of victory. They are proof that the Devil did not win. The cracks don't mean you are broken, they mean you were able to withstand the pressure without falling apart. You are a warrior. You are a survivor. You are loved. You are needed. You are wanted. You are a child of God. Let every heartbeat be a reminder of the One who has brought you this far. He will never leave you. He will never forsake you. You are more than a conqueror through Christ Jesus. He is your God. He will uphold you with His righteous right hand. His grace is sufficient for you; and, in your weakness, He is made strong.
Sis, keep fighting. Keep trusting. Keep living.
