A Fine Mess

Guest Post By: Diane Velikis

I was married for eighteen years to a man I thought was my soul mate. Together we traveled the world, and yes, faced some hard times as well. I took care of his aunt with Alzheimer’s for over seven years, loved her, and grieved her passing. During that time I had spinal surgeries that left me in excruciating pain crying out to God for mercy. I rededicated my life to the Lord and prayed fervently for my “good” husband to come to know my Savior. Really know Him.

As a little girl, I often dreamed of returning to North Carolina, and now that my health required a milder climate, we listed our home for sale and planned the move. In a slumped Real Estate market the house sat for a few years. I prayed and prayed for a miracle, in fact, several.

March 2015, my house caught on fire, my husband ran off to…. you guessed it, Myrtle Beach. All was lost. Everything.

I was in utter shock and totally blind sighted. The contradictory of my intense prayers unfolded. My numb brain screamed “I’ve rededicated my life to the Lord. I’m His! How could this be happening?” Husband, home and health, gone. (I came to believe that hell really had three H’s… my sarcastic reasoning remained intact.)

Somewhere in the depth of my spirit I heard a gentle whisper, “For your Maker is your husband—the LORD Almighty is his name—the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer; he is called the God of all the earth.” ~ Isaiah 54:5.

So began the days ahead. I gulped and clung to that verse, even though I felt achy and dazed.

Being “displaced” by the fire, I lived in a hotel for close to seven months.  My self-protection mode kept me a loner even though events and invitations were plentiful. I realize now, that as my heart was under construction, alone-time meant God-time. Throughout this gut wrenching pain, I learned how to make every breath about Jesus, the one who promises to never leave me. I learned that my relationship with anyone else that is placed before the Lord is idolatry. I learned that I don’t need a husband to be complete.

I allowed the Lord to renew my mind. Instead of images of betrayal, hurt and rejection, I received His perfect love and peace.  I had Jesus, and He really had me. The more secluded time I spent with Him, the more peace, comfort, renewed strength, and confidence began to build in my heart.  He’s still working on me, but the emphatic joy is being one with Him! He really is my knight in shining armor.

~Diane Velikis

Diane Velikis worked as a Pennsylvania licensed realtor, and in the travel industry.She writes nestled in the Appalachian Mountains of Pennsylvania with her dog Pugslie.Her three children, and five grandchildren, are frequent visitors. Sharing Jesus and her journey is her passion.
[tweetthis]A Fine Mess–guest Diane Velikis #testifies to what God did in a time of great trial.[/tweetthis]