Throughout the summer, Dearly Beloved will feature testimonies from people across our CPC family. There's something powerful about hearing how Jesus has been at work in the lives of those among us, and we hope these stories encourage, challenge, and strengthen your own faith as we celebrate His goodness together!
Have you ever prayed for something with an image of what the answer would look like in your head? I have. Around 1984, I was in a place in my life where I knew I needed change. I cried out to God and said, “God, if you are real, please help me out of this, and please help me to find a wife with shared values that I could build a family with.” He answered and gave me Linda and three wonderful children. Together we raised our family to know God and to serve Him. We firmly believe that all good things come from Him, and if He is in the centre of their lives, they will have all they need. (Proverbs 22:6) Our young family thrived as we centred our lives around church, school and all things kids-related. Then teen years! Our daughter Jane started to question her faith and a God-centered life. As she drifted away from family values, I started to question myself. What did I do wrong? Did I pray enough? Did I teach them enough? Was I a good enough example? After a particularly bad night of worry for both my wife and I, we both awoke in the morning with a clear message that we were to release her to Him. What I was forgetting was that God is more than able, and He is always faithful. As He chased after and rescued me, He was also chasing after her to rescue her. Gradually my prayers shifted as I realized that it was not about me and what I did or did not do, but rather about her. I began praying a hedge of protection around her, discernment in situations and events in her life, that she would continue searching. I knew God wanted her to find Him. (Jeremiah 29:13) From this moment on, I was filled with a peace that surpasses all understanding and a new hope. I continued to pray with the assurance that God is sovereign and was working out His plan for her. Our relationship with her slowly shifted as we participated more actively in her life and life choices without judgment. We kept building into our heart connection with her. In this hope-filled time, I imagined her serving God with a joyful, generous heart, praising Him. I have always wanted my kids to have a giving heart, helping others in all sorts of ways. This is what I imagined her doing. Fast forward 20 years. My daughter now has 4 children with her partner Adam. AND just in recent months, they have BOTH dedicated their lives to God and are committed to Him. Jane has returned to Jesus! Now her and Adam have begun raising their family with Godly values. They will soon publicly declare their faith through water baptism and are making plans to be married. When I had imagined my daughter serving God once again, I had not factored in that God would go over and above and give her a man who has now also committed himself sincerely and passionately to serving Him and who has a desire to raise their family in Godly ways. They are now partnering to help others and to serve Him in all that He calls them to do. (Don’t hesitate to say Hi to them the next time you see them in church. They love people!) If you are praying for someone in your life, do not lose hope. God is working behind the scenes in ways you cannot see, and the answer will be over and above anything you can imagine. (Ephesians 3:20) - Pierre Comtois
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