We Are Overcomers

At the age of 39, I had the rug ripped out from under me as the life I had worked toward and hoped for fell to pieces. Success in my career that led me to running my own business along with a second chance at marriage all came crumbling down. I was a single mom with no job, no idea what jobs I could even pursue, living in a small town in Iowa. I reached the point of having to sell everything I could and put my house on the market. I squeezed what was left into a 14-foot U-Haul and moved back to New York to live with my mother. After four months without a job, I finally succumbed to an offer to sell commercial security systems for ADT – when I had zero interest in sales. Not to mention how scary it is to think that I had to measure for the wire needed to install the security systems I sold!

That was not where I thought I would be as I embarked on my 40s. What I didn’t realize at the time was that, while I had a plan, God had a different and much better one than I could have dreamt up. But first, His plan required that I become completely dependent on Him – to seek Him first, lean on Him for strength, trust and follow Him and learn who He says I am.

Perhaps you're in a difficult place in your life right now, wondering what to do next and if you can even get through it. During a recent conversation with my sister, Michelle, she commented on the positive impact she saw from my work as Executive Director for WiM. I joyfully responded, “who would have thought I would be doing this work … 20 years ago!” When I stopped to reflect on where I was 20 years ago, I realized how low I had been brought and just how much God has provided in my life since then. I know He wants to do the same for you.

Over the last 20 years, I have had to walk through a good bit of adversity – financial hardship, six moves, separation from my young son, and job challenges and changes, to name a few. I have also experienced tremendous blessings – a closer relationship with my mom, a healthier perspective on material things, many great friendships, greater humility, increased faith, and the realization that my work matters to God.