Hope for the Single Mom

Family Matters Blog would like to introduce our first guest blogger Jessica Neill.  Jessica is a longtime friend of the ministry, and has so much wisdom to offer moms and women, especially women who find themselves as single moms, or who are navigating the uncharted waters of a blended family.  We hope that you will take her advice to heart in your own life and that her joyful encouragement will lift you up! ****** The first time I said I DO, I meant it. I meant it forever but it didn’t last. I tried. My boys tried. We had months of fasting, praying and waiting. Ultimately, all have free will and that free will changed my husbands I DO to I DON’T and life changed. We were now two sons and a single mom with locked arms heading into life the rest of our lives together. Single moms know, when all you have is each other, you are close. Really close. You deal with hurts deeper than words and emotion can express. Loneliness, abandonment, fear, and insecurity are just a few of the words that begin to express the valley you trudge through together. It sounds hopeless. Truthfully, it can feel hopeless unless you know Jesus. I grew up with Jesus. Grew up trusting him for everything, and knowing He had the whole world in His hands. That world included me and my sons and now it was time for our faith to be tested. You might think I am going to share some pat answers. Share that Jesus answered all our prayers quickly. But I’m not. What I can share is that when we seek God we find Him and our peace comes in knowing Him, not in knowing all the “right” answers. In my brokenness, I started searching God’s word not really knowing what I was looking for but knowing that God would speak. He did. I turned to Isaiah 53 where God explains why Jesus died, and I kept reading and discovered chapter 54. It was like God was speaking promises over me and my boys…and my tears began to flow. I will share some of the chapter and hope you’ll read the rest.

⁴ “Do not be afraid; you will not suffer shame. Do not fear disgrace; you will not be humiliated. You will forget the shame of your youth …  ⁵ 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. ⁶ The LORD will call you back as if you were a wife deserted and distressed in spirit— ¹⁰ Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,” says the LORD, …  ¹³ All your sons will be taught by the LORD, and great will be your children’s peace.

Single mom…deserted wife.  God’s word is there for you. God spoke to me and I know if you seek Him, He will speak to you and give you peace. Jessica is a busy Scottsdale, Arizona mom enjoying her blended family.  She and her husband Wayne have 4 young adult sons and have been married for 4 years.  Jessica is the Assistant Minister to Women at Scottsdale Bible Church and has a background in corporate human relations.