My Resurrection Story
“And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.
Romans 8:11 (NIV)
I love Easter. It’s a season to spend time thinking about what Christ did for us on the cross. Throughout Lent, St. James United in Waterdown, ON has been going through my book. From the youngest to the oldest person attending they have taken the past 6 weeks to direct their focus to all that Christ went through to bring us I grew up in a denomination where they didn’t observe Lent. I never knew much about it until this year. It has me thinking so much about all that Christ has done for me… for my salvation… for my Resurrection Story!
My “Resurrection” Story
The reality is that…
Something has to die for there to be a resurrection.
When I went through separation and divorce it was such a difficult time of my life. I had been in an unhealthy 20 year marriage that involved decades of counselling and many times of separation. I lived for a long time separated and didn’t let my friends know.
I was embarrassed, full of shame. I had a broken heart and a broken spirit. I absolutely thought my life was over.
Every dream I had died with the death of my first marriage.
When we’re going through hard times we’re often thinking, no one else has been through it this bad… it’s not fair…I don’t deserve this… God can’t understand me… but He can.
ISAIAH 53:5 tells me that:
“he was pierced for MY transgressions,
he was crushed for MY iniquities;
the punishment that brought ME peace was on him,
and by his wounds I am healed.
ISAIAH 53:5
Jesus was pierced for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities. He suffered and it wasn’t fair. He didn’t do anything wrong.
IT’S MY FAULT HE SUFFERED
IT WAS FOR HIS GREAT LOVE OF YOU AND ME THAT HE SUFFERED
When I went through separation and divorce it was such a difficult time of my life. I lived for a long time separated and didn’t let my friends know. I was embarrassed. I had a broken heart and a broken spirit. I absolutely thought my life was over.
If it wasn’t for my kids I don’t know what I would have done. They were my reason for living. They were struggling so much and needed a mom—more than ever before.
Before all of this heartache, I had been a “Cup Half Full” kind of person, always being described as “bubbly”. There was nothing left in me to “bubble over”. I was depleted of every resource I had. With my marriage ending I thought any good plans I had for my life were over. I thought I would never be able to fulfill the call of God on my life. I thought I would die never having been truly loved. I felt dead inside. Through so many avenues God brought healing into my life: good friends, books, music, counseling, Divorce Care, Church, but mostly through His Word! His Word was always the place I ran to for refuge. I’m SO thankful that I made that my practice when I was younger. Reading the Word was my knee-jerk reaction to pain normally but with all the heartache I at first shied away from reading and praying. I actually had to force myself to read the Bible for a while. The book that had been so alive for me was just words on a page.
The more I read, the more faith began to rise up! I began to understand that no matter if I never experience the true love of a man, my Father in heaven loved me and His love is more than enough!
I was attending and amazing church and each week it felt like the pastor spoke right to my heart and need. A song that was sung often by the worship team was “Healer”. As I sang, the words washed over me and Daddy healed my heart.
“Healer”
You hold my very moment
You calm my raging seas
You walk with me through fire
And heal all my disease
I trust in You, I trust in You
I believe You’re my healer
I believe You are all I need
I believe
Nothing is impossible for You… You’re my healer
When my heart was strong again, God saw fit to bring a wonderful man into my life. His life and love have brought a deeper level of healing to my heart that is such a blessing to me! Todd’s encouragement has helped me to move forward and walk into the calling God has always had on my life. You reading these words are proof of that!
Since Todd came into my life I have published one book that he illustrated and have more in the works. God has opened the doors for me to travel and speak. My husband is publishing his first book. We’re helping each other to follow our dreams. Dreams God placed in my heart as a 19 year old girl! Writing, speaking, one in marriage and ministry, my children doing well…these were all dreams that had died for me!
God resurrected them all!
The Bible is true when it says that,
“if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.” Romans 8:11 (NIV)
This Easter, if you’ve never opened up your spirit to Christ I beg you to invite Him in. Once you allow Him in, the same spirit that raised Christ from the dead will be at work inside of YOU, bringing those places that you thought were dead to new LIFE in Christ!
If you are a believer, allow My “Resurrection” Story to increase your faith to believe for YOUR “Resurrection” Story!
May you have the Most Blessed Easter!
With love,
Sherry Stahl
#musicpic
CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO THE HILLSONG CHURCH SINGING “HEALER”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7M6nTV1tFs
