Posted by Rodetta Cook

Rodetta Cook has been a pastor’s wife for over 40 years. She and her husband, Ron, have actively served the Lord together in ministry during the entire time and are co-founders of Care for Pastors. She understands the expectations, loneliness and how hard it is to find balance in ministry as a pastor’s wife. Rodetta also leads the pastor’s wives initiative at Care for Pastors called The Confidante and ministers to hundreds of wives each week. She strives to share blogs with other pastors’ wives that will help them in their ministry walk.

Posted by Rodetta Cook

Topics: Balance · Family · For Pastors' Wives · Spiritual Walk

God’s Sovereignty (Part 3)

Monday, August 21, 2017

As we continue the interview between Annie Garman and Lisa Johnson, I pray Lisa’s testimony has been a blessing to you. They have been a huge testimony in their community and have touched so many lives. Please continue to pray for them.

Annie: Has forgiveness been an issue at all in this trial?

Lisa: Forgiveness has never really been an issue for us. We know and believe in our hearts that this was purely an accident. It has always been our hearts desire to let the kids involved and families know that we love them; we know they are hurting and we hold no angry or ill feelings towards any of them.

We can’t go back and change time, but we can show God’s love to others and not harbor anger or bitterness to others!

Annie: How have the last 18 months shaped your relationship with God? What is He teaching you?

Lisa: God is still teaching me many lessons throughout this journey. I will admit, for quite some time, my relationship with God was more about me pleading and begging Him to heal our son. I had some issues with why God would not allow X to be healed sooner. I had issues of “Why our son?” I even fought feelings of “What did I do to deserve this?” I saw how this accident basically not only broke my son’s physical body, but broke my heart and spirit. It broke my husband as well. Even during the wonderful things that God was doing for us, and how blessed we felt, it was hard not to question Him. We still do.

It was hard not to feel anger that our God could heal blind men, mute men, diseased and paralyzed men and women in the Bible, but refuse to do the same for my son. And yet, I am drawn to passages in Scripture about God’s love. I need to read about Him being a comforter to the broken hearted. I yearn for his quiet peace that He gives me as I seek Him. I am growing into a more powerful prayer warrior than I was before the accident. I feel I pray all day long, for others and for X. I am more receptive to the pain and trials of others and pray for ways to be a blessing.

I know He is teaching me more about enduring trials and sharing with others His goodness.

I know He is teaching me what true faith looks like.

I know He is teaching me to trust in His plans even when I cannot see.

I know He is teaching me to above all us, put Him first in my life. He wants our complete devotion, not just during the easy times, but during “The-get-on-your-knees-and-cry-out-to-God-times!” He wants me to believe and tell others that God is God and He is good!

I pray as you have been reading Lisa’s testimony that God has been teaching you some things through her story. I know He has taught me a lot as I have watched this family stand strong in their faith and totally depend on God.

Stay tuned for the 4^th and final part of this awesome story next week.