The Unexpected Gift

by Linette Rainville 

God gave, I discovered. God inspired, I developed. For a span of 15 years I was an on-fire songwriter.  God gave me lyrics and melodies faster than I could capture them.  It was amazingly wonderful. This experience was a treasure to my soul. As I wrote, I was being changed. God impressed that the gift was never mine to keep, but that it was always meant to be given away. As I deployed this gift at church, retreats, and coffeehouses, lives were touched and hearts were healed. It was a blessing to be a vessel God could use.

One day, everything changed. My arms were heavy, my fingers hurt, and my voice became weak. What was happening to me?  It would be seven very, very (did I say VERY?) long, years of medical rollercoaster rides before I found out the name of this thing launching an all out attack on my body.  The diagnosis, Mitochondrial Myopathy. Praise God, with prayer, good doctoring, and much wisdom, I am stronger today. I have learned to live in something called a “new normal”.  Every day, I wake up and thank God for HIS STRENGTH in my body and seek His wisdom on how to use this precious commodity called energy. God is still in the healing business. He is always working behind the scenes, even when we can’t see Him.

Little did I know, how those years of being broken in body, were bringing strength to me in spirit. All of it had prepared me to stand strong through a storm that was yet to come. Funny thing about tragic storms. You see them hit other families, but you never think it can happen to yours…until it does.  My tsunami hit the day I was informed… “I don’t love you anymore”.  The man I knew and trusted as my husband for nearly 30 years chose to walk away from our family, our church, and the ministry we had built.  I looked, but found no guide book entitled, “How To Survive Divorce…as a Minister”.   More and more I’m feeling like, just maybe, I should write one.  I have gone through this fire, and survived. I am stronger, more confident of who I am, and have discovered many other “unexpected gifts” waiting for me under the rubble.  Friends, our precious Papa God is always in the process of restoring, rebuilding, and remaking BEAUTIFUL DAYS.

This heart that once felt like a hemorrhaging mess, is now beating strong.  
Instead of asking God, “Who am I?” 
I praise God for “Who I am!”
It’s no longer about where I WANT to go…
but where GOD WANTS to take me.
I have learned to let go of the good,
So I could grasp onto the BEST!   
 
What about you?  Have you ever found yourself asking, WHY? What now Lord?  Where do I go from here?   God never wastes our pain. He is able to use it for good, if we let Him.  Even through the pain, our purpose still exists.

“The Lord  will  fulfill  His  purpose  for  you …You are loved !”  
 Psalm 138: 8 (paraphrased)

Under all the clutter and debris from our life-storms, there are many unexpected gifts for us to discover!  

Pray with me
“ Dear God, Even this?  I don’t know how this pain will ever be used for good, but I’m willing to learn.  Show me how to use my unexpected gifts to make a difference somewhere, to someone else who desperately needs a BEAUTIFUL DAY!”  Thank you for loving me, and letting me know you still have a purpose for my life.   
Love,  __________” 
​

​Linette Rainville is the Founder and CEO of Fellowship Hill Ministries Inc, based in Upstate NY.  She is a co-traveler of life’s hills and valleys, bringing 20+ years experience as an Outreach Chaplain.  Linette is a U.S. Navy Corpsman Veteran, CLASS (Christian Leaders and Speakers Services) Alumni, Certified Personality Trainer, and a member of the National Chaplain’s Association.  She is a nationally known Speaker, Devotional Author, and Worship Artist with a mission to help others Discover, Develop, and Deploy God’s purpose in their lives.  She spends her life, giving God’s love away and inspires others to:
"DO what you can, right WHERE you are, with WHAT you have!"    ~Linette Rainville
You can find more #hearthealingwords from Linette at www.VesselsofPurpose.blogspot.com and  #OnPurpose2017 

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