I SAW THAT: Trusting God Through the Eye of Your Storm

By Tamara Woods

Are you hurting and you can't seem to find God in your pain? Do you feel like the circumstances surrounding you threaten to overtake you? If so, you are not alone. I have been where you are sitting. There have been times I have asked these same questions. In the midst of some of my greatest storms, I have wondered, "Where are you, Lord? What are you trying to show me through this?" When everything in life is going great, we recognize God's blessings, but when life throws us a curveball, we begin to question God. Does God care that we are struggling? Why doesn't God answer as soon as we pray? It was during those moments of great pain that I developed a closer relationship with Father God. I did not realize it at the time, but those heartaches drove me into the arms of my Heavenly Father. It was then that I experienced what it meant to trust God, even when I couldn't see the outcome. That trust brought me a newfound closeness and strength I had not known before in my relationship with Christ. This book is about learning to recognize the presence of God through your pain. It will probably bring a few tears, laughter, and a lot of teaching to help you understand God has a purpose for your life. Your pain has not been in vain. In your times of greatest sorrow, God has not abandoned you. Just like He spoke to me one day, He will also reveal to you, "I saw that!"

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Feb 27, 2019
• ISBN: 9781644168486

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I Saw That

Trusting God Through the Eye of Your Storm

Tamara Woods

Copyright © 2018 by Tamara Woods

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.

832 Park Avenue

Meadville, PA 16335

www.christianfaithpublishing.com

All Bible verses throughout this book are taken from King James Version.

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Acknowledgments

I would like to thank all my beloved friends and family that have encouraged me in some way to write this book. What would our lives be like without those that encourage us and push us to go higher?

A special thanks to Chella Matos for all those countless hours we spent together typing and editing. Chella, you have made the job of putting this book together so much more fun. I appreciate the laughter you have brought to my life. Because of you and Mario, I now have my new nickname, Hallelujah Girl, which suits me perfectly.

To Candace Wilson—thank you for taking time out of your day to help me explore options in order to make important decisions.

To my brother Bob—for helping to design a beautiful book cover that I had envisioned. I’m so blessed you are my brother.

To all my family and friends that have allowed me to share part of your lives in the pages of this book. I hope you know how much I love all of you.

To my parents—you have gained your heavenly reward, but the knowledge of God’s Word you so faithfully taught me will forever be ingrained upon my heart.

To my husband, Woodie—you have always had faith in whatever God has called me to do. You have never tried to hinder me. You always walk beside me and encourage me. I will love you until I take my last breath. I’m blessed to be taking this journey with you.

Finally, I want to thank my Heavenly Father for the words to this book. I know I can do nothing without You. You are my everything.

Introduction

Have you ever wondered where God was when you were suffering? Sometimes, it seems like God is hiding in the moments we are struggling the most. In this book, I tell of a few of my struggles. They are circumstances you can relate to, or you know someone who can relate to them. God never promised us a life without pain. He did promise to be there by our side through it all.

My desire is, as you read through the pages of this book, your heart will be touched. I hope your eyes will be opened just as mine were. I realized as I was writing and reliving my past, I could see the hand of God through every trial. The days I had felt so alone—God saw that!

You might be going through something hard today. Maybe it seems like it is too much for you to bear. You are not alone. In the silence, God is still listening. Even in your loneliness, God is still there. When your closest friends have let you down and it feels like the world is against you, God has never left your side. I know it hurts. I’ve been there too.

One day, while I was pouring my hurt out to God, He spoke so gently to me, I saw that. My prayer is that you keep your trust in Him through the hard times. He is working in your situation even if you don’t see Him. Trust Him in the silence. I have lived for God most of my life. I have been through many things I did not understand. But one thing I know is, I trust Him. My hope is this book, in some way, will change your life for the better.

Chapter 1

Discovering My Destiny

I was about eight years old when I gave my heart to Jesus Christ. Even as a very small child, I was not like most little girls my age. I would lie in bed at night and think long and hard about my purpose in life. There was a great desire in my heart to help others. I envisioned myself reaching out to lost, hurting people with the gospel. Even as a small child, I yearned to make a difference in the world.

A memory I have of my childhood was being in a revival with my parents. The longing in my heart to truly serve God was tremendous. I cannot remember the name of the minister speaking that day. I do not remember what he spoke about. I do remember the desire burning within me to make a difference in the world. As the minister was bringing forth the message, he started walking toward my seat. He bent down beside me and began to speak to me. He told me God was going to use me one day. I had a calling on my life. I pondered what it all meant.

As I began to grow, my dream of reaching people for Christ seemed to fade farther in the distance, but the desire never left me. Often, I would wake in the middle of the night with a poem to write down. I did not struggle to find the words. I awoke with the words already there. I simply wrote them down and went back to sleep. It began to happen so frequently, I began to leave a pen and tablet beside my bed. I knew God had given me a gift to share with others.

My grade school and junior high years were not the best for me. I was insecure. I was the tall, skinny girl in the class. I just wanted to fit in. I wish I would have known then what I know now. I was never intended to fit in at all. God had chosen me to stand out. You see, God has designed each of us with special gifts and talents. He has a purpose just for you. Before you were born, God had a future for you.

Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations. (Jeremiah 1:5, KJV)

This passage of scripture reveals to me that the maker of all the universe knows me. He knows what makes me laugh. He knows what makes me cry. He designed me with a special purpose and destination in mind. He has ordered my steps. He is not just sitting on His throne looking at me with hard, judgmental thoughts. He loves me with such passion, He makes it His prime purpose to know my every thought and concern. He does not just know about me; He knows me. I am not just some passing thought in His day. I’m His dear created daughter. He chose me. But you see, He didn’t just choose me, He chose you too. We were born to stand out. In a world where everyone wants to fit in and nobody wants to make any waves, we are missing it. Children of the Most High God, do not lose your focus. Do not forget why you are here. We all have a God-given destiny. We need to find out what ours is and walk in it. Nobody truly wants to be a carbon copy. God designed you to be one of a kind. In my teen years, my mind was clouded with ideas of what my peers wanted me to be. Eventually, I would discover who Christ made me to be, but it didn’t happen overnight. I went through a period of my life where I drifted from the Lord. The distractions of the world were pulling me away.

After I graduated high school, I began working at a nursing rehabilitation center. The hours were long and the work load was hard. Gradually, I quit going to church. One day, while I was working, I saw a minister friend of mine I had not seen in a long time. He was my pastor when I was a young teenager. It just so happened he held church service at the nursing rehabilitation center where I was working. Every time I knew he was coming, I went out to talk with him. He always seemed genuinely interested in my life. He would ask about my family, and he never failed to ask how I was doing. He always wanted to know if I had found my Prince Charming yet. I began to open up to him about my life. I was lonely and searching for answers, and he knew it. We would talk about the Lord, and I would watch as his countenance would light up. He literally glowed with the presence of God. I saw Christ in this precious man. It sparked in me a new desire to get back in church and be around other believers again.

One night, while I was staying at my friend Tammy’s house, we began talking about God. I knew my life was headed in the wrong direction. I told her I wanted to go to church again. We decided to start back together. When I entered the church, I found a peace I had been missing. I rededicated my life to the Lord. My whole perspective on life had changed. I began to do a lot of praying. I prayed about everything. I even prayed about the man I would one day marry. I wanted the man God had created just for me. I only had one request, Please, Lord, let him be tall, at least 6'4."

Little did I realize, God had my Prince Charming waiting for me. He did not arrive on a white horse. Instead, he came up the lane driving a maroon pickup truck. He was wanting a date. I was trying to lead him into a relationship with Jesus Christ. We went to church together for our first date. The more Woodie went to church, the greater his desire was to know more about God. One night, after the altar call was given, he walked down the aisle and gave his life to Jesus Christ. That was the beginning of our beautiful life together. Six months later, we were married. God did not give me a 6'4. He gave me more than I asked for; He gave me a 6'5. Woodie and I would encounter many ups and downs in our lives, but we would face them together with Christ as the center of our marriage.

I’m still on this journey of completing my destiny in Christ, but every day, I’m learning more of who I am in Him.

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:10, KJV)

In order to know who we are in Christ, we first must get to know Him. Often, we get to know Him better through painful circumstances we go through in life. In marriage, the pressures of life will either drive a couple closer together or they will slowly drift apart. It is the same with our relationship with God. We can turn to Him in the hard times, or we can run from Him. We can become better, or we can become bitter. We always have a choice. There is one thing I know to be true. You find me a person with a great anointing upon their life, and I will show you someone who has been through the fire. Those are the men and women who have had their faith tested and have learned how to stand.

"That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that