A loud thud jolted me out of my sleep. I sat up on my bed, wide-eyed. My heart raced. My thoughts raced faster. Was there was an intruder in my house?
My hands shook as I grabbed my phone from underneath my pillow and dialed my husband’s cell phone number. No answer. I called again and again till I heard his sleepy voice, “Are you okay? What happened?”
My voice quivered, “There’s someone in our house . . . on our house, I mean. I’m scared. Can you stay with me on the phone while I check on Ryan?”
I tiptoed quietly but quickly to my son’s room which was adjacent to mine. He was sleeping without a care in the world, cuddled up in mismatched night clothes with his favorite plush dog. As I walked back to my room, I took my husband’s suggestion and waited in the hallway for a few minutes. Clutching my cell phone tightly, I strained my ears to listen for more noises and then darted back to my bedroom.
“It must be a racoon. But if you hear any more noises, call the police, and call me back. I miss you. I’m praying for you. Try to get some sleep now,” said my husband before hanging up.
I could not go back to sleep. Simon was miles away in a hotel in Seattle, while I was in our home in California with our son. There was nothing he could do. Still afraid, I prayed fervently, quoting Psalm 23 and Psalm 91. I reminded myself that God was with me. He was present in my house. He was my Protector and Defender.
Ten minutes passed. I reached for my phone again and started aimlessly scrolling on Facebook. A friend’s post caught my attention. It had a screenshot of an earthquake reading with the caption, “I felt this earthquake a few minutes ago.”
The clenched muscles in my body relaxed. I traded fear for relief as I thanked God for protecting me not just that night but for the countless number of nights I slept safe and sound without my husband.
For more than four years, Simon traveled for work at least four nights a week. I was a part-time single mom, a solo wife and parent. Sleeping alone had transformed me from a heavy sleeper to a light one. I went to sleep, searching the silence for foreign noises. I slept on my right side so I could face the bedroom door. I checked to see if my doors and windows were locked and if the stove was turned off at least once every night before retiring to bed.
Just as fear invaded my nights, busyness filled my days. My son, Ryan, was three years old when my husband started to travel. I needed every ounce of energy and patience to keep up with him. I needed to stay alert so I could follow along his routine, so I could deal with his tantrums without losing my mind, so I could play ball with him and discipline him, so I could remember to make him a Johnny Appleseed costume for “Storybook Dress Up Day” at school, so I could stick to the grocery list and meal plan, so I could do devotions with him at dinner time and help him memorize Scripture, so I could fill my role as mother . . . and father.
Solo parenting pushed my limits, both physically and emotionally. Most days, I felt stretched too thin, worn out even before the day began. I wished my husband was around to share my workload, to watch a TV show with me, to eat dinner with me, to talk to me about my day, or to simply hold me.
But on those days when I was alone, tired, and weak, I called out to God more frequently than I ever remember doing. I cried out for help for the simplest things. Parenting by myself kept me on my knees, where ongoing conversations with God became commonplace.
God, I feel sick and I want to sleep in. Please give me the strength to wake up and get my son to school on time.
God, I am so mad at my five-year old son right now. I want to scream. Please restrain me and show me the right way to discipline my boy.
God, I need a friend today to share dinner with me while I watch my favorite show. Won’t you join me?
The more I depended on God, the more I experienced His presence. God, my Father, was an ever-present help when I was needy and weak. His comfort and counsel were available to me night and day. Even at times when I did not display earthquake-proof faith, God never left me on my own. Over and over again, He proved Himself to be faithful and trustworthy.
An absent husband made my heavenly Father’s presence in my life real and tangible. Every time I remembered that my husband was miles away, I turned around to find God present, right there, eager to meet my needs and shower me with His love.
[bctt tweet=”The more I depend on God, the more I experience His presence. -Mabel Ninan:” username=”incourage”]
Leave a Comment
Bev @ Walking Well With God says
Mabel,
I totally agree that the more I depend on God, the more I experience Him. Not surprisingly, it’s in the times of struggle and trial that I find myself leaning hard into God. I think this is what Paul meant but counting his suffering as joy. I can look back over my life and I distinctly see a pattern of needing God and depending upon Him = God’s comforting presence. It was when I was in “I can do this myself” self sufficiency mode that I rarely felt God’s presence. As God grows me more into the likeness of His Son, I grow in utter reliance and dependence upon Him. Great reminder to do life on my knees!
Blessings,
Bev xx
Mabel says
Thanks, Bev. Suffering does mature us! When we depend on God, He never disappoints. He always comes through. And we are encouraged to press on, to take on more or bigger challenges.
Michele Morin says
More dependence–more trust.
I love the simplicity of this equation, but know full well that the path you have beaten to God in this challenging season has been anything but easy. Thank you for putting your words out there for us all to learn from and be blessed by.
Mabel Ninan says
Michele, thank you for your kind words. I believe we go through trials so that we can comfort others with the same comfort we have received. Our suffering has a bigger purpose–to build each other up.
Maura Michael says
I love how you invite God into your everyday activities in order to feel His presence. That is such a profound inspiration for me. I realize I rarely invite Him into all my moments. I give prayers of thanks for my day but don’t stop to think He wants me to talk with Him over my cup of coffee, while I’m doing laundry, or walking in the woods. Who better to share my time!
Mabel says
Maura, I’m excited to know that you were inspired to invite God into your day-to-day thoughts and chores. I’m praying that you will experience His friendship in a fresh way!
Beth Williams says
Mabel,
Life down here is tough enough. Harder when we have to do it solo. Like Bev said it is in our struggles & trials that we most often turn to God for help. That is exactly what He wants us to do. Come to Him for guidance, wisdom & strength. Each time we invite God into our daily struggles we can feel His presence more & more. It becomes almost second nature to talk with Him. Which is want He longs to do with each one of us. He is our only source of hope & strength in our daily walk down here. Talk with Him often.
Blessings 🙂
Mabel says
Beth, thank you for taking the time to reply. Amen! God is the source of our hope, strength, and joy.
Louise D'costa says
Nice to see when young people like you Mabel grow in your faith. Learning daily, through hardships, the JOYS of God’s sweet presence. It a blessing when you recognize Him there, through it all.
I totally LOVE hearing your encounters with our beloved ABBA Father. ❤❤
Mabel says
Louise, thank you for encouraging words. I’m blessed to know you as a friend and sister who always points me to Christ. I thank God for you.
Laura Tosto says
Oh, Mabel, Your story struck a chord with my soul. For 7 1/2 years, my husband traveled for work as I raised our little girl at home. There were seasons of loneliness, anger, frustration, and a deep dependency on God. I so wanted the comfort of another adult, and our daughter longed for people to join us in daily activities. We developed a bond that was very deep and still is. The traveling ended, and I expected us to pick up right where we left off, but it was hard. I am thankful that God can take anything and turn it into something new, beyond what we had hoped for.
Mabel says
Laura, our stories are so similar! My son and I too, share a special bond :). My husband’s traveling ended a few months ago. And the transition was not easy. But, I’m so grateful for God’s help. I’m praising God with you and for you!