Have you ever been in a situation that you hoped and prayed was really a nightmare that you would wake up from? This is how I have felt about my family’s situation the over the last few months.
Up to this point I have not shared ANY details of our struggle. However, I feel led to share a small glimpse today of a giant mess and humbly ask for your help and prayers. Towards the end of the 40 Day Perspective Project that I recently finished I wrote a post on the word: Share. I knew even as I wrote the words that this post must be the first thing that I published when that project was finished.
I have shared my hurting heart with you these last few months which has been shattered by broken people and a broken system. While I still am not at liberty to share the details with you I can tell you that our struggle has involved the fact that our three precious children are not at home where they belong.
I rest in the fact that I know where they are, who they are with, and what they are being protected from; however my heart longs for restoration of all that is broken… especially our family.
They have been gone since January 20th and we anticipate that we will not have resolution to this situation until the end of June. It breaks my heart as a mother to have empty beds and empty places at the table.
I challenged all of us as believers in previous posts to be willing to be open with others even when it is not pretty. I encouraged you to be transparent even when it shows where your life is messy and ugly. So I am practicing what I preach today and showing what I can of my mess… in hopes that it helps explain the hurt behind my previous 40 posts about perspectives through pain and gets more people to join us in Praying the kids Home!
I am also writing this today because there is something that as a mother breaks my heart worse than the emptiness and the circumstances. The other day as I was talking to one of my children they said to me, “I guess our prayers are not working because nothing is changing.”
This was a painful moment for me because I realized that while my perspective has been transformed over the last few months and I can see God at work… they in their childlike faith – are struggling to.
I have been praying for a way to creatively use this blog to share what little I can about our story and more importantly find a way to encourage the faith of endurance of my children.
This is where I need your help… if you will commit to be praying for the kids would you simply leave them a comment on this post with where you are from and a simple message of encouragement? I want to be able to read these notes to the kids and show them on a map just how many people around the world are lifting them up and how much God really is moving!
Blessings to all of you and thank you in advance for helping me show the love of God’s people to my children in a real way. I will keep you updated when I can on our situation but until then will rest in your prayers and love.
At the end of every Perspective Project Post I would share a song with you that went with the theme of the post… there is no better song to end today’s post with than this one:
To Christie’s kids: God sees you. He loves you. And he feels the pain that you feel. Sometimes things don’t move in the timing that we would like them to, but that doesn’t mean that God isn’t working. His time schedule is just different than ours. Trust him. Talk to him. And know that there are people like me…in a place called Normal, IL…that are praying for you and for your family. You are not alone.
Christie: Jesus was sent to the cross by broken people in a broken system. Lean into him in your pain. He truly understands. I am also walking in a season of pain and brokenness. I have drawn closer to Christ than in any other season of my life. That is my prayer for you, too.
I’m lifting your children to our Father this morning. He knows every detail and every need. It’s so hard to understand why we have to go through the things we do. Sometimes I just shake my hands in the air and scream, “Where are you?” And it’s usually at that time that I feel Him beside me saying, “I’m not up there, Carol. I’m right here where you are.” I pray that you feel His presence today.
My heart hurts for you & your family. While I know you may not understand this trial & you may not know where God is in all of this; I can promise that He loves you all very much and that is at work. Not only is He just at work, He is at work for Your good. I am praying for His favor in this situation & for grace & mercy as you face each day. I am from Covington, La.
I want to encourage your children. I do missing seeing them. I just haven’t been involved at church in the children’s ministry and haven’t seen them. I have been praying for them. I have the privelige of being in their great grandma’s bible study group. God is always good. My children have not been through such a situation but they have had many surgeries which have made them stronger. I don’t understand why but I do know that God loves His children and wants what is best. He will use this experience to help others. I pray that you can enjoy this time no matter how difficult. God has given you such a great family support system. He is protecting you in the arms of your extended family. You will never take it for granted again when you rejoin your parents home again. Praying for strength and joy. Blessings to you children created by God for a purpose.
Praying for your children and you and your husband during this trial. Life is hard, but then there is Jesus. He knows our suffering and is with us in it. I will hold you all up in prayer and know God will restore for He is a God of restoration.
To Christie’s children: This morning my heart goes out to each of you. I pray that you will know in your heart that God loves you. I asked the Lord this morning to wrap each of you in his loving arms and to let you feel his peace over your lives. I was reminded that as a child Jesus was momentarily separated from his parents. They found him in the temple going about his father’s work. I can’t but feel that this situation will too be temporary and that the testimony that you will have at the end of this journey will be one that you will be able to use later in life to help other children that may have a similar situation as yours. Please know that we all love you and are praying for your family to be healed and reunited soon.
To Christie: Be strong and know that he is God.
Daphne – Deltona, FL.
Even as an adult it is sometimes difficult to accept that my time is not the same as God’s time. I do know that He has used EVERY bump in the road of my life to encourage someone else. Please know that God is always for you and always with you. My prayers are with you as well. Renee – Niceville, FL
Christie,
From personal experience, I can say to your children that God is ALWAYS working, whether we think we can see the proof or not. When He gets finished, the result is crazy good! We have to trust Him. Because we know that He loves us, we can know that He is moving all our pieces around to get the VERY best fit. In the same way that they trust YOUR love for them, they can trust His love for them.
Babbie Mason sings a song that has been so helpful in times where life didn’t make any sense:
“God is too wise to be mistaken.
God is too good to be unkind.
So when you don’t understand,
When you can’t see His plan,
When you can’t trace His hand,
Trust His heart.”
I am praying even now, that your children (and you) begin to see the signs that God is working on their behalf so that they will be encouraged and their faith will be strengthened.
Christie and family,
Will be praying for you guys! My heart is breaking for you and I can’t fathom the pain you are going through.
Amy~ Harrisonville, MO
To Christie’s precious children, My heart is aching as I write this because your mommy has always had a special place in my heart. We were neighbors when we were your age and even when your momma was a little girl she loved children and serving others so I know when she had you, her dreams had finally came true. Its so hard to understand why good people who love Jesus have to go through such hard things as you are, but I want you to know the Jesus will take care of you and your family even if it seems like nothing is getting better I promise you He is working. He doesn’t work in our time and I know waiting on things to get better can be the hardest thing to do. I encourage you to talk to Jesus just like you would your mommy, its okay to ask him questions and let him know you are frustrated with what you are going through but MOST of all continue to praise Him and tell Him you love Him even through these very hard times. My family and our prayer warriors will be praying for you in Branson Missouri. God bless you
Im lifting up your family in prayer to our Lord and Savior who is able to do exceedingly abundantly more that we can ever hope. He sees the situation and knows the plans that he has for your and your children. I pray that God will surround them with his love and protection until they are safely back in your arms.
To Christies children:
My heart breaks for you, these are horrible circumstances for you and your family to be going through right now. Please stay strong and continue to pray! God will get you through this and you will be stronger for it. Remember,that the love for your family comes from your heart and no one can take that away from you. You may not all be together physically, but you will always be together in love! I will be praying for you and your family!!
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. (Jeremiah 29:11 NIV)”
To Andrew, Bryson & Katie – we all have times in our lives that are hard to understand and hard to go through. God is still there! He is still holding your hands, giving you strong hugs and loving you just as much if not more than ever. Sometimes we think that he isn’t listening to our prayers because they aren’t getting answered right away, but God sometimes needs to take his time in answering because the situation may be bigger than we know or understand. Right now God is teaching so many people about love, struggles and patience through you. You are helping God make a difference in other people’s lives. I know that doesn’t make it any easier for you right now, but just know that there are many many people praying for you, thinking of you and loving you every day. God has made you a part of a plan and you are all very important and he will not and has not abandoned you. God loves you!
Christie and your sweet kids, I am writing to first let you know that our family and church will be praying for you. Also , i can not imagine your suffering ….but I do know someone who can!!!! He does have his time to answer our prays even though it’s not on our time!!!! i know it can be difficult because I have my own miracle I pray for everyday. But keeping your faith in him and loving him it will work out the right way that you are with your parents!!!! Christy- Buffalo,mo
To Chrisitie and her children~My heart goes out to you and while I do not know the fullness of what you are having to go through I do know that God is always faithful! There have been many times in my own life where I have wondered, “where is God” “does he see me” “why hasn’t he answered my prayers that I have prayed so hard about” and what I have found and know to be true is that he works ALL things for good to them that love him! The bible tells us that the Lord hears us when we call to him for help! He also says that if you believe, you WILL receive whatever you ask in prayer. Doesn’t always mean it will come as fast as we might want it to but, I assure you it will come!! I pray over each one of you that you will feel the love of Jesus enveloped around you. I stand in prayer and believe right along side of you that your hearts desires will come and as you wait patiently on God’s appointed time that you will not be defeated but, that you will feel God taking you by your right hand and lifting you out of this circumstance!! AMEN! Love to you all!
Emily – Niceville, FL
To Christie & your children – This week my husband & I are sifting through the papers, files & memories of an extremely painful 5 year period in our lives. There were days during those years I questioned God, wondering why he would allow us to go through so much pain. Early on, one very late night as I sat in my bed crying & begging God to take the pain away & heal our hurt I felt His Presence & Spirit wrap His strong arms around me and say “Be Still & Know I Am God!” Whenever I had days I didn’t think we could make it I clung to those words. We have now come to the otherside of the pain and are so much stronger for it. May you feel His Amazing Love & Presence with you each & every day. Remember He Is God and He will give you the strength to get through this painful time. Prayers are being lifted for you from Aiken, SC.
In His Calm,
Mary
Sweet litte children I pray for you every night.
Dear Andrew, Bryson, and Katie,
We have never met, but I have met your mom. I know two things. She loves you very much and God loves you very much. It’s very easy to wonder if God is really real during times like these. God knew we would have doubts so He told us in His Bible, in 2 Timothy 2:13 that even when we don’t have any faith, God is still faithful, still working things out for our good. Tell Jesus all your worries and fears. He understands and cares and is working very hard to get you home as soon as possible. I am praying for a miracle that is much bigger than your minds can imagine!
Praying for you!
Dianne from Freeport, FL
To Christie and your children and husband. God has His timing and it will be done as soon as He can get all the pieces, people, whatever it is He needs in place. I am in Springfield MO and I love your Mom very much. She is a precious daughter of God and she has raised you to believe what is right. There is a song that helped get me through a time when my youngest daughter made the choice (and I know you kids did not make this choice, but God still hears) to live with her dad instead of me. I know the Master of the Wind is the song. The chorus says this: I know the Master of the Wind, I know the Maker of the rain, He can calm the storms, make the sun shine again, I know the Master of the wind. Kids, Christie, please take these words of encouragement and let God run with it. I love you and am praying.
To three specials in my world,
Looking out for you had been the part of my job that I loved. Now I know that God is looking out for you and my prayers to Jesus have been asking Him to hold you in His hands and arms. When you are feeling sad about being away from your mom, just ask for loving arms to surround you and they will. It works for me every time! When I close my eyes, I see your smiling eyes and faces. Keeping you close now in my heart and prayers. Ms. H.
Remember : God is in control whether you see it or believe it , He is in Control !!! <3<3<3. Hugs & love being sent from Niceville , Fl
To the LOVE family: Know that you all are in my prayers, continue your prayers and your faith. I understand things are not looking positive now, but God will bring you all through it in HIS time. Sending you all hugs and love<3
Felicia
Niceville, FL
Hey Kiddos, Miss Audra loves you & misses you very much!! Please know that we are praying for you all & for your family. God is faithful! Lord, I pray that you encourage these sweet children and strengthen their faith and their endurance. Father, I pray that they see and feel you moving in their lives.. keeping them safe. I thank you for all you’ve done in their lives to this point and for your hand in that.
<3 you kiddos!! Can't wait to see you!
My name is Christy, too, and I am in Arizona praying for you guys! I know you are hurting right now and I wanted to send this message to remind you that you are SOOO loved. I’m glad that even in the middle of our deepest pain, that we know the God who calls Himself by the name of Healer. I know He will bring healing to your family. Thanks for letting us help carry you through your sad time by praying for you! Hugs!!!
I live in Missouri. I know that sometimes God seems really slow to work but He sees things we can’t and His timing is the best.
Trust Him. He loves you more than anything!
I am praying for you.
Christie and Family,
My heart is breaking for you and yet we are instructed to remain failthful and know that what hurts us also makes us stronger. My prayers will be with you continually and I know that The Lord is faithful just as we are faithful to Him. Remember that our faith needs to only be a big as a tiny mustard seed and we can move Mountains. You are facing your mountian now and Jesus is with you, watching and working for a end to this heartbreaking situation. I don’t know you personally, but I know you believe that prayers can help move mountians too! Kids, your Mom and family love you as big as all of the heaven and earth and cannot wait to get you home again. When you feel sad and miss your mom, remember she is always in your heart. I am praying for you from California!
Chris C
Dear Christie and family,
I am truly sorry to hear of this heartbreaking ordeal that you are going through. To you three precious children, I completely understand how it feels to pray and pray…and pray, and feel helpless and hopeless. It is a terrible feeling. Please know that what you’re feeling does not mean that you do not have faith, you are simply human. I promise you, He hears you, and He cares. He really is working things out for your good. I am only 41 years old, but feel like I have lived through 141 years of difficulties, and I can tell you honestly, that one day you will be able to look back and see how His mightly hands were working for you. I have been able to look back quit a few times and see evidence of that in my life. It just happened as recently as the LeadHer Live conference. It’s a very long story, but I was raised never knowing one of my parents. I knew nothing about half of my history, DNA, etc…I had given up on ever finding anything out, and gave it up to God, feeling like, “it is just not meant for me to know, this is a cross that I have to bear, and God, I accept it.” Surely, God had a plan, which is better than mine, right? At the conference, I happened into a conversation with a lady that led us to discover that she is my 1st cousin, on the side of my family that I knew nothing about! I now have access to the answers that I never thought I would get, ever. Why did it take 41 years for me to find an answer? Why did I have to be tormented all these years? I don’t know, except that it was a huge part of making me who I am. I have had so many people come to me, sharing that they had been through a similar situation, and if I had to go through that to help even one person, than it was worth it. I have to believe that God does know better than I do, what is best for me. God saw that I needed healing, even when I thought that I had come to a place of acceptance and had peace about it. I truly felt at peace. God showed me yet again, that He not only hears my prayers, He hears my heart. As I told my 14 year old son, (who by the way, is going through the exact same feelings that God must not be listening to his prayers, because he is not seeing the answer), “in this vast universe, with so many huge catastrophies going on around the world, God showed me, little Bridget Choppin, in little Covington, Louisiana, that he cares about my hurts, and decided that at that very moment, He would show me just how much.” I am continually reminded by God, that He gives us what we need, not what we want. I don’t have all the answers, but I know that His word is true, and He hears your prayers, your cries, and your heart. Please know that there are so many people out there in this world that are praying for you, and love you. Hang in there. Keep on praying. I look forward to the day that your mom can give us all the “Praise Report”! It will come… in Jesus’ name. Sincerely, Bridget Choppin~Covington, LA
I’ve been praying for all of you from the beginning and shall continue to do so.
Christie, Your Husband, and those sweet Babies.
We go back a long way, and I always knew you would be a wonderful Mother and wife someday…And here you are! I am praying for you and your family. This too shall pass. God is here. He is working in your lives. And you shall be blessed. I was reading through some sermon notes from a couple of years ago and wrote down a quote, “When praying, tell God your whole situation. Although He knows, He wants you to tell him the whole story-So He can give you a lesson you will understand.” I have referred back to this so many times. God answers prayers in His own time, but He is also a great listener. I love you and think of you daily.
Rachel
Hey, I just found this and wanted to share it with you for the lil’ ones!
Isaiah 30:18
Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; therefore he will rise up to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. BLESSED ARE ALL WHO WAIT FOR HIM! (emphasis added by me).
Still praying!
It is hard enough for adults to understand and accept God’s perfect timing, it so much harder for you children to see God at work, but He is…His timing is perfect and He loves you more than you can comprehend. Trust in Him each day!
Praying for you from Seattle, WA
Wow, Christie – what a heavy heart you must have. I will be lifting your family and these beautiful children up in prayer EVERY morning …and as they come to my mind throughout each day. God knit each of these precious miracles together and I will be praying for their safety and a calm heart while you wait for them to return to the safety and peace of your home. You give and give …it’s time to let some of us other prayer warriors pick up the burden for you right now and lift you all up in Jesus name.
Robyn
Springfield, Missouri