"The Key to Freedom"

 

"The Key to Freedom"

“…He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners…”  Isaiah 61:1

            The shackles in this drawing represent bondage and the key to freedom is the cross.  Bondage can represent so much.  I know in my own life it started with childhood victimization, poor choices, and hiding it all within me and not dealing with it.   My shackles were so rusty that the lock had seized up on them by the time I realized I could be completely free.  Allowing God complete access to what was keeping me in bondage was the beginning to freedom.  Denying Satan’s lies and actively grabbing hold of God’s truths loosened the shackles.  Then laying it all at the foot of the cross turned the key and set me free.

            What about you?  Is there anything that has you in bondage?  God holds the key to freedom!  Christ paid for it all by dying on the cross.  Accept the freedom he offers by letting Him unlock the shackles that keep you in bondage.

Wanda Joy

"He Never Lets Go"

“He Never Lets Go”

            As spring is approaching and the weather is getting warmer, I have started walking for exercise.  The other day my 11 year-old son went with me.  While we were on the home stretch, we were climbing our last “hill” and he grabbed a hold of my hand and held it.  At first, I was startled, because I thought he thought he was “too old” for that “sort of thing”.  I then realized that he probably was getting tired and needed me to help him get up the hill.  Isn’t that just like us?  We sometimes plod along in our walk with Christ, trying to do it our own way and then when it gets a little “hilly” we grab on to Him to help us get up and over the hill.  The truth is, He has been holding our hand the whole time.  He never let’s go!  What a reassuring thought!  As children of Christ, He is walking beside us, holding on to us!  No matter what we do or have done, nothing can separate us from Him.  He cares about every detail of our lives and is waiting for us to allow Him to help us over the hills.  Christ was there through the abuse and every other detail of my life.  He suffered alongside of me and endured the pain, but He never let go of me!  Praise God!  Romans 8: 38-39 says, “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  May you find JOY in knowing that Christ never lets us go.

Wanda Joy

"Hiding"



“Hiding”

            This picture was captured in the winter of “09-10”.  Luke’s cat, Junior, was still a kitten and I was watching him sneak around one of our sheds.  I waited to see what he would do when suddenly he was peeking around the corner, like he was hiding from me.

            Hiding is how I lived a good portion of my life.  I did not want others to really “see” me.  I had too much to hide.  I tried to blend in, becoming a wall flower so no one would notice me.  As I entered my adult years it became easier to do.  I was able to hide in a sense behind my husband and my children.  With them around, I usually did not have to hold a conversation and the attention was off of me.

            Through the healing process, I have come to realize that this is not how God wants me to live.  I am not to go through life hiding from people and my past.  I am His child and I realize that in his eyes I am beautiful and his love is unfailing.  What was done to me and the choices I made does not change how he loves me.  I cannot hide from God, but He is my hiding place and He will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance.  Ps. 32:7.

            I pray that as this post reaches you, that you will accept God’s unfailing love and forgiveness.  Come out of hiding and experience the joy that God has for you.

Wanda Joy

"Safe"

This drawing is called “Safe”.  It was drawn before the “Jesus and Me” picture.  It was taken from a photo that I captured of my nephew and his son at one of our many family gatherings.  This picture symbolizes to me the safety of having my Heavenly Father’s arms around me. 

My Father’s Arms

My Father’s arms

Will do me no harm

They give comfort

When there is hurt

My Father’s arms are always around me

To love and surround me

They form a barrier of protection

And never portray rejection

My Father’s arms are gentle, yet strong

When I have done something wrong

They represent mercy and grace

When I fall to my face

My Father’s arms hold me tight

When I tend to take flight

They will forever show me

How much He really loves me

--Wanda Joy

Jesus and Me

Jesus and Me

Jesus and me

I want all to see

His arms held me tight

And took away the fright

He pulled me from the fire

And identified the liar

Grace and mercy were given

And all was forgiven

There is nothing like the feeling

Of Jesus and his healing

Because it’s Jesus and me

I will forever be free

He will continue to hold me

With His arms so boldly

I want the world to know

That He will never let me go

It’s Jesus and me

For all to see

--Wanda Joy

Why?

Why the title, Joy Comes In The Morning?  Let me share with you what God has brought me through and then maybe I can answer that question.  I pray it will be an encouragement to you.

I write this testimony, not for pity or attention, but to give God the glory for what he has brought me through.  I am a survivor and want to encourage others that it is possible to go through dark times and come out on the other side and find joy.

I was raised in a Bible believing home.  My parents had us in church every day the doors were opened.  I learned early in life to make God a part of my life.  I accepted Christ as my personal Savior as a child.  I state this, because even in this environment, I was the victim of evil.  Early in my childhood around age 4 or 5, until around the age of 12 or 13, I was sexually molested by a trusted person.  I was too ashamed and afraid to tell anyone in authority.  I kept telling myself, "no one would believe me".  As I got older, I reasoned with myself that I could push this to the back of my mind and not let it bother me.

As a result of this heinous act, I made poor choices.  My self image was so low, that it affected everything I did or did not do.  I was afraid to go after my interests and desires that God had given me for fear of failure or rejection.  I was afraid of people and what they thought of me.

Anger and bitterness grew like a weed and consumed me, along with guilt and shame.  In a way, I was blaming myself.  In my head, I knew I was a victim, but I could not convince my heart to believe it.

Throughout my adult years, I would get to a point where I would think, "I need to get help for this", but would continue to push those thoughts to the back of my mind.  I was afraid of counseling, because I would have to tell someone everything about me.  For those who know me, this was no simple task.  I was not a conversationalist and getting me to talk was like pulling teeth.  I could not fathom opening up and letting it all out. 

I slowly and gradually pulled away from my family and friends emotionally.  I could fake normalcy for a while, but eventually I was so far into a pit, that I couldn't get out.  By March of 2008, I had reached a breaking point and sought out help for the sake of my family.  I had no desire to live.  I sought out a Christian counselor.  Little did I know that God's hand was in this process.

All this time I was believing Satan's lies.  I did not think that God could love me.  I believed I was worthless and I couldn't forgive myself for my past.  I didn’t believe that God could forgive me.  Counseling was long and hard, but worth every second.

I am elated to say, that I KNOW God has forgiven me.  He does love me unconditionally.  He sent his Son to die for me and my sin.  No, I don't deserve his love and forgiveness, but he gave it to me anyway.  Wow, I am precious in His sight!  I know the abuse was not my fault.  I have dealt with it and have been able to forgive the abuser.  It is an ongoing process, because the enemy likes to remind me, but I just remind him and myself that I have put it behind me and have already forgiven.  What a freeing experience!

God is Sovereign and does not allow anything to happen to us without being able to use it for his glory.  That is what I am dedicated to do with my story.  I am living proof that Joy does come in the morning.  This is the morning after a long dark night and God is my strength and joy.  I am a survivor of childhood sexual abuse.  What Satan intended for evil, God will use for good!

I pray that God will use this blog to encourage you as you face dark nights in your life.  I encourage you to turn to God and don't be afraid or too proud to seek counseling.  I may not be here today without it.

God has given all of us gifts and talents.  We are responsible to use those gifts and talents for Him.  Through counseling I have discovered some of those gifts and talents that God has given me.  One of those is drawing.  I am completely self taught and still have a lot to learn in this area, but I want to use it for Him.  I will be sharing some of the sketches I draw on this blog.  The ideas for some of these pictures are a testimony of where I had been and where I am now.