Hearing Through Music and Finding Truth
Leigh Marie Stegman / Next Gen Elementary Curriculum Coordinator
Everyone has a different way of hearing from God. Some have a visual experience, some have a voice that speaks volumes, and some just experience emotion. I learned through TPM (Transformational Prayer Ministry) that God communicates with me through music.
When I look back over this past year, I am able to focus on the truths. The truth is, when I had my ear infection, I was loved on by my family and friends that came to help with my kids.
Truth: In March, I was blessed to be working as normal, and was given an even greater blessing of full-time status.
Truth: In April, I woke up to 40 rainbow poop emojis in my front yard wishing me a happy birthday and an entire parade of my beautiful sisters serenaded me with birthday wishes.
Truth: In July, we weren’t able to have a big family and friends party for my daughter, Angelina, nor in September for my daughter, Sophia, but we played games and did relays that we never had even thought of before. They were, by far, the most fun parties we have ever had.
Truth: In October, my sisters-in-Christ laid hands on me in prayer. My church family prayed and supported me in ways I have never before felt. Those prayers resulted in a negative BRCA test and just a marker was needed.
Truth: In November, I had a beautiful sister-in-Christ help me get my son some birthday presents that I would not have been able to afford, making our day so much brighter. Even with my separation, God has placed everyone around me where I have needed them most and humbled me in ways I never thought possible.
Truth: This December I witnessed our church family rally around those of us that are more broken than others. My little family in need was adopted by another to give us the Christmas they felt we deserved.
The truth is God has continued to provide for me through these dark valleys and has dissolved the pain of the lies that have hit me. I do not even pretend to know what all these trials are for, but I am positive that God has a plan for me, and this has all been part of it. I have been held, comforted, and had the arms of Christ wrapped around me in ways that I never would have experienced without my tears, my sleepless nights, my aching … They have all been true mercies in disguise. I know what I have to look forward to when I go Home one day.
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| Photo by David Marcu on Unsplash |
Like many others, I have just experienced my most challenging year by far. I woke up one morning last January and I could not hear out of my right ear; I was experiencing my very first upper respiratory/double ear infection … at 39 years old!
In March, we as a community were shut down and in quarantine for the first time I have ever known. My husband no longer went to work.
In March, we as a community were shut down and in quarantine for the first time I have ever known. My husband no longer went to work.
In April, the big 40th birthday party that was planned for me (that would have brought family together that have not been seen often) was cancelled, again due to COVID. July came and went with a very different holiday and birthday for my oldest daughter. September changed my other daughter’s birthday, as months without my husband working began to take its toll.
In October, I had a breast cancer scare that flipped our world upside down for two straight weeks.
November was by far the hardest. My baby boy turned four and his birthday was very limited. My husband became more introverted and angrier, and alcohol took him over. Tensions were high and affecting our daily life. Just before Thanksgiving, my husband and I separated after being long abandoned by him through fear, the enemy’s favorite tool.
Throughout all of this, all I've been able to hear when I question God in prayer is Laura Story’s voice singing loudly to me:
Throughout all of this, all I've been able to hear when I question God in prayer is Laura Story’s voice singing loudly to me:
What if Your blessings come through raindrops?What if Your healing comes through tears?And what if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You're near?What if my greatest disappointmentsOr the aching of this lifeIs the revealing of a greater thirstThis world can't satisfy?And what if trials of this lifeThe rain, the storms, the hardest nightsAre Your mercies in disguise?
When I look back over this past year, I am able to focus on the truths. The truth is, when I had my ear infection, I was loved on by my family and friends that came to help with my kids.
Truth: In March, I was blessed to be working as normal, and was given an even greater blessing of full-time status.
Truth: In April, I woke up to 40 rainbow poop emojis in my front yard wishing me a happy birthday and an entire parade of my beautiful sisters serenaded me with birthday wishes.
Truth: In July, we weren’t able to have a big family and friends party for my daughter, Angelina, nor in September for my daughter, Sophia, but we played games and did relays that we never had even thought of before. They were, by far, the most fun parties we have ever had.
Truth: In October, my sisters-in-Christ laid hands on me in prayer. My church family prayed and supported me in ways I have never before felt. Those prayers resulted in a negative BRCA test and just a marker was needed.
Truth: In November, I had a beautiful sister-in-Christ help me get my son some birthday presents that I would not have been able to afford, making our day so much brighter. Even with my separation, God has placed everyone around me where I have needed them most and humbled me in ways I never thought possible.
Truth: This December I witnessed our church family rally around those of us that are more broken than others. My little family in need was adopted by another to give us the Christmas they felt we deserved.
The truth is God has continued to provide for me through these dark valleys and has dissolved the pain of the lies that have hit me. I do not even pretend to know what all these trials are for, but I am positive that God has a plan for me, and this has all been part of it. I have been held, comforted, and had the arms of Christ wrapped around me in ways that I never would have experienced without my tears, my sleepless nights, my aching … They have all been true mercies in disguise. I know what I have to look forward to when I go Home one day.