I was married at a young age to the person I thought was my best friend and my love forever. When he asked me to marry him, I said yes! After three years of what I thought was a perfect marriage, something happened that shook me to the core.
After walking into our tiny rented white wooden house and finding another woman there, my heart was broken, and the shock of it all brought me to a place of much confusion and pain. I was crushed.
I had a lot of questions: How could he do this to me? But why did he do this? This was not suppose to be this way.
We all desire a perfect life. One like the ones we read in storybooks. That’s what I wanted anyway. That’s what I thought I had at the time.
This moment was a turning point in my life. It transformed me from a shy young girl to a courageous woman. I was determined not to let this experience define or bring me down. Despite the lingering anger and hurt, I channeled my emotions in a different direction, towards the extreme. This was the birth of my resilience and strength.
After working for years in a large hotel chain, I was promoted to Sales and Marketing Director. I worked seventy hours a week at times. I was successful. I came into control of my life, and nothing would stop me. I loved my career, and my job became my identity.
Years later, after working as a general manager in a primarily male-dominated region, I had to be tough. I often finished top in my region in sales and occasionally played golf with them. I wasn’t an outstanding golfer, but I loved the game. I knew that while playing “Captain’s Choice,” they had to take at least two of my balls: a putt and a drive. I was in the game.
After years of thinking I was in control, I became a single mom. I was left alone to do it all by myself. I made it work, and we were happy.
Eight years later, I met a man, and God called me to love him. The call was clear as God put His love in my heart to love him. Nothing else made sense. I had prayed for a Godly man. One that would lead me as Jesus would. After hearing his story, he wasn’t a Godly man and he certainly wasn’t who I had prayed for. Or at least this is what I thought.
Honestly, I loved my life just as it was and really had no desire to be married again. I argued with God because this was not the plan I had for my life.
After months of conviction to follow His will for my life and our preacher who wouldn’t give up because God had him awake at 3 a.m. one morning writing our wedding vows, I finally surrendered to God’s will. After many prayers and confirmations, we were married. Thank you, Pastor Butch!
A year later, the Lord called me to leave my career to be a stay-at-home wife and mom. “You want me to walk away from my financial security, life, and career, Lord,” I asked. My reply was, “I can’t.” This was not the plan I had for my life. I knew that as long as I continued to work and control my life financially we would be fine. Of course, I had everything we needed and most of what we wanted. This was a priority for me.
After months of hard conviction, I finally threw my arms up toward heaven and said, “Lord, I will follow your will for my life, whatever that is!” I knew my husband had a good job, but I didn’t trust anyone else to provide for myself and my daughter. I trusted only me. I had to let go and completely surrender my life to Jesus.
Two weeks later, the marketing company my husband worked for closed. He was unemployed, and we were both unemployed. We had no income, and we had no one to trust but God.
While we had to make significant adjustments, we never truly lost anything. We sold my house and moved in with my dad. Little did I know, God had already orchestrated everything. My parents had been married for 47 years when my mom passed away to be with Jesus. My dad, who had never had to cook a meal or do laundry, needed us. It was a perfect timing, a divine intervention. It was a life change for all of us!
I began homeschooling my daughter at that time, and I will never forget not having the money to buy school books. School was starting the following Monday, and I was nervous. Never being a teacher, I thought. This is my daughter’s education. This was another calling that was very hard to agree to.
I remember trusting God with everything in me to provide the funds for her school books. We were financially broke. On Thursday morning, I failed. I began to have unbelief and fear that I would not have school books on Monday. I was struggling! We had been gone most of the day, but when we returned home, we checked the mailbox later in the evening. There was a check in our mailbox for $332.00, as we had overpaid on the mortgage when we sold and closed on my house. I say my house because this was the house I owned when Jimmy and I met. This never happens! Monies are exchanged at the closing office when documents are signed. Checks don’t come in the mail months later. Friday, we went and bought school books. The total came to $334.00, and I had picked up a dictionary that was $2.00.
I remember getting on the floor on my knees and begging God to forgive me for my unbelief. He forgave me and with the words, “Keep walking forward, Martha. Follow me.”
Since then, I have had a saying that I have used very often: “I trusted God all the way until Wednesday.” It always brings a smile to my face as a reminder that I can trust God past Wednesday, too. This was another moment that changed my life, a moment when I realized that my faith in God's providence was not limited to a specific day or time but a continuous journey of trust and surrender.
To make a very long story short, from a divorce from infidelity at a very young age to becoming a very strong woman and feeling like I didn’t ever need a man in my life, God has brought me to my knees many times.
All the moments I call the dash have been a beautiful journey for me. My husband and I have been married for 18 years now, and no matter how hard I fought God or what material possessions I had to give up, God replaced them all. He gave us back more than we could have ever expected, and most importantly, I learned to trust Him above all else. We are still learning!
My faith in Jesus Christ has been made real in this journey, and He has not only allowed me to live it but is also allowing me to write about it. Publishing my first book, When Jesus Calls, was one of the most profound moments of my life, and now that the sequel, When Jesus Leads, has been published, I can’t think Him enough for the conviction, faith, and the journey He has given me in my life. No matter what happens in the future, I know without a doubt that He Knows the Plans He Has For Me! He knows the plans He has for us! He knows the plans he has for you! ❤
God has changed our lives and hearts. He gives and He takes away, and in all of that, He has a plan that we can trust. If we trust Him and walk with Him through it all, it will be bigger than we could ever imagine. After all, His ways are not our ways.
Grab His hand and don’t let go!
I am currently writing the third book in the WHEN JESUS CALLS SERIES. Thank you for reading and following us on this journey. I will continue to write our story, His story and share it with the world.
Jeremiah 29:11
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. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.
Thank you, Jesus, for the Love and Faith you have given me and for being my best friend through all of life’s trials, heartaches, joys, and successes. You are my Peace, and because of you, we have Victory. You are the beginning and the end, and we know that all things work together for good to those who are called according to your purpose. Thank you for choosing us Lord. Be with us today. We pray you continue to guide us as we seek to walk with you daily and desire to hear the words, “Well done, my good and faithful servant.” I pray that we are light in this world and we continue to trust you as you carry us to the end.
In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.
If you haven’t read WHEN JESUS CALLS and the sequel, WHEN JESUS LEADS, order your copy at marthagayle.com
Thank you for reading and allowing me to share my heart with you.
John 11:40, Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?”
After walking into our tiny rented white wooden house and finding another woman there, my heart was broken, and the shock of it all brought me to a place of much confusion and pain. I was crushed.
I had a lot of questions: How could he do this to me? But why did he do this? This was not suppose to be this way.
We all desire a perfect life. One like the ones we read in storybooks. That’s what I wanted anyway. That’s what I thought I had at the time.
This moment was a turning point in my life. It transformed me from a shy young girl to a courageous woman. I was determined not to let this experience define or bring me down. Despite the lingering anger and hurt, I channeled my emotions in a different direction, towards the extreme. This was the birth of my resilience and strength.
After working for years in a large hotel chain, I was promoted to Sales and Marketing Director. I worked seventy hours a week at times. I was successful. I came into control of my life, and nothing would stop me. I loved my career, and my job became my identity.
Years later, after working as a general manager in a primarily male-dominated region, I had to be tough. I often finished top in my region in sales and occasionally played golf with them. I wasn’t an outstanding golfer, but I loved the game. I knew that while playing “Captain’s Choice,” they had to take at least two of my balls: a putt and a drive. I was in the game.
After years of thinking I was in control, I became a single mom. I was left alone to do it all by myself. I made it work, and we were happy.
Eight years later, I met a man, and God called me to love him. The call was clear as God put His love in my heart to love him. Nothing else made sense. I had prayed for a Godly man. One that would lead me as Jesus would. After hearing his story, he wasn’t a Godly man and he certainly wasn’t who I had prayed for. Or at least this is what I thought.
Honestly, I loved my life just as it was and really had no desire to be married again. I argued with God because this was not the plan I had for my life.
After months of conviction to follow His will for my life and our preacher who wouldn’t give up because God had him awake at 3 a.m. one morning writing our wedding vows, I finally surrendered to God’s will. After many prayers and confirmations, we were married. Thank you, Pastor Butch!
A year later, the Lord called me to leave my career to be a stay-at-home wife and mom. “You want me to walk away from my financial security, life, and career, Lord,” I asked. My reply was, “I can’t.” This was not the plan I had for my life. I knew that as long as I continued to work and control my life financially we would be fine. Of course, I had everything we needed and most of what we wanted. This was a priority for me.
After months of hard conviction, I finally threw my arms up toward heaven and said, “Lord, I will follow your will for my life, whatever that is!” I knew my husband had a good job, but I didn’t trust anyone else to provide for myself and my daughter. I trusted only me. I had to let go and completely surrender my life to Jesus.
Two weeks later, the marketing company my husband worked for closed. He was unemployed, and we were both unemployed. We had no income, and we had no one to trust but God.
While we had to make significant adjustments, we never truly lost anything. We sold my house and moved in with my dad. Little did I know, God had already orchestrated everything. My parents had been married for 47 years when my mom passed away to be with Jesus. My dad, who had never had to cook a meal or do laundry, needed us. It was a perfect timing, a divine intervention. It was a life change for all of us!
I began homeschooling my daughter at that time, and I will never forget not having the money to buy school books. School was starting the following Monday, and I was nervous. Never being a teacher, I thought. This is my daughter’s education. This was another calling that was very hard to agree to.
I remember trusting God with everything in me to provide the funds for her school books. We were financially broke. On Thursday morning, I failed. I began to have unbelief and fear that I would not have school books on Monday. I was struggling! We had been gone most of the day, but when we returned home, we checked the mailbox later in the evening. There was a check in our mailbox for $332.00, as we had overpaid on the mortgage when we sold and closed on my house. I say my house because this was the house I owned when Jimmy and I met. This never happens! Monies are exchanged at the closing office when documents are signed. Checks don’t come in the mail months later. Friday, we went and bought school books. The total came to $334.00, and I had picked up a dictionary that was $2.00.
I remember getting on the floor on my knees and begging God to forgive me for my unbelief. He forgave me and with the words, “Keep walking forward, Martha. Follow me.”
Since then, I have had a saying that I have used very often: “I trusted God all the way until Wednesday.” It always brings a smile to my face as a reminder that I can trust God past Wednesday, too. This was another moment that changed my life, a moment when I realized that my faith in God's providence was not limited to a specific day or time but a continuous journey of trust and surrender.
To make a very long story short, from a divorce from infidelity at a very young age to becoming a very strong woman and feeling like I didn’t ever need a man in my life, God has brought me to my knees many times.
All the moments I call the dash have been a beautiful journey for me. My husband and I have been married for 18 years now, and no matter how hard I fought God or what material possessions I had to give up, God replaced them all. He gave us back more than we could have ever expected, and most importantly, I learned to trust Him above all else. We are still learning!
My faith in Jesus Christ has been made real in this journey, and He has not only allowed me to live it but is also allowing me to write about it. Publishing my first book, When Jesus Calls, was one of the most profound moments of my life, and now that the sequel, When Jesus Leads, has been published, I can’t think Him enough for the conviction, faith, and the journey He has given me in my life. No matter what happens in the future, I know without a doubt that He Knows the Plans He Has For Me! He knows the plans He has for us! He knows the plans he has for you! ❤
God has changed our lives and hearts. He gives and He takes away, and in all of that, He has a plan that we can trust. If we trust Him and walk with Him through it all, it will be bigger than we could ever imagine. After all, His ways are not our ways.
Grab His hand and don’t let go!
I am currently writing the third book in the WHEN JESUS CALLS SERIES. Thank you for reading and following us on this journey. I will continue to write our story, His story and share it with the world.
Jeremiah 29:11
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. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.
Thank you, Jesus, for the Love and Faith you have given me and for being my best friend through all of life’s trials, heartaches, joys, and successes. You are my Peace, and because of you, we have Victory. You are the beginning and the end, and we know that all things work together for good to those who are called according to your purpose. Thank you for choosing us Lord. Be with us today. We pray you continue to guide us as we seek to walk with you daily and desire to hear the words, “Well done, my good and faithful servant.” I pray that we are light in this world and we continue to trust you as you carry us to the end.
In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.
If you haven’t read WHEN JESUS CALLS and the sequel, WHEN JESUS LEADS, order your copy at marthagayle.com
Thank you for reading and allowing me to share my heart with you.
John 11:40, Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?”
Always Believe and Never Give Up!
Martha Gayle ❤️