Gwendolyn Gage ~ Guest Post

I remember the night vividly. I was sitting on my porch. The air was cool and breezy, smelling like spring. It was one of the darkest moments of my life.

Our house was in foreclosure. My mother-in-law was living with us. My job was simply another place where people filled my days with drama and stress. I faced a spiritual battlefield everywhere I went—my car was my only sanctuary. As I sat there, overwhelmed with discouragement, I evaluated my life and found it far from what I had wanted or expected. And I did what I swore I would never do: I pictured what my life would be like if I left my husband.

Thankfully, I was honest enough with myself to see that leaving would only intensify my problems and heartache, and it would also greatly displease God. Far better to endure a miserable situation with God’s approval, than a miserable situation made worse by His disapproval. But was I prepared to brave my current situation with no end in sight?

Then a lightning bolt of truth shot down from the heavens and struck me. God never promised us an easy, happy life here on earth. In fact, He promised persecution and trials. Yes, He wants to bless us with the desires of our hearts, but He is far more interested in the condition of our souls (and the souls of others) than He is in our earthly happiness.

Four years later, I look back on that terrible experience and smile, for now I clearly see what God was up to. He was opening my husband’s eyes to something, and showing my mother-in-law His love through our Christian example. I’m convinced that if more Christian couples would stop looking at their spouses through selfish-colored glasses and start serving and loving one another unconditionally, the divorce rate among Christians would plummet. Tragically, when we fail to put off selfishness and wreck homes in our quest for happiness, we ruin our witness and give the world reason to mock Christ.

"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' The second is this: Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these." Mark 12:30-31

This fall, David and I will celebrate our eighth anniversary. :-) And just two years ago, God blessed us with our son, Micah. He is our joy, our laughter, and our daily exercise. His latest thrill is climbing on top of the dining room table. He loves to tease. Whenever David asks him to say "Dada", he'll smile slyly and say "Mama!"

Did I really write this whole article without mentioning that I write books??? I’m not published yet, but I do have two manuscripts I'm seeking homes for–one speculative, and the other historical romance. The Back of Beyond: A wormhole carries a Texan cowgirl to Roman-ruled Egypt where she wrestles with God over the happy life she wants and the destiny He's prepared her for. The Way of Impressions: Louisa Howe is just another girl who wants to be in love and happy, but little does she know that a secret romance with Captain Stanley threatens more than her world; it threatens Georgian England’s national security.

Come hang out with me at my blog, Gwendolyn Gage ~ Serving Through Words. I post weekly on Tuesdays, usually about writing, book reviews, or something God has put on my heart. Occasionally, I offer snippets of my work, updates on my adventures in publishing, and fun facts about the time periods I'm researching.

Thanks, Anne, for inviting me to be your guest!

Gwendolyn Gage writes Christian romance novels packed with history, adventure and humor. She doesn't write to simply entertain, but sees her talent as an opportunity to minister. It is her ambition and prayer that her readers will come away from her stories and blog with a desire for more of God.

Gwendolyn has lived in Hungary, Indonesia, and the Philippines, and visited many other countries in Europe and southern Asia. She attended Christ For the Nations Institute in Dallas, TX, and graduated in 2002 with a major in Christian theology. She currently lives in Dallas with her husband, David, and their two-year-old son, Micah.