From Tears of Pain to Tears of Joy

[Deann Daniels]

When I was fourteen years old, my step-dad went to prison for drinking and driving. I know the police officers were doing their job and what was done was necessary. But what they didn’t know and many others didn’t know as well,  was my mother the one who attended church and was well accepted was abusing me. I admit I brought much of the abuse on myself, because I was to the best of my abilities trying to turn my mother’s anger away from my younger sibling and towards me. Yes my step-dad had a drinking problem but he was my protector. He loved my mother and tried to keep our family together and he also suffered much of her abuse. My mother was not so obvious as to hit me in places that most would see and very seldom did she ever touch me in front of my dad. Even though there were times and he would warn her that he would take us away from her if she did it again. I didn’t tell my dad much of what went on, because I knew he wasn’t my real dad, and I didn’t think he could take us away from the abuse. If I spoke up all that would really happen would be he would leave and I would lose my protection. The first day my step-dad was sentenced my mother had free reign to unleash her rage on me. It increased over the next two years and went into other forms of abuse with her boyfriends. During this time I became suicidal and fought with self abuse for years many to follow. The only reason I am sharing this is because I need you to understand fully what God did for me during this time of grief.

One night as I lay in my bed I heard my mother praying. I didn’t feel peace in her prayers but rage. How dare her pray to God, and ask for him to rain down manna from heaven because we were out of food.  Did she think God could really see us; surely He had turned His back on us. She began to walk in my room and I lay silent, pretending to be asleep knowing if she knew what I felt, once again her rage would be released. She laid her hand on me and I shivered inside as I thought God no longer see us, we have been forgotten. Eventually she left the room and I finally fell asleep. The next morning as I was walking to school it was lightly raining outside. My eyes were focused on the ground that I so longed to be beneath. A girl that walked with me noticed my silence and left me be. But then I saw something on the ground she had stepped over and I stooped down to pick it up. It was wet and folded and at first I thought it was a ten dollar bill but as I unfolded it I realized it was one hundred dollars. All at once I knew God has not forgotten us, he had heard and I began to cry.. I took the money home to my mother who bought some food and invited her mother who had abused her to come and eat with us as well. It was one day of peace that would hold me for many more years of abuse. But I knew even though the world was unjust, God was just and somehow, someday I would find freedom.

My walk with God has never been easy. I have had and still have many battles to fight, but I can say within my own household the cycle of abuse has been broken. This in itself is a miracle, Thank you Jesus.

[Beau J. Howells]

AMEN

What a powerful and moving testimony!!!

You are brave, and your strength in Jesus shows in your witness through all this pain
into a loving family and walk that you have today.
I, and my family, will be holding you in prayer and in our thoughts
May God truly pour out his spirit and blessings on you and yours

[Gentle Shepherds lamb]

God bless you, my Sister. May God keep you in the hollow of His mighty hand.

[Steven Blanchard]

God bless you sister Deann. I can't even imagine what you have suffered through.  My prayers are with you and your family.  That you have been lifted up beyond all that is a true testament of your faith and strength.

[rtravis1955]

Thank you Sister DeAnn. I can only imagine the difficulty you must have had. But the Lord has lead you through and blessed you and your family. May the Lord continue to bless and guide you.

[Alicea]

Thank you for sharing this. It gives hope!

[elizabeth]

Dear Sister in Christ, Deann,

Praise God the cycle is broken
Praise God the circle is not broken
AMEN
Your testimony is powerful !!!


Peace, love & prayers
Elizabeth
#603376
reg. #3

[Brother Jeff]

Bless you for the courage and sincerity of your testimony.
Abuse of any sort, spiritual and physical, is such a terrible thing. Only those that have gone through it truly understand the power of it - but we have a greater power than what is in this world: Jesus Christ!

It takes time, even for a Christian, to overcome some things, but we are promised that we will overcome the world and the evils it contains.

I know in my case, forgiveness was harder than acceptance of what happened. May the Lord soothe your heart always and sustain your peace. Truly God is with you! Bless you so.
Thanks for your testimony.

Jeff

Revelation 21:
The New Heaven and the New Earth

21:1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

5 And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”

[roadking]

Thanks for sharing Sister Deann.  I know that whoever reads this will find new hope and promise for the future in their lives.  God never leaves us we just think He does.  God bless. 

[rhinomoody]

Pretty awsome Sis! Thanks for sharing.

[Carri L. Carlisle]

Awesome testimony,
No more powerful words could ever be spoken than that of a young childs memories that God turned around for His glory.
Thank-you DeAnn for sharing. I can see why it is an awesome calling for you to be in prison and jail ministries.

[Bishop Leo Steffens]

Thank you DeAnn for sharing your testimony!  A lot of people out there should get the opportunity to read it.

[Kristy]

Thanks for sharing this Deann!  This is very powerful!!!

[bibledad]

A very moving testimony, I too shed a tear for you and for the love and protection Jesus put around you and your own family.  I praise God for giving you the strength to break the cycle.  You are in my prayers.