angry with you and will not rebuke you. For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my steadfast love shall not depart from you, and my covenant of peace shall not be removed, says the Lord, who has compassion on you," (RSV).
I gazed at the double rainbow in awe. It seemed God was telling me, "It's not your fault your step-daughter ran away. You didn't make a mistake in remarrying. You are now living in my will. My love will strengthen you and be with you whatever comes. You are doubly forgiven. And as long as you follow my guidance, you will have peace."
My heart swelled with praise: Oh, thank you, Lord! Thank You that in Your love You are guiding me and will continue to guide me!
My husband came alongside and put his arm around me. "Do you like the rainbow, Babe?" I turned to him with a smile and quoted the verses to him. "You see?" he said. "God's not mad at you."
Four years passed before she came back to us but now, 30 years later, I see a beautiful transformation in my step-daughter. I look back on the 17-year marriage with her dad and see how God patiently healed us and refined us. He helped us through many trials and problems, including the ten-month bout with cancer that took Martin's physical life but left us both with reassurance of his eternal life.
Today I can truly say God has restored to me what the ‘locusts’ have eaten. (Joel 2:25).
That’s grace—undeserved mercy!
Judith Vander Wege is a Christian Freelance Writer/Composer/Bible Study Leader who has nearly 300 published credits of devotionals, articles, poems, stories and book reviews in Christian periodicals and photo essays in a newspaper.