Ashley is a 20-something year old seminary wife who lives in Louisville, KY with her husband, Michael. Godwilling, they are hoping to expand their family through way of adoption later this year. Ashley is passionate about encouraging women to live for the Lord in all aspects of their lives and blogs about it regularly at Putting God First Place. Ashley has recently published her first book, How My Soul Yearns, her story of how God brought her through infertility and beyond.
Grace.
A simple five letter word. My fingers type it with ease. My heart feels it deep.
Who I am that I deserve Grace?
Over the past five years, I have been on a long journey. I’ve been dragged through the trenches of infertility. I felt hurt. I felt like God had left me. I felt broken. I felt like I was never going to find the healing I was searching for and so desperately needed.
Then came Grace. What a wonderful sentence. What a great continuation of my journey. I don’t remember a defining moment, it was more like a slow change.
God didn’t take away my suffering. Even more so, He hasn’t allowed for me to become a parent yet. But in spite of those things, I found His Grace again, and it is sufficient for my journey. I realized that He had never left me, but instead He was there each step of the way carrying me through.
I began to find healing from my long journey into the depths of infertility. I found healing for my broken and hurting soul.
God is continuing to show me His unending and never-changing Grace. Simple Grace. Life-changing Grace. The kind of Grace that as I type my story for you right now brings a smile to mouth and tears to my eyes.
Through His Grace, God has brought me through my suffering. And by His Grace, He will bring others through their suffering too, hopefully by me sharing my story.
Grace. A simple five letter word.
I love this Ashley, and thank you so much for sharing your heart so vividly here. Your journey will touch the hearts of many with His Grace because you have removed your mask and let others see the work He has done and is now doing in your life! I am truly blessed by you being here today!
*****
Ashley sweetly offered to share one PDF copy of her new eBook, “My Soul Yearns” with one of you. Please leave a comment here, and share how this story of grace has touched your heart! Giveaway will be open through Sunday, July 3 and the winner announced next week.
“Who I am that I deserve Grace?” I ask myself the same thing. Often. But then that’s what’s so beautiful about grace. And so amazing about our God. Thank you so much for sharing a piece of your story here, Ashley. (And for hosting her, Stacey.) Congrats on the release of your eBook!
Thanks Caroline for your kind words!!! That truly is the beautiful thing about grace!
What a beautiful book cover! (I’m a sucker for packaging…eek!) Grace is enough. I have to keep telling myself that. I love how you openly say, ” God didn’t take away my suffering.” Grace opens the door to hope & belief and peace. By grace….
Blessings,
Robyn
Grace truly does open the door! Thanks for stopping by!
Love you, Ashley!
I am one of those gals that shook my head in agreement and understanding of every feeling you mentioned that infertility throws at you. NONE of them, certainly, are positive feelings, until you turn all of those feelings over to God. At that point, I was able to see the light at the end of the tunnel and begin to live again. It is a life-changing journey that none of us wish for! I was finally blessed with my angel who will turn one on Monday!! But I am already leaning on God, asking for His grace and His guidance on how my family will become complete in the future. I am so glad that God has spoken to you through your journey of adoption. My prayers are with you!
Thank you so much Kristin! I see, you know this journey as well. Praise God that He has brought you through by His power! Thanks for sharing!
For me, it was a miscarriage that made me feel like you have….and only by His grace have I been able to heal!
Blessings and thank you for sharing!
I am so glad that God was able to bring you through that trial Kerri! Thank YOU for sharing!