My Sisters In Christ.  By Sophia Archer.

I have always had a strong faith in God.  I have always had gratitude for my many blessings.  I have always had a positive personality.  So, when I was drowning in my own tears, glued to my bed, I wasn’t sure how I happened to get there.  I was 52 years old, and I had been betrayed by a man I planned to marry.  I spent the last three years of my life with him.  I prayed with him, I worshipped with him, and I planned my future with him.

“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”  (Psalm 34:18)

I was broken, my heart, my spirit, my whole world.  I wanted the old me back, but I did not know where I was.  After weeks of crying in bed, I finally packed up my misery and took it to church service on Sundays, hoping the fellowship would help me.

Proverbs 3:5-6 says,

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”

One Sunday, my pastor announced that there was a Hearts Being Healed Conference in Yuma, AZ.  I came home and looked at the HBH website, and though I felt a stirring, I quickly resumed crying and shaming myself for being me and for being the kind of woman who a man would discard in a horrid way.  Eventually, I stopped crying, and I joined Christian support groups for codependency.  I started to read scripture. 2 Peter 1:3,

“His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence.”

I felt a stirring again.  There was something He wanted.  I was so excited because for the first time in my Christian life, I felt like I was hearing from God, even if I couldn’t yet discern what He was telling me.

“For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edge sword, piercing to the division of soul and spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12)

I developed a prayer routine, I prayed and prayed.

“Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.” (Romans 12:12)

He created me, so He knew that a few of His messages would fly right over my head before I caught one of them.  He never gives up on us.  I was looking for a bible study, and a friend told me about one she was starting called “Treasures Out of Trauma”.  I knew immediately that I needed to do this study!  My friend got back to me, telling me that to participate in this study I would have to be a board member of Hearts Being Healed.  The conferences use this teaching as an aftercare for the women who attend the conference.  My friend said, “Sophia, you could join the board.  We need women like you.”  And there was that stirring again!  I think I heard God say, “Ahhh…finally!”, and guess what?  I became a board member!

I was asked to write this blog entry and tell you what Hearts Being Healed means to me.  From the deepest part of my pieced back together, still-healing heart, it is the glue that holds me together.  God was calling me to go to that first conference in Yuma, and for about the millionth time, I did not listen to Him.

Psalms 16:11 says,

“You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”

I finally listened and I was brought to my sisters in Christ, who hold me up with the power of the Lord Jesus Christ.  They are His voice of encouragement and love when I cannot hear Him above my own clamor of negativity.  They hug me, they cheer me, and remind me that I am a child of God,

‘who gives unto (us) beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness, that (we) might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He might be glorified.”  (Isaiah 61:3)

I’d love for you to attend our Hearts Being Healed Conference in Prescott and experience an encounter with Jesus that will change your life.

DATE:  Saturday August 17, 2024

TIME:  8-9:00 Check-in.   Conference 9:00 – 4:00.

VENUE:  Yavapai College Community Center,  Bldg. 19

1100 E. Sheldon St., Prescott , AZ

REGISTER: https://heartsbeinghealed.org/two-lunch-speakers-schedule/

Online registration closes on Tuesday, August 13th.