Inside Their Stories
Hailey’s Story
“The Lord is slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, forgiving iniquity and transgression; but He will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generations.”
-Numbers 14:18
In 6th grade “Hailey” was such a quiet girl. So timid. So fragile.
Her parents were never married. They fought constantly and separated when she was young. In middle school she learned of her father’s drug use and illegal dealings. She yearned to know why he needed those things. Why was she and her siblings not enough for him? Why would he always choose substances over them? Hailey was so alone. She was lost in a sea of family drug use and toxic relationships.
Most wont be surprised to hear Hailey had no church background. No knowledge of Christ or God’s design for our lives. As she grew up she began to follow the same patterns and behaviors she has always known and seen.
Sometimes I feel like we get stuck in deep dark pits for so long that we just think that’s what life is. We settle… and just exist in the dark places.
Hailey’s decisions have led her to entanglement with dangerous circles. In the midst of these relationships she has been taken advantage of in the way no female should be. And if that pain were not enough, last year her father passed away leaving her with no restoration. She is dealing with so much grief and pain.
But God sees her and there is hope. God sent her to us and Christ-sharing relationships have began! She is starting to learn who He is and how she was created in His image. But… she is reluctant. Hailey is not certain Christ is the answer. She is at a fork in the road of her life; faced with a choice. Does she continue abusing substances; seeking worldly things to distract her from hurts? Or will she take the narrow road? Pray she will taste and see that God is good. Pray she would enter into life with Christ.