There is such a gap between what we think we know and what will actually one day be. Jeremiah 29:11 speaks of this.
“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”
As a little girl I think I wanted to be two things: a teacher and a Mom. I grew up watching my teachers in the classroom and couldn’t wait to one day be that teacher and to write my name on the chalkboard and drink a coke as I was doing it. That was the goal! Not sure I cared about the actual teaching part as much as the thought of my name on the board and a coke in my hand. The other dream I would play out was being a Mom. My friend Melinda and I would pretend we were Moms with all of the benefits. A towel over our head as long hair, make up in our purses, car keys in our hands, and a baby on our hip. We loved it! There was something about carrying around a purse and car keys that made us feel so grown! I’m sure we would throw a coke in our hand as well because every Mom needed that. Those days were so long ago but feel like yesterday. The truth is as a young child we really have no idea how our lives will play out but there is someone who does. His name is Jesus!
So much happened between being that little girl and starting college. Somehow turning 18 made me feel like I was ready to be out on my own and take on the world. I made a lot of choices that weren’t really moving me in the right direction. I was in my first year at a community college working towards a teaching degree when I found out I was pregnant. Both of my dreams were becoming a reality but not how I imagined them. I had been dating my boyfriend Bryan on and off for about a year. We met in our church and had a relationship with God but not really living it out. He had just graduated from high school which was certainly not ideal but here we were. There was nothing that could have prepared me for that moment when I found out I was pregnant. I was terrified! I had no idea what this was going to look like or how this was going to play out. I also knew God’s Word said not to have sex outside of marriage so I didn’t feel like the scripture of “a future and a hope” applied to me. The one thing I did know was that I was going to choose to give this little person life. I wasn’t sure of what kind of life I could provide for them but they were going to have one. Jeremiah 29:11 says that the Lord knew what my life was going to look like. He knew I would disobey Him and do my own thing yet He still promised me a future and a hope because of my relationship with Him. He not only had that for me but He had that for the little girl I would give birth to whom we would name Ashtyn. He had a future and a hope for her life as well.
Proverbs 16:9 says “The heart of a man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.” I don’t know where I would be in my life without Christ. He brings me hope, peace, joy, comfort, stability, and direction. I can trust that His Word is true and that He will direct me in all my ways if I ask Him and obey. And He has! It wasn’t easy at 18 and it’s still not always easy at 47 but He has given me a future and a hope that I am not deserving of. That’s the amazing thing about Christ!
Fast forward to today! Bryan and I got married after we found out we were pregnant with Ashtyn. Three years later we got pregnant with our other daughter Taylor. Ashtyn is now married to her husband Zach whom we love and we have two amazing grandchildren Maverick and Reux. Taylor is 24 and has a boyfriend named Carlos whom we also love. Bryan and I have now been married for 28 years and had the pleasure of planting Reverb Church twelve years ago in Saint Augustine. We get to partner with amazing organizations like FCWS that not only help women choose life but also help them along the way. It is so very near to our heart as we want women to know there is hope and they are not alone. Especially young teenagers who think that their lives may be over. It’s not true! They may be different but not over. We currently reside here in Saint Augustine and get to minister every week with our children and grandchildren. We get to share the goodness of God with thousands of people. That though we were so undeserving, His plans for our lives were far more than we could have ever hoped or imagined. What the enemy thought could possibly destroy us God turned around for His good. We get to leave a legacy through our marriage, children, and grandchildren. We get to be real with people about our imperfections and how God still chose us. If you asked me at 18 what our life was going to look like I would have described to you a whole different life. One that lacked the miracles that have taken place. I couldn’t see it, but God knew. I thank Him everyday for the gift He gave us in Ashtyn and for the life we have now.
Reneé Lamoureux, REVERB Church
To learn more about REVERB Church, visit reverb.church