I would like to hear from Christian single parents on how your relationship with God has helped you cope with the difficulties of single parenting.

I don't have any incredibly dramatic tales to tell. The simple fact that there is a reality outside my own circumstances, and that my own circumstances are organically a part of the whole, and that all is blessed, redeemed, and used for our salvation is a consolation.

It's also been a help to pray for those with whom I'm most angry.

And finally, meditation on the Theotokos (Mary) -- her love for her Son, her God, her anguish and acceptance of the death of her Son has been a comfort. The Orthodox call her "The Joy of All Who Sorrow", and indeed, she is a comfort to me. Even for those not Catholic/Orthodox and therefor not taken to asking her mercy, I think reflecting on her life would be a comfort. As a mother, what did she not lose? As a creature of God, what did she not gain by her motherly loss?

I don't think I can say there is one inparticular story to tell. He walks with me every day, every momment. When I need him he is there and I always need him. I can't do without him. He has helped me through the major losses in my life even before I realized how much he is there. Not sure if I ever will totally grasp how much he is in our lives. He walks with me through my every day difficulties and triumphs.
I do know that most of the time I walk on faith. I don't have the answers for anything really. I just walk knowing that he will lead me where I need to go. I may not understand why things happen but I have to trust.
I also know that just like any relationship. My Relationship with God is what I make it. I have that much control. I can have an awesome relationship or not. I choose to have the best I can. I try to listen as much as I can, and like I said I walk on faith.

Knowing God is in control of all things helps me to let go of all the things I cannot control (which is everything). When my father died, he comforted me and spoke to me. When I feel as though I am nothing, I realize I AM nothing without him but that I am a NEW creation through him. When I am misunderstood I realize he was too but still embraced the cross for me and everyone else who loves him. I could go on and on but I think this is a good indication of who he is for those of us doing this alone. He is a father to the fatherless, I claim that for my children.

Without God in my life, I think I would be a terrible parent. It is so hard to do the right thing in my own strength. I always wanted to get even with my ex but didn't because I knew got wanted me to forgive him. Later, when I was ready to socialize, I wanted to put my needs first before my kids. Again my relationship with God made me think about what God wanted from me as a person. I make better choices when God is in control.

I have so many experiences with how much God has blessed me. He blessed me with the strength to walk away from a bad relationship with my kids father. He blessed me with patience, a forgiving heart, and an open mind.

But a story that stands out it this:

I had went to Radiology School and after graduation I was working full time and study to take me Boards for Radiology. Now you need a 75% to pass and you only get four chances to take the exam. I was studying working and raising two kids. The testing center was almost two hours away. I took the exam and 5 days later I got my results and I got a 74%. I cried and cried about it. But I called a friend and we talked about it and the funny thing is the Sunday before my pastor was preaching about praising the LORD in spite of what you are going through. He mentioned how easy it was for us to love God when we got what we wanted when we wanted it. But could we praise him in spite of it and stand still and allow Him to bless us in his time. So that day I mailed my check next day mail to re-take my exam. Two weeks later I was back to take the exam. (this exam is 2.5 hours long with 200 questions) When I sat at that computer I almost cried becuase the exam was harder than the first. But I closed my eyes and told my Heavenly Father that I accept whatever he has for me. Tha if was is will I would pass if not I would go back and study. Half way through the exam I started to cry because I felt lack of faith in my heart. I went to the bathroom and got on my knees and prayed again just a conversation b/t me and God. Then I went back and finshed the test and said "Thy will be done". Two weeks later and I still had not gotten my results at work the rumor was that I had failed. A friend told me if I truley prayed about I already passed in Gods plan I just had to wait for it to come to pass. The next morning my day off I went to the mail box and the was my BIG envelope with my registry, patch and pin. I am now a board registered technologist.
The point is He blesses me everyday. Sometimes I just need to sit still and stop chasing the blessing and let them come to me.

Thanks for your stories. They really lift me up. Especially yours aunder75!

I have many stories about how God has helped me as a single parent. I'm a single teen parent of two. People make assumptions about me daily, so its God that makes me realize that it doesnt matter what they THINK.. all that matters is the TRUTH. I know the truth, and God knows the truth about me and about my parenting. If people think badly about me, make assumptions, and judge me, than thats their problem.
I used to care what others thought.. but than God made me realize that I'm not trying to impress them with my decisions, and i cant please everyone. The important thing is that i allowed God into my heart, and I choose life for my children.

After I had my first child I was in love with her.. and i loved being a mom so much!! I was living in a maternity home up until my daughter was 6 months old. But, I couldnt wait to move back home and hang out with my friends again.. kinda pick up where i left off i guess. Anyways.. I thought I could have the best of both worlds.. being a great mother, and having a teenage social life. Wow was i wrong!!! I moved back.. went to high school with my old friends.. and thought,"wow everyone has changed soo much!!." Then I realized that I AM the one who has changed. I no longer cared about the things they cared about. I had different priorities then they had. Still, I wanted to fit in so badly. So peer pressure got to me. I would drink with my friends every now and then, started having *** with my boyfriend again (even though i vowed to God that I wouldnt), started gossiping, i even considered doing drugs. Then, God made me realize that it doesnt matter at all about fitting in, or about doing what others are doing. All that I needed to focus on was being a good mother. After I got pregnant with my second daughter is when I realized all of this. I thought... why do i care what these people think about..these "friends" of mine didnt even stick by me when i got pregnant the first time, they didnt even call to see how i was.
My second pregnancy was my turning point. In that time God showed me soo many things. He showed me to be myself (the goody two shoes that i really am), he showed me that being unique is much better than being like everyone else, and that it doesnt matter what others think.. all that matters is the truth, and what God thinks. It was in my second pregnancy that I really gave my whole life to God and since then things have been going great. Of course my life is farrr from perfect, but im happy. My heart and soul are filled with joy now, and its an amazing God-given feeling.

So overall God has showed me the truth, given me knowledge, showed me who I am, and given me happiness, and He has guided me in raising my children. I'm very thankful.

I may be a backsliding christain, but you must remember "Judge not, lest you be jugded in the same measure". Sorry I used king james, but it has more power in that language. God is good, my girls are good christians for the most part, but they are not prefect, neither am I. Peace.

He was there in every way after and since my husband's death. I would be lost without Him. Life has been really rough, but He has held me up through it all. I wouldn't undo anything that has happened to me, because through it He has made me strong and at the same time I have learned I can't do it without Him. Everytime I try I fail miserably.

Hi Everyone...I am new here....My name is Rachel. I am a single parent...Christian, and have encouragment for all of us!

I often wondered why it is that God will "allow" us to be Single Parents. But, I believe he has blessed us with Free Will, and sometimes we make good choices, sometimes bad.

My decisions landed me ..being a Single Parent. Although, I realize some of you have done everything in your power to make right choices. I just was stubborn, and did my own thing..without consulting the Lord.

But, what thing I can tell you...The Lord God knows our troubles, he is their with us.....and he Never leaves us NOr Forsakes Us. One day soon, I will write of the awesome things he is doing in my life. Am I still lonely? You bet.
Am I joyous because I know him? Definitely
Do I want to be married again? Most Definitely.

So be of good courage, and look up to the heavens.....Know your Father KNOWS your struggles......he is there, listening, and catching every tear ! God bless you Guys...Feel free to pm anytime, or email me! ANewHope2000@msn.com

Ok, I am replying to myself from yesterday..hehehe No, really...I have something I would like to share. (Too pooped to do it yesterday, plus I have in my arsenal..a double shot Starbucks Expresso!) Nobody mess with me !

Okay..feel better now.

God "caught" me just in the nick of time! I have only really became a Christian 7yrs ago. Before that I "thought" I knew God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. I "thought" if I would just go to church...I would be a "shoe in" for heaven. Ah...not. Harsh reality hit...and after many mistakes...I still refused to have a relationship with Jesus Christ. Always thinking I knew better.....in a way.

It was not until I became very ill that God was able to "use" the illness to draw me to him. I was sick 18months...lost my son(I could no longer care for him)....and at the time of my Illness...I was 3 weeks pregnant with my daughter. (I was not married at the time).

I had to give up my daughter too...and needless to say the pregnancy was horrendous due to the illness. I tried to end my life several times in the course of the illness...each time landing in the hospital.....BUT GOD....(love those words) but God, had a plan for my life.
I just had to hold on the way Job did in Scriptures.

Many months after losing my children....I STOPPED blaiming the Lord God for my illness. I blamed the other "opposing" Force..... And as strange as it might sound...I had a miracle the very SAME day, I CHOSE not to believe the lie of the enemy. The Bible says, Satan comes to kill, steal, and destroy. All I could do was blame God......(one of Satan's little dirty tricks) lol (He is such a jerk!)

So After 18 months of losing BOTH of my children, God COMPLETELY healed me......and to make a long story short....I NOW have both of my children, I am the happiest Single Parent this side of Houston!

My point being here that when things seem like they cannot get much worse.....GOD has a plan!
I look back on the illness, and one day if I may will describe what happened.....if you guys would like to hear... It is an awesome testimony of God drawing us close in perilous times! I now Thank God for my illness, if it wasn't for that experience...as terrifying as it was.......I might have never found that precious relationship with Jesus.

God says in his word...John 3:3...UNLESS a Man Be Born Again, He Shall Not Enter the Kingdom of Heaven". I fall on my face daily..thanking God for allowing the circumstances to draw me to him, and NOT to "Religion".......

God bless you guys....going to finish my Starbucks now....!

Oh, and God says.....

Rachel..... you have a lot of style

I know when I feel like I've been touched by God and I realize all of my blessings... I am just bursting to share it with everyone (sometimes they give me the funny look)

Every time I look at the trying things in my life.. especially the big ones where you feel like you're all alone... I realized those were gifts that brought me closer to God.

You sound very happy and insightful.

there is a small planet in a fairly obscure part of the solar system,that spins on its axis at 23 and a half degrees,this planet spins at roughly 777mph at the equater and travels through space at 66,000 miles per hour going one lap down around our sun taking 365 days to make one lap. we have a iron core that creates its own electromagnetism which in turn helps to disapate static electricity through lightning and creates the planets weather. now the heat from the core helps warm our planet in combo with the sun that is just right to keep us from frying or going to another ice age. from what we know there is not another planet,moon, or any orb with the life sustaining qualities that we know of. Now they are estimating another 50 billion galaxies such as ours exist in space. Now whether one believes in a creator or not it still defies imagination that we exist at all. whats odd is all religious factions whether christians, muslims, hindus,jews, agree on any of it or not the mechanisms that make it work continue to do so. Imagine fleas arguing over who owns the dog they are riding on and what the rules should be...my prayer is that good souls of all religions will rise above it and take their place in a great spiritual awakening. I bought a copy of the lamsa bible that was written in aramaic,the language spoken by Jesus. There is another book called the idioms of the bible which the same verses are compared in aramaic,greek,english, the differences will amaze you. food for thought,peace