Tuesday Testimonies – Ellen Morton
As we travel on our spiritual journey, it’s always encouraging to hear from others how God has worked in their lives. Periodically we’ll share testimonies from our NAOBC Women on how God worked in their life. Today’s testimony is from Ellen Morton.
Ellen and her husband, Caleb, have been members of NAOBC for six years and are actively involved in our worship ministry, writing many of our NAOBC original songs. You can read more about her here.
“There are many times where I can clearly point to God’s goodness and provision. A time that particularly stands out for me was November of 2020. Everything felt dark and there was a lot of grief and loss. I don’t remember when it was, but at some point Pastor Cook was preaching through the book of Exodus. He pointed out that the Israelites failed to see glimpses of light where God’s grace and provision were evident because they were too embittered in the darkness of their circumstances. When he said that, I thought— “I don’t want that to be me.” Fast forward to November 2020. The sale of our house fell through. We thought that termination of parental rights was not going to happen for our kids— cancelled again. Visits with their birth parents were to continue. Caleb tested positive for covid. I had surgery the week before and was struggling with recovery. This all compiled in the same day. Driving home I thought— “I have a choice here. Am I going to find joy in my circumstances by acknowledging glimpses of God’s grace or am I going to become embittered like the Israelites?” I got home from work and found the book Gentle and Lowly on my front porch with some other goodies. I felt seen in that moment. Not only by one of the sweet ladies in my BFG, but by God. He knew I was hurting. He knew what I needed even when I didn’t. That book changed my entire outlook on who God is. He sees me in my suffering and is drawn closer and deeper with me when I allow Him to share in my hurting. So I started writing down all the glimpses of light that I saw and how I could be thankful for the good and the bad. I learned (and am still learning) that joy is a choice that you make out of obedience to the Lord even when things do not feel good. Caleb and I shared the glimpses of light with one another on Thanksgiving Day while he ate his meal upstairs and I sat downstairs (also provided by sweet families in our church). We didn’t know that we needed all those things to happen. It didn’t feel good at the time. But it was one of the sweetest two weeks of my spiritual journey.”
“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” James 1:2-4
