I received a call this week from an old client that was a participant in the Arms of Hope program last year. “Brittany, I’m free, justice has been served and I don’t have to be afraid anymore.”

When she first came to Arms of Hope she had journeyed through many dark lands that left her filled with fear, death, nightmares, hate, guilt and shame. I remember as we would meet weekly for counseling, during each session she would weep and struggled to believe that she would not have to live in fear the rest of her life. The pain was too much for her to face alone. As various court dates and traumatic memories knocked on her door, I watched her go from the valley to the mountain over and over again. She was hospitalized and placed in a residential care facility for a few weeks and it was hard not to ask the questions: Is the Arms of Hope program working? Lord is there healing for those who have seen death, who have lived in terror? “Lord have mercy, hear our prayers, hear our cries.”

She began to paint after our sessions; she painted the colors of God promises. She moved from violence to hope and through her prayers and paintings GRACE RECREATED WHAT VIOLENCE HAD DESTROYED.

She left the program five months ago and recently returned with a gift, with this painting

and a note on the back.

“I was cleaning my house today and had some pretty amazing memories of the past year and all the healing I conquered, all of the things I learned and set my mind on was because of Arms of Hope! I believe with all of my heart that God sent me there. I read the psalms as much as possible and I’m always reminded how Psalm 91 kept me alive, I conquered my fears and God held the key and brought me HOPE and you! I miss Arms of Hope! Love & Blessings.”

As we approach a season of welcoming more single mothers and their children into the Arms of Hope program, I look back on how God has been faithful to the women he brought through our doors last year. All of their stories were different but each of them conquered many challenges through the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Many of these mothers have lost it all, have been hurt and have come here with many fears and hungry for HOPE. My prayer is that we can approach the cross with them and offer HOPE. Join me church in believing and celebrating what God has done and what he will do!

“You will be secure, because there is hope; you will look about you and take your rest in safety. You will lie down, with no one to make you afraid, and many will court your favor.” Job 11:18-19