I introduce to you Débora Rodrigo, a Spanish woman who works with us at IRSM, here in Searcy, Arkansas, behind the scenes.
Débora, tell us a little bit about you and your family.
I was born and grew up in Spain. I studied there, I met God there, I got married there, and my daughter was born there also. Four years ago, as a family, we made the decision to come to the United States temporarily. It was a difficult change that brought many things with it, things we did not expect. In January of last year, heartbroken, I witnessed how the man I chose to share the rest of my life with, and with whom I had married seven years before, packed his things and left home. Then, just a few months later, he filed for divorce and made official his relationship with another woman. In just one year, my life has taken a 360º turn. Today I am at the beginning of a path that I never thought I would travel, as a single mother and in a foreign country, and it's time to start from scratch.
How do you face these changes and this new beginning you have ahead?
I have still a lot to learn, but I try to focus on all the positives around me. I think that, whatever our situation or stage of life is, we always can look ahead with hope. However, we must make that decision, because it will probably not happen naturally.
A few weeks ago, I graduated with my masters. I made the decision that my graduation would be not just the end of my degree, but also the end of a stage that has been filled with many tears, the triumph of having survived the storm; but overall, the beginning of a new stage: a new beginning. I think that as Christians, we are called to keep looking forward; first to what waits for us after this life, but also to what there is still in it. God promises to be there, helping us, and He encourages us to focus not on what was, but rather on what will be. “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland” (Isaiah 43:18-19).
We recognize that not every beginning is one we would like or were hoping for. What can you tell us about that?
In fact, I would say that in most cases it is not something we want. If someone had given me the opportunity, I would never have chosen to start over. I would have preferred to maintain things as they were; a situation in which even many things were not working the way they should. That's what I realize now, but not then. Most of us naturally resist situations that cause us pain. And when we are faced with something that turns our world upside down, we usually ask ourselves “why?”, or “why me?”. We complain and mourn, or even curse. But the truth is that the Bible calls these situations blessings: blessed are those who mourn, those who need justice to be done... those who suffer (Matthew 5: 3-12). What does James say about this? "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds..." (James 1: 2). This is the way God works best in His people. There are many examples in the Bible of renewed lives through new beginnings after devastating situations. If you are suffering and you are facing a new beginning, welcome to the growth! God continues to do wonderful things in the lives of His people.
For you, what does a new beginning mean?
It means a new opportunity. It means leaving behind everything in which I have failed and or in which others have failed me. It means, despite the pain, I look straight ahead. It is hard. There are many things that I would like to not have to think about, decisions I would prefer not to have to make. Many days I feel tired and without strength to take another step. But I must admit that it is a very great opportunity to grow, to evaluate my life, to take out of my life all that I no longer want there, and to start working on what I do want. Many times, we simply get carried away by our routine, our day to day. When everything around you falls down and you are forced to start over, you need to evaluate what you still have, and what you have lost... in order to rebuild.
I think it is something like when you lose your house because of a fire or a natural disaster. It feels terrible to be in front of a pile of uninhabitable debris. You must clean everything and build it again. It is a really hard work and very painful, especially because there are things that you will never recover again, and you know it. It is emotionally devastating. Your security, your dreams, everything has disappeared. Despite everything, you need to build a new house. Whether you have the strength or not. And although it is difficult to see things in this way, not everything is negative; now you have the opportunity to choose how that new house will be rebuilt. You can decide not to raise that wall that bothered you so much, you can expand the living room and put the bathroom on the other side. And you can always rebuild what you liked about your previous house. It's the same with your life and with yourself when everything has fallen down. It is time to make a new version of your life and of yourself, but this time, improved by experience.
Which verse of the Bible has encouraged you the most in this new beginning?
I could mention several of them. It is amazing how many times God promises us that He cares for our future and gives us hope through the Scriptures. One of my favorites is in Isaiah 40:31: “But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”
But it is the story of Abraham and the words God spoke to him that I like to meditate on the most. He was an old man who, along with his wife, had suffered decades of infertility, and who was still waiting for the promise of a son to inherit the land God had given him for his descendants. In the middle of his dark night, trying to understand a promise that, given the circumstances, seemed impossible to happen, God insists on the truthfulness of the promised: "Look up at the sky and count the stars—if indeed you can count them... So shall your offspring be" (Gen. 15: 5). Sometimes what we see around us does not allow us to contemplate the promises of God, much bigger, and that have nothing to do with what is before our eyes. In the middle of my dark night, it does not matter how difficult I see my situation. It does not matter the damage caused so far, or the difficulty and pain that still seems to be ahead. I want to look at the sky as well. I want to count the stars. They are everywhere. And God has them reserved for me. I will reach them when the time comes, but until then I know that I must keep believing as Abraham did.
Have you had one or more Iron Rose Sisters who have encouraged, inspired or equipped you in this process towards a new beginning?
Of course, I have had them! I have had several sisters that have accompanied me all the way, and still continue to do it with every step I take. They have been a key piece for me being here today, whole and standing. I think it would have been not possible to face all these changes completely alone.
If you are going through a difficult situation or you are facing a new beginning and you have no one by your side. Find a sister! You need her. You need someone to support you, listen to you, who will mourn your losses with you, someone who will hug you, love you and remind you of how much God loves you and is taking care of you... someone to accompany you. Do not be alone.
Thank you for your time and your perspective. Your words are very encouraging for those who are in similar situations
Thank you for allowing me to continue growing and sharpening my iron with the iron of other sisters. I appreciate the encouragement I receive from these women continuously, as well.
#IronRoseSister #testimony #newbeginnings #IRSM