October 22,2005 was a defining moment for the Chapa family. Faced with the sudden death of my husband, Beto, I had an important decision to make. I could let my emotions rule me and send me into hopelessness and depression or I could trust that God was in control and that He had a bigger plan for my life. Jeremiah 29:11 tells me…His plans are to give me a future and a hope. I am so glad that I chose to trust God rather than my emotions because he gave me…” Beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that I might be called a tree of righteousness, the planting of the Lord that He might be glorified.” –Isaiah 61:3
From the day I made that decision until now God has never ceased to amaze me. I can fully identify with the 23rd Psalm, especially the part about goodness and mercy following me all the days of my life! I have had the privilege of getting to know God in a new way, as my husband. And He really has been a father to the fatherless as I have seen the strength He has been for my three little boys Isaac, Jake and Gabe.
I don’t understand exactly why things happened the way they did, but that is okay because God is God and I am not! I do know that God took what could have been the worst circumstances a person could walk through and brought me into the best season of my life so far. I have traveled more than I have ever traveled, I have just finished writing a book(something I thought I would never be capable of), I have been speaking in churches about God’s faithfulness in my life(public speaking has also forced me out of my comfort zone) and I am the mother to three amazing little men of God! I say it all of the the time…I honestly do not understand how people can make it through life without God. I intend to spend every chance I get making sure people know that they don’t have to make it through life without Him!
I am so thankful for what God has done in me and through me and I can’t wait to see what great things God has in store for our family on this exciting journey of faith.