Portraits of Grace – Tina Hice

      My name is Tina Hice. My husband is a Pastor in Salamanca, NY. I have 5 children and 3 grandchildren. My two passions besides my family are helping ladies overcome their brokenness while learning to use it for good and teaching families how to use God’s creation to better their health both physically and mentally. I love teaching on these topics and do so as often as I get the opportunity! I have a Facebook page called Broken But Not Finished. Psalm 147:3 “He health the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.” My business is Oil is Well and my healthy website is www.myyl.com/oil.iswell  III John 1:2 “Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.”

My name is not “Divorced”

      When I was asked to write this testimony, I was a little uneasy at the way I believe the Lord was asking me to write it. See we all have things in our lives that tend to define us if we let them. Things like abuse, divorce, death etc. These things although difficult to overcome, do not have to define who we are! Failure is an event, it is never a person! The only time failure becomes a person is if you quit after the last failure.

      We all have a story! We all have brokenness; my brokenness does not define me. It does not make anyone else’s brokenness more or less difficult to bear. It is simply my story of God’s grace!

      My story is tainted with abuse, divorce, a chronically ill child, 2 total loss house fires, infidelity of a spouse, miscarriages and more. Yes, I am a broken person with a broken past and probably some brokenness in the future, but I am so much more… I am a Child of the Living God! I am a product of His mercy and Grace!! Jeremiah 29:11 “ For I know the thoughts I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you and expected end.” He knows where you should end up and if you let Him, He will get you there in spite of our failures!

      To sum it up, I was in an abusive marriage for 10 years. I could write books on God’s love, protection and grace towards me and my children during those years. I did everything I knew to do, prayed and sought Godly counsel from my preacher. I did not and still do not believe in divorce, but in the end, it happened. I remember listening to Bible on cassette almost 24 hours a day to keep my mind right. God held me through those times and answered so many prayers! I did not deserve His love, but He reached down and gave me peace that truly passed all understanding!! What a wonderful, merciful God.

      I write all this to say, I am divorced but that doesn’t define me! I am a Child Of God, and that is what defines me. God has blessed me beyond measure. I truly believe if I had pursued a divorce or left the Lord and sought my own happiness, He would not have blessed me as much. Even though He has blessed me, sin comes with a price. Whether mine or yours, sin affects those around us. I have watched my kids have to go through such difficulties as a result. But I have also watched as God has showed them His power first hand. I want to say, if you are married, fight for your marriage!!!! If you have already suffered a divorce, or any brokenness, that does not mean God is done with you! Get up and serve Him! He loves you!