The Scarlet Letter

— Lisa Crump

I was about four months pregnant, twenty years old, living in a college dorm, and hiding from my family. I was simply mortified and never once considered the road that my life would soon travel.

When one person in the family found out, the news spread like wildfire; before long the entire world knew of Lisa’s “failure”. The enemy was attacking me from all angles, and I found myself sinking into a period of depression.

Throughout my pregnancy, I withdrew more and more as I continued to be looked down upon and ostracized by so called “Christians.” A fellow church member even told me “jokingly,” that I should wear a scarlet letter “U,” for unwed mother, from there on out. People can be hateful. But as single mothers, we must remain faithful, prayerful, and patient because God has a big plan for our lives also.

Ask God to restore in you a sense of self pride and self-worth. You are a single mother who is holding it all together on her own. Not many people would be able to walk a day in your shoes if they tried. A good method to stop others from looking down on you is to stop looking down on yourself.

Understand that no one reserves the right to judge you for your mistakes and as the important thing is that you and God are in one accord; his opinion of you is the only one that counts. Be extremely cautious of whose criticism you actually choose to take seriously. If their life isn’t one you would trade places with, brush their “criticism” to the side.

Start to live your life crazy and out of control for God. Let his light shine through you to the point where anytime slander is thrown your way, it’s immediately muted and falls on deaf ears. Matthew 22:44 states, “The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet”.

It doesn’t matter what others think of you or how they may feel about your life’s path. As long as you continue to live your life in his will you will witness your enemies become your footstools one by one.

Please be aware that people are watching you, whether their motives are good or bad. Yes YOU have an audience. The enemy will try to attack you through friends, family, and loved ones especially when he sees that plans to ruin your life are unsuccessful.

Use this knowledge to be greater and obtain more than people would ever think possible. Your best bet is to turn your misery into ministry and give them something to talk about. By all means let them talk about the “scandal” that is you being successful when all odds were against you.