God Uses the Seeds
When Family Coach Audrey first connected with Courtney*, she quickly realized it would be a challenging relationship. Courtney was navigating an overwhelming season of life. As a single mom, she was already carrying the weight of parenting alone while dealing with her mental health. At the same time, she was grieving the recent death of her mother, although grief itself felt complicated.
When Audrey asked about her mom’s passing, Courtney told her they had not been close. Her mother had not been involved in her life since she was six years old. She had not attended the funeral. Even in sharing those painful details, Courtney often responded abruptly, keeping Audrey at arm’s length.
Still, Audrey stayed consistent.
Being Present
Because Courtney lived an hour away, much of their connection happened through weekly phone calls rather than visits. Audrey provided respite care for Courtney’s daughter, Isla*, while continuing to walk alongside Courtney through difficult days filled with loss, isolation, and uncertainty. Courtney was also carrying deep concern for her Nonna, who was battling stage four kidney failure.
From the beginning, Courtney was honest about her feelings toward faith. “She told me she knew who God was,” Audrey said, “but that she didn't like reading the Bible because she didn't like what was in it.”
Rather than pulling away, Audrey continued pointing her toward Christ. “I can struggle and get discouraged, and when I do, I go to scripture,” she told her.
Daily Encouragement
Every week, Audrey shared encouraging Bible verses with Courtney. She gave her a Bible (in the New Mercies mom bag each mom gets when a hosting starts) and chose comforting verses to send, not the passages Courtney may have feared or misunderstood. At the end of their hosting arrangement, Audrey also gave Courtney a Daily Bread devotional and a children’s devotional for Isla.
At times, Audrey questioned whether any of it was making a difference. Audrey brought Isla with her to visit Courtney whenever she met. There was an hour drive between them, so it made sense even though conversations were limited. “But God can still take that and use it however He wants,” she told us.
Seeing Some Fruit
Then came a moment Audrey did not expect. After Courtney moved into a new home, Audrey brought Isla back after providing respite care. As soon as Audrey walked inside, Courtney excitedly pointed to a large piece of wall décor hanging \in her living room.
It was the Lord’s Prayer. “She had this huge smile on her face,” Audrey remembered. “She was so excited to show me.” For Audrey, it was a reminder that faithfulness matters, even when the fruit is not immediately visible.
“We don’t know the seeds we plant and what God is going to use,” she said. “At the end of the day, it’s the Lord who gives us peace.”
Today, Audrey still hopes to stay connected with Courtney and continue offering support when needed, trusting that God is still at work in ways only He can see.
*Names changed to protect privacy