Facets of Faith

Conversations about life, faith, and friendship.

  • About Us
  • Blog
  • Bio’s
  • Contact Us

The Road I’ve Walked

02.09.2016 by Jennifer Howe //

Life Stories: JenniferHello, welcome to FACETS of Faith! Before we begin to get to know each other through a variety of conversations, the team is taking the opportunity to share our stories. We hope you’ll find points of connection as we share; and if you do, will you take the time to let us know? Something special grows out of the little “Me, too!” moments when we share our stories.

Hello

I’m Jennifer. I’m affectionately known as “the middle child” on the team, and I have the opportunity to share between two beautiful friends. Tracy’s story last week was precious, and you’ll meet Kim next time.

As I consider my story I scramble to sift through a disorganized pile of snapshot memories and events, hoping to get to “the essence of Jen” somehow. It’s a challenge to choose the milestones on the road I’ve walked. I might be tempted to share my “highlight reel” of carefully selected mountaintop moments, or I could choose to line up my lowest moments to establish a completely different connection. The truth is, life is somewhere between the two all the time—there are highs, lows, and the overlooked, mundane middle. All the stories shape me, and I hold a box of mixed memories to share as honestly as I remember them.

A quiet neighborhood was most of my world until high school. My older sisters spent time with the same core group while I tried to tag along. Sometimes I was too little to keep up, but I felt too old to be paired with my younger sister. My mom tried to contain me, but there were pick-up games of whiffle ball, football, frisbee, and every kind of tag in the empty lot across the street. Homemade go-carts raced on the hills we all knew as “Death I” and “Death II,” and my dad, who could engineer nearly anything, may have given us a leg up on those races. When I think about the core group in the neighborhood, its’ no surprise I was a tomboy and participated in competitive sports.

The Middle Child

See? I’ve always been a middle child, and that’s how some of my basic life skills were learned (aside from waiting right where I was when I was left or forgotten). I’m convinced some “middles” may develop their fascinating combination of laidback and competitive natures because the effort-versus-reward decision comes lightning-fast. Heaven help the poor soul between this middle and her goal. At least, that was the case once upon a time.

Hard Things

Idyllic life in the neighborhood gave way to harsh reality. Children can be cruel. Adults can make wrong choices out of their own hurts or hang-ups (as a parent, I know this too well). The road became marked with hard things: teasing, shaming, anger, and abuses. I built thick, protective walls around me. The big milestones in life can be hurts that leave marks and make us fearful and angry. Not surprisingly, fear and anger drove my increasingly bad choices, and I hit the guardrail hard!

When I was 24, resentment toward anything “Christian” in name set in. By then, I’d become a toughened, feminist personality full of fire. I never saw it coming, and I’m sure no one else who knew me did either. God sent an intelligent, logical (oblivious) personality to talk about Jesus and trust. One day, I’ll share that sweet story in detail.

Self-protection to Something Else

I was living a life focused on protecting myself and my interests. I had perfected the art of hurting others before I got hurt. When I was introduced to the genuine, loving, and truthful heart and mind of God, something had to change. These verses were pivotal in June of 1994:

Do not remember the past events, pay no attention to things of old. Look, I am about to do something new; even now it is coming. Do you not see it? Indeed, I will make a way in the wilderness, rivers in the desert. Isaiah 43:18-19 CSB

For those who identify with their old nature set their minds on the things of the old nature, but those who identify with the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. Romans 8:5 CJB

For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father!” Romans 8:15 CSB

Healing

The truth? Healing began when I discovered what the pages of the big, old Book I’d been reading my whole life contained. Inside the Bible were stories of God’s men and women, the heroes of the faith, and they were as human and broken as me. Their stories connected to one another, and they connected to my life thousands of years later.

The ultimate hero appeared when I read the book of John. I met the God who was, is, and is to come. I met the genuine “God with us” Jesus on those pages in a surprising way. When I dumped my preconceived notions and read the Bible with an unguarded heart, everything changed. I was free to see the whole book in a fresh light.

That was the antidote. The hurts and emotional hang-ups wouldn’t last forever. My wounds could be healed—maybe not in five minutes or even five years for some—but healing and change were possible. My ugly offenses against God and everybody could be resolved and forgiven. Then I could begin healing from what others had inflicted. Progress, not perfection.

When I encountered the truth of the Bible and Jesus, as He really is, it was a fresh beginning on the road with a new milestone. This one was larger and differently shaped. In the middle of my road stood an imposing, rough-hewn, wooden cross stained with Jesus’ blood, and it was precious.

Thanks for reading! We hope you’ll join the conversation in the comments below or at our Facebook page.

Signature, Jennifer Howe

Share this:

  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Print
  • More
  • Facebook

Categories // Jennifer Howe's Perspective, Life Tags // Isaiah 43:18-19, life story, Romans 8:15, Romans 8:5

Comments

  1. Tracy Stella says

    February 9, 2016 at 5:10 pm

    I love your authenticity, my friend, in not selecting only from your highlight reel. Real life and real connection requires sharing who we are not only in the mountain top moments, but the mundane middle you mention as well as the difficult valleys that challenge us and forge our character. Thanks for sharing real life with me!

    • Jennifer Howe says

      February 9, 2016 at 6:09 pm

      Thank you, Tracy, it’s always a challenge to think about a lifetime in a “sound bite” kind of post. You know that pretty well, eh?

      I hope friends will find something in this post that offers up a little of my heart, and it begins to speak to theirs. 🙂

  2. Amanda Wilkins says

    February 9, 2016 at 11:20 pm

    Beautiful. You and your story. Probably why God gave me the opportunity to meet you. I will always be grateful for the conversation, the invitation, and the changes in my life because of both. <3

    • Jennifer Howe says

      February 9, 2016 at 11:24 pm

      Amanda, it’s been quite a road—including the ridiculous number of workplaces along the way. One of my favorite places to work was the Bread Company. It was nice to work with you every day.

  3. Beth Whartnaby says

    February 10, 2016 at 2:12 pm

    Thank you sweet sister, for sharing your story and your heart 🙂 Love you!

    • Jennifer Howe says

      February 10, 2016 at 2:43 pm

      Thank you, Beth. You bless me!

Search this website

Subscribe

* indicates required

FACETS is on Social Media!

  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Recent Posts

  • Blessings—as You Go…
  • The Blessing of Knowing God
  • The Blessing and the Battle
  • January 2021: The Blessing
  • A Weary World Rejoices: Pondering and Remembering

Recent Comments

  • The Blessing of Knowing God – Facets of Faith on The Blessing and the Battle
  • Maryfrances on The Blessing and the Battle
  • The Blessing and the Battle – Facets of Faith on January 2021: The Blessing
  • Reawakening the Invitation to Dream – Facets of Faith on The Trinity: Intimately Knowing & Growing
  • Rudy Euceda on Finding Jesus Next to Me

Archives

  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2015

Categories

  • A Weary World Rejoices
  • Blooming in Marriage
  • Changes
  • Connection Before Correction
  • Desperate for God to Do?
  • Difficult People
  • Do They Know They Are Loved?
  • Do They Know They Are Loved?
  • Do You Believe God?
  • Do You Give Her the Royal Treatment?
  • Do You Kow You Are…
  • Do You See What I See
  • Expecting the Unexpected
  • Faith
  • Finding Family
  • Forgiveness
  • Freedom
  • Freedom on the Road to Calling
  • Friendship
  • Going Through Change
  • Going Through the Change
  • Guest Perspectives
  • How Do You See 2020?
  • How does God respond to me?
  • How Does Prayer Fuel Hope?
  • How Does the Enemy Try to Silence You?
  • How to Love When It's Hard
  • Intimacy
  • Jennifer Howe's Perspective
  • Joy/Humor
  • Kim Findlay's Perspective
  • Life
  • Life Lessons
  • Life Liberty and the Pursuit of Surrender
  • Mama Guilt
  • Megan Abbott's Perspective
  • Perspective
  • Precious Attributes of God
  • Resurrection Power
  • Safe to be Really Me?
  • Say No
  • Say Yes
  • Singing in April's Showers
  • Spring Forward with God
  • Thankfulness: How do we serve?
  • The Blessing
  • The Blessing: January 2021
  • The Do Over
  • The FACETS Team
  • The Lion the Lamb and the Mirror
  • The Story of Christmas
  • The Trinity: Intimately knowing and growing
  • Thelma! Who's Your Louise?
  • Tracy Stella's Perspective
  • Trusting God When Afraid
  • Truth and Denial
  • Turning Little into Much
  • Uncategorized
  • What are You Going Back to?
  • What Do I Have to Offer
  • What Do You Do for Fun?
  • What Do You Dream About?
  • What has God rescued you from?
  • Who Burnt My Turkey?
  • Who Do You Love?
  • Who Do You Say I Am?
  • Woman of God?

© 2025 · Facets of Faith · Built on the Genesis Framework