The Assignment: Love, Trials, Heartache, Faith and Victory

By Lizette A. Butts

A hot, steamy, romance-filled marriage, happiness, favor, joy, anointing, grief, disappointment, sickness, and infidelity, you name it., Faith experiences it as she navigates through life as a dedicated pastor, wife, mother, and friend. Will Faith give into temptation and throw in the towel; or will she see her assignment through, seek God, and maintain faith in her heavenly Father?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Apr 30, 2024
• ISBN: 9798887515069

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The Assignment

Love, Trials, Heartache, Faith and Victory

Lizette A. Butts

ISBN 979-8-88751-505-2 (paperback)

ISBN 979-8-88751-506-9 (digital)

Copyright © 2024 by Lizette A. Butts

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Christian Faith Publishing

832 Park Avenue

Meadville, PA 16335

www.christianfaithpublishing.com

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

Disclaimer

In loving memory of my maternal grandparents, Samuel and Lillie Mae Harris; my paternal grandfather, George P. Armstrong; and my mother-in-love, Gail C. Butts.

Acknowledgments

Introduction

Chapter 1

Faith

Chapter 2

Love Language

Chapter 3

The Shift

Chapter 4

Discernment

Chapter 5

Heartache, Disappointment, and Grief

Chapter 6

Long-suffering

Chapter 7

The Assignment

Chapter 8

Obedience

Chapter 9

Renewed Knowledge

Chapter 10

Victory in Hope

About the Author

Disclaimer

Like many, I have experienced trials, heartache, and difficulties in my life; however, the exact details expressed in this story are not an identical reflection of events that have taken place in my personal life.

It is my hope that others will use this fictional story, Faith's story, of triumph and victory as a blueprint for how they too can overcome adversity and gain victory on the other side of their assignment.

In loving memory of my maternal grandparents, Samuel and Lillie Mae Harris; my paternal grandfather, George P. Armstrong; and my mother-in-love, Gail C. Butts.

Acknowledgments

I give honor and thanks to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who is the head of my life. I thank him for the favor, purpose, creativity, and vision that he has placed in my life. Time and time again, God has shown himself to be mighty and powerful in my life. I will forever give him all the glory honor and praise that he is certainly worthy of.

I give thanks to my husband, Lamont, and our two sons, Jaden and Cameron, who love me unconditionally and always support me in all my endeavors.

I give thanks to my parents, Carlton and Glenda Armstrong, who have provided me with the very foundation that has shaped me to be who I am today.

I give thanks to my sisters, Lolita and Battina, for the support and encouragement they continue to pour into me.

I give thanks to all the beautiful people in my life and so many friends and family members who have supported me and encouraged me in many ways. You are appreciated, and I love you all.

Lastly, I thank my grandmother Leolia Armstrong (Grandma Sis) for the love and support she has poured into me over the years.

Introduction

Faith can be breathtaking, faith can be gentle, faith can be imaginative, faith can be confident, faith can be trustworthy, faith can be obedient, and faith can be comforting. Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. Faith is an attribute that takes a certain skill set to acquire and requires an even more extensive skill set to hold on to it. It sounds easy to say keep the faith, trust, and believe. Only a select group of individuals can even tolerate the process faith can take you through. It goes deeper than just speaking it. Not only do you have to speak it, but you must also think it, believe it, taste it, smell it, wash yourself in it, clothed yourself in it, and allow it to take priority in your life, your mind, and your spirit.

Faith comes through seeking God, studying his word, living in his word, and being an advocate for his word. Faith in God can move mountains, and faith in God can cause the most burdensome concerns that we have in our lives to somehow be miraculously turned into something for our good. It is interesting how freeing it feels to be completely confident about your faith. If we would only exercise our faith, then we would realize how powerful it can be. If we would only pray to God and ask him to insert in us a mind that is at peace in knowing, victory is coming if we just believe (be expecting life-altering increase, endurance, victory, and endless favor from God)! Let's not get it twisted even with the strongest faith comes trial. No one is exempt from the trial; however, when you believe, only then are we able to weather the storm with ease in knowing that the faith we possess cannot and will not be defeated.

This story is about the true test of faith for a woman of God who did stumble, but by the grace of God, she did not fall. Many will relate to this story, and for some, it may hit right at home. My hope is that this story will give someone the strength to believe and exercise their faith in whatever situation they may be going through. This story, although fictional, is one means of healing for me, and I pray it can be that for others too. In these last days, I urge you all to never give up and to always seek God with all your heart, mind, soul, and being. Regardless of what your test is or what your trial is, he will see you through. The awesome thing about God is that he will bring you out even better than you were before. Enjoy this book and be blessed.

Chapter 1

Faith

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.

—Romans 15:13

Congratulations, Mrs. Gloria Hines, by my calculations, it looks as though you are around eight to nine weeks pregnant.

I can't believe it. I mean, I can believe it because God has shown himself mighty and strong once again, Gloria said as she positioned herself upright on the hospital bed. I had no idea I would get news like this today.

Dr. Moore helped Gloria off the bed as he explained how he was glad Gloria came in when she did. Dr. Moore was Gloria's longtime OB-GYN who just happen to be doing rounds in the hospital when Gloria came into the emergency department. The bleeding you had was concerning, and I'm so glad you came in to be seen, Dr. Moore explained.

Gloria explained that she didn't know what was going on because she seemed to start bleeding out of nowhere after her husband left to go to work that morning. Dr. Moore explained to Gloria that even though she wasn't that far along, she would still need to take it easy, especially because of her past. Gloria was so excited she could hardly wait to tell her husband the great news.

Gloria Hines was a God-fearing Christian woman, who was strong in her faith. She was always so positive and possessed such unwavering faith in God. She had a strong belief that he is in control and that he will always work things out in her favor. Her strong beliefs were the very reason she named her only child Faith.

Gloria made sure her daughter Faith grew up in a loving home and had everything she wanted, everything she needed, and more. However, Faith felt as though she was always lacking in one area as if something were missing in her life. Faith would often see her friends walking to school holding their father's hand or even playing with their father out in the yard. Too many times before, Faith would be asked why her father never came to school or attended any of the community events with her and her mother. Faith hated having to give the true reason, however she did, although it seemed to hurt her more and more each time.

Faith's father died in a car accident the same day her mother Gloria found out she was pregnant with Faith. Gloria would often tell Faith the story of how she rushed home from the hospital the day she learned she was pregnant and prepared her husband's favorite meal and waited patiently for him to get home from work so she could surprise him with the good news.

Gloria and her husband had struggled with infertility and did not know if they would be able to have children. Gloria would anoint her hand with oil each night, then rub her anointed hand all over her belly while praying out loud to God, asking him to speak to her womb. Mr. Hines would often lay his hand on top of his wife's hand