Through the Fire
Traveling the Broken Road to Hope and Healing
by
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Chapter 1
The Arrows Lodged Deep
Their tongue is a deadly arrow; It speaks deceit.
—Jeremiah 9:8 (NIV)
In addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
—Ephesians 6:16 (NIV)
The Early Years
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Lucy, age five,1973
As a child, I often felt uncomfortable in my own skin, filled with tension or fear—so many things happened that I could not understand. I felt like a fish out of water, as if I never quite belonged. At an early age, I had already experienced a number of extremely difficult and painful experiences that shaped my young heart, filling it with lies.
My parents met in high school while living in Michigan. During this time my mom became pregnant with me. Coming from a conservative Catholic family in the 60’s, this situation brought great shame on the family. However, they did marry, and a couple of years later, I had a little brother. Our family moved to Arizona when I was three and my brother was one. Mom was following her parents, who had moved there just before I was born. What a lonely time that was for my mom, pregnant, newly married and without her family. She believed life would be easier with her mom nearby—a support system as she navigated the challenges of early marriage and motherhood.
It seemed to take forever to drive across the country. “Are we there yet? Are we there yet?” I repeated often. The never-ending road stretched far into the distance and my baby brother cried nearby. It was hard to travel long distances with a little one who didn’t want to be constrained for long periods.
The desert seemed such a barren and dry place after leaving the lush greenery of Michigan. Mile after mile, the green seemed to fade to browns and greys. It would be many years before I could see the true beauty of the desert. Finally, we arrived and moved into a small block home in the suburbs, just off a busy street.
Before long, I made some new friends in the neighborhood and prepared to start school. I spent most of my time exploring with my brother in the fields around us, always playing make believe. Mom would share arts and crafts with me, which I loved; she sparked the artist in me, as I would later follow in her creative footsteps.
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About the Book
Imagine what it would be like to walk in freedom, to break through past pain and trauma, to become whole and healed? What if your broken marriage could find strength for tomorrow, hope and healing like never before?
Lucy shares her own broken journey, traveling through the pain and trauma of some of life’s most difficult trials - persevering through sexual and verbal abuse, bullying, chronic illness and pain, a marriage torn apart, a life and death diagnosis, and even terrifying natural disasters. This book was written for those who are seeking to become whole again, longing for restoration and clarity, ready to break free and find healing. Is this you? What do you do with your broken heart? Through Lucy’s story, you will discover hope and witness the healing power of God’s love through Jesus that she experienced exploring her own broken road and path to restoration.
Lucy set out to write her story, isolated in the woods at her cabin, when a forest fire broke out. The fire raged closer and closer as she alternated between fire updates and her writing. Who knew this was supposed to be about the past and the here and now? God knew…he had a plan. After a terrifying night with the wind howling and shaking the windows, the smell of smoke filling the house, she was evacuated with the fire just a half mile away. The title to the book emerged; Through the Fire, Traveling the Broken Road to Hope and Healing.
Let Lucy’s inspiring story open your heart and eyes to the healing power of grace and redemption through walking hand in hand with Christ. Rejoice with Lucy at the healing and wholeness found in Him alone. In Him all is made new, in Him nothing is impossible, in Him we find healing and wholeness.
Praise for
Through the Fire
“As a pastor, one of my greatest joys is to watch God change lives. Lucy is one of those people who became completely changed when she reached the end of herself and found God waiting there for her. She and her husband, Richard, became solid leaders in the church and their testimony has been an inspiration to so many others. I have full assurance that as her story unfolds, her readers will be encouraged to overcome their own hardships by partnering with a God who specializes in making the impossible possible.”
—Dr Don Wilson, founder of Accelerate Group and founding Pastor of Christ Church of the Valley (CCV)
“What if the pain from your past is actually a springboard for God’s greatest purpose in your future? That’s what you’ll find from Lucy’s story. What she endured is unthinkable, but how God used it is unimaginable. This just might be the book God uses to change the trajectory of your life.”
—Ashley Wooldridge, Senior Pastor of Christ Church of the Valley (CCV)
“Through the Fire is Lucy’s story. Well, actually, Lucy is God’s story of taking the tatters of abuse and making a tapestry of love. Her hope is that this becomes your story too. For all who have been abused, dispossessed, discarded, or shattered, Through the Fire is your path to making meaning out of the pain and beauty from the ashes.”
—Mark E. Moore, PhD, Author of Core 52
“From riveting stories to life giving truth Lucy invites us into the most intimate places of her journey. With people chasing every way imaginable through the fire, God has given us a gift with this book. Lucy points us to the true healer - to the only one who can restore - to the only one who can give us the peace we all so desperately seek - Jesus.”
—Rodney Cox - Founder, Ministry Insights International
“Lucy Dickens walked through a devastating forest fire, protected only by God’s guidance and love, in order to bring her vulnerable story of surrender to life. On one level, her book is a page-turner about all the ways she was brought to her knees by heartbreaking emotional and sexual abuse; mental and physical illness; betrayal and abandonment; and even a horrific hurricane!
But the truly compelling narrative is the one about Lucy’s growth as a spiritual warrior, during which she found the courage to face her brokenness hand-in-hand with Jesus, focusing her efforts on addressing her own issues and entrusting everything and everyone else to God’s care. Taking this unflinchingly honest and inspirational journey with Lucy will likely lead readers to strengthen their faith in God’s abiding love and to experience the hope, joy and peace that passes understanding. Christians need the message that it’s healthy to be honest, transparent, and vulnerable, to let our own darkness become visible, because whoever thinks that Christians are supposed to be perfect and without a history doesn’t know Jesus!”
—Wendy Boorn, M.C., L.P.C. Licensed Professional Counselor and Author, “I Thought I’d Be Done by Now: Hope and Help for Mothers of Adult Children Searching for Peace”
About the Author
Lucy Dickens
is an active award-winning oil painter, a “storyteller of fine art”. Her critically acclaimed work is collected throughout the United States and abroad, appealing to a wide audience. Lucy has a heart and passion for those who carry the burden and trauma of abuse, or endure broken marriages. Her prayer is to bring hope and healing through her transparent approach as she shares her own personal journey. Her refreshingly transparent approach brings hope to many, inspiring others to draw close to God, and experience the healing she has herself received. She and her husband are involved in restorative marriage ministry, private mentoring, and they have led and hosted Bible Study groups in their home for many years. She creates her art and writings in Arizona with her husband, Richard. She is the mother of two wonderful daughters.
Visit Lucy’s website’s at
www.LucyDickensAuthor.com and
www.LucyDickensFineArt.com.