What a Journey!

By Kimberly M. Sprawling

Life has a way of taking us on journeys we never imagined. Some are filled with joy and beautiful memories, while others are marked by heartbreak, disappointment, and challenges that leave lasting impressions. My journey has been a combination of them all. Yet, through every season, I have learned that God can take our greatest pain and transform it into a powerful purpose.

At the tender age of six, I experienced one of the greatest losses of my life—the death of my mother. She was my role model, a woman of beauty, strength, and integrity who worked tirelessly to provide for her family. Although our time together was short, she left behind an example of the woman I could become. Unfortunately, it would take many years, difficult experiences, and life lessons before I fully understood the foundation she had laid for me.

Growing up without my mother’s love and guidance was not easy. I faced tragedy, abandonment, and experiences that no child should have to endure. I was violated at a young age, abandoned by my father, and left longing for the comfort and security of my mother’s touch. These experiences created emotional wounds that followed me into adulthood.

For years, I searched for love, acceptance, and belonging in the wrong places and people. I allowed the painful experiences of my past to influence how I viewed myself and the world around me. In many ways, I felt as though someone else had written portions of my life’s story without my permission.

But what I eventually discovered was that although I could not change my past, I could choose how I would move forward.

Despite the obstacles, I remained determined to succeed. I excelled academically, graduating near the top of my class throughout my educational journey. I went on to earn five college degrees, become a licensed and ordained minister, and pursue my calling as a writer and published author.

I also married my high school sweetheart, and together we have been blessed with two wonderful sons. By God’s grace, we have celebrated 30 years of marriage. Our journey has not been without challenges. We have experienced our share of ups and downs, including facing breast cancer in 2023. Yet, through it all, God’s faithfulness has sustained us.

From the outside, my life may have appeared complete. I had a loving family, educational accomplishments, professional achievements, and a calling in ministry. However, beneath those accomplishments was a woman still struggling with feelings of emptiness, loneliness, and emotional pain.

I had accomplished so much, yet something within me still felt incomplete.

It took time for me to realize that accomplishments, recognition, relationships, and material success could never fully heal the wounds I carried. I needed something greater. I needed a deeper, more intimate relationship with God.

My relationship with God did not become strong overnight. It developed through years of trials, tribulations, prayer, surrender, and spiritual growth. I am forever grateful for the people God strategically placed in my life during pivotal moments—my spiritual mother, family members, and friends who encouraged, supported, and prayed for me along the way.

Every experience taught me something valuable. The difficult seasons taught me endurance. The disappointments taught me to trust God. The lonely moments taught me to seek His presence. Most importantly, the trials helped me discover that my life still had meaning and purpose.

James 4:8 reminds us, “Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you.”

The closer I drew to God, the more I began to experience genuine healing, peace, and restoration. I started seeing life through a different lens. I was no longer simply surviving my circumstances; I was learning how to live again.

Through this spiritual transformation, God began using my gift of writing as a way to share my experiences, encourage others, and reveal His faithfulness.

My journey of healing and spiritual growth is reflected in my three published books.

Bridging the Gap: Returning to God represents my journey back to an intimate relationship with my Heavenly Father. It reminds readers that regardless of how far life may have taken us from God, there is always an opportunity to return to Him.

Emptiness: The Feeling Only God Can Fill reflects the emotional voids I carried for years. It explores the pain, disappointments, and experiences that leave us feeling incomplete while reminding us that true fulfillment begins when we allow God into those empty spaces.

Great Is Thy Faithfulness is an expression of gratitude for God’s unwavering love, compassion, mercy, and faithfulness. It is a testimony that even when life is uncertain, God’s promises remain steadfast.

These books are more than words on pages. They are pieces of my journey, expressions of my faith, and reminders of what God can accomplish through a willing heart.

Today, as the Founder and CEO of Turn Complete Ministry, LLC, I am grateful for the opportunity to use my experiences, education, ministry, and writing to encourage and empower others. God has allowed me to publish three books thus far, with many more to come.

Looking back, I recognize that every chapter of my life—both the beautiful and the painful—has contributed to the woman I am becoming.

I am not defined by the little girl who lost her mother, the child who experienced violation, the daughter who faced abandonment, or the woman who struggled with emptiness.

I am a woman of faith, a wife, a mother, a minister, an educator, an author, and, above all, a woman who has discovered that her life has purpose in God.

If there is one message I want to leave with other women, it is this: Never allow the circumstances of your past to convince you that your future has no value.

You may have experienced rejection, loss, abuse, disappointment, illness, or loneliness. You may have accomplished great things and still feel as though something is missing. But your story is not over.

You are more than what happened to you. Your pain does not have to become your identity. Your setbacks do not have to determine your destination.

Sometimes, the very experiences we wish we could erase become the testimonies that encourage someone else to keep going.

I am reminded of God’s promise in Deuteronomy 31:6 (KJV):

“Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.”

No matter what hand life has dealt you, never believe that you are alone. We have the greatest encourager, protector, and source of strength in our corner—God Himself.

If you have not come to know Him personally as your Savior, Deliverer, and Redeemer, why not make today the day you begin that relationship?

As I reflect on my journey, I can confidently say that I am still growing, still learning, and still becoming everything God has called me to be.

What a journey it has been! And the beautiful thing is, God is not finished writing my story.

My journey began with pain, but through God’s grace, it continues with purpose.

About the Author

Kimberly M. Sprawling is an ordained minister, educator, author, and Founder and CEO of Turn Complete Ministry, LLC. With a passion for spiritual growth, healing, and empowering others, she uses her personal experiences and faith to inspire individuals to develop a deeper relationship with God. She is the author of Bridging the Gap: Returning to God, Emptiness: The Feeling Only God Can Fill, and Great Is Thy Faithfulness. She and her husband have been married for 30 years and are the proud parents of two sons.