Shortly after the birth of her ninth child, Lisa* noticed a change in her husband: Ted* seemed aloof, disconnected, fault-finding.

"He didn't seem to like anything I said or did," says Lisa. "He wasn't happy with my presence, even." Lisa repeatedly asked Ted to tell her what was wrong, but he avoided answering.

Lisa tried to convince herself that he was busy at his contracting business and overwhelmed with work. She squelched the idea that he might be having an affair.

But a random trip to his office proved otherwise. Lisa stopped by to remind Ted to pick up one of the kids after soccer practice. She went into the office and saw a woman's purse and shoes lying on the floor.

At Lisa's inquiry, Ted said, "I don't want to be married anymore." Lisa urged him to reconsider, to think about the children. Ted merely said the kids weren't enough to keep him. He skipped town shortly after that.

Lisa was plunged into one of the darkest times in her life. Yet she felt God's embrace of love. The words of Scripture--a source of strength and comfort--sustained her. Psalm 118, in particular, fortified her: "I will not die but live and shall declare the works of the Lord."

"I couldn't put my head under the covers and fall apart," says Lisa. "I had nine precious children who needed me. I had to live. I was determined to declare the works of the Lord and keep it together for them."

But financial worries soon assailed her. Ted took all the money out of the bank account. Lisa couldn't pay her bills; the IRS came after her, and Lisa feared losing her house.

But, she says, God proved his faithfulness.

Lisa went to the government agency and explained her situation. "When can you ever get someone from the IRS to talk to you?" Lisa asks. "That never happens, but I spoke to someone who listened to me and helped me." Her $54,000 IRS debt was reduced to $5,000.

With help from her parents, friends and strangers, Lisa paid the debt. She owned the house free and clear, and got a part-time job teaching swimming.

Ted eventually returned to town, but rarely gave Lisa money to support the children. She knew she needed legal help, but couldn't afford an attorney.

Again, God proved his faithfulness.

Someone referred a lawyer who negotiated child support payments. The attorney didn't charge Lisa, and Ted became legally bound to support the family. "God ministered to me and my family over and over again," Lisa says.

As a single parent, Lisa continually assured her children that they had nothing to do with their father's departure. She was determined that Ted's leaving would not be a reason for the family not to "go and do."

Lisa and friends took the children on vacations, and the kids learned to ski, snowboard, ride horses, camp and enjoy all the wonder of new experiences. Lisa wanted her children to enjoy life and believed God desired the same.

"I felt the Lord encouraging me to celebrate life," Lisa says. "I heard his words clearly. 'Celebrate the gift I have given you.'"

Looking back on that time of her life--now more than 13 years ago--Lisa says God sustained her faithfully. He sent people to help her while nurturing her at the same time.

Now, she is dealing with yet another challenge: stage 4 lung cancer. Lisa never smoked or drank a day in her life.

But she is enrolled in a clinical trial and is doing well. "I have so many reasons to be thankful," she says. "God has blessed me over and over again. He has promised us a hope and a future, and he is true to word.

"Life is a prize and a gift from God."

*Not their real names