Trails sweep through your life like storm winds. They press you against a wall until you can’t breathe. They bury you under burdens too heavy to lift on your own. Have you ever been thrown by such forces?

 The trails that knock you off your feet are not strong enough or powerful enough to destroy the foundation of God’s faithfulness. They’re nothing compared to the gust of grace that blows through us and cleans out the loss, regret, and disappointment. Wait for his restoration. He will rebuild your life with the secure materials of grace and hope. 

But sometimes, unknowingly, we carry many wounds with us from the past into the present. We juggle shadows of them while trying to accomplish something new in our lives. We’re so desperate to move on from trails that we neglect to glean the knowledge and understanding of God’s faithfulness that comes from living our tough circumstances. So the pain stays with us. 

Just remember goodness can bloom from the hurtful experiences you’ve tried to forget. Those wounds helped shape who you are. Those wounds are part of the story of God’s mercy. They’re part of your journey from broken to whole. 

Dear Lord, I’m still surprised I got out from under recent burdens. It was all your doing, Lord. I give you the credit and the praise. The struggle was so great, I couldn’t move. You released me and gave me more strength and understanding to move forward into good things. Lord, I present a good front to others, but on the inside, a strong sense of failure burns. Help me to sit with the past rough parts of my journey. Help me to learn from them before I let them go. In your hands they become wisdom. 

In Jesus name I pray 

Amen

 You, O Lord, are always my shield from danger; you give me victory and restore my courage.

Psalm 3:3

 I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth.

Isaiah 42:16