This morning, while listening to my devotional during my walk, I heard this powerful phrase. Every morning, I begin my day with a walk alongside Bailey, spending that first hour with God. It’s a time for me to pray, reflect, and talk to Him about anything weighing on my heart, offering both gratitude and my struggles. Today, as the cool morning air surrounded me, I found myself thinking about relationships—both past and present. I started asking myself questions.
How do we grow from the difficult moments in our lives? Whether it’s the loss of a loved one, a painful divorce, the end of a cherished friendship, or even losing a job, how can we not only survive but thrive? My thoughts brought me back to an experience in my early twenties, one that feels significant today as God once again asks me: How will you respond this time?
In my early twenties, I was deeply in love with a man I admired—a godly, Christian man. We dated for five years, and then it ended because he cheated on me. At the time, I was heartbroken, confused, and I asked God, “If You love me, why would this happen? Why did he hurt me?” In my youth, those questions felt overwhelming, and I reacted by running—running away from God, angry and frustrated. I didn’t want anything to do with Him or religion for years. Only now, as I reflect, do I understand why I distanced myself so much.
But today, God asked me, “Will you run from Me again?”
It’s interesting how life brings back the lessons we haven’t fully learned. Recently, I found myself facing a similar situation. Once again, God asked me the same question. But this time, instead of running away, I chose to run towards Him. With His guidance, I realized that this was my moment to grow through the pain, to ask myself how I could heal in a way that opens my heart, allowing it to be transformed.
It’s easy to get stuck in survival mode, just getting by, and missing the opportunity to be refined by our experiences. But I’m here now, learning to embrace the difficult times as moments of transformation, growing into a new version of myself and letting go of old ways of coping.
If you’re going through a difficult time, I want you to know that you don’t have to go through it alone. I’m here to help you grow through it.
