I just want to sit here…in this moment, and reflect on what God has done in my life. I’ve come so far…we’ve come so far. If you know me, or my story, you know that my family has been through a lot. We experienced brokenness for years, and through the grace of God, we were made whole again. But there’s this progression that has taken place– one that is still taking place. We are whole, but at the same time, we are being made whole. And it has been a gruesome process. We’ve been through the trenches– where true healing takes place. But, we’ve also seen God move so many mountains. He’s taken our brokenness and confusion, and He’s given us understanding and healing. He’s allowed us to have this beautiful story– one that inspires others, and one that gives us the strength to keep believing Him for more. This is only the beginning.
For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven. A time to be born and a time to die. A time to plant and a time to harvest. A time to kill and a time to heal. A time to tear down and a time to build up. A time to cry and a time to laugh. A time to grieve and a time to dance. A time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones. A time to embrace and a time to turn away. A time to search and a time to quit searching. A time to keep and a time to throw away. A time to tear and a time to mend. A time to be quiet and a time to speak. A time to love and a time to hate. A time for war and a time for peace. (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 NLT)
There is a season for everything.
When I was in the middle of my brokenness, praying for the healing touch of God to reach my family, I didn’t understand what was going on. I couldn’t see why God would allow us to go through such a terrible season. But as I look back, I can see that it was all necessary. We had to be broken, so that we could be made whole. We had to be turned upside down, so that He could show us how to live right side up. We had to be planted, so that we could grow into who He created us to be.
The above passage from Ecclesiastes says it so beautifully– “...for everything there is a season.”
The victory will come, but the challenge must come first.
Just think about it. Victory doesn’t exist without a challenge. Wholeness cannot exist without brokenness. The harvest will never arrive before the planting takes place. There’s a natural progression that takes place in life. It is a principle that God has established in the earth. There is no way to get around it…we must walk through it.
So, as I look back on our journey, I do so with the understanding that everything happened right on time. The separation was right on time. The brokenness was right on time. The tears and pain were right on time. In order for us to arrive at this place, we needed to walk through all of those things…but on the other side of it, was a victory that we still cannot fathom.
The Lord says, “I will give you back what you lost to the swarming locusts, the hopping locusts, the stripping locusts, and the cutting locusts. It was I who sent this great destroying army against you. Once again you will have all the food you want, and you will praise the Lord your God, who does these miracles for you. Never again will my people be disgraced. Then you will know that I am among my people Israel, that I am the Lord your God, and there is no other. Never again will my people be disgraced. (Joel 2:25-27 NLT)
We missed so much, in those years of brokenness– family time, joyful holidays, vacations, memories. There were so many opportunities that we missed to spend as a family; but somehow, He made a way to redeem it all. He gave us back everything that we lost, but He also gave us so much more. He didn’t just give us our joy back, He gave us a greater joy. He didn’t just give us our love, He gave us a deeper, more profound love. This is something that we had never experienced before…something that we never knew existed…something that we will never take for granted.
Every season is valuable.
I would have never known how to love my husband unconditionally, without going through what I went through. I would have never known how to model faith to my children, without going through what I went through. I would have never known how to trust God in the middle of a storm, without going through what I went through. So, even though it hurt…even though it felt like the worst season of my life…it was the most valuable season of my life.
Now for a moment, I want you to reflect on your own life. Reflect on your trials and tribulations. Remember that season of brokenness. Remember all that you have been through…every season of darkness…every time that you thought you wouldn’t make it. Now, look at how far you have come. The fact that you are here…is proof that you are victorious…it’s proof that He has kept you…carried you…and strengthened you.
Maybe you’re reading this, and you’re in the darkest season of your life right now. If so, consider that although it feels like your worst season, maybe it’s also your most valuable season. Maybe you feel broken, because God wants you to experience a wholeness that you can’t even fathom. Maybe you feel weak, because He wants to give you new strength. Maybe you feel hopeless, because He’s positioning you to receive hope for something new…a new focus, calling, or purpose. Maybe this season isn’t as it seems, because nothing is as it seems with Him. It may feel dark, but nothing is darkness to Him.
even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you. (Psalms 139:12 NIV)
You are walking with the God of light…the God that sees all things and knows all things. And He’s the God that promised to use everything that you’ve been through for your good. So this means that your worst season can also be your most valuable season…if you allow it to be. This can be your season to go deeper with Him. It can be your season to learn how to trust Him no matter what. It can be the season for you to learn who He is, and who He’s created you to be. With Him, nothing is wasted. With Him, every season is valuable.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank you for bringing me here, to this moment. The fact that I am here, is proof that you have remained faithful to your word. You have kept me and strengthened me. You have enabled me to be victorious over my past, and I believe that you will continue to do so. I believe that you will use everything for my good. I believe that you will redeem my situation and restore everything that I’ve lost. I choose to trust you Father…even when it hurts…even when I can’t see how I will make it, because I know that you will bring beauty from this. I believe that because you are with me, there is value in everything I go through. I love you Father. In Jesus’ name, amen.
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