It takes a community...

I am overwhelmed, humbled, and excited about this blog. For some time I've known that my struggles were not in vain, nor was I alone. My Father promised in Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future, " but I couldn't let it go. I couldn't see my future for my pain.

I can remember being at the lowest points and thinking if someone, just someone would help me, if someone would "lift my head", fill this void for me, but they couldn't. My Father was the only one that could fill that void and He wouldn't remove that emptiness until I understood. I was looking to everyone, but My Father to fix my pain Matter of fact, He continued to remove things from life until I felt that the only thing that I had left was my Savior, but this is my story. I promise that is not a place that you want to be...some of us girls need to learn the hard way.

You see, I'm not sure that I even understood how desperately I was hurting. I think that is how bitterness works. Sometimes it takes over before we even know what is happening. I think as Christians we are often taught to hide our pain. I had hidden it until it had engulfed me.

In revealing my pain I'm no longer wearing it as a badge. I'm no longer allowing it to consume me. As my friend Katie said "we all have our badge of shame," but I am finding that those badges no longer have power as we lay them at the cross.

The more I read and lean on Him I discover I don't have to do this alone. I don't believe we are called to do this alone. That is why we need to surround ourselves with people that can uplift us. Yes, our Father is the "lifter of our head" Psalm 3:3, but sometimes, we need that spoken word of encouragement or that friend to put their arms around us. I believe this is our chance to be the hands and feet of Jesus. As I said before each of our plans are different...you don't always have to travel the world to minister...sometimes we just need to walk across the room. James 5:16 "Therefore confess your sins to each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective." We need to be there for each other. Our words, our touch, our prayer may be what begins someones road to healing.

I'm happy to say I'm healing I "rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but I will also rejoice in the sufferings, because I know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance character; and character hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us." Romans 5: 2 -5

Until next time...