Last year – 2018 was a year filled with hopes and dreams. Isn’t every year, though? I found my self hitting roadblocks in my resolutions and aspirations.
Isn’t perspective an interesting thing? I couldn’t see it when I started but now after walking this road for the last year I can look back and enjoy the view of what the Lord brought me through.
As I started on my journey I thought it would be a year filled with excitement and new beginnings. I had hoped to begin writing a book, as I shared right here on this blog last New Year’s Eve (2017).
God had another type of journey in store. It was a deeply introspective one. It was brimming with heartache, pain, hurts and regrets.
After many years of stress, anxiety, and severe health problems I was ready for the completely new start. I was finally in a place to move forward with some of my own personal hopes and dreams. I thought it would be as easy as clicking my fingers and checking a list.
What I didn’t know 367 days ago was that I wasn’t ready.
This past year the Lord helped me clear away some cobwebs and dust bunnies…the things of life that are left behind after dealing with difficult hurdles, traumas, and hardships.
I didn’t know it a year ago but I had some forgiving to do. I had some letting go that had to come before my heart could be free from pain that became a burden that I didn’t even know I carried.
I had to face the last of the negative voices that plagued my freedom.
I had to battle some spiritual warfare that was easier to run from.
The Lord taught me many important lessons this year. Sometimes even when you think the war is won there are few battles left to complete.
Our God is a God of order. Even in our day to day life before we take on a new responsibility there are matters to attend to and checklists to complete.
So I see now that when the Lord brings you through something – He is going to finish the job. He won’t leave you hanging – fending for yourself. He will leave no stone unturned.
I’m writing this rather ambiguous post because I feel in my heart that somebody needs to hear this right now. Someone is facing a daunting year of hardships. Someone is trying to move on with their life before they faced the giants that plague them.
My word last year was “bold” as in “be bold”. I never knew how hard I would have to fight to be bold. Although these things seemed small from the outside, from the inside they were gigantic tasks that only served to strengthen my faith.
So, if you are facing a cluster of cobwebs that you’d rather sweep under the rug and ignore. Know this: sometimes the hardest step is that first step of faith. He will hold your hand and walk with you through whatever you are facing.
“The Lord will fight for you, you need only to be still.” Exodus 14:14