Heart Full of Hope

I remember one day I was talking with a close friend, she told me that I would not always feel the pain I was feeling in that moment.

She said that one day God would walk me out from the valley and my heart would be made whole. She knew because He had been faithful to do this for her.

But as she said the words it was hard

for me to believe.

I couldn’t see past the pain.

My vision was blurred by tears.

I knew that Jesus was walking beside me but I couldn’t see past my brokenness.

But then one day I did.

And you see, it did not happen over night.

I spent years wondering when things would change.  I spent years praying that God would heal my brokenness.

And to be honest there were many days when I couldn’t understand what He was doing.

There were plenty of times I questioned Him.

There were times I doubted He was working.

But what I know now is that

He was working the entire time.

He was walking beside me and

transforming my heart one piece at a time.

And as I walked with Him He did a work within me. He began to engrave His Word upon my heart and as He did this the foundation of lies that I had believed about myself began to fall.

He carefully stacked brick on top of brick of the truth of who He was and who I was in Him.

And this was a process.

He had to demolish unhealthy thought patterns and replace them with the solid rock of His Word. He had to keep engraving His truth until it was carved deep within my soul.

He also came in and knocked down altars I had built to idols.

Idols that I didn’t even realize were there.

He gave me eyes to see the things I was

using to cope with.

He showed me the ways I was

searching for things to bring me joy.

He showed me the ways I was seeking my worth outside of Him.

He showed me sin that was hiding 

and that I was justifying.

And each time He showed me something new I was able to repent and then draw in closer than before. He became my everything in the valley. It is where I became fully dependent on Him and on His grace to carry me through.

With each step He revealed more to me.

He taught me to hear His voice clearer.

He immersed me fully in His Spirit.

He gave me deeper revelation of His love.

He walked with me faithfully all the while doing a beautiful work.

But you see, a lot of times as I was walking through all of this I couldn’t see what He was doing.

Maybe you are walking in the valley right now and you don’t understand how you will get out.

Maybe you feel like I did and cannot see past your pain or your circumstances.

I hope you will hear me today because

I have been where you are.

I have held ashes in my hands and

wondered how would He ever make

something beautiful.

I pray my words right now would break through the darkness surrounding you, and you would hold on to this truth:

Jesus walks with us through the valley, but He does not leave us there.

He does not leave us broken.

He does not leave us in our despair.

One step at a time He is calling you closer.

He is calling you to seek Him with your whole heart so that He can create an unshakable foundation.

Let Him begin to knock down what doesn’t belong. Come undone in His presence so He can begin to rebuild you stronger than before.

And then trust the process.

Trust the journey He is walking you through.

One day you will walk out the other side of the valley and you will be made whole.

You will have a fresh outpouring of hope.

You won’t be able to contain your praise.

You will stand in awe of how He walked you through pain and into healing.

He is the redeemer, He takes what was meant to harm us and uses it for good.

Believe me when I say you will walk out of the valley with a purer faith.

A deeper love for your Savior.

A strong foundation and a testimony to share with others.

I know this because He has walked with me.

He has transformed my heart and renewed my mind. He has brought me true joy.

He has given me a deep love for His Word.

He has made me whole, and I know He will do the same for you.

And on the day you leave the valley behind, I pray you won’t forget to go back and speak hope into someone else who is walking through their own pain.

I pray you will remember what it felt like to hold ashes and you will share your testimony of how faithful He was to walk with you.

Your words and your story may just be exactly what someone else needs to keep going.

And so these are my words to you...

This is me returning back to those who feel lost in the valley.

My friend, keep clinging to Him.

When you walk with Jesus He always leads us out of the valleys and into His beautiful love.

This I know to be true because that is exactly what He has done for me.

Source: FB post by A Heart Full of Hope