To my hurting friends…

I have been working on my notes for the breakout session I will be doing this weekend at the Renew conference. Typically I go with an inspirational topic that appeals to a larger crowd, but this year I sensed God was calling me to focus on reaching the women I can relate with most. And with that prompting, I knew which direction He was leading me to go in.

As much as I long to inspire women with how to be an entrepreneur or on how to be a powerful woman leader in the church, the truth is my niche is probably more to the woman who is broken and falling apart.

You see there is a desire in me to move on with my life now that things are put back together after divorce, but in doing so, I often forget what led me here. And when I do that, I grow cold to the hurts of others and I forget what it feels like to be hurting and broken myself.

As I have sat here and done some self reflection, I am reminded that brokenness is still very much here with me. Actually brokenness never leaves us because of the nature of the world we live in. It’s all around us and in many parts of our daily lives … in fact it will be forever.

And that’s a heavy thought.

The earth is utterly broken, the earth is split apart, the earth is violently shaken.

- Isaiah 24:19

It has been seven years since my life was changed through divorce and in so many ways God has redeemed my story. From family-to-finances-to-His favor on my life. I have experienced so much redemption, but there are still some broken pieces and it’s okay for me to recognize that.

Sometimes I forget that my job is just to lock eyes on Jesus so that He can continue to teach me what He has for me in each heartache that I face. It’s always when I take my eyes off of Him that I start to sink. You too?

So for this weekend, I will be transparent and vulnerable again because I believe it’s the path to connection with some hurting women. And that is who I want to minister to.

Now here is my encouragement and reminder to you dear friends… Remember your brokenness.

Don’t let the gift of a rebuilt life harden your heart to the hurts of others.

We never arrive. We are always on a journey until He calls us home.