2022 was a hard year. Many challenges, struggles, heartache, and change happened. Quite a few lessons were learned. There were more days than I care to count that I would find myself questioning God and His plan for my life.
Why was He taking me through a storm?
Why was I losing the things I thought meant the most?
Was I truly the right soldier for the battles He had me fighting?
Were the ones in my life truly there for the right reasons?
Was I truly making a difference while battling anxiety?
Even facing some questions not being answered, I trusted the Lord and His path for my life.
As you may or may not know, Nick and I lived apart for the entire year while he worked in Michigan. Without going into detail, this was one of the hardest challenges our marriage has faced. Lots of tears, nights alone, and questioning came from not being together. I found myself losing faith and trying to fight a battle that was not mine to fight. I said things and reacted to certain situations that I am ashamed to admit. But one thing is for sure, this season of life taught me a very important lesson. Communication, faith, and prayer can resolve any issue that we face. I am thankful not only for a forgiving God but a forgiving husband.
One of the most valuable lessons I learned in 2022 was to never allow anybody to make you cruel. No matter how badly someone treats you, the awful things they say to or about you, or how much you want to give them a dose of their own medicine, it is never worth losing yourself. Life and circumstances will quickly reveal what tables saved a seat for you. Not everyone is going to be in your life forever. Some are there for a season and others for a reason. It is ok to walk away from people or situations that make you feel hard to love or make you feel unwelcome. For every door closed, God has another one ready to open. I read a quote the other day that was a complete eye opener for me. ” Learn to love the sound of your feet walking away from things not meant for you. ” – Unknown. Respect your boundaries. You cannot be everything to everybody and nothing to yourself.
We all have a tendency to let other people’s opinions, posts, and words define who we are, our self-worth, and what they think we should be doing with our life. But thank goodness the man on the middle cross doesn’t judge and reminds us of our self-worth and His path is always the path best for our life.
May we all be humble and remember where our salvation comes from. If we all (myself included) worried more about washing feet instead of casting stones, how much better the world would be? At the end of the day if we all put our stuff in a pot, who then would be picking up stones? I am the first to admit being guilty of casting stones at times when I lived in a glass house. But I thank God daily for being a sovereign and merciful God who humbles and reminds me of my own humility.
My 2023 goals:
Let the One who created me be the One who defines me.
Worship when God makes me wait.
Live like Ruth.
Don’t look back except to see how far I have come.
“He must increase, I must decrease.” John 3:30
Accept my imperfections.
Be present.
If they want to leave… let them.
No matter how big my struggle or battle, He was, is, and always will be a chain breaker!
Happy New Year!
Sweatshirt: Raising Royals Boutique
Lacie 