I’ve experienced betrayal, deep hurt, rejection, grief, and loss. I’ve walked through abuse and pain. But I’ve also walked through healing. I’m not finished yet, but I’ve come a long way.

I grew up in a deeply dysfunctional home. By the time I was 17, I was trying to run away just to find peace. There were nights I remember feeling completely alone, wondering if anything would ever change. But even in those moments, God saw me. His Word says that He is close to the brokenhearted (Psalm 34:18), and that He keeps our tears in a bottle (Psalm 56:8). He is loving, patient, and kind. I remember one night when I was home from college on break. I was so hurt and devastated, crying myself to sleep night after night. But one night, as I was crying, I heard so clearly in my heart, “I’m here.”In that moment, I felt His presence like a blanket wrapped around me, and I calmed down.

Now at 30, I can look back and see how much has changed, not because everything was easy, but because I chose to keep going. Healing didn’t happen overnight. It looked like going to therapy, learning how to set boundaries, and choosing not to go back to what was hurting me. I also had to shift my beliefs about myself. I had to stop believing I was stuck and start believing my life could actually be different. People say, “God works all things together for good” (Romans 8:28). How do I know that’s true? Because I’ve seen it in my own life.

But I’ve also learned something important:You have a choice. You have to choose healing. You have to choose to walk away from what is destroying you, even when it’s hard.

There is more for you than what hurt you.

References:

The Holy Bible, New International Version. (2011). Psalm 34:18.

The Holy Bible, New Living Translation. (2015). Psalm 56:8.

The Holy Bible, New International Version. (2011). Romans 8:28.