When the dust was settling from the implosion, the absence of some of my closest relationships was breaking my heart, and left my life feeling empty.  I didn’t know if those relationships would come back and if they did, I didn’t know how they would look moving forward.  As I moved through those early months sometimes second by second, I prayed for God to bring healing and restoration in His timing.

Some of my relationships needed time and space.  It was hard to live with the consequences of my behavior and not know if the people involved could forgive me.  I struggled to let go of the shame.  I had to lean into God to fill the emptiness and heal the hurt I caused to those who loved me.  I couldn’t fix it.  Only He could.

Several months ago, God gave me an image that I have held onto.  I was running so zealously after Him and I looked over to see all of the relationships renewed in Him.  It will not be my timing and not the same as it was before but there will be reconciliation.  Because all of us involved are Christ followers, I know there will be reconciliation.  It might not be a happily ever after on this side of eternity.

That’s hard, but I hold onto the hope that God will ultimately heal those broken relationships.  I’m reminded of a quote from The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe, “Wrong will be right when Aslan comes in sight, At the sound of his roar, sorrows will be no more, When he bares his teeth, winter meets its death, And when he shakes his mane, we shall have spring again.” Through Christ, I have a hope for the future and I know that He will make the wrong right and the sorrows will be no more.  There will be new life in those relationships.

Life often doesn’t turn out like we imagined.  More often than not we are left grappling with the why’s and how’s in life.  Right now, there are several situations unfolding in the lives of people I care about that are heart breaking and just don’t make sense.  Why the diagnosis?  Why the unexpected death? How will relationships heal? How can I move forward when I feel so broken?  It isn’t that happily ever after we want to see but that’s where faith comes in and finding hope in the victory of Christ.  One day, everything will be healed, there will be no more sorrow, or grief.   All things will be made right and new in Him.

What why’s and how’s are you struggling with right now?  I pray that you find hope in knowing that when you put your faith and trust in Jesus Christ, the wrong will ultimately be made right.  He alone is our hope when we face the heartache of the not so happily ever after in this life.  May we land on His grace.