Cars were
backed up as far as I could see. Traffic was insane and I was beginning to
question my own sanity for even coming out in this mess. Horns honking, people
screaming and cars inching along as if we were not going anywhere at all.
I have never quite understood holiday traffic. I swear these
people come out of hiding just during December. This same trip across town a
month ago would have taken 30 minutes and yet it took almost 2 hours. THIS IS
NUTS!
I felt as though I would inch 2 feet forward only to move nowhere
at all. My nerves were shot, lines were long and I honestly believe people were
losing their holiday spirit by coming out in this mess.
My mind began to race as I thought of my own life over the
last year. It felt crazy similar to this Holiday traffic. This last year has
been anything but easy. In fact, this year ranks up there as one of the hardest
and most challenging years we have faced in a while.
Much like the cars, I felt as though I had been inching
along only to hit a million bumps in the road. I had lost my spirit, my joy and
so much more this past year. I felt as though any curve ball that could be
thrown our way had been a million times over.
I was defeated. Depressed. Alone. Exhausted. Helpless.
It would be so easy to look on this last year and allow
those feeling to encompass my entire soul. It was so easy at times to let people and life
situations still my joy and distract me from what was real and what was important.
I was so consumed with the burdens surrounding me that I allowed my
circumstances to take over. At times I honestly began to feel helpless and
alone in my own surroundings that I forgot that I was never truly alone, and my
circumstances never defined me.
The truth is, this last year was a year of growth, learning
and restoration. A year where I was wrapped in an unbelievable amount of grace
at every turn and frustration. My faith and praise failed too many times too
count and yet the grace of my Savior never did.
This has been a season of growth and reflection. A season
where I have learned that every day may not be perfection, but yet it is
imperfectly perfect because I get to live it. There have been too many
challenges that have left me on my knees before the Lord, but they have left me
stronger and more grateful than ever for this life I have with my children and
husband.
I will NEVER forget
this last year of my life. I will NEVER forget
the trails, the burdens, the growth and all I have learned by learning to lean
even MORE on my Lord and Savior.
This has been a season when I have realized that He is
always with me, always there, and ALWAYS MORE than I can ask for or IMAGINE.
No matter what you are going through today, RIGHT now. NO burden is TOO big for Him. There is nothing that you can't take to the foot of the cross. You are NEVER alone, He is able to do IMMEASURABLY MORE than you can imagine. Seek Him, go to Him, Trust Him today!
Now to him who is able to
do immeasurably more than all we ask
or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us. Ephesians 3:20
