Crushed..

A few months ago a dear friend reached out to me for some encouragement.  She had recently married and quickly was faced with trouble and heartache.  And as I listened to her story, my heart broke for her.  I know all too well how it feels when your picture of perfect is far from perfect.  And you are left with a crushed spirit.  During those moments of darkness, there are no words to describe the feeling.  The emptiness is almost unbearable.

So I shared a few words of encouragement with her although I was incredibly humbled and felt completely and utterly unqualified to be encouraging another.  I thought,  "what in the world could I possibly share with her?"  Then my heart opened up and I thought of all the things I've learned through the dark times of my life:

• One of the biggest lessons I've learned is to let go of my picture of perfect.  Even the best laid plans are still your plans.  Not God's plans.  So in the spirit of Frozen, let it go!
  Jeremiah 29:11  "For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord..."
  
• Forgive.  When you hold onto anger, you only destroy your spirit.  Not forgiving doesn't actually effect the person you are or aren't forgiving.  It only effects you.  Forgiveness actually allows you to move on rather than trapping you in the past.  Daniel 9:9 "Then Lord our God is merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against him."
  
• You are accountable for your actions not the actions of those around you.  And often your reaction is a reflection of your heart. Romans 14:12 "So then each of us will give an account of himself to God."
  
• Pray.  Pray away your angry.  Pray away your pain.  Pray until your heart is filled with joy again. 1 Chronicles 16:11 "Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always."
  
• Remain faithful.  The picture doesn't look perfect in the moment because we don't have the perfect plan.  God does.  And you never know who will walk into your life tomorrow and change your perspective. Hebrews 11:1 "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen."
  

And at the end of the day, you have to remember life is really tough.  And the only way to get through life is to live it!!!  But God doesn't let you go through a single day alone. 

To my dear friend--I love you dearly.  I pray for you each day.  And tomorrow is a new day for peace, love and joy.

Psalms 34:18 "The LORD is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed."

Frozen, forgiveness and a picture of perfect,

Ashley Lucille