A hard past does not have to be our future. I love hearing stories of people that have risen above their circumstances and where they started and then ended up doing amazing things. With God we can! Whether these situations were of no fault of our own, or even if they were. God is full of grace, compassion, mercy and love and when we walk with Him, He can do great things in our lives. That does not mean we will have a life free of hardship, but things will be so much better with God beside us. Think of Joseph in the Bible. In no fault of his own he was sold off to slavery. Though he remained faithful to God and eventually, he became second in command in Egypt under their Pharoh. I even think of Ruth. She lost the love of her life, her stability, her plans for her future. Yet, she remained faithful to her mother-in-law Naomi, but most importantly, to God. She could have just let that be it and give up. But she continued to walk forward trusting God. This led to her having a wonderful future. She remarried and was financially set for life and was also able to help out Naomi as well! I have heard of many countless stories of people growing up in abuse, battling addictions, just being in bad situations. Though with God, that became their past and their future became a testimony. With God, they were able to flip the script and have a different future. Our past may shape certain parts of ourselves, but those things, with God, can be used for so much good. They don’t have to determine our future; they can just be stepping stones on where our journey takes us for His glory. Friend, I may not know your story, but God does. If you have been through hardships in your life, He can take those things and turn them into something good. Keep your head up friend, your eye on the future, your heart and mind on God, and pray. No matter our circumstances, our past, our life story, may we always have God journeying alongside us. For with Him life is always so much better.

Erin Fitts-Brower

God alongside us

Philippians 4:13 NIV

I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!

Romans 8:28 NIV

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Jeremiah 29:11 NIV

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Isaiah 43:18-19 NIV

“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.