These words were spoken over me not too long ago.

Have you ever told someone:

“I’m so sorry that had to happen to you”

or

“That should never have happened to you”?

These words were spoken over me not too long ago.

My winter holidays were overshadowed by an individual’s lack of judgment. And while this person was thoughtless—it happened.

And you know what?

I am so much better for it.

And let me tell you… it has taken me these many months to begin sharing more openly about it. [I will also refrain from hinting at gender, location, relation, etc. for the sake of this individual.]

Humans will be humans where ever and who ever they are. Mistakes will be made, communication will be flawed. But whether someone was careless in their dealings—purposefully or simply from lack of wisdom—God arranges everything for His people’s good.

If He’s called me to do something, He will see it through. If I am His child, He will look out and care for me.

Look at these words I’ve been stuck on these past couple mornings:

Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;

Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.

For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.

And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation.

And our hope of you is stedfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation.

2 Corinthians 1:3-7

These verses take me back several years. To a dark time in my life which has since turned into beauty once again. I sought God—and He didn’t give up on me.

Read those life-giving verses again.

Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;

Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.

For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.

And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation.

And our hope of you is stedfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation.

I am no Bible scholar. But that last verse… It communicates hope. Purpose for experiences. Even the hurtful ones.

And then verse 4. To comfort those… with the comfort we received from God. Incredible.

So you’re here reading this. You may be unknowingly searching for what I need to share with the world. Just like you have a story that defines you, I’m embarking on my journey of telling the story that defines me.

No, this is not at all easy. And can I tell you a secret?

I’m terrified.

But living life is about getting vulnerable. And because you’re here, I can’t—and—won’t walk away from this open door.

I volunteer as tribute. Insert: mockingjay whistle