Dear 2014,
You were the worst year of my life (hoping to keep it that way).
You were a year of pain; physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual.
You stripped me of joy, wounding me to my core, and left me empty of life.
Looking back at my time with you causes a heavy heart, sorrowful eyes, and a burdened spirit.
I lived a numb life; refusing to feel your effects on me, refusing to let you overcome me. But by denying the power you had on me, you swallowed me whole.
The watching world would never know that I had been consumed with darkness.
Even before my God, I could only weep in my burden of wounds.
But my heart didn't seek healing, it only sought relief from the pain.
I hate you, 2014, and the scars you left on my life.
Dear 2015,
I thought you would change things, that you would bring hope.
You didn't.
When you came, the wounds were still there; the bruises still visible, the pain still throbbing, and my heart still heavy.
What promises of hope I had in you, what joy I sought in your open arms.
What a long relationship this has been, a rollercoaster of a relationship.
You didn't bring healing, joy, or restoration.
But you reminded me where to find those things.
You kneeled my wounded and broken heart at the feet of the One who heals and restores.
You brought me to Christ.
It was there that I found healing, joy, and restoration.
It was there that friendships were redeemed, wounds aired out, and truth told.
What unexpected beauty was found in you.
Dear 2016,
I have high expectation for you.
Please allow my new found joy to thrive and grow.
Bring maturity, strength, and humility.
But please don't do so through trials and tribulations. I'm not sure I could stand any more pain.
Christ is still mending me back together, I'm too quick to shatter. . .
Dear Jesus,
Let me never hope in a new year to bring change in me.
Only You can do that.
Only in You can restoration take place, the broken made beautiful, and newness be found.
These cracks of sin can only be mended by Your loving hand with your tool of grace.
May I never forget Your sovereignty over sin; Your power over it's power.
Your pain over it's pain.
Forgive me for thinking You are beyond understanding the pain of sin, for You felt it all.
You know all pain, and You heal all pain.
Let me take You; all of You, only You, for my remedy and healing.
Forgive me for seeking relief, restoration and change in anything but You.
Let my heart seek You this day, this year, this life.
Let me be restored in You each day of each year of this life.
Let me be joyful in the freedom found in You.
You were the worst year of my life (hoping to keep it that way).
You were a year of pain; physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual.
You stripped me of joy, wounding me to my core, and left me empty of life.
Looking back at my time with you causes a heavy heart, sorrowful eyes, and a burdened spirit.
I lived a numb life; refusing to feel your effects on me, refusing to let you overcome me. But by denying the power you had on me, you swallowed me whole.
The watching world would never know that I had been consumed with darkness.
Even before my God, I could only weep in my burden of wounds.
But my heart didn't seek healing, it only sought relief from the pain.
I hate you, 2014, and the scars you left on my life.
Dear 2015,
I thought you would change things, that you would bring hope.
You didn't.
When you came, the wounds were still there; the bruises still visible, the pain still throbbing, and my heart still heavy.
What promises of hope I had in you, what joy I sought in your open arms.
What a long relationship this has been, a rollercoaster of a relationship.
You didn't bring healing, joy, or restoration.
But you reminded me where to find those things.
You kneeled my wounded and broken heart at the feet of the One who heals and restores.
You brought me to Christ.
It was there that I found healing, joy, and restoration.
It was there that friendships were redeemed, wounds aired out, and truth told.
What unexpected beauty was found in you.
Dear 2016,
I have high expectation for you.
Please allow my new found joy to thrive and grow.
Bring maturity, strength, and humility.
But please don't do so through trials and tribulations. I'm not sure I could stand any more pain.
Christ is still mending me back together, I'm too quick to shatter. . .
Dear Jesus,
Let me never hope in a new year to bring change in me.
Only You can do that.
Only in You can restoration take place, the broken made beautiful, and newness be found.
These cracks of sin can only be mended by Your loving hand with your tool of grace.
May I never forget Your sovereignty over sin; Your power over it's power.
Your pain over it's pain.
Forgive me for thinking You are beyond understanding the pain of sin, for You felt it all.
You know all pain, and You heal all pain.
Let me take You; all of You, only You, for my remedy and healing.
Forgive me for seeking relief, restoration and change in anything but You.
Let my heart seek You this day, this year, this life.
Let me be restored in You each day of each year of this life.
Let me be joyful in the freedom found in You.
