Restore, Rebuild, Renew

I have had this blog for a few years, but have been poor at updating it, unless there's a major chang in our life status. I decided that it needed an Extreme Makeover - hence the new name: "Joy in the Journey." That name has been rolling around in my head, not because I have somehow found the answer to living out "joy" in my life, but because I aspire to living out joy and delight even through difficult circumstances and pain.

Each year, I look ahead and claim the year for something. Last year was my year of "new beginnings." 2009 was a year of "change." (Why anyone would ever choose that is beyond me...) But this year is my year of "healing" - and to attain that I claim this statement: "When you are who God wants you to be, you can restore, rebuild, and renew." (see Isaiah 58:12)

2010 was a difficult year. This was the year that my hopes of happily ever after were dashed by the reality of life. What I had held on to for five years was simply not meant to be. And while the relationship had been destined for failure due to time, space, and commitment issues, I had carried it around like a sacred chest, even as it grew so heavy that I had to drag it around me. I prayed and cried and begged God to save it, but in the end, it was not my decision and God released me from dragging around the heavy burden. My marriage ended but it was like a pain of watching your loved one suffer on the machines that breathed life, and while you knew that death was the ultimate release and relief, the final breath was like shockwaves through your soul.

If you have ever experienced death or divorce, you know the grieving process that begins. I have experienced death, as a child my father died when I was 4.5 years old. I have now experienced death of my dreams of having a lifelong partner.

So I cling to 2011 and the healing that will come, as God restores, rebuilds, and renews my broken heart and home. As he reframes the shattered building that looked like my hopes. As he gives me a new hope and dream with the healing that is coming.

And He brings joy to my journey.