Girl + God Blog

If you've been struggling at all lately, this is for you... "God is not punishing you, he's building you."⁠
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Tough times suck, by no means is it fun to struggle, feel stuck or be unhappy BUT in those times it's important to remember God's word.⁠
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We are women of God and we need to stand tall and be strapped in armor no matter what may be going on around us. We have peace, not from worldly things or situations but from knowing that God loves us and is preparing us for the next season.⁠
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If you've been struggling in any way, know that God is busy working on you. In order to grow, you got to get a little uncomfortable...so find peace in the process and remember that this is just the building phase...soon you will be in position but first....you must prepare!⁠

Send this to A WOMAN OF GOD and remind her that God isn't done working on her yet!⁠

Hey GODsisters! We started this convo on IG and it has over 400 amazing comments. We want to keep this dialogue going because it has helped so many women!

Not only that, we want to see what we can do to support you. Of course you can always send prayer requests to hello@girlplusgod.com but we want to know (HONESTLY) what frustrates you on this journey? What do you wish was different?

Join the convo in the comments AND make sure you become apart of our FB community (click the link to join) so that we can uplift and encourage each other.

You are NOT alone in this journey. Following God is not always easy, and you need to be surrounded by like-minded women who ain't gone judge and try to over preach you.

We'll see you there, GODsis! Love you. 

xo, 

Krystal

By: Alicia, Therapist Bae

God & therapy can coexist

So you want me, a strong black woman, to admit that I have moments of weakness? You want me to show vulnerability and express my truest and most hidden emotions? You’re going to provide me with a nonjudgmental space where I can talk about my trauma without worrying about you telling my secrets? You’re okay with me believing in God and still coming to talk to you? You sure? Because if so, then yeah, I want to try therapy. 

Believe it or not God sis, therapy can be just that; a safe space to talk. Yes, we are taught and have abided by the cultural allegiance to “give it to God '' and to “pray about it” and we plan on continuing to do that. But in 2020, we need to dig deeper and allow God and therapy to co-exist. A therapist will never be able to replace the foundation we have built with God and we shouldn't want it too. We are well aware that our strength comes from none other than the Savior Himself. Yet, we can’t allow cultural stigmas to hinder our growth as women and leave us to continue to suffer in silence! That’s tacky and we are not doing it this year! You are deserving of a healthy and healing life as well. 

God sisters you are strong and fearless women but you are still emotional beings underneath the many layers you wear. Underneath our brown skin lay invisible and internal scars that scab over and over again because they are untreated. Think of your mental health like an untreated wound. Think about how dangerous and risky it is to leave a wound untreated and how it can lead to complications and more serious problems if proper treatment is not given to it. Your emotional scars are the same way; you too have emotional wounds that need tender loving care.

Doctors can label our headaches and other somatic symptoms as stress but did you know it can really just be the weight of our unseen pains. It’s not as easy as taking a pill to make it all go away. We need to process it. We need to sit in it, feel it, and leave it in a space where it can be held, protected and honored. It’s okay to use a therapeutic space to talk about our childhood traumas and the personal or family secrets that have kept your family in toxicity all these years. You can cry without being judged there. You can explore healthy communication styles to use with your loved ones. We can use it as a personal growth setting and find out more about your truest selves. Whatever reason you choose, just know you won’t have to do it alone. God will be right there with you. He’s never left us and he certainly won’t leave us now, even in the therapy room. 

Here's a quick behind the scenes from our recent photoshoot for Girl + God.

It's been an absolute amazing journey since I decided to quit my full time job to step out on faith & focus on this brand.

I'm happy that we're finally here and ready to relaunch the brand and can't wait to share the rest of the journey with you.

xoxo,

Krystal

 Written By: Jalysa Delyn 

*I have not watched all of these during quarantine time*

What an interesting time we're in! We could have never planned for any of this, but day by day I believe people are finding a rhythm. 

When I scroll through social media there seems to be common themes. People talking about their quarantine snacks. All of the zoom meetings taking place, the at-home workouts, and of course TV.

As if we weren't a bunch of binge-watching people before, our quarantine status has been a great time for watching or for some re-watching great television. I love watching tv so I have been taking full advantage of this time. Here are 10 shows I recommend watching while we are social distancing. 

1. Little Fires Everywhere (Hulu)

Kerry Washington AND Reese Witherspoon sharing the screen?! What more do I need to say? This show is based on the book authored by Celeste Ng. Hulu releases a new episode each Wednesday, and y'all I am hooked. I watched the first three episodes in one night and anxiously await Wednesday each week. The show tackles friendship, grief, parenthood, classism, racism, and so much more. The cast is wonderful and even better, all of the executive producers are women. The show is suspenseful, heartfelt and leaves you wanting more. 

2. Good Girls (NBC, Hulu, Netflix)

I started this show last year and binged seasons one and two. The NBC show airs on Sunday and by Monday a new episode is ready for you on Hulu. Another great cast and excellent writing. This show has had me on the edge of my seat but has also made me laugh extremely hard. It is a dark twisted show that has you rooting for the bad guy at times while wanting the best for the "good girls." You can catch seasons one and two on Netflix of Hulu.

3. Parenthood (Hulu)

I love this show so much and decided to start it from the beginning like I have never seen it. No matter how many times I watch it, I fall in love with the Braverman crew all over again. This show is all about family and how no two families are the same. Even within our own families. This show tackles single parenthood, the working wife with a stay at home dad, finding out about a kid later in life, and more. Each episode will leave you in tears whether they are from happiness or heartbreak. I'm not sure what it is with NBC writers but man do they know how to get the tears flowing. 

4. Big Little Lies (HBO)

I just finished season two and it was better than I imagined. The Monterey 5 outdid themselves this season. The show is based on the book by author Liane Moriarty and it is wonderful. We're talking Nicole Kidman, Zoe Kravitz, Reese Witherspoon, Laura Dern, Shailene Woodley, and Meryl Streep(season 2). Living very different lives in California, these 5 women come together in a twisted way and you'll be waiting for more. This show is suspenseful as well but also touches on topics such as domestic abuse, women + friendship, identity, marriage, etc. The list really goes on. HBO is offering free streaming for certain series and movies right now and this show is one you can watch for free. 

5. Law & Order: SVU (Hulu)

Let me start by saying, you can't tell me I'm not Lieutenant Olive Benson after I've watched at least two episodes in a row. This show is in its 21st season, and I started binge-watching it about 4 years ago. Let's just say I'm a little obsessed. I love trying to figure out who did what and I can watch it for hours. Not only is the show disturbingly entertaining, but it is educational. Since watching this show I have found myself becoming a lot more aware of my surroundings. Many of the shows storylines come from actual news stories, which highlights what a crazy, scary world we live in. I will say that the show can be very heavy so I do have to limit how much I take in at times. 

6. All American (Netflix)

I just started this show a few days ago and I'm already on season 2. It's easy to say that I am hooked on this series. I was happy to see that it has been renewed for a third season airing later this year. Not many things make me miss high school, but this show makes me miss Friday night football games. The series tackles classism, elitism, racism,  violence, and much more. One of the things I love most about this show is its ability to bring two completely different worlds together. 

7. On My Block (Netflix)

This show is such a hidden gem and I really wish Netflix would do more to promote it. The cast is amazing and every season leaves you wanting more. The story follows a group of high school friends through South Central LA. This show has its dramatic moments but also cracks me up on so many occasions. I'm excited to watch these young actors develop and take over even more roles. 

8. Dollface (Hulu)

This show is so odd but oh so entertaining. There's a cat lady, some singing, and hilarious one-liners. I watched the whole season in one weekend. This show tackles female friendships, relationships, loneliness, and the need to belong. I really like this show because part of the plot is staying true to yourself. In a world where social media dominates everything, it can be easy to get caught in the comparison trap. 

10. 90 Day Fiance: Before the 90 Days (TLC)

Okay! This one makes the list because it is so entertaining, trashy tv. We watch it every Sunday night and it has us cracking up each week. Watching these couples interact makes me so happy and it's a show I never knew I needed. One half of the couple lives in the US and the other lives in a different country. It all just makes for great tv and I'm almost ashamed to admit that I enjoy it so much. 

I would love to hear what shows you have been watching! Share in the comments! 

 Written By: Health Coach Tiffiney

It seems inevitable that when the topic of “getting healthy” comes up, the first concern is food. Whether it’s the notion that some foods are better than others, or that you can’t enjoy “regular” foods and still be healthy, or that a particular food has magical-like powers over you and can’t possibly be given up… food takes the bad rap of being the obstacle standing in the way of obtaining the holy grail of “good health”. What if I told you the true obstacle was the power you give food over you? I’m here to tell you it only has as much power as you give it.

We’ve all had that moment when we’re watching Netflix and snack more than we intend to or find ourselves at a gathering and avoid the dessert table like the plague because we’re “eating right”. My prior self would make comments like “I got to run this off tomorrow” or “girl, I can’t eat that, I’m being good”. This thought process ruined my confidence in my ability to make good decisions for myself because I like to eat ya’ll. I felt bad for eating some of my favorite foods, bargained with myself that I could eat whatever it was if I worked it off, and even gave off an air of superiority because I didn’t eat “those foods” that other people were eating while out [insert me looking down over my glasses at someone who would dare touch a donut… I was a mess lol].

Thank God I came to my senses! I gave up all the crazy food rules and decided I could in fact eat food for nourishment and pleasure, that a particular food doesn’t make me any better (or worse) morally, and that what I eat one day will not catapult me off into the stratosphere of forever being unhealthy.

Sis, I’m here to tell you food is only the enemy if you make it. Let me share with you how to begin eating in a way that honors your body and your cravings… the two really can co-exist! 

Let’s start with you learning to tune into your body and respect the cues it gives you when you’re hungry, satisfied, or have a need that is not related to food at all. Allow your body to sense when it's hungry, remove mealtime distractions so you can solely focus on your meal [don't multitask while eating], and stop eating and remove yourself from the table once you are satisfied (it's okay to have food left over, just save it for another time). This habit teaches you to respect your body's signals for hunger and satiety. Respecting these signals decreases the likelihood of overeating (or in the case of ignoring hunger cues, talking yourself out of eating because you can't possibly be hungry, which can lead to binging once you finally do eat).
Secondly, while I’ll stand behind my belief that there are no good or bad foods, you should determine what foods make you feel the way you desire to feel (or not feel). I don't know about you, but a regular diet of cakes, cookies, chips, fried foods (insert your fave here) doesn't leave me feeling too hot. Just like only eating kale, baked fish, and quinoa would be boring to me and I’d probably feel deprived by giving up my favorite foods. Learn to respect your cravings (so have the cake, chips, or ice cream) AND also respect when your body tells you it's had enough. If you find yourself binge eating foods then feeling bad after, it could be a sign of emotional eating and you definitely want to seek professional help.

Another thing to consider is that while you can use food to deal with your emotions, it’s a temporary fix that will typically leave you feeling worse in the long run. I challenge you to gauge whether you are eating when your body is sending you hunger cues or out of boredom, anger, sadness, etc. Not hungry? Probably shouldn't be eating. Begin practicing other habits for dealing with these emotions. You can use it as an opportunity to get physically active to blow off some steam, journal, seek counseling, or work on a project you've been putting off (it may take some practice if food has been your go-to for a while). In the long run, finding more effective ways to cope with your emotions aids in healing your relationship with food... so you can actually enjoy it without guilt, confusion, or anxiety. 

I would bet money that learning to eat in this way (versus dieting) will leave you feeling more in control and less at odds with food. I want to leave you with this scripture that guides a lot of my decisions, but especially what I decide to eat most days. 1 Corinthians 10:23 says “Everything is permissible, but not all things are beneficial”.  If you have specific health goals, let this scripture guide you in deciding if what you’re eating aligns with you meeting that goal. Now go eat… but only if you’re hungry ;)

Follow Tiffiney on IG @healthcoachtiffiney

By: Jalysa Delyn

“If you have two friends in your lifetime, you're lucky. If you have one good friend, you're more than lucky.” - S.E. Hinton 

Making friends isn’t something we are taught to do, but it tends to happen organically. We start to make friends as little kids and throughout the years we meet some of the best people. Some friendships last for years and some only for a season, but the lessons learned can be invaluable. One thing that is true is that friendships mean different things to different people. The way we view friendships, how we make friends, and how we maintain them can vary based on where we are in life.

I asked five women what friendship means to them and how they find their people. Their answers are vulnerable, inspiring, and full of great advice. I hope this helps you as much as it helped me!

Amber

“Friendship is a place where two or more people can be vulnerable about the things they're struggling with or scared of without fear of judgment, rejection, or abandonment. It's a place where they feel seen, heard and valued for who they are and pushed to be the best versions of themselves.”

Good friends make space for one another to be truly themselves. Good friends are people who sit with you when life is hard and celebrate with you when life is good. Good friends champion one another, build one another up and serve one another. Good friends make you feel at ease. You laugh and have fun together, but can also talk about your dreams, fears, struggles, etc. They sharpen one another, lovingly speak truth over one another, making us into the best versions of ourselves. Good friends prioritize one another. This may look different in every season, but it's always true of a good friend. Good friends always point you back to Jesus.

What factors may result in the breakdown of a friendship?

Lack of communication and conflict resolution. Lack of quality time spent together. Being on your phone constantly while we hang out is the quickest way to make me feel devalued and unimportant to you. Belittling, even subtly. Unforgiveness, even for small things. It builds over time and causes bitterness and anger to take root, driving a wedge in your relationship. 

How do you make friends as an adult? 

Through common interests, places you go often. For me, that has looked like meeting people through church, work, and the gym.

What advice would you give to younger girls and women about friendship?

Don't expect people to be your source of security, identity, or comfort because, despite their best efforts, they'll let you down every time. Only God can be those things for us.  

Tracy

I heard something that stuck with me:  make sure your “friendships” or relationships are not bulldozers.  Bulldozers destroy.” -Steve Harvey

At this age and stage in my life, I feel that the word friend is overused (just like the words I Love You)!  It sounds good but do we really put the actions behind what the words really mean?  I have a few people I call “friends” or have called “friends” but sometimes it takes more effort or heartache to maintain those friendships that I have had to either remove myself totally or take breaks away from them.  At almost 53 the so-called friendships we thought we needed, we don’t.  Sometimes people grow apart from each other and it can be for many reasons.  

What factors may result in the breakdown of a friendship?

A few factors I can think of right now in the breakdown of friendship are:  Not respecting boundaries especially if both or one of the friends is married, betraying a friend’s trust if a friend is going through something not being supportive, jealously, using the person for your own personal gain for something. 

After reading Tyler Perry’s book Higher Is Waiting, he talked about using a tree to divide people as to where they fit in your life.  First Leaf people:  people who are only in your life for a season.  Second Branch people:  they are stronger the leaf people but they need care.  They may stick around from one season to the next but if a storm rolls through its possible they’ll break apart and you’ll lose them.  Third Root people:  root people are hard to find because they’re not trying to be seen.  They do their work underground. They provide support and nourishment without fanfare.  They are happy when you thrive!  I made a list and after giving much thought to my list I was surprised as to what part of the three people were in my life. As for me after having many storms I have found my best friends to be first God and then my husband!  

Jennifer

“I see friendship as a gift. Friendship is a strong connection to someone because of a shared commonality. This commonality can be anything- belief, family, hobby, passion, experience, and many others.  Friendship needs a strong foundation of respect, trust, and love.”

Good Friend

We all have many friends…some come and some go because of where life takes us.  Few are good friends or BFFs.My best friendships are the ones where those factors I mentioned above (respect, trust, and love) are the strongest.  With my “Best Friends” I can be me (the awesome, the good, the not so good and the ugly) and  I know that I will not be judged. On the contrary, this person supports me no matter what and will like to see me succeed no matter what.  They are there in the good times and in the not so good times. They know when I just need to vent and when I need their help or advice.  The relationship is mutual- 2:way. For this to work we need to be honest with each other at all times knowing that it comes from a good place (they know you so well that they can see where you may have a blind spot).  I know we are best friends because it doesn’t matter if I don’t see them for a very long time when we catch up it's like we just saw each other. The memories that you make with your best friends are long-lasting.

What factors may results in the breakdown of a friendship?

Many times miscommunications can end great friendships.  Many of these breakdowns can be avoided by having the tough conversation, understanding the situation and working through it. Many people do not like conflict (well who does like conflict?) and go the “easy route” of perhaps ignoring or blaming. This breaks the foundation (respect, trust, love) and breaks or weakens the bond.  Also if any person on the friendship is the person giving, giving, giving, but not receiving- this can drain the person and again break the foundation.

How do you make friends as an adult?

Funny how I think kids make friends easily- I take my kids to any place and see them say “Hi I’m Izzie I’m 9 years old” then the other girl or boy exchange their name and age and boom they are best friends. Very cute! But we can also make friends that easy where we work, go to church, go work out, hobbies, small groups, kid's activities, etc.  You usually connect on some subject (commonality!- for my kids is age lol) and can have a good feeling about the connection with the person. However, the connection will take time and an additional follow up to get it stronger. For example, if it is a work friend maybe the next step will be to have dinner, or couples date with the significant other, a concert, or kid's play date, etc.  Once you get to know people on a more personal manner then you can could deepen the “respect, trust and love”.

 What advice would you give to younger girls and women about friendship?

GREAT FRIENDSHIPS are like a plant…it takes frequent water and nurture to grow it and keep it blooming. It takes effort from both sides… but the effort should not feel like work – it should replenish and charge you.  By watering the plant I mean a call, a text, a small kind gesture, a dinner, coffee, a concert, a trip.  The other thing is that there will be GREAT FRIENDSHIPS that will last for a part of your life and maybe things change (e.g. that common interest evolved or changed, you moved to another city, you are in different chapters of your life, etc) and new ones will emerge.  For example, I had a best friend back home in Puerto Rico through my middle and high school! A best friend during College. A best friend during Grad School. A best friend through my Cheerleading years. A best friend during my first several years at work. And two best friends now that share the same passion for dance and Zumba- one in my city another one in Sweden! (thank goodness for WhatsApp). Do I still stay in touch with my previous best friends? Yes, maybe not at the same frequency but a great friendship is a great friendship and you will know because the moment you catch up is like time never passed.  Life is beautiful and is always surprising you.  Meet new people and cherish those amazing friends that make life rewarding, fun and exciting!

Kristina

What does friendship mean to you?
I have gone through life with a handful of friends. In high school, I couldn't figure out why I tended to have 1 or 2 people I could call friends while it seemed like everyone else around me had plenty.
Friendship, to me, means that I can trust you, count on you and that you'll just...be there. And it's reciprocal.
How do you define a good friend?
Once, I was treated with little regard by a man and I told my best friend about it. She showed up at my door 30 minutes later and told me to get in her car. We drove to said man's house and wrote with lipstick
on his windows, "what goes around comes around." It made me laugh and feel better. That's a good friend.

What factors may result in the breakdown of a friendship?
When gay marriage passed in Indiana I worked for the court system and people were celebrating and cheering in the lobby on the first floor of the City County Building. A friend of mine at the time also worked in the building and sent me a text talking about how disgusted she was that people were cheering for such a "sinful" thing. That was the last time we communicated.
How do you make friends as an adult?
There is an unspoken energy I often feel when I've made friends in my adulthood. I know what I enjoy and what I don't and I hit a point in my life where I became less interested in the number of friends and
really valued the quality of my friendships. For example, if I tell you I'm going to yoga and then brunch and you say, "that's something white people do" I will know that we probably won't resonate. There
are many reasons a comment such as that (I've heard it many times) does not jive well with me. I would elaborate but I think you know :-)

What advice would you give to younger girls and women about friendship?
Know what you care about...because there are other people out there that care about those things too. Find those people and build with them. You know those Instagram photos where you see like 12 women
standing on a beach somewhere exotic wearing themed bathing suites and effortlessly posing to look impossibly chic? That's friendship. BUT friendship is also crying on your girl's floor because you feel safe
and seeing doing so. It's getting tipsy and going shopping and spending too much money. It's trust, kindness, and solidarity. If you're a friend of mine who is white, it's me being able to tell you
what you just did was racist and you not clutching your pearls in shock that I would call you racist...but instead asking me how you can do better. Find YOUR person/group/squad. They need you and you need
them.

Tina 

What does friendship mean to you?

It’s a relationship with another person that you can count on and have fun with.

How do you define a good friend?

Good friends are honest and forthcoming, reliable, kind, thoughtful, and forgiving.

What factors may result in the breakdown of a friendship?

Lying, Dishonesty, selfishness, being unkind 

How do you make friends as an adult? 

Ugh....I’m soooo bad at making friends as an adult.  I know that everyone is busy, but I just feel like there isn’t a free moment for a working mom with a bunch of kids.  Every moment of my days are filled (with things and people) that I love, and it’s hard to make time for friends.  If I have free time, I want to spend it with my kids and hubby.  Friendships seem to come from work or family activities.

What advice would you give to younger girls and women about friendship?

Have fun!  Be silly.  Be loyal.  Be a good friend.

Follow Jalysa Delyn on IG @jalysa_delyn

By: Char Patterson

Is it too late to press reset on 2020? I basically got whiplash from how quickly January came and went, and February is following suit. I had all of my resolutions and goals listed out and organized accordingly, sitting on ready and just like everyone else, was waiting for the new decade to make its highly-anticipated arrival.

 But when the clock struck 12, I didn’t feel that “shift” *insert ‘whoa dance’ here* (do people still do that?). I don’t know if it’s because this was the first year that I can remember where I wasn’t at church on New Year’s Eve. Or maybe it was because the end of 2019 took so much of a toll, I couldn’t even think about what I would go through this year. Either way, it took me, and is still taking me a minute to adjust to a new beginning and the “New Year, New Me” mindset that comes along with it.

It’s really weird because I normally thrive this time of year, but 2020 hit different… at first. That’s because I was ready for my new me to come with my Christmas gifts, perfectly delivered in my mailbox. Have you ever been so ready to make a change that you just skip to the end, and what you see as the new you, without going through the process?

As I looked through my list of goals to get my body right just in time for the summer, stack my savings account and read my bible more, God really started dealing with me (don’t you love when He does that?) about not just my motives but staying consistent and making a lifestyle change in pretty much every area of my being. While getting healthy, being disciplined with my finances and spiritual growth are pretty amazing goals on paper, they were so self-serving in my head.

God reminded me that He wants all of those things for me, but unless I have the right motives, I won’t have His grace to be consistent in not just reaching those goals but maintaining them. It might take me until the end of 2020 to check off these goals, but that’s better than just checking off that I read my bible without actually getting anything out of it.

And as for the things I worried about when it comes to all things 2020, part of spiritual growth is to stop doing, start trusting, and not letting that occupy my space. Each day has enough to think about, let alone skipping ahead an entire year.

Don’t get me wrong, goal-setting is the way of the land, but I’ve learned the hard way that quality is better than quantity. That’s why I constantly felt like I didn’t have enough time in the day, why I found myself working unhealthy and unbalanced hours on end without looking up and appreciating the small things God was doing in, through and for me on a daily.

Sometimes it’s hard to think that He wants much better for us than we want for ourselves. We can be too smart for our own good and subconsciously think that we have it handled and don’t need His help. The outcome of my 2020 so far has determined that was a lie.

If you feel like you’re already wearing yourself out to accomplish your goals, or didn’t even have time to create any, it’s okay! It might be too late for a reset, but it’s not too late to think about what you want for your life this week, this month, this year, and this decade (whew, chile!). Write it down, give it to God and let Him to make it even more amazing. There’s a reason we have those desires and goals, we just need His grace to complete it.

Connect w/ Char on social media @charpatterson

By: Kasia Chatman 

If you were like me, the world watched in awe as Ava DuVernay changed the culture with the release of, “When They See Us,” on Netflix. Moreover, your heart possibly broke when you watched, “When They See Us Now,” as Antron described how he hated his father for what he had to endure at his expense. And, it got me thinking. There are times in our lives, if we are being honest with ourselves, that a lot of us feel like Antron. We question serving a God or calling him a “good, good father” when He allows us to go through so much pain and turmoil. 

I know I have asked the question more than once. “God, why are you doing this to me? I serve you, I love you, and I watch people my age that give you absolutely no recognition who seem to be living a better life than me.” The high and mighty religious people will tell you that you do not question God because, “He will not put more on you than you can bear.” Many blame it on the enemy attacking you. Although this is true, after reading the book of Job, the enemy can not do anything to you without God’s oversight.  

So what do you do? How do you serve God when it feels like life keeps beating you in the face? How do you forgive the person who walked away from you? How do you get over the death of that loved one who took a piece of you with them that you feel like you will never get back? How do you get closure when closure was never actually given? How do you go on living when the past keeps staring you in the face? How do you move on? 

God, do you see what I am going through? 

Yes, He sees and He knows all of what you are going through. For example, I remember reading the story of the Apostle Paul, when he was in jail for sharing the gospel of Jesus. In that moment, he probably thought the same thing we all think. How could a “good” God do this to me? But, Jesus showed up and said, “Be of good cheer (or courage), Paul; for as you have testified for Me in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness at Rome.” (Acts 23:11) In this moment, God was reminding Paul that he was not suffering alone, but He was there with him. When life keeps beating you in the face, He is there. When that person walks out of your life, He is there. When that loved one passes away, He is there. When you need closure, He is there. When the past tries to come and remind you of the things that have happened to you, He is there. And not only is He there, He feels every pain and every suffering that you experience.   

Paul’s life did not end in that prison, it was quite the opposite, it was just beginning. The only thing that will matter when we are gone is what we do for God. That is why we go through so much pain. It is to share our testimonies and show the next generation what it means to be free. How could we know God for a healer, provider, way maker, miracle worker if we never go through the things necessary to call him that. To actually know that for ourselves. So as Jesus told Paul, be encouraged and remember that what you are going through serves a purpose and God sees you.