I recently renewed my passport. It had expired, and my name had changed since the last time I used it.
As I flipped through its pages, I was surprised by the flood of memories – trips taken with my ex-husband, moments filled with laughter and shared dreams.
Back then, I imagined a lifetime of adventures together. Divorce wasn’t part of the plan.
But life doesn’t always follow our plans.
You may not have experienced divorce, but maybe you’ve endured your own heartbreak.
The unexpected loss of a loved one. A diagnosis that shook your world. A job layoff. Financial devastation.
Whatever your story, chances are it came without warning and without your consent. And like me, you may have asked, “God, where are You?”
You’re not alone in that question.
Job lost everything: his wealth, his health, his children. Naomi buried her husband and both sons, returning home bitter and broken. Joseph was betrayed, enslaved, and imprisoned.
Yet, in each of their stories, God was silently weaving redemption into the sorrow. Though their circumstances said otherwise, they were never abandoned.
Neither are you.
Hebrews 13:5 (NIV) promises, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” Those aren’t just comforting words, they are covenant words.
God doesn’t walk away when life goes wrong. He draws near. Even when we can’t trace His hand, we can trust His heart.
The enemy would love for you to believe that your pain proves God’s absence.
But remember, Satan is the father of lies. His mission is always to kill your hope, steal your joy, and destroy your faith.
Don’t believe him. Instead, anchor yourself in truth: Nothing can separate you from the love of Christ. If God is for you, who can be against you? You are more than a conqueror. (See Romans 8).
God wastes nothing, not even the worst chapters of our lives.
Romans 8:28 (NIV) reminds us that “all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” That means even when life goes terribly wrong, God is still up to something good.
And here’s the hope we sometimes forget: those broken chapters don’t disqualify us from God’s purpose – they often prepare us for it.
Joseph’s betrayal positioned him to save a nation from famine. Naomi’s heartbreak set the stage for Ruth’s loyalty and ultimately the lineage of Jesus. Job’s loss gave way to a testimony of double restoration. What feels like the end is often a beginning in disguise.
So, if you’re walking through a season that feels unfamiliar, unfair, or terribly painful, lift your eyes. The God who walked with Job, comforted Naomi, and elevated Joseph is walking with you, too. His presence hasn’t left, and His promises still stand.
Maybe right now your life feels like an expired passport, pages full of old dreams, missed opportunities, and memories that don’t match your present reality.
But just like my passport was renewed with my new name, God specializes in renewal. He can rewrite your story with new chapters of hope, purpose, and joy.
Your story isn’t over. It’s still being written by the One who holds the pen.
Trust Him to redeem what was lost, to restore what was broken, and to breathe life into the places that feel empty. He hasn’t forgotten you, and He never will.
