That's Going to Leave a Mark

There are people, situations, times and seasons that come into our lives. They all, in one way or another, leave their mark on us.

Some can be damaging, but, the ones that make the biggest and most lasting impression, build us.

I'm so thankful to be able to say, in this season, that I've had some wonderful, God-sent people to grace my life. People that have helped me through some of my life's most difficult moments. They've helped build me through what seemed to be breaking me. People that come along who don't tear down, but build up and restore, those are the ones you remember. They're the ones who make such an impression on your life. They're the ones you want to hang onto and during this time of year, we tend to appreciate the good things in our lives so much more. Especially those close to us. I'm so thankful for each and every person in this season of my life. I know without a doubt that God has orchestrated every relationship and I truly look forward to each one continuing to grow.

I started with people because the people in your life (after God) are who help you through the situations that come up. Some situations leave us totally blindsided. Confused. Misunderstood. Hurt. Betrayed. Whatever the case may be, things happen. It's a part of life and every situation, whether good or bad, builds us. They make us who we are. Through God's spirit, the situations we go through have the power to shape and mold our character into who God wants and needs us to be. At the time we're going through it, we may not understand why, how, when or where but we know that if God has asked us to walk through these things, that he has a purpose for them. They'll leave their mark on us.

It's up to us to use our hardships as building ground because trust me, our greatest growth comes out of our greatest adversities. Our greatest breakthroughs will come after our greatest battles. Our greatest testimonies will come after our greatest tests.

For every brick God lays while building us, no matter what it takes to get there, it's worth it. No matter how long the process, no matter how long the darkness til we see light, no matter the deserts we have to walk through, God is always there. He always has a plan and a purpose for everything.

He will leave his mark on us. He will get the glory when it's all said and done because we will look back and KNOW without a shadow of a doubt that it was nobody BUT God that brought us through and built us up in him. He may have to strip us of EVERYTHING, but it's just because he needs to get our foundation right, so he can BUILD. In HIS way, in HIS time.

Times and seasons happen to us all. We can't escape them. We CAN learn from them and learn from HIM through them. Don't waste the times God takes you through, don't waste this season.

Be, do, go. LEAVE A MARK. In every relationship, in every situation, in every time and every season. Leave them better than you came in.

God is carrying you and helping you, even when you can't see it.

(For we walk by faith, not by sight:)

2 Corinthians 5:7 KJV