“Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory. We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.”
— Romans 5:2–4 (NLT)
Lately, I’ve been on a journey—one of learning, healing, and finally accepting that some things in life require more than just pushing through.
For years, I believed that if I just kept going, if I stayed strong, I could outrun my past. That if I ignored the thoughts and the weight of what had happened, it would somehow disappear. But trauma doesn’t work that way, does it? No matter how much time passes, pain that isn’t healed finds a way to resurface. And I’ve learned that healing isn’t about “just getting on with it.” It’s about allowing yourself the space to be cared for, to be seen, and to receive the help that brings true restoration.
And that’s okay.
There’s no weakness in admitting we need support. In fact, there’s strength in it. We weren’t created to carry life’s burdens alone. God never intended for us to struggle in silence. Sometimes, healing comes through prayer and leaning on Christ, and sometimes, it comes through trusted professionals who help guide us through the process.
I’m still navigating this, but I can say this with certainty: I’m good—really good. Not because life is easy, but because I’ve learned that even in the hardest moments, I don’t walk alone.
We were never promised a life without struggles, but we were promised a Savior who walks with us through them. A Savior who comes alongside us and whispers, “Mary I’ve got you. Keep walking with Me.”
“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”
— Matthew 11:28-30 (MSG)
We run ourselves empty when we try to do it all on our own.
I’ve spoken with many friends who don’t share my faith, and I see the same struggles, the same questions, the same weight of life pressing down on them. And I wonder—how do you do it without Christ?
Because even with Jesus, life is still hard. But with Him, I have a place to run to. A safe space to rest. A source of peace that doesn’t depend on my circumstances.
And yes, I wrestle. I cry out. I ask, Why me? Why this? But the beautiful thing is—Jesus isn’t distant from our pain. He understands. He walked this earth, felt sorrow, endured rejection, and experienced suffering firsthand. He didn’t have to, but He chose to. Because love required it.
And He knew that His life mission was to walk a path of suffering, rejection, and ultimately, death—death that would bring us life. He chose the weight of the cross so that we wouldn’t have to carry the weight of our sin. His sacrifice made a way for us to step into freedom, into healing, into grace.
It’s overwhelming when you think about it. But it’s truth.
Romans 5 reminds us that trials will come. Life will test us. But those trials aren’t meant to break us—they are meant to build us. To strengthen our endurance. To shape our character. To deepen our hope.
And hope is everything.
Maybe you believe, maybe you don’t. That’s a choice we all have to make.
But what I know is this: we all need saving.
The question is—who or what are you allowing to do the saving?
I choose Christ. Because He first chose me.