Each one of us is a work-in-progress, and our stories are not finished yet. Maybe you’ve experienced a tragedy that has left you feeling indifferent about the future, or a heartbreak that’s still as painful as the day it happened. You might have tried to rationalise it by telling yourself, ‘As long as I don’t care, it won’t hurt.’ Whatever the cause of our pain, the fear of being hurt again is very real. God understands this, and He doesn’t want us to live the rest of our lives in fear. He wants to help us start again, to trust Him, and to allow Him to walk with us into something better. Job lost his health, his wealth, and his children in a single day. But he got through his pain by choosing to praise God. He said, ‘You gave me life and showed me your unfailing love. My life was preserved by your care’ (Job 10:12 NLT). Job’s story ends with these words: ‘The Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before’ (Job 42:10 KJV). And God can do the same for each one of us. He’s still at work within us, and He’ll restore what we’ve lost and lead us to a better future: ‘If you devote your heart to him and stretch out your hands to him, if you put away the sin that is in your hand and allow no evil to dwell in your tent, then, free of fault, you will lift up your face; you will stand firm and without fear. You will surely forget your trouble, recalling it only as waters gone by’ (Job 11:13-16 NIV).

What Now?

Is there any past pain or bad experiences that are still hurting you? Today, take some time to tell God about them and ask Him to help you step confidently with Him into the future He has for you.