Has something happened to you that is so bad, you can’t even see how you are going to make it through the day, let alone the rest of your life? Was it a violent act? Was it divorce, the loss of a loved one? Was it the loss of a job, or friendship, sickness or injury? What do you do? Traumatized!

Please keep in mind that most of what I share in my posts is from personal experience. The rest is from experiences others have shared with me. When we read a story or a post, it is sometimes difficult to catch the author’s feelings and emotions as they write. I want you to know that I care about you. It is the only reason I write. This web site wasn’t built to be a money maker, even though we have ways to bring in money to help support it and eventually we want to be able to help others beyond these words of encouragement. I created this site to help people like you and me. My biggest difficulty in writing is wanting to communicate correctly to help ease the pain and suffering of others and somehow offer some means of encouragement without adding to the pain.

I have gone through several different periods in my life of trauma, injury, divorce, job loss, and depression. I know what I have experienced and I have helped others go through some of the same thing and have seen the mighty miracles of the Lord’s love heal time and again. There is hope. There is a way. Just because one path is closed doesn’t mean that there isn’t a better one up ahead. Some of what I call my worst trials have actually saved my soul and life. Had I continued down the path I was on, my life might have been lost for good. The Lord used the bad things in my life to help me understand His love for me. He didn’t want anything bad to happen to me, but because of my choices or someone else’s, they did. Sometimes things just happen.

When we are in these situations, it is hard to hear words of encouragement. It seems like we are all alone, even though we can be in a crowd of friends. It is at these times we need to look deeper inside and take a look at where we are. Now that we are in a stopping place, it might be a good time to take a better look at where we were headed. All of a sudden our focus changes. Things that used to mean the world to us, now look like emptiness. What really matters any more? What is really real? And most of all, who is it that really cares about us? It was at these times I really found out who my friends were. I noticed that there were a lot fewer of them than I thought.

I’ve known about the Lord since I was real small, around the age of 4. It was during these times that I started reaching out to Him. “Lord, if You are really there, show me. I need to know You are real and that you care or there is no reason for me to go on.” Does this sound familiar? The first thing I felt was His presence. There was a warm feeling around me as if I wasn’t all alone anymore. Over a period of time this relationship grew. Sometimes I strayed away, but He always brought me back to Himself. Looking back over the years now, I can see how He walked with me all the way. He wanted me to Himself so that He could show me Who He was. I had so many fears and He took them one at a time and brought me to a place of love that shattered every one. Once He became real in each area, there wasn’t anything that could overpower me in that place again. With each step, I was getting more whole and healed. I look back at all of those areas of weakness and now I see that I am strong. It didn’t happen over night. It is a journey. We can’t know someone instantly. We really don’t know them well at all when everything is going good. It is mainly when things go bad that we find out who we really are as well as those around us. Find out who Jesus Christ is. Ask Him to show you. Start reading the Bible in the book of John and the Psalms. Go on a new journey. Listen for His voice. Hear the wind blowing in the trees and the birds singing their songs to him. All of creation praises Him every day. The sunrises and the sunsets are pictures from Him to us. Even the storms clean the air so that we can breathe fresh air.

If you don’t like this journey, you can always walk away, but if you never try it, you won’t ever know. Take a chance. What do you have to lose? Look at your life right now. What do you need? Where does it hurt? Let the God of creation heal your wounds and make you whole. Simply ask Him.

I noticed that the times I made the fastest changes and received the most healing was when I gave the most. I decided to find others who needed help. This helped me to get my mind off of my situation and the giving started bringing the healing. I was able to forgive others and myself as I made the choice to do so with the Lord’s help. Nothing is impossible! Today is day one. Tomorrow will get here soon enough. Look beyond yourself. Is there someone who needs a smile or an encouraging word. I know you do and I hope this has helped. Pass it on. Here’s to you. You do matter to me and especially to the Lord. Don’t give up. Keep on. Healing, wholeness, love, mercy and peace is yours for the taking.

Joseph