Too many rough Octobers have you endured in the past. This one was unlike any other. There was good and there was bad. You freaked out because you thought your car was going to break down at any moment after hitting a “whale.” You ripped off a bandaid that exposed a wound which never really healed. Then came the anxiety. Little thoughts here and there started to flood your mind telling you weren’t good enough. You lost weight because you didn’t want to eat. Along came attempts to hurt yourself. Some moments were so dark and scary, you froze in fear. You couldn’t even get to school to take a test.

But through it all, there was good. You went to your first comedy show. Your car turned out just fine. You went to your favorite park. You got to ride on a swan for the first time. You had a ton of laughs. You went to a drive-in for the first time in almost 10 years. You started writing again. You reached out in the hard times. You had meaningful conversations. You saw how many people support you through the mess. So many hugs. So many prayers. Most importantly, a lot of revelations.

You thought you were back in the same dark place you were last year. So much has changed. God fought so hard to show you how much you’ve changed. You have grown so much. He revealed Himself to you in a whole new light. You saw yourself through His eyes. You stood your ground. You were faithful with the little. You are brave. You are unshakable. You are enough. You are so loved by Him.

I hope you read this back and remember that God is good. God is bigger than any circumstance. God is faithful when you are not. There is a God who sees right where you are. There is an unchanging God who changes everything. There is nothing too difficult for Him.

Onward and upward, my friend.