It has been a long time since I blogged. I thought I’d take the summer off, and then that dragged on through September and all of a sudden we are coming up on Thanksgiving (at least, in Canada, we are) and I haven’t blogged yet. It’s been on my mind. I’ve wanted to blog. I just haven’t found the right inspiration to get me there.

Or I hadn’t until a friend of mine posted this on Facebook:

It kind of stopped me in my tracks. This friend has been going through a tough time, and another friend of hers created this card to encourage her.

In my own way, I have been going through a tough time, too. Nothing particularly bad has been happening…in fact, some very good things have been happening, but even good change is stressful. Even good change can leave you feeling unsettled and uncertain.

Now, if a friend of mine comes to me and says that they are feeling that way, I know just what to do: I pray, I listen, I point out a scripture passage or two, I encourage them to pray regularly and to trust God. But when it is me…well, I’m not so good at following my own advice.

Sometimes, instead of doing what I know I should, what I know will be healing and good for me, I withdraw. I hide. I internalize. And it all gets worse.

So today, because of the above encouragement, I am breaking that cycle. This blog has always been a spiritual discipline for me – a way of expressing my hopes and prayers, of processing what God is doing in me and around me, of living thankfully for the blessings that abound. Today I am returning to this practice.

I hope you will join me for the journey!

Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor abandon you.
Deuteronomy 31:8 NLT