It took me more than 20 years to find peace and healing after the trauma of sexual assault. I spent twenty years trying to do life and healing my way.

My way was to bury pain and shame with alcohol and a life of sin. All the while, Jesus was inviting me to surrender my heavy burdens to Him so that He could bring me rest. My way was to throw myself into my career and ambitions. All the while, my Father asked me to seek His Kingdom and righteousness first.

My way was to let bitterness, unforgiveness, and anger take root in my spirit. All the while, The King of kings gently reminded me, “Leave your wrath to me.” My way left me listening to the voice of the accuser who called me worthless, washed up, and dirty. All the while, my Beloved Papa called me His masterpiece, good enough to die for and redeemed! My way led to a darkness beyond comprehension and a despair that left me pleading with God to end my life.

My way kept me trapped in a bubble of self-hatred. My way brought me to my knees, crying out for my Heavenly Father. My way helped me survive, but God never meant for us to merely just survive in this lifetime! Despite our trauma, trials, and tribulations, God created us to thrive in His abundant peace and limitless love on this side of eternity.

So, I finally said “Goodbye” to my way and started approaching life and healing God’s way.

God’s way means obedience.

God’s way is time spent in His Word.

God’s way is time in His presence, which heals the soul.

God’s way is The Way, and He leaves no sad stone unturned or suffering untouched.

He invades it all and slowly collects every chard of shattered glass – recreating our lives into something new, more beautiful, resilient, and purposeful.

When the King’s Way becomes our way, nothing is wasted in our lives, not even the thing that was meant to destroy us and take us out!

When the King’s way became my way, He filled my life with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23).

When the King is invited into our mess, the angels in heaven celebrate knowing what Jesus is about to do in us and through us!

If you are hurting today, friend, He is waiting for you to surrender yourself – to surrender your way. Our Father is with you. He invites you into His tender embrace. He says, “Come and see, child.”

Will you hang on to your way, or will you run His way?