Everyone will go through something that will change them in a way that they can never be the person they once were.

When something happens in your life that you KNOW is “life-changing” – it’s God’s way of giving you an opportunity to MAKE changes. 

I know – you’re like “but I don’t want an opportunity. I liked my life the way it was!”

I get it. I didn’t want God messing with my life either – but I promise, what He has planned for us is SO much greater than what we have planned for ourselves.

When that “something” rips your heart out or otherwise turns your world upside down, I know it doesn’t feel like an “opportunity”. I get it.

There is no way that you could have told me that my mom’s death and my husband’s betrayal were “opportunities’ – but I am beginning to see how it is possible and I want to share this perspective.

I am not sure when it occurred to me exactly, but I distinctly remember crying in my closet and having the realization that not only has everything in my life changed because of death & divorce but there is no way I will end up being the same person after all of this settles down. There was Taylor “before” death & divorce and now there is Taylor “after”. And those two people are VERY different. 

I can tell you with conviction that I am not the person I was before they left me.

I am still fundamentally the same, but there is a noticeable difference in how I respond to life that is so shocking for me. Sometimes I dont even recognize myself! HAHA And I’m not joking.

There are many times when I stop myself and think “who are you?!” (I should clarify that the changes are all positive. At least in my opinion. I am more patient, more kind, more understanding & forgiving. I dont have fear or anxiety like I used to. I say “yes” to things that I never would have before – like writing a blog or having a public Instagram account. Not joking “who am I”?!) 

Our experiences not only shape the foundation of our lives, but they also influence who we are! And when something fundamental is disrupted, it will undoubtedly change how you view life, love, and yourself!

People who win the lottery – that is life-changing & they are different!

People who have a child – that is life-changing & they are different!

People who have been extremely ill, homeless, or abused – that is life-changing & they are different!

Countless life-changing events occur to many of us. What I want to impart to you today is that if you know you are going to change, why not make sure to change in the best way possible?!

I know it’s not easy. Trust me. But none of it is. Feeling afraid and feeling hopeful require the same amount of mental energy – it’s up to us to decide which one we want to focus on.

Do you want to be a victim or a victor? 

We have experienced tremendous pain. That pain changes the core of who we are! But I want to challenge you to put that pain to good use. Turn it around and allow that pain to transform you into someone braver than you were before, kinder, wiser, softer, more empathetic. Pain has a way of sharpening edges but can also break down walls and allow light in!

God had to break me in order to remake me … and the same might be true for you too! Will you let him?

My prayer for you today is that you acknowledge that change might not be a completely bad thing. While your heart may be broken, your life unrecognizable; you might be scared, ill-equipped, or unsure of what to do next, I pray that you acknowledge that there is a possibility that on the other side of this disaster are blessings you could never imagine for yourself! 

God is the way-maker; give him your pain and trust him to take those life-changing moments and give you glory beyond your wildest dreams.

XO

Tay