This is not the end! You may have thought throughout this season, “This is the end of my story,” or, “I don’t have any hope from here.” Although your thoughts and emotions can feel like a burden at times, those days will shorten and God’s Word reminds us that He still has a plan for our future. Jeremiah 29:11 says, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” This verse reminds you that God is more powerful than your thoughts or circumstances. God has GOOD things in store for you and the present things you are facing are NOT the end.

Now that we have gone over those truth statements, you might be wondering what are some ways I can remember them even when my thoughts are swirling or I am in the midst of despair? It is more simple than you think; write them down and say those truths out loud. We need to make every effort to win the war in our mind, to fight the thoughts that plague us and doubt God’s ability to take what the enemy meant for evil and use it for our good. If you are too overwhelmed to even write or think about a more specific encouragement for yourself, ask a friend! Invite others into your healing process who are going to point you towards Christ and pick you up when you are feeling the heaviness of what you’re facing. The thing to remember is that the enemy does not have new tactics. He wants to conquer your thought life by making you feel isolated, live in dread, and expect the worst by not trusting God’s best. But we know that we have victory in Christ!

Take some time today to write down the truth statements above and reflect on them. Your challenge this week is to write down 5 more encouraging statements specifically geared toward your unique story and to pray and thank God for what is next, even if you have not seen that “next” yet.