Stepping into the Next…

Stepping Into the Next…5-7-25

I heard a phrase a couple of days ago that went something like this: "Get to stepping into the next and putting away what was." In some respects, this is so true. In my blog, when I refer to my Momma, I refer to my adopted Momma. She would always say, "Don't wallow in it." I had a gentleman tell me in a roundabout way that I needed to get over what had happened as a child and move on. However, events, traumas, and struggles define our character moving forward. How we handle these events can become a life-changing moment and propel us forward in one of two ways. We will move on and become stronger. Our character will grow in grace and knowledge. Or, we will move on and become absorbed in our afflictions and pain, so that we use those as excuses for our present behavior and circumstances.

When we are tested by fire, or we go through struggles, using those trials, struggles, and valleys to grow in God, is learning to put our trust in Him. Paul sat in prison for a long time. The exact time varies depending on which account or commentary you read. One commentary I read said a total of about 4 to 5 years. Acts 16:22-25 tells the account of Paul and Silas being beaten severely and thrown into jail. "The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten with rods. After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully. When he received these orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks. About midnight, Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them." Now, Paul didn't sit in jail and wallow. He sang. He sang, testified, preached, and told everyone during his prison time about Jesus. You see, Paul used his afflictions, his persecutions, and his struggles to glorify God. He used them to continue the ministry and purpose that God had for him.

For years, I only told a handful of people what had happened to me growing up. I didn't share that story. I wasn't open about the beating, starvation, mental and physical abuse, and trafficking. I couldn't let anyone know that about me. What would they think? But by sharing our story, we allow others to see how God has worked throughout our lives. It isn't wallowing when we share snippets from our past that make us who we are. We become human in a very fake, pretentious world. It isn't wallowing when we use this as a testimony of God's grace and goodness. For years, I didn't understand that. My hands can tell much more than my mouth can. I sometimes struggle with putting into words what life was before.

There is a lady in our church who taught both my boys in school. She hasn't been able to come to church as much in the past few years because of an ailing husband who passed away recently. She shared a testimony about her sister who does pottery. In that testimony, she talked about the broken pieces and not putting those away. When something is precious to us and is broken, we don't throw it away. How much more precious to God are we than a broken piece of pottery? Yet, He doesn't throw us away. He holds us through the fire, loves our cracks and imperfections, and strengthens us in His grace and mercy. We also don't throw away the lessons that we learn through the fire. We don't put aside the acknowledgement of the fire that changes us. As I get older, I find myself doing things I wasn't able to do before, like taking the time and sharing my story. I will step into the next, but I will not put away what was. Through that, I am Finding-my-voice to glorify God.

1 Peter 1:6-7, "In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory, and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed."