It starts with one restless toss and turn, then another, until you finally surrender. You slip quietly out of bed, shuffle toward the coffee pot, and stand in the stillness of your kitchen, wondering why you were awakened so early.
This morning, I was awake before 4:30 a.m. Not only was I awake, but I had the worst hunger pains. I had eaten dinner the night before, yet I felt as though I could have emptied the entire pantry. As the coffee brewed, I made myself a country ham breakfast sandwich. While standing there in the quiet, I felt an overwhelming urge to reach for my Bible.
I walked quietly back to my bedroom where, beside my bed, sat my Bible and a small devotional book my husband gave me for my birthday. It is called 100 Days of Strength for Women, a little pocket-sized book he found somewhere during his shopping that day. Looking at it reminded me how thoughtful he is and how God often uses the simplest gifts to draw us closer to Him.
I sat down in the living room with my breakfast, a cup of coffee, and the peaceful silence of the morning. I opened the devotional, and that day’s reading was about finding security in God’s arms. It referenced Psalm 16, and the words spoke directly to my heart.
I don’t believe God woke me up that early by accident. I believe He knew exactly what I needed. Before the demands of the day, before the worries and distractions, He gently called me to rest in His presence and to remember that no matter what I face, I am safely held in the palm of His hands.
I often write about my life, my journey, and more recently, the health challenges I have faced and continue to face. Some days are better than others. The weeks are often unpredictable, and there are moments when I wonder what tomorrow will bring. But through every uncertainty, one truth never changes: God loves me, and He has a purpose for my life, even in the middle of hardship.
Have you ever felt like you just can’t seem to get ahead? Or that life keeps knocking you down and every time you stand back up, only to get knocked down again? Maybe you’re doing everything you know to do, yet it still feels like it isn’t enough.
Finding strength in life’s hardest seasons is not easy. Trust me, I know, and maybe you know it too! It requires courage, resilience, perseverance, and faith. Some days, your own thoughts will try to convince you that giving up would be easier than continuing to fight. But choosing to keep going, to trust God even when nothing makes sense, is one of the most faithful things we can do.
Friend, if that is where you are today, I want you to know something.
You are not alone.
You may feel lonely. You may feel exhausted. You may wonder if anyone truly understands the weight you’re carrying. I have felt those emotions too. But through every season of my own life, I have learned this: God has never left me. Not once.
Our forever Friend loves us without conditions, without judgment, and without shame. His love isn’t dependent on how well we perform or how perfectly we live. It is constant, faithful, and unwavering. He is present in every tear, every unanswered prayer, every doctor’s appointment, every sleepless night, and every victory we almost overlooked.
Sometimes people ask, “How is that possible?”
It is possible because of Jesus Christ.
God gave His only Son so that we could have hope, forgiveness, and eternal life. Jesus willingly endured unimaginable suffering, shedding His blood and ultimately giving His life on the cross for our salvation. Whenever I stop to think about that sacrifice, I am overwhelmed.
I often wonder about those moments in the Garden of Gethsemane as Jesus prayed to His Father. He knew what was coming. He experienced sorrow so deep that Scripture tells us His sweat became like drops of blood. Yet even in His anguish, He prayed, “Not My will, but Yours be done.”
What incredible trust. Do you trust anyone like that? Because of His obedience, we have the promise of salvation, the security of His love, and the hope of eternal life for everyone who places their faith in Him. Our walk with Christ is exactly that, a journey.
No two stories are identical. Each of us comes to know Him differently. We experience His grace in different seasons and through different circumstances. Yet we are all invited into the same relationship with the same loving Father who desires to spend eternity with His children.
This morning, I felt ashamed that I do not lean on God enough but at the same time, God also convicted my own heart. I felt convicted that I don’t open my Bible every day and that it sometimes collects dust. I thought about how inconsistent my prayer life can be, even though I do pray. It wasn’t a feeling of condemnation. It was an invitation. An invitation to come closer.
I don’t believe God looks at me with anger when I fall short. Instead, I believe He lovingly waits for me to draw near again. Like any good Father, He delights when His children seek Him. He rejoices in our obedience, not because He needs anything from us, but because He knows that walking with Him is where we find true peace.
Growing in faith isn’t always easy. It takes intentionality. It takes surrender. It takes choosing Him again and again, and again and again, even when life feels overwhelming. I am trying every day and maybe that’s where grace meets us, not in perfection, but in our willingness to keep turning back to Him.
My wake-up call this morning wasn’t really about being hungry, my aching body, or losing a few hours of sleep.
It was a spiritual wake-up call.
God reminded me that while I spend so much time trying to manage my circumstances, my greatest need is simply to spend more time with Him. To trust Him more deeply. To read His Word more faithfully. To pray more consistently. To strengthen my relationship with Jesus, not out of obligation, but out of love.
Sometimes the greatest blessings don’t come wrapped in comfort. Sometimes they come in the quiet moments before sunrise, when the world is still asleep and God gently whispers to our hearts. This morning, I believe He was simply saying, “Come spend time with Me.” And I am so thankful that I listened.
If you have made it to the end of this post, thank you. Thank you for taking the time to read my personal story, for your encouragement, your support, and, if you chose to share it with someone else, thank you for that as well.
Writing about my personal life isn’t always easy. It requires vulnerability, honesty, and faith. I choose to share my journey because I hope it reminds someone that they are not alone and that God is faithful, even in our hardest seasons. Every challenge I’ve faced has become another opportunity to witness His grace, His strength, and His unfailing love.
I couldn’t have made it through any of it without Him, and if my story points even one person closer to Jesus, then every word has been worth writing.
God bless you, and thank you for walking this journey with me.
Peace, Love & Happiness
Christian ♥
The Sun Will Set To Rise 