The hard places where contempt grows points us to the deeper meaning of marriage. One of God’s intents is to use your marriage to bring his gospel healing to our deepest wounds. He wants to usher the Kingdom into your life through the vehicle of your marriage. What is required of us is the willingness to risk and be vulnerable— which is faith.

Israel’s journey reminds us that God never forgets His sojourning people. He watches over them, upholds them, and guides them according to His promises. To be a sojourner under the care of God is not to be forsaken—it is to be led by the hand of the One who brings His people home.

Your life story matters—not just the facts, but the emotional weight and meaning you’ve assigned to it. So work with a counselor, therapist, soul care provider who believes that your past shapes your present, and who can help you make sense of that story.

By his grace, we are able to rewrite our narratives! Not by ignoring the past, or downplaying the pain, but by naming the brokenness before the face of the Father. As we encounter God in our past and present stories, the facts of our lives begin to shift in meaning. Strongholds are broken, freedom is found. And one of the most powerful tools God uses in this redemptive process is group work.

The chapter begins with,

 “A year of kindness toward your own heart will take you further on the healing journey than a year of weekly therapy with your dream therapist.” - Adam Young

This stopped me in my tracks. Think about the implications of that statement.