"Renewed by Grace: A Journey of Faith, Healing, and New Beginnings" MY STORY

Renewed by Grace: A Journey of Faith, Healing, and New Beginnings "MY STORY"

There was a time in my life when everything seemed to fall apart. I found myself questioning everything I thought I knew, especially myself. Was I still worthy? Was I still of any value to God or to anyone else? Was I competent? Could God still use me for His Kingdom after everything I had been through—divorce, abuse, cancer, and a seemingly endless season of pain and doubt?

I began to wonder if I had missed my opportunity to fulfill God's purpose for my life. I asked myself: Does God still see me as His child? Does He still love me? I couldn’t even find the love for myself that I so desperately needed, and I couldn’t understand why He would love me in my brokenness. But in the midst of all my questioning, He gently and tenderly reminded me that His love for me never changed.

God had known me long before I even knew myself. He had loved me before I was even formed. And even in my deepest pain and brokenness, He saw me, loved me, and was ready to restore me. One scripture that carried me through this season was Jeremiah 1:5, which says, “Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you; before you were born, I set you apart…”

God already knew every hurt, every struggle, every moment of doubt I would face. He knew the battles I would fight, and He knew that I would emerge victorious in Him. Even when I couldn’t see my worth or His plan, He never stopped loving me, and He never stopped believing in me.

When I thought my time had passed, when I thought I was too old to start over, He led me to Joel 2:25, where He says, “I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten…” The years I had wasted, the years I thought were lost to regret and time, were not beyond His ability to redeem. I had listened to the world’s voice, the voice that told me my worth had an expiration date. But God reminded me that He transcends time—He is not limited by age, circumstance, or any human definition of “too late.”

Through His Word, He showed me that He would return to me the years I thought were gone forever. What I had seen as irredeemable, He was preparing to restore. The moments I had wasted, the dreams I thought had died, He was breathing new life into them. In Psalm 37:4, He assures us, “Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.” As a loving Father, He doesn’t just restore what we think is impossible to restore; He goes above and beyond, giving us the desires of our hearts when we trust Him.

Through all of my struggles—through the darkness of doubt, the storm of fear, and the weight of my past—God showed me that He never forgot me. He never stopped holding my hand, walking beside me, and leading me through the pain. As I surrendered my brokenness to Him, He healed me, piece by piece, and began to renew my spirit.

Today, I stand here, not as the person I once was, but as someone who has been transformed by His grace. I’ve learned that no matter how difficult life gets, no matter how much we question ourselves or our worth, God’s love remains unwavering. Romans 8:28 tells us, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

In His perfect timing, He is using my story—my journey of faith, healing, and restoration—to remind others that it is never too late. It’s never too late to walk in your purpose. It’s never too late to heal. It’s never too late to embrace the grace and love of God.

If you are in a season of doubt, of questioning, or of pain, I want to remind you today: God sees you. He knows you. He loves you, and He is not finished with you. Just like He restored me, He is able and willing to restore you. He will redeem what was lost and give you back the years the enemy tried to steal. The time you think has passed is not wasted in His eyes.

I am living proof that it’s never too late to be renewed by His grace. And neither is it for you. The journey may be long, and the healing process may take time, but through faith, resilience, and His love, you too can start again and walk in the new beginnings He has already planned for you.

Let this be a reminder to us all: His grace is greater than our mistakes, His love is stronger than our doubts, and His restoration is more powerful than the things that have broken us. Keep holding on to Him. He is faithful, and He is always with you.

Isaiah 40:31 says, “But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” Let this be your declaration today—strength is on the way, and new beginnings are right around the corner.

-Monique N.