Joy and loss are both possibilities on our journey. Guarding against one because we fear the other is not truly living. The only way I can continue to move forward is trusting in the truth of who God says he is and whose he says I am. The only way to push fear aside is with the hope I have in Christ.

I believe his promises to me. I believe He is good. I believe that his love for me is fierce. I believe that he will waste none of my pain and will use it to make me stronger for the rest of my journey. And I believe that he is still writing my story, complete with beautiful chapters of joy.

The thing about jealousy is its power to hide blessings. Like a black thundercloud moving in, blocking the warmth and light of the good right in front of us.

And the thing about looking back and wanting what WAS is that it's jealousy in its ugliest form, not just hiding the blessing of our present but holding us back from moving forward.