I love Tolkien’s ‘The Lord of the Rings’. I just love it. I love the book and I love the movie trilogy.

There is a quote that says: ‘How do you pick up the threads of an old life? How do you go on, when in your heart, you begin to understand, there is no going back? There are some things that time cannot mend. Some hurts that go too deep… that have taken hold’

Listen to Frodo speak those words in ‘The Return of the King’.

His speech resonates deeply within me… it bring me to tears. And, often, I believe them. I do.

But, we are told otherwise. We are told that God binds up the brokenhearted, turns ashes into beauty and that He turns mourning into dancing.

We all have hurts… some so very deep that we think we’ll never get past the pain. But, God promises otherwise and that is where Faith comes in. I have a friend who has suffered one of the worst losses imaginable this year… the death of his little girl. But, he said something to me recently that really made me think about faith… he believed that faith is just getting up and taking that next step… one foot in front of the other, even when breathing hurts. Even when the truth about God binding up the broken-hearted seems unfathomable. I’ve kept those words in my heart… I know it was God speaking to me through him.

Reminds me of the end of ‘Lord of the Rings’ when Frodo and Sam take those last exhausted steps in completing their part in defeating the evil plaguing Middle Earth. Sam had to carry Frodo those last steps much like Jesus has to carry us at times of hurt and loss.

Yes, we all hurt, and wounds can run deep, and surely, the scars will remain. But, with each scar left over by hurt, there is an opportunity to garner strength, courage, resilience and hope. And truly the hurts may run too deep… they may have lasting affects, but the hope lies in what’s to come for all who speak the name of Jesus.

The happily ever after is yet to come. Until then, we journey on… much like Frodo and Sam… carrying each other at times, loving each other and never, ever giving up hope… because joy WILL come in the morning.

I have faith…

I have hope…

I don’t want the threads of an old life… I prefer to head towards the completion of God’s beautiful tapestry of restoration. And I’m grateful for my part in that story… for my thread… even if it hurts sometimes.