From Rubble To Purpose 💕

From the time I was 18 years old, I moved 16 different times and every move required rebuilding. No, I wasn't in the military, and I didn't come from a military family. I was hoping that each new place would bring something different—that what I was searching for would finally be found.

But it wasn't until that last move that I began to learn how to rebuild on the only foundation that will ever last: Jesus Christ.

Now, I'm not saying I didn't have Jesus during those other moves because I did. But if I'm being honest, I often kept Him tucked away in my back pocket, pulling Him out only when I needed Him. Then life put me in a situation that shook me so deeply, humbled me so completely, that I had no choice but to turn to God—not casually, not occasionally, but wholeheartedly. I sought Him with everything I had because I finally realized something: I wasn't strong enough on my own.

And it makes me wonder—if it weren't for those moments when we are weak, would we ever truly seek Him? Or would we continue allowing pride to convince us that we're strong enough, independent enough, capable enough on our own?

The world constantly tells us to be self-sufficient. It celebrates the idea that we don't need anyone. But eventually, life has a way of exposing the limits of our own strength.

For many years, I never understood the trials I faced. I was the person who would ask, "Why me? I'm a good person. Why do I deserve this? Why am I going through this?"

I couldn't see the purpose in the pain. But recently, God gave me a glimpse of the answer.

My son and I met a young woman. We struck up a conversation, and as she shared her story, I realized something incredible. She was describing a season of her life that was almost identical to one I had walked through years before.

As she talked, the words of encouragement came so naturally. I knew what she was feeling. I knew the fears, the questions, the hurt, and the uncertainty because I had lived it myself.

I was able to encourage her, I embraced her and whispered a quite prayer, pointed to my son in reference and remind her that her story wasn't over. After we parted ways, my son looked at me and said, "Mom, it was almost like she was telling part of your story right back to you."

The moment he said those words, something clicked.

I felt a deep appreciation for those dark seasons I had spent years not understanding the why behind them.

In that moment, I realized that God had not wasted a single tear, a single heartbreak, or a single trial.

The very places where I had once experienced pain had become places where God could now use me to bring comfort, encouragement, and hope to someone else. I found myself thanking God.

Thank You for every moment I thought was breaking me.

Because if those moments can be used to help someone else feel seen, encouraged, understood, and loved, then every bit of it was worth it.

What once felt like rubble had become part of the foundation God was building all along.

So let me ask you a question:

What are you building your foundation on?

Better yet, who is building your foundation?

Are you building on the truth of God's Word?

Or are you building on worldly desires, personal ambitions, past wounds, disappointments, and hurts?

Scripture instructs us to be wise builders. Our building must be intentional because one day our work will be revealed for what it truly is. Paul tells us that "the Day will bring it to light." It will be tested by fire, and that fire will reveal the quality of each person's work.

Trials reveal our builder.

Trials reveal our foundation.

They expose what—or who—has been shaping us all along.

When pressure comes, the truth rises to the surface.

Things built on God's truth, obedience, surrender, and faithfulness will remain standing. But things built on pride, selfish ambition, worldly comfort, or unstable foundations will eventually be swept away like a house built on sand.

Jesus taught that the wise man hears the Word of God and puts it into practice. He doesn't become merely a hearer of the Word but a doer. And when trials come, he doesn't run to the counterfeit comforts of the world—the very things that feed the flesh while strengthening our weaknesses.

I know because that's exactly what I did.

I searched for a love that could only be found in Jesus.

I searched for security, comfort, peace, and validation in people, believing someone else could give me what only God could provide.

But what I eventually discovered was that the love, security, comfort, and acceptance I had spent years chasing were found in Him all along.

And I'll be honest—that was hard for me to understand.

You can't physically see it. You can't touch it. It's not tangible the way the world is. Sometimes that makes it difficult to believe it's really there. But I'm here to tell you that no matter how unbelievable it may sound, it is true.

Everything you're searching for is found in Him.

I had to learn to turn to God for my strength, my wisdom, my peace, and my endurance.

I spend years perfecting running. This time I made a choice to run toward the storm rather than away from it.

Did you know that when a storm comes, most birds flee from it? But an eagle does something different. It flies directly into the storm. It catches the updraft created by the wind and uses it to rise higher above the storm itself. Instead of fighting the storm, the eagle allows it to lift it.

Trials can work the same way.

And once that revelation comes—once you see who has truly been building your life—you can make the necessary adjustments.

So I'll leave you with this:

Who is building your foundation?

Is Jesus shaping and strengthening you through truth, obedience, and surrender?

Or are the things of this world strengthening the very weaknesses God is trying to heal?

Because when the storms come—and they will—the foundation will tell the story.

And if you're standing in the middle of a pile of rubble today, don't lose heart. God is a master builder. He doesn't waste pain. He doesn't waste tears. He doesn't waste broken pieces. He uses them just as I shared with you above.

Place those pieces in His hands and let Him rebuild....... it's worth it.