I know what it's like to be lost.
I was once the girl who prayed every day. I've been in Catholic school nearly all of my life. I went to every retreat possible. I was continuously invited to be in leadership positions within my Church. I have worked and attended endless retreats and religious experiences. I was the girl who was always on her feet, always smiling, always singing- my heart was on fire for Christ.
Somewhere along the way, my flame died down. I don't really know when it happened. I think sometime during my first semester of college, I noticed a change in my faith. I don't want to blame college for doing this to me, because I truly feel it was by my own doing.
I stared to give up.
Relationships take time, communication, trust, support. Recently in my life, many of my relationships have suffered. I've endured a lot of growth and change recently. It's been hard to balance my life. Every day seems to be a balancing act for me and it's just been so difficult.
I started to give up on the most important relationship of all- my relationship with Christ.
Although I am not the same Christian I was a few years ago, God speaks to me today and most every day. He speaks to me in so many ways. He is continuously showing me His love. This gives me faith and makes me hopeful about my growing relationship with the Lord.
So to the Christian woman who has lost her way, here's what I have to say to you:
Come back to Christ. No matter how long it takes you. Find someone in your life to hold you accountable. Start talking to God again. Do everything at your own pace- don't force it.
Learn to see and feel God's love every day. Remember the reasons why you fell in love with God in the first place. Look around you and see the numerous blessings that come from Him alone.
Don't be afraid. There is nothing we can do to make God love us any more or any less than He already does. Don't be afraid to come back to Him, even though you have lost your way.
Know that just because you may be lost, God's love for you has never diminished. We are human beings. We have a great God who loves us, even when we lose our way. He never stops loving us. With our earthly relationships, it's easy to stop "loving" someone. People wrong us and hurt us and leave us; making us never want to love or trust them again. However, God is so much greater than that because He loves you infinitely and hopes and prays every day that you'll come home.
God isn't done with you yet. He has so many plans for you and your life. You just need to trust Him. I know it isn't easy, but I promise it will be worth it.
Like I said, I know what it's like to be lost. In a way, I am lost. I mourn the Christian woman I once was. I aspire to be the same woman again, or maybe even become a better Christian woman.
"Sometimes following your path means: getting lost, being stuck, going backwards, forging ahead, blazing your own trail, and eventually... making your way home."
