Words of Encouragement

The past year has been rough for me. For those of you who don’t know, I went through a break up. The beginning of the year was spent grieving the loss of the love of my life, his wonderful family, and all my dreams for our future.

It really was a loss, because I handle break ups by pretending that person doesn’t exist — completely exiling them from my life. It’s a defense mechanism I use. It’s the only way I know how to diminish the pain — even if it’s just a little bit. I kept praying for God to make my feelings for him fade, but it was a prayer God never answered. I prayed for healing, comfort and peace — all things God did answer eventually.

I am now completely out of that season of sorrow. God has transitioned me into a season of joy. And I’m so incredibly grateful.

So the reason I’m writing this post is to share some things that got me through that season of sorrow. I know there are people out there who are in their own times of sorrow, or just having a rough year of waiting or questioning or struggling. I want to encourage you with these words that encouraged me.

These are words of encouragement I read or came across during this past year — things that comforted and strengthened my heart. I hope they can do the same for yours.

Words of Encouragement for the Broken

In the days to come, you will understand this. -Jeremiah 30:24

I will turn their mourning into gladness; I will give them comfort and joy instead of sorrow. -Jeremiah 31:13

Inside me is a weak heart, but behind it is a strong God.

Beautiful pictures are developed from negatives in a dark room.

Just because something isn’t happening for you right now doesn’t mean that it will never happen.

The only way to make the memories fade is by creating new ones. Healing can only happen when you keep living.

The Lord gives strength to His people; the Lord blesses His people with peace. -Psalm 29:11

Relationships are like glass. Sometimes it is better to leave them broken than hurt yourself trying to put it back together.

Rather than resent your many single hours, embrace them as a gift from God — a package that contains opportunities to serve Him that are limited only by your own self-pity and lack of obedience. -Lady in Waiting

What if God’s plan for pain isn’t for you to skip it; we need the nightmare to appreciate not being in it.

Consider it all joy, my brothers and sisters, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. -James 1:2-4

Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill His promises to her! -Luke 1:45

We must move from asking God to take care of the things that break our hearts to praying about the things that are breaking His heart. -Margaret Gibb

If God keeps closing doors, it is because He loves you too much to let you walk through the wrong one.

You can be fully forgiven and cleansed by Christ, but damaged emotions take time to heal. -Lady in Waiting

So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to preserve so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised. -Hebrews 10:35-26

Those were just a few of the things that helped me through my season of sorrow. There are tons of Bible verses, cards, and other quotes that encouraged me during that time. But I wanted to share these with you.

I’ve told you before about how God was transitioning my season of sorrow into a season of joy. In my next post, I will be sharing a story of restoration — a story that I am beyond grateful for. I can’t wait to tell you all about how amazing God is.

Until then, please rest in these words of encouragement. Keep holding on, your transition is coming. The clouds will part. The sunshine will break through, and before you know it you will be in a season of joy — unspeakable, heart-filling joy.

For more words of encouragement, follow my Pinterest board here.