Forward motion.

  Sometimes I find it hard to get over things. I mean seriously, I grab onto things that happen in the past. I grab on to them and go "no no no no no, that didn't go well. Do over. DO OVER!" I grab on to things that went great, because I think I'll never have anything as good as what I had then.

  What am I left with at the end of all my struggles? Nothing, because those things are gone, and all my passion, energy and faith stayed there, where I left them.

This scripture speaks pretty powerfully to my situation. 

Romans 8:18
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.

  This scripture is amazing and encouraging, but it's made even more relevant to me (and a little ironic) in that I actually create my own suffering.
  By gripping the past tight, and not leaving room for God to do his thing, I'm creating my own suffering and saying to God, "I don't believe in what you have for me in the future."

  Do I seriously not think that God is using my situation? If I don't believe in what he's doing now and in my future, how can I possibly claim to others that he was active in my past?

  It's not about whether things that went good or bad in my past were my fault, or anyone else's fault. They happened, and God doesn't tell us he's going to make life easy, or fix everything, or give us what we want (and what we probably like to think is best).

  Not only is it remarkably difficult to place blame on someone and be satisfied with that, but it's not our place to try to dictate the fates and decisions of others.

Life sucks sometimes. C'est la vie. 
Coming to terms with that, and finding the good in the mess, is a beautiful thing. 
Give me your thoughts in the comments!

   Kyle Jenkins 3SN

///the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.///