Have you walked through an intensely difficult time in your life, when your position, your reputation, your identity was torn away? Have you been rejected and devastated?
Steve and I were talking today about a time in my life like that. It’s been many years, but it is still hard to talk about, even with him. The wounds from it are deep and tender. 
It’s funny how a stretch of frigid days when our routine is derailed can give us room to slow down for good, deep, hard conversations. It’s a mini-picture of the greater truth: God knows exactly what we need, when we need it. 
I’m thankful for a man who’s willing to pull me into discussions I resist, to challenge me to think deep thoughts about seasons I’d rather leave in the past. He loves me enough to gently probe the uncomfortable and help me on this impossibly long road of healing, to point me to God’s truth so I can have real perspective. He loves me enough to have hauled me out of self-pity many times over the years, pointing me to reality. 
I’m at the point where I can look back and see many good things that have come out of that season of my life, but by far, the one we talked about today is the most precious. Through that time, I slowly, painfully began learning heart-lessons about finding my identity in Christ, not in serving others or in pleasing people I love, not in reputation or secure circumstances. 
I am learning the truth that devastating circumstances are sometimes necessary for real transformation.