Life doesn't always go as planned.
Maybe a dream slipped away, maybe a relationship ended,
maybe the life you thought you'd have just never happened.
And while gratitude for what you do have is important,
it doesn't mean you can't grieve what you didn't get.
Loss doesn't only come in the form of death.
It can look like missed opportunities, closed doors,
or paths you were never able to take.
And that grief is real.
You don't have to minimize it or rush past it.
Let yourself feel the sadness, the disappointment,
or even the anger,
because ignoring our emotions won't make them disappear.
The only way through them is through them.
You're allowed to wish things had turned out differently
and still trust that God has something good ahead.
Both can be true and both belong.
But here's what I want you to remember.
Your story isn't over because God's not done writing it.
The chapters you didn't get to live
don't cancel out the beautiful ones still to come.
New dreams can be built and new joy will rise.
God can redeem what feels wasted.
He will take the broken pieces
and make something breathtaking.
Your life may not look like you expected,
but that doesn't mean it's less valuable or less sacred.
It's not too late.
You haven't missed it.
You are still right on time
for everything God has planned for you.
So take a deep breath,
grieve what was lost,
and then lift your eyes
because God is still doing something new in you.