I am always tempted to choose words that are encompassed in comfort. On the other hand, God chooses words saturated in uneasiness, because if we become complacent, we tend to become lazy, distant, and stagnant. So, His words for me have always been tinged with discomfort for the purpose of spiritual and practical development.

It is important to say healthy goodbyes to hard things and to properly grieve the losses and disappointments of the past year. It is necessary to name the pain and permit yourself time to question and lament. Yet, in the same space, we must also recognize that we are not betrayed or forgotten by our Lord.