A lot of grief comes from comparing reality to the life we thought we’d be living by now.

God is asking you to trust that a different path does not mean a ruined story.

New Voicemail from God — 5:14 AM

“I know this wasn’t the plan.

They were going to arrive through your trust.

– Jacqueline Whitney

I know you imagined this chapter differently. You thought the relationship would last. You thought the door would open. You thought by now you would be somewhere else entirely.

And if you’re honest, part of your grief is not just about what happened. It’s about what you expected to happen. I know.

Humans make plans because they want certainty. They want reassurance that the future will unfold in a way that makes sense. But some of the most important parts of your life were never going to arrive through your plans. They were going to arrive through your trust.

No, this wasn’t the path you would have chosen. But I also know what this chapter is producing inside of you. So keep going. Surrender.

This wasn’t the plan. But your story is not ruined because it unfolded differently than you expected. I promise.”

Jacqueline Whitney is the author Held: A 50 Day Devotional For Parents and All That You Deserve.