When God reminds you what He brought you out of
One afternoon, after lunch in the City, I decided to go for a walk — something I sometimes do when I want a bit of fresh air and quiet. I had my earphones in and was listening to For My Good by Maverick City Music and Todd Galberth.
The song had been playing for a few minutes, but if I’m honest, I was listening to it absently. You know when music is on, but you’re not really paying attention to the lyrics? That was me. And then it got to this part:
When I should’ve lost my mind
You showed up right on time
And carried me through the valley
All the way on the other side
And when pain tried to take my joy
That’s when I felt You more
Now I’ve gotta testify
God, You kept my heart alive
Oh yes, You did
I didn’t know if I’d survive
I gave up so many times
But You kept my heart alive
And in that exact moment, God definitely brought my attention back.
He was saying:
“Look at you.”
Look what I brought you out of.
Look at where you are now.
Look at the peace.
Look at the joy.
Look at the rest.
Because there was a time I was not here. There was a time I was deep in it.
The craziness. The heaviness. The emotional exhaustion. The inner turmoil.
The seasons where it felt like I could actually lose my mind.
And now? Now I’m out in the sun.
Walking in peace.
Smiling.
Breathing deeply.
Actually at rest.
Not because anyone is watching. Not because I’m pretending. Not because I’ve mastered life.
But because God kept me.
And in that moment, I felt that truth so deeply. Not just as a nice thought. But as evidence.
When God Brings You Out, You Know It
There are some things only you and God know you survived.
Some people will only ever see the version of you that kept showing up.
The version that kept working.
Kept travelling.
Kept replying messages and in some instances did not reply messages.
Kept smiling.
Kept being present.
Kept being different things to different people, as we all are in life.
But inside? Deep pain.
And that is what made that moment hit so hard.
Because God was not reminding me of a random struggle. He was reminding me of a place I genuinely did not know how I would come out of.
A place where I was still holding on to Him… while also quietly frustrated. A place where I was praying, but hurting. Trusting, but tired.
Still showing up on the outside, but internally very worn down.
And I’m not talking about a few hard weeks.
I’m talking about a dark season. A very dark season.
One I truly would not wish on anyone.
When You Almost Lose Yourself
There were days where I was just waiting for prayers to start so I could steady my heart.
Days where I needed the presence of God just to calm what felt unsettled inside me.
And one thing I have come to know deeply through all of this is:
God can be trusted.
Not because everything made sense.
Not because I enjoyed the process.
Not because I came out untouched.
But because if God could bring me through that place, then He can be trusted with every place that feels impossible.
Psalm 34:18 says: “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”
And that verse is not just poetic to me. It is real. Because God was close.
Even in the places where I felt like I was barely holding on.
Even in the places where I did not know how to explain what I was carrying.
Even in the places where all I could do was survive one day at a time.
He was there.
He Kept My Heart Alive
That lyric stayed with me because it was painfully true:
I didn’t know if I’d survive… but You kept my heart alive.
And that is exactly what God did.
Because there were moments where life was still moving around me, but inside, I felt so worn down. And yet somehow, He did not let me completely collapse. He kept something alive in me.
Hope.
Faith.
A willingness to keep going.
A desire to still find Him.
A hunger to still hear Him for myself.
And that matters. Because sometimes the testimony is not: “I was never shaken.”
Sometimes the testimony is: “I should have completely fallen apart, but God preserved me.”
That is still a miracle.
That is still the hand of God.
That is still His faithfulness.
Nothing Is Wasted in God’s Hands
One of the biggest things this season has taught me is this:
Nothing is wasted in God’s hands.
Nothing.
Not the tears.
Not the confusion.
Not the pain.
Not the silence.
Not the parts of you that felt stretched beyond what you thought you could carry.
None of it is wasted.
Romans 8:28 says: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.”
Closing Thought
There’s a difference between saying “God is good” because it sounds nice and saying “God is good” because He carried you through a place that should have broken you.
I can now testify: There were days I didn’t know how I’d survive.
Seasons where I smiled outside and felt deep pain inside.
But here I am.
Still standing.
Still breathing.
Still able to testify.
Because God kept me.
Closing Prayer
Father, Thank You for being the God who keeps us.
Thank You for carrying me when I couldn’t carry myself.
Thank You for preserving my heart in places that should have broken me.
Thank You that nothing is wasted in Your hands.
Thank You that even in dark seasons, You are present, faithful, and working.
Help me never forget what You have brought me through.
And for anyone reading this in a dark place, remind them that if they let Your light in, You will bring them out. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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