Just months after getting married, my wife and I entered a season we would never wish upon anyone. 3 months into our marriage, I was rejected from my dream job. Shortly after, we had a death in the family, a loved one received a cancer diagnosis, and Leanna was diagnosed with an illness causing chronic pain. I would go on to receive two more rejections from my dream job. I started working at a fast food restaurant just so we could make end’s meet.
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I started slipping into depression, faced anxiety, and struggled with my identity. I began resenting anyone who ever hurt me. I built up walls so I wouldn’t have to feel pain anymore. My wife began experiencing panic attacks. Through our darkest valley we faced one bad wave after another, and it felt like we were drowning. We feared our unknown future.
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But God never left us. We simultaneously chose to wrestle with our pain and doubt while we praised Him. We didn’t give up on Him, nor did we give up on each other. God never says we won’t go through valleys, but He does promise that we’ll never go through them alone. He is our Good Shepherd. Though our circumstances still haven’t changed, we’ve learned to shift our perspective. We are not victims—we are overcomers. We are not in need—we have more than enough. We are not crushed because it is God who strengthens us. And even though we still may not understand God’s plans, we are choosing to trust His character.
