Amidst the darkness, a place of no return, a place is prepared for me to dwell. I’m afraid. It seems wrong to be placed in such circumstances. Why would someone allow me to experience this? It’s dark. It’s cold. I don’t want to be here, but I cannot move. I cannot get out. There seems to be trouble all around me. This place is unfamiliar. What’s that noise? Who’s there? I need someone to get me out of here. Why here? Why now?

I was told that the process would produce purpose. But is this really necessary? I mean really!!! Talk about the valley of the shadows of death!!! Death is all around me and life is supposed to come from this?

The pain and the agony experienced through your life cycle will spring forth beauty- an everlasting harvest- so it is said. Nothing shall be able to hinder your forthcoming. Why is this change necessary to bring forth beauty? Can’t you just make me beautiful? Can’t you just create me to be what you need to be?

Why is it required of ME to change? Why was I selected? I was doing well! Why couldn’t well be left alone?

The change will render you unrecognizable. Forcibly and without any control, the process begins. You experience change unlike anything imaginable. Placed in the dark, unable to see; seated in unfamiliar areas. It’s cold, it’s damp, there is no light- only darkness seems to surround you daily. Then something begins to happen. It’s uncomfortable. Your current state cannot withstand the changes. In fact, who you used to be will not support who you will become. You are being pushed into uncharted territory. Cracking, breaking, stretching, pulling…what is that?

What is happening?

I resisted the change initially but now what I’m experiencing feels actually, amazing. What I have gone through has allowed me to push passed the darkness. In fact, it was because of the darkness that newness of life has sprung. Is that daylight? Ohhh Myyy Goshh!! I just felt something literally shift me and I had no control. What was that? It felt like the sweetest blow of a kiss. Was that the wind? Breathe on me again.

Wait! My vision feels blurred but I can see. What is this, light? The sun? It is so warm. It feels good.

You know what? This really did work out in my favor. Had I resisted the change, I would not have experienced the wind, the sun or these beautiful leaves and branches that now produce fruit for all to enjoy.

Yeah- I guess there is life after death.

What you just read is me imagining myself to be a seed – an apple seed. I spoke as if I were the seed, about to be planted into the ground to produce a harvest. This analogy is true of life. Life begins when death ends.

When a seed dies, it goes through many transformations to produce a harvest that sustains life.

When Jesus died, He succumbed to many hurtful situations to produce a harvest of new lives and eternal life for those who desire to eat of His fruit.

When you die to sin, you experience newness of life.

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” II Corinthians‬ ‭5:17‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

• When you disconnect yourself from the toxic relationship…
• When you break away from the drug or alcohol addiction…
• When you disconnect from toxic people who once told you that you were worthless…

You begin to see the beauty in your brokenness.

Death is not the end, it’s only the beginning.

“Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain.” John‬ ‭12:24‬ ‭NKJV‬‬