I Made It Through 2025!
I Made It by Cain
My 2025 song of the year. Not a fight song but one of rally and redemption. The first time I heard this song I was speechless. I could have written the words myself, but instead the current season of my life was being spelled out by a trio of siblings I’ve never met. The words stuck me immediately and continued to saturate my soul as I turned up the volume in my car. Some, but not all of the vulnerable lyrics:
Been a long year, cried some hard tears, on some dark nights…
Tried to pray through, nothing seemed to make the wrongs right…
I’m coming out the other side stronger
One foot in front of the other
Hands still raising, heart still praising
I made it, I made it, I made it!
Through the storms the hell and high water
I never left the hands of my Father
Lungs still breathing, thank you, Jesus
I made it, I made it, I made it!
I made it through more than I thought that I could
I’ve walked through the worst, but it worked for my good
It’s a miracle that I can stand here and say,
I made it, I made it, I made it!
It’s been a year… one where I’d love to forget the hurt but will forever remember the lessons learned and the life sustaining bonds gained. So many blessings from my sufferings, lighting the way to perseverance, character and HOPE.
I thought my years thus far had refined an infallible inner core and an unbreakable outer shell, but I found myself broken in every way possible. I no longer recognized the person in the mirror. I thought I had a personal relationship with Jesus, but nothing draws you closer to the author and perfecter of your faith than seeing no way out, surrendering control and still surviving.
Insights from 2025…
ALWAYS trust your gut
NEVER sell your soul because you want something to be true
Listen, truly hear, when a friend says something doesn’t feel right
Share the hard stuff, not only what’s easy
Bear one another’s burdens
Allow yourself to cry, ugly and hard
Always greet tears with safety
Take responsibility for your actions
Brutal honesty is healthier than quiet protection
Trust can be misused for manipulation
Love people in their own language
Hurt people don’t always hurt people – Hurt people can choose to become healers
When you find someone in your heart, tell them and pray for them
Do not ask how you can help if you have no intention in following through with the answer
Intentional hurt is like murder verses manslaughter
Fight, flight and freeze are real neurological responses, even once the threat is gone
Living on high alert is exhausting
Give yourself compassion, fear is normal but also a learned response
Tell your story but don’t forget to attach your feelings along the way
Ask God what he’s trying to teach you, wait and listen for His response
There are some things I will never comprehend
A fake friend with ulterior motives is worse than no friends at all
Disdain is the feeling that someone is unworthy of consideration. NO ONE should fall into this category
The right therapist is worth every penny
Find your people and be intentional with your time
Allow yourself to be fragile and ask people to handle you with care
Go to the mountains and breathe
Don’t hide from the truth; it will always find you. Rip off the Band-Aid and set yourself free
If you live by desires of the flesh, you will sacrifice the wrong things and still not be satisfied
Bits and pieces can be left behind, picked up and absorbed
Broken things that are repaired and healed properly can be stronger than they were originally
Complacency is different from unhappiness but possibly more dangerous
Hatred corrodes the container it’s held in and makes it ugly
Trust God even when answers seem impossible
Sing, cry, and raise your hands simultaneously
Anxiety can be triggered ANYWHERE
Create a space where you not only feel home but whole
Guard your heart when necessary
Love BIG and let people love you
Allow people into your story and give the gift of going second
Read The Let Them Theory with caution. Do not entitle yourself to NOT CARE
Thou shall not steal
Forgiveness is for ME so I can stop swimming against the tide
God prepares us in advance for EVERYTHING
Vertical peace can be found in your soul and with your Savior even when horizontal peace seems unattainable
Generosity is a blessing, give because you want to and let it bring you joy
God’s timing is always right. A missed warning could be an opportunity for genuine love
Let go of the SHOULDS or you will always be disappointed
Give grace, ask for it, allow it for yourself
Stop apologizing for your discomfort, it’s there for a reason. You are not crazy!
If your behavior has caused problems in the past, perhaps there’s a lesson to be learned
Trapped pain will eventually seek air and ignite
Dishonesty does not have a size requirement
Dignity and respect look different to different people
Our bodies respond to fear before our minds have time to rationalize
I love make-believe, but I’m not good at pretending
Back pocket details are comforting
Vulnerability, given to the wrong person, can be misused and weaponized
Salute each year with ownership and respect.
To those of you who willingly took my hand and walked with me through the pain of 2025, I am eternally grateful. For those of you who sensed the off kilter, reached out, prayed, and embraced me without the ugly details, I am equally indebted. This year has been a refinement of sorts – a wading through the muck and a digging for the buried existence, a smoothing of the rough edges, and a polishing of the diamond left beneath. This work in progress is ongoing. None of us are perfect. But God has a way of teaching us that there is still work to be done, that doing the right thing is often the less traveled more difficult path, that no one deserves pain or happiness, that we are all WORTHY of the struggle.
I’m coming out the other side stronger… never left the arms of my Father… I MADE IT!
