As our world continues to deal with the COVID-19 crisis and the corresponding economic issues that resulted, a plethora of other concerns have surfaced. Forecasters predict that this will be the worst hurricane season in years, while civil unrest and protests engulf our streets.

In this midst of this, I find myself praying for breakthrough, wisdom, and truth. I feel like the earth is groaning in anticipation of something on the horizon. What that is, I don’t completely know.

For me, I have realized this is a time to search inside of myself to seek inner healing in the parts of me that carry wounds from the past, to ask God to meet me in the place of those wounds and to help me face and move past the pain. So often words and experiences from our past hurt our hearts, and affect us in ways we don’t even realize in the present. I remember one of my mentors telling me, “The only way out is through.” We must allow ourselves to experience and face the pain of our past hurts to move forward, because often, if we find ourselves overreacting to something in the present, it is because there is a past wound that is being triggered. To live fully in the present, I must face and find healing from my past.

In addition to inner healing, I also feel like I need breakthrough. Life has a way of sucking the energy out of us. Dreams go unfulfilled. Plans change. The life we imagined, is not how life unfolds. This is not necessarily a bad thing; however, we must grieve disappointed desires so that we can move forward in the present. We need a fresh outlook on life to more fully embrace our present reality. Because of this, I currently find myself praying for breakthrough. I believe that God is a God of miracles, and I need a refreshing touch. Life is been hard. There was a time in this nation when many people expected God to move during difficult times. However, one hard season after another seems to have sucked that hope out of many people’s hearts. Personally, I now find myself crying out, “God, I need breakthrough. I need a refreshing touch of your hand.”

In the midst of it all, I pray for wisdom and for truth to be exposed. Finding myself with more questions than answers, not understanding what is happening in the world, I believe that out of this place of the earth groaning, we will come to a place of healing and truth.