What do you do when you are left feeling broken and devastated?

When the fires of life blaze through, leaving a path of destruction, do you look up and wonder, “Where are you, Lord?” We light a match with every decision we make, and when we strike without seeking God’s will, the flame may blaze in destruction. When destruction comes, the world burns around you, leaving you in a pile of ashes. At this point, only one question needs to be answered. Will your faith in God wither and die, or will it bloom from the ashes?

As a young woman, Tracey never feared the fire. She naively lived life on the edge, striking one match after another. Her choices were reckless and dangerous. She lived in the shadow of others' opinions, desperately seeking attention, approval, and validation. Without it, she felt unworthy, unseen, and unloved. Then one fateful night, the fire blazed in destruction when she was date raped by someone she trusted. She forgot one important thing as she stood in the ashes of guilt and shame. She forgot to look up.

Being used and thrown away like a piece of trash is humiliating and devastating. It devours the best of us and does unspeakable damage to someone who places their value on others’ opinions. That event sent Tracey down a road of self-destruction. A road paved with self-loathing and shame.

Tracey’s story is the story of a shattered heart and broken dreams. But it is also a story of redemption. When we stand in the ashes of the fires of life, we have a chance to bloom. But only if we look up. When we look up to the Lord, He sends the rain. And when we are washed in the blood of Jesus, we are restored by Christ's redeeming love—the love we receive when we become a child of God.

As children of God, we are afforded His protection and love. Our help doesn’t come from the world but from the One who loves us (Psalm 121). Misplaced faith in earthly things brings fear of tribulation because the worldly things we bow down to are fleeting and unreliable. And the idols we believe will save us must be broken and cast down.
God is our only sustainable source of hope.
What have you placed your hope in?
When you open this book, your walk with Christ is strengthened as each chapter contains:

• Scripture verses that are relevant
• A study guide with introspective questions
• Faith Lessons
• Afterthoughts from the author
• Prayer that correlates with the lesson

Since Tracey was raised on a working cattle ranch in Arizona, the Ranch Talk section is her unique point of view on the trails of life. These humorous stories will make you smile as they lift your spirits and give you a new perspective. They will increase your faith in God’s love.
As your faith in the Lord increases, you learn to stand and fight for what is right and rid yourself of wrong thinking. The Holy Spirit helps you discern attacks from the enemy and helps you effectively continue down the road God has laid before you. You may grow weary, but with the Lord as your strength, you will never give up. You will learn to persevere. None of us will ever be perfect, but with God, we step toward being perfected daily.

You are fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14). God knows everything about you!
He knew you in your mother’s womb (Psalm 139:13), and He determines the steps you will take in life up to your last day on this earth (Proverbs 16:9). God has made a way and a plan for you because He has a deep love for you.