It's Easter weekend and the only thing I cling to is God's faithfulness. Everything else is going or has gone wrong. In the span of one weekend I've managed to lie to everyone in my life about something or multiple things, experience anger toward people I love more than myself, push away a friend who was trying to help because I didn't see it that way, and cry more than I thought possible. Did I mention fight with my best friend? That is the part I most hated. The people I wanted to be there weren't - well, not in the ways I needed them to be.

But God showed himself again in unexpected places. In a new friend who reminds me of myself when I was younger. A patient friend who set aside her plans to help me figure out what to say so my anger would not be as hurtful as it could have been. And most markedly, through an old friend who offered support. She spoke truth and somehow understood pain. Maybe because she knew me in childhood before my pain consumed my life. "Journal," she said with a pensive pause, "you're a writer and I don't think you've been writing." She's right. But this isn't what she meant. What she meant I can't do here. Are you kidding? I'm wasting time. Something I'm great at doing. Procrastinate. Avoid the issue. Can't I please just avoid the issues this time? "Avoid them all you want." I hear the voice of God say now. "But they are there always; I'm trying to show you my love. Please show me yours. Happy Easter."