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Navigating Our Life Story:

Finding Joy and Strength in Faith

By Tricia Goyer

In my journey, I’ve understood the intricate interplay between dreams and the stark reality of life. As a young woman, I was enamored with fairy tale dreams, imagining a life painted in vibrant, hopeful hues. However, life’s complex landscape taught me a profound truth: our expectations often starkly contrast reality. Yet, through my faith in God, I’ve learned to accept and embrace life’s imperfections, discovering joy amid trials.

Our dreams set the foundation, but it’s in our challenges that we discover our true strength. This realization has guided me, reminding me that our beautiful aspirations must be tempered with the resilience and wisdom gained from overcoming obstacles.

Finding Strength in Scripture

When doubt and despair shook the ground I stood on, I learned to find solace and strength in Scripture. Verses like Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me,” have been my anchor. Prayer and faith have been my tools to navigate life’s unpredictable currents. 

God’s Word is whispered hope–calm in the storm–offering a lighthouse to guide us back home. Scripture has echoed in my heart, reinforcing my belief in faith’s soothing, guiding power during turbulent times.

Overcoming Past Failures with Faith

A pivotal aspect of my journey has been learning to trust in God’s endless possibilities, especially when facing the pain of past failures. Every failure is not an endpoint but a stepping stone to a more perfect plan. Embracing and growing from my failures has involved several key steps:

• Acknowledging and Learning from Failures: I’ve learned to view past mistakes as valuable lessons and opportunities for growth.
• Trusting in God’s Plan: I believe my path is divinely guided by God, transforming my perception of failures into integral steps in His divine journey.
• Staying Open to New Possibilities: I keep my heart and mind open to new opportunities, leaving behind past failures. Each failure is a lesson. Each step forward is a testament to God’s transformative power. 

Transforming Pain into Purpose

God’s ability to transform my pain into purpose has been a deeply personal and significant part of my journey. How do I do this?

• Reflecting and Finding Meaning: I dedicate time to sit before God and offer up my painful experiences, seeking the hidden lessons within them.
• Channeling Pain into Creative Outlets: I use writing and other forms of creativity to process and articulate my emotions.
• Helping Others with Similar Struggles: I share my journey and the insights gained to offer support and understanding to others facing similar challenges. In every heartache, there’s a hidden seed of growth and rebirth.

Embracing Change and Hope

I’ve learned that embracing change involves more than mere adaptation. It’s about being receptive to God’s new beginnings. My faith in God has been crucial in helping me view change not as a threat but as an opportunity for new blessings and growth.

My story is a testament to the strength that comes from faith in overcoming life’s challenges. It is a narrative of turning pain into purpose, learning from failures, and steadfastness in God’s boundless possibilities. As the stars guide us through the night, so do the lessons and inspirations from life guide my path, constantly reminding me of the beauty and strength of trusting a grander, divine plan. And these are the lessons I try to share in my novels, too.

Trust the Stars: A Journey of Love, Faith, and Finding Freedom

Every young woman dreams of a prince and a castle, yet life is full of challenges. We encounter brokenness and often feel overwhelmed as if we can’t do enough. We wish others would do more; when they don’t, we push them away. But then comes an unexpected day when the moment’s joy makes us forget our past pain and set aside future worries. At that moment, we open our hearts. We laugh, we smile, we dare to love. However, reality soon intrudes. Our openness leaves us feeling vulnerable. Painful memories flood back, and fear builds walls around our hearts. The love we offer starts to seem foolish, and we run. We run from hope and possibilities.

If this resonates with you, then you’ll understand Olivia. For her, daring to love feels riskier than being alone. Yet, there are moments when God shows us a different path. Sometimes, it’s through someone else’s story. We notice when we see someone’s heart flying free despite their pain. “I want that, too,” we quietly yearn.

This is Olivia’s story. It’s also Louis’ story. And it’s about how their story today is shaped by a woman’s trust and hope, even in her imprisonment. Sometimes, seeing someone else’s freedom–even in the middle of pain–lets us believe the future can be brighter than we ever imagined.

This is the story I wanted to tell in Trust the Stars. The stars are the people God places in our lives to shine. They twinkle in the darkness, inspiring us to dare to trust in a better way. I’d love your thoughts on this novel! Please read it and consider how God can transform your pain into purpose.

Purchase a copy of Trust the Stars here!

Additional Resources

Journal Through the Bible in 2024

Have you ever wanted to read through the Bible but found yourself giving up? Or even worse, you read the chapters and at the end question how they apply to your life. Tricia Goyer understands. For years she felt frustrated that she couldn’t stick to her commitment to read God’s Word all the way through. Things changed when she found a doable plan and wrote out a daily prayer. Tricia’s heart changed. Her life did, too.

God can bring real transformation into your heart and life when you daily commit to reading your Bible and praying through God’s Word. Praying through the Bible in One Year offers a guided reading plan and a daily prayer starter to help you make God’s Word applicable to your life. Discover the inspiration for real-life transformation.

Purchase a copy of Praying Through the Bible in One Year HERE.