07/02/2026
BENT not broken
On the island in the Dominican Republic there are some palm trees that have almost a 90 degree angle in the trunk. Sometimes part of the trunk grows along the ground and then it turns upward. Something has happened to the trunk that had caused it not to be able to grow towards the sun. It grew but not upwards.
I’ve been through some hard times in my life. Times when I felt broken. Months and years of feeling broken. Questioning, did I really hear from God? Do I really believe He loves me? Will this ever end? Where are you God? Don’t you see what is happening to me and my family? BUT I kept pursuing God.
At 27 years old I felt His presence like never before and in that moment my life was forever changed. His presence…I’ve wanted to live in it ever since that day. I had been seeking Him but that day it all changed. Without His presence, I am incomplete. His presence became my priority. I began to passionately, desperately seek Him.
The journey has been both amazing and horrible, great highs and deep lows, God led choices and me choosing my ways, deep, loving relationships and heartbreak and betrayal that felt like death, being in His presence so strong I couldn’t stand up, at time only cry and cry because I knew He And every moment of this journey has been worth it. The Lord is worth it. Always. Every time. Even if… He is worth it.
On the island, there were palm trees as far as the eye could see. Most growing straight up but as my eyes found the bent one, I knew that was me. Bent and yet beautiful. Bent but kept growing. Bent but not broken.
Bent is the posture of kneeling in prayer. It is humility. It is surrender. It is not giving up when it feels like the weight of the world is keeping us down. Not giving up when we have heard a word from the Lord and everything we are going through seems polar opposite of His word.
Don’t give up, friends! His word is true. Always. It is the final answer. The only answer you need.
