Sunday, February 22, 2026

Life has a way of leaving marks on us.

Sometimes it's loss, disappointment, the weight of choices, and sometimes it's just the reality of living in a broken world.

However it shows up, pain settles into places we didn’t expect, and if we’re not careful, it can slowly turn into anger, fear, or lies about who we are and what we're worth.

That's why Romans 8 matters so much. It reminds us that in Christ, we are not condemned. We are not forgotten, and we no longer need to be stuck in our past.

Romans 8:9
But you are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you….

When we accept Jesus as our Savior, he meets our fear with hope, and we receive the Holy Spirit, so we don’t have to live on our own limited power anymore.

So much of healing begins with one honest question: Am I trying to manage everything on my own, or am I learning to live from the power and promise of the Holy Spirit?

When we rely only on ourselves, we usually end up exhausted, frustrated, and discouraged. We try harder, do more, and hope it will finally be enough. But when we lean into God’s Spirit, something different begins to happen. He does the work we can’t. He restores wounded hearts, renews tired minds, and slowly reshapes our future.

Maybe you’re still trying to understand what all of this means. Maybe you’re unsure what - or even whether - to believe, and right now, simply putting one foot in front of the other feels like all you can do. But if you’re here, reading this, you’re already curious, and that curiosity could be a start toward healing.

Suffering may be part of your story, but it is never meant to be the ending.

In Christ, what’s broken can be made whole. What feels stuck can begin to move. And what feels hopeless can become a place where God’s healing starts to grow.

Discussion Questions:

Ice Breaker: What’s something in your life that you’ve had to repair, rebuild, or learn to work on over time?

Why do you think so many people carry hidden wounds that others never see?

Read Romans 8: What words or promises stand out to you most? What does it look like for you, practically, to live from the Spirit instead of self-effort?

Where do you notice hurt, disappointment, or brokenness in your life right now?

Reflect and Respond: Which reason for suffering connects most with your story: spiritual opposition, your own choices, others’ choices, or living in a broken world? What might God be inviting you to trust him with right now?

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank you for not letting suffering be the end of my story. Because of your love and your willingness to step into the messes I often find myself in, I can always count on you to heal what has been shattered and to release the wounds that would otherwise bury me in this broken world. When I try to go about life managing everything on my own, remind me that I can let it rest in your powerful hands. I love you, I trust you, and I worship you. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.

Series Theme Verse:

Colossians 3:10
Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him.

This post was written by Lori Tuckerman, Director of Content for the Daily LivingItOut.