When Life Brings You to Your Knees

There were times in my life when I felt like everything I had worked for was slipping through my fingers. The careers I had invested in ended suddenly. Relationships that I hoped would last forever came to painful conclusions. I faced moments where I questioned who I was, what I was supposed to do next, and whether I had anything left to give.

Rock bottom is a place most people fear. I have been there more than once. Each time, it felt like the air got a little thinner and the path forward a little darker. But I learned something important during those seasons. When you find yourself flat on your back, unable to pretend or push through, you are in the perfect position to look up. That is where my faith began to guide me in ways I never expected.

Prayer Became My Lifeline

Prayer was not always something I understood deeply. I grew up knowing faith was important, but it was not until life stripped away my sense of control that prayer turned into a lifeline. When jobs disappeared and marriages dissolved, I did not have the strength to fix everything myself. I needed guidance. I needed direction. I needed hope.

Every morning I started praying. Sometimes those prayers were long. Other times they were a few simple words. God, help me. God, lead me. God, give me the strength to keep moving. Prayer did not magically erase my problems, but it changed my mindset. It gave me peace on days when peace felt impossible. It reminded me I was not walking alone.

Finding Purpose in Pain

One of the hardest lessons I had to learn was that setbacks are not punishments. They are turning points. Losing multiple jobs felt devastating at the time. I felt embarrassed and confused. But looking back, those losses pushed me into my real calling. Teaching was always in my heart, but it took losing my law enforcement position for me to finally step into the classroom where I belonged.

From the outside, it may have looked like I was starting over again and again. But from the inside, something deeper was happening. God was preparing me. He was redirecting me. Each setback shaped me into a better leader, mentor, and servant. Without those painful seasons, I never would have impacted the lives of the young people I later taught. I also would not have gained the courage to write my book, share my testimony, or continue embracing new goals.

Renewal Happens When You Let Go of Control

Faith taught me something I had resisted for years. I am not supposed to control everything. When I was younger, I believed that discipline, work ethic, and determination could solve any problem. Those qualities helped me in the Marine Corps. They helped me in law enforcement. But life challenges do not always bend to strength alone.

Letting go was uncomfortable at first. I wanted to fix situations, win people back, and prove myself. Faith reminded me that some things are not meant to be repaired. Some doors need to close. Some chapters need to end. Renewal only began when I surrendered the idea that I could force life to go the way I planned.

Once I accepted that, I felt lighter. I had more clarity. I could move forward without carrying the weight of the past on my shoulders. Renewal came in small steps. It came through teaching students who needed someone to believe in them. It came through writing words that helped me process my journey. It came through showing up, day after day, determined to serve with a grateful heart.

Every Setback Can Become a New Mission

I believe strongly that every challenge carries a mission inside it. When I lost my job, that mission became finding my true purpose. When relationships ended, the mission became rebuilding my sense of self. When I felt broken, the mission became healing and growing into someone stronger. Faith turned my setbacks into assignments rather than defeats.

That belief carried me through my toughest moments. It still guides me today. I am sixty now. I have achieved things I once only dreamed about. I earned my doctorate. I wrote a book. I served in the Marine Corps. I taught in JROTC for fourteen years. I have more goals ahead of me. I want to sell a million copies of my next book and continue serving through education. I still begin every morning with prayer because it keeps me grounded and focused on what truly matters.

Why Faith Remains My Compass

Faith is not a backup plan. It is the compass that points me in the right direction even when everything around me feels uncertain. It is the reason I can say confidently that quitting is not an option. It is the reason I can look at my past without shame. It is the reason I still believe the best chapters of my life are ahead.

Faith taught me that rock bottom is not the end. It is the moment when you learn to trust something greater than yourself. It is the moment when you start looking up instead of looking back. It is the moment when your next mission begins.

When the Path Gets Dark, Look Toward the Light

If you are facing a season that feels heavy or uncertain, I want you to hear this. You are not stuck. You are not forgotten. You are not finished. You may be in a place that feels like rock bottom, but that does not mean you are out of options. Look up. Pray. Ask for strength. Ask for direction. Trust that the difficulty you are facing now may be preparing you for a greater purpose.

My life is proof that renewal is possible. New missions are always waiting. Faith will carry you forward one step at a time.