Experiencing loss is much like being sent into a deep emotional exile. The intense grief that accompanies loss can leave you feeling isolated and disconnected from the life you once knew and cherished. However, it is possible to find your way back. Here are five practical steps you can take to begin the journey of healing and restoration, ultimately returning to a life full of hope and flourishing.

When God brought people out of a time of trouble and suffering, he often gave them a double blessing. Are you able to let God bless you?

If you want to return from the wilderness after a major setback in your life, you may need to leave some friends behind. These are necessary endings in order to get your life back.

When everything has been stripped from your life and you stand alone and “naked” what do you do? Where do you find your worth? What can you learn about yourself? Facing your nakedness can be a turning point for you.

Oswald Chambers spoke of a “discipline of darkness.” This means that God teaches us things during dark times that we will never learn in the light. What might God be teaching you during your season of loss or hardship?

COVID-19 has caused the church to be in exile. The Bible often speaks of exile. What can those exiles teach us today?

If you’ve experienced a personal setback and landed in a bad place, God can use that place to prepare you for your comeback.

We often get stuck in a wilderness (exile) after experiencing a setback in life. But sometimes we stay stuck because we have a low view of God. We think scarcity rather than abundance.

The first step in recovering from loss (exile) is to give your loss a name. Name it. Identify your loss so you can do something about it.

When we experience a setback we often fear the worsts case scenario… losing everything. But Richard Rohr helps us to see that losing everything can bring freedom.

Sometimes our failures lead us to feel like God is against us… like we can’t win. But God is for us. Here is a story from the Bible that illustrates this idea.

When you’ve experienced a setback it’s easy to feel abandoned by God. But all exiles come to an end. God shows up to restore you.

When our choices in life are limited, that can lead to anger and our anger causes a setback. But what is the real cause of the anger? Take a look.

Research has shown that journaling helps people to recover from loss and trauma. Is it possible that it might help you to heal as well?

If you’ve suffered a major setback and feel like you are wandering in a wilderness, that is an exile. It may seem like punishment or a waste of time, but God has a purpose for it.

Suffering seems to have no purpose. But the suffering of Jesus shows us that meaning can be found in our suffering.

Lent is a time when Christians reflect on the suffering of Jesus. But it’s also a time for people to reflect on the meaning of their own suffering and how God can use it for good.

Has a personal setback recently put you on the sidelines of life, making you feel disconnected and discouraged? Do you often feel as though you may never fully regain what was lost or return to the path you once knew? Explore valuable principles of recovery and healing from “crash and burn” experiences through this insightful series of posts designed to guide and encourage you.