January 29, 2026
An Unexpected Bloom
SARAH FREYMUTH
Lee en español
“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build …” Ecclesiastes 3:1-3 (NIV)
There’s a small orchid plant sitting snug in its base by our kitchen sink. My husband keeps pointing out the slow progress it’s made over these winter weeks. What started as five green buds tightly shut has transformed slowly, opening into a beautiful arrangement of white flowers with delicate pink centers.
I’ve watched this growth while struggling with crippling anxiety, battling against my mind as I grip tight to the Truth of God’s Word. These petals blossoming in the bleak winter remind me that like these little buds, I, too, am coming into something good.
When it comes to healing, it is often slow, even imperceptible. Yet we can watch and wait and notice the small changes.
In my healing journey, I’ve noticed a few things:
- Healing takes time.
Ecclesiastes 3:1-3 says: “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build …”
Like the orchid coming into bloom, God often accomplishes His work on an organic, day-by-day timeline. Many times, we don’t even notice the changes until we observe that something is different — we have a little more energy, our thoughts seem a bit clearer, or we’re able to get more good work done without feeling overwhelmed.
- Healing is not linear.
Psalm 147:3 tells us God “heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds” (NIV). He will bring healing one way or another, but it is not always a continual upward trajectory. Decline and ascent, doubt and belief, worry and wisdom — duality weaves within the waiting, the living. If you feel down one day, this doesn’t erase the progress you’ve made.
- Healing happens in ways we may not be expecting.
Isaiah 55:8-9 tells us our ways and God’s ways are not the same. Look at where God has brought you, look at His presence and hand in your life, and lean into it. Healing is happening, though the way it looks may surprise you.
Whatever your journey, here’s the core of it: Healing points to the Healer. Ultimately this is where our hearts land if we search for Him in the suffering and seek to dig to its root. God is our anchor, our sunlight, our reminder of what — or who — matters.
No matter what healing looks like, God is in the middle of it all.
Father, I am tired of this healing journey. Sometimes it feels like I’m not making any progress. Remind me that You are the Healer who brings growth and recovery in unexpected ways and that this is a process, not a one-time event. I’m trusting You for my healing. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
OUR FAVORITE THINGS
When you’re walking through something heavy, even knowing what to ask can feel overwhelming. But sometimes hearing someone else ask the question you’ve been too afraid to say out loud is exactly what your heart needs. That’s why we pulled together clips from our recent Surviving an Unwanted Divorce livestream — moments where Lysa TerKeurst, Dr. Joel Muddamalle, and Jim Cress answered raw, honest questions women are carrying right now: How do I heal? What do I do next? Where is God in all of this? If you’ve been craving clarity, comfort, or just a reminder that you’re not the only one navigating this kind of pain, these conversations will meet you right where you are. Don’t wait to get the guidance your heart is searching for — check out these conversations, and start finding hope and biblical direction for what you’re walking through today.
Sarah’s devotional book All the Hard Things: 50 Days Through the Valley offers gentle affirmations, scriptural insights, and uplifting reminders of God’s intimate goodness for anyone experiencing a season of difficulty. It releases February 3, 2026, but you can preorder your copy today!
ENGAGE
You can find more biblical encouragement and a gentle walk through the wilderness with Sarah at her website and catch up with her on Instagram.
FOR DEEPER STUDY
Jeremiah 17:14, “Heal me, LORD, and I will be healed; save me and I will be saved, for you are the one I praise” (NIV).
How might you begin to see more of God in the healing process? Take a moment and look back on where God met you in previous situations. How does this encourage you to keep believing that He is at work in your current situation? Share with us in the comments.
© 2026 by Sarah Freymuth. All rights reserved.
Proverbs 31 Ministries
P.O. Box 3189
Matthews, NC 28106
www.Proverbs31.org
