Benediction For The Journey

“The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.” (Numbers 6:24-26, ESV)

Endings have a way of reawakening all the other endings we’ve experienced in life. Some of ours have been abrupt, unexpected, and painful. So rather than simply closing this devotional, I want to land softly with a benediction—a speaking of good over you—for the journey ahead. Because what lies before you will take courage, risk, and faith precisely when faith feels most lost.

It’s day 7. I don’t expect that you’ve arrived at complete healing, full restoration, or the resolution of all your doubts. These past seven days may have quietly stirred up grief, awakened old memories, or left you feeling more cynical than before. Or perhaps something small sparked in you—a faint desire to experience something more real in your faith. That was my hope.

What I’ve witnessed in my own life and in the lives of so many others is that this journey is slow. But I write to you now from a place of joy, having found my way through. My healing is far from perfect, and the road had many unexpected turns. But bit by bit—through small breadcrumbs, little mercies in dark nights, and the courage to risk reconnection—restoration came.

I don’t know how long this journey will be for you. But I want to speak this good over you, as a paraphrase of Numbers 6:24-26:

May the Lord—the one who is true, who is lowly, and who weeps with you—bless you and keep you. May he keep you, not the abusive spouse, church, institution, or twisted theology that once claimed you. May his face shine upon you when so many distorted versions of him press in from the wounds of your past. May you sense the little mercies, know his presence, and experience the peace of his countenance resting upon you.

Moment to Reflect

• As you reach the end of these seven days, what is one thing—however small—that has shifted, stirred, or stayed with you? Maybe nothing has, and that’s okay.
• What does the journey ahead look like for you right now? What is your next step toward reconnecting to your faith?

Simple Prayer

God, I’m still figuring out what it means to trust you again. But I’m here—at the end of these seven days—still showing up, even if just barely. Bless me for the road ahead. Keep me when I wander. Never leave me. Restore my sense of who you are. Shine your face on me in the dark. And give me peace—the kind that holds me wherever I find myself. Amen.