GOD HAS PICKED ME UP, DUSTED ME OFF, AND GIVEN ME HOPE

Let me start with a confession.

I’ve tripped over my own feet more times than I can count. Spiritually, emotionally, even literally. One time, I actually tripped over a laundry basket I left in the hallway…on purpose…to remind me to do laundry. The basket won the fight. My pride? Bruised. My laundry? Still unfolded. But you know what? That moment is a lot like life.

Life knocks us down. Sometimes it’s our fault, sometimes it’s someone else’s, and sometimes—well, life just life-s us. But the beauty of our walk with God is this: He never leaves us face down in the dirt. He picks us up. He dusts us off. And He gives us something far more powerful than a second chance—He gives us hope.

Let’s walk through this, you and me. I’ll tell you a bit of my mess, you’ll see more of God’s grace, and hopefully by the end, your heart will whisper, “He can do that for me too.”

The Fall – Face-Down in the Dust

I once thought that being a Christian meant having it all together. Neat rows. Clean past. Big smiles. Turns out, I was confusing Christianity with Instagram.

Real life is messy. We fall. And when we fall, we fall hard. Maybe it’s a moral failure. Maybe it’s grief that takes our breath away. Maybe it’s depression that blankets every good thing in our lives. Maybe it’s just…exhaustion. Whatever it is, it puts us face-down in the dirt.

David knew that feeling well.

"I am feeble and severely broken; I groan because of the turmoil of my heart." - Psalm 38:8 (NKJV)

That’s the same David who killed giants, wrote psalms, and was called a man after God’s own heart. Yes, even giants in the faith have face-first-in-the-dust seasons.

The Gentle Hand – God Picks Us Up Picture this: You’re sprawled on the floor, crying over spilled life. Your plans didn’t work out. Your mistakes have cost you. The world feels heavy.

And then…a hand. Not a condemning, pointing finger. Not a judgmental shake of the head. But a hand. Gentle. Steady. Strong.

"He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap." - Psalm 113:7 (NIV)

That’s our God. He doesn’t just leave us to figure it out. He kneels beside us, meets us in our mess, and lifts us up. Not because we deserve it—but because He loves us. Fully. Forever.

The Dusting Off – Grace in the Grit

Getting picked up is beautiful. But oh, the dusting off? That’s where things get personal.

God doesn’t just lift us and leave us. He dusts us off. He begins cleaning the wounds we tried to ignore. He speaks healing over our pain. He challenges the lies we believed. And sometimes? He even uses people to help—friends, pastors, that one elderly woman at church who calls everyone “baby” and smells like peppermint.

"Though a righteous man falls seven times, he will get up, but the wicked will stumble into ruin." - Proverbs 24:

Yes, you can be righteous and still fall. But God specializes in clean slates and new beginnings.

The Hope – Anchored in Something Stronger

Hope is not wishful thinking. It’s not “maybe things will get better.” No, hope in Christ is an anchor.

"We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure." - Hebrews 6:19 (NIV)

You know what an anchor does? It holds you in place when storms hit. And storms will hit. But hope keeps you from drifting away.

God doesn’t just fix your now—He promises a future. One filled with purpose. Redemption. Healing. Restoration. He doesn’t just restore what you lost; He often gives back more than you had before.

"I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten." - Joel 2:25

But God, I Messed Up… Again

Ah, the “again.” Don’t we all hate the again?

Friend, God is not surprised by your again. He knows your weaknesses. He remembers you’re dust. And yet, He loves you anyway.

"The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love... He knows how we are formed, He remembers that we are dust." - Psalm 103:8,14 (NIV)

So when you mess up (again), don’t run from God—run to Him. He’s not standing there with a clipboard and a disappointed look. He’s standing with open arms.

Jesus: The Ultimate Lifter

Can we just take a moment to thank Jesus?

Every pick-up, every clean slate, every fresh start—it’s all because of Jesus. He didn’t just dust us off—He wore our dust. He entered our broken world, lived perfectly, died painfully, and rose victoriously so we could live hopefully.

"He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; He set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand." - Psalm 40:2 (NIV)

If you’re in the pit, He’s your lifter. If you’re stuck in the mud, He’s your rescuer. If you feel forgotten, He’s already calling your name.

When Others Don’t Understand

Here’s something real: Not everyone will celebrate your comeback.

Some folks prefer you down. Some can’t forget your past. Others will say, “You’re still a mess.” But God’s word is louder than their words.

"If God is for us, who can be against us?" - Romans 8:31 (NIV)

You don’t need their permission to rise. You already have God’s empowerment to walk in freedom.

Laughing Through the Healing

Let me say this: Don’t lose your sense of humor in the healing process.

I once cried while eating ice cream. Like, sobbing. But the cherry on top was when the spoon catapulted across the room mid-sob. And I laughed. Through the tears. Because sometimes life is just ridiculous.

Laughter is not a betrayal of your pain—it’s a gift from God to help you endure it.

"A cheerful heart is good medicine." - Proverbs 17:22 (NIV)

So laugh. Snort if you have to. Find the funny in the mess. It’s good for your soul.

Your Story Isn’t Over

If you’re breathing, God’s still writing.

The enemy loves to whisper “It’s too late.” But God loves to shout, “Watch what I do next!”

You might feel like your life is a pile of broken pieces, but God is the ultimate mosaic artist. He doesn’t waste anything. He will use every shattered shard of your past to make something stunning.

"Being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion...” -Philippians 1:6 (NIV)

He’s not done with you.

Don’t Just Get Up—Get Going

After God picks us up and gives us hope, it’s not just for us to stay cozy on the couch of grace. No—we are called to get going!

Tell someone your story. Encourage the next person who falls. Be the hand that helps lift someone else. Hope was never meant to be hoarded.

"Praise be to the God... who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble.." - 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (NIV)

God picked you up so you can help others rise too.

Final Thoughts: A Note From One Dusty Soul to Another

If you’ve ever felt unworthy… forgotten… too broken… too far gone—I’ve been there.

But I’ve also been picked up. Dusted off. Given hope. And let me tell you, there is nothing like the grip of grace.

So today, if you’re still on the ground, let Him pick you up. If you’re walking again but feel wobbly, let Him strengthen you. And if you’re back on your feet with fresh hope—go share it.

You are not disqualified. You are not too late. You are not a lost cause.

You, dear one, are loved by the God who lifts.

And He’s not done with you yet.

Because God has picked you up…Dusted you off…And He’s giving you hope that will never run dry.

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Stick around. There’s more hope where that came from. This blog is your safe space, your faith-fuel, your reminder that grace wins every time.

Until next time, keep walking, keep hoping, and never forget—you’re still in the story.