A time God said no and it turned out to be His protection and redirection.

I was in an on-and-off relationship for six years. I truly believed this person was the love of my life. We both hurt each other, and yet I kept holding on. I thought, maybe if this changes, maybe if that gets fixed, then we’ll be okay. I told myself that everything would fall into place if just one thing were different.

I spent years writing down moments of hurt in my notes app, convincing myself that if I told my family the full truth, I would feel embarrassed for wanting to go back. Over time, I found myself cleaning up my story, taking on blame, softening details, changing narratives so my family would accept my decision again.

Throughout the years, as I moved from Austin back to San Antonio and eventually to Dallas, I didn’t realize how much I was carrying alone. I never truly asked God for help. And yet, God was still protecting me through my parents’ prayers.

The final time we tried to work things out, I was already walking with the Lord. We had been broken up for about six months, but I was lonely, and instead of turning fully to God, I leaned back into my past relationship for comfort. I believed that the thing I had once hoped would change finally had, and I told myself, “This is what you’ve been waiting for. You deserve this.” Over time, I realized that despite that change, the relationship was still hurting me.

I made a promise to myself when we got back together that I would never leave again, that I needed to stop causing pain and just endure. But slowly, I lost myself. I felt worthless, unloved, and empty. I began having suicidal thoughts and believed I had nothing to offer the world.

I began to believe that no one would ever be able to love me fully or correctly with grace. I told myself that if the man I thought loved me most in the world treated me this way, then how could anyone ever love me better? I convinced myself that this must be what love was meant to look like for me, even though I had been given a beautiful example of marriage through my parents.

One day, sitting in silence, the Lord led me to a video of a prophet speaking about a vision of judgment day. That video led me to a prayer room message where he said, “Break in. Break up. Break out.” Even then, the Lord in His mercy was still speaking to me.

That moment opened my eyes to everything I still had: a loving family, a great job, a home and a vehicle, Christ-centered friendships, food in my fridge, and so many blessings I had overlooked.

I will forever be grateful to God for never leaving my side.

This time, God said no and this time, I was obedient. I walked through this breakup with my Lord and Savior guiding me. And let me tell you, even though I spent weeks on my bedroom floor crying during prayer, grieving the relationship, surrendering the dream of a future and a family I once imagined, I never felt abandoned.

Instead, I felt held.

I felt God near, receiving my prayers, tending to my heart, and walking with me through the healing. In His mercy, He used something painful to shape me into the woman He is calling me to be. As Scripture says, “Yet you, Lord, are our Father. We are the clay, and You are the potter; we are all the work of Your hand” (Isaiah 64:8). He was molding me with care, even when the process was uncomfortable.

He redirected my steps toward purpose and gently lifted me out of a season of darkness and into His light for His glory.

So to anyone walking through something similar: you are not alone. I’ve been there. And I believe God is still inviting you to break in to deeper relationship with Him, break up with what is drawing you away from peace, and break out of the place that has kept you stuck so He can lead you into what He has lovingly prepared for you.

-- Priscila Herrera