When You Forget How Far You've Come

D E V O T I O N A L

I was cleaning out an old drawer last week when I found a photo of myself from years ago. Same face, different eyes. I could almost feel the weight of what that version of me was carrying. The questions, the insecurities, the exhaustion I hid behind tired smiles.

I stared at that picture for a long time. Not out of sadness, but gratitude. Because for all the ways I still feel like I am not "there" yet, I realized I have come so much farther than I thought.

Sometimes we get so focused on what still needs fixing that we forget to thank God for what's already been healed.

Maybe you have been praying for change and wondering why it feels slow. Maybe you look at your life and only see what is missing, what is broken, or what still feels undone. But look closer. The person you are today is proof that God has been working, even in ways you did not notice.

That attitude you have grown out of. That wound that does not sting like it used to. That habit you no longer depend on. That peace you carry now that once felt impossible.

Those are signs of grace.

Philippians 1:6 reminds us, "He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."

You may not be where you want to be, but you are not where you were. God is still writing, still refining, still finishing what He started in you.

So pause for a moment today. Breathe, look back, and thank Him. You have come farther than you think.

Much Love & Blessings,

Ramzi

P A R T N E R S H I P

Become an email marketing guru at the GURU conference. It’s two days full of all things email marketing. Learn more about newsletters, deliverability, design trends, AI, and what NOT to do with email.

What you can expect:

Spots are limited. It’s VIRTUAL. It’s FREE. It’s time to become an email marketing GURU. Join 25,000+ marketers on November 6th & 7th. Don’t miss out!

YES! I want to register! (US attendees only!)

E N C O U R A G E M E N T - I N - A C T I O N

Family Corner

Look around at the little changes that once felt out of reach. The peace in your family, the laughter that has returned, the patience that is growing. Those small things are miracles in motion. Maybe you used to yell more. Maybe bedtime used to be a battle. Maybe tension used to hang in every room. If any of that has shifted, even slightly, God has been at work.

Relationship Insight

If someone close to you is still "becoming," show them the same grace God has shown you. Celebrate progress, not perfection. Point out the growth you see in them. Sometimes people cannot see how far they have come until someone else tells them.

Mental Health Minute

When the enemy whispers, "You haven't changed at all," answer back with truth: "God's not finished, but He's already been faithful." Write down three ways you have grown in the past year. Keep that list visible. Your mind needs proof that progress is real, even when it feels invisible.

Financial Wisdom

Growth here takes time too. If you are budgeting, saving, or simply trying to be more intentional, celebrate the steps, not just the destination. Maybe you paid off one credit card. Maybe you stopped impulse buying. Maybe you started tithing or giving. Those are victories worth acknowledging.

Physical Health

Healing, strength, and self-discipline build slowly. Instead of frustration, thank God for giving you enough energy to keep going today. That is progress too. Maybe you are sleeping better. Maybe you are moving more. Maybe you are kinder to your body. Do not minimize those changes just because you are not "finished" yet.

You may notice there is no phone wallpaper in Wednesday's email. I will now be sharing new wallpapers every Sunday only, so you will still have something encouraging to carry into your week.

This change will also give me more space to expand what we are building together here. More time to write, create, and grow this ministry into new ways of reaching and encouraging people who need hope.

Thank YOU for being part of this journey. Your prayers, your messages, and your presence in this community mean more than you know.

"You're not where you were, and God's not done with where you're going."

P.S. If you are feeling discouraged by how far you still have to go, take a moment to look back at how far God has already brought you. That old version of you would be amazed by who you are becoming. Keep going.

Spread encouragement by inviting friends to join the Coffee With My Father community. Share it anywhere you connect with others: