woman reading Bible verses of hope on the dock at sunrise

To the Woman Who’s Lost Her Sparkle: There is Hope

To the Woman Who’s Lost Her Sparkle,

It was a blustery fall day, one where the leaves zip past and dance to the rhythm of a wind that chills to the bone.  My errand list was a mile long and I was dreaming of a steaming cup of coffee and a warm blanket.

Rushing into the store, I saw you out of the corner of my eye.

You were hunched over,  your tattered sweater wrapped around you for warmth, obviously regretting the choice to leave without a jacket.

Your hair, although windblown, was greasy and in need of TLC.

Your face was devoid of makeup and it looked as though your clothes were plucked off the bathroom floor.

While it was true that you could use a makeover from head to toe, it wasn’t your clothes that caught my eye, it was your demeanor that had me riveted.

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You looked defeated.

From the furrowed brow to the frown lines creasing your face, you looked worn out, exhausted, and beat-up by life.

Your eyes, which probably once were merry and bright, were lackluster and dull.

You looked joyless and hopeless, longing for comfort from the life you lead.

For a fleeting moment I wanted to reach out and ease your pain.

There was so much I wanted to say, yet didn’t know how to bridge a gap between two strangers.

You beckoned for encouragement and I knew just what I would say if given the chance.

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“Friend, I know that life is overwhelming and oh, so hurried.

I know that you tirelessly work your fingers to the bone, often with no recognition or praise.

You silently serve others, not needing the cheer of a crowd or even your family to keep going.

I know you burn the candle at both ends, never fully getting quality sleep, just to get up and hit the ground running.

I know that you scrub toilets, cook dinner and mop floors,  just to do it all again the next day.

I know that you have needs and longings of the heart that go unfulfilled because you are taking care of others.

I know that you long for freedom from your burdens, to be free from the guilt of wanting more than your situation allows.

I know you once had big dreams but now, after all this time, aren’t sure who you are or where to go.

I know you wonder if your prime has passed and what your purpose is, but it’s not too late for you.

You still matter. You were made to sparkle.

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While life has been unexpected and harsh at times, you were made to thrive, to grab a hold of each new day and live it to the fullest.

You don’t have to live defeated and you can dare to dream again.

Your path in life is not a mistake and your life has meaning, even if you don’t see it.

There is hope on your journey and in the everyday mundane.

God has placed adventure on your heart and a cry for more of life on your tongue.

You were created to live empowered by Him and to be bold in your everyday life, even in the scrubbing and in the cleaning, doing it out of  thanksgiving for the life He has blessed you with.

God has put a longing for more inside of you and He created you to thirst for Him, not for things of this world.

He created you to pursue Him with a passion you can’t fully grasp, but to seek Him and have Him meet you where you are.

It’s ok to dream and to want more.  Let God, the author of your life, be the author of your dreams.

Don’t be afraid to step out in faith and boldness, to change your life and become who God is challenging you to be.

Let Him set you free from the drudgery of the mundane and let Him quench your thirst.

Let Him fill you with His love so you can radiate His joy to others.

Let Him inspire you to start living again, knowing that this world is temporary and we weren’t meant to be fulfilled here.

So my friend, the one I’ve never met, embrace whom God created you to be and run passionately after Him. God created you to sparkle!”

As I was jolted out of my deep thoughts, I stopped in my tracks.

I realized that the woman I saw and pitied, was really my reflection in the store’s window.

The woman who’d lost her sparkle was me.

“For God, who said, ‘Let the light shine out of the darkness’, made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light if the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.”

2 Corinthians 4:6

Are you desperate to regain your sparkle? Start by anchoring your soul in God’s truths and connect with Him on a regular basis to find joy!

Discover how to make a personal quiet time a reality as you lean into God and discover how to study the Bible on your own (even as a beginner!)

Here’s how I regained my sparkle- by finding joy in Jesus and complete soul satisfaction at the foot of the cross!

Learn more here

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71 Comments

      1. THIS HIT ME SO HARD, BECAUSE IT IS ME!! HOW CAN I DO WHAT GOD WANTS ME TO, WHEN I BARELY SURVIVE ON $800 A MONTH IN SOCIAL SECURITY. I AM SO VERY MUCH OVERWHELMED BY EVERYTHING. MEDS,ELECTRIC,WATER, FOOD ,MORTGAGE, PETS TO CARE FOR, AND AFTER ALL IS SAID AND DONE, ONLY A VERY SMALL AMOUNT OF MONEY LEFT, UNTIL THE NEXT MONTH, TO START ALL OVER AGAIN. :'( IT IS SO DEPRESSING, TO TRY TO MANAGE ON JUST A LITTLE MONEY EACH MONTH,AND TRY TO MAKE ENDS MEET, IT IS TERRIBLE. SO FRUSTRATED!!!

        1. I understand! Praying that God will reveal His plan to you and that you will be encouraged by His steadfast love!

  1. Wow powerful post! My daughter is scribbling down the picture quote!

  2. Great post! May we all learn to sparkle in times of pain, defeat, sadness, loneliness…

    This post inspires me to invite God into my whole being so that He may shine through me (and sparkle!) when I feel like I cannot shine my own light!

    1. Absolutely! It’s so true that we can and should invite God into every aspect of our lives, allowing Him to change us for His glory. Thanks so much for stopping by!

  3. Such a powerful and uplifting post. Truly written to encourage. Thank you so much. I have definitely had those times when I felt anything but a sparkle in my look, feelings and even my hope. Still I always had the glimpse – that mustard seed faith – that tomorrow would be better. Thank God for God. He is always able.

  4. Love this. Yes, I’ve been the woman who’s (temporarily) forgotten my sparkle and I’ve been in the path of others needing this reminder as well. Just this weekend, I met a stranger who reached out to me – defeated, depressed, scared. I will remember to lift her up in my prayers. Thank you for this reminder! Found your post from Written Reality Motivation Monday. God bless you!

    1. How awesome that someone who needed help actually reached out for it! Amazing how God brought that person into your life and path. I’ll be praying for her, too!

  5. I looooove this! Sometimes it feels like I’ve dulled my sparkle, but I always get that blingbling back. haha. Thanks for this encouragement. Most women, because of our selfless attitude really forget to shine. This is a very wonderful reminder to never lose the sparkle we have been given. It is innate in us to shine so let’s! The world will be brighter then. 🙂

    1. I totally agree! We are too busy serving others that we forget about ourselves and that we have a purpose outside of mothering. I’m so glad it reminded you of your ability to shine!

      1. Thank you all. This is so me. No money. Busy picking up toys clothes etc. Serving with no thanks. I had lost my sparkle.

        1. Sarah Ann says:

          Me, too, Sandy! I completely understand how the day to day can steal a woman’s sparkle. I’m praying for your heart as you seek the Lord for encouragement and purpose.

  6. This is just lovely. I think it was me with the greasy hair at the grocery store 🙂

    Thanks so much for sharing this with me at Spiritual Sundays! I’m honored.

    Enjoy your holiday weekend!

    Brittany

    1. Thanks, Brittany! I think we’ve all been there with the greasy hair. Thank you for hosting!

  7. I have lost my sparkle! I am losing hope. I am a mom a stepmom a wife and a daughter in law. I do the same thing everyday with little or no help. I dont feel appreciated or loved. I am losing hope fast. I am printing this post and will read it often hopefully It will help me push on and find my sparkle again.
    Thanks

    1. I completely understand! It’s so hard in these roles to remember that we are people too, but God does have a plan for the madness! Please keep in touch to let me know how you are doing! I’ll be praying hard for you!

      1. Thanks Sarah. It is nice to know I have someone praying for me. Both of my parents have passed away and I really don’t have any family or close friends. I feel very alone and I hate the holidays. I know I sound so negative. I look forward to reading more of your post.

        1. Tonya,

          Sometimes when life is hard, it’s hard to snap out of the negativity and the hurting. There are no apologies needed! I have been there often myself, but I know that reminding myself that only God can fill those empty spaces, not people or holidays, that helps me to get through those rough patches. Remembering that my Creator never leaves my side and is always with me, helps me to feel hope in Him and satisfies those deep hurts. Please stop by and let me know how you are doing. I know the holidays can be awful when you’re hurting! Hugs, sweet friend!

  8. Thanks for this post. I have lost my sparkle. Wake up to those daily demands. the pounding thoughts attack me how my life has been stolen because of….I know if I feed those thoughts they just get stronger, so I must re-set my thinking. today my prayer is, Jesus inspire me to start living again.

    1. Nina, You are not alone in this feeling! The enemy uses life itself to distract us, overwhelm us, and cause us to lose our focus. You are right in the fact that Jesus is the answer to start living again! My prayers are with you, friend, as you seek Him and He restores your joy!

  9. Oh this made me tear up. Thank you so much for your words of encouragement. They couldn’t have come at a better time. 🙂

    1. God bless you and know that while times may be tough, God is in control! He never wavers, and if you ask Him, He will restore your sparkle!

  10. You have no idea, how much I needed to read this post today! Thank you for sharing!

    1. I am so glad it was what you needed to hear! Many blessings to you!

  11. This is a breautiful and encouraging post. Thanks so much for sharing it! I’ve included it in my weekly round-up of favourite things around the web, remain blessed 🙂

    1. Angie, Thank you for including it in your round up! I’m thankful that it impacted you and pray you have a wonderful weekend!

  12. I love it. Such a good post. In the early days it can be hard to see out of the everyday.

    1. Thanks, Jessica! So true and great reminder that there is more to life than the everyday mundane. 🙂 Blessings to you!

  13. This is such a powerful message. I think we could all use this from time to time. Thanks for such a wonderful post

    1. Absolutely! I think too often we are too busy comparing ourselves or trying to be someone who we’re not, we miss who God created us to be!

  14. Beautiful words, inspiring message. Thanks for sharing <3 Much love to you!!

    1. Thank you so much! You are so kind and I’m flattered that it impacted you in some way. Many blessings to you!

  15. This is absolutely beautiful, Sarah Ann! I can see why this is one of your favorite articles to date. Well done, beautiful 🙂

  16. As a mom to two littles (2 and 11 months) there are days I totally feel like I’ve lost my sparkle. More often than not here lately. Thank you for the encouragement and reminders!

    1. I’m so glad it blessed you, Robbi! You’re not alone in this feeling! 🙂

  17. Sometimes I think I’ll never shine again. But when I am in Jesus arms I may reflect His light.

    1. I understand! I’ve been there at times myself, and am so thankful for the glory of His presence which shines through me!

  18. This is really, really powerful. I was actually not expecting the reflection part, how very true. I can’t wait to share this!

    1. Thank you, Christa! I am honored that this impacted you! God bless you!

  19. This is powerful! I needed this dose of encouragement to get back my sparkle;).

  20. My Husband died last year and it seems the sparkle just vanished. Although I pretend for the kids..

    1. I’m praying for you! I can only imagine how tough that must be. Hugs and prayers coming your way!

  21. WOW! It’s amazing how God brings us through the trials and heartache. It’s true that we may never be the same, but He brings us to a new place of security and humility in Him. I’m praying for your journey and that God continues to heal you and your children. 🙂

  22. Susan Horn says:

    So me I have no sparked any more and I shined do brightly once! Life has brought me down! I can’t seem to get up! I often say I wish I were me again!

    1. I think it’s a common problem that women tend to ignore. Seek the Lord and trust in His unconditional love!

  23. I want to cry in relief, fear, joy & sorrow because I could have sworn this was myself you described above. I found this via a dear friend sharing on her facebook wall & below is my comment to her. Thank you for your candor!
    “How do you do that?! Find & share the things that are like someone has been watching me, inside my head & my heart – it’s uncanny, unnerving, almost unbearable b/c it is so much of what I’ve thought & felt that I have believed shouldn’t be thought & felt b/c I am so very blessed by God, yet heartwarming, too, because – maybe, just maybe – I’m not as alone as I have sometimes felt & that, even more of a maybe, it’s not so bad to think & feel these things.
    Thank you, friend.”

    1. You are not alone, Katie! I understand exactly how you feel! Many blessings to you!

  24. Thus just hit home for me. Lately I feel like I just don’t know who I am. I feel like the enemy is doing everything possible to ruin my life. I feel worthless and ugly. I feel unappreciated and not as good as other women. Life can just be so hard.

    1. It sure can be hard, but God’s love is constant. He loves you just as you are! Hugs, friend!

  25. Cheryl Cratin says:

    I needed to be reminded of those things bc I have lost my sparkle. I used to be so full of life but lately just feel like I have no purpose anymore and began to have really dark thoughts. My daughter is not speaking to me bc I told her was wrong abt something, I have lived with a man for 3 years always trying to meet the terms he continues to set to be worthy of becoming his wife yet he will never commit and I have accepted that. My mother and father verbally abuse me and have for years and also tell my kids 21,18 & 12 how horrible I am and all the mistakes I have made constantly. I feel as if I have no one who loves me for me and yes, the sparkle has been gone for a long time.

    1. Cheryl, I am praying so hard for you! YOU matter to God and He loves you just as you are, without strings attach. May you find comfort in His hope and promises of peace today!

  26. Felicia ZK says:

    This is so me right now. Thank you so much for the encouragement. So grateful I found your blog today.

    1. Sarah Ann says:

      Thank you, Taria! I’m honored this encouraged you!

  27. I have felt this before, so so deeply. Thank you for encouraging me today while I am burnt out and exhausted. I haven’t lost my sparkle yet, and I’ll be remembering this throughout the day each time I think, “I am just so tired.”

    1. Sarah Ann says:

      I totally understand, Brittany! Many blessings (and much rest) to you!

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