Devotional #2-Day 2: Separating the Bones
Opening Stillness
Take a slow breath in.
Exhale slowly.
You are allowed to learn without blaming yourself.
Scripture (English Standard Version -ESV)
“But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.” - Hebrews 5:14
Reflection
Discernment is a learned skill.
No one sits down to eat fish already knowing where every bone is hidden. You learn by paying attention - by slowing down - by noticing what nourishes you and what wounds you when you swallow too fast.
Some experiences fed you and hurt you.
Some people loved you and disappointed you.
Some seasons strengthened you and cost you everything.
Maturity doesn’t require you to rewrite the story or pretend the bones weren’t there. It simply asks you to separate.
The mistake many of us make is assuming we have to either honor the whole experience or reject it entirely. But wisdom allows for both gratitude and release. You can appreciate what was good without defending what was harmful.
This is what Scripture call training. Not punishment. Not perfection. Practice.
Discernment grows every time you pause long enough to ask, “What part of this can I keep - and what must I let go?
Soul Question
What part of an experience has fed you, even if the whole experience did not?
Prayer
God, train my heart to recognize what is good and life-giving. Help me name what hurt without shame or denial. Give me wisdom to separate from what no longer belongs. Amen.
Closing Invitation
Imagine holding an experience in your hands.
Gently set aside what is sharp. Notice what remains.
That’s the part you’re allowed to keep.
