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I didn’t mean to spiral. Honestly, it usually starts with something small—losing track of time, overcommitting, saying yes to too many things that felt manageable in theory. But before long, I’m overwhelmed, avoiding tasks, snapping at people I love, and slowly morphing into a grumpy emotional turtle with a phone addiction. It’s not dramatic. It’s subtle. And yet somehow, I find myself stuck in the same old 6-step cycle of disengaging from everything that actually matters.

I call it “The Spiral,” and my personal version goes like this: lost control of time → overloaded → disappointed someone → emotional withdrawal → excessive media consumption → shame → isolation. Maybe yours looks a little different, but chances are, you’ve danced with it too. It’s the kind of loop that creeps in quietly and ends up affecting your relationships, your faith, and your sense of self. It’s not that we’re trying to self-sabotage—it’s just that when we’re tired and overwhelmed, distraction feels easier than restoration.

But here’s the problem: distraction doesn’t heal. Shame doesn’t motivate. And isolation doesn’t lead to clarity—it just makes the spiral deeper. What I’ve found is that breaking the cycle doesn’t require a heroic fix—it requires a small, deliberate interruption. A prayer. A text to a friend. A step outside. A whispered, “Jesus, I’m not okay.” That tiny act of resistance is often the beginning of the turnaround.

The beauty of the gospel is that God doesn’t wait for us at the bottom of the spiral with a clipboard and a lecture. He runs toward us while we’re still in it. Just like the father in the story of the prodigal son, He’s watching from the porch, waiting for even the smallest sign that we’re ready to come home. And when we do, He doesn’t shame us—He restores us. Every time.

So if you’re stuck in the spiral this week, you’re not alone—and you’re not broken beyond repair. You’re human. And there’s a way back. God’s grace is not just for the big dramatic failures—it’s for the quiet spirals too. The ones no one sees. The ones that start with busyness and end in numbness. The spiral may be familiar, but it’s not final. You’re loved, you’re seen, and you still belong.