We all have struggles we must lay at the feet of Jesus daily. If you ask me what one of mine is, I will tell you it’s the habit of trying to fit in. Not with the world, but with other Christians. This has led me down a dangerous path of caring more about my friends and family opinions than the plan the Lord had for me. I almost traded the wonderful blessings God had for me, for a role I wasn’t meant to fulfill. The role of people pleasing, one God never meant for anybody to pick up. It’s like trying to fit a square peg into a round hole. It doesn’t fit! I went down this road, until my husband set me down one day and told me he was concerned about the way I was going. I knew in my heart I wasn’t ever meant to fit in, but the path I was going down said otherwise. I will be honest. I am in a much better place now, but the struggle is real. It’s a battle I must lay at the feet of Jesus every single day.  But I will tell you one thing, there’s so much freedom in following Christ and His plan for my life, instead of trying to find validation in places I wasn’t meant to look.

The other day I started thinking about the area of surrender, and the beginning of my journey with finding God’s will. I was a scared 22-year-old stepping out on my own. God’s will seemed so far away. But I took the step of faith he asked of me. I can still remember how shaky those steps were. But I wasn’t seeking validation in others, I knew with my whole heart that those steps were from God. Here I am 3 years later, taking steps I never dreamed of taking, because of one day I decided to say “Yes” to God.

You see, what I have found, is God’s will isn’t some mysterious thing just waiting to be discovered. It’s us giving God control of our heart and lives every single day. It’s walking hand in hand with our Savior, and laying down our fleshly wants, to spend time with Him. It’s living Christlike in our actions and attitudes. It’s letting God conform us, instead of us trying to be like everyone else. It’s saying “Yes” to God with no strings attach. Surrender is an everyday, every moment thing we need to do. It says I will lay down my wants, my wishes, and give my heart and life over to my Savior. I’m not doing what I’m doing because God just randomly told me to do it. Instead, I am here today because one day I let go of the role of people pleasing, took hold of the hand of my Jesus, and told Him “not my will but thine.”

This post is for my single sisters, and before you tune me out, just read. 🙂 It’s not what you think. I’m not going to give you a “talk” so you can breathe, ok? It wasn’t that long ago I was single, and I got tired of all the advice for singleness. I just wanted to serve my Jesus, not be told why I was still single. I still remember the ache in my heart when Valentine’s Day would come around, and it was just me and my lonesome. I tuned it out, and pretended February 14 didn’t exist. So I see you over there, and my heart gives you a hug. though I wish I didn’t tune it out. I wish I turned it into a “mental health day” for myself. If I could go back and give my single self advise, this is what I would tell her:

Remember the one who loved you first. Remember His love is unconditional, and unlike earthly love, His love is Forever. I would have told myself to take the day, just Him and I, and spend the time with my Jesus. In His word, journaling, listening to some worship music.

Here’s a list of ideas I would give my single self:

1. Treat myself to my favorite treat

2. Take the day as is, no pressure, no schedule

3. Sit at a coffee shop and Bible study

4. Get my single friends together and have a girls day. Maybe do a “spa day” gift basket exchange, or exchange encouraging notes with each other.

5. Think of someone I know that needs encouragement and put together a thoughtful gift basket for them

I love you sweet sisters and I hope this is inspiring to you!

In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; Ephesians 1:7

Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. Titus 2:13-14

For several weeks now I’ve seen social media posts about having a word of the year. I’ve been in churches where we had a theme for the year, but doing so personally was a new concept for me. We are 7 days into the new year, and nothing has come to mind or to heart. What I do know is the Lord wants me to be more diligent in my prayer and Bible reading. I know that I want this year to count for my Jesus, and I know what He has called me to do right now. I know I want to keep healing, and drawing closer to my Savior. Though I may not have found a “word” I see the clear path the Lord wants me to take today. I will walk with Jesus today, and leave tomorrow up to Him.

In my contemplation about 2026, the phrase “Walking Redeemed” came to mind. A dear friend just recently passed, and I was thinking about what it would be like to live each day as if it was my last. The day to day stuff that irritated me, seemed so small compared to eternity. The burdens of life, the attacks from the enemy, the brokenness from the past often gets the best of me.

I want to claim the promises of God as my own, to live in his love, mercy, and grace, to take on the armer of God daily, and to walk redeemed. Jesus gave me a bright hope for tomorrow and all eternity. I want to live it every single day! This doesn’t mean the scars are gone, it doesn’t mean nothing has to bother me ever again. But it does mean that no matter what happens, I want to follow rest in the fact that nothing takes God by surprise. He’s got me. No matter what happens, He will work everything out for my good and His glory. I may not see it in this life, but I need to trust that no matter what, for He’s got a purpose for the things that I go through.

My challenge for you is to look up the wonderful promises of God and claim them as your own! Live in the wonderful fact that Jesus gave us a bright hope for eternity, with His finished work on the cross. Let your heart swell with joy knowing that in the end Jesus wins! This doesn’t mean everything will be just peachy. The heartaches of this world aren’t promised to be taken from us. But we can rest in the fact that Jesus redeemed us, we are one of his, and he has us every step of the way. Let us trust and obey Him!

Dear sisters in Christ, Are you where you thought you would be 5 years ago? How about 1 year ago? Honestly, if me from 5 years ago could have a conversation with the me today, it would be a hard one. It wouldn’t be the flowers and sunshine she had hoped. I would tell her to look up, stay grounded in the Lord, for it would be a long road ahead before she’d see the light. I would break the news to her, that those people she thought had her back, didn’t even want the best for her. I would tell her not to lose hope, because YES! God saw, and He cared. The me from 1 year ago, I would tell her, she’s doing amazing! Her growth in God was undeniable, even in the hardship. I would tell her that even though things were going great at work and at church, to not lose focus on the God who created her, and gave her purpose. Because His opinion was the only one that mattered. I would tell her that the best was yet to come, yet it couldn’t come without more brokenness. The me today is a result of the me yesterday, and I wouldn’t change a single thing. The brokenness, the mistrust, feeling like I could never love again, I would not change. Because if it wasn’t for the lost of yesterday, I wouldn’t have the love for Christ that I have today. If it wasn’t for the pain of days gone by, I wouldn’t be on fire for the one who loved me first. He never left, always was there, and gave me a burning desire to be used in the life of others. Those lonely hours was used to give me a vision. A vision to love others the way God intended. To mentor them, and show them there is a way out of the bondage. I’m not perfect, I still have days I don’t get it, I cry, and it still hurts. But I no longer fight  alone, because I know the one who is the hope for tomorrow. And He IS mine! Dear sister, Some days it’s going to feel like a lot. Some days you aren’t going to know how you will make it to tomorrow. I know. God sees, He understands, He knows so much better then I do, and loves you so, so, much, and waiting for you to love Him back. He’s not going to leave you, He never changes, and never has a secret motive in mind. Take His hand, give him your broken heart, and let Him have complete control of the healing process. God loves you, and so do I!

“Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” 1 Peter 5:7