Stories through the Wilderness
Learning to Be Uncomfortable Again
We live in a world that worships convenience, but somewhere along the way, we’ve confused comfort with peace. God doesn’t call us to a life of ease—He calls us to growth. Whether your discomfort looks like waiting, loneliness, or uncertainty, this reflection reminds you that every difficult season can draw you closer to His presence.
The Power of Baptism
Baptism has always been more than a ritual to me—it’s a promise of freedom. When I was thirteen, standing in the small sanctuary of our family church, I didn’t yet understand what it meant to die to self. I thought faith was about being good, following rules, and staying strong. Years later, I’ve learned it’s about surrender—letting go of control, fear, and pride so that God can make something new from what’s been broken.
Dying to self isn’t losing who we are; it’s finding freedom in who we were always meant to be.
When Fear Meets Faith
Fear has a way of whispering worst-case scenarios into the places where hope once lived. These past few weeks, I’ve been learning what it means to trust God in the waiting as I faced uncertainty about a lump found in my breast. Through tears, prayer, and the stories of others who’ve walked this road, I’ve been reminded that faith doesn’t silence fear — it steadies us through it.
Even in the unknown, God’s goodness has surrounded me — through my children’s laughter, my partner’s prayers, and the quiet moments where peace somehow outweighed panic. This season has reminded me that even when we don’t know the outcome, God already does. And His plans are always good, even when they’re hard to see.
🌿 Even in uncertainty, hope still grows.
Meeting Jesus in a Teenage Girl’s Diary
Sometimes God meets us in the simplest moments — a quiet summer afternoon, a well-worn book, a whisper beneath the trees. For me, it was through the pages of Diary of a Teenage Girl that faith became personal. That story led me to pray my first honest prayer and begin a lifelong relationship with Jesus. What started as a child’s search for peace became the seed of salvation that still shapes my life today — proof that God can use even the smallest stories to call us home.
The Invisible Burden of Growing Up in Two Worlds
Growing up between two worlds — one built on faith and structure, the other marked by addiction and chaos — left me carrying invisible burdens I couldn’t name. I learned to read every room, please everyone, and survive by adapting. What I once thought was rebellion was really a child trying to feel safe. Years later, God revealed how those survival patterns could be transformed into empathy, compassion, and purpose. Healing hasn’t meant erasing the past — it’s meant letting Him redeem it, one tender layer at a time.
Sobriety Prepared Me for This Moment
In one of the hardest waiting seasons of my life—waiting to learn if the lump in my breast is cancer—I’ve found an unexpected calm that can only be explained by grace. Seven years of sobriety have trained my heart to take life one day at a time, to surrender what I can’t control, and to trust the One who can. What once felt impossible—finding peace in uncertainty—has become proof of how God prepares us long before we know why. Sobriety didn’t just free me from addiction; it taught me how to wait with faith.
The Red-Headed Stepchild
Growing up between two homes — one built on faith and structure, the other on chaos and survival — I learned early what it meant to live in the tension of love and brokenness. Yet even in those divided spaces, God was quietly planting seeds of faith that would one day take root. The Red-Headed Stepchild is the first chapter of my Faith Story Series — a story of belonging, redemption, and the God who never stopped pursuing me, even when I felt lost between two worlds.
Faith, Fear, and Breast Cancer
This October, Breast Cancer Awareness Month feels more personal than ever. After finding a lump, I’ve been navigating a mix of fear, faith, and deep reflection. My journey isn’t just about waiting for test results—it’s about confronting old grief, remembering my mom’s battle with breast cancer, and learning to trust God’s peace in the midst of uncertainty. Whether this turns out to be nothing or something more, I know this: fear loses its power when we bring it into the light.
Finding Peace in the Hate
In a world filled with outrage and division, it’s easy to lose sight of grace. We’ve forgotten how to listen, how to love, and how to stand firm in truth without tearing one another down. This post explores what it means to find peace in the chaos—to rise above hate, to speak with compassion, and to live with the discipline and hope that Christ modeled for us.
Never Stop Advocating for Yourself
For years, I stayed quiet to keep the peace—afraid that speaking up would make me look difficult or ungrateful. But silence came with a cost. As women, we’re often taught to be agreeable, to avoid conflict, to smile and endure. Yet learning to advocate for ourselves is not only a mental health necessity—it’s an act of stewardship. In this post, I share two personal stories where using my voice saved me both time and money, and how persistence, faith, and a little courage helped me find my footing again. God calls us to live with strength and self-control, not fear. Advocacy is where bold faith meets everyday life.
Beyond the Mirror
Our reflection doesn’t always tell the truth. Over the years, I’ve wrestled with body image, weight changes, and stress that took a toll on both my mind and body. But through faith, I’ve learned that health isn’t about a number—it’s about how we feel, move, and live in the bodies God designed. The mirror may lie, but God never does. He calls us fearfully and wonderfully made.
Please Don’t Tell Me How to Grieve
Grief doesn’t follow rules or timelines—it’s as unique as the love that was lost. In this heartfelt reflection, I share the story of losing my dad at fifteen and the painful lesson I learned when others judged the way I grieved. Whether your grief is fresh or years old, this post is a reminder that healing looks different for everyone—and that compassion, not correction, is what the grieving heart needs most.
“Please Don’t Tell Me How to Grieve” invites readers to walk through loss with grace, presence, and faith, remembering that even in our deepest sorrow, God meets us with comfort and understanding.
Finding My Conservative Christian Voice
For most of my life, I struggled to speak up—first as a little girl told to be “seen and not heard,” and later as a woman afraid of saying the wrong thing. Finding my voice as a conservative Christian hasn’t been easy in a world that often silences faith, but God is teaching me courage. This is the story of how I learned to speak truth in love, even when my voice trembles.
Mental Health Crisis and My Call to Hope
Our nation is hurting—and so are its people. In this post, I share how my own battle with addiction and trauma opened my eyes to a deeper truth: lasting healing must include faith. Mental health tools help us cope, but only God can restore what’s broken. Even in a divided world, hope still has a name—and His name is Jesus.
Hineni — Here I Am
We all face seasons that feel like wilderness—lonely, uncertain, and full of questions. Yet even there, God is near. Hineni means “Here I am,” a simple, wholehearted response of faith and surrender. This post shares how God met me in my own wilderness—through addiction, grief, and redemption—and how His light continues to guide each step. If you’ve ever felt lost, this is a reminder that your story isn’t over. The wilderness may shape you, but it will not define you.
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We aren’t meant to journey through the wilderness alone—your voice matters here.