Grow in Grace

Tag: #smallsteps

  • The Quiet Evidence of Growth

    The Quiet Evidence of Growth

    By: Wendy Morris

    Sometimes I find myself wondering how much my faith has really changed over the years.

    After everything I’ve walked through—the heartbreak, betrayal, disappointments, healing, and countless lessons God has faithfully carried me through—I occasionally wonder if I’m really that different.

    At first, I think maybe I’m not.

    Then I look at my life.

    I notice that situations which once would have sent me into anxiety, fear, or panic no longer have the same hold on me. My mind doesn’t immediately race to the worst-case scenario. I don’t feel the same desperate need to control every outcome or figure everything out on my own.

    Instead, I pause.

    I pray.

    I trust.

    That doesn’t mean I never struggle or that I’ve somehow “arrived.” It simply means God has been quietly transforming me from the inside out.

    And maybe that’s what spiritual growth often looks like—not dramatic moments everyone can see, but subtle changes in the way we respond to everyday life.

    The greatest evidence of my growth isn’t that life has become easier.

    It’s that what once shook me no longer has the power to move me.

    As I’ve reflected on that, I’ve noticed something else changing in me.

    I’ve become content.

    Not because everything in my life is exactly how I hoped it would be.

    Not because every dream has come true.

    Not because I’ve stopped wanting good things.

    But because I’ve stopped believing those things are responsible for my happiness.

    There was a time when I was always looking for the next thing that I thought would finally make me feel complete.

    Maybe it was another accomplishment.

    Maybe it was a new opportunity.

    Maybe it was finally finding the right relationship.

    I lived as though peace was always waiting somewhere in the future—just one answered prayer, one achievement, or one person away.

    But every time I reached what I thought would satisfy me, the feeling eventually faded, and I found myself searching again.

    Looking back, I realize I wasn’t really chasing those things.

    I was chasing peace.

    And peace was never something another person or another accomplishment could give me.

    Over time, through surrender, obedience, and allowing God to heal the deepest places of my heart, something changed.

    The void I spent years trying to fill slowly disappeared.

    Not because life became perfect.

    Not because I suddenly had everything I’d ever wanted.

    But because God was changing me.

    He was renewing my mind.

    He was teaching me that lasting peace isn’t found in circumstances. It isn’t found in relationships. It isn’t found in success.

    It is found in Him.

    Now I can honestly say something I never thought I would.

    I enjoy my own company.

    I can sit quietly with myself without feeling lonely.

    I can experience joy in an ordinary day.

    I can embrace this season of life without constantly wishing it away.

    If God chooses to bring someone into my life one day, I’ll welcome that as a beautiful gift.

    If new opportunities come, I’ll be grateful.

    If dreams are fulfilled, I’ll celebrate them.

    But none of those things are responsible for making me whole.

    They can add to my joy.

    They just don’t create it.

    That has been one of the greatest freedoms I’ve ever experienced.

    It’s taken years to reach this place.

    Years of healing.

    Years of facing hard truths.

    Years of surrendering control.

    Years of allowing God to replace fear with trust, striving with surrender, and insecurity with confidence in Him.

    When I look back now, I don’t just see someone who survived difficult seasons.

    I see someone whose mind has been renewed.

    Someone who no longer looks outside herself for what God has already placed within her through His presence.

    The woman I am today still has dreams.

    She still hopes.

    She still prays for what’s ahead.

    But she’s no longer waiting for something—or someone—to make her life meaningful.

    She has learned that contentment isn’t the absence of desire.

    It’s the presence of peace.

    The Apostle Paul wrote, “I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances” (Philippians 4:11).

    Notice he said he learned it.

    Contentment wasn’t instant.

    It was cultivated.

    Looking back, I realize that’s exactly what God has been doing in my life all along.

    He wasn’t simply changing my circumstances.

    He was changing me.

    And perhaps that’s His greatest miracle in my story.

    Reflection Questions

    1. What situations no longer affect you the way they once did, and what does that reveal about your growth?
    2. Are you looking to a person, achievement, or future circumstance to provide the peace only God can give?
    3. What evidence can you see that God has been renewing your mind?
    4. How can you choose gratitude and contentment in your current season while still trusting God for what lies ahead?

    Prayer

    Father, thank You for the quiet work You have done in my heart. Thank You for healing places I thought would always remain broken and for renewing my mind through Your truth. Thank You that my peace no longer depends on my circumstances but on Your presence. Continue to teach me to live with open hands, grateful for every blessing You give while remaining fully satisfied in You. Help me to trust Your timing, embrace each season with joy, and reflect the freedom that comes from knowing You are enough. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

    —Wendy

  • Are You Running From Your Own Healing?

    Are You Running From Your Own Healing?

    By: Wendy Morris

    “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” — Psalm 147:3

    Are you running?

    “Are you running from your own healing?”

    It’s a simple question, yet it has the power to reveal what we’ve been avoiding for far too long.

    Healing isn’t always about time passing. Sometimes it’s about being willing to face the very things we’ve spent years trying to escape. We stay busy. We distract ourselves with work. We jump from relationship to relationship. We pour ourselves into everyone else. We bury our emotions beneath constant activity.

    But eventually, what remains unhealed asks for our attention.

    Many of us wonder why we continue struggling with the same fears, insecurities, unhealthy patterns, or emotional triggers. Maybe the better question isn’t, “Why am I still struggling?” but rather:

    • Am I avoiding difficult emotions instead of processing them?
    • Am I seeking temporary comfort instead of lasting healing?
    • Am I willing to let God reveal the places in my heart that still need His healing touch?

    My Own Journey

    During my own healing journey, I found myself doing the work—but also fighting it.

    I wanted healing, yet I struggled to fully surrender. Loneliness often convinced me that what I needed was another person in my life. I believed that if I just had companionship, the emptiness would disappear. Looking back, I realize I wasn’t truly looking for a relationship—I was looking for relief.

    While God was trying to heal the deeper places in my heart, I was sometimes looking for someone else to fill what only He could.

    God patiently began revealing that the issue wasn’t simply loneliness. It was the belief that another person’s presence could make me whole.

    He showed me that before I could build healthy relationships with someone else, I needed to learn how to sit with my own emotions. I needed to process my pain instead of running from it. I needed to understand why I felt incomplete on my own. Most importantly, I needed to find my identity in Christ instead of another person.

    That was one of the hardest lessons I’ve ever learned.

    Healing Requires Surrender

    Healing requires courage because it asks us to stop running and start surrendering.

    It means allowing God into the painful places we’d rather keep hidden. It means acknowledging the wounds instead of pretending they no longer exist.

    The beautiful part is that God never exposes our wounds to shame us. He reveals them so He can heal them.

    As I surrendered more of my heart to Him, something began to change.

    The loneliness that once controlled my decisions slowly lost its grip. My need for validation from others became less important. I learned to enjoy my own company. I began loving the woman God created me to be.

    I realized that wholeness isn’t found in another person—it is found in Christ.

    Relationships are a gift from God, but they were never meant to become our source of completeness.

    Freedom is Found in Him

    The freedom we long for is often found on the other side of obedience, honesty, and surrender.

    While the healing process may be uncomfortable, it produces something that temporary distractions never can—peace, freedom, confidence, and true wholeness.

    Looking back now, I don’t believe God was withholding something good from me during my waiting season.

    He was preparing me.

    He was teaching me to become whole in Him before asking someone else to walk beside me.

    What once felt like loneliness became an invitation to know God more deeply. The more I learned to love the person He created me to be, the less I depended on others to fill a place they were never meant to occupy.

    Now I understand that healing isn’t about becoming perfect.

    It’s about becoming surrendered.

    God’ Promise

    “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” — Psalm 147:3

    God never asks us to heal ourselves.

    He simply asks us to bring our brokenness to Him.

    The places you’ve been trying to hide may be the very places where His grace wants to meet you.

    Stop running.

    Your healing is waiting.

    Reflection Questions

    1. What emotions or situations have I been avoiding instead of processing?
    2. Where have I been seeking temporary comfort instead of lasting healing?
    3. Is there an area of my life I haven’t fully surrendered to God?
    4. Am I looking to another person to provide what only God can provide?
    5. What is one step of obedience God is asking me to take today?

    Prayer

    Father,

    Search my heart and reveal the places where I have been running instead of healing. Give me the courage to face the wounds I’ve tried to ignore and the faith to trust You with every broken place.

    Help me stop seeking temporary comfort and begin pursuing the lasting peace that only You can give. Teach me to find my identity, security, joy, and worth in You alone.

    When loneliness tempts me to settle for less than Your best, remind me that You are enough. Continue Your work in me until my heart is fully surrendered and my life reflects Your goodness and Your faithfulness.

    Thank You for being the God who heals the brokenhearted and binds up our wounds with compassion and unfailing love.

    In Jesus’ name,

    Amen.

    —Wendy

  • When Healing Taught Me My Worth

    When Healing Taught Me My Worth

    By: Wendy Morris

    After my divorce and everything I went through, I was left carrying insecurity, low self-worth, and an emptiness I couldn’t seem to shake — no matter how many people I surrounded myself with.

    I searched for comfort in distractions, conversations, staying busy, and even in being there for everyone else. I looked for healing in places, people, attention, and temporary comfort, hoping something external could quiet the pain I was carrying internally. But at the end of the day, when everything got quiet, I still had to face the parts of myself that were hurting. The rejection, betrayal, confusion, and grief had left wounds deeper than anyone could see.

    What I’ve learned is that brokenness does not always show up loudly. Sometimes it hides behind a smile, productivity, success, or being “strong” for everyone else. Sometimes you can look like you’re functioning while silently questioning your value.

    I think one of the hardest parts after heartbreak is rebuilding the relationship you have with yourself. Learning that someone else’s inability to love you correctly does not determine your worth. Learning that being abandoned, lied to, or hurt does not make you unlovable.

    For a long time, I struggled with trying to find validation and companionship in other people. I wanted to feel chosen, wanted, valued, and loved so badly that I kept looking for things outside of myself to fill what was broken within me. But it was always temporary. No matter who was around, no matter the attention, conversations, or companionship, I never truly felt whole.

    Temporary companionship and temporary pleasures always eventually left me feeling emptier than before. At some point, I would always find myself feeling less than, overlooked, or questioning my worth all over again.

    Healing forced me to slow down and really look inward. To stop trying to fill emotional emptiness with temporary things and start allowing God to heal the places in me I kept trying to avoid. Because the truth is, no person can fully heal wounds they didn’t create in the first place.

    There were days I questioned everything about myself. Days I felt emotionally exhausted from carrying pain no one fully understood. Days I searched for reassurance from people instead of resting in God’s truth about me. But somewhere along the way, God slowly began restoring the parts of me that trauma tried to destroy. Not overnight. Not instantly. But little by little.

    Bible Psalm 34:18 says:

    “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.”

    And honestly, I clung to that. Because there were moments I truly felt crushed in spirit.

    God showed me over time that all I truly needed was Him. And honestly, one of the most healing things I ever did was finally start putting myself first in healthy ways. I started loving myself. Pouring into myself. Spending time with God. Protecting my peace. Working on my healing instead of running from it.

    That is when something inside me started changing.

    I began realizing I deserved more.

    Not from a place of pride or believing I am better than anyone else, but from finally understanding the kind of love, loyalty, effort, and care I give to others. I know what I bring into relationships, and I also know now that I should not settle for anything less than what is healthy, honest, peaceful, and aligned with God.

    My standards started rising, and honestly, I find them rising all the time the more I heal and grow.

    I started realizing my worth was never tied to who stayed, who left, or who failed to see my value. My worth was always found in who God says I am.

    Healing is not linear. Some days you feel strong. Other days old emotions resurface out of nowhere. But growth is learning not to unpack and live there anymore. It’s learning to give yourself grace while continuing to move forward.

    Looking back now, I can see how God used even my pain to teach me discernment, boundaries, strength, and dependence on Him instead of people. The emptiness I once tried so hard to fill with external things slowly began being replaced with peace. Real peace.

    Not because life suddenly became perfect, but because I finally understood that healing begins when you stop chasing validation from others and start believing what God already says about you.

    Now, more than anything, I choose to chase Jesus. And if someday a man values that and is also chasing Jesus wholeheartedly too, then maybe that is exactly what I need. Not someone to complete me, because God has already been restoring that within me, but someone equally committed to growing, healing, loving well, and keeping God at the center.

    Reflection Questions

    • Have I been searching for validation in people instead of God?
    • What areas of my life still need healing?
    • Am I settling for temporary comfort because I’m afraid of being alone?
    • What would it look like to truly believe my worth comes from God?
    • How can I start pouring into myself in healthier ways?

    Closing Prayer

    God, thank You for staying with me even in the moments I felt broken, rejected, and lost. Thank You for slowly restoring the parts of me that pain tried to destroy. Help me continue healing in the areas where insecurity and emptiness still try to linger. Teach me to fully believe what You say about me instead of seeking validation from people. Give me discernment, peace, healthy boundaries, and the strength to never settle for less than what You desire for my life. Help me continue chasing You above everything else, trusting that what is meant for me will never require me to abandon myself or compromise my peace. Amen.

    —Wendy

  • When Faith Is Strong but Your Heart Is Still Scared

    When Faith Is Strong but Your Heart Is Still Scared

    By: Wendy Morris

    There are moments in life where your faith can be strong, yet your heart still hurts.

    I think sometimes people assume that if you truly trust God, you will never feel fear, sadness, frustration, or exhaustion. But that simply is not true. We are human. We carry emotions, uncertainty, and the weight of difficult seasons while still believing God is good.

    Right now, I am in a waiting season in more ways than one.

    And waiting is hard.

    As a nurse, my mind naturally goes to the worst possible scenarios. After years of taking care of people in some of the hardest moments of their lives, it becomes difficult not to think through every outcome. My mind wants answers immediately. It wants certainty. It wants relief before the process is even over.

    But faith does not always work that way.

    Sometimes faith means waiting.

    Sometimes faith means trusting God before you have answers.

    And if I am being completely honest, it hurts processing some of this alone.

    There are moments I want to scream, cry, get angry, and just let every emotion pour out of me. Moments where my heart feels exhausted from carrying the unknown. Moments where I wish someone could simply sit beside me while my heart feels heavy.

    Because sometimes you do not need advice.
    Sometimes you just need comfort.
    A hug.
    A conversation.
    Someone willing to sit with you in silence while you process what you are carrying.

    But even in those moments, I hear that still, small voice reminding me:

    Remember the peace you have now that you once begged God for.

    Remember when you lost yourself trying to save and love everyone else, and now you finally know your worth.

    Remember when you did not know how you were going to pay your bills, and now God has sustained you and allowed you to support yourself for years on your own.

    Remember when you raised three children basically alone, and they grew into good, independent adults.

    Remember the moments you thought you could not survive another day, yet somehow God gave you strength to keep going.

    Remember how much you have grown spiritually.

    Remember the relationship with God that changed your entire life.

    Remember when you used to care so deeply about what people thought of you, and now your greatest desire is simply to please God.

    And through every season, every heartbreak, every struggle, and every unknown… God has never failed you.

    Not once.

    Psalm 121:1-2 says:

    “I lift up my eyes to the mountains— where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.”

    Even now, while waiting on a procedure that could either change my entire world or bring relief, I know where my help comes from.

    But I would be lying if I said it does not scare me.

    Being a nurse is not easy when you suddenly find yourself on the patient side of things. Knowing too much can sometimes become its own burden. You understand the possibilities. You understand the paths certain outcomes could lead to. And while knowledge can be helpful, it can also make fear louder.

    That is why I have to remind myself daily whose voice I am listening to.

    Because the enemy speaks in confusion, fear, lies, anxiety, and uncertainty.

    But God speaks peace.

    2 Timothy 1:7 says:

    “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”

    The enemy wants us isolated in fear.
    God calls us back to truth.

    So when fear tries to creep in, I speak the name of Jesus.

    I get in the Word.

    I remind myself that no matter what happens, God will still be God tomorrow just like He is today.

    He has carried me through every hard season before this one, and He will carry me through this too.

    John 14:27 says:

    “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

    Maybe that is what faith really looks like sometimes.

    Not pretending you are not scared.
    Not pretending everything feels okay.

    But choosing to trust God anyway.

    Choosing to keep showing up.

    Choosing to keep believing even while your hands tremble.

    And maybe someone else needs to hear this today too:

    You are allowed to feel.
    You are allowed to be tired.
    You are allowed to admit this season is hard.

    But do not forget everything God has already brought you through.

    The same God who carried you then is carrying you now.

    Reflection Questions:

    1. Am I listening to fear or to God’s truth in this season?
    2. Where have I already seen God’s faithfulness in my life?
    3. What am I trying to carry alone that I need to surrender to God?
    4. How has this season strengthened me spiritually?
    5. What does choosing faith over fear look like for me today?

    Closing Prayer

    Lord,
    Thank You for being my peace in the middle of uncertainty. Even when fear tries to creep in and my mind feels overwhelmed, remind me that You are still in control. Help me to trust You in the waiting, even when I do not have answers yet.

    Strengthen my heart when I feel tired. Calm my mind when fear grows loud. Remind me of every season You have already carried me through and help me never forget Your faithfulness.

    Teach me to listen to Your voice over fear, confusion, and doubt. Fill me with peace that only You can give. And no matter what lies ahead, help me continue walking by faith and not by fear.

    Thank You for never leaving me, never failing me, and never letting go of me.

    In Jesus’ name,
    Amen.

    —Wendy

  • Intentional Time With God

    Intentional Time With God

    By: Wendy Morris

    There’s something I’ve been thinking about lately…

    Do you actually read the Bible daily?
    Do you truly make an effort to get into the Word and allow the Holy Spirit to speak to you?

    I think we’re all guilty at times of saying we’re “too busy” or “don’t have enough time” to do it consistently — or sometimes at all.

    I know I am.

    But I’ve found that when I make it a priority, when I become intentional and disciplined about spending time with God, He always provides exactly what I need in that moment. Every single time.

    What amazes me is that I can read the same scripture or the same Bible story I’ve read many times before, and somehow the Holy Spirit reveals something completely new to me each time. How powerful is that?

    The Power of God’s Word

    “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword…” — Hebrews 4:12

    “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” — Psalm 119:105

    We make time for so many other things in life.

    We schedule appointments we need.
    We go to our favorite sporting events.
    We make sure our kids never miss practice.
    We go to the gym faithfully.
    We watch our favorite TV shows.
    We never miss a concert.

    Yet somehow, we struggle to make time for God — our Savior, our comforter, our strength, our help in times of trouble.

    Make it make sense.

    Discipline In Fitness and Faith

    Over the last year and a half, my fitness journey has also become a spiritual journey.

    I’ve become more intentional with my walk with God because of the discipline I developed through fitness. I realized fitness and health are about so much more than losing weight, gaining muscle, or building endurance. Fitness changes your spirit and your mindset too.

    Those of you who are committed to physical fitness probably understand exactly what I mean.

    You start seeing physical changes, but you also begin to notice mental and emotional changes. Maybe it’s the quiet time during workouts that gives you space to think. Maybe it’s spending time with God while you walk, run, lift weights, or simply breathe and reflect.

    I’m not entirely sure what it is.

    But I do know this:

    If I can discipline myself to consistently go to the gym and take care of my physical body, then I can discipline myself to grow my relationship with Jesus too.

    “For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things…” — 1 Timothy 4:8

    That’s what He desires from us — relationship.

    “Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.” — James 4:8

    For a long time, I thought I already had a strong relationship with God because of all the difficult things I had survived in life. I knew Him in my pain. I knew Him in my heartbreak. I knew Him in my struggles.

    But I never realized how much deeper that relationship could become when I spent intentional time with Him — not only on my bad days or when I desperately needed help, but also on the days when life felt good.

    A Different Perspective

    Jesus has shown me a completely different perspective on life.

    Disappointments don’t hit the same when I trust that God is working all things together for my good. I find peace knowing He sees what I cannot see and protects me from things I may never fully understand.

    “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him…” — Romans 8:28

    And for that, I’m thankful.

    Even in painful seasons, He always finds a way to remind me how blessed I truly am.

    He continues to show me that He is the way, the truth, and the life. That there is purpose in everything — every season, every delay, every relationship, every lesson, every closed door, and every blessing.

    “Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life.’” — John 14:6

    Now, I look for His purpose in everything I do and in every person I meet.

    Don’t get me wrong — it isn’t easy.

    But it has all been worth it.

    As I look back over every season of my life, I realize I’m not the same person I used to be. I’ve become more intentional with everything: my relationships, my fitness, my work, and most importantly, my time with God.

    Does having a big heart sometimes lead to disappointment or hurt?

    Absolutely.

    But I’ve learned that the good far outweighs the bad.

    Growing Through Every Season

    “Let us not grow weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” — Galatians 6:97

    Honestly, I’m excited to see what God has for me in this season of my life.

    Each season has changed me. Strengthened me. Refined me.

    And I know He’s not finished with me yet.

    Reflection Question

    What are you consistently making time for — and where does God fit within those priorities?

    Closing Prayer

    Lord, thank You for never giving up on us, even when we become distracted, busy, or inconsistent. Help us become more intentional in our time with You. Teach us discipline not only in our physical lives, but in our spiritual lives as well. Open our hearts to hear Your voice through Your Word and allow the Holy Spirit to guide us daily. Thank You for every season, every lesson, and every blessing — even the painful ones. Continue shaping us into who You created us to be. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

    —Wendy

  • Stepping Out in Faith: Leaving What Was, Trusting What’s Ahead

    Stepping Out in Faith: Leaving What Was, Trusting What’s Ahead

    As I look around my house while packing to move, I’m surrounded by so many precious memories from the last five years. I didn’t think I would get emotional—but here I am, tears streaming down my face.

    Not because I’m sad… but because I can’t quite put into words what I’m feeling.

    There are so many mixed emotions.

    This isn’t my first time moving—in fact, I’ve moved more times than I can count. But this place… this place is different. It holds so much meaning. It’s the home where my last two children lived with me. It’s what my grandbabies know as “my house.” It’s where I finally found peace in my life with the Lord.

    And that kind of peace changes everything.

    I am excited about the next chapter of my life. I don’t know what it will bring—but that’s the beauty of it. I’m choosing to let God write the rest of my story. Because, honestly, when I try to write it myself, it always seems to fall apart one way or another.

    God has never left me—not once. But He has allowed me to make my own choices. And through those choices, I’ve learned many lessons… often the hard way.

    But even in the pain, there was purpose.

    Because every time I found myself broken, it brought me to my knees before Jesus. And in those moments, I was reminded exactly where my help comes from.

    “I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.” — Psalm 121:1–2

    I truly believe God has something better for me than anything I could ever imagine. So this time, I’m choosing to wait on Him—because I don’t think my heart can handle breaking again.

    “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” — Jeremiah 29:11

    Right now, I’m stepping out in complete faith.

    I haven’t even sold my house yet—but I’m moving anyway. I’m moving closer to my family, my work, my friends, and my church.

    “For we live by faith, not by sight.” — 2 Corinthians 5:7

    I’ve been attending this church for about six months now. Some coworkers invited me, and I’m so grateful they did. I go alone every Sunday—and honestly, I’ve only missed a couple of Sunday nights and Wednesday nights.

    What I’ve found there is something special.

    I’ve met incredible people who check on me, who notice when something feels off, and who genuinely care. They will never fully know how much that means to me.

    More than that, I’ve been in God’s Word every single day—studying, learning, and growing. And when I tell you it has brought me clarity and discernment, I truly mean it.

    It’s like when I don’t know what to do, there’s this quiet voice inside me guiding me.

    I call those “God winks.”

    The Holy Spirit.

    “But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth…” — John 16:13

    But we have to be willing to hear it. We have to prepare our hearts daily—not just when life gets hard.

    Think about it—would you want your children to only talk to you when they needed something or were in trouble?

    God doesn’t want that kind of relationship with us either.

    “Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you…” — James 4:8

    Being a “good person” isn’t the goal.

    Faithfulness is.

    To me, being faithful means stepping out of my comfort zone and following where the Holy Spirit leads—even when it doesn’t make sense.

    Last Sunday, during praise and worship, I felt that nudge. Before I even realized what I was doing, I was walking to the altar.

    I was alone. I only knew a few people there. And if it had been up to me, I probably wouldn’t have done it out of fear.

    But it wasn’t just me.

    “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” — 2 Timothy 1:7

    And that moment reminded me of something powerful—

    We can block our own blessings by living in fear.

    We stay in what’s familiar. We choose comfort. We avoid risk because we don’t want to get hurt again. But in doing that, we try to control our own lives instead of trusting God completely.

    I’ve lived that way.

    For years.

    But when I finally recognized it, everything began to change.

    “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.” — Proverbs 3:5–6

    I’m still a work in progress. There are days I can almost hear the Holy Spirit whisper, “Stop trying to control it.”

    And I’m learning to listen.

    “Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him…” — Psalm 37:7

    I’m so thankful for how far I’ve come in my walk with the Lord. But even more than that—I’m excited about where I’m going.

    I’m ready.

    “Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal…” — Philippians 3:13–14

    Closing Prayer

    Heavenly Father,

    Thank You for every season—both the ones I understand and the ones I don’t. Thank You for the memories held within these walls and for the peace You gave me here. As I step into a new chapter, I trust that You are already there, preparing the way before me.

    Lord, help me to fully surrender my plans, my fears, and my need for control. Teach me to walk by faith and not by sight, even when the path feels uncertain. When I am tempted to go back to what is comfortable, remind me of the growth that comes from trusting You completely.

    Strengthen my heart so it no longer fears what could go wrong, but instead rests in the truth of who You are. When I feel weak, be my strength. When I feel unsure, be my clarity. And when I feel alone, remind me that You have never left my side.

    Holy Spirit, continue to guide me. Help me to hear Your voice clearly and to obey without hesitation. Keep my heart aligned with Your will, and let my life reflect Your love in everything I do.

    Father, I place my future in Your hands. I trust that Your plans are greater than anything I could imagine. Lead me, grow me, and use me for Your purpose.

    In Jesus’ name, Amen

    Sometimes faith looks like letting go of what we love…and trusting God with what comes next. 

    —Wendy