With this small change in thought, our healing process becomes a lot easier…

Or at least tolerable 🥹

The change in thought 👉🏾 Healing is not a destination. It’s a journey.

You put in the work today to see the results tomorrow. Even then, new experiences can trigger old responses. You aren’t broken. As you walk, you may think, “God, I thought we already dealt with this.” And you did, but now it’s from a different place of maturity.

When you reach full maturity, you will respond to trials and tribulations differently. They don't stop, but we become wiser and more aware, better equipped to stop wasting energy or time on petty grievances.

To all my friends on this journey of healing, self-discovery, and learning to see themselves through the lens of God as Father, give yourself grace. You are going to stumble. You will make mistakes and revert to old habits you thought you had already shed. It’s all part of the process. The discomfort and frustration are integral to what God does in and through you. Healing is the daily decision to partner with what God says about you.

Healing is humbling.

As someone who grew up in the faith. I am who I am because of my mother. I gave my life to Christ at 11, and from 11 to 21, there were challenges. Fear has single-handedly been the reason I clung to Jesus, clutching the coattails of my mother’s faith.

In college, I was confronted with my lack of a personal relationship with God, separate from my mom’s faith.

I managed to keep my virginity and avoided going astray despite the strict upbringing that left others thinking I’d go wild in college. My mother’s sacrifices created a safe environment and instilled values that I carried with me. My first real boyfriend was in my senior year of college, and God used that relationship to draw me closer to Him.

In my sophomore year, a friend took me out to eat and asked, “How do you know God is real?”

All I could say was, “I know He is real.”

This realization began my journey to define and defend my faith.

One of my grandfathers passed away shortly after, and that loss made it clear to me that I needed a deeper understanding of God. From then on, I was on fire for God, realizing I had to forego my past perceptions of myself to embrace who God says I am.

Our lives are divinely orchestrated, and every decision has its consequences. God sets life and death, blessings and curses before us, giving us the choice to decide. God will not bless disobedience.

Healing is not a sprint. It’s a marathon.

Where you’ve been lays a foundation for where you are going, but it doesn’t define it.

The Bible says to count it all joy when faced with trials of various kinds.

As believers, we will face trials and tribulations as we answer the following question.

Q: Do we hold onto God’s unchanging hand, or revert to self-loathing habits❓

Whenever we face something new, we grow stronger and learn to handle it better.

I invested time in individual counseling, served at church, grew in community, and devoted myself to reading the Bible, fasting, and praying. Everything I thought I had dealt with in singleness resurfaced when I married. I learned, triggers will continue to trigger until you learn not to let them.

In the past, I struggled with feeling unheard, which led to anger and destructive behavior. But through God’s grace, I learned self-control and how to communicate my frustration healthily. My healing is ongoing, and I am continuously learning and growing.

Healing involves recognizing and feeling our emotions. Anxiety often stems from the inability to see God in our future, and depression from the inability to see God in our present. We must be vulnerable, setting boundaries, and communicating our needs to those around us.

Journaling and documenting your journey is crucial to remind yourself of what God is doing, even if the progress feels slow. Finding safety in people and community is essential. Sometimes, we need to allow people to be safe for us.

Healing requires practical steps, such as seeking therapy, finding safe friends, and being open to correction. It's about assuming righteous intent and embracing vulnerability to grow and heal together. Scripture is a powerful tool in this journey.

Our ultimate healing is knowing God loves us unconditionally and wants what’s best for us. Trusting and partnering with Him daily cultivates a relationship where our healing can flourish.

You will see transformation when you put your faith into action, stand firm on God's promises, and allow His word to shape your healing journey. Healing is not about reaching a final destination but continuously growing and evolving in Christ.

Embrace the journey, trust in God’s timing, and remember that healing is an ongoing process that brings you closer to the person God created you to be.

Your accountability partner,

Janae Carlee