Do Hard Things

At the beginning of the year as part of 21 days of prayer and fasting (visit churchofthehighlands.com for more info), I prayed to understand what God had planned for me for 2022. I had some critical decisions to make, and I really needed guidance and direction. On the 21st day, the Holy Spirit spoke very clearly to me and said, “Do hard things.”

I thought I knew what He meant by that, but boy, I really had no idea. Doing hard things is playing out very differently from what I imagined, and it is just a small piece of what has been unfolding.

As you know, I’ve been purposeful in the past year about living my faith out loud. I know that in doing so, I’m following God’s guidance and the path He has for me. However, at times, I felt – and still do feel – extremely vulnerable while opening up to my personal and professional circles. It was a blessing to have my vulnerability met with encouragement, community and compassion.

In these first five months of 2022, I lost several friends to tragic and unexpected deaths. I watched other friends fall to their knees from the losses in their lives. I witnessed families holding on to the threads of their beliefs after being dealt life-altering blows. I watched one of my most beloved friends face an unfathomable decision.

And through it all, God has shown up and has been there, both for these loved ones as well as for me. I came to understand one of the reasons why my life and the lives of these friends intersected. I felt compelled to share my faith – and the hope and strength it gives me – with these friends, and He opened their hearts and ears as I opened my mouth. God used me as His vehicle to extend His grace to those who would benefit from it.

He pushed me to help others turn tragedies and sorrow into lessons and faith journeys. He has made His presence known among my friends who have lost, and I have been privileged to witness many lean into their faith with fire and passion.

Had I not first been led to share my faith and experience vulnerability and acceptance then, I never would have had the strength and conviction to support my friends when they needed their faith in God the most. I would not have had the confidence to be the bearer of His message.

When God told me that 2022 was going to be a year for me to do hard things, I had no idea what that would ultimately look like. But with every hard thing, my faith becomes stronger. My reliance upon Him becomes greater. My realization that my battles and those of my friends and family are not ours to bear alone becomes sharper. And my awareness of how evil has tried to conquer me and has lost becomes clearer.

I hope I allow God to continue to shape me, mold me, fill me and help me to grow in my relationship with Him. I hope you are called and blessed to do the same.

If you’re going through a difficult journey or aren’t sure of God’s plan for you, feel free to reach out to me. I’m happy to be part of a circle of people who show up for you.