Faith, Encouragement & Connection

Isaiah 26:3 “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.” Surrendering can be difficult as you learn to depend on God. It’s easier said than done. We can say, “God, I surrender this relationship to You. I surrender this habit. I surrender everything.” But when we begin to walk through real life and face emotional strongholds, it’s easy to feel defeated. What God showed me this week was something beautiful. As I surrendered to Him moment by moment, He revealed that even in chaos, His love is steadfast. Even in moments of doubt, His Word remained a light, and His thoughts overpowered every thought that was not from Him. There wasn’t a moment He didn’t gently redirect my mind and bring me back into alignment. There wasn’t a moment He allowed me to fully give in to my flesh without conviction. And even when I made mistakes, He didn’t pull away. He whispered, “Keep coming to Me.” There were moments I wanted to write just to prove my strength. Moments I wanted to post and show what God was doing in me. But in the process of surrendering, I realized something… Every moment became less about showing others and more about honoring God and resting in His love and peace. When you truly begin to surrender, you start to understand that the peace He offers is a reflection of His love. It’s like being in the middle of a storm, but instead of being overwhelmed by what’s happening around you, you are covered. His peace becomes a shield. It doesn’t just provide one thing, it provides everything. This week, I experienced His protection, His guidance, His wisdom, and His love, all at once. I saw how gently He pulled me back when I wanted to act in my own strength. Even in the quiet moments where I thought, “Maybe just this one time, my way is better,” He was faithful to redirect me. One of the hardest truths I had to face was this: By day four, I realized I had never truly experienced peace before. Not fully. Because there had never been a time in my life where I surrendered and didn’t pick everything back up to manage on my own. That’s what surrender really is. Letting it all go and choosing not to take it back. Trusting that He will provide the peace you’ve been searching for, as long as you keep your eyes on Him. God showed me gently that the reason I hadn’t experienced His peace wasn’t because He wasn’t offering it… It was because I wasn’t being still long enough to receive it. As I am learning to be still and rest in His love, my prayer is that you will too. Take time to be still. Fight the urge to move, to act, and to respond in your own strength. Let Him guide you fully. And most importantly…Stop picking back up what you already laid down. Remember the reasons you laid down what you could no longer carry on your own. Remind yourself of the clarity you are seeking before your flesh chooses comfort over wisdom. Remember the weight of the very things that led you away from who He is, and keep your eyes stayed on Him. Remember this truth: if His role is to restore, your role is obedience. While God is working in you and on your heart, your only responsibility is to be still and trust because your Creator doesn’t need your help, He desires your willingness. He asks you to trust Him in the moments you can’t even trust yourself. Imagine yourself on a table while a doctor is performing surgery. You are put to sleep for many reasons. first for safety, second because you have no authority in the process, and third because the procedure is necessary for healing. But with God, the beauty is different. While you are still, He allows you to see His work. He allows you to feel His healing in the middle of your transformation. His love is the only immediate recovery there is. He is not a doctor who says you may recover or you may not. His promise to restore is certain. But your obedience is required, like a signature consenting to the process. Reflection: If you have been learning to surrender, take a moment to ask yourself honestly… have you truly let it go, or have you been picking it back up in different ways? Are you allowing yourself to be still long enough to receive the peace God is offering you? What would it look like for you to fully trust Him today and rest in His love without trying to take control again? Closing Prayer: Lord, I pray for every soul who is learning to surrender. I ask that You give them the strength to truly let go and not pick back up what they have placed in Your hands. Teach them how to be still and rest in Your love. I pray that they begin to recognize the peace You are offering, not as something distant, but as something available to them right now. Fill every empty place with Your presence, Your guidance, and Your love. Give them the patience to trust You, the obedience to follow You, and the faith to believe that Your way is always better. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Psalm 46:10 "Be still and know that I am God." Yesterday I sat down to write a guided devotion to help you discern God's voice. What greater way to lead you after you just surrendered right? But as I began typing, I kept hitting the back space over and over. I was frustrated and couldn't understand why I just couldn't operate in my gift tonight. I felt completely defeated. I prayed multiple times....and still nothing. I remember thinking, "God, You called me. I keep showing up, what's the issue"? Then it hit me. I was writing out of my own desire, not His direction. The urgency I felt to write wasn't coming from Him that night, it was from me. I've grown so excited about learning to recognize His voice that I was eager to help you experience that too. But the hard truth is, Led With Love Called To Lead was never first mine to begin with. This ministry God planted in my heart is His. In that moment, the Holy Spirit gently reminded me: this part of the story isn't approved for you to share yet. And I just sat there in awe. I realized God was teaching me something more important attached to calling. It wasn't about meeting a deadline or just writing a devotion because I wanted to. That my gift was not my own and He is in control. Even in this teachable moment I wrestled with the fact that I still have free will. I could keep writing out of frustration and let disobedience lead, or I could rest in His presence and wait. So, I chose to honor God and be still. I spent last night soaking in Proverbs and sitting in prayer, asking God when it would be time to share about hearing His voice. Then I looked up at the wall and saw a piece of decor I had put up in my room a few months ago. Proverbs 46:10 "Be still and know that I am God," I laughed because He is always right and on time. I was still rushing. I thought about Saul, how He was anointed, yet He lost His mind due to His disobedience. And it reminded me that being called doesn't mean I get to move ahead of God, it means I submit to Him. What I originally wanted to write was deeper and more personal, but God said to save that for another time. This moment- This-lesson was enough. A lot of people won't share their raw, uncomfortable moments in ministry. But I believe there's something beautiful about showing how God teaches us, that His strength carries us in our weakness. and His grace is truly sufficient. If you take anything from this, remember: When God calls you, it's not a free pass to go where you want and say what you want- It's an invitation to submit and allow His will to be done through you. It's not just about hearing His voice... It's about what He's shaping in you while He speaks. I truly believe that when God knows He can trust you with His voice is when He will speak more often. He will make it evident because when your heart is open to Him you desire alignment more than favor. I love you all so much! Thank you for growing with me and supporting Led With Love Called To Lead. God is using me as a vessel, but I'm still learning and growing every day. Reflection: If you have been praying for God to speak to you, I encourage you to take time to reflect on why you desire His voice. Are you willing to respond with obedience when He speaks? If He answers you in a way, you least expect, will you still trust His guidance? Sometimes we long to hear Him, but we also have to be honest with ourselves about whether we are ready to follow what He says. Closing Prayer: Lord, I pray for every soul who is desperate to hear Your voice. I ask that You give them the discernment to recognize when You are speaking. I pray for those who are waiting on You, that they would wait with expectancy, knowing that You are always speaking, even when we do not recognize it. I pray that every heart would begin to seek You intentionally, not just for answers, but for relationship. Give them the obedience You desire, the patience to wait, and the faith to trust Your guidance in every way You choose to speak. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Proverbs 3:5-6 “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.” Surrendering isn’t giving up. It’s letting go and trusting God fully. It’s recognizing that you are not equipped to make every change in your life on your own. It’s understanding that His strength is made perfect in your weakness. Surrender is noticing the patterns within yourself that lead to unhealthy choices and an unhealthy lifestyle when you are not anchored in your Creator. Remember this truth: when you seek restoration and begin learning to deny yourself, God is not asking you to pray and then take control back. He is not calling you to fix every situation, correct every wrong, or restore every broken relationship. He is simply calling you to let go. To trust Him. To stay connected. To read His truth, meditate on it, and allow Scripture to transform your heart. He is calling you to lay it all down. In this season of surrender, distractions can look like trying too hard, compromising your peace, ignoring the Holy Spirit, taking worldly advice, numbing your emotions with things that are not of God, and even idolizing people or outcomes. This season is critical. Your salvation is the greatest gift you have been given, and it should never be taken lightly or put at risk. I want you to pause for a moment. Close your eyes and imagine being present at the moment Jesus was crucified. Imagine the pain He endured, just for you. And as you realize you could never carry that kind of weight, let it remind you how deeply loved and valued you are by your Father. While you are in this season, don’t just ask God to take everything away. Ask Him for obedience, for discernment, and for the patience to stand still, trusting in His faithfulness. Matthew 6:26 "Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?" Seek with expectance. Go ahead and surrender whatever you need. Don’t hold back, even if it’s a list of things. God already knows your heart; He knows your struggles and where fear rises. Be bold in your prayers. Ask with confidence, because God is waiting to help you, and you can trust that He will.

Have you ever prayed for something and thought, “God, if I just delight in You, you’ll give me everything I want?”  You may even feel a little frustrated when it doesn’t happen the way you expected, that’s okay, it means God is working in ways that are bigger than our desires. Today, we’re going to explore what it truly means to delight in the Lord, how it transforms our hearts, and how His love reshapes even the deepest longings within us. Psalm 37:4, “Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart," Proverbs 3:34, “He mocks proud mockers but shows favor to the humble and oppressed.” Have you ever read Psalm 37:4 and thought, “Oh wow, if I just delight in the Lord, He’ll give me everything I want?”  How sweet is that, but what if I told you there’s a slight misunderstanding about this verse, one that we humans all misinterpret at some point in life? Delighting ourselves in the Lord means our hearts are transformed, right before our very eyes, it will feel like you don’t even know who you are. For me personally, I didn’t know my identity in Christ when I began my healing journey. One beautiful thing is that when we truly seek Him and acknowledge Him in all His ways, we are humbling ourselves before Him. When I realized how selfishly I came to Him, I began to understand from a different perspective, You love me, You care about me, but You aren’t going to give me things just because I want them, You give me what I need and if it aligns with Your will. I think God is so loving for even giving us free will, yet He has the ability to show us that what we are chasing may harm us or hinder our walk with Him, He still gives us time and freedom in our choices to connect with Him, if we truly care about Him. I love Proverbs 3:34 because it shows His character, He wants us invested in His love, fully aware of our heart posture, God knows when we are creating a transactional relationship. You know those times when you ask for something, get it, and don’t come back until you need Him again? It’s not that He won’t help you, but what He craves is intimacy with you. He doesn’t just look down occasionally to check on you, He’s right there every day, wanting to be a part of your life, your choices, your words, your actions, all of it. There’s a song I love by Forever Jones called “He Wants It All” , I play it whenever I need a reminder that He is always searching for a heart that is desperate, longing for a child to give Him their all. These lyrics remind me that it is never by accident when He actively shows up in our lives, you belong to a loving God, so delight in Him. When I first started seeking the Lord, everything felt very self-focused, I wanted relief from pain, I wanted God to give me all the missing pieces of my life, I cried out for a new identity and a new story, but God didn’t give me what I asked for in the way I expected. Instead, He placed me in situations that built my faith, every desire I had became an opportunity to practice the traits I was asking for, slowly, I realized He was preparing me for His will, not just my wishes, what I thought I wanted paled in comparison to the desires He placed in my heart, and in that alignment, I found peace I had never known. I remember saying, “Wow, I thought I wanted these things, but You’ve shown me the importance of Your mission,”  I began to become selfless, craving only what He desired for my life, I fell in love with Jesus, wanting nothing more than to reflect His character, even when opposition came, the more I denied myself, the more He poured into me what was always meant to be. The first time the Holy Spirit whispered to me, “Your pain was never wasted,”  everything shifted, my past hurts were not meaningless, they were preparing me for a ministry of healing, my writing, which I had once thought was just a hobby, became a tool for God’s glory, poems that were once expressions of pain transformed into devotions that help others heal. I realized that my gift wasn’t being unlocked for my sake alone, God had been shaping me since I was eight years old, preparing my heart for this purpose, even now, I feel the fear, “Why would You use me, God? I’m still learning, I’m still healing, I’m unsure if people even want to engage.” But God whispered back, “There are so many people hurting, Your devotionals can guide them.”  That was enough, everything aligned with Him, and now, what I once desired for myself no longer matters, I am completely delighted in Him. When you begin to understand the worth of God and the depth of your love for Him, nothing is off-limits, your heart wants only what pleases Him, and in that place, joy flows freely. Reflection: What desires are you holding onto that may need to be realigned with God’s heart? How has God used your past pain to prepare you for something greater? In what ways can you delight in God today, not just for what He gives, but for who He is? Prayer Lord, thank You for shaping my heart and using my past for Your glory, help me to delight in You daily and to seek Your desires above my own, teach me to trust Your timing and Your plan, knowing that You are always faithful, Amen.

Yesterday we learned the importance of repentance leading to humility. Today I want you to understand God’s grace and mercy. Grace and mercy are often mentioned together in Scripture, but they are not the same. Grace is receiving something we do not deserve, while mercy is being spared from something we do deserve. Ephesians 2:8-9 says: “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God not by works, so that no one can boast.” This verse reminds us that grace is a gift. It cannot be earned through good behavior, sacrifice, or proving ourselves worthy. God gives it freely because of His love. Mercy reflects another part of God’s heart. Psalm 103:10  says: “He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.” This reminds us that even when we fall short, God chooses compassion over punishment. His mercy protects us from the full weight of what our mistakes deserve. Because God gives us grace and mercy so freely, He also calls us to extend it to others. Matthew 10:8 reminds us: “Freely you have received; freely give.” When we begin to truly understand the grace and mercy God has shown us, it changes the way we respond to the people around us. Growing up, I experienced a lot of trauma. I wasn’t always in the safest environments, and many of my relationships later in life revealed weaknesses in me that I didn’t even realize I had. The environments I grew up in shaped the way I related to others. I learned to please people and deny my own needs in order to feel accepted. Because pain became part of my life so early, extending grace and mercy freely the way God desires wasn’t something I truly understood. Most of the time, I was loving others out of guilt because I thought I had to be seen as good and accepted. My pain taught me early that denying myself happiness for the comfort of others would eventually lead to rewards. But secretly, I resented those who didn’t love me the right way in return or appreciate what I gave. I often submitted to disrespect and tolerated mental and verbal abuse because I misunderstood what grace and mercy actually were. Looking back now, I can see that my heart posture was out of alignment. Through repentance, God began revealing things in my heart that I hadn’t noticed before. He showed me that beneath many of my actions were motives that weren’t healthy. I realized that I was often looking for something in return. Validation, appreciation, acceptance, or love. Walking closely with God has slowly taught me the difference between the version of grace and mercy I created and the version He demonstrates. True grace and mercy are not rooted in guilt, approval, or self-sacrifice for the sake of being accepted. They come from a heart that has first received God’s grace. God also began teaching me something deeper: sometimes grace and mercy mean praying for someone in private rather than trying to fix or control a situation. Sometimes extending grace is about trusting God to work in someone’s heart instead of forcing an outcome that satisfies our own emotions. Through repentance and humility, God started reshaping my understanding. I began to realize that grace and mercy are not about losing yourself to keep others comfortable. They are about reflecting the same compassion God has shown us while trusting Him with the outcome. Walking with God has also taught me something very important: extending grace and mercy does not mean abandoning wisdom. There were many moments in my life when I confused grace with tolerating behavior that was harmful. But God began showing me that His grace is always paired with truth and discernment. Sometimes grace looks like forgiving someone and continuing to love them. Other times grace looks like stepping back, setting boundaries, and trusting God to work in their heart while protecting your own. Both can come from a heart that truly understands God’s mercy. This is why praying for discernment is so important. We cannot rely only on our emotions or past experiences to guide our responses. We need God’s wisdom to help us know when to speak, when to remain silent, when to extend help, and when to step back and let Him take control. James 1:5 reminds us: “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” Discernment allows us to extend grace and mercy in a way that reflects God’s heart rather than acting from guilt, fear, or a desire for approval. When we truly understand the grace and mercy God has given us, our hearts begin to change. We learn to love others without losing ourselves, forgive without carrying bitterness, and trust God with the outcomes we cannot control. Looking Ahead Tomorrow I will be speaking about restoration through forgiveness . You’ve done some pretty deep work this week, and I can only imagine how happy God is that you are building a relationship with Him. If this week has brought you comfort, questions, relief, or even more confusion, rest assured you are exactly where you should be. If you are comfortable with engaging, I would love for you to comment or send a prayer request. God calls us to be there for one another, and I would be delighted to get to know you and pray for you. Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 says: “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up.” We were never meant to walk this journey alone. Reflection: Where in your life have you misunderstood grace and mercy? How does this truth help you understand God's grace & mercy for you? Closing prayer Lord, thank You for the grace and mercy You freely give me each day. Help me to extend that same grace to others with a humble heart. Teach me to walk in discernment so that my actions reflect Your love, wisdom, and truth. Guide my heart in every relationship and situation. Amen.

Psalm 34:18 The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those crushed in spirit. When we turn from sin, our hearts are softened. God calls us to walk humbly, and it’s in this posture that His grace flows freely. I’ll never forget one night while I was in prayer. It had been a very rough week, and I almost didn’t pray. I said, “God, I’ve been bothering You all week with this same issue. Maybe I’ll be quiet tonight.”  But I remembered I wasn’t a burden to my Father. He wanted me to come. As I prayed, the Holy Spirit quietly opened my heart. I began reflecting on someone who had deeply hurt me. I found myself praying for them to hit rock bottom, to experience loss, and to wake up to the consequences of their actions. But each time I voiced those words, I heard the same response in my heart: “I still love you too.” I was in disbelief. At first, I wasn’t even sure I wanted to keep praying, but I did. God was teaching me something profound: my pain was real, but His love was deeper. Even in my worst moments, He had shown me mercy and protection. I realized that while I was asking God to judge someone else, I had yet to fully forgive. Romans 12:2 "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." That night, humility taught me to release the desire to control the consequences for others. I learned to trust God more, letting Him handle what I could not. Through that moment, repentance became more than admitting my feelings or mistakes. It softened my heart, humbled me, and opened my eyes to God’s perspective. I began to see that His correction is taught through love, not revenge. The same grace and mercy He extends to me are meant for everyone. Repentance leads to humility. Humility transforms how we view ourselves, others, and our circumstances. It allows God’s love to flow freely through us. As James 4:10 reminds us, when we humble ourselves, God lifts us up. Is there an area in your heart where you need to truly repent and let God's love soften you? How can humility change the way you respond to people or difficult situations every day? Closing prayer: Lord, show me the areas of my heart that need Your correction. Teach me to repent with a humble heart, to trust Your guidance, and to walk in Your love and grace toward others. Amen.

Philippians 4:6  – “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.” When you start to understand that God actually desires to help you, you begin to experience His love in a whole new way. You begin to realize that you are a priority to Him . What is a burden? Something that weighs you down, keeps you from completing a task, or even stops you from moving forward. Are you so powerful that you could burden God, the One who created you? No. You’re not. As you step into restoration this week, my prayer is that God would reveal Himself to you, not just to show you He is here, but to reveal who He is . Because when you truly understand who God is, prayer becomes more than words, it becomes confident, heartfelt conversation. God is: Faithful  – He keeps every promise, even when circumstances say otherwise. All-knowing  – He sees your heart, your needs, and your future. Loving  – He acts for your ultimate good, even when His answers are “not yet.” Sovereign  – Nothing happens outside His knowledge or control. Understanding who He is helps you see who you aren’t , what you can’t do on your own, and who you can become through Christ . When you see that He wants you to walk in the image He created you to be, prayer becomes more than talking, it becomes craving intimacy with Him . I’ve been there, wondering if God really wanted to hear my heart, questioning if my prayers even mattered. But learning that He does, that He delights in listening, changed everything for me. Stop thinking little of God and bring your requests to Him. Tell Him the things you need help with, the questions you have, the person you want to be. Like on a football field— go long!  I promise you, He is the best wide receiver there is. When you hold back, God senses it. It tells Him you don’t fully trust Him. But remember: He knows your heart better than you do. Matthew 6:8  – “Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.” Many are willing but not able. Some are able but not willing. Your Father is both willing and able. Even if He says “no,” remember that He sees the bigger picture and knows what is best for you. His “no” is often His loving protection. Sometimes His silence means “not yet.” When God doesn’t answer immediately, it is often a preparation  for the “yes” that is coming. Jeremiah 29:11  – “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.” As you dive into prayer this week, understand prayer is the gateway to connection with Him . It is where your relationship begins, and it is one you want to be intentional about. In due time, prayer will become your safest place, and you will find yourself returning to it more and more. Pursue Him with your whole heart. Reflection Question What is one area of your life you’ve been holding back from God, and how can you bring it to Him in prayer this week? If you're comfortable, I would love for you to leave a comment today. Closing Prayer Lord, I thank You for wanting a relationship with me. Help me to see You clearly and to understand who You are. Teach me to pray with honesty and confidence, knowing that You are faithful, loving, and sovereign. Remove any fear, doubt, or hesitation that keeps me from coming to You. Open my heart to intimacy with You and let my prayer life draw me closer every day. Amen.

If you are new to faith or you are a woman trying to believe God's love is real for you, this is for you. Some days you feel hopeful. Other days you feel overwhelmed, unsure, or like you are not doing it right. Take a breath: you do not have to have everything figured out to be loved by God. You are not behind. You are not disqualified. And you are not alone. 1) God's love is not something you earn It is easy to think faith is mainly about getting your life together. But the foundation is this: God loved you first. You are not being invited into a performance. You are being invited into a relationship. When shame says You are not enough, God's love says Come closer. 2) Small steps are real growth A seed is small, but it holds life. If your faith feels small, it can still be strong because strength is not about how loud you feel, it is about who you are holding onto. Try one small step today: Talk to God honestly: Lord, help me. I am learning. Read one short passage (start with John or Psalms). Write down one truth you want to remember when anxiety rises. Reach out for support instead of isolating. 3) When you feel unworthy, remember who Jesus is Many women carry heavy thoughts: I am not enough. I have messed up too much. I do not know enough. I keep struggling. Jesus does not wait for you to become together. He meets you in your need. If you have been feeling distant from God because of mistakes, doubts, or pain, this is your reminder that you can come back today. You do not have to clean yourself up first. 4) You can be new and still be called You do not have to be an expert to be loved, led, and growing. God is patient. He teaches. He strengthens. He stays. You can be learning and still be held. You can be healing and still be guided. You can be new and still be called. A simple prayer for today God, I am coming to You as I am. I need Your peace and Your direction. Help me trust You one step at a time. Remind me that I am loved, chosen, and never alone. In Jesus name, amen. Let us build relationship (you do not have to do this alone) If you would like encouragement, prayer, or someone to stand with you as you grow: Request prayer: Reply or message me with what you are facing (you can keep it simple). Email me: destiny@ledwithlovecalledtolead.com Share this post: If you know a woman who needs this today, please share it with her. If you email, you can include: Your first name What you want prayer for Whether you would like a reply (yes or no) You are loved and you are welcome here.

I remember sitting on the couch one day after giving birth to my newborn son, Aariz. While he was napping, I was trying to navigate through a different kind of pain the heartbreak that comes from sin. As I sat in the mess I created, one of my favorite verses came to mind: “I call on the Lord in my distress, and He answers me.”  — Psalm 120:1. It was in that moment I knew I had to return to God. I did the only thing I could do. I cried out for help. I asked God to heal me, restore me, and even asked Him if He still loved me. I didn’t expect an answer. I believed the lie that I had been away from Him for too long. But to my surprise, an overwhelming sense of peace came over me. As I wiped my face and tasted the salty tears on my lips, I lifted my head and whispered, “God, I know I haven’t been living for You. I know I’m only coming to You because I’m hurting… but I can’t do this without You anymore.” I didn’t come with a plan. I didn’t come with perfect words. I didn’t come with a list of prayers. I simply asked Him to meet me where I was. And He did. In my distress, I called on Him and He drew near to me every day since. If you’ve been trying to find your way back to God, I want you to know this: there is no right way to return.  No impressive words. No polished prayer. He just wants you back in your brokenness, in your pain, in your honesty. From that day forward, God tended to my wounds exactly as I was. Please don’t wait. Don’t delay the healing your Father wants to give you. The lies are loud — the ones that remind you of guilt, shame, and unworthiness. Those lies are designed to keep you from obedience and from healing. But your Father simply wants you home. If you’re ready to turn back to Him, a cry for help is where it begins. It’s acknowledging that He is your refuge and that nothing can separate you from the love of God. Where in your life do you need to cry out to God and ask Him to meet you where you are? Closing Prayer Lord, meet me in the places I’ve been afraid to bring to You. Remind me that Your love is stronger than my shame and that Your presence is near to all who call on You. Heal my heart, quiet the lies, and draw me back into Your arms. I don’t come with perfect words — I come with honesty. And I trust that You will meet me here. Amen.

The Beginning of Restoration: Prayer Restoration is the season where we learn to trust God with our pain. It is not about God suddenly making our lives perfect. Instead, it is about Him healing what is broken and teaching us to release it to Him through prayer. Prayer is where true intimacy with God, begins. In fact, during seasons of restoration, you may find that God allows you to feel uncomfortable. That discomfort is often where He gently teaches us to rely on Him instead of our own strength. Scripture reminds us of this promise. Isaiah 43:19"Look, I am about to do something new; even now it is coming. Do you not see it? Indeed, I will make a way in the wilderness, rivers in the desert." Restoration is not about receiving a perfect life. It is about God restoring your heart. Prayer is the place where restoration begins. It is where we release what is broken. We bring our pain, our regret, and our confusion to Him. As we trust God with those things, He begins the work of healing that only He can do. Restoration is the season where we learn that we can trust Him with everything. Sometimes, as God restores us, He also begins restoring relationships that are important to us. There was a time in my life when my relationship with my mom was very broken. One day I would tell myself I had forgiven her and act cordial, but the next day I would find myself punishing her in my heart. For many reasons, my mom was not part of my childhood in the way I needed her to be. I used to say she chose not to be there because we all have choices. But over time, God softened my heart and helped me see it differently. I began to realize that perhaps she simply was not able to be there. Her pain may have been deep enough to cause her to step away, and the guilt and shame she carried may have silenced the ways she secretly wanted to reach out. Her greatest regret may have been leaving me behind. For me, that is where my pain as a little girl first began. On April 30, 2017, I gave birth to my firstborn daughter, Patience. Shortly after, I made a public post on Facebook letting my mom, and the world, know that she would not be allowed to be part of her granddaughter’s life because she had not been the mother I wanted her to be. My pain justified withholding forgiveness. It justified robbing my mom of the opportunity to meet her first grandchild. Bitterness controlled my heart for three long years. One day I was in a grocery store and realized my mom was in the same aisle as me. I quickly covered my baby’s face and ran in the opposite direction so she would not see us. That day, someone very dear to me said something that changed everything. They looked at me and said, "Destiny, that is not right. You need to forgive your mother." Thank God for godly friends. As believers, it is our responsibility to lovingly correct one another when we see someone we care about walking in hurt or bitterness. The purpose of correction is restoration, speaking truth in love. Ephesians 4:15 reminds us to speak the truth in love so that we may grow. That night, after hearing those words, I cried out to God in prayer. I said: "God, please take this pain out of my heart. I want to forgive my mom, but I do not know how. I am so tired of being angry with her. I just want to love her and get to know her." Days passed before I gathered the courage to reach out. Eventually, I asked her if she wanted to meet Patience. To my surprise, she said yes. In that moment I realized something beautiful. She had already forgiven me. She had already extended mercy to me. Later, as I watched how much my daughter loved my mom, I felt deep conviction in my heart. I realized that I had robbed her of a blessing she could have experienced three years earlier. But even in that realization, God was restoring something beautiful. Through prayer, He did not just restore a relationship. He showed me how powerful prayer truly is, how God can heal brokenness that neither you nor I have the ability to repair. When we refuse to pray and bring our pain to God, the enemy often uses those wounds as a doorway to whisper lies. He tries to convince us that people who have made mistakes are undeserving of forgiveness. But God’s truth is greater than those lies. Today I want to gently encourage you to reflect on your own life. Are there places where pain may be preventing the restoration God wants to bring? Are there relationships where God may be inviting you to release bitterness and trust Him with the healing? Your prayer life depends on you. Restoration, however, is in God’s hands. Mom, if you are reading this, I want you to know how grateful I am for the restoration God has brought into our lives. As an adult, I admire the strength you have shown and the ways you have allowed God to work in your life. Your story and the challenges you faced as a mother remind me of who God is shaping me to become. They remind me not to focus on who I once was, but on who God is calling me to be. The restoration God created between us reminds me to never stop extending grace. As a parent myself, I know that one day I may need my own children’s forgiveness. I pray that when that day comes, God will speak to their hearts the way He spoke to mine. I love you. I leave you with this scripture. Mark 8:25"Then Jesus laid his hands on his eyes again; and he was restored and saw everything clearly."

Now that you understand how deeply you are loved, let this be the place you return to again and again. To His love. From this day forward, when doubt whispers or fear tries to rise, gently remind yourself of who God is and who you are to Him. His love is not just a comfort; it is your anchor. When you stay rooted in His character, faithful, patient, kind, and merciful you will find that the lies you once believed begin to lose their power. The more you remind yourself of His love, the less likely you are to drift. You have already taken the most important first step: faith. It takes courage to return to God. It takes humility to seek Him again. And whether you feel strong or weak right now, Scripture reminds us that His power is made perfect in weakness. You are not walking this alone! These next few days, allow yourself to rest in His love and stay grounded in His Word. You may find that you suddenly want to talk to Him more. You may feel drawn to read Scripture in a way you haven’t before. There is a tenderness that often comes when we return, a hunger for truth and light after walking in confusion. 1 Peter 2:2 “Like newborn infants, desire the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow up into your salvation.” When you are newly aware of His love, it is natural to crave His truth. Feed on it. Let it strengthen you. Let it reshape your thinking. Let it remind you who you are. 1 Peter 2:3 “If you have tasted that the Lord is good.” The Word of God will steady you. It will guard your heart from wandering and protect you from believing old lies again. And if you desire to remain firm in this decision to walk closely with Him, I will be sharing next week about restoration through prayer, how to build a steady foundation that keeps you anchored when emotions shift. For now, simply rest. Rest knowing you are loved. Rest knowing you are seen. Rest knowing you are not behind. If you feel led to begin this journey intentionally, I would love to know. It would be a gift to walk alongside you and build a community centered on truth and love. God’s love, grace, and mercy were never meant to stay hidden in our own hearts. They are meant to be shared. Jesus called us to go and make disciples not from pressure, but from love. It can feel safer to stay hidden. But where we remain hidden, we often remain isolated. And isolation is one of the enemy’s quietest strategies. God created us for connection, encouragement, and growth together. If you are returning, growing, or simply longing to stay grounded, you are not alone here. I was led by love. And I pray to lead with love.

Before you go to sleep tonight, remember this: God’s love is not something you earn. 1 John 4:19 says, “We love because He first loved us.” And 1 John 4:10 explains it even deeper: “Love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins.” Love did not begin with us. It began with Him. I pray this truth brings you great comfort wherever you are today. I remember a season in my life when I questioned whether God truly loved me. I remember when I wasn’t reading His truth — His Scripture — and because of that, I couldn’t tell the difference between truth and lies. When you are not rooted in His Word, the enemy can easily whisper doubt. But Scripture tells us that He loved us while we were still sinners. He didn’t wait for us to get it right. He didn’t wait for us to clean ourselves up. He loved us enough to send His one and only Son to die a death we deserved. Let this be your confirmation: He loves you. From the very beginning, He had a plan — not just to love you in words, but to demonstrate that love through sacrifice. Jesus, perfect in all His ways, became the atoning sacrifice for our sins. That is how deeply you are wanted. That is how valuable you are to Him. Do you understand that you belong with Him? That heaven was always His desire for you? Right now, wherever you are, lift your eyes toward heaven. Begin to express your love for Him. And then listen. Let the Holy Spirit remind you of all the ways God has loved you — and most importantly, how He has kept you. As you step into a new day, let this be settled in your heart: Your Father loves you. He would do anything to show you. And He already has. Closing Prayer Dear God, I pray for every soul reading this right now. Speak directly to their hearts. Help them remember all the ways You have loved them, even in seasons when they did not feel loved. Reveal Your love to them in this very moment. Encourage each reader to return to Your love and seek Your face. Help them understand that You created love — because You are love. In Jesus’ name, Amen.