Happy Friday Family!
We’ve made it through another 2 weeks filled with responsibilities, a whole lot of LIFE and a few lessons.
As we enter into a new month, HELLO SEPTEMBER, it’s important that we acknowledge the mountains and valleys from previous months where we can grow and move forward both physically and spiritually.
Definition Time!
Mountain (noun) is defined as, “a landmass that projects conspicuously above its surroundings and is higher than a hill, a great mass”
Valley (noun) is defined as, “an elongate depression of the earth's surface usually between ranges of hills or mountains, a low point or condition”
Since May, a major mountain for me has been ACCEPTANCE:
i.e. I chose to start growing into who I needed to become where I could be a good steward over the job, home, and finances God is blessing me with. Many blessings require us to shift, adjust, and grow. A caterpillar can be happy as a caterpillar and still understand that one day it must choose to shift, adjust and grow in order to unlock it’s fullest potential (the butterfly phase). This mountain appeared to project itself above everything else in my life. I could no longer blame family, friends, associates, nor partners for how I felt about my circumstances, I now had to take responsibility.
Growth Tip - ‘Accept things as they are and not as you want them to be’
(Reach out to me on the contact page if you’d like for me to delve into this more)
Since March, a major valley for me has been my ‘Mental Health’:
i.e. The lowest, elongated depressions below my mountains, would be how I allow my perception to control my mental health. Extreme sadness, anxiety, and a feeling of disconnection stemmed from what felt like EVERYTHING. Earlier in the year, I would assume the worst, talk myself out of good opportunities, sit and sulk in sadness all because I could not understand “WHY ME??”. My perception was all wrong. “WHY NOT ME?” Your attitude, perceived and unperceived emotions, do directly affect your altitude and how you’re able to move forward… Developing the courage to seek out mental health professionals, get godly mentors, pray intentional prayers, and ask for help when you need it is the KEY to making it through the valleys, especially my valleys.
Growth Tip -TALK IT OUT. NOBODY CAN HELP YOU IF YOU KEEP IT ALL IN YOUR HEAD!
Where does God fit in all of this? Acknowledging your mountains and valleys takes knowledge (def - “the fact or condition of knowing something with familiarity gained through experience or association”). Evaluating, learning and applying the lessons learned from your mountains and valleys takes wisdom (def - "ability to discern inner qualities and relationships”).
Where do I get wisdom, specifically godly wisdom from? God. BIG G not the little one (i.e. not idols "god/s").
James 1:5-6 (NLT) reads, “5 If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. 6 But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind.”
As you venture on this journey called life into the unknown days, months and years remember that with God you will lack NOTHING. My Grandma Ponder once told me something along the lines of, “Everything you need to be exactly who you are supposed to be is already in you because the good LORD gave it to you”. Never forget it!
I love you! Jesus loves you most! Be fruitful! Be stress free.
Embrace hope for your life. Conquer those mountains. Make your way out of those valleys. Try to remember all things work together for your good (Romans 8:28).
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CITATION:
“Valley.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/valley. Accessed 2 Sep. 2022.
“Mountain.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mountain. Accessed 2 Sep. 2022.
“Knowledge.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/knowledge. Accessed 2 Sep. 2022.
“Wisdom.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wisdom. Accessed 2 Sep. 2022.
New Living Translation (NLT)
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Deep. The honest way you reveal this truth and allow yourself to be vulnerable is totally from God. Continue to trust Him! 💕