Joyce

Protecting yourself from hurt by always expecting to be hurt, robs you from the simple joys of life. What’s wild is, even when trying to protect myself from not being upset, I STILL felt feel the sadness and the disappointment. Though my lips may say “Yup I knew it” my heart is DEFINITELY saying “sighhh, I lowkey really wanted that.” . . I read somewhere that “Your brain can’t tell the difference between perception and reality. When you don’t get your hopes up, you don’t protect yourself from disappointment, you actually experience it twice. Once when you’re trying to avoid getting hopeful and then again, when your non-hopeful outlook is confirmed.” - Lisa Earle McCleod . . I’m out here being a hope dealer to those around me, while to myself, being a hope killer.  . . I can’t wait for the day I am able to be effortlessly hopeful. Where I understand that disappointments are a part of life and that they are okay. Where good things are familiar and imposter syndrome is foreign. Where I allow myself to not second guess the goodness God promised me. . . Remember, Hope is not a bad thing. Hope is not the enemy.  . . . #blog #bloggers #blogging #blogger #blogpost #bloggerlife #bloggersofinstagram #christianblogger #christianblog #instagood #joy #peace #intentional #intentionality #choosejoy #hope #hopefulness #hopeful #disappointment #fear #doubt #selfreflection #introspection #hopedealer #anxiety #impostersyndrome #bepatientwithyourself #bepatientwiththeprocess #unhiddenparts

I was reminded of a conversation I had with @cdelmas1 a few months back. I tweeted about it last night but I felt the need to share it on here. I was going to used this post space to share a new blog post that I’m working on, but I believe many of us need this reminder today. . . We’ve been experienced a lot of hurt by humans, Family, Friends, church folk, our parents, etc.. Those experiences can tend to blur our vision when it comes to God. We’ve had experiences where we’ve had to work for love, work for attention but this isn’t the case here. But because of all of this, we can tend to view God through the lenses of our experiences with other Humans. . . Let me give you this warm reminder: God isn’t like us bro 😭. When I pray I let God know that I’m grateful for His characteristics and I thank Him that He isn’t petty like me. The way I treat Him, I would’ve given me the cold shoulder and move on with my life. But here we are mistake 10293829228 and ghosting session 22372223, He’s still faithful, He still speaking to me, He still blessing me, He still Loves me! . . He Still Loves You. Just hit His line up today. He doesn’t need anything big, churchy and extra. Just wants to hear from you and the realness in your heart. 🤍🤍 . . #blog #bloggers #blogging #blogger #blogpost #bloggerlife #bloggersofinstagram #christianblogger #Christianblog #godlylove #godislove #love #instagood #twitter #bible #christiantwitter #prodigalson #selfreflection #introspection #bepatientwithyourself #bepatientwiththeprocess #unhiddenparts #impostersyndrome #abbafather #gospel #godthefather

“Last week while praying, I had a vision. I was in a room and just outside that room was something God really wanted to do. I’m not sure what it was exactly but I knew how happy and excited it made me feel. Separating the two areas was a door/a wall. I was one wall, one door a way from what God wanted to do. I knew the door symbolized the crippling fear that I fight with along with doubt, anxiety, constant second guessing, and me questioning everything. That’s the reality for many of us. We’re stuck in a room right outside the very thing we desire, the thing we’re praying for. Doubt has us stagnant. Anxiety is holding us hostage. It’s as if we have more faith in the power of fear than we do in God.” - unhiddenparts.com

Coffee in the morning ☕️

Your favorite wedding guest 🤍 . . #TheCulmers

Have you ever been on the precipice of what’s next, but yet anxious or maybe worried of what is actually to come? I feel like that’s where I am. Yes, at crossover serivce I was shouting, praising and declaring (I was mainly that 2025 was finally done with.) But when the music faded, confetti was cleaned up and I was left alone in my bedroom, I found myself very apprehensive. “Will things really change?” “Will I see my evidence?” “Will these prayers be answered?” When you battled with hopelessness and disappointment for almost the whole year, the residue has its way creeping back up, especially when things seemingly are getting better. I was discussing this with someone and was told “That contrast doesn’t necessarily mean your praise was fake. It means your soul is still catching up to what your spirit dared to declare.” Maybe that’s where I am. Maybe the question really isn’t “Will things really change?” Maybe it’s “Can I stay open even if the evidence comes slowly?” I’m in the space of learning how to take things step by step, learning to trust the Lord all over again, learning to not let fear dictate my expectations. So here’s to 2026, to taking it one day at a time, to doing things differently than last year. Here’s to not praying like those without hope, but to keeping my heart and expectations open to witnessing the hand of God do exceedingly more than I could imagine. I can’t allow the tears of 2025 to rob me of the joy that awaits me.

This weekend deserves a proper photo dump. There aren’t many things I’d say I’m truly passionate about, but this community is definitely one of them. I always say being part of Summer Search is like being in on an inside joke you can’t really explain to outsiders because honestly…..it’s quite unique. You’d never guess that many of us were meeting for the first time this weekend with how much laughter, connection, and joy we shared. We’re a group of strangers linked by something meaningful and powerful, similar experiences that created a bond that’s hard to put into words - linked by Summer Search. Summer Search’s 2025 Alumni Summit and Leadership Conference was one to remember. Cheers to 35 years!

Not on the menu, sorry 💋

The weight of showing up. 🥂 to more celebrations, memories and milestones in everyone’s journeys. . . . Signed, Yalls favorite wedding guest 🤍

Just a product of the greatest love story ever told. Ask me about it one day. 😌 . . . My dump from Christian Prom #easter #resurrectionsunday #churchclothes

Sitting here feeling full. Full off laughter, off joy, off love. Allowing myself to abide in this feeling.

Look who made it to the 3rd Floor. . . 30🩶. #GodisFaithful