[01] Rooted.
In 2020, I found myself in a state of despair after experiencing profound loss, particularly the passing of my grandmother. My last blog post was intended to inspire others who were grieving as I navigated my pain. While my words offered a flicker of hope, I could not avoid the harsh realities of heartbreak. That post marked the final entry in my blog, signaling the end of my wandering and the beginning of my surrender.
The pain of loss became a tool that guided me toward the source of true joy, which I longed for deeply. While in the valley of my grief, I realized that I still had choices. My grief did not have to dictate my destiny. When I looked up, I saw God – the One who has always been close and ready to welcome me.
The year was 2020. It was the year I gave God my yes.
A few years went by.
Before I began writing publicly, the Lord was solidifying my foundation in private. Beyond using me for His glory, He wanted to show me love. During this time, I was part of a community with people who held grace-filled mirrors, teaching me that friendship is a gift from God. In those years, therapy sessions often left me teary-eyed, but they also trained me in how to wield the weapons of warfare. In private, I was being developed because character growth requires only an audience of One, without the pressure to perform.
I learned that we are like trees with roots growing in the soil. The fruits of our trees are not merely beautiful; they invite you to dive deeper and discover the richness that lies beneath their surface. The trees that last are the ones rooted in a firm foundation. Those trees grow differently and with purposeful intention. They do not bend to the wind but listen to the One who commands it. Those trees hold stories, and their branches of wisdom speak to the seasons they have endured.
The year is 2025.
This blog post feels much like redemption. It's a high-five to the 2020 version of me; a woman who was beginning to know God. It speaks to partnership with Him as He continues revealing the innermost parts of my being - the framework of who I am. This blog post speaks to a creative God - and the giver - of good and perfect gifts.
It is 2025 - It is the year that the root of unbelief no longer takes territory. A year when perfectionism is told to leave. It is a year of remembering—not only who I am, but who I belong to.
-Shariah Nicole