🌾 When the Ground Shifts: What the Government Shutdown Taught Me
The government shutdown is finally over
and if I’m honest, it’s taken me a moment to process everything this season revealed.
For many of us, this situation shook something at our core.
It reminded us how quickly life can change.
How fast something we thought was secure…
can suddenly feel uncertain.
Most of us grew up believing that a “good job” meant stability.
You go to college, get hired, do your work, get benefits
and that’s supposed to be the safe path.
But this shutdown proved something we don’t always want to face:
Our jobs were never meant to be our foundation.
For many people, the government has been viewed as the most secure employer
but even here, we saw just how fragile that security really is.
🌿 Who or What Are We Leaning On?
This unexpected disruption made me reflect on
where I’ve placed my trust.
It’s easy to put faith in:
Our paycheck
Our routine
Our benefits
Our position or title
But as we’ve seen…
these things can shift overnight.
This season challenged me
not just financially, but spiritually
to remember that God is my true source.
Not my job.
Not my title.
Not the government.
God is the provider.
And He will always see to it that our needs are met.
🌾 God Provides — Even in Uncertainty
I’ve learned over and over again
that when we experience lack,
it is never without purpose.
Sometimes God allows us to go through a season of need:
To build faith
To teach dependence
To prepare us for more
To birth testimony in us
Even in the wilderness,
He fed the Israelites daily with manna
not all at once,
but just enough for the day.
That is the kind of provision that requires trust.
And sometimes, that’s exactly what He’s teaching us.
💼 The Need for Multiple Streams
Another big lesson this shutdown highlighted
is the reality that we must build multiple streams of income.
Not to idolize money
but to steward wisdom.
We cannot depend solely on one employer,
one paycheck,
or one system.
Having multiple streams gives us options,
margin,
and freedom.
More importantly
it reminds us that provision can come from anywhere,
at any time,
through any avenue God chooses.
So whether it’s:
A small business
Freelance work
Investing
Digital products
Selling a skill
Creating something new
Ask God:
“What have You placed in my hands?”
There is something He’s given each of us
that can create provision beyond a 9–5.
🌱 What Did You Learn?
If you were affected by this shutdown,
I’d love to know:
✨ What did God teach you in this season?
✨ Did it shift how you view your job and security?
✨ Do you feel led to create multiple income streams going forward?
No matter what you walked through,
you are not alone.
Let this season be a reminder that:
God sees you
God sustains you
God provides for you
And even when the systems around us shake
He remains steady.
Always.
🌾 We All Need a Little Grace
Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about grace.
This season has been hard on so many of us.
Some are struggling financially stretching dollars that no longer stretch.
Some are fighting quiet battles in their health.
Some are trying to hold together relationships that feel fragile.
And some are simply trying to make it through the day without breaking.
And then, there are those who aren’t struggling in this moment but feel helpless watching others suffer, wanting to support them, yet unsure where to begin.
Wherever you find yourself on that spectrum…
one truth stands firm: we all need grace.
🌿 When You’re the One Going Through It
This may be a season when you feel like you’re failing no matter how hard you try.
You might feel behind.
You might feel abandoned.
You might feel unseen.
Maybe you’ve reached out for help and didn’t get the answers, support, or comfort you hoped for.
Maybe you stopped sharing because people didn’t respond the way you expected.
Maybe you feel like you’re walking through this season alone.
Can I say something gently?
You are not alone…
and needing grace does not make you weak it makes you human.
Give yourself permission to:
Not have all the answers
Cry when you need to
Rest when you’re tired
Start again tomorrow
Grace does not rush you.
Grace does not shame you.
Grace sits with you and reminds you that you’re still loved here.
🌾 When You Want to Help But Don’t Know How
There’s another kind of struggle too watching someone you care about go through something you can’t fix.
You want to help, but you don’t know what to do.
You want to show up, but don’t know how to show up right.
You worry you may say the wrong thing,
so sometimes… you say nothing at all.
Even that requires grace.
None of us has perfect words.
There is no perfect response to pain.
Sometimes your presence even quiet presence, is enough.
A text.
A meal.
A prayer.
A “thinking of you.”
A moment of listening.
These are all forms of grace too.
🌱 When Support Doesn’t Come
And then there are moments
when you look up expecting support,
and you don’t receive the help you thought would be there.
That hurts.
But this is where grace becomes bigger than people.
This is where we remember that while people can fail us God never does.
Even when help doesn’t look the way we hoped,
even when support is delayed or absent,
God is still providing in ways we may not see yet.
And somehow… day by day…
we are sustained.
🕊 Be Gentle With Yourself & Others
Everyone is carrying something.
Everyone is healing from something.
Everyone is trying.
We don’t always know where people’s energy, capacity, or mental space is.
Someone may desperately want to show up for you but simply can’t right now.
Not because they don’t care
but because they’re stretched too thin to offer more.
That doesn’t make them bad.
That doesn’t make you unworthy of support.
It just means we all need grace.
For others and for ourselves.
✨ A Simple Prayer
Lord, give us grace:
Grace for others, when they don’t show up the way we hoped.
Grace for ourselves, when we don’t have the strength to do more.Help us to remember that You are our source,
and You never leave us without what we need.Teach us to extend compassion even when we’re hurting,
and to receive compassion even when we feel unworthy of it.Thank You for holding us —
especially when everything feels heavy.Amen.
🌾 Final Thought
This season may not look how you expected.
The help you imagined may not come.
But still
grace is here.
And sometimes, grace looks like:
One step at a time
One breath at a time
One small “thank you, Lord” at a time
Wherever you are today…
be gentle with yourself.
Be gentle with others.
We’re all trying.
We’re all growing.
We all need grace.
Always.
🌾 When Suffering Still Means You’re on the Right Path
I was listening to the In Totality podcast with Megan Ashley and Pastor Anthony Mitchell, and their conversation about suffering stopped me in my tracks. They talked about the trials Megan has faced and how much she endured leading up to the Acts 42 conference and it really got me thinking.
So many of us believe that suffering means we’re doing something wrong that maybe we missed God somewhere, made a wrong turn, or stepped outside His will. But in most cases, it’s actually the opposite.
Suffering doesn’t always mean you’re off track.
Sometimes it’s the clearest sign that you’re right where you need to be.
God often uses seasons of suffering to mature us, to draw us closer to Him, and to prepare us for what’s next. It’s not punishment, it’s refinement. It’s His way of making sure the version of us that reaches the promise is strong enough to stay there.
I’ll be honest, suffering sucks. There’s no pretty way to package it. Whether it’s financial hardship, relationship pain, family turmoil, or health challenges… it all hurts. But even here even in this God is still good. He’s still working. And He will see you through it.
So, let’s not take this time for granted. It’s so easy to sink into depression, to be unproductive, or to sit in despair. But instead, let’s try to use this time differently: to lean into Him, to learn from it, and to praise Him in spite of it.
Because like Megan Ashley said God’s character hasn’t changed.
He’s still faithful.
He still loves us.
And He still wants the best for us.
Hold on to that. 🌾
🌾 When You Feel Like Nothing Is Working
Today, I woke up irritated. Not just in a mood but deeply frustrated, tired, and questioning everything.
I feel useless. Alone. Stuck.
It’s hard to see everyone around me thriving while I’m here wondering what I did wrong, what path I missed, or what door I was supposed to walk through that I didn’t.
I thought social media might be my breakthrough but it’s not.
I thought maybe an old boss or coworker would reach out with an opportunity but the calls never came.
I thought the private sector would open new doors but every interview ends in rejection.
And I know I’m not the best at interviewing, but I really thought by now something, anything would change. Instead, it feels like a never-ending battle.
Sometimes I wish I had chosen something more “certain” like being a doctor, or a teacher, or something that came with a clear path and predictable progress. But that’s not my story.
And today, I don’t have encouraging words. Just a prayer. Because if I’m feeling this way, I know someone else might be too.
🙏🏽 A Prayer for the Waiting Season
Lord,
I am tired.
I need Your help, Your direction, and Your provision.
We need Your help, Your direction, and Your provision.
We need a miracle, a sign that You are still working.
If nothing else, Lord, show us what to do next.
Show us where to go, what to say, and how to keep trusting You — even here.
Your child,
Amen.
Some days, that’s all we have, a simple, tired prayer.
But even on days like this, God still hears it. 🌾
🌾 Don’t Forget This Time
In Exodus 16, after God provided manna from heaven to feed His people in the wilderness, He gave Moses a specific instruction:
“Take an omer of manna and keep it for the generations to come, so they can see the bread I gave you to eat in the wilderness when I brought you out of Egypt.” – Exodus 16:32 (NIV)
God wanted them to remember.
Not just the miracle, but the season, the struggle, the wandering, the uncertainty and how He still showed up.
Lately, I’ve been thinking about that passage a lot. Because honestly? If I’m being real, this has been one of the hardest seasons of my life. Losing my job at the beginning of the year left me unsure, unsteady, and sometimes even embarrassed. There are days I wish I could skip ahead to the “better” part of the story the breakthrough, the answered prayer, the stability.
But then I look around and realize… this is the manna.
This website, these hats, these Manna Bags they are my reminder of this time. The time God still provided, still protected, still kept me even when I couldn’t see the way forward.
Some days, I want to forget how hard this has been. But God is good in the bad and in the good. And I don’t want to forget that.
So to whoever is reading this: remember your own manna season. The time God saved you, healed you, or provided for you when you least expected it. Don’t rush past it — remember it.
Write it down in your journal. Paint it. Record it. Build something from it. Whatever you do, keep a piece of this time as a reminder that God still provides even in the desert. 🌾
What’s something you learned about yourself through hardship?
What is God teaching you in this season of waiting?
Write about a time you wanted to quit but didn’t. What kept you going?
If you could tell your future self one thing about this moment, what would it be?
What verse, song, or quote has been your anchor lately?
How to Handle the Holiday Season Alone (or on a Budget)
The holiday season is supposed to be “the most wonderful time of the year,” right?
But for many of us, it’s complicated.
Maybe you’ve lost your job. Maybe your plans changed. Maybe the people you used to spend holidays with aren’t around anymore. Or maybe this year just feels… different.
If that’s you, I see you. And I want you to know that you’re not alone, even if it feels like it.
This year, I’ve been learning that you don’t need a big celebration, a packed calendar, or a picture-perfect tree to feel joy. Sometimes, peace looks like slowing down, doing what you can with what you have, and finding small ways to make the season meaningful again.
Here are a few practical ways to navigate the holidays, especially if you’re walking through them solo or with a tight budget.
✨ 1. Redefine What “Celebration” Looks Like
You don’t have to go big to make it special.
Light a candle. Play your favorite Christmas playlist. Watch a holiday movie in your coziest pajamas. Bake something simple. Decorate a small corner of your home even if it’s just a string of lights and a mug of hot cocoa.
The goal isn’t to perform Christmas.
It’s to experience peace.
💌 2. Create New Traditions (Just for You)
Who said traditions have to include a crowd?
Take yourself on a coffee date. Journal about what you’re grateful for this year even the small things. Go for a morning walk and pray. Volunteer somewhere.
New traditions can heal old memories.
💛 3. Give What You Can, Even If It’s Not Money
You don’t need money to make an impact. You can give encouragement, time, or prayer.
Call someone who might also be feeling alone. Send a text that says, “I’m thinking about you.”
And if you’re in a season where you truly have little to give - give yourself grace. That’s a gift too.
🕊 4. Let Yourself Feel What You Feel
If the holidays make you emotional, that’s okay. Cry if you need to. Rest if you need to.
Don’t rush your healing trying to keep up with everyone else’s highlight reel.
God is close to the brokenhearted and He’s close to you. Even now.
🌿 5. Look for Manna Even in This Season
The truth is, even when this time feels heavy, there’s still manna — small moments of provision and peace scattered throughout the season.
Maybe it’s a warm cup of coffee, a smile from a stranger, or quiet time with God.
He’s still providing. Even here. 🌾
If you’re looking for a few simple things to brighten your season: cozy comforts, encouraging books, or budget-friendly self-care ideas, I put together a little list for you on Benable. 💛
👉🏾 Explore My Holiday Manna List on Benable
These are things that make the quiet moments feel a little lighter, and remind you that joy doesn’t have to be expensive to be meaningful.
🖤 Don’t Stop. Don’t Quit. Don’t Give Up.
That’s the Xtreme Step motto and now, it’s one I apply to my life.
I started Xtreme Step back in February 2024, and let me just say… it is one of the hardest, if not the hardest, exercise classes I’ve ever tried. There are so many twists, turns, and moves to remember sometimes it feels like my brain and my feet are fighting over who’s going to lead. 😅
After my first class, I wasn’t sure if I’d come back. My body hurt, my pride hurt, and I was a little overwhelmed. But something in me said, try again.
So I did.
And now, months later, I’ve been showing up every week — sore feet, tired back, aching head and all. Somewhere along the way, what started as a challenge became something more. I found community. I found joy. And I discovered a new kind of strength — the kind that comes from not giving up.
💪🏾 Step Class… and Life
I’ve realized step class is a lot like life.
You miss a few steps, you get off rhythm, but if you keep moving and if you stay in it long enough, eventually it starts to click.
There are days I feel like I’m barely keeping up, both in class and in life. But I keep showing up. Because even though things feel extremely hard right now, I know quitting won’t get me where I want to be.
And maybe you’re in that same season one where everything feels like too much. You’re tired. You’re sore. You’re questioning if it’s even worth it.
But hear me when I say this:
Don’t stop. Don’t quit. Don’t give up.
You might not see it now, but there’s something waiting on the other side maybe it’s joy, peace, discipline, healing, or even a new version of yourself.
Whatever it is, keep stepping. Keep showing up. You’ll get there one move at a time. 🌾
🔗 Want to Try Xtreme Step?
If you’re curious about Xtreme Step and want to experience the energy for yourself, check out Phil Weeden’s YouTube channel — the founder of Xtreme Hip Hop with Phil and Xtreme Step. His routines are fun, challenging, and full of motivation!
👉🏾 Watch Xtreme Step with Phil on YouTube
And if you want to grab your own step board to practice at home, here’s the one I recommend:
👉🏾 Shop my favorite Step Board
(affiliate link disclosure)
This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you purchase through my link at no extra cost to you. Sometimes, you’ll even get a discount too.
Go, Even When You Don’t Know Where
There’s a story in the Bible that I keep coming back to — Abraham and Sarah.
In Genesis 12, God told Abraham to go to leave his home, his comfort, everything familiar — and travel to a place that God would show him. Not explain, not outline, not confirm. Just show him — in time.
And Abraham went.
He didn’t have a detailed plan, a five-step strategy, or a guaranteed outcome. He just trusted that if God said go, there must be something on the other side worth following Him toward.
💛 That’s How Manna in the Desert Feels Sometimes
If I’m honest, creating Manna in the Desert feels a lot like Abraham and Sarah’s journey.
Every day, I take small steps designing, writing, building… without really knowing what’s next.
I don’t have all the answers.
I don’t know how big this will grow or where God is taking it.
But I do know this: every time I take a step, God meets me there.
Sometimes it’s in a small sale, a kind message, or just a quiet reminder that this still matters — even if I can’t see the full picture yet.
🕊 Walking by Faith, Not by Sight
It’s not easy to follow God without the details.
There are days I wonder if I’m doing it “right,” or if I’m even headed in the right direction.
But then I remember, Abraham didn’t need all the answers to be obedient. He just needed faith.
And I think that’s where many of us are right now. Walking by faith, unsure of what’s coming next, but believing that God is doing something new.
I can’t explain it, but I can feel it.
Something is shifting.
Something is coming.
So if you’re in a season like mine — unsure, waiting, but still moving — know that you’re not alone.
Keep walking.
Keep building.
Keep trusting.
God doesn’t waste steps, even when you don’t know where the path leads.
🌾 Take Your Vitamins, Sis
We talk a lot about faith, prayer, and healing but can we talk about something just as spiritual? Taking care of your body.
Yes, that means rest. That means hydration. And yes that means taking your vitamins, sis.
Because the truth is, caring for your body is a form of worship. It’s gratitude in motion. It’s saying, “Thank You, God, for the vessel You’ve given me.”
💛 Why This Matters
As Black women, we carry a lot emotionally, spiritually, and physically. We pour into everyone else, often forgetting to pour back into ourselves.
Studies show that many of us are low in essential vitamins like Vitamin D, Iron, and B12; all of which affect energy, focus, and mood. Those “off” days where you feel drained or foggy? Sometimes it’s not just stress it’s your body saying, “I need some care too.”
One brand that’s been making waves is Black Girl Vitamins — created specifically for our unique health needs. It’s a reminder that God’s provision even extends to the little things — like a vitamin that helps you feel like yourself again. 🌿
🕊 Faith and the Body
Your spiritual health and physical health are deeply connected.
The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 6:19–20:
“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit… You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore, honor God with your bodies.”
Taking care of your health isn’t vanity — it’s stewardship.
It’s saying, “I’m going to care for this temple so I can keep showing up for the purpose God placed in me.”
✨ Reflection
When’s the last time you checked in on your physical health?
How can you show your body more gratitude this week?
What’s one small habit you can start today — drinking water, stretching, or finally ordering those vitamins?
Taking care of yourself is not selfish. It’s faithful. 🌾
This post contains an affiliate link, which means I may earn a small commission if you purchase through my link at no extra cost to you. In most cases, you’ll also receive a special discount or offer for using my link. Thank you for supporting Manna in the Desert as we continue to create faith-based content and encouragement.
🌾 Starting a Business Out of Necessity
Starting a business out of necessity can be daunting — especially when you don’t see immediate results. Most businesses take time to grow, and sometimes you don’t even know if you’re doing it “right.” But here’s the truth: you’ll never know unless you try.
As long as you’ve prayed about it, done your research, and made sure there’s a real need for what you’re offering — let God handle the rest.
Manna in the Desert was birthed out of my own season of uncertainty. I was in a place where everything felt unclear, but I also knew I wasn’t alone. So many of us are building, starting over, or creating something new while still trying to trust God through it all.
This brand became my reminder — that even in uncertain times, God still provides.
Maybe you’re in that same place right now: unsure, scared, or wondering if you’re really called to do this. I don’t know your business plan, your idea, or what God has placed on your heart to pursue — but I do know this: you’ll never know what’s possible if you don’t jump.
Take the leap.
Start small.
Trust that even if you don’t land where you expect, you’ll land where you’re meant to be.
So, tell me —
💡 What business are you starting?
💭 What’s your biggest fear about stepping out?
🔥 Is it a need, or a passion that keeps calling you back?
🌞 Happy Monday: Finding Joy Where You Are
Happy Monday!
For many, Mondays bring a mix of emotions — especially for those who are between jobs, waiting for clarity, or just feeling uncertain about what’s next. It can feel heavy, slow, or even pointless.
But what if we reframed it?
What if we made Monday an actual Happy Monday — not because everything is perfect, but because we’re learning to find joy in whatever season we’re in?
🌿 If You’re Not Working
Take a moment to rest in the slowness of the day.
Notice the quiet. Let it breathe.
Pray.
Pour a cup of coffee.
Sit with yourself for a moment.
You don’t need to rush into productivity to prove your worth.
There’s peace in stillness, too.
Sometimes, the stillness is God’s provision — a pause before the next chapter.
💛 If You Are Working
Maybe you’re feeling uneasy, overwhelmed, or tired of routine.
Even then, find a moment to be grateful — for the job, for the breath in your lungs, for the people around you.
Pray for strength to get through the day and for those who are still waiting for open doors. Gratitude shifts our focus from what’s missing to what’s present.
🌾 Life Changes Fast
This life is filled with so many swift transitions — especially now.
It’s okay if you can’t name exactly what you’re feeling today.
But even in the uncertainty, remember this:
You saw this day.
Someone didn’t.
So if nothing else, that’s reason enough to whisper, “Happy Monday.” 🌤
💧 Feel It First: Learning to Acknowledge What You Feel
Whatever you feel — feel it.
If you’re feeling down, uncertain, sad, or even a little hopeless today… that’s okay.
For a long time, many of us were taught to push through our emotions. To smile, to keep busy, to move on. We were told that feelings make us weak or dramatic — that faith means pretending we’re okay all the time.
But that’s not true. God created us with emotions for a reason. They’re not a flaw; they’re an invitation.
🌾 Stop Brushing It Away
Sometimes we brush our emotions under the rug, hoping they’ll just disappear.
And they might — for a moment. But eventually, they resurface — louder, deeper, and heavier than before.
We think ignoring pain will make it go away, but silence doesn’t heal.
Acknowledgment does.
So, whatever you’re feeling — acknowledge it.
Cry if you need to.
Write it out in your journal.
Pray and tell God exactly how you feel — He can handle it.
Talk to someone safe who will listen without judgment.
The goal isn’t to stay stuck in your feelings — it’s to make peace with them, so they don’t control you.
💛 Faith Doesn’t Mean Fake
You can have faith and still have feelings.
You can love God and still have bad days.
Even Jesus wept (John 11:35). He felt grief, anger, compassion, and exhaustion — all deeply human emotions.
If He could feel fully and still remain faithful, so can we.
Faith doesn’t mean pretending everything is fine.
Faith means trusting God while you feel it all.
✨ Feel It, Then Deal With It
The days of bottling things up are over. This is the season of managing, not masking.
Let yourself feel — deeply, honestly, and without guilt.
Then, when the tears stop, you can breathe, pray, and take the next step.
As I always say:
“Imma cry first… then deal with it.” 💧
And that’s okay. That’s healing.
🌿 Reflection:
What emotion have you been avoiding lately?
How can you make space to feel it today?
What does “managing, not masking” look like for you?
🌿 Keep Going: The Only Difference Is They Didn’t Stop
The only difference between you and them…
is that you stopped and they didn’t.
It’s not always talent. It’s not always timing.
Often, it’s simply consistency.
No matter what you’re working toward — growing your faith, building a business, creating content, improving your health, or walking in purpose — stopping can’t be an option if you want to see fruit.
🌾 They Kept Going
You might look at someone’s life and wonder:
“Why do they have so many followers?”
“Why does their business seem to be thriving?”
“Why do they seem so much stronger in their faith?”
But what if the answer isn’t that they’re better or more gifted — what if it’s that they just kept going?
They showed up when no one was watching.
They kept posting when no one liked the post.
They prayed when they didn’t feel anything.
They believed when nothing seemed to change.
Growth is often quiet. Progress is often unseen.
But those who endure — they reap the harvest.
“And let us not grow weary in well doing, for in due season we shall reap, if we do not give up.”
— Galatians 6:9
💛 When You Want to Quit
I’ll be honest — there are days I want to stop, too.
Days when it feels like I’m pouring out and seeing nothing return.
Days when the weight of waiting feels heavier than the promise of purpose.
But every time I think about quitting, I remember:
stopping guarantees I’ll never see what could have been.
Faith doesn’t always look like shouting on mountaintops — sometimes it’s whispering,
“I’ll try again tomorrow.”
“I’ll show up anyway.”
“I’ll keep going.”
✨ Reflection: What Have You Stopped?
Take a moment today and ask yourself:
What did I start that I’ve stopped?
Was it a dream, a goal, a routine, or a calling?
Is God inviting me to pick it back up?
You don’t need a perfect plan — just a willing heart.
Remember, the only difference between you and them is that they didn’t stop.
So today, decide: you won’t either.
Keep going. 🌾
✨ The Sandpaper: How God Shapes Us
According to Google, sandpaper is produced in a range of grit sizes and is used to remove material from surfaces—whether to smooth them, remove layers, or even roughen them.
The grit comes in different types: coarse, medium, fine, and extra fine.
Coarse grit is used to roughen or shape materials.
Medium grit is for final shaping or smoothing.
Fine and extra fine grit are used to refine and finish surfaces.
Just like sandpaper works on wood or metal, our lives are shaped by different tools — experiences, people, the Word of God, and the Holy Spirit. Each one plays a role in refining us into who God has called us to be.
We are all works in progress.
Our character is shaped by our past, our pain, our environment, and most importantly, God’s hand. But growth doesn’t happen in isolation. We need connection — first with God, and second with the people He places in our lives.
There are parts of us that can only be changed when we allow the “sandpaper” moments to do their work.
🪓 Coarse Grit: Tough Love and Correction
Sometimes, we need coarse grit — those moments of tough love and truth that reveal what we can’t see in ourselves.
In 2 Samuel 11, King David fell into deep sin. He desired Bathsheba, another man’s wife, and went as far as arranging her husband Uriah’s death to cover it up. The Bible says, “the Lord was displeased with David.”
In the next chapter, 2 Samuel 12, God sends Nathan the prophet to confront David. Nathan shares a story that mirrors David’s own sin, and in that moment, David sees himself clearly for the first time.
Sometimes, we need a Nathan — someone who loves us enough to speak the hard truth. These moments might sting, but they smooth the rough edges of pride, sin, or selfishness. They reveal what’s hidden so God can heal what’s broken.
💬 “Faithful are the wounds of a friend.” — Proverbs 27:6
Correction isn’t rejection — it’s refinement.
📖 Medium Grit: The Word of God
The Word is God’s ultimate shaping tool.
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” — John 1:1
“For the Word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword…” — Hebrews 4:12
If we never open our Bible, we miss the very tool designed to teach, guide, and transform us. Scripture is medium grit — it forms us, teaches us truth, and aligns our hearts with God’s will.
A few years ago, I realized I couldn’t claim to follow Christ while ignoring His Word. Reading it isn’t just a routine — it’s a relationship. It shapes how we love, forgive, lead, and respond to life’s challenges.
The Bible is not just information — it’s transformation.
🌬 Fine Grit: The Holy Spirit
Finally, there’s the fine grit — the Holy Spirit.
From the beginning, the Spirit of God hovered over the waters (Genesis 1:2). He has always been present — guiding, empowering, and refining creation.
Jesus promised the Spirit as our Helper in John 14:26:
“But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit… will teach you all things and remind you of everything I have said to you.”
The Holy Spirit whispers truth, convicts us gently, and shapes us in the quiet places where no one else can reach. He’s the finishing touch in God’s shaping process — smoothing our rough edges with grace.
💡 Without the Spirit, we may change our behavior.
With the Spirit, God transforms our hearts.
🛠 Becoming Refined
Spiritual shaping isn’t easy. It requires humility, openness, and surrender. Sometimes, God uses:
People to challenge us
His Word to convict and instruct us
The Holy Spirit to guide and sustain us
If we resist these tools, we stay rough and unfinished. But when we yield, we become vessels that reflect His glory — living epistles of His grace.
And sometimes, God will ask you to be the sandpaper for someone else — to lovingly speak truth or walk beside them as they grow.
🌾 Reflection:
Who has been “sandpaper” in your life lately?
Where might God be calling you to submit to shaping?
How can you open your heart more to His Word and Spirit this week?
Let God smooth what’s rough, refine what’s hidden, and shape you into the masterpiece He’s always seen in you.
💭 Do It Anyway
I came across a TikTok recently where the creator asked:
“What if you chose your nervous system over your ego?”
It stopped me in my tracks.
Because so often, we let fear — dressed up as pride — make our choices for us.
We say we’re waiting on the “right moment” or for “things to feel aligned,”
but really, we’re avoiding the discomfort that comes with growth.
We choose our ego over our nervous system.
We choose to stay comfortable instead of courageous.
🌾 When Fear Feels Safer
Sometimes it’s not that we don’t know what to do — it’s that we’re scared of how it’ll feel when we actually do it.
We’re scared to look cringey.
Scared to fail publicly.
Scared to start small.
Scared of silence when we finally speak.
So instead of moving, we stay stuck —
sitting in fear,
convincing ourselves that staying put is “wisdom,”
when it’s really just ego protection.
But here’s the truth:
Every new level will shake your nervous system.
It’ll stretch your faith, your confidence, and your identity.
And that’s okay — because that’s where transformation lives.
✨ Do It Scared
I want to challenge you today:
Do it anyway.
Launch it anyway.
Speak it anyway.
Show up anyway.
Whether it’s starting the business, applying for the job, posting the video, or saying yes to the thing that makes your heart race — do it.
Your nervous system might tremble, but your soul will grow.
And you’ll discover that fear can’t stop what’s meant for you — only inaction can.
🌿 Ego or Elevation?
So today, you get to choose:
Will you let your ego keep you safe, silent, and unseen?
Or will you let your nervous system feel the fear and still move forward?
Because one of them will lead you back to comfort.
The other will lead you to healing, breakthrough, and the next tax bracket.
You decide.
💭 What will you do today that will shock your nervous system — in the best way?
✨ Give Up
For most of my life, “giving up” was my default response when things got hard.
If a friend hurt me, I wouldn’t talk about it — I’d just end the friendship.
When college became too difficult, I dropped out.
If a job demanded too much, I found another one.
When a relationship became complicated or painful, I walked away.
That’s how I handled challenges — by running. By quitting. By giving up.
What I didn’t realize at the time was that this pattern was shaping not only my relationships with people, but also my relationship with God.
When prayer didn’t seem to work fast enough, I’d stop praying.
When worship felt heavy, I’d stop singing.
When God didn’t move on my timeline, I’d stop trusting, stop pressing in, stop showing up.
Because that’s what I’d always done — walk away when things got hard.
But what God has been showing me is this: maybe I was meant to give up — just not in the way I thought.
Instead of giving up on Him, I was supposed to give up to Him.
To surrender my will, my time, my emotions, and my expectations.
To lay it all down and let Him lead.
🌾 A Lesson from Joseph — Genesis 45:4–8
Joseph’s story has always moved me.
He was Jacob’s beloved son — the favorite. A dreamer. And because of that, his brothers resented him deeply. When Joseph shared a dream that hinted he would one day reign over them, it pushed their jealousy over the edge. They sold him to Ishmaelites, who took him to Egypt, where he was sold again to Potiphar, one of Pharaoh’s officials.
If I’m honest, that alone would’ve made me give up. Betrayed by family. Stripped of freedom. Far from home.
It’s easy to imagine Joseph wondering, “Does God still love me? Did I do something wrong?”
But Joseph’s story teaches us something vital:
The presence of trouble is not the absence of God.
✨ 1. The Presence of Trouble is Not the Absence of God
Later in the story, Joseph was falsely accused of a crime he didn’t commit and thrown into prison (Genesis 39:20–21).
If we’re honest, jail would feel like the end — the breaking point. But for Joseph, it became another opportunity to serve, to minister, and to interpret dreams through the power of God.
How many times do we interpret hardship as abandonment?
When finances fall apart, when relationships break, when jobs end — we assume God has left us. But Joseph’s life reminds us:
God’s presence isn’t proven by comfort — it’s revealed in how He carries us through discomfort.
None of us are exempt from pain. Jesus Himself told us in John 16:33:
“In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
The difference for us as believers is this:
We don’t walk through trouble alone.
The Holy Spirit walks with us, giving peace, perspective, and strength to keep going.
Maybe Joseph shouldn’t have told his brothers his dream — or maybe, just maybe, that betrayal was part of the plan. Maybe the pit was necessary to reach the palace.
Maybe what you see as a setback is actually God setting you up for purpose.
💛 The Real “Give Up”
So now, when I feel tempted to quit, I remind myself:
I’m not giving up — I’m giving in.
I’m surrendering to God’s plan, His pace, and His presence.
Because the journey might be hard, but He’s in it.
And if He’s in it, there’s purpose in it.
🌿 Reflection:
Where in your life have you been tempted to give up?
What might surrender look like instead?
How can you invite the Holy Spirit into the places that feel heavy?
Take heart — God hasn’t left you. He’s working, even here.
💌 To the 92%
I never thought I’d have to write something like this.
But here we are — navigating a season that none of us saw coming. And while it may feel heavy and uncertain, I want you to know this one truth: God is not shocked or surprised by any of it.
He still has a plan.
He still sees you.
He still provides.
To my sisters — we are resilient. We are dependable. We are intelligent, trustworthy, and powerful beyond measure. We’ve built, we’ve carried, we’ve led with grace. And though this moment has taken many of us by surprise, it cannot take away what God has placed within us.
This is not the end of our story.
It’s a pause — a pivot — a preparation.
So in this in-between, I encourage you to:
Reflect on who you’ve become and what you’ve learned.
Pray for clarity, strength, and direction.
Pivot if needed — shift toward the places God is calling you next.
Prepare for what’s ahead — the doors He’s about to open.
Gear up for the next season with faith and expectation.
I don’t know exactly what’s next for each of us. Maybe it’s another job, a new career, launching a business, stepping into investing, or embracing a new rhythm as a stay-at-home mom. But whatever it is — you already have everything you need in your hands.
You got this.
And we have each other.
Take heart, sis. We were built for seasons like this. 🌾
With love and hope,
Crystal
Manna in the Desert
Think On These Things
It all begins with an idea.
We’ve all faced those tricky interview questions—like the one about handling conflict at work. Honestly, it’s one of the questions I dread most. But it also reminds me of something deeper: how we deal with conflict as believers.
At work, disagreements may just end with agreeing to disagree. But within the church, or in our walk with God, conflict should lead us back to common ground, our shared love for Christ, and our desire for peace.
Paul addressed this in his letter to the Philippians. Writing from prison, he urged believers to stay united, even calling out two women in the church who were at odds. Then he gave us this powerful guide for our thoughts:
“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” (Philippians 4:8)
What to Think On
True: God is Creator, Savior, Healer, and Provider. His truth never changes.
Noble: God alone is worthy of our respect and honor.
Right: His holiness is our standard for living.
Pure: We must daily ask Him to cleanse our hearts and minds.
Lovely: Our faith in Him delights His heart—even when it wavers.
Admirable: God’s goodness and grace deserve our praise.
A Personal Reminder
Not long ago, I lost my job unexpectedly. My thoughts were scattered, my prayers felt weak, and doubt crept in. But the Lord reminded me: my focus shouldn’t be on loss, but on Him.
Life has peaks and valleys. But through it all, God’s truth stands. Even when nothing around us seems praiseworthy, He still is.
Prayer
Lord, thank You for giving me a guide for my thoughts. Help me to focus on what is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and admirable. When my mind is restless, anchor me in Your peace. Amen.
Journal Prompt
What negative thought do I need to surrender today?
Which truth about God do I need to meditate on this week?