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<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nI cannot gloss over the tests of faith and endurance that weave themselves into so many parts of my nonlinear story. Because faith itself is<\/em> my story. I believe it\u2019s all our stories, ultimately. And we\u2019ve got freedom and autonomy in how we choose to navigate that journey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Human nature leads us to spend considerable time focusing on previous chapters of our lives, or on what we hope to attain in future ones. It creeps up when we least expect it and encourages us to ruminate on the hardest of character-building chapters, rather than allowing our thoughts to rest in total peace and confidence that every challenge and plot twist in our path is purposeful and intentional in leading us to where we were always meant to be. It’s in our nature to fret about the future, rather than to trust that all we hope for is already on its way (or already here). Society enables our anxiety daily, sending a reliable signal to stress with each turning page, every single day of our lives. <\/p>\n\n\n\n But just because this is our nature doesn\u2019t mean we are bound to it<\/strong>. We have say in how we choose to voyage through our lives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Those who master the art of dancing along the pages of life, trusting that the story is already written, enjoy the pages as they come, while those who entrust themselves with the pen entirely endure the ongoing pressure that comes with that.<\/p>\n\n\n Its a daily choice to embrace that I am not the Author, but rather the narrator, of my story. And since I also double as the protagonist in that story, living fully in faith and freedom is the goal. Pursuing that goal as I turn the pages of my life story makes my job as both the narrator and protagonist of my story more enjoyable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Personally, I\u2019ve discovered that the outward expression of my inner world is a critical means to that end. Thoughtful Gems<\/em><\/a> on all platforms is a space to expand in a world that often confines the most critical parts of my personality, cognition, and spiritual wiring. Words allow the most extroverted parts of my introspective spirit to connect with the world, setting some of my most intricate thoughts free and sending intimate parts of my personal testimony out into the universe to reach to whoever it was designed to touch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Taking a deep dive into uncovering what brings my spirit the most fulfillment and what unsettles it has been one of the most worthwhile time investments I\u2019ve ever made. The memories I’ve made this year have taught me a lot about myself, the world around me, and the people in it. I’ve also experienced the greatest intimacy with God I’ve ever known. The process of self-discovery is both ongoing life changing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A sermon revealed to me recently<\/a> that God works with us when He assigns us a task. Who<\/em> I am becoming is the overarching assignment. And self-work is the premise for the course at hand. He is working with<\/em> me, and I am working for<\/em> Him. <\/p>\n\n\n And the scariest part about it all is that I have no idea what I am doing. Many of the extraordinary things that happen in my life hardly ever make sense. But, I\u2019ve learned to be okay with that. I determined a long time ago that it all has purpose, both the good and the bad. And so, I choose to live purposefully and at peace with whatever does or doesn’t come my way as best I can. In my adult life, especially over the past half decade, this mental framework has brought me an insurmountable level of peace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I took a short hiatus from the blog to keep my mental wellbeing in check. But I\u2019ve returned to my safe space, as I always have, and always will. I\u2019m learning some things, releasing some things, and embracing some things in this season of my life. And I love what I\u2019m discovering in the process. Moreover, I love who I\u2019m becoming in the process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Somehow, I\u2019ve managed to succeed at forming what I always dreamed would become an outward expression of my inner world. And I\u2019m grateful for this space where my thoughts can roam free, my mind can expand and my heart can overflow. I am being stretched in my capacity, in all areas, more than ever before. And I\u2019m no longer fighting it. I\u2019m leaning into it, fully. And since I am expanding, Thoughtful Gems<\/a><\/em> too must expand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/thoughtfulgems.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Apartment-Shoot-157-1024x683.jpg\")
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