Grief has a way of derailing you if you allow it. And I can't lie, this month, for a short period, I allowed it to do just that. This month has been a reminder of two significant things. One, you need community. And two, sometimes standing is enough. It was the prayers of my faith sisters, their encouraging words, and even their hugs, that carried me through some dark moments this month. Several of them weren't even aware of what I was going through, but God used them anyhow. Scripture says, "Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ." — Galatians 6:2 Sometimes God will answer a prayer through the very people standing beside you. Feelings are real, but they aren't facts. Despite what I was feeling, when I heard truth, I had no choice but to align with truth. God's truth silenced the grief that was trying to overtake me. His Word says, "You will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You." — Isaiah 26:3 My feelings were telling me one thing, but God's Word was telling me another. And I had to decide which one I was going to believe. Secondly, this season has taught me to stand. Ephesians 6:13 says, "Having done all, to stand firm." The Scripture says Christ is the cornerstone. Even when I felt like I couldn't do anything, I was reminded that through Christ I can do ALL things. All I had to do was stand on His Word. He said He was my strength. He said He was my peace. He said He was my joy. Psalm 46:1 reminds us that "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble." All I need is in Him. So if all I could do was stand on His truths, that was enough. Did all my feelings go away? No. But focusing on Him meant I couldn't focus on my hurt at the same time. The more I focused on Him, the pain began to lessen. The more I focused on Him, the Holy Spirit would bring peace to my anxious thoughts, even answering some of the questions I had. Jesus told us, "In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world." — John 16:33 He didn't promise us a life without grief. He promised us that we would never have to face it without Him. As I reflect on what has happened this month, I look forward to what is to come.

Before Jesus began His public ministry, He was led by the Spirit into the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-11). There, He overcame the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—not by relying on His own strength, but by standing firmly on the Word of God. The wilderness wasn't a detour from His calling; it was part of His preparation. I believe the same is true for us. So many of us desire to be used by God, but we struggle with the process that prepares us for His service. We compare ourselves to what we see others doing instead of allowing God to shape us for what He has uniquely called us to do. Scripture reminds us that Christ gave ministry gifts "to equip the saints... until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood..." (Ephesians 4:11-13). Ministry is not about titles or platforms—it is about maturity. God is not looking for perfect people. He is looking for surrendered people. He also warns us to "take care how [we] build" because every work will be tested by fire (1 Corinthians 3:10-15). Activity is not the same as obedience. We can build impressive things that were never assigned by God. Even Nehemiah teaches this principle. Each family repaired the section of the wall God had entrusted to them (Nehemiah 3). They weren't competing for someone else's assignment—they were faithful to their own. Likewise, Peter reminds us that we are "living stones... being built into a spiritual house" (1 Peter 2:5). Every stone has a place. Every believer has an assignment. The wilderness is not God's rejection. It is His workshop. Before God positions us publicly, He forms us privately. Before He entrusts us with people, He teaches us to trust Him. Before He gives us influence, He develops integrity. Sisters, don't rush the process. Stay on the Potter's wheel. Let Him prune your flesh, renew your mind, and establish your identity in Christ. The goal isn't simply to do ministry—it is to become a vessel fit for the Master's use. "Now in a large house there are not only gold and silver vessels, but also vessels of wood and clay... Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work." — 2 Timothy 2:20-21 May we be women who don't chase platforms but pursue His presence. Women who are willing to be processed before being positioned. Women who understand that becoming fit for God's service begins with becoming more like Christ.

Matthew 4:1–17 really stood out to me today during my devotional time. These verses show the temptation of Jesus in the wilderness before His public ministry began. I began to think about the many times I tried to move forward in ministry but failed. These verses show Jesus being tempted in three areas: His physical desires, the twisting of God's Word to create doubt, and the temptation of worldly power and glory. (The lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life.) I can now see why I was stuck in the same cycle for so many years. I was unable to stand against the enemy long enough to overcome. The enemy tempted Jesus three different times, and each time Jesus responded with obedience and the truth of God's Word. In the end, the devil left Him. For me, I would often give in to my own desires and find myself right back at square one. But once I allowed the Lord to strengthen me, and once I fully surrendered to Him, I became able to tell my flesh, "No." Then the enemy shifted his strategy. He began twisting God's truth with questions meant to create doubt. "If God is faithful, why is this happening?" "If God is truly your provider, why are you experiencing lack?" "If God is truly a healer..." ...and the questions kept coming. But as I learned to stand firmly on the Word of God instead of my feelings, the enemy's voice became quieter and quieter. Now I can also recognize how he tries to tempt me through what I see. He whispers that I should take shortcuts to get what I want. He tempts me to step outside of my calling for temporary, earthly gain. I can understand now why people say the enemy has no new tricks. Our temptations may look different, but the source is the same. He wants us to bow to his will instead of the Father's. He wants us to partner with him so he can steal, kill, and destroy. Don't allow yourself to become a pawn in his game. God's Word tells us that every temptation comes with a way of escape. But it is our responsibility to choose obedience and take the way God provides.

This season God has been dealing with me in the area of discipline; what I eat, what I watch, and stewarding my physical health. What I did not expect was that He would begin disciplining me in the area of rest. You might think, "Of course, we all need good sleep habits." But that is not the kind of rest I am speaking of. If you are someone like me, who has always been on the go, always had a hand in doing this or that because you have a never-ending list of things that need to be done and things you want to do, God has been showing me that I was living in a constant state of burnout. I was asking Him why it seemed like I had seasons of great productivity that were always followed by seasons where I could barely do the minimum. His response was simple: You aren't resting. You need balance. Lists are great, don't get me wrong. But when our lists dictate our movement instead of God, we have elevated our plans above Him. Without realizing it, another form of pride had quietly settled into my heart. Where I was once lazy and complacent, I had become super-efficient. So much so that I stopped consulting God about what He wanted me to do or how He wanted me to do it. I mistook productivity for obedience. I assumed that because I was accomplishing a lot, I must have been pleasing God. But honestly, all the work I was doing was drowning out the voice of the Holy Spirit. He had highlighted areas in my life where I needed greater discipline. But instead of following His strategy, I created my own and decided what discipline should look like. The Lord lovingly exposed this in me—not to shame me or harm me—but to bring me back into alignment with Him. I am so grateful that He cares about every area of our lives. He loves us enough to keep us walking in step with Him. So what am I doing now? I submit my lists to Him. It looks something like this: "Lord, You know everything that needs to be done today. Show me what You want me to do first." That's it. I ask the question, and then I wait for His direction while I faithfully do the daily responsibilities around my home.