Take a moment to look again

You are never too far gone to experience a shift that can position you in the direction of your divine destiny.

I remember when roughly 7 years ago, the shaking in my foundation started. One step, one decision, and one action after another took me further away from recognizing the person I saw in my daily reflection. The soft, sweet, kind, and joyous person others enjoyed being around slowly faded into the abyss of depression, shame, anger, frustration, and pain. Unfortunately, while I wanted to displace blame for my actions and ignore the emotional rollercoaster I signed up to experience for the next few years of my life, pride pushed me to a place where I calcified myself and adopted the belief that since I was too far gone. I believed that my purpose would never fully materialize.

You see, when you find yourself making one misstep after the next or suffocating because of the pressures of life, you’ll begin to believe the lies and negativity others feed you. Why? Because your emotions are already swimming in the pond of the “less than mentality.”

As undesirable as it may sound, this mentality can be comforting for some, pending their cultivated perspective after looking at a world that seems more prosperous than their personal experience. From this point, furthering the wounds they developed along the journey happens inadvertently because they isolate themselves from things that breed life. After all, they feel unworthy or unknowingly form ties with those that connect with their wounds versus their potential.

Nevertheless, at some point along the way, at an unplanned moment, hope meets them. Sometimes, it comes through a random interaction with someone at a store, a random comment from a person at the bus stop, or even a radical experience with God that can never be shaken. While the encounter happens, disbelief, uncertainty, and even astonishment sprouts in the individual’s mind; yet, while still being flabbergasted at that moment, a box of light is unlocked.

It’s said that people should be careful of how they entertain strangers because some have unknowingly entertained angels (Hebrews 13:2). While this statement is true in helping one realize that every soul matters, it also reveals that we do not know the impact people can have on our lives. You see, no matter how you slice it, the most unimaginable encounters can be the strategic element to shift your life.

Think again if you felt like your missteps disqualified you or wrote you out of living a purpose fulfilled life.

The mess you went through can very well be the experiential knowledge that qualifies you to recognize wisdom from foolishness, truth from reality, and grit from laziness.

Don’t allow the scars of your past to build the facade that you can never be more than what you are right now. Yes, your previous steps' second and third-order effects created a delay in some shape or fashion - trust me, I get that. However, the delay is only a transition period for you to get from where you are to where you were created to be. If it was not for the delays, we would rush into things, depreciate the blessings, and not understand the virtue of being a good steward of the opportunities/advancements we receive.

So if you’re down on your last right now, feel burdened with shame, or you can’t seem to find your way, allow me to be the unplanned person who you stumble across for a brief discussion. In this moment, may this upcoming sentence be a word that unlocks the light you thought died. YOU ARE NOT TOO FAR GONE!

Everything you previously experienced, every bit of time you thought that was wasted, and every setback you believed would take you on a path to nothingness can work together to build your steps towards purpose.

Don’t allow the scars of your past to build the facade that you can never be more than what you are right now.

If you’re willing to accept the fact that you’re not washed goods or are a helpless soul, the transformation can begin.

Now, I don’t want to lie to you and say that the next day will be like, “Whoops, there it is. I’m completely new and have reached my newfound destiny.” Oh no, beloved, the work is only beginning.

From here, you’ll start the journey of processes: healing, delivering, transforming, and renorming. Some elements of the process will fly by, while others will move like a snail. Yet, one thing is sure: if you’re willing to endure, get connected with a tribe that speaks to your inner light, and become rooted in discovering your purpose, one day you’ll wake up and see that you’re living in and through your shift.

Listen beloved, I could write about this in the third person all day to make this come to life, but let me take a moment to connect with you from a personal experience.

I had a season in my life where I was homeless, emotionally broken, overwhelmed, and used alcohol to anesthetize the shame that bound me to live a life where many things were missing. During this time, I built walls to push people away, made myself believe that I only deserved second-best and that God could never forgive me for getting so lost in the distractions of life. For years I didn’t realize grace and mercy were running after me because I felt unworthy. I believed that staying in the shadows was safe and a place where the troublesome people needed to remain because it protected others from tripping over their shortcomings. But boy-oh-boy, one day in the middle of a pity party, I realized that if I stayed down and cried, I would one day die living a life unfulfilled. However, if I chose to get up and fight to see my purpose come to life, I would still die one day. But, instead of leaving behind a life filled with potential, I would look back and see destiny fulfilled.

The same options are available to you. One day we will all close our eyes for a final time. However, what separates the walking dead from the living vessel is that one chose to live by the light while the other chose to walk in darkness.

So, beloved, from one overcomer to the next, yes, I’m talking to you. You are an overcomer even if you don’t believe it. Are you willing to accept the belief that you’re not too far gone? Are you willing to embrace hope for a better tomorrow? And are you willing to allow the words “you are worthy” to leave a forever imprint on your heart?

YOU ARE NOT TOO FAR GONE!

I believe that you didn’t make it this far through today’s post by chance. Let this be a reminder that you are capable of enduring the journey to fight for your purpose. Therefore, may your journey be filled with strength, wisdom, courage, insight, strategy, and an unshakeable resilience. May your heart be healed and cleansed from the worries of your past. And may your eyes be opened to the beauty and influence that your divine purpose has in store for you because you are a champion that’s chasing after destiny.

Be blessed today, beloved. Walk tall and walk with your head high. If you stumble along the way, dust the dirt off of your knees, and don’t feel ashamed for reaching out for a lifeline. This journey that you’re embarking on isn’t for the one who wants an instant meal. It’s for the one that’s willing to endure the sweat that transpires after working hard for something that’s connected to purpose.

You’re in the fight now, so keep on training, enduring, and relishing in the joy that comes from believing that better days are before you.