Tag: faith

Different versions

Have you ever stopped to think about all the different versions of yourself that exist?

There’s the version people see on social media- we all know that is really only 2% of who we “really” are.

The version that shows up at work- the composed, capable one who gets things done.

The version your family knows- the one shaped by history, expectations and shared memories.

The version your friends experience- comfortable, open and familiar.

Then there is the version only God and you truly know.

And then the version that exists in the minds of people who knew us years ago, or who they “think” we are now.

Recently during one of my therapy sessions, my therapist asked me who i was? That got me to thinking, who am I? How did I get here? Do I even like the current version of myself? I already know the answer to these questions and so do you!!

Here is the truth- Life has a way of shaping us through seasons we never expected. Every challenge, every joy, every disappointment, and every waiting period has played a role in forming who we are today. Some seasons strengthened our faith. Others tested it. Some drew us closer to God, while others left us questioning everything.

This version of you didn’t happen by accident.

Scripture reminds us that we are constantly being shaped: “He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion” (Philippians 1:6). That means God is not finished with you- no matter how unfinished you may feel.

The difficult part of personal growth is taking an honest look at ourselves and asking whether the version we are living in aligns with who God is calling us to be. Sometimes we are living out of habits formed in survival, not faith. We learned to be guarded, independent, or silent because those traits once protected us. And while those versions were necessary at one time, they may not be the versions God is inviting us to live in now. Because sometimes the version we are living in was built to survive a season that no longer exists.

Those versions served a purpose. Each season has taught a lesson. And each step forward matters-even the small ones. They kept you going. But that doesn’t mean they’re meant to stay forever.

And if you realize you don’t fully like who you’ve become, that doesn’t mean something is wrong with you. It means you’re growing aware—and awareness is powerful. It’s the first step toward change.

Growth requires surrender.

Surrendering old mindsets.
Surrendering control.
Surrendering the belief that we must remain who we once were.

And that surrender takes time.

Faith-based growth isn’t about instant change—it’s about daily obedience. You didn’t get here in a day, and God doesn’t expect transformation in a single moment. He works in layers, gently refining us through experiences, prayer, reflection, and sometimes uncomfortable stretching.

This is where grace becomes essential- Where it matters most.

Grace for the version of you that did the best they could with what they knew at the time.
Grace for the choices you made when you were tired, hurting, or afraid.
Grace for the moments you wish you could redo.

God’s grace meets us exactly where we are, not where we think we should be.

One of the hardest truths about growth is realizing that not everyone will recognize—or accept—the new version of you. Some people only know the old you. Some are attached to who you used to be. But your growth is not meant to make others comfortable; it’s meant to bring you closer to who God created you to be. You are allowed to evolve. You are allowed to outgrow people, patterns, and even old versions of yourself. You are allowed to decide that who you were is not who you want to continue being. And maybe the most freeing realization of all is this:
Not everyone will know—or accept—the new version of you.

Some people will hold onto who you used to be. Some will only see you through the lens of their own experiences with you. That’s okay. Their version of you does not get to define your future.

Each version of you has served a purpose.
Each season has taught a lesson.
And each step forward matters—even the small ones.

So if you’re in a season of questioning, changing, or becoming, take heart. Trust that God is working even when progress feels slow. Continue showing up. Continue praying. Continue growing.

The only version that truly matters is the one you are intentionally becoming.

So take your time. Be honest with yourself. Reflect often. Make small changes. Choose growth over perfection. And above all—allow yourself grace in the process.

You are not behind.

You are not forgotten.

You are becoming.

And the best version of you is not the one everyone understands, but the one that walks faithfully in alignment with God’s purpose.

Be You!

From a young age, we are influenced by the expectations of family, teachers, peers, and society. We are gently (or not so gently) taught how to behave, what to believe, and even who we should become. While some of this guidance helps us navigate the world, it can also push us away from our true selves.

Many of us, at some point, have put on a mask—whether to fit in, avoid criticism, or meet someone else’s standards. But living for external validation comes at a cost. It can create anxiety, dissatisfaction, and even a sense of emptiness. True fulfillment comes when we step into our own identity, unapologetically embracing who we are.

What holds us back from being ourselves?

Fear of Rejection or Judgment

One of the biggest reasons people hide their true selves is the fear of not being accepted. Whether it’s the opinions of family, friends, colleagues, or even strangers on social media, we often worry about what others think.

Who are you?

Recently I was asked this question. At first I began to think about my titles. But that wasn’t what they were asking for. Stop and think for a minute and ask yourself; What are my values and beliefs, interest and passions, personality, relationships, purpose and meaning, and sense of self ( self-image)? Honestly this was a hard task! I had a longer list of what I was not than what i was. Also, I kept thinking of what I use to be. Why was that? My problem was like many of you, I was and had become afraid to be myself. You nor I should never apologize for who we are! We fear people will not like us, respect us, or value us if we do not “fit in”. While i was pondering on this, all i could think about was the many times I have reminded my daughter to be herself! God placed each of us on this earth with special qualities. He did not want us to all be the same. We should not envy others, compare ourselves, or conform to what others want us to be. But the reality is, not everyone will like or understand us—and that’s okay. The people who matter will accept us as we are.

Stop trying to fit in!

Being yourself isn’t always easy, but it is one of the most powerful acts of self-love and courage.

Romans 12:2 “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

Remember “Be yourself, everyone else is taken”

Vulnerable in the Valley…

Psalm 23:4 “Yea, though i walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.”

I know what many of you are thinking, this passage is usually associated with death. And while you may not be in the valley of the shadow of death right now, you may be in another valley. A place of scarcity, danger, pain or just the unknown. Most of the time when we are “in the valley” is when we begin to examine our self. It allows us to open up about our fears, hopes and dreams. In doing so, we learn that our struggles are universal. When we think about a valley, we think about a low point. Valleys in life are those low points; it could be just as I described above or even more defined as; relational, emotional, financially, or spiritually. Take a moment to think back when you were in a “valley” in the past. It didn’t last forever. If you are honest with yourself, you learned something from being in that valley or hard time in life. So remember, when you are in a valley, it doesn’t last forever and we should use that time to really dive in and reflect on what you are to gain (strengthen), change, and how you will grow from this time. This is not your first time here, and guess what, it will not be your last! But we can find comfort in knowing that no matter if we are on the mountaintop or in the valley, we are never alone.

2 Corinthians 12:9 ” My power is made perfect in weakness.”

To God, strength lies in acknowledging our weaknesses and embracing our vulnerability. I find it interesting that the word vulnerable derived from the Latin noun vulnus “wound”. Vulnerable can be viewed in several ways. To me, means you are honest with who you are, how you feel and acknowledging the parts of yourself that you would rather keep hidden. Also, a different perspective would be thinking about it in terms of being vulnerable before God, surrendering, knowing God is at work in our weaknesses.

I do believe we are placed in these valleys sometimes to gain strength. We can be encouraged knowing that God uses the valley to strengthen our faith and draw us closer to him. Change is another reason why I feel we are sometimes placed in the valley. Changing our perspective on situations, change jobs that are toxic, change relationships, changing us as an individual. It could be that there has been a change and we may not understand why but remember “when one door closes another opens”. Growth, think about this, would you plant your seeds on the mountaintop? Or would you plant them in the valley where there is water and nutrients in the soil? In the valley right, just as God is growing you in your valley.

Be your authentic self, it allows you to have a stronger sense of who you are. Be more focused, showing grace to yourself and other imperfections. Focusing on self-investment and personal development. While valleys may make us vulnerable, begin to look at them as an opportunity. Our work is really done in the valley. Most of the time the valley is better than the mountaintop.

Until next time, let us be reminded of the wise words Winston Churchill stated, ” Mountain tops inspire leaders but valleys mature them”.