You Are Not Alone!

Life can get overwhelming at times, especially when we have to wear multiple hats and operate in different roles! I can definitely relate to this as a wife, mother, pastor, and business woman. It is normal for me to be whoever I’ve got to be at any given time during the day! Despite the fast-paced world I find myself a part of, the strength and wisdom I need to maneuver through my days as effortlessly as possible comes from knowing I have help in God. All of us can have confidence that we are not alone in life, and that we don’t have to face life’s challenges by ourselves.

Knowing When to Leave

Because there are so many women in abusive relationships, I feel compelled to share a word of encouragement about this important issue. For so long, many women suffering abuse at the hands of a spouse or significant other have felt they had no way out; they had to stay in that situation. Maybe it was for financial reasons, or even fear. Regardless of the reasons, women should never stay in violent relationships. Physical abuse can cause emotional and physical scars that take a long time to heal. In many cases, women who continue to stay in an abusive relationship end up paying the ultimate price—their lives. Anyone being physically abused should immediately get out of the situation. Loving ourselves means making sure we are not taken advantage of or battered in any way. If you have survived an abusive relationship and would like to share your story, I would love to hear from you! Your testimonies really help others and give them the strength to move forward in spite of what they are facing. I love you!

Emotions Can Be Deceiving

We’ve all heard the saying, “If it feels good, it must be right,” but is this really true? There are a lot of things that may feel good to us, but that doesn’t mean they are good for us. In today’s world, the lines between right and wrong have been blurred by a contemporary way of thinking that says everyone has the right to do what they want as long as they’re not hurting anyone. But have we ever really taken the time to think about how our choices affect our own lives in the long run? There was a time in my life when I did things that felt good to my senses. Most of the time I was being emotionally led. There came a day, however, when I realized life was about more than fulfilling certain desires; it became less about me and more about others. That caused me to change. Emotions can be deceiving because they can move us to make bad decisions. However, I want to focus on allowing my feelings to take me to a place of greatness. What about you?

Setting the Standard

I like to talk to single women because, unfortunately, there are many who have allowed the world’s standards to affect their mindsets, particularly where relationships with men are concerned. I’ve mentioned before that as women, we are very relational. By that I mean we tend to be most fulfilled and happy when we are in loving, giving relationships that allow us to love and be loved without reservations. We often long for fulfilling relationships with men, yet we live in a world that prizes the physical over the spiritual and focuses on immediate gratification rather than waiting. Consequently, a lot of women tend to lower their standards in relationships, or settle for men that are not God’s best for them. As women, we must realize we have the power to set the standards in our relationships. When we wait on the best God has to offer, we save ourselves time and energy and we avoid heartbreak. I want to encourage women everywhere to set the standard for their lives and refuse to compromise!

Guarding Your Heart

One area in which I’ve seen so many women experience heartache and emotional pain is in their relationships with men. From abusive situations to dating relationships that didn’t end on a good note, women tend to intensely experience the negative emotions of broken relationships. The impact of these types of situations can be devastating, and I’ve come to realize it is because we are wired to be relational. We get fulfillment from giving and receiving love to and from the special people in our lives. Unfortunately, many women open their hearts too soon to people whose motives are not necessarily pure. Now more than ever, it’s so important that we guard our hearts and emotions in relationships. I’m not talking about walking in fear and refusing to trust others. I simply mean developing boundaries and having personal standards that protect us from the wrong intentions of others. Conducting our relationships this way ensures success and helps us keep emotionally and spiritually sound.