Living Restored...a story of God's faithfulness.

Happy New Year to each of you reading this blog. I have to start off by acknowledging that it’s been a short while since my last post, but I decided to take some time away to enjoy the holiday months and REST.

If you’re new here, welcome to Living Refined, a place to share, learn and support one another as we journey through God’s uncomfortable, yet beautiful, refinement. For those who have been following for some time, you are familiar with my story of refinement and how God turned my life upside down in 2023.

To recap...I lost my job at the beginning of 2023, ended a 3-year relationship, denounced my sorority, moved to Atlanta, GA to live with my parents, and experienced many more painful things along the way.

In 2025, however, I want to share about the redemptive and healing power of God that is allowing me to live in the restoration of these things that I once counted as a loss. My hope in sharing this is not to boast on my life, but to magnify the goodness and faithfulness of God in my life.

With that being said, here is living restored.

I always think about this scripture when I think about the restoration that comes after a season of pain and suffering.

“Instead of your [former] shame you will have a double portion; And instead of humiliation your people will shout for joy over their portion. Therefore in their land they will possess double [what they had forfeited]; Everlasting joy will be theirs.”

‭‭-Isaiah‬ ‭61‬:‭7‬ ‭AMP‬‬

For what was forfeited, the Lord doubles the portion restored. In my life, this came in each of the areas that was "lost" or forfeited that year.

A forfeited job resulted in God opening up the door for me go to law school with a full-tuition scholarship, and serve as a teacher at an amazing Christian school in the meantime.

A forfeited relationship resulted in God restoring the gift of singleness to me, and learning the true meaning of love by abiding in His love.

A forfeited sisterhood and relationships resulted in God bringing amazing women into my life who I can call on for prayer, encouragement, a laugh, advice, a good trip/retreat...anything!

Although what was forfeited was never easy to let go of, with faith and strength rooted in the Lord, it was worth it for what came later. So when I think about refinement now, I think about the hope and promise of what the restoration will look like.

So to encourage the one out there that’s giving up, losing hope that their life will get better, feeling as though God has forgotten about them or that there’s no good left for them, feeling exhausted from the changes, uncertainties, fatigue of being refined…I’m here to tell you, just wait. Wait on The Lord. Let Him renew your strength daily as He promises to do. The Lord He will never leave you nor forsake you. He’s the best keeper of promises. There is greater coming for you.

In the meantime, focus on where He has you now. Be faithful in that season. Let the process and journey grow you, teach you, and prepare you. Then, watch as your story unfolds right before your eyes.

Stay the course.