BACK WITH A BANG!

Hi Guys!!!!!!!

(©Bitstrips)

I know its been an incredibly long time since I last posted but I am pleased to say IM BACK! and filled with new energy, new wisdom and new stories to share!
So, from now I will posting much more frequently so be on the look out!

In my absence some of you asked why I hadn't posted in a while and I've always been someone who likes to keep it real so all shall be explained...

 Lets back track a little.

In Mid October 2014 I had just begun my expedition to take my relationship with God to the next level. Around that time I was at a point where I felt like by 'the book' I was doing things right. Any of my friends can tell you that I genuinely love helping others and being a light, a sister and a friend to anyone around me. Hence, I was constantly trying my best to be a 'Good Samaritan' for everyone around me and was giving my offering, praying over my day everyday etc. But the more I started thinking about the 'bigger picture' of my life e.g. my purpose, my testimony, my message for the world, it really tugged at my heart that my walk with Christ though 'good', was just far too 'safe'. I had begun to question whether I was just a good person out of obligation to ensure I had secured my seat on 'Destination Heaven Airlines', or because I whole heartedly needed, loved and trusted God with my life and saw him as my 'Daddy'? Though the latter answer was the truth I didn't feel like my relationship with God was reflecting that anymore. I realised I had been acting like life was an exam and that God was my teacher grading me on my 'goodness'. I was just blagging my way through the exam putting my issues in a locked box, rather than revising and applying the wisdom I had already obtained. 

By October I decided to make a change. I was over just living the textbook Christian lifestyle and had spent so much energy trying to be a Good Samaritan for everyone around me, that the areas of my life that I actually needed to be praying for and seeking wisdom to improve, were dealt with by an overworked and overwhelmed Izzy rather than a woman who dealt with things as the Daughter of the Man I already knew held all the answers and tools I would ever need. 

So from October onwards I began to invest proper quality time in myself and kept it real with God about allll my issues as well as daily studying His word and thoroughly journaling everything I was learning each day to track my progress. For the first time in a while it felt so authentic and I had never felt a stronger Daddy-daughter connection. Even looking back at my notes now I can honestly say God wasn't just breaking me down to build me up into the woman he has called me to be, but he was also filling me with so much wisdom that by early December my faith had never felt so invincible! I was literally walking around feeling like I could conquer anything and everything...until disaster struck.

To be honest with you, the biggest reason for my hiatus can be explained with just one line from the hit Mary Mary song 'Shackles'-
"Everything that could go wrong, all went wrong at one time, So much pressure fell on me I thought I was gon' loose my mind!"

That pretty much sums up what I was dealing with at the end of last year.
Be it health issues, emotional battles, financial struggles (university students I know you guys can relate lol) or just feeling constantly overwhelmed,  believe me when I tell you that by the end of 2014 the trials and tribulations were truly coming at me left, right and centre!

                          ©Bitstrips 

By the last week of December I couldn't think of one good thing that was happening for me. I was either emotionally drained, forever down in the dumps, doubting myself, physically in and out of hospital appointments or trying to tackle my university assignments, amongst a whole bunch of other things. I literally refer to it now as my 'Job Season' (Read the book of Job or for a summary click here )
So you would think I would have given up right? It would have made complete sense to throw in the towel and think what's the point of me trying to grow into a better me and be the woman God wants me to be when the only thing I seemed to be reaping from what I was sowing was heartache, frustration and confusion? 

But for some reason that didn't happen.

Everything God had been implanting in me was preparing me for the turmoil that was about to come. Despite all the countless challenges and sorrows that seemed to be coming my way, I just wasn't breaking. So much so that even my closest friends who were aware of some of what I was dealing with were like 'Izzy I don't get it. Are you Hulk? Your strength is crazy?'. To keep it all the way real my strength even shocked me! But I loved it and continue to love it. 

Somehow even though I knew I should crumble and had every right to do so, I realised all the wisdom I had been accumulating had provided me with all the answers and the tools I needed to be able to handle it all. Don't get me wrong I still had days when I felt down and out but my perseverance in my relationship with my Father meant it never lasted long enough to do any permanent damage. I was able to be a light for so many people around me even though my world had fallen apart. I knew I wasn't all the way out of the stuggle yet and I didnt want to blog anything I didn't think would be authentic but I felt like something was coming and now here it is! In this season it actually felt awesome to be constantly reminded that- 




1. Gods love is not a memory. It does not expire. All other ground will fail you but Christ is the solid rock
 ''Gods love never fails'' - Psalm 136
 ''For in him we live, move and have our being.'' Acts 17:28. 
All I need to do is rest in Him and no matter what is thrown my way I will always be alright and experience the truest happiness I would ever find. 

2. It's not the load that breaks you down its the way you carry it- Lena Horne
Gods said it countless times:
“With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” - Matthew 19:26
''I can do all things through him who strengthens me'' -Phillipians 4:13
''Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand'' -Isaiah 41:10

You have two choices: you can either choose to stay stuck and bask in your frustration, anger and sorrows over and over again or stay strong and refuse to let anything break you and press towards the joy, peace and wisdom that await you as your test becomes your testimony.

3. Let Go and Let God
Phillipians 4:6-7
''Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus''

And my all time favourite verse aka my 'Life Motto'
Proverbs:3:5-6
'' Trust in the Lord with ALL your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him and he shall direct your path" 

©ChampionChurch

I know sometimes it really does feel impossible to stay strong or a situation can cut you so deep or hit you out of nowhere and it seems too painful, too hard or even too scary to invision the light at the end of the tunnel. But I am living proof that dedicating the time you would use to stress or mope around to ask God for strength, meditating on his word and surrounding yourself with the right people really works! So much so that the acceleration of your progress will shock you! It is a one day at a time process and I'm still learning as I go but the happiness and growth i've seen in myself along the way continually motivates me to keep going!
The enemy works 24/7 so everyday you're off duty he can still be at work trying to shake up your life but if you remain walking in the image of Christ (Genesis 1:27) - who has already defeated the devil by the way- then I promise you when trials do come (and yes they will come) handling them will seem no way near as hard so NEVER GIVE UP!

Thats all for now guys but yes I'm back and with a full tank of new wisdom and stories I look forward to sharing with you all. So watch this space!

Love 

Izzy x