Yes, it’s after 3:00 AM and I’m awake. My new sleep schedule is a work in progress. Plus, it’s the weekend! Smile
Anyway, “trust” is on my mind. I was thinking about how I’ve had my guard up most of my life because life experiences have taught me not to trust too easily. There were times when I let my guard down for people I believed I could trust, only to be disappointed and heartbroken later. What hurt even worse was finding out they never had my best interest at heart. They were always out for themselves.
Well, God has been working on me in this area. His message has been constant—trust Him. Trust Him to bring people into my life who I can trust. This also means trusting Him when He says and shows me that someone doesn’t mean me well and must go.
So, I’m going to do something new. I’m going to lower my guard and trust God to bring people into my life who I can trust. If He says I can trust them, then I can trust them.♥️ ~Shaun
Listen, when I released the limits I had placed on myself by only posting at scheduled times and limiting the number of posts I shared, I had no idea how freeing it would be. Y’all, I feel like a genie without a bottle. Who knew I could post whenever I wanted to?! Smile. Oh, the limits we place on ourselves….
Anyhoo…
Here’s the second part of my message about obedience. It’s not the size of the ask that’s important, nor is it about the task. The importance lies in the act of being obedient.
You see, before I wrote my previous post about obedience, I was tasked with doing something simple but kept delaying it because I didn’t think it was important. Well, after only completing part of the task, I heard that still small voice say that I keep thinking my next is tied to something big or what I consider significant, but in reality, it’s tied to my obedience. Say, what?!!
Y’all, it’s never about the ask or the task but about our obedience.
So, be obedient. You don’t have to understand what God is asking you to do; just do it.♥️
Lord, please direct and guide my footsteps so they remain pointed toward You and Your purpose. I never want to move without Your guidance. Everything I touch and do must lead back to You. For I know, my existence is for Your praise and glory.♥️ ~Shaun
For several years now (since December 24, 2018), I have shared the same quote from Michelle Obama’s book “Becoming”–
“Am I good enough? Yes, in fact I am.”
For years, I questioned my worth. Seeing Michelle Obama (who’s #4 on my infamous list of people to meet) mention it in her book gave me hope. If she also questioned her worth at times and still surpassed her wildest dreams, then I could, too.
In 2018, I began a doctoral program to earn my DrPH (Doctor of Public Health) degree. I decided to pursue this degree after experiencing one of my most crushing moments professionally. Before then, I was always on top of my game. Personally, my life was in the pits, but professionally, it was taking off. Y’all, I was “The Research Diva!” I was so confident and sure of myself and where my career was going. Other professionals and organizations had begun contacting me because of my experience and expertise. However, I hadn’t accounted for some only reaching out because of the fact that I was Black. Once I realized I was only being used because of the color of my skin and my ability to reach populations some couldn’t, I was crushed.
After this realization, every project I was asked to work on, I questioned why I was asked. Was it because of the color of my skin? Did they truly recognize my worth? That’s when I felt if I had my doctorate, my race wouldn’t matter. But I already knew the answer to that, too.
So, for six years, I pursued the DrPH degree. I started strong, but then life happened…COVID happened…then life again. Last year, when I shared her quote, I had just finished another semester of the program, and I had a decision to make—spend more money working towards a degree that I was only pursuing to be deemed worthy or to withdraw. In May of this year, I finally withdrew from the program. Part of me felt like a failure because I couldn’t push past the fact that I was only doing it to prove my worth. Like girl, still get the degree! Then, the other half felt relieved because I could finally focus on the things I wanted to pursue, my real goals and dreams. I’m not sure if I’ll ever be referred to as Dr. LaShaundrea B.; however, I know I am worth more than a title and credentials.
Soooo…
Am I good enough?
Baby, YES! I’m more than good enough!
I now realize I needed to go through all of that craziness to get to where I am today. I can see where my ego and pride could’ve eventually been my downfall and at a higher level. Life is truly a journey.
Well, that’s all I have at the moment. Listen, if you are currently questioning if you are good enough, this is assurance that you are. You are more than good enough. You’re the best!♥️
This morning, I’m singing Hezekiah Walker’s song “Grateful.” The song says—
“I am grateful for the things that You have done. Yes, I’m grateful for the victories we’ve won. I could go on and on and on about Your works because I’m grateful, grateful, so grateful just to praise You Lord. Flowing from my heart are the issues of my heart, it’s gratefulness.”
God is so good. So very good. I’m so grateful to be in His presence. I am so grateful for His love. I am truly blessed.♥️ ~Shaun
You are in God’s hands. You’re covered. Right now, I can hear Marvin Sapp singing, “He Has His Hands On You.”
Marvin begins his song with these words—
“A lot of us in this house tonight, we are on the potter’s wheel right now and it’s not comfortable. It doesn’t feel good. But we need to just take solace in the fact that even though it may not feel good right now, as long as I’m in His hands I know that everything is going to be alright.” –Marvin Sapp
In God’s hands is such a wonderful place to be. After I shared my last post, “My Journey With God, No. 38,” God led me to read my journal entry written two years after I made the Facebook post (see previous post for reference—the journal entry date was December 18, 2020). After reading that entry, I heard, “There’s life after heartbreak.” He went on to show me a few other things. Things that gave me a sense of peace and hope.
This is what happens when we’re in God’s hands, when we’re covered. He will always send comfort, we just have to be open to receive it. And what I love about God—because He’s had to do this with me many of times—is that He doesn’t force us to receive the comfort when it’s offered. Instead, He holds it until we are ready to receive it. Today, I needed comforting after I saw that Facebook memory. God knew I was open to receive it, so He gave it to me. Beyond Blessed
Despite how crazily unpredictable life can become, I know that God has me covered. I am in His hands.
And so are you!♥️
Love you always,
Shaun
This post was shared today on Instagram. A word, indeed. Gotta let the past hurts go and step into the great things the future holds.♥️
Here’s my post from last year (December 10, 2023) in its entirety—
Woke up in the middle of the night because it was storming. I could hear the rain pouring down and the wind blowing. We had had tornadoes and tennis ball sized hail reported in different areas of our state so I knew it was probably bad outside. Instead of getting up and looking out the window or looking at the weather app, as I would typically do, I rolled over and went back to sleep. Said I would worry about the weather if or when the weather alerts and sirens sounded—which never happened. Right now it’s very calm out. The storm has passed and there is no more rain in the forecast.
I believe my experience is an example of how things should play out when we encounter storms in our lives. We should not worry or panic but give them to God. Then, we should rest in Him knowing He has us covered.
Right now, Greg O’Quin ‘n Joyful Noyze’s song, I Told the Storm, is playing over and over in my head. Here is a snippet of it:
Even though your winds blow I want you to know You cause me no alarm ‘Cause I’m safe in His arms Even though your rain falls I can still make this call Let there be peace Now I can say go away I command you to move today Because of faith I have a brand new day The sun will shine And I will be okay That’s what I told the storm
I told the storm (told the storm, storm, storm, oh yes I did) To pass (ohh ohhhh) Storm you can’t last (you’ve got to go, yeah) Go (go away) away (I command) I command you to move today (you to move, ohh yeah) Storm (oh storm yeah) When God speaks (when my God speaks) Storm (you don’t have a choice in the matter) You have to cease (you have to cease, yes that’s…) That’s what I told the storm (what I told the storm) Lyrics: Musixmatch
Y’all, we must speak to our storms and let them know we are covered by THE almighty God. They may toss us around, but they will never destroy us. Amen
I pray you have a wonderfully, blessed week. I will be back later with another post.
Love You Always♥️
Shaun
I am so thankful storms don’t last. I have noticed that the older I get and the stronger my relationship with God becomes, the less I worry about the storms. There is great comfort in knowing I am always in God’s hands. He’s got me!🥰
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