Category Archives: encouragement

07.09.26
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Martha’ing Too Long

I guess I have been Martha’ing for too long. Burned out. Tired. Stressed. Overwhelmed. And sometimes that’s when those old thoughts come back to visit. I pour out my tears to God for relief and I reach for Him spiritually to cradle me because no one is coming to save me or relieve me but Him. And sometimes I get scared and think He won’t come or come in time. Does this sound familiar?

But then you are reminded that He has come before and a flicker of hope turns back on and begins to get stronger. And you see His hand in the midst of darkness reaching out for me. And the light gets stronger. And all the tears that fell begin to dry up with breaths of relief.

There is a time and a place for everything but in this season Jesus wants you to sit with Him. Like Mary. And in every season actually, take time to sit with him. Rest in Him. Know that your worth isn’t predicated upon your titles or performance. You dont have to earn His love. He wants you to serve and give but not without His guidance, wisdom and love. Not with regret or resentment. Not in your own strength and unto burnout and weariness. He wants you to remember that rest is important. Trusting in Him is important. Depending on Him is necessary. And that He loves you with an unfailing love.

This week I plan to be still in my spirit and sit at His feet. And receive His love and Word. And to let His peace permeate my soul full of His providential care.

As Jesus and the disciples continued on their way to Jerusalem, they came to a certain village where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what he taught. But Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing. She came to Jesus and said, “Lord, doesn’t it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me.” But the Lord said to her, “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details!  There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:38-42)

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. (Matthew 11: 28-30)

The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. (Psalm 34:18)

Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.  (Peter 5:7)

Have you never heard? Have you never understood? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth. He never grows weak or weary. No one can measure the depths of his understanding. He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint. (Isaiah 40:28-31)

06.17.26
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To Us Writers and Indie Authors… (Trust the Process)

To my fellow writers and indie authors,

Don’t give up.

The books may not sell.
The readers may be few.
The support may not always be there.

Still, don’t give up.

God blessed you with the ability to create.

You are bringing to fruition all that you are learning, imagining, growing, encouraging and leaving something behind to be read, received and treasured.

There is something special about seeing the end result of what you finally created and released courageously.

The sales may come.
The recognition may come.
The readers may come.

But don’t miss the joy that is already in your hands and heart.

You finished it.
You created it.
You released it.

That is no small thing.

Keep writing.
Keep creating.
Keep planting seeds.

In due season, the fruit will come.

06.10.26
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7 Words of Encouragement  for Women in This Season

7 Words of Encouragement for Women in This Season 🌹

  • Give yourself permission to grow at your own pace. Not every season is for producing. Some seasons are for healing, learning, and becoming.
  • Stop trying to pour from an empty cup. It’s okay to see about you too. When you do, you show up more authentic, capable, grateful, and present.
  • Protect your peace. Not every conversation requires your participation, and not every opportunity requires your yes.
  • Navigate dating with intention. Remember that you are precious. God does not need you to compromise your values to receive His best for your life. Trust Him with your heart and His timing. What He has for you will never require you to dishonor someone else’s marriage or take someone else’s place.
  • Celebrate the small victories. Growth often happens quietly before it becomes visible.
  • See yourself the way God does. Your worth is not determined by others. He deemed you worthy before He placed you in your mother’s womb. So show up today—and begin to bloom.
  • Remember that you can always come back home. Sometimes home is a place where a new you can still find hope, healing, and love.

Looking for stories, poetry, and life lessons that encourage women through every season?

Download your FREE copy of the Valley Hills Apartments Digital Series, where women share laughter, lessons, reflections, and wisdom gathered along the way.

Because sometimes the best wisdom comes from women who have walked through the valley and are still learning to keep their eyes on the hills.

📖 Grab your free copy here: https://forms.gle/VUTaCyVt2ED5SW6B9

05.08.26
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Valley Hills Apartments Series: Happy Mother’s Day!

Sometimes, the best wisdom comes from women who have walked through the valley and are still learning to keep their eyes on the hills. Welcome to our new series: Valley Hill Apartments!

This week, we will have no featured story or poem as it is Mother’s Day weekend. The writers and ladies of Valley Hills Apartments Series pray that you have a blessed and beautiful Mother’s Day.

We also send our sincere prayers up for those who have lost their children or who have lost their mothers.

05.01.26
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Valley Hills Apartments Series: A Poem For A Flower

Sometimes, the best wisdom comes from women who have walked through the valley and are still learning to keep their eyes on the hills. Welcome to our new series: Valley Hill Apartments!

A Poem for a Flower

Written by Tannika Nikeya

Hello, I am Rose. I moved to Valley Hills Apartments last year. In the middle of the night, I found myself hauling in bags of all I had managed to quietly take with me. And it wasn’t much at all.

Today, I sit here by my kitchen window, slowly sipping my hot chamomile tea. My eyes follow a cardinal, happily chirping along a tree, and then drift to a soft white flower sitting alone amidst the grass. I exhale a long sigh.

I wonder if the flower is lonely, like I had been.

I had once sat alone just as quiet as that little flower—but brokenhearted and lonely. I endured gaslighting and chaos, and felt every petal of my soul being stripped away until I became a shadow of myself.

But as I sit here in my kitchen, something shifts.

I begin to write a letter to a flower…

from the depths of my heart.

In the backyard all alone
Sitting in the mud and dirt
Among rocks and stone
Your leaves withered, withdrawn
Wishing you were placed
On a manicured lawn

The acknowledgments, the daily sustenance
You once received
Have dried up like your leaves
Your wardrobe is dull—renewal must begin within
You may not be the prettiest flower
Feeling like you are about to break, not just bend, in the wind

How long will you wait
For someone to water you to grow
To tell you to soar
To give you value
Just because they walked through nature’s door?

Stand tall—get up on your feet
Encourage yourself
Stretch in hope
You’ve got goals to meet
Air to breathe
Rooms to impact
You don’t have to shrink
Let the sunlight hit your face
And take your joy back

Your worth is not predicated
On what they say, see, or do
No one can validate
Or invalidate you

You’ve known seasons of hiding
Of feeling like you died
Until the true Lover of your soul
Breathed—and brought you back alive

You’ve lost hope
Wanted to run away
But you learned to be still
When noise and storms surrounded you
He quieted you and you began to heal

They said you had no value
Said you wouldn’t last long
Said other flowers were prettier
And although you felt weak, you remained strong

The trees whispered about you;
They gave you a different type of shade,
Shifted their leaves so the heat can make you weary and fade

But you are not doomed
Look up to heaven
Receive your true Lover’s grace to bloom

It’s not over
Life is just starting
He stays close
To the brokenhearted

Each day you rise—just walk
At your pace
Wipe your face
Rest… yield
Dance in the field
And brighten the day
Let the birds see your resilience in every way.

They may stop to admire you
Take in your view
But remember who you are
Deep within you

Some may try to pluck you
Or take you along
But stay rooted
Remain where you belong

Even when others walk away
Stand still; know you’re divine
Humble posture
Fearfully and wonderfully made
You are His design
Continue to grow in His perfect time

Sis, there is courage within you.
See yourself the way God does.
Your worth is not determined by others.
He deemed you worthy before He placed you in your mother’s womb.
So show up today… and begin to bloom.


Contributing Video: https://youtu.be/sJ5Us3_T7yU

04.10.26
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Valley Hills Apartments Series: Come See About Me

Sometimes, the best wisdom comes from women who have walked through the valley and are still learning to keep their eyes on the hills. Welcome to our new series: Valley Hills Apartments!

Come See About Me
Written by Tannika Nikeya

“I’ve been crying
‘Cause I’m lonely (For you)
Smiles have all turned to tears
But tears won’t wash away the fears
That you’re never ever gonna return
To ease the fire that within me burns…”

“Come see about me”

My name is Amani and I just moved into Valley Hill Apartments. My mother used to play music every Saturday. It motivated her through mopping the floors, washing our laundry, and cooking Sunday dinner. But the song she sang along to the loudest was “Come See About Me” by the Supremes. I often wondered if she reminisced about good times with my dad, but the times I witnessed were not so good.

Today, that song popped up in my mind and I began to sing it just as loud as she once did. I sat in my oversized lounge chair with my cup of tea looking out of the window of my small apartment with unpacked boxes.

I find myself in a new place, in a new city, but I am still lost. I am tired. I am carrying mountains of debt. I owe myself exponentially. I am stressed. I have health issues for which my doctor apathetically prescribed pills I can’t even pronounce. And in fact, I need more medicine, the kind that only one doctor can prescribe. I sip my tea, breathing heavily through my nostrils reflecting on how no one wants to help me or even let me rest on their shoulders. But after all, no one knew I was hurting, mad, disappointed, in need. I always keep my mouth shut and regurgitate, “I’m fine.”

I made myself invisible so others could be seen, time after time. After all, I am to be seen and not heard, but somehow my toxic trait said, “go a little deeper and not be seen at all.” After all, you don’t want to be perceived as prideful. So, I refused help—thinking they would like me more.

I live in purpose and I’m proud of what I’ve accomplished, but I realized some of my achievements were starting to adorn my worth like a heavy gold chain around my neck. Then, one day, an old lady reminded me that my worth isn’t predicated upon what I do or the titles I bear. She reminded me that I am already valuable–fearfully and wonderfully made. I inhale, then I exhale.

I glance once more around my apartment. I may not have it all figured out. Sometimes I feel overwhelmed and tired because I keep trying to lift loads all on my own, without wisdom and in my own strength. And sometimes I think I have to keep moving without resting, feeling and being. I instinctively pick up my cell phone. “Call Lina,” I command. I need to check on my sister.

“Are you okay?” I ask. We end our conversation with a plan to meet up for lunch at a restaurant with our favorite food we enjoyed as little girls. I hang up the phone and tap the reverse button in the camera, flipping it to face me.

And I can hear the woman clearly as she stares back at me through the lens.

“Come see about me,” she sings with all her heart, trying her best to imitate the pitch of the lead singer of the song.

“I hear you just as clear as I hear the rain tapping on my window,” I compassionately inform her.

With hope and with clarity, I respond further: “I see you. I will love you as I love others. I will not neglect you. This next season is yours.”

Sis, stop trying to pour from an empty cup. It’s okay to see about you too. When you do, you show up to your God-given arenas more authentic, more capable, more grateful, and fully present. 

Video Snippet: https://youtube.com/shorts/3-L3b65pdIQ?si=xsRQNJqjhaO4057w

Thank you for coming along this new series and stay tuned for next week’s story or poem!

03.18.26
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When Life Feels Uncertain, God Is Not

Yesterday, I received a call that alerted me to some upcoming job-related uncertainty I would have to face. As I spoke with my colleague, I reminded him, as well as myself, that God is concerned with everything that concerns us and that He will meet our needs.

After much intercession, my colleague called back and said, “Keep praying,” because one area of uncertainty had already shifted into clarity—an answered prayer. God heard, and God answered.

And there are still some prayers we (yes, I’m talking to you and me) are waiting on—whether for God to answer or to give us the grace to receive His answer.

Uncertainty can bring fear, doubt, stress, and even cause us to freeze. But in this season, I am learning to trust God and His plans to prosper me and not harm me, plans to give me hope and a future.

Life is not linear, and life on this side of heaven can feel chaotic and full of storms. But God still cares for us. He desires for us to grow, to thrive, and to receive His love and care.

Our resources may feel shaky at times—less secure than we thought—but as a pastor once said, “God is the source of our resources.” And he was right.

God cannot fail, He does not lie, and He is stable and secure. We can rest in Him because He is always working on our behalf.

So today, during my devotion time, God reminded me again. As I read the Word, both comfort and correction stood out to me—especially in these times of uncertainty in the world and in my own life. God is with us, and He calls us to seek Him.

He will never leave us nor forsake us. He is a present help in times of trouble. And when everything around us feels like it’s shaking and falling apart, He is the One holding us together—preparing us for what cannot be shaken.

Today’s Scriptures:

Acts of the Apostles 2:25 (NLT)
“I see that the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for He is right beside me.”

2 Chronicles 7:14 NLT
[14] Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.

Hebrews 12:27-28 NLT
[27] This means that all of creation will be shaken and removed, so that only unshakable things will remain. [28] Since we are receiving a Kingdom that is unshakable, let us be thankful and please God by worshiping him with holy fear and awe.

Reflection

  • What area of your life feels uncertain right now, and how is God inviting you to trust Him in it?
  • What would it look like for you to actively seek God while you wait for clarity or answers?
12.12.25
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📖☕️ P’osies Cafe Series: When The Walls Started Talking

Welcome, loves, to the P’osies Cafe Series, a new gathering for lovers of language and narrative. Our name, a playful blend of “Poetry” and “Stories,” perfectly captures the essence of what we’re about.  In this series, my best friend and fellow writer will join me at our writers’ cafe with our laptops, pens and paper, and a couple of iced mochas or chai lattes. We’ll be sharing our own work—from whispered verse to sprawling tales—and we invite you to listen, reflect, and get lost in the power of storytelling.

Pssss: we are about to conclude our series soon so we hope you have had a great time at the P’osies Cafe. We look forward to seeing your comments and for you to join us at the next series. Hmm. Where will we be next? Stay tuned!!!! We are so excited to bring some more treats your way.

But today, we have a new treat for you!!!! One full of humor and wisdom that you don’t want to miss!!!! So, come on in and grab your coffee or hot chocolate, and enjoy.

When The Walls Started Talking (c) 2025

Written by Saneatra Polk

She didn’t just leave the apartment. She left the heaviness that lived in her head. Some moves start in the body, but the real shift begins in the mind.

https://youtube.com/shorts/zhapbf-wzZA?si=SpZOalbgW5_0Koli

10.12.25
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Lessons on Unfulfillment & Growth

Sometimes what people say sparks judgment… or it sparks reflection. Here’s what Ayesha Curry reminded me about fulfillment, identity, and walking with God through it all.

Ayesha Curry is being dragged online for saying she never wanted to be married or have children — that she wanted to be a “career girl.”

It made me think of these statements I heard before: that a curly-haired person often wants straight hair, and the one with straight hair often wants curls. The single woman may envy the married one, and the married woman may envy the single one. You get the point — so many of us wrestle with some kind of discontentment, and we never really know deep down what is going on with someone or what is happening behind the closed doors of their homes.

So, instead of joining the dragging, I felt led to turn this into a moment of reflection — and encouragement.

Ayesha isn’t the first woman to express this kind of longing or unfulfillment. But she must be careful about oversharing and processing deeply personal pain in public spaces. She’s mentioned going to therapy, which is good — but I hope she’s also doing the heart work with God. Because therapy is helpful, but true healing happens when we let Jesus into the process.

When I’ve had to face my own pain, I’ve asked God to show me the root causes — the “why” behind the hurt — and to lead me forward. Healing with Him hits differently.

Here are a few lessons I’ve learned that I think we as women — especially Christian women — can remember when we feel unfulfilled or lost:

1. Only God can fulfill you. No person, title, or situation can do what only the Creator can.


2. Nobody can keep you happy forever. Happiness is fleeting. True joy is rooted in God, not in circumstances.


3. Know who you are outside of your roles. You are more than your job, your family, or your church position.


4. Rediscover what lights you up. Don’t get lost in others’ expectations. Find your God-given passions and purpose.


5. Don’t make “the good girl,” “church girl,” or “career woman” your identity. Those are titles, not your essence.

Note: this is not saying go out and sin. It is not saying go out and be wordly. It is not saying that “good girl,” “church girl,” or “career woman,” are bad. But what it is saying is your identity should not be wrapped up in these titles, positions, etc.
Your true identity is found in Christ. And if we fail to maintain perfection, some of us will be crushed under a false standard of perfection that can never be obtained. Instead aim to make right decisions, not forsake the assembling of ourselves with other believers, live life on purpose and in purpose. Aim to please God and not man. Aim to live a life that is full and enriched.


6. Embrace all of life’s seasons. The dull and hard ones often teach us the most about ourselves and about God.


7. Evolve and grow. You won’t be the same ten years from now as you are today. Let God continue shaping your heart to reflect His Son.


8. Reinvent yourself if you need to.
If you know you want a simpler lifestyle or to grow more confident, take steps toward creating the life you need — one that also honors God. Maybe you want to freshen up your wardrobe, travel more, or step into your “rich auntie” era — do it! Just check your motives.

Are you doing it to seek validation only, prove something, or outshine someone? If so, pause and reflect. But if you’re doing it because you’re healing, growing, and wanting to live more fully, go for it.

And don’t allow people to box you in. You don’t have to stay stuck in who you used to be or in the image others have of you. Grow, evolve, and glow up — with God leading the way.


9. Develop a heart of gratitude. But don’t neglect the room for grieving the life you thought you should have had, or wanted, or have yet to experience within your healing journey. Sometimes we don’t know what we truly want when we’re younger. Grieving is natural and necessary, but there are things, some so small yet so monumental, to be grateful for.


10. Be quick to listen and slow to speak.
And get back to living. Sometimes we need to hear our own pain. And sometimes we need to refrain from constantly rehearsing our pain and get back up and live — living the life that allows us to breathe again. Not perform. Not live in someone else’s image of us. Not constantly going and never stopping to rest and enjoy that which or who is around us.

So be encouraged, Ayesha — and to the rest of the ladies who may also feel lost, unfulfilled, or just need to get off the spinning wheel or out of the box of the world or others’ expectations.

09.01.25
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The Undesired Woman

I started reading the Old Testament recently, and today, I made it to Genesis 29. In it, we learn about Leah, who basically isn’t the woman Jacob was going for. He wanted Rachel and so badly that he worked seven years for Laban, his uncle on his mother’s side. And when Laban tricked Jacob and gave him Leah, the older sister of Rachel, he agreed to work another seven more years for Rachel.

Let me tell you a little something about these two women. Rachel was the younger sister who was “fine” and most likely fit the standards of that time, also I suppose. The Bible said that Rachel had a beautiful figure and a lovely face. Ok, Rachel!!!!! And Leah was the older sister and had something going on with her eyes. According to the King James Version, she was “tender-eyed.” Some believe this meant her eyes had a weakness or even a defect. While Rachel was praised for her beauty, Leah’s most notable feature was a flaw. Poor Leah.

Do you ever feel like that? Like your biggest insecurity is the only thing people see? Do you feel overlooked, like you’re standing in someone else’s shadow, or that you’re simply not good enough?

Do you feel like they are pretty, but you are not? Do you listen to the messages that say, “You have hit the wall? “You’re too old.”

Leah probably felt all of these things.

But here’s the truth that changed everything for her:

God saw her.

In Genesis 29:31, it says, “When the Lord saw that Leah was unloved, he enabled her to have children, but Rachel could not conceive.” Leah’s first son was named Reuben, which means “The Lord has noticed my misery, and now my husband will love me.”

It went on to say: So Leah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named Reuben, for she said, “The Lord has noticed my misery, and now my husband will love me.”

Leah didn’t feel loved. If we are honest, many women want to feel loved and desired, especially by the one she loves.

She kept having sons, and the names she chose for each expressed just what she felt, was experiencing, and desired. When she had her fourth son, Judah, she gave glory to God, for she said, “Now I will praise the Lord!” She had moved from despair to gratitude.

Your Value isnt Defined By Others

We can find encouragement in this story: Yahweh sees us all. He acknowledges the one who is considered beautiful and desirable, and He also tends to the one who is not. Your worth was established when God created you and was confirmed when His Son took your place on the cross. Your value doesn’t increase or decrease based on external circumstances, what others think, or how many years you’ve lived.

When Others Forsake You, God will not

Leah was given children even though Jacob loved Rachel, and through Leah’s line, God’s plan unfolded in a big way. Similarly, God can bring purpose and blessings into your life even if people don’t see your value.

Unloved or Overlooked

When you feel unloved or overlooked, remember: God notices you, values you, and has a plan for you. Your situation doesn’t define your destiny—God’s love and purpose do.

To every woman—rich or poor, black, Asian, or white, disabled or able-bodied, educated or not, desired or not—you are valuable and loved. God says you are “fearfully and wonderfully made.” Walk in that truth and become all that God has purposed you to be. Don’t look down on another woman, and don’t think of yourself as less than. Instead, love her as you love yourself.

Prayer:

God, thank You that You see me. Forgive me for the times I fail to see You or acknowledge Your presence, even during times of hardship. Help me to embrace the fact that I am wanted, seen, and loved by you. Help me to realize I am enough and thank You for Leah’s story that shows You acknowledge every woman— the ones desired and the ones who don’t feel good enough and You love us both the same. Thank You for Your unfailing love for all of Your daughters. Help us to embrace Your love and to receive it along with Your providential care. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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Check out the accompanying encouraging video: