Persevering Endearing A take-it-one-day-at-a-time kind of gal Loving and accepting, But I take no nonsense, pal
I’m imperfectly human, Yet faithful, and my heart is sincere On a mission to live from a healed version of me More and more each year
I am not strong, But God’s grace helps me endure The world is chaotic, But my heart still cradles hope It allows me to embrace each new day And intentionally cope
I am resilient, Like a flower coming back to life in the spring I am awakening, Excited for what God in these next seasons will bring
Persevering, Yet learning when to be still To trust God And allow my nervous system to be steady and chill
To rest, To thrive, And not just survive To rise again each day And surrender to God’s will and way
To take it one day at a time To learn, to be present, To stop and smell nature’s perfume in the air, hear the cheerful birds, see life all around, and feel God’s care
Persevering is one word to describe me— Even after seasons of deafening despair and fear Each day, No matter what, I choose to be here
Sometimes we talk about healing like it’s a straight path, a perfect glow-up, or an isolated quiet spiritual moment. But healing–real healing–is none of those things. And in this season, God is teaching me what healing is not and why this journey too needs grace.
Seven Things Healing Is Not:
🫶🏾 Healing is not linear:
Progress rarely looks like simple forward motion. Sometimes, it’s a zigzag, a series of setbacks, necessary pauses, or even chaotic. And that is perfectly okay. Healing isn’t an easy journey or a straight line; it loops back because God heals in layers.
🫶🏾 Healing is not glamorous:
It’s just not pretty at times and it could leave you feeling like a hot mess. There are days when your glow dims, your soul feels heavy, your reflection is unrecognizable, and you wonder if you’re unraveling instead of recovering.
But sometimes your most “unglamorous” days are the most honest, most holy days, because you’re finally not pretending.
🫶🏾 Healing is not comfortable:
Growth stretches you. Confronting truth humbles you. Letting go breaks you before it frees you. Healing will make you face versions of yourself you thought you left behind — and God will use it all.
🫶🏾 Healing is not always quiet:
Healing can be loud—filled with the sound of tears, raw prayers, honest cries, and the truth you’ve swallowed for too long. Sometimes, it is the audible sound of a heart finally being unburdened after carrying too much for too many years.
You don’t have to be ashamed when your healing gets loud. But do allow God to comfort you and nurture you through the uncomfortable sounds of healing.
🫶🏾 Healing is not a one-time thing:
It is a continuous journey. This is not because God is slow, but because we are complex, layered, and deeply loved. Healing involves revisiting old wounds with new wisdom, new strength, and the fresh understanding that inviting God in can bring.
🫶🏾 Healing is not done in your own strength or wisdom:
You not only need a loving, strong support system, but you need Jesus also as the head and part of that support system for this tough journey.
Real healing requires His presence, His power, His truth, and His grace. You are simply not meant to navigate this process in your own strength.
Healing is a partnership with the Lord, not a solo mission.
🫶🏾 Healing is not void of accountability:
True healing often requires taking responsibility for our choices, setting and enforcing boundaries, and being radically honest with ourselves and others.
Without accountability, genuine growth can stall or even go in circles.
And lastly, we may not be responsible for every pain or trauma, but we are ultimately responsible for our healing process.
Welcome to the final post of my Persevere Series. God has been teaching me that perseverance is less about how strong I am and more about how faithful He is. Through these posts, I want to encourage you to keep going, trust His timing, and remember that even small steps count. Perseverance isn’t about perfection — it’s about leaning on God’s strength in every season, whether you’re walking, crawling, or getting back up after a fall.
Reflection
Perseverance isn’t about pretending everything is fine or ignoring the weight of our struggles. Hard times are real. Pain is real. Sometimes, just making it through the day feels impossible.
But perseverance means choosing, moment by moment, to keep moving forward, even when the road is rough. It’s leaning on God’s strength when our own runs out. And sometimes, it’s allowing ourselves to be still—to rest and recharge—so we can rise and move forward again. We must learn when to be still and when to move, but in both to trust God.
I, too, need encouragement on long days and during hard seasons to persevere—along with practical reminders to keep pushing. Because even in the toughest moments, God’s strength is made perfect in our weakness and it is the fuel to keep us going.
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Here are a few practical ways we can persevere in the middle of real life:
1. Anchor in God’s Word – Keep a verse close (on your phone, mirror, or journal) that reminds you of His promises. When your strength wavers, His Word steadies you.
2. Pray Honest Prayers – Perseverance doesn’t mean polished prayers. Tell God when you’re weary, broken, or unsure. He hears the raw and real.
3. Take One Step at a Time – Don’t focus on finishing the race all at once. Just take the next step today. Small faith steps still move you forward.
4. Lean on Community – We weren’t meant to endure trials alone. Share with a trusted friend, mentor, or prayer partner who can remind you that you’re not carrying the weight by yourself.
5. Rest Without Guilt – Rest is not giving up; it’s a way of refueling so you can keep going. Rest is actually trusting God’s lead—acknowledging that His strength sustains you more than your striving. It allows you to be more focused and fruitful. Rest says you care about yourself, and about others, and about honoring God. You cannot pour from an empty cup. Rest allows you to refuel, recenter, and return renewed.
6. Break Tasks Down – When life feels overwhelming, simplify your to-do list. Focus on one thing at a time. Progress in pieces still moves you forward.
7. Celebrate Small Wins – Every bit of progress counts. Take time to acknowledge what God is helping you accomplish—even the little things. Gratitude builds endurance.
8. Learn from Setbacks – Don’t let mistakes, setbacks, or delays define you. Let them refine you. God often uses challenges to teach, strengthen, and redirect us toward His best.
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Perseverance is not about denying pain, but about trusting that God is still at work in the middle of it.
Scripture
“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” — Galatians 6:9 (NIV)
Prayer
Father God, Thank You for being our strength when we are weak. Help us to persevere—not with fake smiles, or empty words, or in our own strength, nor for the sake of a pat on the back for how much we can endure—but with genuine faith rooted in Your promises. And with Your wisdom and humility, Lord. Grant us wisdom to rest when we need to, courage to take the next step, and grace to trust that You are with us through it all. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Accompanying Video:
I hope you enjoyed this series! What is one take away from this series you will apply to your everyday journey?
Welcome to my Persevere Series. God has been teaching me that perseverance is less about how strong I am and more about how faithful He is. Through these posts, I want to encourage you to keep going, trust His timing, and remember that even small steps count. Perseverance isn’t about perfection — it’s about leaning on God’s strength in every season, whether you’re walking, crawling, or getting back up after a fall.
Reflection:
Have you ever tried to run for a bus with your hands full, hoping nothing spills or falls out of your bag? I have, and sometimes I would miss the bus altogether. Sometimes it was because I didn’t leave on time, and other times because the bus arrived earlier than expected. But one thing I’ve noticed: the run is always easier when I’m carrying less.
That’s how it is in life and in our faith. When we’re weighed down by stress, fear, distractions, worries—or even sin—those weights slow us down. They drain our motivation. They cloud our focus. They make it hard to obey God, to see clearly, and to walk unashamed.
But thank God for Jesus! When we pause and place our burdens in the hands of the loving Savior, the One who both initiates and perfects our faith, He gives us the strength to persevere. He doesn’t just help us carry the load, He offers us an exchange: His yoke for ours. And His is easy, His burden is light.
If you haven’t yet made Jesus Christ your Lord and Savior, I encourage you to do so today. I can testify that even in life’s storms, He has never left me nor forsaken me. He is always near, ready to help and comfort us.
Scripture:
Hebrews 12:1–2 (NLT)
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting Him, He endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now, He is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.”
Prayer:
Father God, Forgive us for holding onto what You’ve asked us to release. Forgive us for the sin that so easily entangles us. Thank You for Your mercy, for Your forgiveness, and for Your unfailing love. Thank You for the grace that enables us to run with endurance the race You’ve set before us. Help us fix our eyes on Jesus, never ashamed to bring Him every concern of our hearts. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Welcome to my Persevere Series. God has been teaching me that perseverance is less about how strong I am and more about how faithful He is. Through these posts, I want to encourage you to keep going, trust His timing, and remember that even small steps count. Perseverance isn’t about perfection — it’s about leaning on God’s strength in every season, whether you’re walking, crawling, or rising again.”
Reflection
Trials are never easy to endure. The pressure, fear, frustration, discomfort, grief, and worry can make anyone feel like giving up. But let us be encouraged: the testing of our faith produces perseverance. When we choose to walk by faith and not by sight, we are strengthened to press forward. As we hold fast to His Word and promises, we build both resilience and deeper trust in God.
One thing we must always remember is this: whether we are facing a trial or navigating a storm, we can not persevere without God Himself. It is His strength and His Spirit that lift us up and enable us to keep going.
Scripture
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” —James 1:2–4 (NIV)
Prayer
Father God, Grant us the grace to navigate the storms and trials of our lives. Cover us with the blood of Jesus, and remind us that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. Help us to persevere with joy, for the joy of the Lord is our strength. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Welcome to my Persevere Series. God has been teaching me that perseverance is less about how strong I am and more about how faithful He is. Through these posts, I want to encourage you to keep going, trust His timing, and remember that even small steps count. Perseverance isn’t about perfection — it’s about leaning on God’s strength in every season, whether you’re walking, crawling, or rising again.
Reflection
Sometimes, perseverance doesn’t look like running with strength or getting to the finish line first. Sometimes, it looks like crawling with faith. It’s one day at a time and one step at a time. You take that grain of mustard seed faith and put one foot in front of the other, trusting God with each step. Even in your lowest moments, God sees the effort. As your heart clings to Him, He honors the press, no matter how small. Don’t despise the little steps; they are still steps forward.
Scripture
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time, we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. — Galatians 6:9
Prayer
Lord, when I feel weak, remind me that even the smallest steps are seen by You. Strengthen me to keep moving forward, trusting You with every step. And Lord, let me not grow weary in my walk with You or in the strengthening of my faith. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Welcome to my Persevere Series. God has been teaching me that perseverance is less about how strong I am and more about how faithful He is. Through these posts, I want to encourage you to keep going, trust His timing, and remember that even small steps count. Perseverance isn’t about perfection: it’s about leaning on God’s strength in every season, whether you’re walking, crawling, or rising again.
Reflection
Don’t take someone’s showing up for granted because you don’t know what it took for them to be there. If God wasn’t in the equation, they wouldn’t have made it. Their presence isn’t just them pushing through. It’s God holding them together. It’s His strength in their weakness, His grace covering their broken places, and His love lifting them when they wanted to stay down. Every time they show up, it’s not about perfection; it’s about perseverance through Christ.
Scripture
“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” — 2 Corinthians 12:9
Prayer
Father God, thank You for being our strength when we have none of our own. May our showing up always point back to Your faithfulness. In Jesus’ name, amen.
You have dimmed your light for too long That you have adjusted your vision to the dark. Now I’m going to need you to open up your heart.
And see yourself the way God does. You need to be brave. I know the world seems to cave In, on all sides. I know you feel like you are falling apart But you will rise to the top And all your pieces will come together From a version of you that is healed and better.
Don’t give up. And don’t let go of His hand. He will give you the wisdom and grace to stand. Don’t give up. Don’t give in. Take one day at a time Until you land Where God is taking you to expand And be full of His joy.
You’ve been feeling like a failure But trust — you are going to win. You won’t be the same tomorrow as today Don’t give up You will eventually be okay.
My new poem for a new year! Encouraging you and I to make the most of this year and to face one fear at a time.
Check out my new poem:
A Meeting
I stood here waiting for you I moved not one bit I endured cold nights Winter covered me with its blanket I sat here quiet amongst my kind Awaiting our meeting Awaiting our time
Through the valleys Amidst the fog Times of uncertainty And a land full of smog What hindered you from getting here? Your heart full of clog? What or who got in your way? Was it the years of heartbreak and disappointments Or you yesterday?
How about fear? I hear it can cause a delay Year after year But I waited for you patiently to arrive To thrive and not just strive You prayed and prayed There are times you fought And remained Steadfast, Stood on business even when in despair and drained You persevered and yearned Applied wisdom and learned But made it to me and now you froze Is it because you have to again believe And be reminded of past victories
Have you ever seen a mountain of such stature. Am I intimidating? Are you afraid of heights or the unknown? I welcome you here And I know someone who is not visible But has been ever present and will not leave you alone
To the mountaintop and to the other side I welcome you to recover all that has been lost Birth that which almost died Hold on to your faith no matter the cost Uncover blessings you have not seen Reach your full potential and fulfill your heart’s dream
And if you tell me to move with all of your heart And with His word Dont be surprised if I do what I heard Face me. You will overcome Don’t give up and retreat You have already overcome I will surrender to defeat As you stand victoriously.
The CPR planner is back but with new additions and a new look!!! Ready to come alongside your healing journey and day to day schedule.
What area(s) of your life do you need to revive? How can you resuscitate your dreams, your relationships, your career, your body, your mind, and more? May God breathe life into you and every area of your life. May He bring you to hope, redemption, restoration and peace. The CPR planner helps you to continue your healing journey by exploring where in your life you need CPR (Calm, Peace, and a Refreshing). This planner has been updated with a new look and some new additions to help you continue staying on top of your daily, weekly and monthly planning.
Tannika Nikeya 