Have you ever caught yourself thinking something about you that you would never, ever say to another human being? “You’re not good enough.” “You can’t do this.” “Everyone else is better.” I have. Many times. And if I’m honest, there have been seasons where what others said became louder than what God said about me. Just like Julia Roberts said in Pretty Woman: “The bad stuff is easier to believe.” But friend—that was never the truth. Words matter.

Sometimes life feels like a race we weren’t fully prepared to run. We stumble, fall, get back up, and keep moving forward even when it feels like we’re walking through mud. And yet, through all the chaos, God’s hand is steady. His timing is never rushed, never delayed—it’s perfect. I’ve seen this truth play out in my own life, and maybe sharing a bit of my journey will encourage you not to give up on what God has planted inside you.