Never Give Up – God’s Timing is Always Perfect

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.

I became a mom young. Sixteen years old with my first child, and nineteen with my second. Most people at that age are just trying to figure out who they are and trying to have fun, but my world became about bottles, diapers, late nights, and dreaded work shifts. Looking back, I can see His fingerprints on every chapter, even when I didn’t realize it at the time.

There were good days and there were very, very hard days. I walked through a bad relationship. I worked jobs that drained me. I questioned myself, my worth, and sometimes even my strength to keep going. But God never left. He whispered hope when all I saw was struggle. He kept reminding me—just keep moving, daughter, I’m not done with you yet.

Fast forward years later—after raising kids, working, and trying to hold everything together—I stepped into something I thought had passed me by: college. I was 41. My youngest, a gifted artist, was wrestling with the idea of pursuing a degree. I enrolled not only for me, but in hopes that it might inspire them to step into their own calling.

Was it exciting? Yes. Was it terrifying? Also yes. I went to classes filled with students much younger than me, with their whole lives ahead of them. And here I was, trying to start over. But friends, let me tell you something—when God plants a dream in your heart, it doesn’t matter how old you are. His timing is His own. It was humbling, emotional, and empowering all at once.

I earned my degree in art. A degree was something I had always longed for. But here’s the thing about art—it isn’t a career path that comes with a neat little roadmap. It isn’t medicine or law with clear steps and secure outcomes. Art is messy, unpredictable, and sometimes undervalued. No one tells you about the marketing, the taxes, the websites, or the countless hours spent on the business side of creativity that people never see. And honestly? Some days it’s exhausting.

But even in the struggle, I know this one thing: God created me to be a creative. Though I used to question what I was meant for, I now feel it in the very depths of my soul. When I paint, draw, or create, it feels like a piece of heaven touches earth. My anxiety softens. My heart finds peace. It’s more than a hobby—it’s part of who I am. And every single time I’ve tried to walk away, thinking maybe I should take a “safer” path, God has always drawn me back with His gentle but firm reminder—this is where I called you, this is who I made you to be.

So no, I will never give up. Not because it’s easy, not because it’s always "successful" by the world’s standards, but because it’s what God has for me. And if He has called me here, who am I to argue?

I want to encourage you, friend: never give up on what God has placed in your heart. If He leads you to it, He will lead you through it. He is the way-maker, the door-opener, the light in the dark. It may not be easy—He never promised easy—but He did promise to be with us every step of the way.

If you don’t yet know what that “thing” is, be still and listen. Pay attention to the nudges in your heart. What brings you peace? What brings you joy so full that you’d do it for free? What makes you feel most alive? That isn’t an accident—that’s God speaking to you through the desires He placed in your soul.

The world will tell you it’s too late. The enemy will whisper that you’re not good enough, not skilled enough, not smart enough, not strong enough. But hear me, those are lies. With the Lord on your side, no one and nothing can be against you. (Romans 8:31)

Don’t measure yourself against the world’s timeline. God’s timing is so much sweeter. I didn’t start college until I was 41, and that was exactly when God wanted me to begin. He knows what you need, when you need it. He hasn’t forgotten you, and He hasn’t left you behind.

So, friend, whatever He’s calling you to—lean into it. Trust Him. Follow His direction even when it doesn’t make sense. And above all, never give up.

Because the truth is—when you walk in His will, you can rest assured: you’re right where you’re meant to be.

XO, Marie