The Weight of a Life Without God
The sisterhood of women in today’s world is not being forged through strength, healing, or fearlessness… but through trauma bonding. Why? Because somehow, we have accepted crumbs of escapism as “happiness,” instead of seeing that we are worth having the whole darn bakery…
The reality is that many women are pouring their energy into “self-love” practices, while still living in the shadows of insecurity. Indulging in spas and retreats to temporarily flee toxic situations, while still allowing themselves to internally deteriorate. Spending countless dollars on self-development workshops just to experience a single hour of “safety,” while still desperate to come out of fight/flight mode in their waking life. We should be living in a state of peace and joy FULL TIME, not digging through the weeds for a “feel good” morsel then going back into starvation.
But I was there once too— looking for a moment of relief everywhere and anywhere, instead of asking God to hold the weight that was crushing me. Once He picks it up on that Cross, it’s not ours anymore. Then, we can stop surviving and start thriving right where we are. In my opinion, the greatest act of self-love is refusing to be reduced from powerful divine feminines made in the image of God, to wine nights, manicures, and vision boards. We are worth far more than allowing this world to pack our wounds with temporary frivolities, are we not? Are we meeting up for confirmation or conviction? To get drunk or to get sober? To soothe or to heal? And are we inviting God to our gatherings?
New-age spirituality and even some churches today are severely lacking God’s presence. He is rarely asked to be part of most practices or “healing” sessions. He is not given any power, or mentioned, or sought after. Because of this, He isn’t present. The Healer of all ages, the Great Physician, the One who can raise the dead, part seas, and move mountains is… not there. Even though Joshua 1:9 says that God is with us, the power of the Holy Spirit is not present when ignored or rejected. Without Him, it’s not healing or church or even fellowship, it’s just a room. A regular room with no power at all.
Ladies, this is your wake-up call to stop putting the band-aids of “self-care time” on decades-old wounds and stand up for yourself in a real way. Take all of your fear, pain, and questions to the foot of the Cross and let Jesus hold it all! When He carries our pain for us, we can finally start to address and heal the deeper reasons why we are unhappy and unfulfilled. Then, we can stop escaping into temporary moments of blind bliss and start making real changes that will lead to forever happiness— in this life and in the next.
Don’t be afraid to be honest with both your inner child, and the adult that has grown from her. Evaluate the root issues that have been causing you SO much pain in your life that you forgot to take care of yourself for so long… forgot what makes you happy… forgot how to live… forgot who you are. And then? Ditch the vision boards, comfort food and wine, cold church seats, and the self-help workshops that are mostly led by other unhealed women, and take your life back.
God designed us to be bold, courageous, and fearless! As a sister in Christ, I refuse to let you rot away in empty claims that new-age practices will remove the darkness that plagues you. None of these methods will ever lead to real healing. I care about you too much to watch you spend a wallet full of money so another struggling woman can “teach” you how to lick your wounds for a couple hours, and then everyone goes back to the same old, painful life. Wakes up in the same toxic relationship. In the same passionless job. In the same body that’s cracking under the weight of carrying heaviness in the spirit that only God can take away.
I’d rather tell you the truth, because love doesn’t watch you struggle without helping. Love doesn’t affirm your pain without addressing the reasons why it hurts. Love doesn’t validate your wounds without a cure to heal them… Love is honest. Love is transformational. Love is a choice and an action.
You will know when you’re really ready to heal because you’ll stop trying to do it all by yourself. You will stop relying on others who are still struggling and can’t give you what you need. You will no longer desire to be your own healer or rely on any quick fixes this world offers. When you are truly ready to heal, you will go directly to the only One who can release you from your pain and give you freedom, rest, and weightless peace.
“He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By his wounds you are healed.” — 1 Peter 2:24 NLT
With Love, Michelle