My Journey Through the Valley

What do you do when life doesn’t unfold the way you prayed it would?

In this deeply personal Season 7 premiere of DIG DEEP: Conversations with Christian Leaders, Dr. Jaria returns after an extended pause to share her journey through grief, uncertainty, and faith in one of the most challenging seasons of her life.

From losing her father after a long battle following a stroke, to planning a wedding, relocating from Connecticut to Georgia, navigating a professional transition, and wrestling with spiritual inconsistency, this episode is an honest reflection on what it looks like to stay connected to God in the valley.

In this episode, Dr. Jaria shares:

• How grief disrupted her plans—and her faith rhythms
• Three simple ways she stayed connected to God when prayer felt hard
• The role of grace, therapy, journaling, and revisiting God’s past faithfulness
• Finding joy and honoring God even in seasons of loss

This conversation is for anyone tired, grieving, or trying to hold on to faith when life feels heavy.

If this episode resonates with you, you’re invited to share your own valley story by leaving a review or sending a message. Your testimony may be the encouragement someone else needs.  Check out resources to help you deepen your relationship with God in every season!  Visit www.jariacaljoe.org TODAY!

Transcript

[00:00:00] All right, y'all ready for this episode? It took me a minute, but we are here by the grace of God. I would sing, um, that song by Dorinda, but I don't have a Dorinda voice, so let's go.

Hey everybody. Welcome back to Dig Deep Conversations with Christian Leaders, conversations that inspire change and empower Purpose driven leadership. If you've been walking with me for a while, thank you for your patience, your prayers, and your grace. Um, if this is your first time listening, welcome. I hope you enjoy this episode.

Please go back and download all of the other episodes, uh, from previous seasons. I can't believe it's seven seasons. Y'all like, what is going on? Let's do some hand claps for season seven. Woo. Um, I'm excited. I'm thrilled. I am nervous. Um, I'm a lot of different things, but season seven is going to be the best one yet.

And yeah. Uh, let's get into this. You know, I'm Dr. [00:01:00] Dria C Bush. Okay. Peep the name Change people. Peep the name change. We're gonna get into it. Um, if you've been listening for some time, um, I got engaged back in 2024, had my wedding, got married to, uh, the love of my life, my husband, uh, Marlon Bush on October 12th, 2025 in Dallas, Texas.

And so now I have to really kind of get used to saying out loud, Dr. Jara c Bush as opposed to Dr. Jara c Al Joe. Let's not talk about the fact that I have yet to legally change my last name, because there's been so much stuff going on. Its like a super process. Like if you have gone through this process.

Officially changing your last name, please message me like any inspiration, any encouragement, things that you've used, tools that you used. There's an entire like used to need to start with this and then go to that and da da dah. And it just is like a lot for my life right now. But in any case, this episode is just going [00:02:00] to be just me, just me talking to y'all.

Um, it's deeply personal. I wanted to give you all, uh, a bit of some updates, um, and things that are going on. I haven't had a new episode drop. Since, I think like September. Um, and so I've wanted to do this episode for some time. Uh, but truthfully, I have found it really hard to be, uh, motivated, um, to do it.

And so we're gonna get into that today. So this is the first episode of season seven. And it's not a teaching episode, uh, or an interview. Like I said, it's a testimony, it's a reflection. Um, and honestly, it's an act of obedience. Um, toward the end of the year, I was really seeking God, you know, God, do you want me to continue doing the podcast?

What, what would you have me to do? Like, can you please just lead me, guide me and direct me and this in my life? Like I feel like God has been silent at least. Audibly, um, to me in most instances, uh, but I have been reminded in this season that God does speak to us often through his word. [00:03:00] And so because I have not gotten a clear answer about whether or not to stop doing the podcast, I'm going to continue doing it as I continue to wait for that answer.

Um, and so that's really, that's one of the reasons why it's taken me a bit of time. To record this episode and to get back into the season. Uh, but we'll get into it. Um, you know, I, I told myself at the time that it was temporary. I was going to record as far ahead as I could, um, in preparation for the wedding coming up in October, 2025.

And so when I released that episode in September, I knew October I was gonna take a break. November, I usually take a break, and then December I'm gonna come back. We're gonna do our season wrap up. And as you all know, that just did not happen and it literally broke my heart. Shout out to everyone that has downloaded the episodes, people that have been here from day one, people that have been here from just yesterday, or whenever you are listening to this for the first time.

Shout out to y'all. Um, you all have truly, truly been. Absolutely amazing. I would love to hear from you all. So please make sure that you [00:04:00] message me, uh, message the show, love to hear what topics you'd like me to cover. Um, what guests you would like for me to have on it is Christian leaders. Um, so just let me know.

I would love to hear from you all, but you know, today I just wanted to share what the last several months have looked like. I've tried to stay connected to God through the most challenging season of my life and what I've learned about faith, disappointment and grace. So in August, 2024, I was scheduled to be the morning speaker at my church in Connecticut, in Bridgeport, Connecticut, where I was living at the time.

Um, I had prayed, I had prepared, I was ready to speak. You know, definitely nervous. Um, I'm always nervous anytime I get in front of, you know, the people of God, especially bringing forth the word. And especially on a Sunday morning. Um, my pastor, um, was kind enough to allow me to speak, um, in his absence. And so also, you know, getting up and speaking in front of.

[00:05:00] You know, um, people that you go to church with and people that you worship with and that you fellowship with. But the fact that my pastor had enough confidence and obedience in God to have me be that morning speaker, um, was just super humbling. And I've been a speaker, I'm a licensed evangelist in my church.

And so I've been a morning speaker before, but those nerves never really go away. Right? And it's because I am always fully dependent on God, um, and allowing God to use me. And so as I was driving into the church, um, I got a phone call from my sister first thing in the morning, which is not unusual. Um, you know, we often talk, we talk twice a day, every day.

Um, but Sundays we usually kind of don't talk until after church. And so when she called me, she's like, Hey. I know you're getting ready to preach. I didn't wanna bother you with this, you know, but I didn't want you to find out from anyone else. And so immediately, like my heart drops, like, oh no, what is going on?

What is happening? And so she told me that, uh, that my dad ended up having a stroke the night before. [00:06:00] Um, and that he was in the hospital. And so she was like, again, I'm so sorry to put this on you right before you speak. And I was like, oh my gosh. Oh my gosh. Like, what do I do? I immediately thought of what my dad would say.

And, um, he would tell me to finish my assignment. I was on assignment. Um, my mom and my sister were headed to the hospital. Um, and I was like, okay, I'm gonna go in, I'm gonna preach. We don't have long services at all. And I live about an hour away from the hospital. I said, okay, I'm gonna go. I'm gonna speak and then I'll head to the hospital.

Um, and because at the time I think they were still, you know, not really quite sure, like they knew what had happened, but you know. We just, I just knew that like I needed to finish my assignment, right? Like that's what I felt led to do because there really was nothing more for me to do when I got to the hospital and they could only have two visitors at a time and everything.

So in anyways, uh, in any case I should say, I got up. Um, [00:07:00] I told, um, the houses, um, deacon at the time it was Deacon, now it's Minister Housie. Um, and, um, sister Housie evangelist, Connie Housie. I pulled them into the office and she had just recently, um, been like a stroke survivor, and so I pulled them into the office and I said, I just got this phone call.

You know, I started to cry and I asked them like, please, please, please just lift me up in prayer specifically for this, that I can complete this assignment. I. And then when I'm done, I'll do an altar call and then I'm going to leave. Um, and so they said absolutely, they prayed with me. I absolutely love them.

Love them to life. Um, and so we had the morning service and you know, I was present, I was praising God, I was worshiping. Um, but of course in the back of my mind I'm like, oh my gosh. Like my dad, like. Is he okay? Is he going to be okay? Got up and preached the word, led a altar call, and then immediately like after that I left.

And so I was trying to rush up to connect to Hartford, um, to, you [00:08:00] know, go visit my dad. And so I'm not gonna go through the entire story, but on that day it really was just like. Oh my gosh. Like everything just kind of stopped for me. Um, so my dad, who was a pastor, who was my pastor at, um, at some point in my life, most of my life I should say, um, he was, you know, a constant voice of wisdom.

Um, at that point in August, 2024, he began a journey sort of none of us were prepared for. And so for a while it looked like recovery. Um, I laughed because he was constantly calling us from a hospital bed asking for tapioca pudding, and we were like, dad, literally you cannot have pudding. Like, no, cut it out.

He is like, well, the nurses said I could have some like, dad. No, they did not cut it out. And so we were very much like looking forward to his full recovery. Um, waiting for him to regain, you know, feelings on his left side and everything. Um, there was hope [00:09:00] right there. There were small wins, there were things that were going well.

He was progressing in a way, um, that was looking really good. We got him into a rehabilitation center, started doing, um, like, uh, physical therapy and everything, and then Thanksgiving came and that's when things sort of took a turn. He was hospitalized again. And from that point on, the decline was slow. Uh, it was painful, it was heavy.

You know, nothing truly prepares you for watching a loved one, um, who was healthy, who was vibrant. Um, sort of become the opposite of that. And so that was super challenging for my family and I. Just watching my dad, um, you know, essentially leave us. Um, so April, 2025 is when my father transitioned. Um, and yes, of course we are Christians and we believe that, you know, he, um, has been called home to his reward.

And we praise God for the life that he lived, the legacy that [00:10:00] he left. Um, but also like, that's my dad, you know, like. I miss him every day. Um, I think about him every day. Um, and, you know, family relationships are complicated. Every family relationship is complicated. And so of course you go through the thoughts of like, regret and the thoughts of, you know, I should have done this, and I, why did I say that?

And that sort of thing. And I just, you know, grief is. There, like grief is so incredibly complicated. Um, and so having to deal with that, like just, it just consumes you or can consume you, I should say. Um, grief was not concerned about the fact that I was planning a wedding. Grief did, was not concerned about the fact that I was managing a long distance relationship.

Uh, grief did not, it was not concerned about, I was preparing to relocate from Connecticut to Georgia. [00:11:00] It, it was not concerned about me navigating, you know, a major professional transition. Grief did not care about anything that I had going on in my life, right? It just shows up. And it did. Um, you know, so I was really thankful that I had recorded episodes ahead of time.

And I think the episode in September that I released in September, I actually recorded that in. Um, when did I record that? I think, uh, it probably was like may. June. And I remember having to reschedule with that person because I was like, I'm so sorry. Today it grief is just, it's kicking my butt today.

Like I just, I am just not feeling it today. And so I really wanna be honest with you all, um, this season has stretched me in ways that I didn't think were possible. You know, I was trying to be present for my family, um, you know, while now being. Physically far away. Like we moved to, I [00:12:00] moved to, uh, Atlanta, Georgia in October, right after we got married.

Um, like literally had the wedding, you know, day after the wedding we pack up the car and we drive from Dallas to Atlanta. Um, and we, it just was so much, so much happening and this is the furthest that I've ever lived for my immediate family, which we are close. Uh, we were a family, uh, of six and now we are a family of five.

Uh, but we are incredibly close and, and just grieving from a distance has been one of the hardest parts of this journey. Um, on top of that, as I mentioned, my father was a pastor. He. Where he served faithfully, uh, to his ministry, the ministry that he founded and started. I have such vivid memories of us, you know, being, um, in the library and him praying about the mission statement and me typing it out and putting together programs and, you know, we were a small ministry.

But we were spirit filled [00:13:00] and there is nothing, um, that could compare to the love that my father had, um, for the people in that ministry. And so to just go through that transition of. You know, closing the ministry, um, after his transition. Um, so it's like one loss after another, you know, getting married, like I said, moving, like, it just was, it was a lot like my life was doing the absolute most, um, in, in 2025.

Spiritually things felt inconsistent with all of the traveling that we had going on, even after we got married. Trying to settle into a rhythm, trying to settle into marriage. Um, I wasn't able to attend church regularly like I am used to. Sunday mornings up, go to church, you know, Tuesday night, Bible study, praise team, rehearsal, you know what I mean?

It just, and I just did not have that, and I wasn't serving, um, in the new ministry that we [00:14:00] started attending. I wasn't leading. And for someone whose faith has always been like deeply connected to community, that was incredibly hard as well. Like that's a different transition in and of itself to go from, you know, you're serving and you're in leadership capacity even in your local ministry.

But then in your local ministry, kind of taking a step back and just sort of being there. Um, which might be a good thing though, right? Like you're able to kind of rest and recharge. But again, as I said, like we weren't really going to church. Every week, every Sunday, because we were traveling, we were going here and going there and doing this and doing that, and it just became like a lot, like, I'm not even gonna lie to y'all.

It just became a lot. Professionally. I still haven't to, at the time of this recording, January 23rd, I still haven't landed a new role. So I have not had to look for a job, actively look for a job, and I give God all the glory. I have not had to actively look for a job [00:15:00] since 2011, and so for me to have my doctorate have an earned.

Hello, earned doctorate. Having worked in higher education for 15 years as a professional, having, you know, a, an administrative role and the experience and the publishing, right, that I have, like all of these things that I have on paper where everyone's like, oh my gosh, you'll find a job in no time, blah, blah, blah.

And here it is. I've been actively job searching since like September, August, or so. And it's like nothing. I mean, some of these things I've, truthfully, I've only gotten like rejection emails. Some people I have not even been called for a phone screen sis, can't even get an interview like, what is going on?

And so for a long time, that looming reality that my position was scheduled to end on January 9th felt [00:16:00] overwhelming. Like they allowed me to work remotely. Until January 9th, and then it was just like. What am I gonna do? I've not landed anything. And you know, thank God for my husband, um, who is just so, he is just so amazing.

Um, because he, you know, we're good financial. He's like, babe, if you trust me, you know, let's get a place where we can afford it on just my salary alone. I said, okay, great. I can just take care of my bills. Y'all don't know this about me. Or maybe you do. I'm expensive. Like. Just paying my bills alone. Like that's all I have to do.

And I'm like, oh my gosh. So some days it just felt like too much It, it felt like too much to even name out loud. Like there were some days where I literally had to give myself a pep talk to get out of bed and I was like, if all I do today is just shower. It is a good day, right? And just to have that [00:17:00] again on top of grief again, on top of all these transitions, and yet God met me exactly where I was.

I wanted to share three things that I did not perfectly, truthfully, not consistently. But faithfully enough that helped me stay connected to God during this season. And there was something that, um, mother Vanessa Winbush Gatlin had said, um, and I've heard it from others as well, is that even if you just spend time.

Thanking God, or you just have the energy to read one scripture that is, that is enough for God. And I think sometimes, I don't know about you all, but I've gotten into my own mind that like if I'm not laid out on my floor, you know, stuff coming outta my nose and tears coming out my eyes and all this other stuff, then, then God isn't pleased.

But that's just not true. God just wants us to spend time with him [00:18:00] just to commune with him. That is it. Whatever that might look like. And so. Here are the three things that I was able to do during this incredibly difficult season. So first I stayed in the word, even when I couldn't find the words to pray.

Some days all I could manage was a Bible plan or a short devotional. One scripture. I opened my Bible. Um, and read like the verse of the day. And sometimes if that was it, that was it. One reflection I read my favorite verses, you know, I just, I went to God's words. So at the top of the episode I talked about, I felt like I wasn't really hearing God audibly, but again, his word speaks to us.

And so this is why it's so important in your valley seasons to remain rooted and grounded in your word. I'm telling you, even just reading your favorite scripture. Once a day, if you want to use that as a word of affirmation. Reading the verse of the day on [00:19:00] the Bible app, picking up a devotional book, and just reading through the devotionals, um, and writing and reflecting on that.

Even if that's all that you can do, that is more than enough. Um, I had to release the pressure of. What my quiet time used to look like and to trust that God honors what we bring, even if it feels small. I'm reminded of the Thank you Holy Spirit. I'm reminded of the story of the woman with two mites, and I could just imagine in my mind, this is not what happened in the Bible, uh, but in my mind she is seeing all of these other people.

Thank you, holy Spirit. She's seeing all of these. People around her bringing these phenomenal offerings and all of these extravagant offerings, and all she has is two mights. If you know anything about. What that exactly is. It's, it's small. It's, I've been told it's like equivalent to like pennies to change, right?

I used to be [00:20:00] embarrassed as a kid going up to the offering table with change in my hands. In fact, no, no, no. Not as a kid, as an adult, I would get so embarrassed, like I'm not giving offering. All I got is like all these coins. Mm. Because I thought about when I was a child, when I was younger, I used to be so excited for my mom to give me pennies and coins and quarters to put in the offering.

'cause I'm like, yes. Like I'm giving to God. And so I just wanna encourage you out there to remember that whatever you are bringing to God, it could be small, it could be a penny, it could be God, I only have the energy to read one verse. Today, and I'm gonna put on this worship music, and I'm just gonna simply cry like I have been there.

But that is all that God needs. That's all he needs. So even if it feels small to you, it's so important to God and it's even more important that you consistently show up. This season would've been incredibly [00:21:00] easy for me to completely turn away from God like it would've been. So simple for me to be like, you know what?

Forget it. I'm not gonna read my word. I'm gonna lose my streak on the Bible app. Um, you know, all these types of things. But I was like, you know, I might not be able to pray heaven down. I might not be able to even inter seed for people like I used to, but here's what I am able to do and what I was able to do.

I did it for the glory and honor of God. So the second thing is I gave myself permission to pray honestly. There were days when my prayers were nothing but tears where I would be overcome with so many emotions, so much sadness that I just ended by crying and days when all I could say was, God, I'm disappointed, man, when I tell y'all I had a real, real conversation with God and I was like, I'm disappointed, God.

Like I fasted, I prayed, I, you [00:22:00] know, read my word. I believed, I spoke it out loud. I saw my father being healed, my father walking me down the aisle and none of those things happened. And not just none of those things happened, but like, God, in the midst of doing all of that, I prayed, you know, Lord, let your will be done.

And I said, God, I'm just so disappointed that your will was not for my father to be here like. I'm just, I'm mad God, I'm upset. I'm frustrated. But even in the midst of all that, I still gave God the glory. I still told him, at the end of the day, you are God and you are sovereign, and it makes absolutely no sense to me whatsoever.

But I know that you would not do anything purposefully to hurt me. You would not do anything to harm me. And so God. I don't believe was offended by my honesty. Think about Job, right? When Job was going through all the things [00:23:00] that he was going through. Poor job and, and at some point. He was like, look, God, now this, this is enough.

Like, what? What are we really doing? And God had to remind him. Uh, hello. Where were you when the stars were created? That's right. You weren't there. Where were you when the earth was formed? Oh, that's right. You weren't there. Guess what? Guess who formed you and created you? I did. And so God is not offended by us praying honestly with him.

God that hurt. That one, hurt God, that season hurt. God, I've had enough. Please Lord, please don't let this, don't let another season like that come to me. God is not offended by our honesty. In fact, he met me there and the third thing. Is I leaned on reminders of what God has already done. I reread bible study notes from previous years, um, of just my personal Bible study time, going all the way back to probably [00:24:00] 2020.

Um, and I revisited old journal entries. Um, some of you know I have a devotional, two devotionals. Um, and I remember writing those devo. It was probably before 2020 then, 'cause I had started writing. The, so I was journaling as I was reading scripture and both of those, uh, turned into books. Um, and so just going back through and like reading those things, but then also like bible study and the notes and just things that I feel like God is whispering to me in my prayer time and just really going back through and reading those things and finding encouragement from those.

My personal journal, I've had a personal journal since I was like nine years old. Like I pulled out my personal journal the other day. And it was like my favorite group is Boys The Man. And I would love to see them in concert. Um, you know, shout out to me, adult me for going to see them in concert a couple years ago, like 9-year-old me was freaking out.

But in any case, going back to revisit those personal journals, um, from recent years. [00:25:00] Just seeing the testimonies of God, seeing how I had gone through other things, how God had brought me out, how he changed things around for me, how he did things in ways that I didn't even imagine. And so I reminded myself of prayers God had answered before by going back through and looking at these journals.

Now you all know I'm a huge advocate of Jesus in therapy, so I was also in therapy. I think I started meeting with my therapist. I wanna say before my father passed, uh, it's definitely before I think like right as he passed, I was like, oh God. Mm-hmm. Uh, I love you God, and you could do all things. And you give me wisdom to know that it is okay for me to be in therapy.

So your girl went back to therapy because again, I was preparing to be a wife. I was planning a wedding, you know, a wedding that was happening out of state, financially stressful, emotionally stressful, spiritually, like all these things happening. So I was in therapy, [00:26:00] I was journaling regularly. I was doing the work to stay whole, both spiritually and emotionally.

And even in this season, even in this most challenging season of my life, there were beautiful moments. Um, you know, my wedding, despite my father not being there. Was the best day of my life. It's my favorite day actually, so far, like it is my absolute favorite day. I look back at those photos and so many people commented on how happy both my husband and I look, and we truly were.

I mean, it was just such a wonderful day. Um, it was my favorite day. Even though my father was not there, he and everyone kept saying, oh, just remember, like, you know, type a girly here. I just remember the day's not gonna be perfect. Things are gonna happen. And I'm like, guys, my father's not here [00:27:00] of the day is already not perfect.

Like I, I know and understand and I appreciate the reminder, but like, my father's not here, so this day could never be perfect. But it was my favorite day. And even though he was not there. We did honor him in small but meaningful ways. I wrapped one of his neck ties around my, uh, bouquet. Um, I walked myself down the aisle, you know, I just felt like it was just most appropriate.

My dad was so looking forward,

he was so looking forward to doing that. Um, and I just felt like there's no one that could replace him. There's no one that could stand in for him. It meant so much to him, and I didn't wanna give that honor to anybody else. Um, so in a sense, he, his presence, he walked with me, right? His neck tie. I had a piece of him, not his presence.

I had a piece of him with me. Um, my husband wore one of his, one of my [00:28:00] dad's watches. You know, my mother had on a bracelet that my dad was wearing that used to wear. So there were small but meaningful ways that we honored him. And so. I just am thankful that we were able to do that, and even recently, like right, like in the midst of this valley situation, the midst of this challenging season, you know, those moments of joy and, and even moments of grace that God has extended to me, um, in a very practical way.

So my job agreed to keep me on part-time through early February. So remember I had given them my notice. Um, the September 1st, right? We had closed on our townhouse, um, end of August, the very next day once. 'cause I wanted to wait until everything became final because y'all know God could switch things up at the last minute.

And so once everything became final in August, I gave them my notice at the beginning of September to say, Hey, [00:29:00] I'm going to, you know, my last day will be October 7th or whatever day it was, and I was getting ready to leave to go to Dallas. And so we were able, God gave me grace where I was able to work out me staying on remotely until January 9th.

And then he gave me again, favoring grace to have that extension from January 9th to early February. And so, while I am physically in Atlanta, Georgia, shout out to anybody from Georgia that's listening. Um, we gonna talk about Georgia drivers in another time.

Being able to work remotely from Atlanta for my job. Again, God's favor, God's grace. Being able to have it extend from January to beginning of favor, even though it's part-time. Listen, God's grace, God's favor. And so that might sound small to some, but to me. It meant everything. I mean, it was breathing room.

It was God [00:30:00] reminding me that he truly is Jehovah Gyre. He truly is my provider. Thus far, we have not lacked for anything. I have not missed a payment thus far on any of the bills that I'm covering, and again, I'm covering just me and so. I could also be expensive though, you know what I mean? So, you know, student loans and I've got this, I got that girl like, and guys like, come on.

But God really showed me that he is Jehovah Reh. He is a provider. And even now. After early February, I, I don't know what's going to happen. I don't know what God would have me to do. I am seeking his face. Um, and, and really, you know, I'm applying to jobs and praying to hear back from places, and I'm taking rest in knowing that God has got me.

And so if you're listening to this and you're in a season [00:31:00] where your faith feels. Quiet and consistent or fragile. This episode is for you and I need you to share this episode with someone who may be going through a similar season. You don't have to do everything. You do not have to do everything. You don't have to show up the way you used to.

It is important sometimes to just show up. Just show up. Don't compare. Where you are now, don't compare where your prayer life is now to what it used to be. It's great to aspire to want to be better, right? That anointing, that, that fresh anointing, that fresh oil, and wanting to take yourself higher in your relationship with God.

But I think sometimes we cause ourselves to feel crushed by the pressure of where we used to be. We go through seasons. There are going to be some seasons where you know, [00:32:00] you hear God plainly, clearly all the time. There are gonna be seasons where he's quiet. Then it is important for you to navigate those seasons by just simply showing up.

Just be present in his presence. Just be present in his presence. You don't have to have pretty prayers. You don't have to. I'm reminded of the Sadducees where they prayed with all these pretty elaborate words. They were articulating all these great and wonderful. There were literally some times where I just was like, Jesus.

And that's all you need, Jesus. That's all I can say. Jesus, I'm hurt Jesus. I'm sad Jesus. I don't feel like I can do this anymore. You don't have to have these elaborate prayers. And if you do, if that's your gift, and that's great and that's wonderful, but when you're going through a valley situation, you're going through a valley season where you are going through challenging transitions and going through grief.

Sometimes you don't even have the [00:33:00] words. But God sees every tear He hears, every hearts cry. He knows every moaning, every uttering. He knows it all. Stay connected to God. However, you can hold on to God for dear life because it is life and death. Open the word. Cry. If you need to revisit what God has already spoken, give yourself grace.

And if you're looking for a gentle way to reengage your faith, again, I mentioned earlier I've authored devotional resources. There are workshops about, uh, deepening your relationship with God about God. Why can't I hear you? I have all of these resources available on my website. Uh, but just know that.

These devotional resources, these things that I have to offer, they're designed for seasons just like this. Not performative, not overwhelming, just honest space [00:34:00] with God. A place for you to show up authentically with God and to help guide you if you don't know how to do it, or maybe you know how and you have just lost your way.

And so we have the epi, the website. Listen in the show notes. Um, but I just wanna encourage you because that is what encouraged me in this season and still figure, right? Still trying to find a job, still grieving that never goes away. Um, they all, everyone's like, oh, time heals all wounds. No, no. If anything, time is helping me to learn how to navigate grief.

This will always be here. This grief will always be here. It will always be with me. No matter what I do, no matter what. I have surrendered to God, this grief will always be with me. And that just, that just is. It is what it is. Grief is a heaviness that brings a darkness we try to [00:35:00] carry, but we were never supposed to carry grief.

As a Christian, we may carry or we do carry the light of Jesus Christ that guides us through the darkness. So I wanna encourage you today to let Jesus carry the heaviness of your grief. It will always be there. Your grief will always be there will be a part of you. It is something that I, the person I was before my father transitioned is completely different than the person I, I'm forever changed by it.

But. But underlining the But with God's light, we are able to see our way through that heaviness. We are able to see our way through that grief. And so I just wanna encourage you today, this was my testimony. I thought, what better way to start season seven? The season of perfection. I love it. I love it.

Maybe this will be the last season. I don't know. We're still praying [00:36:00] about it. Y'all be in prayer with me, for me, but season seven is going to look. Different. It's going to be honest, it's going to be faith forward, but real as it has always been throughout this podcast. Um, these are still conversations that inspire change and empower purpose-driven leadership, even when the change is happening quietly in the valley.

If this episode resonated with you, I would love to hear your story. If you're walking through a Valley season or if God has brought you through one, send me a message or leave a review. Sharing what this season has taught you. Your story may be the encouragement someone else needs, and if Dig deep has been meaningful to you, take a moment to rate and review the podcast on your listening platform.

It helps more people to find these conversations and reminds me that none of us is walking this journey alone. Thank you for staying. Thank you for listening. [00:37:00] Thank you for allowing me to share this part of my journey with you. Until next time, dig deep, give yourself grace and trust that God is with you in the valley.