A Rising Remnant

Category: Faith

  • A letter to the tired heart!♥️ 

    To the tired heart…

    I love you.

    God loves you.

    And you were never meant to carry that weight alone.

    The weight of your trauma. 

    The weight of heartbreak. 

    The weight of rejection. 

    The weight of grief. 

    The weight of fear. 

    The weight of pain. 

    The weight of loss. 

    The weight of suffering. 

    The weight of life.

    I know you’re tired, but keep hold on just a little while longer. 

    It’s okay to release the tears now, you don’t have to keep holding everything in.

    I know it hurts, but it’s okay to feel the pain.

    That’s how healing begins… by exposing the wound.

    It’s okay if you’re still struggling to get through the hurt. It doesn’t last forever.

    It’s okay if you don’t have all the answers.

    Guess what? No one does.

    It’s okay to be present in the moment. It’s time to start living and not just existing. 

    It’s okay to take a moment and rest…

    To catch your breath.

    You don’t have to carry it alone anymore.

    You are seen.

    You are safe.

    And you are not alone.

    Healing is possible.

    Healing is for you.

    And healing wants to meet you…

    Right where you are.

    Final Thoughts…

    Sometimes we just need a reminder that we are not alone, I know I do.

  • “Tremble and Trust: Choosing Faith When Fear Tries to Speak Louder”

    “Tremble and Trust: Choosing Faith When Fear Tries to Speak Louder”

    “Faith doesn’t silence fear—it just refuses to let fear lead.”—LT

    There’s a moment we all face when God calls us forward and fear tries to talk us out of it.

    Sometimes it’s loud and obvious.

    Other times, it’s subtle… disguised as logic, hesitation, or “waiting for the right time.”

    This week, I found myself standing in that very place.

    Feeling the pull of obedience, but also feeling the weight of uncertainty.

    And I had to ask myself: Am I going to let fear win, or am I going to trust God anyway, even if I tremble doing it?

    This post is a reflection of that moment. A reminder that fear doesn’t disqualify you, and faith isn’t about perfection… it’s about choosing to trust the One who holds it all together.

    Showing Up Anyway

    There’s a quiet battle that often begins before obedience ever takes place.

    It’s not always external.

    It’s not always dramatic.

    Sometimes it shows up in the form of hesitation.

    That moment where your heart knows what God is leading you to do…

    but your flesh, your trauma, your past rejections, and your overthinking start to argue with your spirit.

    That’s where I’ve been.

    Fear didn’t shout. It whispered.

    It tried to dress itself up as wisdom, tried to justify caution with “logic” and “timing.”

    But the truth is, it was fear.

    And not the holy, reverent kind.

    It was the kind meant to stop me from moving forward.

    And I knew it.

    Because the closer I get to obedience, the louder the resistance becomes.

    Not just from outside, but from within.

    But I’m learning something in this season:

    Being honest about where you are is growth.

    It’s growth to say:

    “I’m afraid.”

    “I feel overwhelmed.”

    “I don’t know if I’m enough for what God is asking of me.”

    You’re not pretending to be fearless.

    You’re just choosing not to be ruled by fear.

    You’re dragging it into the light instead of stuffing it down—and that’s how you take away its power.

    Let’s be clear:

    The fear you feel right now is not from God.

    “God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind.”—2 Timothy 1:7

    The enemy gets loud when your obedience is close. He’s not attacking you just for where you are, he’s terrified of what your yes will unlock.

    And he knows something we forget:

    Your obedience isn’t just about you. It’s about every person your faith will touch.

    It’s about every breakthrough that will ripple out from your surrender.

    It’s about the legacy your courage is shaping right now. It’s okay to feel fear, it’s not okay to obey it.

    Obedience in fear is still obedience.

    Courage is not the absence of trembling… it’s choosing to move forward while trembling. You can feel unsure and still be anointed.

    You can feel unqualified and still be called. Excuses are the enemy’s way of slowing down destiny.

    He knows he can’t take your calling, so he tries to make you delay it with doubt. He’ll offer you “valid reasons” why now’s not the right time.

    But those reasons will always pull you away from faith, not into it.

    So here’s what I’m holding on to:

    I am stepping out not because I know the whole plan,

    but because I trust the One who holds the plan.

    That’s not just a nice quote. It’s truth I’m preaching to myself every single day.

    Because some days I want clarity.

    Some days I want confirmation.

    But God keeps reminding me: Toya, what you really need is trust.

    Faith doesn’t cancel trembling. It redeems it.

    I’ve trembled in my healing.

    Trembled in my obedience.

    Trembled in writing posts like this, wondering if I’m saying too much or being too vulnerable.

    But I’m learning to trust that God is not asking me to be perfect.

    He’s just asking me to say yes.

    And I believe that He can take my small, imperfect yes and do something eternal with it.

    A Prayer for the Fearful Obedient:

    Father, I feel the fear, but I choose the faith.

    I won’t lie to You about where I am, because You already see it anyway.

    You know my thoughts, my doubts, my silent battles.

    But You also know the strength You’ve placed in me.

    I choose to walk by faith, not by sight.

    Strengthen me to step even when I feel unsure.

    Remind me that I don’t have to do this in my own strength. You are with me.

    I believe You will finish what You started in me.

    In Jesus’ name, Amen.

    This isn’t about being strong all the time.

    This is about surrender.

    It’s about believing that God will breathe on your obedience, even if it’s just a whisper of a step.

    A Milestone

    I’m almost six months into my walk with Christ.

    And I’ve never felt more aware of the tug-of-war between who I was, who I’m becoming, and who God has already declared me to be.

    The enemy wants me to quit.

    My flesh wants comfort.

    But my spirit is choosing faithfulness.

    Not perfection. Not performance.

    Just presence, and a heart that keeps saying, “Yes, Lord. I’m still here. I’m still choosing You.”

  • The Grudge Queen!

    The Grudge Queen!

    “The Scriptures Will Soften Your Heart If You Let It!”

    Ephesians 4:32

    “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you.”

    The Struggle Of Unforgiveness Is Real!

    Can you relate? Have you ever tried to convince yourself that you were a forgiving person, only to come to terms with the reality that you really weren’t? I can, I truly believed I was a forgiving person. I was living life as normal as if I also wasn’t walking around with a heart full of offenses and resentment towards others.

    It became a normal practice for me to convince myself that I wasn’t offended anytime I was or that I didn’t harbor resentment. I didn’t want to admit I was bothered. One thing I’ve learned about us humans, we do not like anyone poking at our wounds that aren’t yet healed. We’d rather they be left alone; if they heal, they heal, and if they don’t, then they don’t.

    Quick Story Time

    About a month ago, I had a conviction. The Lord had me confront some unresolved feelings of resentment that I was convinced was no longer there. Not me, not Miss, “I know how to let go of things, because I’ve done the work on myself.” I bet God laughs at me sometimes.

    Last year I went to an old mentor of mine seeking advice. It was a real cry for help at the time and because I was at the beginning stages of my walk I went into the conversation expecting a co-signer. My ears were only tuned into what I wanted to hear. So offense took over quickly and had me feeling dismissed.

    Knowing that the Lord wanted me to let it go made me a little uneasy only because I felt justified in my feelings. Bitterness had taken root in my heart as I held onto the offense, making it harder to confront my feelings.

    I repented, prayed, and asked for forgiveness and after bringing the offense to my old mentor, making amends and much reflection on how I can sometimes be highly sensitive, expecting my feelings to be catered to and understanding that the offense was unintentional, my heart began to soften. Just like that, I felt light and free. This was just one of many times when the Lord had called me to reconcile with someone.

    Offense Manifests Into Unforgiveness

    When you’re unhealed it’s nearly impossible to understand the foundational principals of forgiveness or the immense relief you get once you release it to God. Take it from someone who knows about all the struggle.

    Offense can create resentment meaning that when you feel hurt, insulted or wronged, you have a tendency to develop feelings of anger, bitterness and ill will towards a person or situation that caused you harm. It makes it difficult to let go of the hurt and move towards forgiveness.

    Even hardening your heart towards God, because you’re closed off from any form of reasoning. It becomes hard for you to show your neighbor any grace. Conversations with you are like a volcano waiting to erupt, a person doesn’t know if the next thing they say will be the very thing that triggers you or not.

    When we feel offended, our emotional response is to create a barrier, preventing us from empathizing with the other person’s perspective. The lingering feelings of offense can lead to a cycle of negativity, where instead of healing, we find ourselves clinging to the pain and unable to forgive.

    Freedom In Letting Go!

    I’ve come to truly understand why forgiveness is so important. Before embracing Christ, I was indifferent to the idea of extending grace to others. If someone wronged me without remorse, I felt no obligation to forgive them or I just pretended I didn’t care.

    However, I soon realized that the energy spent harboring bitterness and resentment was extremely draining. Holding onto unforgiveness was robbing me of joy and peace, affecting the way I handled other relationships. It created an emotional wall, leaving me guarded, and others became innocent casualties of this internal conflict.

    You Can’t Do It On You Own

    Forgiveness, as I’ve learned in the Bible, starts with me recognizing my own need for forgiveness through Christ. In order for me to forgive, I first had to pray for the strength to let go of grudges, because let me be real for a moment, I was the Grudge Queen!

    I needed God to help me extend grace to those who had offended me. I reflected often and meditated on scriptures like Ephesians 4:32, which calls me to be kind and compassionate, while forgiving others just as Christ forgave me. I started to understand that it was important to confront issues head on, instead of suppressing my feelings and emotions.

    Studying passages such as Eph. 4:32 gave me the motivation I needed to start expressing my feelings honestly, but in love. I understood that forgiveness is a choice just like anything else in life.

    God won’t force you to forgive, but choosing to forgive, is an act of obedience to God, not just a feeling; it’s about letting go of the hurt in order to embrace healing, which creates a more sincere and lasting relationship with Him and with others.

    Be Intentional

    Forgiveness is ongoing because, let’s be honest, we’re human. We get triggered, and our emotions are real, but when you have a why for what you’re doing, it becomes more intentional for you.

    It gives you a motive to keep it up and think about your actions and behavior before you do them. The most dangerous place to be is in a place where you don’t care or you’re indifferent. The demonic is real, and the enemy thrives off of you making a home and settling in unforgiveness.

    Scriptures For Forgiveness:

    Ephesians 4:31-32 “Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”

    (Christ calls believers to rid ourselves of rage that keeps us at odds with one another or from creating unity and peace. Instead show kindness and compassion and being quick to forgive. Walking in the fruits of the Spirit and deny the flesh.)

    Colossians 3:13 “Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”

    (Help each other carry each other’s burden and release all resentment, bitterness and anger towards your neighbor)

    Proverbs 19:11 “A person’s wisdom yields patience, it is to one’s glory to overlook an offense.

    (A wise man or woman is not easily angered and understands that there is honor in forgiving rather than revenge.)

    Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.”

    (This is another favorite of mine, because it doesn’t mean God will bless whatever a person does. It means God gives believers the strength to do whatever he asks them to do! So if He is calling believers to let go of offenses and forgive, He WILL give you the strength to do it even though it’s extremely hard at times and we don’t want to release people sometimes. If you are sincere in your prayer while denying the flesh, He WILL do it for you, trust me! I’m a literal living testimony!)