A Rising Remnant

Tag: Spiritual Growth

  • Insecurity vs. God: Who Defines Me?

    Insecurity vs. God: Who Defines Me?

    The Question That Shifted Everything

    I’ve been realizing lately that insecurity is still one of the biggest stumbling blocks in my walk with Christ. It keeps me from fully stepping into who He has called me to be.

    I was journaling recently, and the question I asked myself was, “Why do I still struggle with worrying about what people think of me?”

    And I noticed a common theme that was coming up in my answers… I still care so much because I fear I’ll end up alone.

    When Circumstances Speak Louder Than Truth

    A lot of times, I make God seem small because I get hyper-focused on everything I don’t have but wish I did. That focus alone can leave me feeling everything but good. But here’s the truth: even though that little voice in my head wants me to believe my feelings define reality, I know God says otherwise.

    On the outside, it may look like lack, but I trust He’s working behind the scenes of my life, bringing all things together for my good (Romans 8:28). One day, He’ll get the glory, and I’ll be able to look back and say, “God was always working.”

    Friendship and Romance Are Connected

    What I’m starting to notice is that the same insecurities I feel in friendship are the very ones that show up when I think about romantic relationships. It’s connected.

    If I fear rejection in friendships, I’ll carry that same fear into dating or marriage. If I base my worth on whether people stay or go, I’ll end up performing for approval or walking on eggshells just to keep someone close… whether it’s a friend or a partner.

    Relationships as a Reflection of Christ

    I’m learning that my earthly relationships… platonic or romantic, should always reflect my relationship with Christ. How I give love, how I receive it, and even how I respond to disappointment or rejection are mirrors of what’s happening in my walk with Him.

    When my identity and worth are rooted in God, I can love freely without fear. I can set healthy boundaries without guilt. And I can trust that whether a friend drifts away or a partner disappoints me, I’m still fully known, fully loved, and fully secure in Christ.

    The closer I walk with Him, the healthier my relationships become. Not because people are perfect, but because His love is perfect, and it flows through me into every connection I have.

    Rooted in Christ Alone

    But here’s the shift I’m learning to make: my identity has to remain in Christ, not in who accepts or rejects me.

    Because if my worth is rooted in Him, then even if someone disappoints me, I don’t lose myself in the process.

    That’s the freedom God’s inviting me into. To abide in Him so deeply that whether it’s friendships or a future relationship, I can show up whole, secure, and loved, because I already know who I am in Him.

    Closing Thoughts

    Maybe that’s the bigger picture. The very lessons God is teaching me in friendship are preparing me for love, too.

    He’s showing me that rejection doesn’t define me, circumstances don’t limit me, and insecurity doesn’t have the final word.

    God does.

    And if I keep my eyes on Him, I won’t just survive relationships, I’ll thrive in them.

    Because I’ll finally understand that I’m already chosen, already loved, and already secure in the One who never leaves.

    A Prayer

    Lord, help me to see myself the way

    You see me, loved, chosen, and

    enough. Teach me to abide in You so

    fully that no fear of rejection or

    disappointment can shake me. Help

    me walk confidently in friendships

    and relationships, showing up as the

    whole, secure person You created me

    to be. Protect my heart, guide my

    steps, and remind me that Your love

    is my anchor in every season.

    In Jesus Name, Amen.

  • When God Breathes Life Into Your Dry Bones

    When God Breathes Life Into Your Dry Bones

    When God Speaks to the Dry Bones

    Today, I want to share something that really touched me deeply. A powerful WOG and my church member, who has her own ministry, sends out weekly devotionals. This morning, her devotional was on Ezekiel 37, the story of the valley of dry bones.

    I had never actually read the full passage before, so I opened my Bible and read it for myself. As I did, I couldn’t help but imagine God speaking those very words directly to me. And honestly? It wrecked me in the best way.

    The Valley of Dry Bones in My Life

    Ezekiel 37 paints such a powerful picture. God takes Ezekiel into a valley full of bones… lifeless, scattered, and hopeless. Then He asks, “Son of man, can these bones live?” Ezekiel responds, “Lord, only You know.”

    God then commands Ezekiel to prophesy over those bones… to speak life into what looks dead. And as he obeys, the bones come together, flesh forms, breath enters, and an army rises.

    Reading this, I felt like God was saying to me: “Latoya, speak life into the areas you thought were over. Don’t you see that I can restore and breathe new purpose into what you thought was finished?”

    Living Proof That God Restores

    Many of you know that for years, I carried around the belief that I was disqualified from a lot of things, including my dreams. I thought my mistakes, my struggles, and my past choices meant that certain parts of my future were gone.

    But when I truly surrendered my life to God at the end of last year, He began a pruning and preparation process. Little by little, He showed me that some of the dreams I once buried weren’t dead after all… they were just waiting for His breath to revive them.

    One of those dreams was writing. I’ve always wanted to start a blog. I even tried twice years ago, but never followed through. But back in April, I finally launched this space.

    I began to share my testimony. It wasn’t by my own strength, because left up to me, I would never do it. I was only able to share with boldness because of the Holy Spirit.

    One scripture that became real to me was Revelation 12:11, which says, “They overcome him (the devil) by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony.” That verse simply means that we overcome the enemy not by our own strength, but because of what Jesus did for us on the cross (“the blood of the Lamb”) and by boldly sharing what God has done in our lives (“the word of our testimony”).

    That verse gave me the courage to step out of hiding and share my story. My testimony… the real, raw, sometimes messy parts of my life…became the very thing God was using to set me free and to encourage others.

    A New Chapter (Literally)

    What I didn’t expect is that God would use this blog to open a brand-new door for me. Someone saw the gift God has placed in me and invited me into an opportunity I never thought I’d have: to become a first-time author. It’s true. God will make room for your gifts and your name will go before you.

    This is something I’ve dreamed of for years, but thought wasn’t possible anymore. But here I am, living in the middle of what once felt like a “valley of dry bones.”

    I share this today not to boast, but to testify: when you give God your yes, He will breathe new life into your dreams.

    Your Dry Bones Aren’t Dead

    Maybe you feel like there are “dry bones” in your life… areas you’ve given up on, promises you think are too far gone, dreams you’ve buried.

    Can I encourage you? The same God who brought bones to life in Ezekiel’s vision can restore what feels dead in your world too. All He asks is that you trust Him and speak His Word over your situation.

    If He did it for me, He can do it for you.

    Final Thought:

    God is waiting on you. Your story is not over yet, because He is still writing it. What looks impossible to you is possible with Him. Don’t bury what God is still able to breathe on.

    A Prayer for Life in Dry Bones

    Heavenly Father,

    I come to You today with areas of my life that feel dead, hopeless, or forgotten. Lord, breathe Your Spirit into every dry place. Revive my dreams, restore my hope, and give me strength where I feel weak.

    Help me to trust that You have placed me here for a purpose. Teach me to speak life over myself, my circumstances, and my dreams, knowing that with You, nothing is impossible.

    Holy Spirit, fill me with boldness, courage, and faith to step into the calling You have for me. Remind me that even in the valley, You are with me, and what feels lifeless can rise again because of You.

    Thank You, Lord, for breathing life into me, for choosing me, and for giving me hope when all seems lost. I receive Your life today, and I declare that nothing can stop Your plans for me.

    In Jesus’ name, Amen. 💛