Dead ends.🛑✋🏾

As I enter into a season of newness, I’ve been navigating this thought. If you’ve had the dreadful experience of split/ dead ends on your hair, you understand that in order for your hair to remain healthy you have to remove the damaged hair. If it remains it can damage your hair straight up the shaft. I’m no hair expert but I’ve been learning as God wants me to be more intentional in taking care of my own hair.

Here’s the thing, this blog is not about hair. Now that I have your attention. The point of discussion are the dead or expired things in our lives that we refuse to let go of that contaminate the good things that we do have. In total transparency I had a conversation and then I had a lovely journaling session with God as I shared my heart concerning an ex boyfriend of mine. I started to connect the dots and I realized even though we had broken up, he still took up a lot of emotional space in my life. Why? I’m glad you asked, because I still loved him. However the difference between 17 year old Shannon and Shannon now is IDENTITY. I know who I am and whose I am. I no longer allow my pain and need for validation choose for me. I am learning to love me and a part of that includes denying access to those who refuse to see my value.

Jesus didn’t die on that cross for me or you to settle for less than His best.

I want to encourage you, do the work now that your future self will thank you for. Take the time to invest in your healing, the first step of healing is acknowledging that you have been hurt. If you’re anything like I was, being vulnerable is terrifying and wearing a mask is more comfortable. But the thing about that is, the only person you are hurting with that mindset is YOU. I know the unknown is daunting, but let me share a secret. When God does a work on you, it carries His seal and He then empowers you to empower others. Let Him in, He wants to help you. The drugs, sex, money, trips, fancy cars and big houses. They will never fill that gaping hole in your soul. He knows that you run from man to man because you’re looking for your father. He was there when you were raped, He was there when you felt like you had no one to defend you. He was there when you were overlooked and teased. He saw the embarrassment and ridicule. He was there when you were abused. He wants you to stop allowing the pain to choose for you. It’s time to finally BREATHE. Healing enables you to recognize that you were holding your breath the entire time.

Inspite of all you’ve done, He still wants you. He still loves you, no one will ever love you the way He does. Leave the past behind you and step into the NEW.

God bless you.

Ps. The thing about dead ends is that you always have to turn and go the other direction. There’s nowhere else for you to go.

Behold, I will do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness And rivers in the desert - Isaiah 43:19