Blog post by Brandy Edenfield
“I thought my healing would look different. I think most of us have a preconceived notion of what it looks like to be free and healed. I’m learning more and more through my process, and through helping others with theirs, miracles are instantaneous but healing is a journey. We walk out our healing, we participate in it.”
I believe it was about two years ago in one of our CROSSING2FREEDOM classes that I first met Cheryl. Let me describe Cheryl to help you understand the magnitude of what I learned from her. Cheryl is a 6-foot tall private investigator | real estate agent. For years before we met, she was a bounty hunter. TOTAL HARD-CORE CHIC! This woman looked like one of the most confident, capable, powerful women I had ever laid eyes on. She talked confident & educated. I must admit, I was completely intrigued and wanted to glean from her strength.
I remember watching Cheryl diligently take notes and ask questions each week. She was soaking it all in. At the weekend conference that followed the class, she was all in for every prayer and was visibly moved by each teaching. She came back for the next class when it started and in that first class, Cheryl shared something that pierced my heart and gave me a fresh revelation. I’ve since heard her share this truth multiple times since then and every time it brings me to tears.
Cheryl in all her 6-foot tall beauty said this: “Before I took this class and learned about my identity, I would meet people and say (with an outstretched hand) ‘Hi, I’m Cheryl. Who do you say I am?’ And I would be whoever they said or perceived me to be.”
WHOA! That was a punch right to my gut. I too had lived this way subconsciously every day before I learned who I was in Christ. But I was somehow shocked that this woman battled with her identity. My experience and education should’ve safeguarded me from this shock, but it didn’t! How could SHE be insecure? God, used Cheryl to show me that we are all broken and in need of validation until we believe the truth about who HE says we are.
I recognize today that my healing does not mean I never struggle with my identity or my own insecurities. It doesn’t mean my self-talk is always positive and that I walk each moment in Godly confidence. It does, however, mean that I check my heart, my actions, and my words regularly to line me up with God and who He says I am. I recognize much quicker when I’m shrinking myself down to make others like me or to make them more comfortable. I recognize when I’m giving others the “mask version” of Brandy. And I readjust and choose authenticity.
One of my favorite things is spending time with strong, “journeying” women that share the truth about themselves and their struggles. I love that Cheryl still tells this story every chance she gets and she always follows it up with examples of how she does better with this but how it still tries to creep when. She always points women to God’s love and grace to constantly be renewing her. I JUST LOVE THIS KIND OF HUMILITY and HONESTY.
I’m so grateful for my journey and the journeys of others that inspire me and encourage me. If you’re lacking these types of people in your life, pray for God to bring them into your life. And when He does, take off your mask & share your truth- THIS IS LIFE CHANGING!
Prayer
Father God,
Thank you that you bring the right people for us to link arms with and to do life with. We love you and thank you for our identity is in Christ alone.
Help us where we are weak in this. In Jesus name. Amen.
Would like to invite someone onto your journey or just to pray? We are here for you!
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Love this!!