Finding Myself Again: A Summer of Healing, Creativity, and Faith

This summer has been an interesting one. Out of all nine summers I’ve spent here in Slovakia, this has been one of the most challenging — and also the most healing and growing.

I’ve discovered something important: I find myself and who God has called me to be through my photography. It isn’t my identity, because my true identity comes from being a daughter of God. But it’s different than when I knit, sew, or paint. When I photograph my day and share it the way I see it, I feel closer to God. I feel like He is gently whispering, Yes, my daughter, this is it.

When I work on my photography and share my life, I don’t feel loneliness. I feel fullness. I feel the presence of God. Yet photography can also feel heavy at times because it is deeply spiritual for me, and it is often opposed. There are days when I feel like I’m fighting against so much. But when I push through and walk with God, peace and joy always meet me there.

Still, I forget this truth. I lose my way, and I have to relearn it again. That’s what this summer has been for me — a slow, quiet return to what God is saying yes to in my life.

Navigating my emotions is complicated, but now that I’m in my forties, I’ve discovered a secret. The secret is this: don’t run away from your emotions. Feel them. Even when they are painful. Because when you allow yourself to feel, you also give yourself a chance to heal. When we ignore or suppress those emotions — no matter how big or how painful — they don’t disappear. They resurface. They cause damage. But when we face them, we give God room to bring healing.

So this summer, I’m facing myself. I’m not doing it alone. I have a God who loves me, who never leaves me, who walks beside me. And that gives me joy.

Our problems don’t disappear unless we face them. Today, I’m praying for you. I pray that you are brave enough and strong enough to look into your heart and face whatever truth is waiting for you. I pray that God sends someone your way — a friend, a mentor, a trusted voice — to walk with you. It may be messy. It may hurt. But I promise you, it is worth it. And you are worth it.