6:30AM ALARM BLARRING I wake up to a lovely little migraine. I tell myself to turn the alarm off, take some meds and stay in bed today. Just as I am about to give in to that I realize it’s Thursday! Thursday is my morning to lead Big Life Mornings on zoom.

I begrudgingly get up and tell myself, “just go get through the zoom and go back to bed”.

That was my plan! Actually, that was the plan I let the enemy put in my head.

I grab a double espresso to help with migraine and head to my room and get on zoom. I am feeling very disoriented this morning. My spirits are low and I’m blaming the migraine and my allergies.

I make it through morning routine and turn my video off. I told myself it was so I could listen to Pamela’s devo without distraction, but lets be honest I really wanted to lay my head back down and rest a few minutes.

This is where the extraordinary happens! No sooner than I lay my head back Pamela says “why does God allow us to struggle? Why the continual battle, when he could end every conflict with one word? Boom. It could all be over. It could literally disappear just like that. But it doesn’t because he doesn’t. Why is that?”

I was totally engrossed in devotional. Fully listening, taking notes and absorbing everything. I wanted to know why? Where is Pamela going with this? Knowing her I knew she was about to blow my mind.

And that is where the enemy decided I had heard enough! I lost sound. I left zoom and came back in still no sound. I text the morning crew asking if anyone else couldn’t hear her. All good on their end. Not wanting to miss anymore of the devotional I grabbed my phone, got on our Facebook page and listened from there.

Fortunately, all was good on there and I had only missed a minute or two. Not today satan! Pamela talked of Joseph and how boring his story would have been if his life was hunky-dory. Instead he faced many trails. God used each one of those trails for good.

In Genesis 50:20 Joseph said, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.”

Pamela said God waste NOTHING! He will take everything we are going through and use it for His glory. He will make it good. Joseph’s story is a great story. He went through a lot, but he had God with him. He clung to God during his trails and was able to keep his joy and have peace. He clung to God and felt His arms of comfort in difficult times.

God was with him during the beginning, middle and end of his story. He was in the pretty and the ugly. Joseph was able to find pretty in the ugly because he was clinging to God. Who are you clinging to?

Oh my soul! I was overcome with emotion. I woke up this morning with the enemy in my head. He was trying his best to draw me into the darkness. He was telling me all the things: stay in bed, feel sorry for yourself, have a pity party, question God about why this happening and on and on.

Rise up warrior! Girl, pick that armor up and fix your helmet of salvation!

Needless to say when devotion ended it was time to come back on zoom and close out the morning– I was in shambles. Despite trying to pull it together and speak all I could do was let the tears flow. Embracing the moment I was vulnerable with the girls.

I told them the day before had been difficult and devotion hit hard. I said that Pamela had my number this morning and I was little emotional. I talked about how I couldn’t imagine how I would be facing life right now if I didn’t have God. It was whammy after whammy and I was feeling very overwhelmed. BUT I know that God is going to work it all for His good.

God gave me the word Joyful Warrior for 2025. From day one this word has evoked so much in me. I can be joyful despite the storm. I am His warrior and I WILL keep walking forward knowing He is with me.

Remember your Bible is the ultimate weapon! Your Bible is referred to as the Sword of the Spirit! Make sure you are keeping that blade sharp by spending time in the word daily.

I have to give a huge shout out to my Big Life army of sisters! I FELT YOUR LOVE THIS MORNING! You girls filled my cup to overflowing! Your words, your messages, your prayers and your kindness meant so much to me.

When morning routine was over I got up and faced my day with spunk and tenacity! Looking back at this morning I see the enemy didn’t stand a chance the moment my feet hit the ground. In the moment I chose not to listen his tiny voice saying “stay in bed”. Instead I heard God’s roar that said “GET UP ANYWAY”! I heard Him telling me to be tenacious when Stacey volunteered to share her word and mantra. I heard Him speak through Pamela’s devotion. I felt Him hugging me as the tears flowed and I shared with my sisters. I felt the hugs of my sisters as I allowed myself to vulnerable. I feel Him now as I write this blog post.

I am clinging to Him as He takes what the enemy intends for evil and rewrites my story for His glory. I’m trusting Him and sharing my story in hopes I can be a light for Him. If I can help bring one person to know Him I have done good.

*In case you missed the link to this morning devotion– Click Here.