Growing Up Rooted in Faith

Growing up in the heart of the Delta also meant growing up in the Bible Belt. I was raised in a family of Missionary Baptist preachers and deacons. All of my Papaw’s brothers—Papaw being what I called my dad’s dad—were either preachers or deacons, so being raised in church was simply a way of life for me.

Some of my earliest memories go back to a small church sitting at the fork in the road in the community where I grew up. Church wasn’t just something we did on Sundays; it was part of who we were. Putting Jesus first and learning how to trust Him were lessons planted in me early on—lessons that would later mean more to me than I ever could have imagined.

I have had many struggles in life and experienced a whole lot of trauma (which I’ll share more about later). I am a firm believer that if it hadn’t been for my faith in Jesus, I wouldn’t have survived much of it. There were moments when the weight felt unbearable, and the road ahead seemed unclear.

Philippians 4:13 says, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” That verse isn’t just words to me—it’s a lifeline. It reminds me that even when I feel weak, I’m not walking alone.

Sometimes you reach a point where you have to say, “Okay Lord, I’m giving this struggle to You. Let Your will be done.” You may not always understand or agree with the path God sets before you, but faith means trusting Him anyway—especially when things don’t make sense.

I also know that not everyone believes in God, and that’s okay. We all walk different paths and find strength in different ways.

If you are struggling—whether it’s anxiety, depression, or just life in general—find something to believe in that gives you the strength to get through. Hold on to whatever helps you keep moving forward, even on the hard days. Sometimes, that hope is what carries us when we don’t think we can take another step.

XOXO Shae