The Reason for Everything: Reflections and Growth

Finding God’s Glory in Everyday Life

There are stories we tell the world… and then there are the untold chapters. This is one of mine.

Good afternoon, my beautiful readers.

Welcome back to The Untold Chapter.

Y’all, yesterday was a really nice day.

I got up in the morning and went for my walk just like I’ve been trying to do. As many of you know, walking has become part of my routine again. It gives me time to think, pray, reflect, and simply enjoy the day that God has given me.

After my walk, I spent some time in the garden.

And y’all…

We got cabbage growing!

When I tell y’all I was excited, I was excited.

Every day I walk out there and something new is growing.

The tomatoes are growing.

The peppers are growing.

The cucumbers are growing.

The strawberries are growing.

And now the cabbage is growing.

I’ve spent so much time working in that garden, and it has become more than a garden to me.

It’s become a reminder.

A reminder that growth takes time.

A reminder that seeds don’t grow overnight.

A reminder that God is still working even when we can’t see it.

And honestly?

Everything I planted is growing.

Including me.

Growth Happens One Day at a Time

I’ve been growing.

I’ve been reflecting.

I’ve been taking ownership of my life.

I’ve been learning.

I’ve been healing.

I’ve been changing.

And this book has been a huge part of that growth.

On top of that, I am so excited because I finally reached a place I wasn’t sure I would ever reach.

I finished my bachelor’s degree.

Yes, I still have my final two classes to complete before everything is officially finalized, but y’all, I did it.

I made it.

And if that wasn’t enough, I also have a job lined up for August working in the school system.

What excites me most is that I can choose the days I want to work.

I don’t have to put overwhelming pressure on myself.

I can work with students.

I can be around children.

I can continue learning and growing.

And who knows?

Maybe this is the beginning of something bigger.

Maybe one day I’ll be teaching financial literacy to students.

Maybe one day I’ll write that credit book I’ve always talked about.

Maybe one day I’ll be able to help young people avoid some of the mistakes many of us made because nobody taught us.

Only God knows.

But for the first time in a long time, I feel hopeful.

Storytime: Choosing Peace Instead of Arguments

Yesterday wasn’t perfect though.

Me and Avery had a disagreement.

It wasn’t anything major, but it was enough to test me.

And honestly, that’s what made me think about everything I’ve been reading in this book.

Normally, I probably would have kept arguing.

Normally, I probably would have kept going back and forth.

But something inside me said:

“No.”

The devil is not taking my peace today.

So I stepped back.

I said what I needed to say.

And then I let it go.

I wasn’t going to keep wasting my energy.

I wasn’t going to keep feeding the argument.

I wasn’t going to allow myself to become angry and bitter.

A couple hours later, Avery came back and said:

“Let’s talk about it.”

And we did.

Calmly.

No yelling.

No screaming.

No raising voices.

Just talking.

And honestly, that’s something I am proud of.

Because working on my reactions is harder than I thought it would be.

It’s hard with adults.

It’s hard with kids.

It’s hard when emotions are involved.

But reading God’s Word every day and talking to God every day has been helping me.

I don’t want to be bitter.

I don’t want to be angry.

I don’t want to be evil.

I want peace.

I want healing.

I want growth.

And sometimes that’s easier said than done.

But every day I’m trying.

Family Moments That Remind Me to Be Grateful

On top of that, me, Rayshawn, and Maria went bike riding.

Y’all know those moments are special to me.

We rode together.

We laughed together.

We enjoyed the day together.

And as I sat there watching my children, I found myself thanking God.

Because there was a time when I didn’t know what my life was going to look like.

When I got sick, I didn’t know what the future held.

I didn’t know if I would feel like myself again.

I didn’t know if I would ever get back to normal.

I didn’t know if I would be able to enjoy moments like this again.

But here I am.

Still standing.

Still riding bikes.

Still reading books.

Still growing gardens.

Still loving my family.

Still moving forward.

And for that, I give God glory.

Day 7: The Reason for Everything

This chapter asked one of the biggest questions a person can ask:

Why am I here?

What is the reason for everything?

One of the first verses said:

“Everything comes from God alone. Everything lives by His power. Everything is for His glory.”

That right there stopped me.

Because if everything comes from God, then my life is not really about me.

My talents aren’t about me.

My gifts aren’t about me.

My story isn’t about me.

Everything points back to God.

God’s Glory Is Everywhere

The chapter reminded me that God created everything for His purpose.

The stars.

The moon.

The oceans.

The flowers.

The animals.

The people.

Everything.

And if God created everything for a purpose, then that means He created me for a purpose too.

The chapter talked about God’s glory being seen everywhere.

In the heavens.

In nature.

In creation.

And honestly, being out there in the garden helped me understand that.

Every seed.

Every flower.

Every vegetable.

Every plant.

Points back to the Creator.

The chapter also talked about Jesus.

How Jesus came to reveal God’s glory to us.

How Jesus showed us God’s love, mercy, grace, and truth.

And then the chapter asked something that really challenged me.

How can I bring God glory?

The answer was simple.

By doing what He created me to do.

By loving people.

By helping people.

By forgiving people.

By using the gifts He gave me.

By becoming the person He created me to be.

Learning the Power of Forgiveness

One thing that really stood out to me was when the chapter talked about love.

Jesus said:

“As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” — John 13:34

That challenged me.

Because forgiveness isn’t easy.

Acceptance isn’t easy.

People hurt us.

People disappoint us.

People leave scars.

But if God can forgive me, then I should learn how to forgive others.

Not because what they did was okay.

But because I don’t want to carry bitterness around for the rest of my life.

A Hard Truth About Grief and Family

Another thing this chapter made me think about was my family.

A while back, I blocked my mother and my sisters on Facebook.

Not because I hated them.

Not because I wanted revenge.

But because I was grieving.

I was hurting.

I was angry.

After my cousin passed away and after everything I was dealing with, I felt alone.

I felt like nobody asked how I was doing.

Nobody asked what I was carrying.

Nobody asked what I was feeling.

And that hurt.

So I shut everybody out.

That was my way of dealing with it.

Now, after reading this book, I realize I need to tell my mother how I felt.

Not because I’m looking for an apology.

Not because I’m asking her to fix anything.

Not because I need a response.

I simply need her to understand.

I need her to know where I was mentally.

I need her to know that grief came out as anger.

I need her to know that I was hurting.

People grieve differently.

And that was my grief.

Today, I can admit that.

And that’s growth.

Where Can I See God’s Glory Every Day?

The question at the end of the chapter asked:

“Where in my daily routine can I become more aware of God’s glory?”

My answer is simple.

I can pray more.

I can talk to God more.

I can pray over my food.

I can pray at night.

I can continue reading His Word.

I can continue writing.

I can continue sharing my testimony.

For a long time, I was embarrassed about what happened when I got sick.

I didn’t want to talk about it.

I didn’t want people to know how low I got.

But now I realize that my testimony isn’t just for me.

Maybe somebody else needs to hear it.

Maybe somebody else needs hope.

Maybe somebody else needs to know that God can bring them through too.

Bible Verse

“For from Him and through Him and for Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever! Amen.” — Romans 11:36 (NIV)

Motivational Quote

“Growth is not becoming someone else; growth is becoming who God created you to be.”

A Moment of Reflection

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for reminding me that my life has purpose. Thank You for every lesson, every challenge, every blessing, and every season of growth. Help me continue to choose peace over anger, forgiveness over bitterness, and faith over fear. Teach me to bring You glory through my words, my actions, and my testimony. Continue to guide my steps as I grow into the person You created me to be.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen.

Final Reflection

Day 7 taught me that the reason for everything is God’s glory.

Not my glory.

Not the world’s glory.

God’s glory.

Everything comes from Him.

Everything lives through Him.

Everything points back to Him.

And as I continue this journey, one thing is becoming clear:

I am still growing.

I am still healing.

I am still learning.

I am still becoming.

And through it all, I want my life to point back to the One who brought me through it.

Question for My Readers

Have you ever gone through a season where you realized God was growing you while you were waiting for something else to grow?

I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.

My story isn’t perfect, but it’s real and I’m still standing, still growing, and still becoming.

One Last Thought Before You Go

Life is full of chapters we don’t always understand while we’re living them. But I’m learning that sometimes the most powerful stories come from the moments we thought would break us.

And if there’s one thing I’ve realized, it’s this: every season of life has a lesson waiting inside of it.

So here’s something I want you to think about today:

What is one moment in your life that changed the way you see yourself?

I would love to hear your story in the comments. Your experience might be the encouragement someone else needs today.

And if this message spoke to you, make sure you come back tomorrow… because I’ll be sharing another chapter of “The Untold Truth.”

Until next time,

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