randomly popping up to say hi

Howdy, partners, from your yes-i-literally-disappeared blogger and writer, Izzy! This is a very abrupt post. It's been months. And months. Last post was in July. Wow, I really just vanished, didn't it? 

I'm here because I have written something. I'm developing two protagonists for a new Work in Process (it's in the process of being in progress, *winks*) and one of my MCs, Oke Simmons, has a misbelief that he isn't strong enough.

So I was writing out his conclusion (when he decides to toss away his misbelief and face the truth God revealed to him throughout the story) when I was suddenly impressed to share it. So here I am, popping up on my forgotten blog, with a trinket to share with you. This means I am still around *clears throat* I'm not dead and I will pop up once and awhile, but this will be when I'm impressed to share something. I don't know how often or how scarce this will be, but I really miss you guys. This WIP is taking up a ton of time *blanches and pants* I hope I'm improving as an author and finally finding a way to keep a WIP going instead of abandoning it halfway through . . . But that sometimes gives me ideas to help other authors, so maybe I'll pop around to do writing workshop type stuff, idk....would you like that?

The next passage is not perfect, but I hope it can touch down on a spot in your heart that maybe needs something like this. 

What is Oke's conclusion/new belief? That you can be strong no matter what, that God is on your side, that being strong does not mean you don’t cry or feel despaired at times, but that being strong is finding the life rope of Jesus Christ and clinging to it and facing each hardship with your shield and sword, ready to fight, even if it means being knocked down a few times. Being strong is getting back up, with tear stains on your cheeks, and forging your way forward with your arms wrapped around God, having the trust that you are under the shadow of His wings. Being strong is weeping into your pillow, then sitting up and finding strength to go on with your day, even if you stop and cry every five minutes. Being strong is surviving, not the lack of tears or depression, being strong is finding yourself at the end of the road of hardships and realizing, “I’m still here.”

We're all still here, aren't we? Even if you are hurting RIGHT NOW, and feeling depressed or saddned, which is OKAY, please know that it is OKAY to feel, even if you're crying RIGHT NOW, because it's the aftermath of  any personal hardships or COVID-19 or anything, or maybe you're enduring it RIGHT NOW, here is what I have to say to you: YOU ARE STRONG. YOU ARE RESILIENT. 

And if it feels like God has turned His back on you, remember He is always, always, always there. He IS THERE, even when it doesn't feel like it. He has His arms open wide, and He longs for you to cry into His shoulder, and guess what? He'll cry with you. 

I love you all. And God loves you so much. 

~Izzy~ 

P.S. I want to here how you're doing. You can tell me in the comments below, or even email me. I'd love to here from you, and if you need to get something off your chest, please know I am here for you. <333