07/17/2026
Today was a hard day.
I woke up with nowhere I had to be. No art camp today. Nothing pressing on the schedule. Just a quiet house and a list of things I could do—but absolutely no motivation to do any of them.
And that's when the heaviness started creeping in.
I struggle with depression sometimes, too.
There are days when the loneliness feels heavier than usual. Days when the same routine, the same four walls, and the same day-to-day life start to feel overwhelming. Days when even the things I normally love—like creating art—don't sound appealing.
Days when I just want to lay down, sleep, and cry.
And today was one of those days.
I haven't been spending as much time in my Bible lately as I know my heart needs. Life has been busy. I've been sick. I've been pouring into my business, my family, my campers, and the things God has placed on my heart.
But somewhere along the way, I haven't been filling myself back up.
And today I was reminded of something important:
Following God doesn't mean we never struggle.
Faith doesn't mean we wake up every morning feeling joyful, motivated, and ready to conquer the world.
Sometimes faith looks much smaller than that.
Sometimes faith is simply whispering,
"Lord, I'm struggling today. Please meet me here."
Sometimes overcoming doesn't mean the heaviness instantly disappears.
Sometimes God gives us enough strength for just the next small step.
Today, my next step was getting out of the house.
My daughter and I decided to grab a Starbucks, go for a joyride, and see if we could find a few garage sales along the way. Nothing life-changing. Nothing profound.
Just a little bit of life.
A little bit of connection.
A little bit of color added back into a day that was beginning to feel very gray.
And I think sometimes we forget that God can meet us there, too.
He can meet us in Scripture and prayer, absolutely.
But He can also meet us on a quiet drive.
In a conversation with someone we love.
In the sunshine coming through the car window.
In laughter we didn't expect to have that day.
In the decision to get up when everything inside us wants to stay down.
I'm sharing this because I never want anyone following this ministry to look at me and think I have everything figured out.
I don't.
I struggle, too.
I have lonely days.
I have days when my faith feels quieter than I want it to.
I have days when I have to fight to remember the very truths I encourage others to hold onto.
But I also believe that on those days, God is still there.
We don't have to clean ourselves up before we come to Him.
We don't have to pretend we're okay.
We can simply say,
"God, this is where I am today. Hold me here."
And maybe that's why the words Held in God's Hands mean so much to me right now.
Because sometimes being held doesn't mean God immediately removes what we're walking through.
Sometimes it means He reminds us that we don't have to walk through it alone.
So if today is a hard day for you, too, I want you to know you're not the only one struggling.
Open your Bible—even if you only read one verse.
Say the prayer—even if all you can manage is, "God, help me."
Take the drive.
Sit in the sunshine.
Call someone.
Step outside.
Cry if you need to.
And then, when you're able, take one small step toward life again.
You don't have to conquer the whole day.
Just take the next step.
And trust that even here—even in the messy, lonely, heavy places—
you are still Held in God's Hands. 💛🙏
~MaMa Dee
