Get Your Fight Back and WIN

Have you ever experienced something so detrimental that it broke you down? From childhood trauma to mental health battles to romantic heartbreak, I know firsthand how troubles can put you in the fight of your life. It hasn’t been a wild swinging fist fight, but a fight for my destiny and who God called me to be.

Here’s how I fought back:

Moving away from home for college was one of the best decisions I made. Earning my degree was a tangible reward and my newfound breathing room gave me the opportunity to get to know myself for real. I was enlightened on generational curses and agents that shaped me yet deviated my identity of who God truly made me to be. Since then, it’s been a perpetual journey of revelations, liberation, and major growth.

Recognize the issues

Sometimes the hardships of life tend to build up and weigh you down. Have you noticed a change in your energy level or mood? Think about your emotional, mental, physical, and spiritual health and what’s affecting them.

Signs of potential mental health issues include:

• Irritability

• Loss of motivation

• Pessimism

• Withdrawal

• Low energy

• Inability to cope

Outside forces can take a toll internally despite how much effort is invested in progressive movement. A wake up call I experienced led me to confront the deeply rooted issues I was used to suppressing and learn how to fight for my healing.

Deal with them

One of the greatest disservices is allowing ourselves to be bound by things from the past. If you want to experience progress in your life, then you must address what’s holding you back. There are many ways people handle their problems. Some coping mechanisms are wholesome while others are irrational. Sweets are my guilty pleasure. Instead of facing my issues in a healthy way, I sought solace in candy which became dangerous. The amount of sugar I was intaking was so excessive that it elevated my glucose level to the prediabetic range. After discovering this condition runs in my family, I had to put a halt to it and deal with my emotions rather than drown them in candy.

I had to be honest with myself.

The process sounded simple but required me to give up so much. First, I had to be honest with myself by dismantling my pride. Pride is a high opinion of one’s self which is exhibited through their conduct. It is a powerful stronghold that hinders people from being expressive or opening up to advance beyond where they are because of close-mindedness. Pride says, “I’m too good for this. Expressing myself will make me look weak. These people are beneath me.” According to Proverbs 16:18, “Pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before stumbling (NASB).” A person’s pride results in their downfall. It causes you to be ignorant of your own issues and stunts your self-growth.

There are several things God hates, and pride is one of them. According to Proverbs 8:13, “To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech.” Since this was an ungodly trait, it had to go.

So how do you get rid of pride? This is done through humility. Humility is the quality of being humble; having a modest opinion of one’s personal viewpoint or position. 1 Peter 5:6 says, “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time (KJV).” Being prideful will bring you down but humility raises you up. Embracing this opened a gateway for me to be vulnerable and honest about my emotions without feeling smug or weird about it when expressing myself.

Remove triggers

Once I recognized what the specific issues were, I had to trace where they stemmed from. Some were generational and others were consequences of past poor experiences. I learned how to process by identifying the traumatic events that occurred, pinpointing the source, and disconnecting from it. This is how cycles are broken. I worked too hard to let anything trigger me all over again and resurrect an unhealed version that no longer exists.

Cycles are broken by countering with behavior fueled by wisdom.

Forgive myself

Being honest with myself and removing triggers were effective strategies but weren’t sufficient enough to bring total deliverance. I am my number one fan and biggest critic. Sometimes I can be too hard on myself and dwell on issues longer than I should. Humility granted me permission to forgive myself. Holding those things against myself overshadowed the gift of redemption. The debt has already been paid by Jesus on the cross! I simply needed to accept it.

“Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” -Hebrews 4:16

Don't let shame keep you from saving yourself from further misery.

Give it to God

As children of God, we are not obligated to bear heavy burdens. Although your pain is valid, there’s no good reason to carry it any longer. It’s time to let it go!! Matthew 11:28-30 extends an invitation to come to the Father in exchange for rest. Our omnipotent Father can handle our hurt. Don't let another day pass by. Give your burdens to the Lord, and He will take care of you. Remember: you’re not fighting alone! The Lord is always with you.

The best part of moving on is being stronger than you were before.

Go forward

It's easy to stay stuck when you lack the courage to move beyond familiarity. Don’t make the same mistake as Lot’s wife who looked back on what God was delivering her from. Instead, forget the past and look forward to what lies ahead.

Dress: A Rogers Apparel

I have been intentional about not letting Satan's tactics take me out. In the picture above, I look lighter and free with more joy after addressing the issues that were weighing me down. What I went through didn't break me. It made me into a better person. I hope my journey is proof that you can get back up again.

Feelings of defeat are for a moment, but VICTORY is the promise.

Whatever challenge you’re up against, I pray this will incite you to get your fight back. We are destined to win!

Written with grace,

Kiala

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Have you accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Savior? If not, say this prayer:

Dear Lord Jesus,

Come into my life. I accept You as my Lord and personal Savior. I believe in my heart that You died and rose from the dead to save me. Thank You, Lord, for saving me in Jesus' name. Amen.

If you prayed this prayer, then congratulations! All of your sins are now forgiven and you have been born again. Heaven is rejoicing!