From Hard Hits to Healing: My Seven-Year Journey of Growth, Faith, and Renewal

Life has a way of throwing punches when you least expect it. For the last seven years, it felt like life wouldn’t stop swinging at me. I experienced grief, heartbreak, depression, the weight of caring for sick and dying parents, and the heavy responsibility of being a mother of four all while trying to keep my faith strong.

I was the only girl in my family, so funerals, caregiving, comforting others it all fell on me. And to be honest, it got heavy.

The Day Everything Changed

In May of this year, my Facebook page was hacked and suspended for 180 days. Now, that might not sound like much to some people, but Facebook was a big part of my life. I had thousands of memories, a growing following, monetization, and a national group of over 500 women, my Push Sisters who connected through this platform.

Losing it felt like losing a piece of myself.

But here’s what I now realize: it was divine interruption. It was a fast I didn’t sign up for but desperately needed. That pause forced me to step back, breathe, and focus on my life outside the digital world.

When the Fire Came

Then, as if that wasn’t enough, shortly after losing my page, I decided to deep clean my house. I scrubbed the walls, cleared the clutter, and even set the self-clean feature on my stove which I had owned for just a year.

It caught fire.

My entire home was left with severe smoke damage. My family and I were displaced for months, living in a two-bedroom hotel with teenagers and a big dog. No privacy. No Netflix. No YouTube. Just regular TV channels and a slow internet connection.

At first, it felt like another punch to the gut. But God was still teaching me.

The Lessons in Loss

Living in that small hotel room stripped us of everything unnecessary. No appliances. No closets full of clothes. No gadgets. No extras.

And yet… we survived.

We grew closer as a family. I learned that we don’t need half the things we think we do. I discovered that peace matters more than possessions.

I learned the beauty of simplicity.

I started walking more. I made space to talk with my kids. I let go of the pressure to say yes to everything. I was forced into stillness and in that stillness, God spoke.

The Power of No and the Gift of Isolation

For so long, I was the one checking on everyone. The dependable one. The strong one. The “Hey, just thinking about you” one.

But during this time, I couldn’t be that person. I didn’t have the mental or emotional capacity.

And it taught me something life-changing:

  1. Saying no is okay.
  2. Isolation is not elimination; it’s growth.
  3. God will reveal the truth about people, relationships, and priorities when everything else is stripped away.

Some people checked on me. Some didn’t. And I’m okay with that because we’re all carrying our own battles.

A Fresh Start

Now we’re finally moving back into our home. We have new paint, new furniture, new life.

But it won’t be the same.

The clutter is gone physically and spiritually. The house will stay simple, clean, and peaceful. And I’m carrying these lessons into every area of my life:

  1. To love myself differently.
  2. To love others without losing myself.
  3. To be around people who put in the work for their own healing, too.

Faith, Therapy, and PUSH

The last seven years taught me that life will always life. Hard times will always come. But with faith and therapy, you can make it through.

I encourage anyone reading this:

  1. Check on your strong friends.
  2. Don’t take isolation personally.
  3. Let people grow in peace.

And when you do talk, come with encouragement. Bring light. Don’t just vent, help each other rise.

Because at the end of the day, P.U.S.H. Pray Until Something Happens is not just a motto. It’s a lifestyle.

Final Thoughts

Seven is the number of completion. After seven years of battles, heartbreak, and loss, I feel renewed. I see things clearer. I know the power of boundaries. I have a fresh start. And I thank God for every moment the good and the bad.

Because even the bad was working for my good.

Push with Janay. We’ll all be okay. ❤️

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