Rise Again: Building You as You Build Series

Rise again, it's not over.

Hi everyone! Welcome to this week’s newsletter. There are a couple of new segments so let’s have a quick overview.

🗞️ Rhieme Recommends: I believe it’s important we nurture ourselves holistically, and this is a segment where I’ll be sharing products, resources etc that are currently helping me achieve this!

🎥 Unpacking with Lessons in Seasons: This is the video and voice recording segment I recently introduced. I’ll be expanding on the newsletter here. If you missed it last week, watch below and read the newsletter here.

Rhieme Recommends 💌

📚 Current Reads: You Have a Brain by Ben Carson: this is the perfect read for anyone who needs their minds to be expanded! In this book he encourages us to see ourselves past our limitations.

Now let’s get into today’s newsletter!

Welcome to a new series: Building You As you Build 🧱

I’ve introduced this new segment to the newsletter where I’ll occasionally unpack different topics over a couple of weeks, maybe even months. We’re kick-starting with this series as the topic of building up ourselves as individuals is one that is very dear to me. This series is dedicated to anyone who is ready to take intentional steps towards their growth in spite of the circumstances and challenges that they have faced. Today’s sub-heading says ‘from the ashes you will rise’. There may be some of you who are reading this and you find yourself in a seemingly dark place that may seem inescapable. If that is you, please remember there is a way out. I understand how you feel as I’ve been there and I’m now at a point where I’m learning to walk again, find my rythm and believe there is so much more to come. Get comfortable and happy reading!

Standing In the Middle of the Tests and Trials

As we journey through life, hard times will come. And I don’t mean constantly thinking of the worst possible outcome, no. But more so realising that we are going to go through tests, moments that shake us and we’re wondering, why? Why did this need to happen? There are times when our foundations are going to be shaken. There are experiences that take place and are actually unexplainable and I think it’s important we realise this. Sometimes we wonder should I have tried harder? Maybe if we tried x things would have turned out differently. But actually, I’m learning that a key part of moving forward is acceptance. We may not always get explanations for the experiences we pass through. Job in the Bible lost everything, and never received an explanation. And I know times like this may actually lead to people questioning their faith and the foundations of everything they believe. And you know what, it’s okay to have questions, don’t fight them. I know it might be painful and even heartbreaking to come to terms with certain outcomes we have received, but here’s what, you are still here standing. You are still alive, and I believe that as long as we are still here, there is still a reason for our being. Painful experiences are not the ends of our lives. It may feel like it, but remember it’s not over until it’s really over.

A verse that has recently struck a cord with me is this

“Look!” he answered, “I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.”

Daniel 3:25 NKJV

This verse is a reminder that even in the middle of the worst of experiences, we are not alone, God is there even in the middle of our pain. Your tears, screams, questions, He sees and hears it all. Everything. In this verse, Daniel and his friends had been thrown into fire. The flames had been deliberately made to devour them, but guess what, they still remained, they stood with God in the midst of the fire, untouched.

I love this picture so much because it represents so much to me. This was taken at the end of my undergraduate journey celebrating God seeing me through one of the most testing phases I’ve passed through. I shared a bit about my journey on instagram tap here to read more on this.

Remaining Faithful in the Midst of Pain

I’ve found that when I’ve gone through some very hard experiences that have made me raise questions, having an understanding of my purpose and staying committed to the journey regardless, is what has kept me afloat. This is one of my favourite quotes by Dr Myles Munroe:

The beauty about purpose is that it is not attached to external metrics of success. It’s not found in the amount of money you’re able to make, landing your dream job, accolades etc. Not at all. Our purpose has already been determined from the beginning of time and we are on a journey of discovering and walking it out as we live our lives. Remember this, your significance does not lie in society’s marker of success. I believe true succcess lies in being faithful in living the life God has created you to even in the worst of experiences. I know when life happens it can be easy to want to throw the towel in and call it quits on everything. And it is completely understandable why we could feel that way. But what I’m coming to realise is, we all have a choice.

Our battle scars can be testament of God’s faithfulness even in the midst of pain and trials. They could serve as sign posts of the different ways God still saw us through seemingly impossible situations. Or we can allow our pain to define us and cause us to loose hope in our lives. I encourage you to choose to remain committed to knowing Jesus and living out His purpose for your life. You will not regret it. Even in the midst of questions, a space of seemingly nothingness, remember you are here for a reason. You are breathing and through the crushing and pressing something fresh and new is being birthed.

This picture is from the first physical event I hosted for Uncovered Conversations, a youth organisation I founded in 2021. Serving people through this medium has taught me what it really means to serve even through moments of weakness.

Eventually, the Dust Settles

When all is said and done, the dust settles. The smoke begins to clear and you’re faced with the reality of what has taken place. In times like this, I believe relying on community is so key as we dust ourselves off. I shared more on this here, but our journeys are not meant to be solo. People have their roles to play in our lives and it’s important we let people in. I know it can be hard at times, but please give it a try. In the space of seemingly nothingness where we may feel like we have been let down by God, I believe it’s important that we are honest with ourselves and God about how we really feel. He wants to hear from you.

Through the Crushing, A New You Will Emerge

On the other side of tough times, is a new you ready to emerge. This is why I love new beginnings. It’s another try, another start yet again. I want to remind you, that your life is a testimony that will touch the lives of many. Generations after you even. Whatever experiences we have passed through that have caused us shame, maybe even ridicule, God is causing it all to work together for our good. The very thing that has caused you to discount yourself or reduce your expectations for life, can be the same thing that will cause your light to shine extraordinarily. Remember, in our weakness, we can rely on God’s strength.

So even as wrap up today’s newsletter, hold unto this: nothing is wasted, every experience you have passed through is a part of a unique story that you will tell. History will be made through your life. You will forever be above and never beneath. I’m rooting for you always! Share your thoughts with me and I’ll see you next week.

Love,

Rhieme