Mikayla H.

Today, Mikayla takes us on an intimate journey to a trip that changed her life and was the first step in her powerful and supernatural journey to forgiveness, and healing after abuse.

Mikayla H.

Inspiring biblical passage of the moment: A few come to mind as there are way too many to choose from but my blog is named after this one:

“Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill His promises to her!” Luke 1:45.

I’m truly blessed by His love and mercy to be able to share my testimony with the world.

Spiritual growth focus at the moment: I’m learning to trust in the Lord and patiently waiting for His perfect timing (in everything). We’ve been looking for a house for our little family and every time we put an offer in, I’d get my hopes up just to find out it wasn’t accepted (probably for reasons the Lord will only know!). The Lord has been teaching me a lot about patience and what it really means. It’s defined as being able to accept or tolerate delays, problems, or suffering without becoming annoyed or anxious.

Profession: I am currently a homemaker and stay home with our wonderful two year old. Every morning he asks to dance, and we’ll have Pandora on the Worship station. His favorite song is 10,000 Reasons.

A one sentence bio of yourself: I’m a blessed wife, mom, sister and friend.

When did you first encounter God and how did you encounter Him? My first, true encounter with God was during my first missions trip to Brazil, when I was 16 years old. My twin sister and I were sexually abused by our biological father, and I was finally able to “escape” the abuse by convincing my mother to let me go with my younger brother. It was overwhelming. We were instructed to write down whatever we wanted to tell the Lord; our worries, expectations, things we felt were holding us back, prayers, etc. My partner only spoke Portuguese so there was a language barrier. I still tried to share my darkest secret but couldn’t. After regrouping, I finally shared with my youth leader. After that, we all nailed those papers to a cross and marched to a field where the cross was burned. Every piece of paper on that cross burned, and it represented Jesus carrying the weight of all our sins, doubts, worries… all being burned at the cross. Truly amazing. It was the very first step in my healing.

“Every piece of paper on that cross burned, and it represented Jesus carrying the weight of all our sins, doubts, worries… all being burned at the cross.”

What has helped you grow spiritually in this season? My husband and his family have been the backbone of my own faith. I always say, “you know you married into the right family when they bring you closer to Christ.” I’ve watched my new brothers and sisters in-love (we don’t like in-law) grow spiritually and even my new mother and father. It really is an answer to prayer to get to have and share spiritual talks with someone and having the conversation flow gracefully to and from both ends.

“My husband and his family have been the backbone of my own faith.”

Just read/currently reading (and what has it taught you?): I’m currently reading A Heart Like His, a 3-year bible study plan, and Redeeming Love. (If you know me, you know I’m quite possibly the slowest reader in the world). Redeeming Love is a very powerful story based off the book of Hosea. The 3-year bible study is from the 40s (I think) and has very deep, intriguing questions. A Heart Like His has to be my favorite. It shows the love David had for the Lord and the love the Lord had for David. It encourages me to be more like David, to constantly seek God in everything.

Top three essentials: My top three essentials are my Bible (or Bible app), my blog post because I’ve published my official testimony there and recently started writing more, and makeup. I love doing my makeup and having my makeup done. It’s the few moments every day I get (almost) completely to myself to feel pampered after caring for my little one.

How did God speak to you recently? It’s not the most recent but it was a dream I had back in February of this year:

I was walking on the beach with Jared and Jacob in the distance. You could hardly hear their laughter over the ocean’s waves and the summer wind. There was a cool breeze and I felt the mist of the sea spray lightly on my face. My father appeared alongside me. He started talking about my family and how proud he was of me. He didn’t say it, but I could see it all over his face. The guilt…regret…knowing if he were alive today he would be missing out on everything in my life. I gave him a hug and said, “I forgive you.” As tears were forming in his eyes, I knew I was finally free from the abuse.

I mentioned earlier that I was sexually abused until I was 16 years old. The Lord was letting me know through this dream and my part-time job as a “visiting angel” that I was missing out on a true relationship with Him because I couldn’t forgive my father for the things he had done. The Lord said in Matthew 6:14-15 to forgive others just as your Father forgives you. If you don’t forgive, your Father will not forgive you. In Ephesians 4:31-32, we’re told to let go of all bitterness, rage and anger, etc. Because of what my father did, I bottled up a lot of anger that was damaging to not only my faith, but my marriage and new relationships.

“If you don’t forgive, your Father will not forgive you.”

Hobby: I have many hobbies and love learning new things. I play the piano, write music, crochet, knit, sew, and drink multiple cups of coffee to get me through the days. I love going on walks with my little guy and showing him the beautiful works of the greatest Artist.

“I love going on walks with my little guy and showing him the beautiful works of the greatest Artist.”

Top three practical tips for staying spiritually strong: 1) Prayer. Pray without ceasing. 2) Study. Study the Word. Know the Word. 3) Surround yourself with like-minded people who practice what they preach. I’ve grown a lot and I’d hate to see myself fall back to where I was weeks, months or years ago.

Favorite person in scripture? Jesus is such an easy answer because of the ultimate sacrifice He made. I’m going with the Shunammite woman. It is well.

What do you want people to learn about God when they look at you? I want people to learn who He is. I want people to see the good God has brought into my life through the evils of this world.

Favorite season? Fall and winter are my favorite seasons. Fall (very new meme making its way around social media) – teaches us how lovely it is to let things go. Winter – I’m from the good ole south where snow rarely made an appearance.

Favorite holiday? My favorite holiday is Christmas. It’s the most wonderful time of the year with a blanket of white and a beautiful time to celebrate our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, all while spending time with loved ones.

A dream you have? I hope to reach other young women with my testimony to show them there is hope in Jesus. There is healing.

“There is healing.”

A special tradition you and your family engage in or keep: My husband and I haven’t started any traditions of our own but he has a large Italian family so we all go to mom and dad’s house every holiday, try to go over after church every Sunday. Just spend time together.

Question you will ask when you get to heaven? I have so many questions… is this real?! (Obviously, but I’m at a loss for words).

Thing you want to raise awareness about: Sexual, physical and mental abuse within families. It is way more common now than ever, or just that we know of. You’re reading from a former victim, right now.

What do you usually do before 9 a.m.? Before 9 a.m. I’m usually up before my husband, preparing his clothes for work, making his lunch and getting his coffee nice and hot for his long commute. After he leaves, I’m all eyes and ears for our little man!

What is on your nightstand? My night table has a small, one-drawer cabinet that is filled with my secret stash of candies (which Jacob has found and pulled out the good pieces). A lamp and a baby monitor. It’s also a small cabinet where I store my Bible and study books, notebooks, pens, etc.

Define Christianity in a sentence: Christianity is overcoming the flesh by turning from our worldly, sinful ways and turning into God’s open, loving arms.

For more Mikayla:

Blog: https://blessedisshe2015.wordpress.com/