Abide, Obedience, and Joy: What God Has Been Teaching Me These Last Few Months

Hey y’all,

First things first… I owe y’all an apology again.

The last time we chatted via blog was January 6th, and before that, I was apologizing for disappearing since November 12th. And somehow… here we are already in May. MAY 12TH. Like what?! These months have truly flown by, and honestly, I’m a little ashamed at how much time has passed since I’ve sat down and written here—because this blog is my baby. This is where I get to process with y’all, share what God is teaching me, and just drop my thoughts in real time.

But this time around, I’m committing to consistency. I really am. God has been nudging me heavily to return to writing, and I know this space matters—not just for me, but for the people who read these blogs and feel seen, encouraged, convicted, or strengthened through them.

And y’all… SO much has happened since January.

Chapter 33 & Preparing for Kenya

January 20th, I turned 33 years old. Shoutout to Jesus Christ Himself for allowing me to see 33.

And honestly? Turning 33 felt significant spiritually. I entered this year feeling like God was calling me deeper—not just into ministry or purpose, but deeper into surrender, obedience, healing, and intimacy with Him.

Right after my birthday, life became a whirlwind because I was preparing for my mission trip to Kenya while also trying to navigate applying for full-time jobs and figuring out life in general. I left for Kenya on February 4th and came back February 13th—the day before Valentine’s Day.

And whew… when I tell y’all that trip changed me, I mean it changed me.

Kenya Changed Me

This was a medical mission trip through church, and in just seven days of ministry, we accomplished so much. Our mission trip pastor even told us it was one of the most impactful mission trips they had ever done through the church.

We hosted:

• A medical clinic

• Mental health training for teachers

• Mental and emotional health education for students

• Men’s discipleship

• Women’s discipleship

• Oral hygiene education and tooth-brushing instruction for children

  
  

Y’all… we did SO much.

And I’m going to dedicate my next blog completely to Kenya because there’s no way I can fit that entire experience into this one. I’ll include pictures and tell y’all more stories because it truly was life-changing. So yes, this is your cue to come back for the next blog. LOL

But I will say this: Kenya wrecked me in the most beautiful way possible.

The Spiritual Warfare Was REAL

When I got back home, I dealt with some of the craziest spiritual warfare I’ve experienced in a long time.

Honestly, I’m grateful I wasn’t working full-time during that season because fighting the enemy became a full-time job itself. The enemy was coming HARD for my mind—trying to create confusion, fear, exhaustion, discouragement, and distance between me and God.

And looking back now, I understand why.

Because when you go and advance God’s Kingdom the way we did, when you pour into people, pray over people, disciple people, and serve sacrificially… the enemy gets irritated.

But even in that warfare, God sustained me.

It took me almost a full month to recover from the trip physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually—to regulate my sleep schedule again, settle back into routine, and honestly just process everything God had done in me while I was there.

God Showed Me I Didn’t Truly Understand Joy

One of the biggest things God taught me in Kenya was about joy.

And whew… this one humbled me BAD.

Meeting people who had FAR less than me materially—but who carried so much joy—convicted me deeply. God showed me that a lot of what I had been calling “joy” was actually comfort, convenience, or temporary happiness based on circumstances.

He was like:“Baby girl… your joy disappears when things stop going your way.”

And honestly? He was right.

These families had homes made from tarp and scraps. Some people had one pair of shoes with holes in them. Some used holes in the ground instead of toilets. And yet… they carried gratitude, generosity, joy, and peace in ways that shocked me.

Meanwhile, I’m over here stressed because life doesn’t look exactly how I want it to look right now.

God humbled me deeply.

He reminded me how blessed I truly am.

And not in a condemning way—but in a loving, corrective way. He showed me that true joy is not transactional. It’s not based on whether your bills are paid, whether opportunities are flowing, or whether life feels easy.

True joy comes from Him.

It’s sustained by Him.

And Kenya exposed areas in me that still lacked gratitude, contentment, and trust.

Delayed Obedience & Writing My Book

Y’all… I ALSO released my book!!!

Stop Making Sin Cute is officially out, and I’m so grateful and emotional about it.

Now let me be honest—it was delayed obedience. That book should’ve been written a long time ago. But God finally pressed me enough to stop procrastinating and release it.

And this book? Whew. It’s personal.

It’s about how compromise became culture and why the church must repent. I talk about the “small” sins we normalize:

• Gossip disguised as concern

• White lies

• Pride

• Comparison

• Lukewarm Christianity

• Quiet compromise

  
  

Honestly, a lot of the book came from God convicting me first.

There were moments where God straight up told me:“You’re lukewarm.”

And y’all… that shook me.

But conviction is a gift. Conviction is God lovingly calling us higher. Not to shame us—but to transform us.

This book isn’t about condemnation. It’s about awareness, repentance, healing, and realignment with God.

So yes, I’m absolutely going to plug my book here LOL because I genuinely believe it will bless people.

Stop Making Sin Cute — https://amzn.to/3OZulS5

Support your girl.

What God Has Been Teaching Me

These last few months, God has stretched me beyond comfort.

He’s been healing dormant wounds I didn’t even know still existed because I had removed myself from certain environments and assumed healing automatically happened. But God was like, “Nope, we’re going deeper.”

He’s stripped pride out of me in ways I didn’t expect. He’s exposed false humility. He’s challenged comparison. He’s taught me that obedience matters more than image.

And honestly? I’m grateful.

Because even though this season has been uncomfortable, I can feel myself becoming softer, more surrendered, more aware of His voice, and more dependent on Him than ever before.

And if there’s one thing I want y’all to take from this blog, it’s this:

Go on the mission trip.

Serve the people.

Step outside your comfort zone.

Be obedient even when it doesn’t make sense financially, emotionally, or logically.

Because yes, you may go thinking you’re there to change lives—but God will absolutely change you too.

Call to Action

If you’ve been feeling stretched, convicted, uncomfortable, or spiritually challenged lately, I want to encourage you not to run from it. God often does His deepest work in uncomfortable seasons.

Take time this week to ask yourself:

• Where is God trying to grow me?

• What areas of compromise has He been convicting me about?

• Am I operating from true joy or temporary comfort?

• What would deeper obedience look like in this season?

  
  

And most importantly—stay close to Him.

Even when life feels uncertain.

Even when the warfare is intense.

Even when you’re tired.

Because trust me… if God called you to it, He will sustain you through it.

Thank y’all for still being here, still reading, still growing with me. I’m happy to be back. And this time?

We’re staying consistent.

With faith and love,

Chassidy