The Center of My Attention!

Cheers to 9 Years in the Lord!

On February 21, 2016, I was baptized, beginning a journey that has since shaped every part of my life. As I reflect on that day, it feels both like a lifetime ago and just yesterday, because with God, every day brings something new.

If you’ve been following Trust God and Drink Tea, you’ll know that I usually highlight the stories of other incredible women and their walks with God. But today, I’m taking a moment just as I did two years ago on February 21, 2023 to share a piece of my own journey. If you’d like to learn more about how I came to know the Lord, you can read that post here.

Recently, I had a conversation with my 16-year-old daughter, Maddie, that took me by surprise. She asked, “Mom, where would we be if you didn’t know God?” That simple question overwhelmed me. First, because of her wisdom and curiosity, and second, because I knew the answer so clearly: We wouldn’t be where we are today. Without my relationship with God, I wouldn’t have the patience, strength, or guidance to be the mother, sister, daughter, friend, or partner I strive to be.

Before Christ, my life was fast-paced, anxious, unstable, and let’s be honest, I was extremely tired and hangry a lot. I was consumed with building a career in the music industry, putting my health and everything else including my relationship with God on the back burner. Even though I was raised in the church, the heart of a true believer wasn’t in me. I was going through the motions of what I saw and heard from others’ experiences without forming a real connection with God. In the Black community, that’s called tradition. If your grandma says Sunday mornings are for the Lord, it didn’t matter where you were the night before, you were in church with her the next morning, no questions asked.

Ok, let me digress for a second. For those wondering, what does “the heart of a true believer” even mean? I could share plenty of scriptures (and I will later), but for now, here’s a definition I found on Google:

"The heart of a true believer refers to a deep, unwavering commitment to faith, characterized by love, compassion, a desire to live according to the teachings of their belief system, and a genuine transformation in their life based on those principles. It’s not just intellectual—it’s deeply rooted in emotions and actions."

That’s why the story of Martha and Mary resonates with me so deeply.

In Luke 10:41-42, Jesus said to Martha, “You are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

Martha reminds me of my old self constantly busy, distracted, and anxious about everything except what truly mattered. In this passage, Martha knew Jesus. He was a guest in her home, right there in front of her and like many of us, she dropped the ball. Something as simple as preparation led to a gentle rebuke because of misplaced priorities. Ladies, I encourage you to read this passage for yourselves and reflect on how it applies to your own life. It’s one of my favorite stories about two sisters.

I idolized my career, success, and everything else that kept me from forming a real relationship with God. But now, through His grace, I see myself more like Mary. Nine years ago, I chose what was best: sitting at the feet of Jesus, being present, and receiving His peace and wisdom to the best of my ability.

Making Jesus the Lord of my life was the most important decision I’ve ever made, more important than choosing a life partner or even becoming a mother. Without Christ being my first choice, I wouldn’t have had the focus or strength to love, nurture, and shepherd my children as a single parent. His guidance carried me through the struggles of motherhood, rediscovering pieces of myself I lost in the hustle and bustle, and even finding a godly partner after seven years in Christ, someone who respects, understands, and complements the woman God has called me to be.

I don’t want to romanticize any of this for you. Relationships with yourself, God, and others require daily effort. Every day isn’t perfect, but every day is made new by His grace. Over the years, choosing Him has shaped every part of my life. It affects how I love, lead, parent, and grow.

A big part of my decision to move back to Chicago from LA and seek God wholeheartedly was so I could become a better mother for my children. I want them to see that with Christ, anything is possible. I can cover them in prayer, but eventually, they’ll need to build their own relationship with God and I trust He will meet them exactly where they are.

As Joshua 24:15 (NIV) says: “But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” I wouldn’t trade this journey for anything in the world.

I hope this encourages you as much as it encourages me. If my story resonates with you, I invite you to explore more reflections from previous posts here. And remember—every day is a new chance to choose what’s best.

With Love and Grace,

Iesha