“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” — Joshua 1:9
I’m not going to fake it — this season is heavy.
I’m trying to build Thorn & Grace with everything I’ve got. A brand, a mission, a dream God placed on my heart. But fashion is slow. And starting something from scratch with a vision the world can’t see yet? It takes more than motivation — it takes faith in the dark.
At the same time, I’m still clocking in at a job that drains me. One that’s had me out of town since January. I’m alone more than I want to be — in hotel rooms, in my thoughts, trying to keep my head above water working under a boss who talks down to me and doesn’t lead with integrity.
And while I’m trying to hold onto the dream, I’m also trying to be a husband and dad — through an iPhone screen.
Some days I feel like I’m losing on every front.
Some days I wonder if this vision is too big for someone like me.
But here’s what I keep coming back to:
God is still here. And He’s not done.
If you’re in a similar place, hear me:
This isn’t the end of your story.
You’re not too far behind.
You’re not disqualified because it’s hard.
You’re being shaped.
Forged.
Refined.
God doesn’t waste pressure — He uses it to prepare. And just because your life doesn’t look like victory yet doesn’t mean it’s not already in motion.
The Word says:
“Be strong and courageous.”
Not because you feel strong,
but because He is with you wherever you go.
So what do we do with this pain?
We don’t run from it.
We don’t numb it.
We don’t pretend it’s not there.
We walk through it — together.
That’s what The Collective is about.
Not perfection.
Not performance.
But progress. And presence. And real faith that keeps going.
We rise. We grow. We walk by faith, not by likes or results or what the world sees. We walk with Christ.
And if you’ve been wondering if anyone sees your fight — I do.
More importantly, God does.
Pray with us…
Lord, I feel stretched thin. Sometimes I wonder if I’m really the one for this. But I believe You don’t call the qualified — You qualify the called. Give me strength when I’m empty. Remind me that I’m not alone. Even in the valley, You’re building something eternal. I trust You. I surrender it all again. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Want to grow with us?
Join The Collective — a raw, real community of believers walking with Jesus and learning as we go.
No masks. No performance. Just people who want to grow.