Penvi Writes

 It was a cozy, comfy night for everyone, well except Imani. She sat deep in thought as fear slowly began to creep into her mind. She had decided to publicly stand for Christ at school, but her friends were sincerely not having it. Their reactions had left her feeling alone and unheard. “God, how will I pull through this?” she whispered. Then, almost immediately, a scripture came to her mind: “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” — 2 Corinthians 12:9 Well, if she had to admit it, she was weak. But she had decided long ago that God’s approval was far better than man’s approval. She had made up her mind to follow God’s ways, through thick and thin, even when it meant standing alone. She took a deep breath. “Thank You, Jesus,” she muttered. And somehow, the fear in her heart didn't feel quite as heavy anymore. She knew tomorrow might still be difficult, but she also knew she didn't have to face it alone. After all, God’s grace would be enough....

  “Hmmm…” Leah said, heaving a deep sigh. And no, this wasn’t a sigh of relief, but one of fear. Fear of the unknown. She had just been given a project she knew would test her. She wasn’t prepared for it at all, and the thought of everything ahead began to overwhelm her. Before she knew it, tears welled up in her eyes. “I don’t know if I can do this anymore, God,” she muttered, feeling as though the weight of the world rested upon her shoulders. But then, in the midst of her overwhelming thoughts, she remembered a scripture: “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” — Philippians 4:13 (KJV) She paused, allowing those words to settle in her heart. Perhaps she didn’t have everything figured out. Perhaps she wasn’t as prepared as she would have liked to be. But she wasn’t facing the challenge alone. A little hope began to rise within her. “Leah, you’ve got this,” she whispered to herself. “Not by your own strength, but through Christ who strengthens you!” Beloved, p...

 “God, please help me,” Samara whispered as she added the finishing touches to her project. It hadn’t been easy. There were moments she wanted to give up, moments when the pressure felt like too much, and moments when she wondered if her work was even good enough. But she didn’t just want to finish. She wanted to give it her best. She wanted her work to speak before she ever had to explain it. And as she sat there, making those final little adjustments, she remembered the Scriptures that had encouraged her: “Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him…” — Daniel 6:3 (KJV) And then: “Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.” — Proverbs 22:29 (KJV) Samara smiled. Maybe excellence wasn't about being perfect. Maybe it was about being faithful with what God had placed in her hands. To show up. To learn. To keep improving. To work diligently even when no one was ...

  “Clump, clump, clump!” The pots came tumbling down from the cabinet, crashing onto the floor. Leah froze for a moment. Of all days, today was definitely not the day she needed one more thing to deal with. Her mind was already crowded with deadlines, responsibilities, unanswered messages, and the never-ending list of things waiting to be done. Somewhere between trying to keep up with life and trying to hold everything together, she had forgotten something. Something important. “Ugh…” she sighed, staring at the mess before her. “You know what? I’ll just leave it for now.” But as she turned away, she felt a gentle nudge in her spirit. A familiar one. She knew exactly what it was. God was calling her back. She hadn’t sat with Him in days. And suddenly, she wondered if perhaps the reason everything felt so noisy was because she had been trying to navigate the noise without first becoming still before Him. She picked up her Bible. As she opened it, her eyes fell on John 15:4 : “Abide i...

  It was one of those nights. The kind where you smuggle yourself into your comfiest blanket, get lost in your thoughts, and almost without thinking, reach for your phone. I started scrolling through social media. One post became another, and before I knew it, I was looking at the lives of different lifestyle influencers. Some of them were around my age. They seemed to be doing so much, starting new things, reaching new milestones, becoming the people they had always dreamed of becoming. And then, almost quietly, the comparison crept in. A wave of unfulfillment washed over me. Why am I still stuck? I couldn't help but wonder. Everyone seems to be moving forward with their lives. Everyone is achieving something new. So why does it feel like I'm standing still? The more I thought about it, the heavier it felt. But then, something shifted. In the middle of all those thoughts, a strange sense of peace began to settle over me. Not the kind of peace you can explain away. The kind tha...

 It's a real feeling. The loneliness that sometimes comes when you choose to devote yourself completely to God. The moments when your heart longs to laugh over silly things with friends, to share little moments and feel understood, but you look around and the room feels empty. Sometimes taking a stance for Christ comes with a season of separation. When the Holy One begins to prune you, He gently removes what no longer aligns with His purpose for you. Your desires begin to shift. The things that once consumed you lose their appeal, and your hunger for Him grows stronger. And in that transition, you may feel misunderstood or even out of place in a world whose language you no longer fully speak. But beloved, you are not alone. There are countless others walking this narrow path, learning to exchange the approval of men for the presence of God. Exodus 40:13 (KJV) "And thou shalt put upon Aaron the holy garments, and anoint him, and sanctify him; that he may minister unto me in the...