This has been a profound year of self-discovery.
I stopped attending church—not because I lost faith, but because I gained clarity. Religious abuse and gaslighting, especially when they occur inside church buildings or within the home, are not just disappointing—they are deeply offensive to the soul.
One of the most important lessons self-awareness has taught me is this: There are people who pray for you—and people who prey on you.
We meet individuals who present themselves one way, only to reveal their true nature once access is granted. Discernment sharpens when appearances fall away. Growth often begins when illusions end.
Ironically, I grew tremendously outside of Christian churches, and even more through marriage into another culture. Being married to a Nigerian exposed me to different spiritual frameworks, customs, and ways of thinking that expanded my worldview. That experience taught me that God is not confined to buildings, denominations, or geography.
Sometimes people attempt to break you, only to discover that God is within you.
I take pride in having a broad spiritual mindset. I have learned from multiple faith traditions and philosophies, not to abandon my foundation, but to become more whole, more perceptive, and more grounded. Spirituality differs from religion in a critical way: it cultivates awareness and discernment without guilt or fear-based control—which religious environments too often project onto those who think independently.
Marriage, followed by an annulment in less than a year, was not a failure—it was a growth experience. I am grateful the marriage was never consummated. You never want to become one with the wrong person. Scripture speaks clearly about being equally yoked—not moving in opposing directions under false pretenses. Maturity allows both people to walk away without bitterness, knowing we did not get to know one another, in thirty days of meeting.
There are moments when people want proximity not for love or alignment, but for what you carry. That realization can be unsettling—especially when boundaries are crossed and privacy is violated. Discernment teaches you that not all curiosity is innocent, and not all attention is safe.
Living in the Bible Belt intensified these lessons. I learned that organized religion does not have a monopoly on God. God anoints and elevates people consciously—sometimes in spite of religious systems, not because of them. Doctrine can nourish the soul, but congregation is not mandatory for spiritual maturity.
You do not need to sit among large crowds to discover truth. Sometimes you are better served among those who do not subscribe to organized religion at all, but who live with integrity, curiosity, and respect for individual consciousness.
Creating my facilitation company has been one of the greatest blessings of my life. It represents the integration of knowledge, lived experience, prayer, discernment, and applied wisdom. Growth is not about conformity—it is about alignment.
And alignment begins within. You cannot break what you did not make.
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Gift of Discernment (G.O.D.) LLC™ Faith • Awareness • Discernment
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