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What I Learned In 2023

GRACE ELLICE MAY

Updated: Feb 2, 2024


My, what a year it's been. Where do I even begin? It's been a wild one, for starters. 2023 is one of those years I feel like God really stretched me spiritually, mentally, and emotionally. After everything I've been through and endured this year, all I can say is, I'm exhausted. Still, there is an indescribable feeling of gratitude within me. I have a bit of hope left, as I am currently still waiting on a last minute miracle. There are two major things God taught me this year: Patience and Humility. I tell you the truth, I have never been so humbled the way 2023 humbled me this year. I learned so much about myself, I grew, but I also encountered setbacks in my maturity as a person from time to time. I struggled immensely with my finances, my mental health was at its worst, and the scars of failed personal relationships (both platonic and romantic) took a toll on me.


However, it wasn't all gloom and doom. A few good things did happen this year. I got to celebrate small wins occasionally, I rekindled a few old friendships, I started going to church again, and I experienced the goodness of God and His mighty hand in my life. God is truly a good and merciful father. I can't thank Him enough for how far He's brought me. At the start of the year, I really didn't think I would make it to this point. But, our God whose kindness and faithfulness endureth forever, made a way as He's always done, and always will.


'Patience is a virtue' as is often said. I believe God gave me the opportunity to put this into practice this year. 2023 was my 'waiting season'. Suffice to say, as I write this, I am currently still waiting (but hopefully, not for too long anymore). This period of my life certainly did draw me closer to God. It's almost hard yet also incredibly easy to explain: We often seek God in our most desperate moments. We realize that He's all we've got, and we truly cannot do life without Him. The Waiting Season is one filled with worry, anxiety, trials, and all sorts of tests and tribulations. That is, of course, if you choose to go through it without God. But, when you include our heavenly Father in the equation, the waiting season can be a time for reflection, slowing down, the pursuit of stillness, and learning to trust God despite whatever problems we may be experiencing. God is Emmanuel. He is always with us, and He just wants us to depend on Him. It wasn't always easy for me to simply 'Let Go, and Let God'. Even now, I find trusting God fully as such a task sometimes. As I've been in my own waiting season all year-long, my faith has often been tested. I've wanted to give up so many times, crying and complaining, and wondering if God really sees me and what I'm going through.


He does. He is El-Roi, after all. He sees us all. And as we cast our cares and burdens at His feet, we can trust that He has not suffered us to be bruised in vain. He who began a good work in us will surely bring it to completion and perfection. Our God is faithful. He never fails. He never has, and He won't start now to fail us.


Relationships (both platonic and romantic) were the hardest for me this year. I feel that I've built up higher and stronger walls from the all the disappointments I faced this year. My heart was broken many times over, I let my guard down and regretted it too many times, and I learned the hard way that not everyone is your friend, and you really shouldn't be friends with everyone. Heck. You're not supposed to be friends with everyone. I believe I have so much healing to do still in the coming year. However, I truly thank God for not letting my heart harden or grow cold from all the pain I had to endure this year. The realization and acceptance of that can be a little annoying as well, because sometimes, I wish I could just pull a Vampire Diaries and switch off my humanity button or whatever. But, it's by God's grace and mercy (and His humour) that I was both blessed and cursed with a tender heart right from the day I was born. No matter how many times I've tried to be cold or act unbothered, I am still so affected by life and the encounters I have with all sorts of people. I can't help but just let myself feel the things that I feel. Balance is key, I believe. Establishing healthy boundaries is necessary as we interact with the people around us daily, so as to not overwhelm ourselves with the expectations of others that we can't meet.


In the new year, I just want to take it easy. I want to approach life day by day. I have plans and goals, and wonderful things that I would love to experience in 2024. But, I also don't want to put so much pressure on myself. I am a work in progress. I am still growing, healing, and maturing at the age of twenty-five, and that's okay. I'm not supposed to have it all figured out. I'm also learning not to compare my life with those around me. We're all going at our own pace - the one God designed for us. Our lives aren't supposed to look the same. Success isn't about what your life looks like to others. Success is about what your life feels like to you. I didn't make any money this year. I didn't cross a huge career milestone. I didn't get engaged or married, or have a child and start a family of my own this year. In fact, lost a lot more than I gained in 2023. But, did I die? No. Everything that I thought would've killed me only made me stronger. It really did. I'm definitely not at the point yet where I can look back on this year and laugh at everything that happened to me. But, as I take a moment to reflect on it all using my words, I truly can see that God's hand was in all of it. He never left me. His hand held mine as I wandered through the wilderness of 2023. He guided me on an unseen path. He made a way where none existed. God is truly Alpha and Omega. And without Him, I certainly wouldn't have survived this year.


I don't know what 2024 will bring, but, I pray that God's hand will continue to be upon my life. Uncertainty is a familiar friend. Even so, I pray that the uncertainty of 2024 will never be experienced with anxiety and worry. For God is in control. We may not see him working, but He is up to something good. I fought the battles in 2023, and in 2024, I will celebrate the victory God has given me.


I have no clue what this year may have looked like for you, but I'm so grateful you made it this far. We did it! You should be so proud. And if you're still waiting on something, don't lose hope - God is near. Your victory is near. Your celebration is near. Keep going. You're almost there.


Thank you for making it to the end. I'll see you in the next story friend.



Warmly, Grace.


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Daring State Co. is a multimedia lifestyle brand and blog featuring topics on fashion, beauty, mental health, and the arts. The eminent brand is creatively directed, curated and edited by its passionate founder, Grace Ellice May, a lover of life, art, good music and delicious food.

Our mission is to empower individuals to lead authentic and fulfilling lives through the transformative power of vulnerability and storytelling. We aim to nurture a bold frame of mind, seek the courage to soar to infinite heights and excel in both life and business. We believe that life is an art form and feel called to create something beautiful and monumental from the simplest of things.

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