Upendo Ministries

She didn’t know when the heaviness had started.
It wasn’t one big, life-shattering moment.
Not some sudden storm, not a dramatic breaking point.

It was slow. Subtle. A quiet unraveling.

One day, she was laughing with friends.
The next, she was smiling just enough so no one would ask questions.
Then came the days when even pretending felt like too much.

She wasn’t sure who she was anymore.

She felt distant, from everything and everyone—including God.
Prayers felt empty, like sending letters to an address no one lived at anymore.

And the thoughts… they settled in like a fog.

“You’re exhausting to be around.”
“No one would notice if you pulled away.”
“God feels far because maybe He’s tired of you too.”

She knew she should fight back. She had heard the sermons.
“Take every thought captive.”
“Put on the armor of God.”
“Speak truth over the lies.”

But it’s hard to fight a battle when you feel too weak to even stand.

And then—

“Hey, I was thinking about you today.”

She stared at the screen.

It wasn’t anything big. Just a simple message from a friend she hadn’t spoken to in a while.
But for some reason, her throat tightened.

A second message followed.

“I don’t know why, but I feel like God wants me to remind you that He sees you. Even on the hard days. Even when you feel invisible. You are never alone.”

She exhaled.

The weight in her chest didn’t disappear, but something cracked just enough for a sliver of light to come through.

She sat there, rereading the words, her mind battling between skepticism and hope. Maybe it was just a coincidence. But maybe—just maybe—God really had put her on someone’s heart at that exact moment.

And if He was still speaking, still reaching, still reminding her she wasn’t forgotten…
Maybe He hadn’t left after all.

She didn’t have an instant transformation. No overwhelming wave of joy. No sudden fix.
But that night, for the first time in a long time, she whispered a prayer that wasn’t just habit.

“God, are You still here?”

And for the first time in a long time, she thought maybe the answer was yes.

The weeks that followed weren’t easy.

But something was different now.

She started noticing people more. Not just in passing, not just the way she used to. She saw them. The way their smiles sometimes didn’t quite reach their eyes. The way they’d say “I’m fine” a little too quickly. The way their laughter felt a little forced.

And she wondered how many of them were where she had been.

She started sending messages when someone crossed her mind. Even if it felt random. Even if she wasn’t sure it mattered.

She started praying for people more. Not just when they asked for it, but when she felt a nudge.

And every time she spoke encouragement, every time she told someone, “Hey, you matter,” she realized something.

God had never stopped speaking to her.

She had just forgotten He could speak through her, too.

And maybe the words that saved her life weren’t just meant for her.

Maybe they were meant to be passed on.

Much love,
Vanessa
Written April 2025

P.S. Text someone this week—and truly pray for them. Thank you for reading, friend. May God bless you.