Birthday 33: Faith, Friends & Fresh Starts

Today, I turn 33.

I thank my Lord Jesus for that. Life is such a gift, and I’d like to use this opportunity to put some thoughts down.

It’s amazing how much of a difference one year can make. This time last year, I was serving out my notice at my job and starting quite a few new chapters all at the same time. It was a rather scary season because the unknown always brings a certain measure of uncertainty.

The journey of looking for a new role had started about four months earlier. While in the middle of making these big decisions, I often felt worn out and stretched thin. So, I did the only thing that gave me peace: I ran into my Father’s arms. I poured out my fears, my thoughts, and my worries about the future. I wanted to rely fully on Him in the process.

I didn’t confide in anyone about each step; instead, I entrusted God with everything. I prayed about every application I sent, asking Him to guide me to the next step if I received a favourable response. At the same time, I was also wrestling with how to communicate respectfully but honestly with my then-manager about my concerns in my role.

In the end, I applied to four companies, and all four invited me to interviews. A gift, but also a dilemma. What if all of them went well? How would I choose? Each interview came and went, and with each one, I prayed for peace rather than perfection. God, in His steady way, gave me clarity that was not born out of my own cleverness, but out of His wisdom. By the time the final decision came, I had no doubt. I learned that surrender isn’t weakness, it's freedom.

This past year has been one of the most stretching and rewarding years of my life. I’ve discovered what it means to trust Jesus not just in the big decisions, but also in the small, daily rhythms of life. I found joy in moving my body - in exercising, in hiking, in simply being outdoors. Nature became a gentle reminder of the Creator: the stillness of trees, the vastness of mountains, the renewing sound of water. I began to live more intentionally by choosing natural products, cooking more meals from scratch, and nourishing both body and soul.

I read more. Not just more pages, but more meaningful ones. Some of my favourites this past year were:

• Forgive by Tim Keller

• The Fight for Us by Rebekah and Gabe Lyons

• The Year of the Locust by Terry Hayes

These books gave me wisdom, perspective, and even companionship on this journey.

Then, there were the friendships. The Lord drew closer to me friends who fear Him, love Him, and love me. Friends who long to see me flourish in my walk with Christ, but who also know how to enjoy fun, laughter, and plenty of food. Some friendships took on new shapes this year, with weddings, new motherhood, and friends heading back to school, yet instead of fading, they became more solid. Stronger. Rooted in love, shared faith, and joy.

Altogether, these practices and relationships became more than habits or connections; they became a way of living gratefully. A way of remembering that life is a gift, and gifts are meant to be savored.

So today, I turn 33. I thank my Lord Jesus for that. I am stronger, softer (it feels so good to be softer!!!!!!!!), wiser, and freer. Not because of anything I’ve achieved, but because of the One I have learned to trust more deeply.

Here’s to another year of faith, of growth, of joy, and of resting in the arms of the Father who has carried me this far and will carry me still.