I Am An Overcomer

Photo by Helena Nunes-Santana on Unsplash

It took me a while to actually say this, but I have decided that my affirmation for the season will be “I am an Overcomer”. Even as I, along with the rest of the world, am in a season of overcoming, I will continue to profess, “I AM an Overcomer”.

Growing up, I never really faced many trials. I wasn’t big on confrontation. Never really had any beef with anyone that amounted to anything other than a few snag words of nothingness. So when adulthood finally hit me, I was caught off guard and left with the age old question, “why me”.

Before I could live too long in the dwelling space of “why me”, there were many days I had to really sit back and take inventory on what was actually happening in my life that made me want to ask that question, and find the answers that would lead me to the place I am now where I can say “I am an Overcomer”.

For my younger girls-I chose the path of staying in college for a relationship rather than pursuing my passion of becoming an Interior Designer, It took 12 years, but in January 2020 I hosted my first public Interior Design meet and greet for my own business. I wanted to give up quite a few times, but right when I was getting ready to throw in the towel, I received a message in my business inbox from someone who had been holding on to my card for two years, stating that she needed my services and hired me on the spot.

Even though the world has spent almost 8 months locked in the house on a nationwide quarantine, I have managed to keep it moving by providing young girls with programming with topics that once touched me that seem to be touching them.

I’ve spent years being afraid to admit that I was a victim of domestic violence (a blog post for a different day 😉), but yesterday I met with a counselor that allowed me the space to fully tell my story that way I want to tell it-a much needed release, and today I’m taking steps to help other women and families that have been victims of that circumstance as well.

Last but not least, for years I’ve been trying to either break free from an employment position that wasn’t fulfilling me or I’ve been trying to patiently find new ways to “bloom where I’ve been planted”. Last week, I made the decision to choose the latter. I pushed forward in creating a program that has been geared towards girls that look like me. I didn’t really want to use it in this place, but I know there was no out if I didn’t complete “my assignment”. Facing the many obstacles and naysayers that came along with the launch of that program, I’ve found peace in knowing that I’ve been graced with the position to do exactly what I have been purposed to do. I put the program out there in spite of…and the pilot for that program launches in two weeks!

Scripture James 1:2-4 says it best: “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.” James 1:2-4.

There are so many things that we will face in this life that will cause us to often ask the question “why me”, but every time that question arises, you can face that thought head on by proclaiming in advance, “I AM AN OVERCOMER."

Guest Blogger....

Shana Jenkins is a 34-year old mother of two born and raised on the South Side of Chicago. With a strong belief in "Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a dream fulfilled is a tree of life," she continues to pursue her passions of interior decorating and mentoring young girls, despite the odds that are stacked against her. Restoration is a word she strongly lives by.