Vol. 5, No. 8 | May 1, 2025 | | There's Nothing Like a Bought Lesson | |
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The Wisdom in Her Words
Growing up, my Granny Granny would often say something to me that, back then, floated right over my head. She would look at me like only she could, wisdom in her eyes that only years and experience could give and say:
“There’s nothing like a bought lesson.”
I’d respond, “Granny, you always say that," not fully comprehending the weight of what she was really sharing. But now… after walking through some fires of my own, honey, I get it. Not in theory. Not in concept. In reality!
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Real Talk...
- I’ve lived through and survived sexual assault.
- I’ve walked through the pain of domestic violence.
- I’ve known the shame of homelessness, the kind that makes you wonder if God even sees you at all.
- I’ve wrestled with fear, when the fear of people, and their opinions, etc., screamed louder than my faith in God and my God-given purpose.
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I’ve grieved the loss of my mother, saddened by her absence for each of life’s memorable and special occasions: marriages, divorces, miscarriages, first published book, first speaking engagement, first stage play, sitcom, movie, tv appearance, radio interview, etc..
- I’ve experienced the deafening echoes of the enemy’s lies, followed by the suffocating weight of inadequacy.
And as a rsult, now when I sit with a woman battling trauma, when I hear the silent cries of a woman trapped in violence, when I see a young person sleeping in their car just trying to survive another day… I don’t just hear them, I feel them because I am them.
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The Wisdom in the Storm
My grandmother wasn’t just giving me advice, she was passing down a kingdom principle that echoes through 2 Corinthians 1:3–4, “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” (NIV)
If you haven’t lived it, you can offer sympathy, you can offer encouragement, and you can even offer scripture. But there’s a weight, a supernatural knowing that only comes when you’ve survived the fires yourself. Why? Because:
- You know the pain behind the silence.
- You see the struggle behind the smile.
- And you also know, healing is possible because you are living proof.
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What God Was Teaching Me Through the Living and the Surviving
1. Compassion Isn’t Learned in Comfort; It’s Forged in Pain.
Ministry isn’t built on knowledge, it’s built on a heart that’s been broken and healed. God allowed me to walk through pain so that my words would carry His comfort, not just my opinions.
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2. Authority Comes From Experience, Not Just Appointment.
True authority isn’t handed out; it’s earned through survival. What you survive, you have authority over. I believe I have noted this before in one of my previous blogs, but below is one of my favorite scriptures; one Father God gave to me when He set me out on this jourmey:
“They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony. Revelation." 12:11 (NIV)
3. Healing Becomes a Ministry, Not Just a Memory.
God didn’t just heal me to move on, He healed me to carry healing to others.
“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” Psalm 147:3 (NIV)
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Fresh Encouragement for You This Week
Beloved, your pain wasn’t pointless. Your past wasn’t a waste. Your scars aren’t silent, they are singing songs of victory, hallejuha! You are part of a remnant of women, hear me when I say this, who don’t just quote freedom, no honey, you embody it!
“Strengthen the feeble hands, steady the knees that give way; say to those with fearful hearts, ‘Be strong, do not fear; your God will come.’” Isaiah 35:3-4 (NIV)
He is preparing you to be the voice, the bridge, and the lifeline for someone else. You survived not just for survival’s sake... beloved, you survived because you are called. You gotta own this, Woman of God. You gotta own this truth!
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Your Assignment This Week
- Sit with the Lord and ask Him what He is birthing through your story.
- Write down the names of two women God wants you to encourage this week.
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Declare daily: “I lived it. I survived it. Now I am called to heal through it.”
Lovely, this world doesn’t need more polished people. Trust me, I tried polishing myself to fit in, to belong, until Father God opened my eyes and freed me from the lie. I was mever meant to fit in. I already have a place I belong: I belong to the Kingdom of God and so do you! Woman of God, the world stands in need of real voices, set apart, refined by fire, and sent with power, who know they’ve lived through hell and came back carrying Heaven.
- You are that voice.
- You are living proof.
- As am I.
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The Walls Family is Back!!!!
The house at 212 Vernon Place is alive again and filled with laughter, tears, prayer, and new beginnings. Mother Mable Blackstone, Pastor Kingsley, and the Walls family return for a powerful, heartfelt journey of faith, forgiveness, and the beauty of restoration. This time, the walls aren’t just talking... They’re shouting, singing, and celebrating everything God has done! Join Mother Mable, Pastor Kingsley and the Walls Family for a night you won’t forget!
Get the Tea and Your Tickets!
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| | | | | About Prophetess Ceola J. | |
Ceola J. is passionate about encouraging and inspiring women to seek and reach their God-given purpose. She knows first-hand what that struggle is like and desires to help others live their best lives now!
She is an inspirational public speaker, certified life coach, and published author. A five-time playwright and screenwriter of both a sitcom and a Christmas screenplay currently being filmed, she also hosts IMPACT with Ceola J. and is ordained in ministry.
She is also the founder and Executive Director of Dream2b, a nonprofit organization focused on helping single women, women with children, and the broader community.
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