Therefore…continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling…
Philippians 2:12
When I first started blogging, writing, and working in mental health, I was very open about my faith and incorporating my faith in what I do. In the past year, I’ve been a little more quiet about it. Not because I don’t have faith or that I have any desire to separate my faith from what I do, but rather because I know the need moms have for mental health resources. I never want to alienate anyone looking for support because of miscommunication.
However, today, in my spirit, I felt God reminding me to TRUST. Trust in my journey, how I got here, and who I can serve. We aren’t meant to be for everyone – and I recognize that – but I want moms to have the courage to reach out and know I will respond with compassion. Still, I can’t separate my faith from what I do, and I have no desire to do so.
Yet, my faith and my experience is so different than it was when I started. I’ve worked my way through deconstructing and reconstructing faith, and it’s led me here. To a deeper connection with God, and His plan and will, as well as a deep, unending love and compassion for [most] people – especially moms.
In this rich narrative of life, there’s a remarkable group of women who beautifully blend creativity, motherhood, and faith. These are women who, like me, have embarked on a journey of faith deconstruction and reconstruction, seeking balance, inspiration, and a deeper connection with God. I know from my own journey how difficult it can be to find your place once you’ve dug so deep into the truth of life with Christ. When you no longer reflect the church as you used to, but instead reflect Christ more vibrantly.
Faith Transformations
Time and again in scripture, we are encouraged to test out the truth for ourselves. God’s design is that faith would be both collective and individual; public and intimate. We see this reflected in Jesus’ life. Many creative moms I work with have experienced a shift in their faith, moving from a more fundamentalist perspective to a more balanced and progressive one. It’s a journey of questioning, seeking, and growing in their relationship with God. My own faith journey has been marked by similar reflections and explorations, allowing me to understand and support others on this path.
Since my time at Vanguard, a conservative University that was more liberal than anything I’d ever been exposed to, my path of faith has gone through many different iterations. Still, God has never left my side, and I’ve had the blessing of seeing Him work in the lives of others, as well.
I know now, from working with moms like me, that we are adding this transformation of faith to our desire for finding our identity as we are now. The same applies for those who deconstructed and walked away, validly. We wonder: who am I with this new faith – or – who am I now that I’m not in this faith.
It’s in finding the answers to these questions that we find the most raw, real, and full selves. It’s in these answers we begin to live more confidently.
The Beauty of a Balanced Faith
One of the remarkable aspects of this faith journey is the beauty of embracing balanced and slightly progressive views while holding firm to the core of the Christian faith. It’s about following the teachings of Jesus, loving others, and finding grace in our evolving beliefs. This transformation is a testament to the power of love, acceptance, and understanding.
I’ve learned to appreciate and admire the strength we find in this delicate balance. There is so much power in a faith that evolves with love, grace, and understanding. When we can extend love and compassion, even in our disagreements or in our differences, we find a beautifully rich example of Jesus himself.
Throughout the Gospels, we see this amazing picture of God’s plan for redemption. We see examples of wild grace. And, we are exposed to freedom and love. One of the most amazing gifts to come out of this last year for me is the realization that when we focus on Jesus’ life and story, we get the chance to get to the root of our faith. We are better able to love others (as believers), and we can show compassion to those who don’t agree with us.
When we find our way to this balanced faith, it can feel isolating, especially if we came from a more legalistic background. If we came from a background where the world felt dangerous because we weren’t really taught about living like Jesus, but living like the church.
There’s so much freedom in living like Jesus, and focused only on living like Jesus. So, finding our way together, we find community. And, this is another beautiful aspect of balanced faith.
Created to Create
One thing I’ve come to firmly believe (through living my own life and working with other moms like me) is that we were created to create. Inspiration, beauty, creativity. These are all gifts God gave this world, and He did so in order that we may continue to create. After all, being made in His likeness means this aspect of our humanity comes directly from the Creator aspect of God.
Creativity and faith integrate so well.
Creative expression often becomes a form of spiritual exploration and growth. Whether it’s through art, writing, crafting, or other creative outlets, we find that our creative endeavors strengthen our faith. The creative side of life offers fresh perspectives on spirituality.
Creativity is a dynamic fusion of heart and soul; and it’s a journey that has significantly impacted my own faith. This blog being just one example. Being able to work out my feelings about deconstruction and reconstruction, connecting with other moms, and creativity and faith, expands my own notions of spirituality.
One of my favorite things about what I do – on this blog, on social media, with clients, in the membership – is seeing other moms embrace their creativity, and prioritize mental health. I love getting to talk about motherhood, mental health, creativity, and faith.
A lovely thing about this is that I get to discuss these topics in all seasons, in the ups and downs, and other moms get to know they aren’t alone at any point in their own journey.
Created for Community
God created us for connection and community. Another aspect of our humanity that reflects His divinity. None of us was ever meant to walk our paths alone. This is easier said than done in the modern world where our “village” seems to not exist, and the community we built before deconstruction may look vastly different than the one we find after – whether we reconstruct or walk away.
Connecting with other moms on their faith journey has been an enriching experience. By connecting with others (both those who embraced faith and those who realized it wasn’t right for them), I’ve deepened my own faith and expanded my own creativity. I believe everyone has a valid view after their deconstruction journey, and we can learn from each other. That’s exactly what I’ve done and it has led me here.
If you’re a mom somewhere in a deconstruction and reconstruction journey, you’re not alone on this path. To all the creative moms seeking faith and inspiration, I invite you to join our supportive community. Come join us over on Instagram and hit that follow so you can be brought back to this space. Together, we celebrate the beauty of balanced faith, the transformation of creativity, and the strength found in a like-minded network.
As we seek a deeper connection with God and explore our creative potential, we find that our paths intertwine, bringing richness and depth to our faith. It’s a journey of love, learning, and connection, and I can’t wait to see where it takes us next. Don’t go it alone, there’s support here for moms like you.
♥♣♠♦ Candice Jeneé ♥♣♠♦
Founder, Creative Mommas’ Haven
Soul Cadence Creative - Thoughts from A Creative in Mental Health 