Issue 021: When the Turnaround Doesn’t Feel Like Comfort... But it's still God

*cues "Turning Around for Me" by VaShawn Mitchell*

Earlier this morning, on my flight back to Dallas and again in my Uber ride home, I had a moment. A real one.

I started thinking about how much has changed. How, in a matter of weeks—really, just these first few months of 2025—I’ve felt something shift. A lot. In my heart. In my circumstances. And especially in how I see the journey.

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Since Moving to Dallas…

Since May 2021, my life has been nothing short of a rollercoaster. I moved here with hope, ambition, and a need for something new—but I also walked straight into some of the hardest years of my life.

Mentally? It’s been a battle.
Financially? Let’s just say I was living way below my means for way too long.
Spiritually? I’ve had to unlearn and relearn a lot.

In January 2022, I got a glimpse of what felt like stability at first. I had a decent-paying job at a fintech company. Things looked okay on paper. But the truth is? That job drained me. I felt stuck, like I’d never actually reach a place of peace. A place of comfort.

But Here's the Thing…

I’m starting to believe that maybe “comfort,” at least the way I used to define it, isn’t what God ever intended for me to chase.

I used to think comfort meant:

• A steady income

• A savings account that didn’t make me nervous

• No stress, no surprises, no instability

But now I realize…
The peace I have today—the freedom I have—isn’t about everything being “in place.”
It’s about God being in the center.

I’ve Got Just Enough… and That’s More Than Enough

Walking to baggage claim this morning,I passed by an Auntie Anne’s that had the whole airport smelling like freshly baked goods. I was starving, the Cinnamon Pretzel bites are my fav, and I could tell they were fresh PLUS there was no line. I walked in and my first thought was to nervously check my accounts before swiping my card.

I looked at my bank account and saw $300 in my savings.
That might not sound like much. But for me? That’s wild.
Because not too long ago, I had way less.

There were days I had $3.27 to my name and still had to figure out how to be creative, present, and productive.
Days I didn’t know how I’d eat or make it to the next day.
I’ve been broke, broken, and quiet about it—especially online. But not necessarily out of embarrassment, but wanting to let God handle it.

I share the hard parts of my health journey, but I don’t always talk about the financial struggle.
Not because I’m ashamed, but because sometimes I don’t even have the words to explain it.

This Right Here? It's Restoration.

My friend Alana said it best:
“This is a season of restoration.”

And she’s right.
Because somehow, in just three months, I feel like God is turning everything around.
I’m not “comfortable,” but I’m free.
I’m not rich, but I’m resourced.
I still have things to figure out, but I don’t feel forgotten anymore.

Nobody really knows how much I’ve lost.
Nobody knows how much I’ve sacrificed.
And I’m not sharing this to brag—I’m sharing it to encourage someone who might be in the dark places I’ve found myself in.

To You, If You’re in That Low Place Right Now:

You’re not crazy for feeling like it may never get better.
You’re not weak for wondering how much worse it can get.
You’re not forgotten.
You’re not behind.
You’re in the middle of your turnaround.

Restoration doesn’t always look like a fat savings account or a dream job.
Sometimes it looks like:

• Being able to show up for your family

• Waking up with a clear mind

• Creating when you once had no energy

• Being trusted with more, even when you’re still figuring things out

I’m not comfortable.
But I’m covered.
And that’s more than enough for me right now.

Wherever you are, know this: the turnaround may not look how you imagined—but it’s still God. And He’s still working.

Comfort doesn’t always come first. But restoration? That’s His promise.

All is well—even when it doesn’t always feel that way. That’s faith.

Stay blessed, stay creative, and stay aligned!

All is well,
Ashlee

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