Becoming Real: My Journey to Emotional Wholeness

I was 21 when a dear friend gave me a tiny copy of The Velveteen Rabbit. At the time, I had no idea how much that little book would change my life.

Like the worn and well-loved rabbit in the story, I had spent years trying to prove my worth—hiding my struggles, masking my pain, and doing everything I could to fit in. A lifetime of neglect and hurt had taught me that vulnerability was dangerous. Letting someone truly see me? That felt impossible.

When I gave my life to Jesus, I thought the way to honor Him was by being strong. I convinced myself that if I could just stay positive, avoid negative emotions, and push through with a smile, I’d be more spiritually acceptable. After all, wasn’t faith about joy and peace?

But deep down, I felt something was missing.

I wrestled with emotions I didn’t know what to do with—anger, jealousy, sadness, even doubt. And every time they surfaced, I felt like a failure in my faith. Shouldn’t I be “above” these feelings? Wasn’t I supposed to just trust God and move on?

Maybe you’ve felt that way too.

The turning point came when I began to truly see how Jesus interacted with emotions. He didn’t avoid them. He wept. He got angry. He grieved. He felt deeply.

That’s when I realized: faith isn’t about avoiding emotions—it’s about learning how to walk through them with God.

And what was the result of NOT feeling those negative emotions? Instead of making me stronger, it made me numb. When we suppress pain, we also suppress joy, connection, and the fullness of life God designed us for.

Here’s the beautiful truth: God created you with the full range of emotions, and none of them make you less worthy, less faithful, or less lovable.

Learning to sit with my emotions—especially the difficult ones—has been one of the most life-giving experiences of my faith journey. And now, I want to help you do the same.

If you’ve ever felt stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure what to do with all those feelings stirring inside, you’re not alone. Healing and freedom don’t come from pushing emotions away; they come from learning how to process them in a way that leads to deeper peace, connection, and joy.

You were created to live fully, with your whole heart—just as God intended.

I’d love to walk alongside you in that journey.

I’m cheering you on,
Julie