We met at a book and pie event in the fall of 2022. We exchanged numbers, and I saved her name as Kristy Floyd (we met at Blackberry & Honeysuckle). One week in November, she texted that her life was falling apart and wanted to see if we could meet for dinner. I said yes but did not think it was this girl I was talking to!!!! Her family showed up, and they walked into the house, and I was like, “Oh, that’s not who I was thinking, but this makes much more sense now!!!” We now text nearly daily, and we have big dreams together!!! Enjoy her story of attending, Rest. Restore. Roar.
Guest post-Kristy Floyd
Trust the Process
Rest, Restore, Roar March 2023
In the Fall of 2022 God brought me unexpectedly in contact with someone that was doing kingdom work. She would change my life through her obedience. I am so thankful.
At that time, her life was filled and still is with surrender to his will. Mine, well, was feeling overwhelmed, and even burdened with my own faith. Life was hard and I was exhausted.
Enter Rest. Restore. Roar.
It is literally described as a soul restoration camp.
“imagine you’re a piece of furniture that, when the creator created it, was exactly what it was meant to be. perfect in its own right. as it gets passed on from generation to generation, person to person, they start manipulating it to what they like. different paints, change the knobs, dull or shiny. when we close for restoration, we acquire the tools to strip away the layers & restore to our beautiful self” -Gather N Grace
What a beautiful picture, you might think, to go back to a place of restoration, but at the time, I was so afraid. I knew that meant stripping away and having courage to be remade.
The truth is that in the Fall, I didn’t want to go, God and my husband had other plans. He made the path straight as Psalms says. As a good, good father, he prepared my heart. That Spring, I drove towards Brenham, ready and expectantly reaching towards what I knew would bring freedom.
Rest
Rest they said, leave the family for almost 5 days, leave the responsibility behind and let yourself lay in the quiet and still hands of the creator. There is so much truth to this, yet the reality was that the rest provided was literally allowing us, as women, to sit in a space where the battle lines were held by others and the Holy Spirit was given space to move in our lives without us taking up armaments and continually charging forth each day. As I sat each day in a place where I knew I could lay it all at God’s feet, I was thankful and inspired as 7 other women sat with me and trusted God, myself and our leaders to honor their hearts, their brokenness, and the painful truths of the darkest parts of our stories. Rest required work to bring about restoration.
Restore
To restore something, requires it be marred or changed from its original design. All of us that sat in the Bake Shop came understanding we held hurt and pain. I don’t know that we understood the beauty that would take place in the work to be done. We were shattered as if to dust through discussions, personal challenges, mindfulness, equine connection, art, yoga, and of course, pie. The pie queen sat on the floor with the women God had called to help lead and held us as we journeyed through the valleys of pain, some known, some coming to the surface for the first time. We were stripped bare, because God wanted to see us. The beautiful daughters he had created with great purpose, full of joy, overwhelmed by his love.
In Psalm 107:10 it says “Some sat in darkness and the deepest gloom, prisoners suffering in iron chains…”. For me, this was everyday. I had known my savior since I was a young girl, yet by the age of 12, I was someone that I didn’t recognize. The joy and silliness was all but gone, the heart to cover others in prayer without hesitation had disappeared and the willingness to stand for others with the power of my words, seemed stolen. But God, right?
My heart shattered and held with love and prayer, began to mend. I sat in the hurt and pain of a messy childhood and wandering adulthood. That isn’t where it ended though. I sat at the feet of Jesus through the obedience of Tara and our leaders to find that little girl once again and recapture what was lost: my voice, my joy, my willingness to live life without fear.
Later in Psalm 107:13 it follows the narrative that “...they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress…”
Myself, and the ladies that were with me, did the work and found freedom in who Christ was calling us each to be, who he made us to be. The chains, the burdens were lifted. The peace and love reclaimed. As we were restored, it was time to step forth and roar.
Roar
This was no mountain top experience to walk away from and reclaim all of our chains. The soul restoration work was only the beginning. We celebrated with one another as our minds drifted to returning home, showing our families the women we had become. Peace exuded from each of us because it wasn’t just about restoration. It was about equipping, providing tools to keep us from running right back into old habits, mindsets, shame, self doubt. We were taught to use our voices against the battle of the enemy, to speak truth and face shame with joy as God provided our worth. We were given practical activities to work through when the world went upside down. Most of all, we were given the connection of others in a community of honesty and Jesus, a bond that is such a sweet gift. At no time can we say, no one knows what I have gone through. We are vulnerable with one another and lift each other up daily in prayer. It is an ever present reminder that I am seen, I am loved, and I am His. With these women, we are an army together, boots on the ground, for ourselves and for each other.
As you read this, I challenge you to search your own heart. Is God calling you to find freedom through Rest. Restore. Roar.? Maybe he is calling you to join the team by donating to Gather N Grace because you know the power of soul restoration. Could he be calling you to pray for those that are to join the next retreat? Whatever it is, surrender it to him.
Thank you to those who gave of their hearts, time, finances, and prayer for me to find freedom in Jesus Christ.