I grew up struggling with depression and low self-esteem. After finding Jesus, during my sophomore year in high-school, I felt deeply loved by Jesus, valuable, confident and I belonged.

I grew up struggling with depression and low self-esteem. After finding Jesus, during my sophomore year in high-school, I felt deeply loved by Jesus, valuable, confident and I belonged.
While following Jesus for 38 years, I discovered two powerful truths: 1. Jesus wants our raw mess, pain, and mental health struggles—even the parts Americanized Christianity tells us to hide.
2. You can't heal what you don't acknowledge.
After high-school, I spent years facing deep rejection from pastors and elders. I was rejected three times. The first time carried a message that I wasn't good enough, the second time carried a message that I didn't belong and the third time an elder said he didn't let me preach because I have bipolar. This hit differently because it was based on something I didn't ask for, I can't separate from it, I can't control and there is no cure. The message I recieved was I was a defect.
After my book launch failed in December of 2025, I hit rock bottom and questioned if God even existed or was against me.
But through reading the Gospels, I discovered three truths: First one was Jesus values the people who society and the worldly Church devalues. People like me. Secondly was Jesus’s definition of success is being faithful, that's it. Instead of the world's definition and the worldly Church's definition of success, which is based on how much you produce.
Third truth I learned that real faith is being honest with Jesus about how I am the thoughts I was having, the struggles, grief and pain. Instead of suppressing those thoughts and feelings, standing on a Bible verse or say a quick prayer and pretend that everything is fine. This isn't faith, it's foolishness.
Since January I have decided I am going to view myself how Jesus and the Bible views me and I am going to go on Jesus’s definition of success rather then the world's and the worldly Church.
Also in January I finally broke free from performative Christianity and entered into a more loving, honest, conversational relationship with Jesus.
Because of these life altering changes, I feel free, highly valued, deeply loved, joyful and my voice matters.
My book, Expressions of the Heart: Poems and Devotionals. I combine raw poetry with biblical truth, to help people heal by acknowledging their pain. I would love to bring honest, unfiltered conversations about real faith, mental illness, and true emotional healing to your podcast.