In the midst of pain, God revealed that purpose does not pause just because it hurts.

Grief has a way of slowing everything down. It forces you to confront what truly matters. There were days when continuing forward felt difficult, when showing up required more strength than I thought I had. Yet in those moments, God reminded me that purpose does not disappear in pain; it is often clarified by it.

This year taught me that obedience is not always comfortable. Sometimes it means continuing the work even when your heart is heavy, pressing forward when it would be easier to pause, and choosing faithfulness when the cost feels personal. I kept going because I was reminded that the work matters. People matter. And there are lives that still need hope, encouragement, and tangible support.

Through EEW Magazine Online and the nonprofit work of Empowering Everyday Women, we continued to serve by telling stories that uplift, meeting needs with compassion, and standing alongside women and families navigating their own difficult seasons. Even in grief, God allowed purpose to flow through service, turning pain into something that could bless others.