Category: Faith

National Infertility Awareness Week: Encouraging Mobile Wallpapers

On By Styld by GraceIn Design, Faith, Updates4 Comments

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Words are powerful. And when you’re going through a valley season, they are especially powerful. Words can defeat you or encourage you. And one word of encouragement can really change your day. At least that’s what I’ve experienced while struggling with infertility.

Whether the encouragement came from a friend, a blog, or God’s word, they have been pillars of my mental and spiritual health.

The artworks I created, which can be downloaded for free below, are some of the words that have helped and continue to help me stay hopeful, faith-filled, and give me permission to go through every emotion I’m feeling.

I hope they encourage you and give you strength. Share them with others who need them too.

Download the wallpapers by clicking on the wallpaper. Then, right-click if you’re on a desktop or long press if you’re on a mobile device.


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National Infertility Awareness Week: My Husband’s Diagnosis

On By Styld by GraceIn Faith, Marriage, Relationships6 Comments

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In recognition of National Infertility Awareness week, I’d like to give honor where honor is due. To my husband, Edward, who was diagnosed with infertility almost a year ago.

He is a rock. He is strong. He is resilient. He is faithful. He is steadfast. He is hopeful. How he’s been able to see the silver lining in all of this is beyond me. But he has no idea how God has used him to increase my faith.

This past weekend, I took a three-hour drive all by myself to attend one of my closest friend’s baby shower. Edward had to work and couldn’t take off. And honestly, I was looking forward to the time alone.

I needed the open road, no distractions. During this alone time, I started telling God how I felt about all this infertility stuff. How I didn’t understand why He couldn’t just heal Edward. How I didn’t understand why Edward. This guy, who has a pure heart, all the intention in the world to take care of his family, can’t have kids easily. WHY?!

The resounding question: WHY?!

I truly felt (kinda still feel) angry for Edward. Yet he is completely full of faith and hope. Despite hearing the worse news any person who desires children can hear, he believes wholeheartedly that God will keep His promise to us.

I’m the one who questions. He’s the one who continually trusts. Anxious versus peaceful. That’s how I’d describe our personalities. It works. And somehow God knew we needed each other.

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In that moment of asking God, He quieted my questions with “I knew this would happen, Theresa. I had Edward in mind. I knew he’d meet you. I knew you’d be angry. And he’d be at peace. I knew he would need the fight you bring. And you’d need the calm he brings. I didn’t bring illness to his life. I brought you to him. His helper. The person who would be able to go through this with him”.

What a revelation! I can’t help but cry as I write this. You see, Edward may have been born with infertility issues or it could’ve developed with time. Who knows. But, what I do know is that God didn’t cause this. In fact, before Edward was born, He knew how and when He’d bring about the miracle. And if God chose me to be the vessel to bring about the miracle, then I humbly accept the call.

Now more than ever, I believe that God isn’t in the business of causing pain or affliction. He’s in the business of restoring, providing and giving life. He joins people together and provides the resources needed. Not every miracle looks the same. But it doesn’t make it less of a miracle.

I want to encourage you and let you know that God knows the need, the desire, and the intention, of our hearts. And He will always show up when those things are aligned with His perfect will. Your miracle, our miracle is in the works. He knows. He is working on it. And He may be using you as the vessel for that miracle.

With all my love and appreciation,
Theresa

P.S. I’ll be blogging each day this week in honor of National Infertility Awareness Week. (Did you know it affects 1 in 8 people?!) Some of the posts will be about what’s next in our personal infertility journey, free artwork to encourage those struggling with infertility, and important facts about infertility. Hope you stay tuned!

 

Out Of Hiding & Easter Wallpapers

On By Styld by GraceIn Design, Faith, Updates2 Comments

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Hey friends!

It’s been a while since I published something…
truth be told (because this is a blog and I should be honest), I’ve taken a hiatus from creating and writing. There have been lots of changes and challenges I’ve needed to work through and seek God about.

At the end of 2017, it was clear to me that I had to “go back to the basics”. Get focused once again, get a hold of my “why”, and take care of my emotional and spiritual health.

The only way I can describe what I felt was sadness and a very heavy heart. Some people told me I was experiencing loss and grief. You ask, “loss over what”? Exactly. I didn’t know that going through infertility would make me feel this way.

I say all this to say that I’m slowly getting out from under that dark cloud. There are good and bad days. But in general, I’m feeling more motivated and hopeful than I was a few months ago.

I have not forgotten about Styld by Grace or all the loyal people who have supported and loved me and this dream God put in my heart. I just want to be able to create and write from a place of hope and encouragement. Not bitterness and hurt.

Many of you know each year I create free artwork for Holy Week. It’s such a meaningful week for me. It reminds me of how close Jesus is to me. How much He loves me. And it ignites a deeper love for Him in my heart.

To honor Him (and this little dream of mine called Styld by Grace), I created a few wallpapers. I think it’s the perfect time to come out of hiding.

Share them, keep them, and let them remind you of His great love.

With all my love and appreciation,
Theresa

P.S. If you’re on Instagram, I’ll be sharing them on my Stories as well 🙂

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Free Devotional Coming Tomorrow Morning

On By Styld by GraceIn Faith, Updates2 Comments

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Hello, friends!

I’m excited to share a free devotional with you entitled “Beautiful in Every Way”. It is a 7-day rediscovery of our worth in Christ in our “never enough” world. You can sign up to receive the devotional via email.

Here’s a little preview:

“When some of my favorite Instagram accounts started posting encouraging messages about ‘being enough’, it resonated with me. And at the same time, I knew if it wasn’t put in the right context it could become another cliche saying.

When we view it from a Biblical perspective, it makes more sense and shifts our focus from ourselves to God. Being beautiful in every way is about accepting ourselves. But deeper than that, it’s knowing where our sufficiency comes from.”

I hope this devotional blesses you. I’m looking forward to hearing how God speaks you through it.

With love,
Theresa

P.S. Would love to hear how your 7-day journey through this devotional is going. Let’s chat in Instagram!

New Mug & Prints Launching Today

On By Styld by GraceIn Design, Faith, Updates1 Comment

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Allow me to introduce you to the beautiful new products I’ve been working on. Like most of my products, they are inspirational and what I like to call, “tangible encouragement”.

“Beautiful in Every Way” Mug came from a conversation I was having with God about feeling inadequate, self-conscious, and feeling lack in my life. My crying out to Him resulted in hearing a whisper from His spirit say, “You don’t need to be perfect. In your weakness you are strong. You’re beautiful, even in moments of hardship, longing, and lack. Not because of what you have or don’t have, but because of who you are”.

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And I thought, “I’m beautiful in Every Way”. It was a declaration of faith and an acceptance of what God was singing over me. I needed the reminder in a tangible way and I couldn’t keep it to myself. If this resonates with you, I’ve created this mug JUST FOR YOU! Click here (or on any of the mug images) to add this mug to your collection.

Along with the mug, I’ve added a few new prints to the shop. These are also inspired by moments of prayer and reading God’s word. And if I do say so myself, they’re gorgeous! You can see more pics at the SBG Shop and purchase your favorites there.

Be on the lookout, while you’re in the shop, for updated versions of my other prints. After a year of lettering, my skills have definitely improved (practice makes progress, guys!) and these were due for an upgrade. What do you think?

I hope you love and enjoy these new products. I’d love to hear your feedback and know what you think of all the new (and original) goodies. Email me at info@styldbygrace.com or send me your thoughts on Instagram.

xo,
Theresa