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It’s Been a While

I haven’t written a post in a while for many reasons. The greatest of these is I have found more interaction and engagement with producing videos (Vlog posts). Even so, the writer in me still wants to put words to paper, so I decided it would be good to simply share my heart in this format.

To be honest, I have felt a little blind in all of this since last year. What began as a a project to share my faith journey has evolved into something I didn’t expect and still don’t really understand. But I continue to move forward and trust God in the process.

My situation isn’t new. I’m reminded of the Israelites after their exile ended in Babylon and they returned to Jerusalem to build the temple. Before the exile, King Josiah implemented religious reforms to worship God alone. After his death, however, the Israelites strayed from God again. Once His justice was fulfilled, Ezra was sent to oversee the rebuilding process. Josiah laid the groundwork for the proper worship of God according to their covenant. Ezra followed these instructions to rebuild and consecrate the new temple. Biblical references can be found in 2 Kings 22 and the book of Ezra.

Why would I compare this blog and its development over time to something as sacred as rebuilding the temple? Both take time. Both require obedience. Both depend somewhat on the response of others. The rebuilding of the temple was stalled. My progress on this journey has seemed to stall out at times. I can honestly tell you that I’m not where I was when I began the blog, but I’m not where I expected to be, either.

When we truly surrender to what God wants our “yes” to look like, it can be surprising. In my case, I feel like my “yes” lately has been acting in faith. I can’t see the difference or the benefit that my efforts bring. But I have to continue to trust that if God is laying something on my heart, I need to share it. I can’t help but believe that my obedience is enough.

So, things have looked different. I’m testing the waters with new ideas and trying to find that “sweet spot” that will reach people with the message that God doesn’t require perfection. It’s messy, murky, and miraculous. 

Thank you to everyone who continues to follow my journey. My prayer is that you find some encouragement in some format whether it be YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, or the blog itself. Your likes and shares mean so much when I question if I’m truly making a difference in the world. I don’t profess to be profound or have new insights. My goal is to just be real. To show the world what loving Jesus and people looks like through my eyes. If that helps you, I’m grateful.

The encouragement for today is simple: keep moving forward. Even when you can’t see the progress, trust that your obedience is enough. God will take care of the rest.

Copyright Jill Cook, 2025. All rights reserved.


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