A Little Heart-to-Heart: Trusting God in a Hard Season

This isn’t my usual kind of post, but I felt led to reach out and share a little of my heart with you today. 💕

🙏 Over the past 7.5 years, it’s been such a joy to create meaningful bracelets and walk through so many seasons of life and faith with you.

When I first started Hints for Prayerful Pause, it grew faster than I ever dreamed—and I did my best to soak it all in and serve you well through it.

But the truth is, the last few years have been really hard…

Between Covid, a changing economy, and sharp increases in costs (especially on the natural stone beads I use and shipping), it's felt like tightening the belt another notch every few months, not completely unbearable — but now it's tight enough to feel the strain every day.

Right now, it's just me—designing each bracelet, packing every order, and driving each package to the post office myself.

And lately, the reality is... I'm not sure how much longer I can absorb the weight of it all.

The tariffs on materials, the constant rise in expenses, and the tightening economy have made it harder and harder to see a clear way forward

I've prayed so much over this business, and while I haven't felt a clear stop from God, I also haven't yet seen a solid path through either.

It's a strange place to be—wanting to trust and keep going, but also feeling like I'm standing at the edge of what I can humanly do.

Still, every time I think about letting go, God sends a reminder through one of you—a heartfelt message, a touching review—and it gives me the courage to take another step. 💕

Before I ask for prayer, I also want to say this… I know it’s not just me feeling the weight of uncertainty right now.

Many in our Hints for Prayerful Pause community have shared about retirement concerns, job losses, or the fear of losing important benefits.

Please know that I have been lifting you up in my prayers too.

We’re truly walking through this season together — and I would love for our prayers to cover not just my little business, but everyone in this beautiful community.

So today, I just wanted to humbly ask: 

🌿 Would you lift me, my family, and this little business up in prayer?

🌿 Would you also pray for all those in our Hints for Prayerful Pause community who are carrying heavy burdens in this season?

🌿 Would you pray for wisdom, guidance, discernment, opportunity, and blessing?

Your prayers mean more than I can say.

Truly. Your encouragement over the past 7.5 years has been a light in every season, and I'm so grateful you've been a part of this journey.

And because hope is still alive over here... I’m excited to share that tomorrow I’ll be releasing a very special (and unique!) Mother’s Day bracelet.

I can't wait to show it to you—please keep an eye on your inbox!

Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for every prayer, every order, and every kind word you've shared over the years.

You are a blessing, more than you know.

🙏💕

Marissa
Hints for Prayerful Pause

P.S. One verse I’ve been clinging to in prayer is:

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight." — Proverbs 3:5-6

If there’s a scripture you feel led to share, I would love to know it in the comment below.

Your encouragement and prayers truly lift my heart more than you know. 💛