I've been doing a lot of reflecting lately, and one thing I'm learning is that sometimes growth doesn't require you to become gain something new. Sometimes it requires you to recognize the value of who God has already created you to be and what He's already placed in your hands.
For a long time, I think I overlooked the value of some of the very things that came naturally to me.
Teaching is one of them.
I've spent years teaching, creating lessons, explaining concepts, developing resources, and helping people understand things they found difficult. Yet somehow, I didn't always recognize the value of those abilities outside of a traditional classroom.
I was so accustomed to using my gifts that I didn't always see them as gifts.
Lately, I've been learning that something doesn't have to be new, extraordinary, or unfamiliar to be valuable. Sometimes the very thing we've been searching for has been in our hands all along.
That realization has challenged me to reconsider how I approach my life, my work, and the opportunities God has entrusted to me.
As I continue growing, there are three principles I want to live by. They're also the foundation of the vision I'm building through Lyci Hodges.
Presence Before Pressure.
Before I allow the demands, expectations, and pressures of life to consume me, I want to prioritize being in God's presence. Because when I spend time with Him, I gain the perspective, strength, and wisdom I need to face everything else.
I'm learning that I don't have to begin every day consumed by everything that needs to get done. I can begin by remembering who God is, who I am in Him, and what actually matters.
His presence gives me perspective that pressure often distorts, and I want His perspective to influence how I live, lead, teach, create, and serve.
Purpose Over Performance.
For too long, it's been easy to measure value by productivity, accomplishments, and what others expect, but I've learned that fulfilling God's purpose for my life is far more important than performing for the approval of others.
I don't have to prove my worth because God has already determined that I am valuable. I just need to be faithful with what He's entrusted to me. That doesn't mean accomplishments, excellence, or hard work don't matter. They definitely matter because we are called to glorify God with the work of our hands and in our workplaces. However, I want my work and my pursuits to be excellent because they flow from purpose rather than from the constant pressure to prove myself.
Instead of constantly asking, "Am I doing enough?" I want to ask, "Am I being faithful with what God has given me?"
For me, that's a meaningful shift.
Poetry in Process.
As someone who loves words, I've come to see my life as something God is continually writing and refining.
Not every chapter has been easy.
Not every season has made sense.
There are still parts of my story that I'm learning to understand and some that I do not want to understand. Still, I'm beginning to appreciate that growth happens in the process, not just when we reach a particular destination.
Through my journey, my desire is to become a living expression of God's goodness and faithfulness in the earth. One of the ways I get to do that is through teaching, sharing what I'm learning, creating meaningful experiences, and helping others recognize and develop what God has placed within them.
I believe there's value in our stories, our experiences, our knowledge, and even the lessons we've learned through difficult seasons, and I believe those things can become resources that help someone else grow.
A Vision That's Still Unfolding
These reflections have also helped me gain greater clarity about the work I want to do. My vision is to create meaningful learning experiences that help people grow spiritually, personally, and professionally, whether I’m developing courses, workshops, practical resources, or guided experiences. I want to help people apply what they're learning and create spaces where people can explore their gifts, gain clarity, develop practical skills, challenge limiting perspectives, and take intentional steps toward meaningful growth.
Some experiences will focus on faith and spiritual formation. Others will focus on personal development, creativity, professional skills, entrepreneurship, and putting ideas into action. What connects them all is my belief that learning should lead to growth, and growth should influence how we live.
We're Still Becoming
I'm not claiming to have everything figured out.
I'm still learning how to steward my time, gifts, resources, relationships, and opportunities more intentionally.
I'm still discovering what it looks like to prioritize God's presence, pursue His purpose, and allow my life to become an expression of His goodness, but I believe there's tremendous value in learning, growing, and moving forward together.
So, whether you're discovering your gifts, reconsidering your direction, rebuilding after a difficult season, or simply trying to be more intentional with what you've been given, I hope you'll find something here that encourages you to keep growing.
Maybe, like me, you'll discover that your next step doesn't require you to disappear for 6 months and become someone new.
Maybe it begins with recognizing the value of who God has already created you to be.
Presence. Purpose. Poetry.
— Lyci Hodges
