ONE YEAR OF BLOOMING: Lessons God Taught Me Along the Way

I almost can't believe I'm writing this.

One year ago, I did something I never imagined I would do. I built a website. By myself. And I put my faith — and my name — on it for the world to see.

No tech background. No team. No guarantee that anyone would even show up. Just a calling, a whole lot of prayer, and enough faith to take one step forward.

And here we are. One year later. Still blooming.

I want to be honest with you today — not polished, not platform-perfect — just real. Because the most important things God taught me this year weren't about content strategies or post schedules. They were about me. And about Him.

So I'm sharing ten lessons I learned in Year One. I'm sharing them because somebody reading this needs to hear them. And because I refuse to let this anniversary pass without giving God the glory He deserves.

1. Keeping Him First Isn't Automatic — It's a Daily Choice

You would think that running a faith-based platform would automatically keep God in first place. It doesn't. There were moments when I was more concerned about posting than praying. More focused on the page than on His presence. God had to remind me — gently, but clearly — that even good things done in His name can push Him to the background if I'm not intentional. Spending time with Him is always the first priority. Before the post. Before the page. Before anything.

"But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you." — Matthew 6:33 (NKJV)

2. Seek God for What's Next — Not My Own Ideas

I had plenty of ideas of my own. And some of them were good! But I learned the difference between running ahead of God and walking with Him. When I stopped asking "what should I post?" and started asking "Lord, what do You want to say?" — everything shifted. The content felt different. It carried something. That's the difference between information and ministry.

3. Consistency Is an Act of Faith

Showing up when nobody seems to be watching is hard. There were weeks I wondered if any of this was making a difference. But consistency isn't just a content strategy — it's a statement of trust. I kept showing up because I believed God called me here, and I wasn't going to abandon the assignment just because the numbers weren't what I expected.

4. Fear Doesn't Get a Vote

Fear told me I wasn't qualified. Fear told me people wouldn't receive it. Fear told me to wait until everything was perfect. I moved anyway. And that one decision — to move in faith instead of waiting for fear to leave — changed everything. Fear doesn't go away before you step out. It goes away because you step out.

"For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind." — 2 Timothy 1:7 (NKJV)

5. I Built a Website — By Myself

I have to say this out loud because I still sometimes can't believe it. I set up thebiblebloom.com with my own hands. No web designer. No tech team. Me. And if God can take someone who never imagined doing that and walk her through it step by step — He can do the same for whatever you're believing Him for.

6. I Am More Creative Than I Thought

This one surprised me. I didn't come into this thinking of myself as a creative person. But when you step into your calling, God unlocks things in you that were always there — just waiting for the right moment. The designs, the content, the ideas — they started flowing in ways I didn't expect. Your gifts don't fully show up until you start using them.

7. Not Everyone Will Understand — And That's Okay

This might be the lesson that stung the most. When you step into something God has called you to, you expect the people closest to you to celebrate it. Sometimes they don't. Family. Friends. People you expected to cheer the loudest. I had to learn to be okay with that. Their endorsement was never the assignment. His approval is.

8. I Found My Own Strength

There's a strength that gets revealed on the other side of doing something hard. I found mine this year. Not in a prideful way — but in a "Lord, I didn't know you put that in me" kind of way. That's what obedience does. It shows you who you are.

9. The Teacher Inside Me Is Real

I've always loved to teach. In the classroom at church, in conversations, in the way I naturally break things down. But this year, I let her out in a bigger way — through the blog, through the content, through the way I approach scripture. That teacher? She belongs to the Lord. And I'm no longer going to keep her small.

10. One Year Is Just the Beginning

This isn't a finish line. It's a foundation. God didn't bring me this far to stop here. Year Two is already moving in my spirit and I can't wait to share what's coming.

Thank you for blooming with me!

With grace and love,

Yvonne | The Bible Bloom