If you’ve known me for a while, you might be wondering…
Why would I open another business?
Honestly, I’ve asked myself that question, too.
I’ve opened businesses before. More than once, actually. And each time, the reason was pretty simple: I needed to make extra money. There was something exciting about searching for products, finding things I thought people might love, and imagining someone discovering something they wanted—or maybe even needed—because of something I had put together. I enjoyed that part. But, just like the other times, eventually life happened. The business would slow down. I would get busy. I would get behind on orders. And before long, I was putting more time, energy, and money into the business than I was getting back from it. I still have products sitting around from businesses I started years and years ago.
I’ve opened.
I’ve closed.
I’ve reopened.
I’ve gotten excited.
I’ve gotten overwhelmed.
And eventually, I would walk away.
So why would this time be any different?
Because this time, it isn't really about the business.
This time, I’m not making physical products.
There’s nothing to package.
Nothing to ship.
Nothing to deliver.
No coordinating a pickup time.
No wondering if I have enough inventory.
No boxes taking over my house.
These products are digital. They are available when you need them, wherever you need them. You can purchase a study and have it in your hands almost instantly. But even that isn't the biggest difference.
The biggest difference is that I truly believe God brought me here.
For a long time, I had been praying for God to bring me back to writing. I loved writing. Writing allowed me to get out of my own head. It gave me somewhere to put my thoughts. It kept me busy. It gave me a place to dream and imagine and create.
And somewhere along the way, I stopped doing it.
Then, a few months ago, I remembered something.
After I wrote my first book, my Papa asked me a question.
He asked me if I would ever write a novel.
So I did.
Then he asked me if I would ever write Bible studies.
I never did.
At the time, I just said, “Maybe.”
And that was the end of it.
Or at least, I thought it was.
But I believe God has a way of bringing things back around at exactly the right time. A few months ago, that memory came back to me. And in that moment, I felt God reminding me that maybe the answer wasn't supposed to be “maybe” anymore.
Maybe it was time.
Time to write.
Time to create.
Time to study His Word in a deeper way.
Time to use something He had already placed inside of me.
I truly believe God was reminding me that He had work for me to do.
He had people for me to reach.
And He had a willing heart He could use.
So I started.
I began studying the Word.
I researched.
I looked at other Bible studies and paid attention to how they were structured. I learned about designing digital products and how to make them accessible and useful.
And I knew one thing from the beginning:
I wanted these to be digital.
I wanted someone to be able to find a study when they needed it, purchase it, download it, and begin.
No waiting.
No shipping.
No wondering when it would arrive.
Just something they could have right when they needed it. And honestly? I discovered that creating digital products was much easier and less tedious than I expected. Well…At least once the designing and editing is finished.
Because that part? That part has tested every ounce of my creativity. I've spent hours working on these studies. Sometimes I stay up way past my bedtime because I just want to finish one more page.
One more section.
One more little detail.
And I'm tired the next day.
But somehow, I don't mind.
Because I love it.
I genuinely love it.
There is something different about putting my heart into something. These aren't products I am simply trying to sell. These are things I am creating because I believe they can serve a purpose.
Every study is researched by me.
Every page is created by me.
Every word is intentionally put together.
And most importantly, I pray that God uses every single one.
I don't know who will download a study. I don't know what season they will be in when they open it. Maybe someone will be sitting at their kitchen table with a cup of coffee, desperately needing a little time with Jesus. Maybe someone will be walking through grief. Maybe someone will be searching for direction. Maybe someone will simply want to know God's Word a little better. Maybe they'll download something because they feel like they're supposed to—and they'll never know how perfectly the words inside were meant for the season they're walking through.
That's what makes this so special to me.
I don't have to know who they are.
I just have to be faithful to what God has asked me to do.
I can create.
I can study.
I can write.
I can put my heart into the work. And then I can trust Him with where it goes. That's a very different feeling from opening a business because I needed to make extra money. Don't get me wrong. I still wouldn't mind making some extra money. 😂 But this time, that's not the reason I'm here. This time, there is something deeper.
There is purpose.
There is joy.
There is creativity.
There is obedience.
And there is a peace that I didn't have with the other businesses I've started.
I believe God brought me back to something I loved. Something I had set down. Something I thought might just be a maybe. And maybe all along, God knew it was going to become a yes. So, why did I open another business?
Because I believe God called me back to writing.
Because I believe He has people for these studies.
Because I believe He can use something as simple as a digital Bible study to meet someone exactly where they are.
And because, after everything, creating these brings me pure joy.
There is no greater feeling than knowing that something you poured your heart into might help someone draw closer to God. Other than salvation, I can't think of a greater gift.
So here I am.
Trying again.
But this time, I'm not trying to build something simply for myself.
I'm building something I'm praying God will use.
And I'm really excited to see where He takes it.
— Rooted and Raised Co.
Rooted in Faith, Raised in Grace