From the Valley To The Mountaintop

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Today I am featuring an interview with author Tracey Jackson, who speaks about her new book, Lessons from the Journey: From the Valley To The Mountaintop. I hope her story of redemption can encourage you!

lessons from the journeyTracey Jackson is the author of Lessons from the Journey: From the Valley To The Mountaintop where she provides inspiring and intimates stories from a five year period in her life filled ups and downs. She warmly provides the tools (i.e. scripture and prayer) needed to help get her readers through the valley and onward to the mountaintop. Tracey is also a member of numerous community service based organizations in her native South Florida where she gives back on a regular basis.

What is a brief synopsis/the main message of Lessons From the Journey?

Every “not so good “event that takes place during one’s Christ walk is not meant to cause harm (even through it may seem like it). People can pull positive lessons from each trial they’ve gone through in order to help them navigate through the future trials that will come and not get stuck trying to re-learn what should have been learned earlier. 
Why did you feel called to write this book?

I’ve ministered to sooo many people who are “stuck.” When I say stuck I mean that while they were going through their own personal trials there was absolutely no personal growth. The same question kept coming up “Why am I still in this place?” Then I asked myself, “How does one come out on the other side of a trial and remain the same?” I wanted to use what I’d been through to help others embrace a trial as an opportunity to grow in the Lord, learn the lessons, and directly apply them to their own lives while being an inspiration to others.

lessons from the journey: from the valley to the mountaintopWhat is your personal story all about? Where did you come from and where are you now?

I came from a place where I wanted a “problem free” Christ walk filled with the fruits of blessings. When the problems came, I would whine like a baby. “Why me?” “Lord I thought you loved me” “If you love me, why am I going through all of this?”  It was in each and every one of those struggles I learned how to walk by faith as an adult Christian. Pieces of the former Tracey were left behind at every one of those situations so that a new Tracey could be developed and built upon. Where am I now? I’m applying the lessons that I learned in each of those situations, being open to new lessons and allowing the Lord to continue to shape and mold me so that I can be a help and inspiration to others.

Have you encountered a lot of other women struggling with similar situations?

 Of course. Unplanned changes and loss hurt for both women and men. I don’t want to leave our brothers in Christ out of the picture. We have our lives all planed out but things happen. I believe some women carry the hurt from past situations a little bit longer than most men. I’m hoping that the readers will see that I was able to identify the hurt, learn the lesson from it and keep moving.  The scriptures always point to moving but it also says it will rain on the just and unjust. Some people are still holding on to the umbrella well after the rain stopped. The umbrella represents temporary protection. God is saying, “let me be your permanent protection.” If women (as well as men) can embrace this, there can be the potential for some major breakthroughs that will lead to powerful testimonies that will help others.

Who is this book perfect for?

 This book is perfect for anyone needing some inspiration on how to get through tough times from a fellow believer who is “walking it out,” and knowledge to know how to continue the journey. We truly overcome by the power of one’s testimony.

What do you hope the book can do for those struggling?

My hope is that the book will encourage the readers to keep moving forward through the assistance of my own struggles, scriptures and prayers, but also teach that resilience is developed in those tough times. Trials don’t last forever but with God’s help, we can outlast each and every one of them.

What are some of your favorite scriptures or stories for those trying times?

Joshua 1:1-9 Joshua was tasked with the greatest trial: leading the people of Israel into the promised land. He had two choices: shrink back in fear and not trust the Lord, or go forward boldly on the word God spoke to him about always being there wherever he went. I’m glad he went with the second choice because I always go right to that passage when something comes up. God has already given me the territory. He has already given me the victory.

 Romans 8:28 And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them

 Psalm 84:11 The Lord will withhold no good thing from those who do what is right.

What is the most important thing you hope readers will take away?

I truly hope that they will take away the fact that trials are not meant to destroy us and in every one of those “not so good” moments, we can pull a valuable lesson from it that will help us to grow in our Christ walk. The book is all about identifying, learning and applying the lesson then moving on to the next journey.

 

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All images provided by Tracey Jackson.

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