Whole in the Waiting.

Recently, I found myself deeply hurt by a situation that was completely out of my control. In my pain, my natural instinct was to isolate. My best friend knew what I was going through, and while I desperately wanted to talk to her, the emotional weight was so heavy that the words literally felt trapped in my throat. I managed to text her: "I can't talk about this out loud, but can we text? I would love your input." She sent back a wonderful, encouraging message that I was so grateful for, but that heavy, constricting feeling in my throat remained.

Turning reluctantly to the only One who could truly ease my heavy heart, I brought the issue before God, I heard Him whisper: “Read the parable of the Lost Son, and I want you to focus on the father.”

My immediate, internal response was confusion. “Lord, how is that going to help me here? That story is about a son who walked away and a father who took him back.” But the whisper was persistent and strong. I opened my Bible to Luke 15:20-23:

“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate.’”

As I stared at the pages, God granted me a powerful breakthrough. I saw something I had never truly noticed before: The father had maintained his health, his wealth, and his peace. The son did not return to a father who had lost himself in despair, anxiety, or sadness over his son's absence. He returned to a father who was whole, alert, and capable of running to him—a father who was doing so well that he could immediately throw a celebration.

In that moment, I heard God speak clearly to my heart: “In the midst of difficulties, take care of yourself. Be a good steward of what I have given you, and I will take care of the rest.”

I later shared this revelation with my best friend, who is also navigating her own season of difficulty, she said, “Olivia, the father was grounded. When the son came back, he saw that his dad hadn't changed. He was still steady, welcoming, and giving.”

That word—grounded—clicked everything into place. I began to reflect on how God has gently taught me this exact lesson throughout my life. Every single time I have been able to step up and do things I never thought I was capable of, it was because I chose to ground myself in God and surrender what I couldn't control over to Him.

I remembered 2013, when I flew to Honduras for my very first international speaking engagement. When I initially accepted the invitation, life was going smoothly. But just weeks before my flight, a personal trial hit me so hard it threatened to suck all the joy out of me. Instead of retreating, I turned to God, asked for help, leaned on prayers, and went. God was deeply glorified.

Over the years, a pattern emerged. Nearly every time I accept a major speaking engagement, something in my personal life seems to collapse weeks or months beforehand. I am often left feeling empty, like I don’t have what it takes to show up, give, and be present. But each time, I make a conscious choice. I turn to God, I ask for prayer, and I rely on the steady shoulders of my inner circle—the people I call "God’s instruments" in my life.

I am always able to step onto that stage and give, not because the problem has magically vanished, but because I realize I can only control myself. Staying enmeshed in things outside of my control only keeps me trapped and distracted from the exact purpose God is calling me to fulfill.

We all have moments where hard things happen and we wonder, “Is God really listening? Does He care?” But He always finds a way to comfort my heart and pull me back to solid ground.

Looking back at my journey today, I am in awe. I have written books that have guided women toward deep personal healing, spoken on international stages, and coached incredible clients. I can only take the "stages" God places me on because He corrects me, teaches me, comforts me, and grounds me. Thank you, God!

In my coaching program, I help women rediscover what it truly feels like to anchor themselves in God's peace as they embrace who they are. My current groups are completely full, but I would love the opportunity to connect with you, share more about this transformative journey, and see if joining the waitlist for my next cohort is the right next step for you.

So, how am I feeling currently about the situation I alluded to at the beginning? To be completely honest, I am still not able to talk fully about it without bursting into tears. But I am actively doing what I need to do to ground myself, and I know that peace will come.

To set up a call use this link: https://www.oliviahudsonlifecoach.com/contact-me

“But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water  that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes;  its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.” Jeremiah 17:8

P.S The clip below is from being the keynote speaker at a Women’s Retreat (Unlocking Greatness)