The Real Cost of Getting Derailed (And How to Get Back on Track)

Click to listen to Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/me-again-god-episode-3-the-real-cost-of-getting/id1827852894

There’s a moment in every journey when you stop and look around, wondering how you got so far off course. For me, that moment didn’t come all at once. It came through exhaustion, regret, and finally… surrender.

If you’re here, you might be feeling the same tug in your spirit. Maybe you’ve been doing everything you thought you were supposed to do. Maybe you’ve been “strong” for so long that now you're just tired. You’re not alone—and this blog is for you.

The Cinderella Story I Wanted vs. the Life I Lived

Let me be real with you. My story isn’t the polished, feel-good version I used to hope for. It’s messy. It’s painful. It’s marked by a lot of “shoulda, coulda, woulda” moments.

I was raised by good parents. I was taught right from wrong. But like so many of us, I got swept up in the world’s version of what life was supposed to look like. I veered from the truth I was raised in and chased success, independence, and a false sense of worth.

And then—I survived something I never imagined I’d face. A crime that shattered everything. What followed was a season of rebuilding… and relearning who I was, and more importantly, whose I was.

When I Thought I Was Winning… I Was Actually Losing

I worked myself to the bone trying to keep everything afloat—roof, bills, school, sports. I was up at 3 a.m., pouring out everything I had until I had nothing left. I thought I was doing the right thing. I thought my boys would see a hardworking mom.

But one day, I found out they were sneaking out at night while I lay passed out from exhaustion. They weren’t turning to me for comfort or connection. They were going to the neighbors—where the lights were on, laughter was loud, and the drinks were cold.

That crushed me.

The truth? I wasn’t present. I was so busy trying to survive that I missed the moments that truly mattered.

The Ripple That Reached Further Than I Ever Meant It To

My story isn’t just about me. It’s about my sons. It’s about the impact of one woman abandoning her God-given role. And it’s about the ripple that followed.

When women step out of alignment with God’s design, it costs more than we realize. It costs husbands, who are pushed out of leadership or made to carry it all alone. It costs children, who grow up unmothered, unseen, or confused. And it costs future generations, who repeat the cycle unless someone finally breaks it.

But even in the guilt and heartbreak—I saw God.

He was there, holding my family in ways I hadn’t even noticed. And when I turned around, He was still there. Waiting. Patient. Loving.

How I Got Back On Track (And How You Can Too)

I didn’t overhaul my life overnight. I started small. I prayed. I got quiet. I asked God to help me hear Him again.

I didn’t quit my job the next day. But I started taking my breaks. I took lunch. I let my body and mind rest. It was hard—my work performance dropped the first couple of months. But you know what happened by month three? I was back on top. I had peace. And my kids had a mom who was awake and engaged.

I also found a church that taught the truth. I built a circle of godly women who reminded me of what matters. I studied on my own, and I began saying no—even to good things—so I could say yes to God.

Some of You Are Asking…

What if I make more than my husband?That doesn’t disqualify you from God’s design. Your attitude matters more than your income.

What if I’m deep in my career?Pray. God knows where you are. He has a plan. Surrender it. Watch what He does.

Is it too late for me?Absolutely not. Our God is a God of restoration. Joel 2:25 says, “I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten…” He’s not trying to shame you—He’s ready to restore you.

From Burnout to Rest

Jesus said, “Come to Me, all you who are weary… and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). Not more pressure. Not a bigger checklist. Rest.

I lived culture’s lie and wore the crown it offered me. It glittered—but it crushed me.

Now, I’ve come home to God’s design. It’s not easy, but it’s right. And it’s filled with a peace I never had before.

Looking Ahead

Next time, we’re going to talk about what happens when we live in alignment with God’s design. The joy. The rest. The strength. The real fruit.

We’ll talk boundaries that protect instead of isolate. We’ll look at what it means to be energized instead of drained. And we’ll meet women who made the shift—and never looked back.

You’re Not Too Far Gone

If you’re feeling the cost of getting off track, let me say this again:

You are not behind.You are not late.You are not beyond hope.

You’re right on time for God’s grace. And He’s been waiting for you to come home.

• Women of faith

• Spiritual burnout

• Returning to God

• Motherhood and grace

• Real-life redemption

• Restoring faith

• Biblical womanhood

• Healing from the past

• Finding peace again

• Christian motherhood

• Breaking generational cycles

• Living in God's design

• Grace over guilt

• When you're tired of being strong

• God's timing and restoration