Follow Friday: Staying True When It Would Be Easier to Break

“When people switch up and the ground shifts under your feet, You don’t have to chase their approval. This might be the very moment Jesus is asking you who are you really following.”

There are losses that feel like they reach right down into my bones.
Being pushed out of the job I loved - the place I poured over three years of my life, love, and leadership into - hit more than just my finances. It shook my identity, my trust, and my sense of how people value me.

I gave more than was required, showing up with integrity and putting in the extra hours because I cared about the people and the work, not just the paycheck.
When a place like that doesn't stick up for your safety, and allows you to be pushed out, it is deeply revealing - not about my worth, but about their character and alignment.

“The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”
John 10:10 (NKJV)

People who choose dishonesty, manipulation, and exploitation are aligning with the thief, not with Jesus.
They may prosper for a moment, but sooner or later, everyone reaps what they sow.

Knowing My Presence Is Priceless

One thing I’ve learned in this process is that my presence is priceless.
Where I invest my energy, love, and faithfulness, things grow - businesses, teams, friendships, and atmospheres.

Sometimes the enemy works overtime to push out the very person carrying the blessing, hoping I’ll crumble or turn bitter.
But when I belong to Jesus, my value doesn’t evaporate just because a job ends or a group turns their back. It simply gets redirected.

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.”
Colossians 3:23 (NIV)

God saw every extra hour, every sacrifice, every unseen act of care I gave in that job.
He knows how much of myself I brought, and He is more than able to plant me in a new space that can actually honor what I carry.

When Those Closest to Me Choose the Other Side

The deepest cuts haven’t just come from my workplace.
They’ve come from my family, my friends, and even my wider community - the very people who should have covered me, not sold me out.

Discovering that people I loved aligned themselves with the enemy for personal gain is a grief all its own.
It forces a choice: either minimize it and stay in toxic connection, or accept the truth and create distance for the sake of my soul.

“Do not be deceived: ‘Evil company corrupts good habits.’”
1 Corinthians 15:33 (NKJV)

Following Jesus in everyday moments sometimes looks like unfollowing people in real life.
Not with hatred, but with holy clarity: if they have chosen lies, manipulation, and betrayal, I am not obligated to keep granting them access to my heart.

I can grieve them, pray for them, and still decide that my loyalty belongs to God, not to those who knowingly tried to harm a heart that only ever loved them.

Red Flags, Paperwork, and Holy Curiosity

When I trace the story back, I can see the first red flags more clearly now.
I launched my personal brand at the end of July 2025, stepping into the calling God placed on my life in a more public way.

Soon after, my best friend - the one who always had me sign as a witness - suddenly chose not to include me in witnessing a stack of important paperwork.
At the time, I let it slide. But looking back, it raises heavy questions:

• Why was that the first time I had ever been intentionally excluded?
• Was there something in that paperwork connected to me, my work, or my future?
• Were people around me making moves that touched my life while keeping me in the dark?

“The Lord will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart.”
1 Corinthians 4:5 (NIV)

I may not have every answer yet, but following Jesus here means holding my questions in His presence instead of letting them poison my heart.
I am allowed to ask, to wonder, and to take note of what no longer feels right -without abandoning my integrity.

What It Really Means for Me to Follow Jesus Here

Following Jesus isn’t just about Sunday worship and highlight‑reel miracles.
It’s about the thousand tiny choices I make when life feels unfair, when people lie, when betrayal is fresh, and when loss is heavy.

In this season, following Him looks like:

• Refusing to sell my soul for money, status, or acceptance.
• Letting God remove people who chose darkness over truth, even if I once loved them deeply.
• Trusting that being excluded, slandered, or pushed out is not the end of my story.
• Continuing to walk in honesty, purity, and love, even when others chose manipulation and deceit.

“Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.’”
Matthew 16:24 (NIV)

Denying myself does not mean denying what happened or pretending it didn’t hurt.
It means laying down the temptation to retaliate, to become like the people who betrayed me, or to abandon my calling out of exhaustion or fear.

A Gentle Follow Friday Reflection

As I step into this Follow Friday, I pray:

“Jesus,
You know what I poured into that job, those friendships, and that community.
You saw every extra hour, every unseen sacrifice, and every time I chose love when I could have chosen resentment.

You also see the contracts I never got to read, the conversations I was never told about, and the ways people tried to profit from my presence while plotting behind my back.
I refuse to follow their example. I choose to follow You.

Guard my heart from bitterness.
Expose what needs exposing, heal what needs healing, and lead me into spaces where my integrity, creativity, and love can flourish.
Thank You that my value doesn’t end with their decisions - and that no one can cancel the calling You’ve placed on my life.

Amen.”

“They may have walked away, lied, or cashed in on my kindness - but I am still free to follow Jesus with a clean heart. Their choices are their harvest; my obedience is my home.”

With truth, courage, and grace,
Eugene 💘

EugeniasThought: Keep Rising and Shining beautiful souls!

Every word is a whisper of intention, carved in stillness and light.

🎧 Frequency Feature: Trust In God (feat. Chris Brown)

“Trust In God” by Elevation Worship sits right at the heart of this Follow Friday -choosing Jesus when people, positions, and promises fall through. The song echoes my own declaration that even when I’m betrayed, pushed out, or misunderstood, I won’t sell my soul for approval or security; I will keep trusting the One who sees my unseen hours, guards my calling, and leads me into spaces that honor the priceless presence I bring.

Weekly Editorial Rhythm

• Monday: Monday Morning Grace - a gentle start to the week with faith-centered encouragement
• Tuesday: Truth-Telling Tuesday - authentic reflections on living faith boldly
• Wednesday: The Midweek Mirror - a pause for spiritual reflection and self-compassion
• Thursday: Frequency Thursday - tuning into God's voice amid life's noise
• Friday: Follow Friday - exploring what it means to follow Jesus in everyday moments
• Saturday: Sacred Saturday - rest, reflection, and spiritual practices
• Sunday: Sunday Soul Food - nourishing reflections to ground your week ahead

Your Journey Starts Here

Many have asked during my TikTok Lives how to begin their personal or spiritual journey. So far, I've explored and mapped the first three stages for those seeking alignment - the awakening, the journey inward, and the path forward.

These stages have brought profound clarity, and I'm grateful to share what I've discovered along the way.

There are still a few details unfolding, but trust that everything is aligning in its own time - and you'll be the first to know when it's ready.

Remember, this is self-love being transmuted into art; growth takes time, and you can't rush an actual journey, beautiful souls. In due time, all the right energy falls into place. Just have faith. Hold the vision.

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May you move at the pace of peace this week and trust the rhythm that is uniquely yours.