Y’all, I’m so excited for this Q&A with Krystle, because she’s my big sister in my head. As you read, you will see why. She operates with such kindness and wisdom. She answered every single one of my questions! So stay tuned…we talked about everything from finding purpose to navigating singleness.
Meet Krystle
Krystle, what do you do for a living?
By day I work for a federal government agency and by night I am a writer, self-published author, and content creator. I can’t refer to myself as a full-time creator just yet, but my hope is that I will be able to do so one day. I’ve always enjoyed writing and as I got older I realized it was more than just a hobby and very much my purpose.
Everything that I create is meant to encourage others. So I use the gift of writing and creating to do just that.
I know that you are a professional woman who is also a talented creative. What inspired you to shift into the creative space?
I’ve always craved creativity, even as a child. From writing short stories to getting into modeling, being creative has just always been a part of me. Fast forward to being a thirty something year old career woman, I’ve never lost the desire to create.
I am still learning how to balance my day job with my creative endeavors, but I will never put down the things that set my soul on fire. Whether it be a YouTube video, blog post, an IG post, or a book I’ve written (or will write), my goal is to encourage someone. I know that’s what I’ve been called to do. Flexing my creative muscles is very much a part of my purpose and it’s something I absolutely embrace.
What brings you joy? How do you intentionally seek it?
In order to maintain joy, I find that spending dedicated time with God with no distractions is the best way to keep my thoughts in alignment with what God’s Word says. So rather than looking for things or people to bring me a temporary state of happiness, I’ve learned the value of holding onto God. He is the same no matter what life looks like.
Now in full transparency, I haven’t mastered this. But I know the importance of checking my thoughts and perspective when needed so that I can live a more joyful life.
This question is very fitting for me because my joy is something I take very seriously. Joy, for me, is rooted in the idea that no matter what life looks like, there is always something to be grateful for.
Often, I will say that I “fight for my joy,” because life has a way of testing us to the point of not having faith for better days. I think joy is an inside job.
Without daily reminders of who God is despite whatever is happening in our lives, it is impossible to experience it. I “fight for my joy” by spending time with God as well as doing things that truly make my heart happy like writing, which is very much a form of worship for me.
When I think of you, I think of someone who is intentional about their purpose. Do you have any tips on identifying purpose? How did you identify yours?
I started writing as a child. Through grade school and even undergrad I never saw writing and creating as my purpose. What I know with all my heart is that God has called me to encourage others and use the gifts and talents He has given me to bring people to Him. I think I discovered this in my early thirties when I hit the reset button my relationship with God.
For anyone trying to discover their purpose, I would encourage them to pray a very specific prayer to God to reveal their purpose to them. I would also encourage them to be open to what God says because purpose and popularity are not synonymous. I think God speaks to us in different ways and I’d encourage anyone that might feel lost to make time to hear from God. Be open to what God says and don’t run from whatever it is He has called you to do.
Related post: Stay in Your Lane: Part 1
In one of your recent talks on Youtube (which y’all need to check out btw!), you mentioned that you were single for quite some time, but you were very content in that season. How did you find contentment in singleness?
We live in a world that pushes the idea that you have to do something by a certain time or it won’t happen. I’ve never subscribed to that sort of thinking, especially when it comes to marriage. As a thirty-seven year old woman who is not married, I fully embrace where I am in life because I choose not to let worldly expectations dictate what I’m supposed to be doing and when. My life is purposeful now and not when I have x, y, and/or z.
Contentment in singleness is a mindset and one that is rooted in self-worth, trusting God’s plans for my life, and understanding that we aren’t all created to live the same lives and have the same things in the same seasons. Simply put, I am content in my singleness because I choose to be. I don’t expose myself to people or conversations that would have me believe that I am less than because I’m not married. If it ain’t from God, I don’t want it, or in this case, I don’t want him!
What advice would you share with someone who may be struggling with singleness?
I would ask someone who is struggling with singleness where their desire for marriage comes from.
That answer will not be the same for everyone. There is absolutely nothing wrong with having a desire for marriage, but to desire it because we want to fill a void we’ve created is not a good thing.
I would encourage the woman reading this who struggles with singleness to never settle for what’s convenient. I would encourage her to get to know herself. I would also encourage her to heal and learn who she is and what she wants out of life.
Remember that every season of life requires something new of us and so in our season of singleness we should make sure not to miss opportunities to grow and evolve because we are so focused on what’s next. Live well, whatever that may look like for you.
A good book to read is Your Knight in Shining Armor by P.B. Wilson. Don’t let the title fool you…This book will force you to evaluate who you are as a single woman in the best way possible.
See Related Post: Dear Single Christian
What is the greatest lesson you learned in your twenties?
When I look back on my twenties, the greatest lesson I learned is that we only go as far as our mindset allows. What we think about ourselves is important. How we see the world is important. What we think about and focus on is important.
In a nutshell, our thoughts have power.
Having struggled with a lot of self-doubt in my twenties, I found myself not pursuing opportunities and settling for things that were convenient. In many ways, I am making up for lost time in my thirties because I just didn’t believe in myself nor did I trust God as I do today.
What is your favorite scripture? Why?
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things unseen.
Hebrews 11:1 KJV
This scripture is my favorite because it speaks to me as a dreamer. There are so many things I hope for in my life and without faith, those things will never come to fruition.
Life experiences have taught me that before a thing can happen we have to believe it can happen. How we think will determine whether or not we actually do what is necessary to see a dream realized.
There have been many days and nights that I have repeated this scripture in my head. When I feel doubtful, I recite it. When I feel nervous, I recite it. When I have an idea and I am not sure how to execute it, I recite it. It gives me permission to believe in what I cannot see.
How has grace impacted your life?
I like to say that God’s grace is all the permission I need to get up when I’ve fallen. The thing is, God knows every single thing about me. From the good to the bad to the ugly, He knows it all and yet every single morning He gives me grace.
I’ve struggled through shame and self-doubt throughout my life so much so that I now fully embrace and welcome God’s grace every single day. To know that no matter what I’ve done or will do God’s grace meets me where I am truly gives me all the permission I need to not focus on what I’ve done wrong but how I can be better.
See Related Post: Q&A with Risha Leondra
When you look at your Grace Lane & Co. mug what comes to mind?
“Love God. Love People. Embrace Grace.” These words mean so much to me. I absolutely love God and I am thankful for who He is in my life. We live in a world where there is so much divisiveness about so many things but we are called to love others (as we love ourselves). Last but not least, embracing grace is a game changer and a welcomed reminder.
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As always, I hope you enjoyed this interview as much as I did!
Hugs,
Ayanna