Finding God Again Without the Weight of Religion

 In 2025, I began rediscovering my faith in a way I never had before.

What I realized surprised me, but it also explained so much of the ache I had carried for years:

It wasn’t God who hurt me. It was religion. It was religious people.

God did not wound me with shame.
He did not silence my questions.
He did not punish my curiosity or confusion.

People did.

Somewhere along the way, faith became tangled with fear. Rules were louder than relationship. Correction came before compassion. Instead of being drawn closer to God, I learned to associate Him with heaviness, guilt, and the constant feeling of “not being enough.”

So I stepped away. Not fully from God, but from the version of Him I had been given.

Healing from Religious Trauma and Rediscovering Faith

What I’ve come to see in my adulthood is this: God never left. He waited.

When I finally returned to Scripture with fresh eyes, I didn’t find a God eager to shame me for my mistakes. I found a God who gently showed me why certain things were harmful. Not because He wanted control, but because He wanted wholeness.

Yes, God is grieved by sin. But not in the way I was taught to fear.

His grief isn’t about punishment.
It’s about protection.
It’s about love.

He revealed truth at a pace my heart could handle.
He met me with mercy, not condemnation.
And slowly, safely, I began to understand who He truly is.

Letting Go of Shame in Faith

Even now, shame is something I still wrestle with.

Not because God places it on me, but because it was planted early and grew roots before I knew better. Shame doesn’t disappear overnight, especially when it has been tied to faith for years.

That struggle is part of why this work matters so deeply to me.

I don’t want young women to learn about God through fear first.
I don’t want them to confuse holiness with harshness.
I don’t want them to carry years of shame before discovering grace.

A Space Rooted in God’s Love, Not Religion

I have a dream.

A space that doesn’t revolve around religion, but absolutely revolves around God and His love.

A place where love is felt before rules are explained.
Where mercy comes before correction.
Where questions are welcomed and wounds are honored.
Where no one feels rushed, pressured, or judged into belief.

A space to grow in the Word of God without fear or shame.
A space to experience His grace, kindness, and patience.
A space where hearts can come tired and leave lighter.

Right now, that space exists online.
One day, I hope it becomes a physical table you can sit at.

Why I’m Creating This Space

I’m creating this space because I needed it once.
Because I still need it sometimes.
And because I believe God’s kindness changes lives faster than fear ever could.

If you’ve been hurt by religion but still feel drawn to God, you are not alone.
If you’re curious but cautious, you belong here.
If you’re healing, questioning, or quietly hopeful, there is room for you.

This isn’t about perfection.
It’s about presence.
It’s about rediscovering who God really is, together.

And I believe He is very, very good.

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