There comes a point in every journey when God does not simply nudge us—He pulls us out of our comfort and into a season of refining. A season where the heat intensifies, the noise around us grows louder, and the path forward becomes unclear. Not because we have done something wrong, but because God is preparing us for something greater.

For months now, I have been walking through a period that has tested my confidence, my voice, my faith, and even my sense of identity. Yet in every moment of discomfort, God has whispered a truth I can no longer ignore:

The fire is not meant to destroy you.
The fire is meant to reveal you.

During a recent small-group discussion, a question stirred something deep within me:

“Where have you been suffering or struggling lately, and what lessons have you learned so far?”

That question settled into my spirit. And the scriptures that followed made it clear that suffering is not an interruption to the Christian journey—it is part of the calling.

• 1 Peter 4:12–13 tells us not to be surprised by the “fiery ordeal” that comes to test us.
• Acts 5:41 shows the apostles rejoicing because they were counted worthy to suffer for the Name.

These verses struck me because they mirrored my own reality. I have been walking through fire. I have been misunderstood. I have been misjudged. I have been pushed aside for speaking truth, standing for integrity, and refusing to shrink myself to make others comfortable.

But in this heat, something beautiful is happening:

I am being refined.
I am being strengthened.
I am rediscovering my voice.
And I am rising into my next level.

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🔥 The Fire Reveals What Comfort Conceals

For too long, I dimmed my light to avoid being “too much.”
I softened my voice so others wouldn’t feel intimidated.
I lowered my goals so no one would accuse me of overstepping.

But the refining process revealed this truth:

Gold does not apologize for shining.
Purpose does not shrink itself to soothe insecurity.
Ambition is not arrogance when it is rooted in integrity.

The more I grow, the more uncomfortable I become for those unwilling to grow with me. And that is not my burden to carry. That is my sign to continue evolving.

The fire exposed what comfort concealed:
that I have strength I never acknowledged, a voice I was afraid to use, and a calling that refuses to be silenced.

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🌕 Take the Moonshot

There is a leadership quote that recently pierced my heart:

“Do not shrink your goals to make anyone comfortable. Your next level can absolutely be Director, Vice President, or C-Suite. Ambition is healthy when you move with integrity. If you want the moonshot, take it.”

This isn’t just a motivational phrase.
This is confirmation.

For the first time in a long time, I feel alignment—spiritual, emotional, professional alignment. I feel God repositioning me. I feel doors shifting. I feel purpose gathering itself around me.

And because of that, I am done shrinking.

I am done apologizing for wanting more.
I am done silencing a voice God gave me to use.
I am done letting other people’s comfort dictate the size of my calling.

If God placed the desire in me,
He intends to fulfill it through me.

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✨ Everything Is Aligning

I used to fight the current, forcing outcomes, chasing timing, and trying to control what was never mine to manage. But now, I am embracing the deeper truth:

Everything is aligning for me.

Not because life is perfect,
but because God is intentional.

Every setback was preparation.
Every disappointment was redirection.
Every silence was protection.
Every fire was refining.

And now, I am standing stronger, clearer, and more confident than I have in years.

I am meant for great things.
I am ready for great things.
And I am stepping boldly into my next level.

This is not a season of shrinking—
this is a season of rising.

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🕊️ Author’s Note

Wings of Courage exists because I believe in the power of truth, vulnerability, and transformation. This chapter of my life—the refining, the stretching, the rebuilding—has taught me more about faith, courage, and purpose than any success ever could.

If you are walking through your own fire, know this: you are not being burned—you are being shaped. Trust the process. Honor your growth. And step boldly into the woman you are becoming.

— Michelle Evans