Can you relate to this?

You find yourself snapping at small things.You get defensive before someone can even finish their sentence.You feel like you always have to stay in control—or else.

If that sounds familiar, you may be carrying what’s called the fight response—a trauma response that often grows out of father wounds.

What is the Fight Response?

The fight response is when we protect ourselves by going on the offensive.

For many of us, this survival strategy began in childhood, shaped by experiences like:

* Living with a critical or controlling father.

* Growing up around yelling or unpredictable anger.

* Feeling ignored unless we raised our voice to be heard.

Back then, anger became armour. It helped us feel safe, powerful, or at least seen.

But as adults, that same armour can now weigh us down.

How It Shows Up Now

The fight response often looks like:

* Quick temper or irritability.

* Becoming defensive instead of vulnerable.

* Needing control in relationships, work, or daily life.

* Believing softness = weakness.

Anger once protected us, but now it can keep love and peace out, too.

What the Bible Says About Anger

The Bible acknowledges that anger is a real human emotion—but it cautions us about what we do with it.

📖 James 1:20 – “Human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.”📖 Ephesians 4:26 – “In your anger do not sin: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry.”📖 Exodus 14:14 – “The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”

Anger is often a mask for deeper feelings—grief, fear, longing. God doesn’t just ask us to suppress it; He invites us to bring it to Him, so He can transform it.

Moving Toward Healing

Healing the fight response means learning that:

* We don’t have to control others to be safe.

* We can risk vulnerability with people who are trustworthy.

* True strength isn’t in defensiveness but in surrendering to God’s protection.

When anger is surrendered to God, it can become holy passion—fuel for justice, energy for growth, courage to love.

Reflection Questions

* When have I noticed myself reacting with anger instead of expressing my true feelings?

* How has anger once served me—and how is it limiting me now?

* What would it look like to let God be my defender, instead of always defending myself?

Affirmation

“My worth is not in my defenses. I lay down my armor and allow God to be my defender. My strength is found in His peace, not in my anger.”

Closing Scripture

📖 Psalm 46:10 – “Be still, and know that I am God.”

Even when everything in you wants to fight, God invites you into stillness—because He’s already fighting for you.

✨ If this message resonated with you, I’d love for you to share it with a friend who might need this encouragement. You can also subscribe to Beloved here on Substack for weekly reflections, journaling prompts, and resources to walk with you on your healing journey.

Beloved with Cherise Rochelle is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Remember: you don’t have to fight for your worth—it’s already secure in God and YOU ARE BELOVED. 💛

We often talk about healing as though it’s just about mending what’s broken—but healing is so much more than that. It’s the doorway to stepping into your full identity, your true potential, and the greatness that God has already planted inside you.

When we carry father wounds, they can quietly dictate the way we see ourselves, the choices we make, and the relationships we settle for. Fear, doubt, and limitation creep in and make us believe that our story will always be defined by our pain.

But here’s the truth: your wounds are obstacles, not your identity. And when you let God walk you through the process of healing, you discover what’s waiting on the other side:

* A life no longer controlled by fear or rejection.

* A new identity—whole, chosen, and deeply loved.

* The freedom to move from surviving to thriving.

* A story that no longer holds you back, but lifts you forward.

Reflection

Take some time this week and ask yourself:

* What wound has been holding me back from becoming who I know I’m meant to be?

* If I no longer carried that pain into my decisions, how would my life look different?

* What dream or calling has God placed on my heart that healing could unlock?

Healing is not just about what you’re leaving behind—it’s about what you’re stepping into.

Affirmation

I am no longer defined by my wounds. I am healed, chosen, and equipped for greatness. My story is not one of loss, but of overcoming.

Key Verse

Isaiah 61:3 – To bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.

This is what’s waiting for you on the other side of your healing: beauty for ashes, joy for mourning, and a life full of purpose.

If today’s message spoke to you, I encourage you to share it with someone who may also need hope for their healing journey. You are not your wounds—you are beloved, and your greatness is already written into your story.

Beloved with Cherise Rochelle is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Until next time, stay rooted in truth, wrapped in grace, and never forget—you are beloved. 💛

Can people really change? And when it comes to our fathers—or father figures—who may have hurt us, what is our role in that change, and what is God’s?

Beloved, this is one of the most tender questions many of us carry. When you’ve been hurt by a father or father figure, the desire for change often runs deep. We long for reconciliation. We long to be seen, heard, and loved in the ways we missed.

But what happens when change doesn’t come? What’s our responsibility—and what belongs only to God?

Today’s reflection will walk us through:

* What real change looks like

* Our role vs. God’s role

* How to release expectations without giving up hope

* How to keep healing even if change never comes

Reflection

1. What Real Change Looks Like

Change isn’t just saying sorry or behaving better for a short time. Real transformation requires:

* Facing truth honestly

* Walking in accountability

* Allowing God’s grace to renew the heart

Ezekiel 36:26 – “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.”

True change flows from God—it goes deeper than willpower.

2. Our Role: What We Can Do

Here’s what we often forget: you cannot force change. You cannot heal what someone refuses to face. You cannot play the role of the Holy Spirit.

But you can:

* Set boundaries that protect your peace

* Pray for their healing and salvation

* Forgive when you’re ready—not to excuse, but to release yourself

* Choose wisely how much access they have to your life

Romans 12:18 – “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”

You are only responsible for your part.

3. God’s Role: The One Who Transforms

God alone changes hearts. He convicts where we cannot, reveals truth in ways we cannot, and carries the work to completion.

Philippians 1:6 – “He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”

That means you can release the pressure. The burden is not yours to carry.

4. The Hard Truth: When Change Doesn’t Happen

Sometimes, no matter how much we hope or pray, fathers do not change. This doesn’t mean God has failed. It doesn’t mean you’re unworthy. And it doesn’t mean your healing is impossible.

Psalm 27:10 – “Though my father and mother forsake me, the Lord will receive me.”

Your healing is secure in God, even without their transformation.

5. Holding Hope Without Losing Yourself

It’s okay to hope. But hope must be balanced with wisdom. Otherwise, you may end up stuck—waiting for their change before stepping into your own freedom.

Pray for them. Hold space for reconciliation. But don’t freeze your healing while you wait. God can redeem relationships, but He can also redeem you apart from them.

Journaling Prompts

* Am I waiting for someone else’s change before I feel free to heal?

* Where am I carrying responsibility that actually belongs to God?

* How can I release my father into God’s hands today, while still keeping healthy boundaries?

Affirmation

“I am not responsible for anyone else’s transformation. I release control and trust God with the hearts of those who hurt me. My healing is not dependent on their change—it is secure in God.”

Today’s Key Bible Verse

Ezekiel 36:26 – “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.”

If God can do this in us, He can do it in them too—but it’s His work, not ours.

Beloved, here’s the truth: you are not defined by someone else’s choices. You are defined by God’s love. Your healing is secure in Him, no matter what others choose.

If today’s reflection spoke to you, share it with a friend who might need encouragement. And if you’d like to go deeper, subscribe here on Substack for weekly reflections, journaling prompts, and resources to support your healing journey.

Beloved with Cherise Rochelle is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Until next time, stay rooted in truth, wrapped in grace, and never forget—you are beloved. 💛

Ephesians 6:12 says we don’t wrestle against flesh and blood but against spiritual forces. If that’s true, then how responsible are our fathers or father figures for the wounds they’ve left in our lives? How accountable should they really be for the hurt they’ve caused?

Welcome back, beloved. Today we’re talking about a tender but necessary subject: responsibility, accountability, and healing when it comes to father wounds.

Because if you’ve carried hurt from your father or a father figure, you may have asked yourself—was he just broken, or should he be held responsible? How do I balance compassion with truth? And how do I heal without minimizing the damage?

This is a conversation about finding freedom by naming the truth, releasing revenge, and letting God hold both accountability and justice in His hands.

Reflection

1. Our True Battle

Ephesians 6:12 reminds us: “We wrestle not against flesh and blood…” This means the hurt you experienced didn’t come from nowhere—it was part of a bigger battle. Fathers often repeat generational cycles of pain. Some carry unhealed wounds of their own.

Recognizing the spiritual battle doesn’t excuse them—but it helps us see the deeper forces at work.

2. Human Responsibility Still Stands

Scripture is clear: each of us is responsible for our choices (Romans 14:12). That includes fathers.

* Abandonment is still abandonment.

* Harsh words still wound.

* Abuse still leaves scars.

Acknowledging harm is not dishonoring—it’s truth. And truth is the foundation of healing.

3. Accountability Without Bitterness

Accountability doesn’t mean seeking revenge. It means naming what happened, refusing to minimize it, and letting God deal with ultimate justice.

Forgiveness isn’t excusing—it’s release. It says, “I will not let your choices keep me chained.”

4. God’s Role in Justice

Romans 12:19 says: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.

You don’t need to carry the weight of judgment. That’s God’s role. Your role is to walk in truth, healing, and freedom.

Journaling Prompts

* Have I been minimizing or excusing my father’s actions in order to cope?

* Where do I need to name the truth about what happened?

* Am I holding onto bitterness or revenge instead of releasing justice to God?

* What would accountability look like for me in this season?

Affirmation

“My healing does not depend on my father’s repentance. I honor the truth, release the burden of revenge, and trust God with justice. I am free to heal.”

Scripture

Micah 6:8 – “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”

Beloved, the truth is this: fathers may wound us, but God never abandons us. Accountability and healing are not opposites—they work together. You can honor your pain, name the truth, and still walk free.

If this reflection spoke to you, share it with someone else who may need encouragement. And if you want to go deeper, you can subscribe here to receive new episodes, reflections, and resources to support your healing journey.

Remember, you are beloved, chosen, and deeply seen. 💛

Theme: Self-Respect • Boundaries • Healing • Discernment • God’s Guidance

Have you ever been faced with something that looks good on the surface—a job, a friendship, a relationship—but deep down you know it undermines your worth, your healing, or your peace?

Today’s episode is for anyone who struggles with stepping away from things that might seem “good enough” but are actually misaligned with who God is shaping you to be. Walking away isn’t about giving up—it’s about protecting your peace, honouring your worth, and trusting that God has something better waiting.

This episode ties closely to our previous discussions on boundaries, grieving friendships, and self-respect. If you’ve been learning to say “no” without guilt, recognise your patterns, and stand in your worth, walking away is the natural next step. It’s the step that turns lessons into action.

1️⃣ Recognising When It’s Time to Walk Away

There are signs that what you’re holding onto may not be right for your season of growth:

* Constant anxiety, unease, or discomfort around it

* Sacrificing your values, peace, or boundaries to maintain it

* Recurring patterns that mirror past pain or unhealed wounds

* Compromising on what God has called you to for fear of missing out

Reflection Prompt: Take a moment to journal the things that feel off or draining in your life. Seeing patterns in writing often brings clarity.

2️⃣ Pressures That Make Us Settle

Even when we know something isn’t right, external pressures can tempt us to compromise:

* Loneliness: Fear of being alone pushes us to cling to something less than healthy.

* Financial pressures: Feeling trapped by bills, obligations, or practicality.

* Societal expectations: Pressure to “have it all” by a certain age or timeline.

* Fear of scarcity: Believing better isn’t possible, so we take what’s available.

Truth to remember: God is your ultimate provider, source, and guide. Your value and wholeness aren’t dependent on a job, a person, or an opportunity.

📖 Psalm 34:10: The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.

3️⃣ How to Identify Something Better

Walking away is only half the battle. You also need clarity on what “better” looks like. Ask yourself:

* Does this align with my values, boundaries, and God-given worth?

* Does this help me grow, lift me up, and align with who God created me to be?

* Does it bring peace and emotional safety, or constant anxiety and compromise?

* Am I energised, supported, and valued—or drained, dismissed, and undermined?

* Could this support the life, relationships, and calling God is leading me toward?

Journaling Exercise: Write down your “must-haves” versus “deal-breakers” in relationships, work, or friendships. Pray and ask God to illuminate the path toward what truly honors your worth.

4️⃣ How to Walk Away Gracefully

Walking away doesn’t have to be dramatic or guilt-ridden:

* Communicate clearly and kindly: Use honest but respectful language.

* Take practical steps: Change routines, limit contact, or create physical/emotional space.

* Lean on community: Share your decision with someone who will support and pray for you.

* Anchor in God: Use scripture and prayer to remind yourself that leaving isn’t rejection—it’s protection.

Reflection Prompt: “If I truly trusted God’s provision, what steps would I take today to align with my worth, even if it’s uncomfortable?”

5️⃣ Seeing Walking Away as a Gain, Not a Loss

It’s natural to feel like letting go is losing something. But in God’s economy, leaving behind what dishonors you opens space for what truly builds you up:

* Emotional safety

* Authentic connection

* Alignment with your calling

* Peace, freedom, and joy

📖 Isaiah 43:19: See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?

Walking away is not giving up—it’s trusting God to replace what doesn’t serve you with what aligns with His plan for your life.

Affirmation

“I trust God to guide me toward what honours my worth. I walk away from what undermines me, knowing He has something better prepared. I am worthy of peace, respect, and joy.”

Closing Verse

📖 Psalm 16:11: You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Self-respect, boundaries, and walking away are all acts of faith in God’s provision. Choosing to leave what undermines your peace is a step toward fullness of joy and freedom in Christ.

Reflection Questions / Journaling Prompts

* Where in my life am I clinging to something that no longer serves me?

* Which pressures—fear, loneliness, financial stress—have made me settle?

* What would “something better” look like for me, according to my values and God’s calling?

* How can I take one small step this week toward letting go and trusting God’s provision?

Next Steps & Encouragement

If this write-up blessed you, consider sharing it with someone who might need encouragement. You can also subscribe to my Substack to stay up-to-date on reflections, exercises, and resources to help you continue walking in peace, respect, and alignment with God’s calling.

Remember: Walking away doesn’t diminish your story—it strengthens your character, honors your worth, and opens the door to what God has in store.

You are beloved. 💛

Beloved with Cherise Rochelle is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Have you ever wondered why you keep being drawn to the same type of person—even when it hasn’t worked out before? Sometimes what we call “chemistry” is actually just familiarity. For many of us with father wounds, our attractions aren’t random. They’re shaped by what we saw, what we lacked, and what we’re still trying to subconsciously repair.

But here’s the good news: you don’t have to stay stuck in those cycles. With awareness, healing, and God’s truth, you can change not only who you’re drawn to—but also what you believe you deserve.

About This Episode

In today’s episode we’re exploring how father wounds shape our “default” patterns of attraction—and how we can begin to break free from them.

We’ll talk about:

* Recognising your patterns – how your defaults may reflect unfinished business with your father figure.

* Attraction vs. familiarity – why drama and inconsistency can feel magnetic, while safe love can feel “boring.”

* Breaking the cycle – learning to pause before pursuing, reframing what you desire, and inviting God into your attractions.

* Becoming what you attract – cultivating self-respect, setting boundaries, and retraining your heart to desire healthy love.

This isn’t about shaming yourself for past choices. It’s about recognising patterns with compassion and stepping into freedom with God’s help.

Reflection

* What types of people have I been drawn to in the past?

* Do I confuse chaos with passion and consistency with boredom?

* How can I begin to align my heart with what is truly good for me, instead of what feels familiar?

Scripture

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” – Romans 12:2

This renewal includes your patterns of attraction. Healing allows you to desire what God desires for you: love that is safe, steady, and true.

Listen Now

If you’ve ever felt stuck in repeating the same story in your relationships, this episode will help you see where those patterns come from—and how to start changing them.

🎧 Listen to the full episode here: [insert link]

“Have I made a relationship, or even the desire for one, an idol in my life?”

When we hear the word idolatry, we often picture ancient statues or rituals—but in reality, modern idols look very different.

Idols can be the desires, relationships, or obsessions that quietly take God’s place in our hearts. And for many of us who have carried father wounds, those idols often spring from a deep ache for love, affirmation, and security.

Today’s episode explores how unresolved father wounds can lead us to idolize relationships, marriage, or even the dream of being chosen, and how healing helps us recognize when our desires have crossed over into obsession or idolatry.

In This Episode, We’ll Explore:

* The subtle ways idolatry shows up in our lives today

* How father wounds create gaps that idols try to fill

* The difference between obsession and idolatry

* Signs that a desire has taken God’s place in your heart

* How healing restores balance and puts God back at the centre

Key Reflection Questions:

* Have I asked a relationship (or the desire for one) to prove my worth?

* Do I believe God can meet the needs I’ve been trying to fill elsewhere?

* If God said “not yet,” could I still rest in His love?

* Where in my life have I confused obsession with devotion?

Affirmation

“I release every idol from my heart. I am loved, chosen, and complete in Christ alone. My desires do not define me—God does.”

Scripture to Hold On To

“Dear children, keep yourselves from idols.” – 1 John 5:21

God doesn’t warn us against idols to deprive us, but to protect us. Idols enslave, but His love sets us free.

💌 Final Note

Thank you for listening to today’s episode. If this conversation resonated with you, I encourage you to share it with a friend who might need this gentle reminder, too.

Until next time, stay rooted in truth, wrapped in grace and never forget…

You are beloved.

Beloved with Cherise Rochelle is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Have you ever held onto hurt, resentment, or anger, wondering if forgiving someone—or even yourself—would mean excusing what happened?

What if forgiveness could actually set you free?

This week, we’re exploring how forgiveness is one of the most powerful tools in healing trauma. Forgiveness doesn’t erase the past or dismiss the pain, but it breaks the chains that keep us bound to it.

Why Forgiveness Matters in Healing

Trauma leaves imprints on the heart. Left unhealed, those imprints can grow into bitterness, distrust, and cycles of pain. Forgiveness is not about excusing someone—it’s about releasing their hold on your life so you can step into peace.

“Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger… Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” – Ephesians 4:31-32

God models forgiveness for us, inviting us into freedom.

Forgiving Others

* Forgiving doesn’t mean reconciliation—it means choosing not to let resentment dictate your life.

* It allows you to move forward without carrying someone else’s wrongdoing as part of your identity.

Reflection Prompt: Where in my heart am I still holding onto hurt, and how is it affecting my present relationships?

Forgiving Yourself

Sometimes the deepest wound comes from within. Trauma can leave you blaming yourself or carrying shame for things that weren’t your fault.

Forgiveness here is about self-compassion—recognizing you are not your mistakes and that God already calls you beloved.

“As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.” – Psalm 103:12

How Forgiveness Heals Trauma

Forgiveness is a key to:

* Breaking cycles of pain and fear

* Protecting your heart with healthy emotional boundaries

* Restoring peace and clarity

* Opening the door to healthier relationships

“Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” – Colossians 3:13

Reflection Practice

This week, try this:

* Write down the name of someone (or yourself) you’ve struggled to forgive.

* Journal the feelings that rise when you think of them.

* Pray over that paper, asking God to help you release them from your heart’s grip.

* Notice how your body and spirit respond as you practice forgiveness.

Affirmation

“I release the past into God’s hands. I choose forgiveness as a path to freedom, peace, and emotional healing. My heart is open to love, not bound by resentment.”

Closing Verse

“For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.” – Matthew 6:14

Forgiveness is not weakness—it’s strength, it’s healing, and it’s freedom.

Thank you for joining me for this week’s episode of Beloved. If this spoke to you, I invite you to share it with someone who might need a reminder of the power of forgiveness.

You can also subscribe here on Substack for journaling prompts, reflections, and extra resources to help you deepen your healing journey.

Beloved with Cherise Rochelle is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Remember: forgiveness is not about forgetting—it’s about reclaiming your peace.

You are beloved. 💛

Have you ever wondered if what you experienced was love—or control?

Many of us who grew up with father wounds carry confusion between the two. Control can look like protection, discipline, or authority on the surface—but underneath, it often leaves us with fear, shame, and the belief that love must be earned.

This week, we’re exploring how to untangle love from control, and how to heal from the fear that a controlling father figure may have planted in your heart.

Love vs Control – What’s the Difference?

* Love is patient, kind, and freeing. It nurtures growth and allows you to flourish.

* Control restricts, manipulates, and demands compliance. It is rooted in fear, not freedom.

“There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment.” – 1 John 4:18

God’s love never manipulates—it heals, restores, and gives room for choice.

The Impact of Control on Your Heart

Growing up under control often leaves lasting marks:

* Confusion between respect and fear

* Anxiety about disappointing others

* People-pleasing or perfectionism to avoid conflict

* Believing love is conditional

Control says, *“Do this, or you’re not worthy.”Love says, “You are already worthy, as you are.”

Healing from the Fear of Your Father Figure

Healing starts with recognising that fear and love cannot coexist.

Practical steps:

* Acknowledge the wound – Name how control shaped your behaviour.

* Redefine love – Learn to see love through God’s lens: freedom, safety, kindness.

* Release fear – Choose not to live under the shadow of punishment anymore.

* Rebuild trust – With yourself, with God, and with safe people.

“For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.” – 2 Timothy 1:7

Reflection Practice

This week, try this journal prompt:

* When I think of “love,” what feelings or memories come up?

* Do they feel like freedom or control? Fear or safety?

* How does God’s definition of love challenge or heal that picture?

Affirmation

“I am no longer defined by fear. I release control-based patterns and open my heart to the freedom of God’s perfect love.”

Closing Verse

“The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid?” – Psalm 27:1

Love does not demand your fear—it invites your freedom.

Thank you for listening to this week’s episode of Beloved. If this message resonated with you, I’d love for you to share it with someone who may also be untangling love from control.

You can subscribe here on Substack for journaling prompts, reflections, and more resources to support your healing journey.

Beloved with Cherise Rochelle is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Remember: love heals, control binds—but in Christ, you are free.

Until next time, stay rooted in truth, wrapped in grace and never forget,

You are beloved. 💛

What does it really mean to respect yourself?

For many of us, it feels easier to respect others than it does to show that same honour toward ourselves. And yet, without self-respect, it becomes nearly impossible to set healthy boundaries, to walk away from relationships that no longer serve us, or to believe we deserve more than “just enough.”

Self-respect is not pride. It’s not arrogance. It’s simply agreeing with the truth of what God already says about you: that you are loved, chosen, and worthy.

1. What Self-Respect Really Is

Self-respect isn’t about being stubborn or self-centered—it’s about:

* Recognising your God-given value.

* Refusing to shrink yourself to fit circumstances.

* Living as someone who believes their worth is not negotiable.

2. Why We Sometimes Struggle With It

We often settle for less out of:

* Fear that what we deserve is unattainable (too costly, too good, too distant).

* Habit of compromising because we’ve always done so.

* Shame from past wounds that whisper: “Who are you to ask for more?”

But settling doesn’t protect us—it only delays healing.

3. The Connection to Boundaries & Relationships

In past episodes we’ve talked about boundaries and walking away without guilt. But here’s the truth:

* Boundaries come after self-respect.

* Without self-respect, boundaries feel shaky, forced, or guilt-ridden.

* With self-respect, boundaries become natural, because you no longer question whether you’re worthy of them.

This also means grieving relationships that no longer align with who you’re becoming. Respecting yourself sometimes requires releasing connections—friendships, romances, or dynamics—that cannot honour the new version of you who has learned her worth.

4. A Biblical View of Self-Respect

God calls you to see yourself as He does:

* Psalm 139:14 – “I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.”

* Isaiah 43:4 – “You are precious in my eyes, and honoured, and I love you.”

* Romans 8:37 – “In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.”

Respecting yourself is not self-glorification—it’s worship. It’s choosing to live in agreement with God’s truth rather than the lies of fear, shame, or lack.

5. A Practice for This Week

Take a quiet moment to reflect or journal:

* Where in my life am I settling out of fear or shame?

* What would it look like to respond with self-respect instead?

* How can I remind myself daily of my worth in Christ?

Affirmation

“I will not shrink my worth to fit my circumstances.

I am worthy of respect because God calls me worthy.”

Closing Verse

Proverbs 31:25 –

“She is clothed with strength and dignity;

she can laugh at the days to come.”

Outro Invitation

If this episode spoke to you, remember—you are not too much, and you are not asking for too much. Self-respect is where boundaries, healing, and healthy love begin.

Thank you for supporting this space.You can always reach me at [email protected] if you have any questions or comments.

And if you’d like to keep journeying with me, subscribe to my Substack for deeper reflections and resources.

Beloved with Cherise Rochelle is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Beloved, you are deeply loved, already chosen, and completely known.

Until next time—stay rooted in truth, wrapped in grace, and never forget: you are beloved. 💛