The Ivytree Studio Story – Part 3: The Hard Lesson in Trust

Some of the deepest lessons in life come disguised as opportunity.

At the time, we may believe we are stepping into the answer to our prayers — only to later realise that discernment matters just as much as desire.

This chapter of my story was painful, stretching, and deeply formative. But it also taught me lessons that continue to guide the way I lead, create, and build Ivytree Studio today.

After returning home and continuing my teaching journey, someone offered me an opportunity to step into leadership and begin doing something more independently.

At first, it felt exciting.

I prayerfully considered it and eventually took the leap of faith, believing it was the right next step for me.

But soon after stepping into that season, I realised something painful:

I may have been ready for the opportunity… but the opportunity was not ready for me.

Ethics were compromised by the person who offered it to me, and I found myself trapped in a situation that became emotionally exhausting and spiritually difficult to navigate.

What followed was one of the hardest years of my professional life.

There was fallout.
Pressure.
Disappointment.

And many moments where I had to choose how I would respond.

I learned the painful difference between people you can trust and people you cannot.

I learned that not every person who speaks well or offers an opportunity carries good intentions.

Most importantly, I learned how to fight the good fight in a way that honoured God.

There were moments when I wanted to defend myself loudly, explain everything, or push back harder. But repeatedly, I sensed the Lord saying:

“Keep quiet. I will fight for you.”

That was not easy.

But over time, God taught me obedience, restraint, discernment, and trust in His vindication rather than my own striving.

Eventually, after walking through that difficult season for an entire year, God released me from it.

I returned to mainstream teaching and waited another three years on the Lord.

At the time, it felt like a setback.

But looking back now, I can see that God was refining my character, strengthening my discernment, and preparing me for future leadership in ways I could not yet understand. During the 3 years of waiting some more, I experienced one of the highlights of my career. This healed my heart from the pain experienced in the previous seasons.

One of the hardest things in life is realising that not every opportunity is meant for you — even if it looks good on the surface.

Discernment is a gift.

And sometimes God allows us to walk through difficult seasons not to destroy us, but to sharpen wisdom, strengthen character, and teach us to depend fully on Him.

This season taught me that integrity matters more than advancement.

Peace matters more than applause.

And obedience to God always costs less than compromise.

The next chapter became a season of restoration, growth, and unexpected opportunities.

👉 I’ll share how God brought encouragement back into my life and reminded me of the gifts and abilities He had placed inside me all along.

Thank you for reading and journeying with me through these very real seasons of life.

If you have ever experienced disappointment, betrayal, or a difficult professional season, I hope this reminds you that God still sees you, fights for you, and faithfully leads you forward.

And if you are looking for creative, faith-filled resources to encourage your own journey…

👉 I would love to welcome you into the Ivytree Studio world.