With Every Joy and In Every Hope

ByBrandi Crum, LMFT June 29, 2025October 1, 2026

This journey with OMS has brought me to my knees more times than I can count. It has stretched me, refined me, broken me open and built something stronger in its place. With every joy, in every hope, there is Jesus.

What My Days are Filled With

Many days filled with fear. Days filled with doubt. Then some fill up with exhaustion that sank into my bones. Then there have also been days of joy. Joy that surprised me. Joy that snuck in quietly and wrapped itself around the hardest moments.

That’s what I’ve learned: joy and hope can live alongside pain. These emotions not on reserve for the easy days. They are gifts from God, woven right into the messy middle of the story.

With every joy, in every smile, every step forward, every laugh that returned after weeks of silence, I saw God’s fingerprints. With every hope, in every prayer whispered through tears, in every night I chose to believe again, I saw God’s faithfulness.

The Journey

This journey hasn’t been linear. Healing rarely is. There were setbacks, victories, and there were days I felt like giving up. Then there were days when I couldn’t help but praise because of the progress, because of the peace, because God had carried us one more step forward.

With every joy, in every hope, God was there. There was not one moment missed. Not one tear wasted and not one prayer unheard.

Maybe you’re in a hard season of your own, maybe your story doesn’t look like mine, but your heart still needs to know that joy is still possible. Hope is still alive. Not because of the outcome, but because of Who walks with you.

Helpful Resources:

I keep a list of books and resources I have personally found meaningful for faith, grief, parenting, medical parenting, boundaries, and hard seasons here: Helpful Resources I Love.

Disclosure: This page may contain Amazon affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you.

New Beginnings are the End of One Chapter and the Start of Another

Brandi Crum, LMFT

I’m Brandi Crum. I am a wife, mom, Lolli, therapist, writer, and the voice behind Barefoot Faith Journey.

What began as an adoption and family blog has grown into a faith-filled space for psychoeducation, grief support, mental health awareness, and honest hope for life’s hard places.

My writing blends personal reflection, professional insight, and faith-based encouragement for those navigating trauma, loss, family struggles, emotional healing, and seasons of change.

The content I share is educational and inspirational only. It is not therapy and should not be used as a substitute for professional mental health care.

Kentucky residents seeking counseling can learn more through Circle of Hope Counseling Services, LLC (circleofhopecounselingservices.com). I serve teens, adults, couples, and families. My specialties specialty certifications are in ADHD, clinical trauma, anxiety treatment, and grief counseling. For more information, go to the website above.

Faith in Hard Places

Everything is Gonna be Okay
ByBrandi Crum, LMFT February 17, 2025July 12, 2026

Ya know, Everything is Gonna be Okay. Romans 8:26-28 (MSG) says “Meanwhile, the moment we get tired in the waiting, God’s Spirit is right alongside helping us along. If we…

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Grieving Someone Who Is Still Alive
ByBrandi Crum, LMFT May 14, 2026July 16, 2026

When the Person Is Still Here but the Relationship Has Changed One of the hardest kinds of grief is grieving someone who is still alive. It can feel confusing, unfair,…

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Small Signs of Life You Might Be Missing
ByBrandi Crum, LMFT April 15, 2026July 13, 2026

Small Signs of Life You Might Be Missing Reframing progress Healing rarely arrives with a clear announcement. It does not always look like happiness or confidence. Often, it shows up…

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When Your Parent Starts to Need You
ByBrandi Crum, LMFT May 1, 2026July 12, 2026

When Your Parent Starts to Need You When Your Parent Starts to Need You and the moment roles begin to shift, there is a moment that doesn’t announce itself. There…

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Faith in Hard Places | Grief and Loss

The Guilt No One Warns You About
ByBrandi Crum, LMFT May 4, 2026July 12, 2026

The Guilt No One Warns You About and when love never feels like enough. No one really prepares you for this part. You expect the sadness, the worry, and even…

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Faith in Hard Places

God’s Work Often Happens in the Unseen
ByBrandi Crum, LMFT September 11, 2026September 16, 2026

A hardwood puts a serious amount of its life underground. Root systems that spread wider than the canopy, working down through clay and rock, most of it happening in the…

Read More God’s Work Often Happens in the Unseen

A 24-day devotional and journal about learning that boundaries are not walls, punishment, rejection, or a lack of love. They are the screen door that lets the good in while keeping some things from walking straight into your house and making themselves at home. Through honest reflections, Scripture, practical questions, and space to work through your own patterns, this book explores guilt, over-explaining, people-pleasing, difficult relationships, old versions of yourself, and the uncomfortable work of deciding what you will and will not carry anymore. It is for anyone learning that loving people well does not require abandoning yourself in the process.

A Little About Me

Hi, I’m Brandi. I’m a wife, mom, therapist, writer, and the heart behind Barefoot Faith Journey. What began as an adoption and family blog has grown into a space for faith, grief, mental health awareness, psychoeducation, and honest hope in life’s hard places.

Around here, you’ll find real reflections, practical encouragement, and reminders that healing is still possible.

Blog content is educational and inspirational only and is not therapy. Kentucky residents seeking counseling can learn more through Circle of Hope Counseling Services, LLC.

This blog is a space for reflection, encouragement, and psychoeducation. It is not therapy, and it does not replace professional care or crisis support.