In concluding the preface for my first book, On Creating Kandice: A Poetic Journey To Spirituality & Self-Discovery, I wrote the following statement: I caution my readers though, when you reach the end [of my book], you will find that ironically it is just the beginning. You will find that I am just beginning to discover the beauty of life...how to handle its challenges...The most difficult tests lie before me... (pg. xxii) Reflecting back upon this statement, I now smile — acknowledging that I never could have realized at the moment I wrote it, just how true this statement would prove to be. For, fast-forwarding almost three years later, it's abundantly clear to me that God is in-fact still "Creating Kandice." How do I know this? Well, all I have to do is take a look at the unmistakable silence on what used to be my website's "News & Events" page, (recently renamed "Keeping Up With Kandice").

You see, in 2008 I finally conquered one of my greatest challenges — becoming a published author. I believed myself to be in the midst of the ultimate mountaintop experience — being interviewed by the local paper; asked to come and speak at area schools, to review my book in literary circles; flown back home to Florida to speak before a gathering of 500+ women. I was truly humbled...Yet, even then, I felt the subtle tugging of slight undercurrents within my spirit. I felt a vague sense of some things less pleasant to come...Nevertheless, I allowed myself to celebrate the moment...thanking God. Still, little did I really know, God was preparing me for the valley into which I would very soon have to descend... 

For, as I heard a preacher explain very recently, "Vegetation doesn't grow on the mountaintop — the snow capped mountain doesn't present the right conditions for growth. You have to go down into the valley to see things growing!" (Kristopher Dardar of Terrell, TX — November 11, 2011). While I was on the mountaintop speaking to that crowd of 500+ women about, "The Seven Seeds of Success," God had already judged me qualified to soon live, everything I was saying, down in the valley. Indeed, my mountaintop season was drawing to a close. My season of "obtaining promises" was drawing to a close (reference to Hebrews 12:33, NASB). God ordained that I, like the "Hebrews 11 Heroes," would now be called upon to show my faith down in the valley.

 However, my story would not be one of escape as Daniel in the lion's den (reference to Daniel 6:16 — 22). I would instead be like those 'others' — the men/women of God outlined in the latter portion of Hebrews 11 — in verses 36 — 38; and, I would simply have to endure. I would have to, (figuratively speaking), "experience mockings and scouragings, yes, also chains and imprisonment...[become] destitute, [be] afflicted, ill-treated" (Hebrews 12:36 - 37, NASB) — all for the cause of Christ — a far-reaching purpose that God alone understood and wasn't inclined to share with me in advance. J As a result, I would soon be moved from my mountaintop experience — the culmination of eight years of hard work to become published and quickly gaining recognition as a writer/speaker — to just as quickly scaling the side of the mountain, down toward what would prove to be an increasingly sloping valley.

 When and how exactly did my woman's journey begin?  [READ MORE...]

~ Kandice Jacobs-Armstrong, ©2011

All rights reserved. No portion of this publication can be copied or reproduced, in any form, without the prior written consent of the author.