Darneshia Smith, The Gray Area Mom
The Gray Area Mom was born out of a season I never expected to walk through. In June of 2024, I lost my job, and life shifted into a place that felt unfamiliar and uncomfortable. This economy hasn’t made anything easier. I’ve spent so many days worrying about making ends meet and praying for a job that would finally bring financial stability again.
If I’m honest, my faith was shaken. I couldn’t understand why God would allow me to struggle right when I needed Him the most. But in the middle of my confusion and fear, He whispered something to me that stopped me in my tracks:
“You’re trusting in people. I need you to trust in Me. Rest knowing that I will supply your needs. Get comfortable in this season.”
As a single mother, I’ve cried more nights than I can count, trying to be strong enough to carry the weight of it all. I’ve done everything I can to protect my daughter from the pain I’ve been feeling. Yet even in the tough moments, God has kept us. Things are not perfect, but we are covered. We have a home. We have food. We have joy. And yes, we still have our mother-daughter matching moments.
That’s the space I call “the gray area.” I’m not at rock bottom, but I’m not in a place of ease either. I’m in the middle — still believing, still struggling, still growing, still trusting. It’s messy and real, and it has forced me to lean on God in a way I never have before.
I fall short sometimes, but I’m doing my best to stay grounded in God’s Word and allow Him to move in my life in ways only He can. The truth is, without Him, I wouldn’t have made it this far.