Welcome to Hardship & Harvest
If you’re anything like me, you often find yourself staring at the hard stuff, unsure how to move forward. I know all too well that life can often feel both disappointing and overwhelming. If you’re feeling stuck right now or just need some hope in this season, you’re in the right place.
Hardship & Harvest is where my thoughts about this wild and precious life live. As I navigate life as a mother of two young boys, it’s easy for me to forget where my feet are. I struggle to be present where I am, wishing away this season for something that feels less messy and more meaningful. I long for the days where I feel more productive or have more time to pursue my interests. I yearn for more.
But the Lord calls us to live fully within all of life’s circumstances. I can’t change mine, but I can seek to change my heart. This is the season that He has given, and I want to experience it all, from the hardships I’m facing to the harvest that is coming.
These words are ones that I hope will help you to embrace your life, gain a well-rounded perspective on hardship, and be fruitful in your life. These words will be vulnerable, a bit messy at times, and convicting in all the right ways. Together, may we be fully present, ever-curious, and longing to find God in our midst.
**Receive a free Character Growth Inventory & Guided Journal when you subscribe!**
What to Expect
Hardship & Harvest is a place for my musings and reflections on faith and life as I learn to look for goodness and pursue fruitfulness right where I am. Regardless of where you find yourself, may this space be one where you can take a deep breath of fresh air and be both challenged and encouraged as you face your own hardships and harvests. I want my words to give you perspective and wisdom as you go.
My goal is to post an essay at least once per month, but let’s be honest: life is hard as a working mama of two small boys. I’ll do my best though :) If you’re looking for practical application practices, you can find that over on my blog, but this space will be more open-ended, thought-provoking, and honest to my current heart state.
Join the Community of Harvesters
On Substack, it’s easier than ever to like, comment, and share. This community is one made up of so many people in various stages of life. There is much that we can learn from one another as we venture through life together.
One of the best ways to support my space here is to subscribe and comment on these posts so we can have engaging conversations about life. I want for this space to be one where we can talk openly about where we’re finding goodness, wrestling in the trenches, or experiencing a harvest.
A Little About Me
I’m Lauren Carrizal—wife, mom, writer, chronic over-thinker, and dreamer of big dreams. I live in Fort Worth, TX, but I’m originally from the midwest.
Professionally, I’ve worked in higher education, ministry, and non-profit fundraising, all of which have shaped me into the person I am today. I long to have deeper conversations with others about faith, the nuances of life, and the human experience.
I’m an enneagram 1 with a strong 2 wing who loves to create order out of chaos and make sense of this world we live in. I enjoy learning and finding the answers to my questions. I’m still learning to be okay with uncertainty, unknowns, and not yets.
