Mariah C.
Photography by Jalencia Pouge
If you’re reading this, this letter was meant for you, and God’s timing is always perfect.
You don’t need to be a Christian or share the same faith to connect with what I’m saying—I simply want to offer a few words that helped me on my journey through darkness. I hope this letter finds you in the way you need most, bringing comfort, strength, and a reminder that you are not alone.
I don’t know the specifics of what you’re facing, and I don’t need to. I hope you can trust me when I say I do know the feeling the mental health challenges bring and how much they weigh on the soul. I am writing because I want you to find peace. Let’s think about something as simple as wine. Its journey begins in the soil, where a small grape blooms, absorbs the warmth of the sun, gathers nutrients, and feels the gentle breeze. For a time, everything seems so full, so whole. Then one day, that grape is crushed.
Maybe right now, you feel crushed, as if life has placed a tremendous weight on you. Suddenly, the weight of the world is pressing down, and you’re facing it alone. If that’s where you are, I need you to know this: the crushing is not the end of the grape’s journey; it’s a transition. The grape is transformed, and in time, it becomes wine—a richer, fuller expression of itself. In the same way, the season you’re in right now is a part of your transformation. It’s not linear, and it’s not easy. There will be times when you don’t just feel like giving up, but it may seem like the only option. If you haven’t experienced this, that is great! If you know exactly what I’m talking about, just know I’ve been there with you. This process is leading you toward a version of yourself that is stronger, wiser, and filled with purpose. In God’s eyes, you are Royalty and will be Royalty longer than you will be in these processes. Growth can be just as painful as injury, but you need to know the difference between the two so you can make sure you are on the path of healing.
When I tell people this wine analogy, they get sad that the grape will never have the chance to be a grape again! But hear me out, the grape was never meant to be just a grape…
So, in those moments when life feels overwhelming, remember the grape, remember the beauty that lies beyond the crushing. And remember that I am here, rooting for you. I am confident that you will become a richer, fuller version of yourself, and mental health challenges will not win. Trust God’s timing. Not only do I want you to find peace, but you deserve it. You deserve all the beautiful things God has to offer in this world, and they are coming for you!
Mariah C., University of South Carolina
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