Why I Stopped Hiding My Peace

There was a time when I would bend my words to fit someone else’s comfort. I’d give soft answers, half-truths, and “maybe soon” replies just to keep the air smooth. But the other day, I had a conversation that shifted something in me.

I was asked, “When are you coming home?”
I answered, “In a few weeks—but we’re not staying.”

That truth landed heavy. It caught the other person off guard because, at first, I had said something different. Back then, I thought we’d be here for a few months and then return to find a home. But life in Mexico has changed everything.

The food is cleaner.
The air is fresher.
The people are kinder.
And everything that was once broken in me is starting to heal.

I’ve lost weight—both physical and emotional. The kids are thriving. We’re freer than we’ve been in years. Mentally. Spiritually. Physically.

When I said we weren’t coming back to stay, I could feel the disappointment on the other end of the line. But this time, I didn’t shrink or soften it. Living here has given me the courage to stop apologizing for my life. To stop hiding the happy parts of my story so someone else can sit more comfortably in theirs.

It’s hard to explain this peace to someone who hasn’t experienced it. But I know one thing: lying only makes things worse. When I cover the truth, I lose myself. And then I’m left staring at a version of me that can’t even face herself at the end of the day.

So I chose truth. Not the polished, easy truth, but the one that honors where we are. I’m done with pretending. I’m done with dimming.

Sometimes people won’t like your answer. Sometimes they’ll even hang up before you finish explaining. But you still owe yourself the honesty. You owe yourself the freedom of living your life, not a version someone else scripted for you.

Because peace is not something you hide. It’s something you live.

Scripture Reflection

“But Lot’s wife looked back, and she became a pillar of salt.” – Genesis 19:26

Looking back can trap us in places we no longer belong. I realized that if I keep trying to fit my present joy into someone else’s expectations of the past, I’ll get stuck. GOD is calling me forward—to peace, to freedom, to truth. That means I can’t keep glancing over my shoulder, wishing my choices were easier for others to accept.

Encouragement
Don’t apologize for where GOD has placed you. If He’s healing you, don’t cover it up. If He’s freeing you, don’t hide it. Your peace is proof of His presence. Keep walking forward, and don’t look back.