Nestled between cozy days spent with a book and a brown sugar vanilla latte and her deep reflections on scripture, Rebecca embodies a life shaped by faith and resilience. As a writer and grad student, she weaves faith and creativity into every facet of her life. In this conversation, Rebecca shares her journey of being Fathered by God, the tender discipline of daily communion with Him, and her insights on what it truly means to be His daughter. Plus, a glimpse into her favorite cozy-day rituals and must-read book recommendations!
Good day, Miss Rebecca! We are absolutely thrilled to be having this conversation with you. Let’s start off by introducing you to our readers. If you could describe your life story in a few sentences what would you say? How were you brought up, what are you currently up to, and where do you hope to be in the future?
Hi!! Let’s see…my life story in a few sentences.
I was a desire in God’s heart, born in New York, and raised in Charlotte, North Carolina. Raised in a Christian home, I was raised to love Him. And I did. But, I loved Him, I knew Him, I left Him, and came home when I was sixteen. During all of these years though, His providence remained, and even when I was unaware, He was and is always making something exceedingly beautiful. These days I’m consistently learning what it means to be Fathered by God as I navigate my twenties. I do a lot of writing about the things I wonder and learn, and He meets me when I write. I’m a grad student studying English now, and I’ve wanted to work with words my whole life. I found a journal entry from when I was 11 that read “Dear Lord, I pray to do something with words when I am older”, and that’s what I do now and hope to do in the future!
Your faith in Jesus is of the highest importance. What are some examples of living purposefully with the Lord that you participate in daily, weekly, monthly?
Daily, I make an effort to never go without speaking to God. Especially on the days when my heart feels hard. This last year of my life has been excruciating and I’m seeing truly for the first time what people mean when they say it’s easy to walk with God when things are easy, but not when they are hard. I have to rely on Him and fight to pray for tenderness. He always comes through, whether that is with faith to be tender or to pray through a hard heart, I try to commune with Him. This of course applies to the days, weeks, and months. I would also say to apply this principle with Bible reading. When I begin to slip up, I feel like reading my Bible is a waste of time, like I don’t deserve to do it or pray. But it’s a lie from the pit of hell and I make an effort by the Grace of God to read His Word. It is alive and active, and always doing something when you encounter it because when we read it– we encounter Christ (John 1:1)
True or false — life as a Christian is easy?
Not even close. But the Grace of God is sufficient. The Grace of God is the power of God. This is why God says “My Grace is sufficient for you, My power is made perfect in your weakness” in 2 Corinthians 12:9. I used to think this verse was about receiving mercy when I sin, but it’s really about how the power of God is what fuels us and empowers us to live a life that honors God. We cannot do it on our own. The race is for the reliant.
What does it mean to be God’s daughter? Provide a Bible verse that solidifies your statement.
To me, being God’s daughter means a lot of things. But up front, it means that I am taken care of, redeemed, led, and held. Psalm 138:8 says that the Lord will perfect all that concerns me, Matthew 6:8 tells me that my Father knows the needs that I have before I even tell Him, Psalm 32:8 tells me my Father will instruct me, and teach me in the way I should go and guide me with His eye. Isaiah 43:1 tells me that the Lord has redeemed me, called me by name, and that I am His, and Isaiah 41:13 tells me that my Father holds my right hand.
Picture this – it’s a chilly & rainy Saturday. You’ve got no errands or work to do, it’s a completely free day. What are you doing throughout this day? What are you cozying up with?
Ideally, I’d wake up read my Bible, pray, and immediately head to my Nespresso machine to make a brown sugar vanilla latte. From there, I might make some pancakes and take them with me back to bed so I can eat and watch a movie or documentary. And I’ll continue to sip on my (now quite cold) coffee and read for a bit, checking my phone periodically to watch TikToks and text my friends. I might order a ginger chicken miso ramen bowl around early dinner time stay cozy in bed, and find something else to watch before I FaceTime a friend and just yap for a while!
And finally, do you have any book recommendations? Literally any genre, fiction, non-fiction.
Ooh, I really love Adoration by Martha Kilpatrick. It’s a book I read during ministry school and find myself revisiting every now and then. I also love reading Elena Ferrante. My Brilliant Friend and The Lost Daughter are my top picks from her. She’s quite skilled at writing about the experiences of women and friendships!
It has been such a pleasure to sit down with Rebecca and hear the story of how God’s providence has woven beauty throughout her life. From navigating the challenges of her twenties to embracing her calling through words, Rebecca’s journey is a powerful reminder of God’s grace and faithfulness. Be sure to follow her on Instagram @rebeccaincewrites and subscribe to her Substack, The Splendor Letters, for more of her thought-provoking insights. We’re excited to see where her passion for writing and faith will take her next. Until next time!
