• Home
  • About Us
    • How we’re different
    • Culture Points
    • FAQ
    • Beliefs
    • Giving Back
  • Authors
  • Blog
    • Series
    • Guest Writers
  • Publishing
    • Categories
    • Membership
    • Publishing for Churches
    • Previously Published Authors
    • Pay-to-Publish Services
  • Press
  • Shop
  • Contact
    • Submit Your Book

United House Publishing

We make publishing a book attainable, affordable, and enjoyable.

I Just Need a Faith Lift

March 3, 2021 by UnitedHouse 2 Comments

On March 13, 2020, we were called into an emergency staff meeting that changed everything. We thought we would close for a few weeks until “this all passed.” All short-term changes can be stressful, and this was no exception, but nobody expected “this all” to become “all this.”

Two weeks of school closure turned into ending the semester through Zoom. Our home transformed into a makeshift school where my husband taught history, I taught ELA and theater, and our daughters finished first and fourth grade.

It was such a rigorous time. While we enjoyed the slower mornings, the extra hugs during the day, and wearing comfy clothes, we also blended the boundaries between work and home, rest and toil.

I’m a doer. I launch myself into projects with genuine enthusiasm. Quarantine quickly became another one of my projects.

The Renaissance Fair got canceled? No problem! Let’s have our own Renaissance learning unit filled with research and ending with an at-home fair.

Spring Break vacation canceled? No problem! Let’s turn our balcony into a resort and read our books while taking in the Miami sun.

Restaurants closed? No problem! Let’s start trying out all sorts of delicious recipes at home.

We used the time to bond, read, dance, bake, create, and know each other on a deeper level.

During the quarantine, our family Bible studies became longer, and we realized we had let the stress of the routine get in the way. Pre-Covid, we would rush through Bible study and prayer as part of our bedtime routine. During quarantine, we could lounge on each other while we dove into the Scriptures together. It was glorious.

Despite this adjustment, my body and my faith began showing the wear and tear of the time. Not only did my face start showing signs of the times, but my faith too. As I joked about needing a facelift to hide all the new wrinkles, I realized I also needed a faith lift to find hope amid the uncertainty.

I also realized that I had been wearing my stories of pain as badges of honor. I had recently dealt with my dad’s death, living through Hurricane Maria and the aftermath in Puerto Rico, moving to Miami, raising our daughters, and being married to an incredible man who fights a daily battle with mental health. All of these things have all been painful, challenging, and transformative. My faith in Christ and my hope in His love have always led me through these difficult times and, to His glory, made me stronger, braver, and resilient. But was that enough to help us through all this?

Perhaps one can only take so much. Maybe, this pandemic hit me when I was already down. For whatever reason, I found myself with my eyes on the fire instead of on the One who can get me through it.

As I wondered if my outlook shift came from burnout or resistance to change, I kept my eyes on that fire. Teaching through a pandemic feels more like an assault. I am continually burning from the torches of decision-makers, parents, students, and even strangers who choose to criticize teachers online.

I quickly spiraled into all the stages of grief. I miss teaching like I used to. I miss the apparent chaos of group work, the flexibility of moving students around the room, and the ability to teach from any part of the classroom. Teaching to socially distant rows that all face one direction and screens is exhausting and demoralizing. Teaching like this is not sustainable in the long term because teachers have constant exhaustion paired with feeling overwhelmed. At the end of the school day, I am spent. My darling daughters get the remnants of someone who really wants to love others yet is drowning by doing so under these conditions.

King David wrote Psalm 40 during a time of great emotional stress, and perhaps, burnout. Psalm 40 is a cry for help, as well as a reminder of all the other times God had indeed delivered him from despair. I have made Psalm 40 my prayer:

“…Lord, you listened and pulled me from a lonely pit full of mud and mire. You let me stand on a rock with my feet firm, and you gave me a new song, a song of praise to you.”

Psalm 40:1-3 (NIV)

I have prayed this Psalm before. I know very well how it feels to be in “a lonely pit full of mud and mire.” I also know the One who has pulled me from there and made me “stand on a rock with my feet firm.” He has given me a new song before, and He will do so now.

If life is a journey full of moments of great joy and great pain, how do we find rest and refreshment while living in it? We fix our eyes on Him and remind ourselves of the many ways He has shown His face before, trusting He does so still and will continue to do so.

I praise Him for the many beautiful glimpses of heaven in this tumultuous present. Our daughters are thriving, learning, growing, and making every day delightful. Our marriage is stronger because we have been forced to confront so many previously ignored situations or shoved to the side, and this newfound closeness has allowed for even more conversation and understanding. My colleagues are superheroes. Whenever I am having a particularly rough day, they are there with encouragement, laughter, and friendship.

Along with Psalm 40, I have also been praying for peace, strength, and renewed joy.

As I was crying, praying, and surrendering all of this to the Lord, he reminded me of Isaiah:

“The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.”

Isaiah 58:11 (NIV)

This image of a sun-scorched land rings true, not just because we live in the Miami heat but also because our circumstance feels like unbearably scathing heat. While I yearn for the refreshing rain, I will remain “joyful in hope, patient in affliction, and faithful in prayer.” Romans 12:12 (NIV)


 Eileen Olmedo was born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico. She now lives, writes, and loves from Miami, Florida. If she isn’t teaching English or Theater, you can find her alongside her husband taking their daughters to jiujitsu or fencing, walking their dog, reading, or baking…maybe dancing, and maybe singing Broadway songs. 

Grow Our Faith
The Waiting Game

Comments

  1. Jeanne says

    March 3, 2021 at 8:53 pm

    Awesome inspirational story

    Reply
  2. Angela Blount says

    March 5, 2021 at 9:12 pm

    Eileen, I LOVED this and I found many similarities with our lives. Thank you for so eloquently sharing and encapsulating and inspiring us all with your story. So very blessed by it.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Want to write for the UHP blog?

We are currently looking for guest writers to be featured on our blog! If you have a story to tell, we want to hear it. Visit our Guest Writers page to submit your post idea.

Recent Posts

  • Look up 
  • The Key to Thankfulness
  • New Blog Series: Praise And Thankfulness
  • Let There Be Light
  • I Was Afraid Of The Dark…But

Testimonials

  • Taylor Phillips, author of Training Ground

    United House Publishing was 100% an answer to prayer. I knew that God called me to write books, but I wasn't in a good position to publish according to certain industry expectations. I continued to be faithful, knowing God would make a way. AND HE DID. United House is such a champion for the underdog—for the one who doesn't have a huge platform but wants to be obedient to God. I was so blessed by the process from start to finish. From the heart and help of the revision team, to editing, coaching, and everything in between. United House was, and is, an incredible company to be part of!

  • Bridget Singleton, author of Mimo’s Welcome

    United House Publishing is absolutely GREAT to work!  I previously published a book alone... and it was so hard.  But UHP gives support like no other!  When they say they are praying over you and your work, you KNOW it!  The author coaches I have worked with have been awesome.  Not only do they help you set and crush your writing goals, they also help you pursue wellness in all aspects of your life, and you can't put a price tag on that!

  • Wendy Perry, author of The Battle Within

    God gave me the words to write a book and then He sent me to the perfect place to publish it—United House Publishing! The thought of editing and publishing a book was new and overwhelming. However, through God's peace and directing me to UHP the whole process was made easier. I felt "safe" and "at ease" sharing the story God gave me to UHP, because they treated me and my manuscript with respect. I'm thankful I obeyed God and worked with UHP to publish my very first book.

  • Gina Rodriguez, author of Teacher Tired

    As a person who has NEVER considered herself a writer, it is no shock I was in need of help when I felt led to publish my first book.  I am so blessed that I was referred to UHP.  I started my writing journey so afraid of the process, not sure where to start or what to expect. It was such a huge relief to have a team of authentic writers, editors, mentor me along the way as I pushed back fears of intimidation that tried to stop me.  With UHP I found my writing voice. The monthly coaching calls were especially important to keep me going when idleness or doubt crept in (because it will).  Having UHP to pray with me, refine my writing skills and keep me accountable made all the difference between beginning to write a book to actually finishing it!

  • Jessica Bishop, author of Collision

    The reason why I love UNITED HOUSE Publishing is because all you have to do is write, and they take care of the rest. It's simple and I LOVE IT!

  • Dianne Wyper, author of Shattered

    UNITED HOUSE Publishing has been like the roadblock-remover to my dreams and my calling. It's because of them that I have got to become all I have dreamed of: An Author!

© 2025 · All content on this website is ©UNITED HOUSE Publishing and may not be used without permission.