✨ Healing Isn’t Linear—And That’s Okay

Episode 4 | Joy in the Journey with Jaja Fortuna

“You are not going backward. You are not behind. You’re unfolding.”

Welcome back, dear reader.

If you’ve listened to Episode 4 of my podcast Joy in the Journey, you already know this one is close to my heart. In this episode, I open up about identity, healing, and the labels that tried to define me from a young age—especially as someone living with sickle cell disease.

But here on the blog, I want to go even deeper.

💭 The Labels That Linger

Growing up, I heard the word “sickly” more than I heard my own name. In Portuguese, it was “duentinha”—a word that stung, even when it was said with concern. I didn’t have the voice to correct people back then. I just smiled and stayed quiet. And that silence? It buried a lot of grief. The kind you carry in your chest without knowing how to name.

In the episode, I share how those early labels shaped the way I saw myself. How easy it was to start believing that I was the weakness, the fragility, the problem. I rooted my identity in what was broken—until God gently showed me I was more than that.

💡 Healing is Not a Straight Line

When we think of healing, we want progress. We want a straight path from pain to peace. But in reality? Healing looks more like spirals. Some days, you're laughing and full of energy. Other days, you're back in bed with muscle tension and silent tears.

I know this firsthand.

What I didn’t share in the episode—but I want to share with you here—is that I’m still in the middle of my own healing process. After undergoing a double hip replacement, I’ve had to re-learn how to move, how to rest, and how to listen to my body without frustration. I’m doing physical therapy, and while there are days I feel strong and hopeful, there are also days when the pain returns. When my muscles tighten and remind me that this is still an ongoing journey.

But those days don’t mean I’m failing. They mean I’m human.

🕊 You Can Hold Fear and Joy Together

One of my favorite parts of the episode is reflecting on the women at Jesus’ tomb in Scripture. When they learned He had risen, the Bible says they felt fear and joy at the same time. That line touches me every time. It was an total eye opener for me this week.

Because it gave me permission to feel both: the faith and the fatigue, the hope and the heartbreak. I’m learning that God isn’t asking me to be cheerful all the time—He’s asking me to be honest. He’s not offended by my mess. He meets me in it.

📣 To Anyone Still Healing...

Whether you’re recovering from surgery, navigating chronic illness, or dealing with emotional wounds—please hear me:

• You are not too late

• You are not behind

• You are not weak for needing more time

Healing isn’t something you “achieve.” It’s something you live.

And it looks different for each of us.

You don’t have to fake a smile to be loved.You don’t have to be perfect to be powerful.You’re allowed to heal at your own pace—and still be full of purpose.

🎧 Listen to the Full Episode

Episode 4: Healing Isn’t Linear—And That’s Okay Now streaming on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and most major platforms.

📺 Watch on YouTube with subtitles available in English, Spanish, and Portuguese.

💌 Let’s Stay Connected

If this post or episode spoke to you, I’d love to hear from you.Comment below, send me a message on Instagram, or share the episode with someone who needs to know they’re not alone.

Until next time, Stay soft-hearted. Stay rooted. Stay real.

And keep finding joy — even in the messy middle.

With love,

Jaja💛