Episode 2: From Survival Mode to Thriving: My Health Journey

Chavah Wellness provides general educational information on various topics on this website as a public service, which should not be construed as health care advice. These are my personal opinions only. See my full disclaimer here.

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Hello, hello! I’m so glad you’re here. Welcome to the very first blog of the Tired Mommy Revival! This project has been on my heart for months, and I’ve poured so much love and prayer into creating a space where God’s daughters—women like you—can be encouraged, equipped, and empowered in their health and wellness journeys.

This blog was born out of a passion to see God’s women rise up into the fullness of who they’re called to be. I believe with all my heart that you were made to live vibrant, energized, and healthy—not just for yourself, but for the kingdom work God has for you! Around here, we’re about busting through fatigue, boosting energy, and embracing a lifestyle that allows you to show up fully for the people you love and the mission you’ve been given.

But before we dive into all the goodness ahead, let me introduce myself. I’m Jerusha Jantz—a wife, a mama to two rowdy (and hilarious!) boys, and a mommy to one sweet little girl in heaven. And if you’re wondering about my name—trust me, you’re not alone. It’s always the first question I get when I meet someone new!

Jerusha comes from the Bible. You’ll find her tucked away in 1 Kings and 2 Chronicles. She was Queen Jerusha, the wife of King Uzziah and mother of Jotham. If you know anything about the kings of Israel, you know it was hit or miss whether they followed God—but thankfully, they were among the ones who did! My mom searched high and low for a meaningful name, and I’m grateful she found this one.

So, that’s me! I’m thrilled to get started on this journey with you. Get ready, mama—this is your time for a revival.

A Little About Me

Since we’re getting to know each other, here’s a little peek into my world!

First, I love to garden. There’s something so satisfying about growing our own food—especially the unique things you can’t find at the store. It’s my kind of fun! For a while, I even called myself a homesteader… until the real homesteaders started asking, “Oh, what animals do you have?” And I’d have to laugh and say, “Well… I’m not quite there yet, but I do grow a lot of food!” So, while I might not have chickens (yet!), I’m somewhere on that journey, learning to steward the land and reconnect with the beautiful, nourishing ways God designed for us to live.

When I’m not in the garden, you’ll usually find me curled up with a good book—typically something about health, wellness, or personal growth. I’m a total science geek at heart! I love learning about the science behind how our bodies work because it always points me back to the incredible design of our Creator. It’s just one more reason to be in awe of how God made us.

Oh—and I’m a foodie. Sure, I enjoy cooking… but if I’m being honest, I really love eating delicious food! I’m a little crunchy, too. Give me healthy, nourishing meals that taste amazing, and I am in my happy place.

And most importantly? Jesus is my Lord and Savior. I was raised in church, but like many, I wandered for a while. You could say I crawled back like a prodigal daughter—but I’m so grateful for the deep relationship I have with Him now. His presence is in everything I do, including this podcast.

Also, I’m a fan of dark chocolate, strong coffee, and those quiet morning moments with my Bible—before the kids are awake. Pure glory!

So, that’s a little about me. I can’t wait to get to know you, too!

Hope for Healing & True Health

Honestly, talking about myself isn’t my favorite thing. I’d much rather be focused on you—on how I can support you and speak life into your health journey! But I also know how important it is to know who you’re inviting into your life, who’s speaking into you, and who you’re trusting with your time.

So, here I am—sharing a little bit of my heart. The truth is, I believe God has placed this purpose deep within me: to encourage and equip women like you in health and wellness. And the reason I’m so passionate about it? Because I’ve lived it. I’ve walked through seasons of struggle, fatigue, and overwhelm. And by God’s grace, I found a way to renewed health, energy, and joy.

Now, I’m here to help you do the same.

My health journey began with confusion, frustration, and at times hopelessness. But it didn’t end there! With God’s leading I was able to find hope, healing, and confidence to steward my health! I hope this gives you a glimpse of where I’m coming from—and how I can serve you well!

My Wellness Journey: From Fatigue to Freedom

A little over a decade ago, my health hit a wall. I battled constant fatigue, brain fog, anxiety, burnout, hormone imbalance, and weight struggles. Sound familiar? While many women breeze through their 20s—and even their 30s—without giving health much thought, that wasn’t my story.

I grew up in a home where meals were mostly home-cooked, but processed foods were pretty normal. Most of our veggies came from cans or the freezer, and “eating healthy” usually meant diet foods—things like low-fat yogurt and those famous 100-calorie snack packs. Remember those? Cakes, cookies… if it was low-calorie, it was labeled healthy.

Now, I’m not knocking my parents. They did the best they could with what they knew—just like many families at the time. But here’s the thing: when my hormones went haywire as a young adult, I was totally unprepared. I had no idea how to support my body, and I definitely wasn’t equipped to steward my health well.

The Day I Was Told “You’re Fine”—But Knew I Wasn’t

At about 20 years old, my health completely crashed. Out of nowhere, I was hit with extreme fatigue, brain fog, digestive issues, hormonal imbalances—you name it. Like most people, I thought the answer was simple: go to the doctor and get “fixed.” I figured they would run some tests, give me a diagnosis, and point me to a solution. Problem solved, right?

I remember sitting in the exam room, shifting nervously on that crinkly white paper, waiting for the doctor to come in. Beige walls surrounded me. I was hopeful. She’d ordered a blood panel, and I was convinced this was the day I’d finally get answers. I even paid a couple hundred dollars out of pocket because my insurance deemed the tests “unnecessary.” (As a young adult, that felt like such a huge investment.) But if it gave me clarity and a path forward, it would be worth it.

She walked in with a warm smile, sat down, and glanced at my chart. I was on edge—my mind racing through all the possibilities. Diabetes ran in my family. So did thyroid issues. What was she going to say?

She looked up and said the words that hit harder than I expected:

“Everything looks good. You’re fine.”

I froze. My heart sank. On the outside, I smiled politely, thanked her, and walked out of the office. But inside, I was crushed. This was supposed to be good news. But it wasn’t. I still felt awful, and now I had no answers, no next steps, and no plan. My hope drained as I sat in my car, wondering, What do I do now?

Have you ever been there? You place your trust in someone else’s care, expecting relief, and instead, you walk away empty-handed. There’s this hollow feeling when you’re told, “You’re fine,” but everything in your body says otherwise.

In those moments, there are two worst-case scenarios. First, they find something scary—a life-changing diagnosis like diabetes or cancer. But the second, and in many ways just as devastating, is when they find nothing. Because when you’re told nothing’s wrong, it feels like there’s no way forward. No treatment. No plan. No one to help you figure it out. You leave with the weight of your symptoms and a growing fear that no one believes you.

It’s a terrible feeling. You wonder if your symptoms matter to anyone. You start to question yourself. And as each day goes by, you keep living in discomfort—but now with less hope that you’ll ever feel better.

But here’s what I know to be true: deep down, there’s something inside of you that knows you were made to be well. You were created for health, not just survival. And while you may not know how to get there yet, that doesn’t mean healing isn’t possible.

I’ve lived that moment of confusion and frustration. And I can tell you, it doesn’t have to be the end of the story.

You Were Created for Wellness

I believe God created you for wellness—to be healthy, whole, and fully equipped for every good thing He designed you for.

You were not made to live drained, defeated, or stuck in survival mode. In 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24, it says, “May the God who makes everything holy and whole, make you holy and whole, put you together—spirit, soul, and body—and keep you fit for the coming of Jesus.” That’s God’s heart for you: wholeness in your spirit, soul, and body.

Even before I found answers for myself—back when I was still confused and searching—I knew this was true. God wanted me to be whole and well. But when doctors couldn’t help me, I figured it must be my lifestyle. So I set out to “eat healthy”… but that turned out to be more complicated than I thought.

There’s this huge, overwhelming health world out there, and everyone says something different. I was so confused. So I picked a fad diet and thought, “This person seems to have it figured out. I’ll follow their rules and feel better.” But it wasn’t that simple.

I struggled. I had to figure out how to cook new foods, change my habits, and keep it up. Some of those “rules” worked… and some really didn’t. For a while, I managed to find some balance—but it wasn’t sustainable. Even so, that season sparked something in me. I realized that food could be both healthy and enjoyable.

I grew up in a home where “dieting” meant giving up all the foods you loved and eating things that made you miserable. And I refused to live that way. I became passionate about creating meals that tasted amazing and were nourishing for the body.

Because God didn’t create us to live deprived. He designed us for health that feels good—body, soul, and spirit.

The Loss That Changed Everything

Let me fast forward a bit. In 2020, like so many of us, life got heavy. Between the pandemic and everything else, my stress skyrocketed.

I had a newborn baby. I was homeschooling my second grader—for the first time ever—on the fly. And I was working from home at least 40 hours a week. Honestly, I was barely holding it together. Weren’t we all, in some way, during that time?

Between the pregnancy, the stress, and the stress eating, I gained weight. But with everything going on, my health wasn’t really my biggest concern. Even though we generally ate pretty healthy, I was surviving, not thriving.

About a year later, we made a big decision to move from Idaho to Tennessee. I quit my job to stay home with the kids, and we started fresh, full of hope that life was about to get better.

Then I got pregnant again. We didn’t know it yet, but we were carrying a little girl. After two boys, having a daughter had been our dream. But at 17 weeks, the unthinkable happened.

My water broke.

One day in the hospital, we saw her on the ultrasound and learned she was a girl. By the next morning, we saw her again—but this time, there was no heartbeat.

I delivered her hours later. We held her in the palm of our hands. She was beautiful—but there was no breath in her lungs. We were devastated.

The months that followed were harder than I ever could have imagined. Grief was deep and heavy. Our marriage hit rocky places we hadn’t walked before, and it took months of counseling to find healing. And then there was my body.

I looked down at the weight I was still carrying—the weight that should have been covering a baby in my arms. But instead of feeling joy over what I had created, I felt the sharp sting of loss. My empty arms were mirrored by my empty belly. And every time I looked in the mirror, I was reminded of everything we had lost.

Finding Myself Again: The Turning Point in My Health

After everything I’d been through, I was desperate to feel like myself again. I was still battling fatigue, brain fog, anxiety, and depression—but I knew I couldn’t stay where I was. I felt like a shell of the woman God created me to be. What I wanted most was to feel clear, confident, and alive in my own body again.

So, I pressed in for answers.

Like before, I tried another diet. But this time, something was different. I also picked up a book. I decided to learn why my body wasn’t thriving and what it actually needed to heal. And when I opened that book, it felt like opening a floodgate. I couldn’t stop. I devoured book after book, and as I did, I started piecing together a plan—not a fad, not a one-size-fits-all diet—but a lifestyle that fit me.

And it worked.

In six months, I lost 25 pounds. But more than that, I found my energy. My mental clarity returned. Joy—real joy—came back into my life, maybe for the first time in years. I felt like myself again, body and soul.

It’s been over two years now, and I haven’t yo-yo’d with my weight. But the real breakthrough wasn’t the number on the scale—it was knowing how to steward my health with confidence. No more endless guessing games.

I finally understood what it meant to live in the healthy, whole body God designed for me.

You Were Created for Vibrant Health

When I finally figured out what my body needed to thrive, I had a realization: So many moms are struggling just like I was. And they need to know this too.

Wellness shouldn’t be complicated or confusing. I believe God designed you—yes, even in motherhood—to live with energy, clarity, and joy. On a cellular level, your body was created with the capacity to be vibrant and whole. And if you’re not experiencing that right now, it’s not because you’re failing. It’s because you haven’t been given the right process to get there.

And that’s exactly what we’re going to do—together.

As moms, so many of us are running on empty, just surviving. But our health matters more than we realize. When we feel good, we’re able to fully step into who God created us to be. We show up better in our homes, our marriages, and our communities.

And I don’t know about you, but when I’m healthy—body, mind, and soul—the fruits of the Spirit show up in my life with far less resistance. I’m more patient, kind, peaceful, and joyful.

This is what you were made for. And I’m here to help you get there.

Stewarding Your Health Isn’t Selfish—It’s Obedience

For years, I believed there was no way I could set aside time, money, or energy for my health. I was too busy taking care of everyone else. And deep down, I felt selfish even thinking about prioritizing myself.

But God was calling me to better health—and He didn’t call it selfish. He called it stewardship.

That truth wrecked me. I had spent so long believing that my health was an afterthought when, in reality, it was the foundation for everything I was called to do. I had no idea how much I was missing by neglecting my body. But when I finally aligned with how God designed me to thrive, everything changed. My energy, my clarity, my joy—it all started coming back.

And I knew this journey wasn’t just for me. God was calling me to help other women break free from the same struggles.

So, I became a certified holistic wellness coach—to bring clarity and support to women who feel stuck in fatigue, brain fog, anxiety, hormonal chaos, and weight struggles. Because you were made for more than survival. That’s why The Tired Mommy Revival exists—to set women free, so they can step into the fullness of who God created them to be.

Mama, It’s Time to Rise

I feel the Holy Spirit whispering to your heart:

Mama, you’re doing amazing. You have poured yourself out for your family—through every trial, every season, every up and down. You’ve loved them deeply, sacrificed endlessly, and carried them with grace. But I have more for you. It’s time to take care of yourself. It’s time to fill the well. It’s time to restore the fullness of who I created you to be.

You were not made to live defeated or depleted. You were made to thrive—to be a spring of living water, overflowing with life and strength. Woman of God, it’s time to rise into the health and wholeness I have for you.

This is God’s heart for you as a woman and a mom. Don’t put this off for “someday.” Don’t wait until the kids are grown to steward your health. Because if you do, you’ll miss out on the vibrant life God has for you right now.

I know it feels impossible some days. I know you’re exhausted, overwhelmed, and unsure where to start. That’s why The Tired Mommy Revival exists—to help you navigate your health in a way that’s realistic, sustainable, and even enjoyable.

Together, we’ll uncomplicate wellness, bust nutrition myths, and find clarity on what it means to live healthy and whole. And we’ll do it all through a biblical lens, because your health—body, soul, and spirit—matters to God.

Mama, this is about more than just you. It’s about the legacy you’re building. Let’s pass on the generational gift of health to our families and rise into the fullness of who we were created to be.

This is just the beginning of so many powerful conversations ahead. We’ll dive into energy-boosting strategies, nutrition, mindset, and faith-filled encouragement—all to help you step into the vibrant health you were created for.

Mama, your health is not selfish; it’s stewardship. Your energy matters because your calling as a mom matters. God designed you to thrive, and I’m here to help you walk in that truth. Let’s do this together!

Until next time, remember—you are beautifully designed by God to live with energy, clarity, and joy. You’re not just surviving, Mama—you’re stepping into the vibrant life you were created for. I’m cheering you on!

Blessings & Wellness,

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