Emily Aggen
Interview with
Emily Aggen
I'm a single mama and my daughter is my source of joy and light. I'll be 40 this year and am currently (and finally) taking the steps, pursuing my lifelong passion to write. Being surrounded by God’s creation elevates my soul and I long to travel and see it all! I crave adventure and travel, although traveling has been slowed down because of the pandemic. I day dream about visiting all the National Parks a little too often. But one of these days, I WILL visit them all! I've known and loved Jesus my whole life. There isn't one defining moment in my life I can recall giving it to him; I’ve had to rededicate my life to him a few times. Walking away from an unhealthy marriage 6 years ago brought me to some very dark and lonely places. But because of it, my faith has been renewed and is becoming stronger each day.
"My parents have told me from a young age, "It's imperative to have Godly friends and community in your life."
Praying out loud at bedtime with my daughter and then silently (and more personally) when she falls asleep next to me is my usual activity with Jesus. Teaching my daughter about Christ and His love for us through a devotional has been our latest daily activity and we’re loving it! Blasting worship music while cleaning or driving alone is where I’ve had some pretty powerful moments with God.
What goals do you have set out for this year?
I’ve wanted to “be a writer” since high school but have never acted on it aside from inconsistent journaling and deep social media posts. A few times a year, I’d sit and write personal essays, but that’s been it. I found this beautiful community within hope*writers in the summer of 2020, and it’s been exactly what I needed to finally begin! My goals this year include finally launching a blog and really honing in on the craft of writing. Another is to uncover my voice in writing and master the art of blogging! Easier said than done, I’m sure!
Name a moment where you saw God’s faithfulness:
Leaving my marriage was a difficult yet necessary decision. The guilt and shame I felt immediately following and even years after took me down some dark paths. I was terrified of my future with a baby. God has provided the jobs, the people and communities of support along the way since leaving my marriage. My daughter is loved and is full of joy. Her father and I co-parent well these days. But it took a lot of pain, suffering and sacrifice to get to where we are now. I’m incredibly thankful for God’s grace.
If you're a fellow advocate for mental health, can you explain why?
I’ve lived with depression and anxiety my entire life. It wasn’t until the past few years that I began to understand them each better and focus on managing them properly. I’m a huge advocate of therapy. Depression and anxiety- It’s a daily struggle. Some days and seasons are better than the others, but when you’re in the thick of depression, it can be a very scary place. I honestly don’t want to know where or who I’d be without my faith. My goal is to help end the stigma surrounding mental health. For so long I thought I was alone. Years ago I became pretty vocal and transparent on my personal Facebook and Instagram accounts about depression and anxiety and became overwhelmed with the amount of support and people thanking me for speaking up. I realize how many people are suffering silently and if I can help even one person in any way, I’d be overjoyed. Mental health is something I take extremely seriously and I don’t ever want someone to feel alone or not seen, heard or understood. It could very well not only save a life, but it could also lead them to Christ. All of this is a huge factor in writing I’ll be sharing on my future blog!
What is the greatest piece of advice given to you?
My parents have told me from a young age, “It’s imperative to have Godly friends and community in your life.” And, “Christ needs to be the foundation of your marriage.”As a teenager and even into my 20’s, I’d often internally roll my eyes. Oh how naive and immature I was. I’m sad to admit it’s taken me this long to understand what they meant, but it is now invaluable advice to me. It’s truth. And as for the marriage part- man, were they spot on! Christ was not central in my brief marriage. I’m still paying the price with the scars of divorce. However, I can’t say I wish I hadn’t gotten married, because I wouldn’t have my daughter, my joy bringer. I’d go through the pain of divorce 100 more times just to have her. I feel God is restoring me each and every day and I know He hasn’t given up on my future. I’ve surrendered the control and am excited to see the beauty from ashes He creates.