I gave years of loyalty to a place that didn’t deserve it. I stayed late. I sacrificed. I kept showing up, even when the environment was toxic. But when it was time for my loyalty to be honored, it wasn’t. My final paycheck was illegally withheld, and I was left with the reality that my loyalty had been one-sided.

Loyalty should never be blind. It should never cost you your peace, your health, or your purpose. True loyalty is mutual. It’s a shared commitment, not an endless sacrifice. But at the Housing Authority, my loyalty was exploited. They took and took — and gave nothing in return.

This taught me that loyalty without reciprocity isn’t loyalty. It’s manipulation. When someone demands everything from you but offers nothing back, they’re not asking for loyalty — they’re asking for self-abandonment.

As I’ve walked through fasting and my soul reset, God has been reminding me that my loyalty belongs first to Him. When I give Him my yes, He multiplies it. He doesn’t take without giving. He doesn’t drain without replenishing. And He doesn’t exploit my sacrifice — He honors it. That’s what true loyalty looks like.

I’ve also been reflecting on how this lesson applies to relationships, friendships, and business partnerships. Loyalty is beautiful when it’s mutual. When it’s honored. When it’s rooted in love and truth. But when it’s one-sided, it becomes bondage.

Walking away taught me to be more discerning. I no longer give loyalty to people, places, or systems that haven’t proven they can hold it with care. My loyalty is valuable. It is not a cheap gift. And I won’t hand it to those who only see it as an opportunity to take advantage.

Now, I choose wisely where I place my loyalty. I give it where it’s honored. I give it where it’s mutual. And I give it where it reflects the loyalty God has already shown me.

Because loyalty should never be one-sided. True loyalty is always mutual.