Hope On The Road Less Traveled
Mom! Dad! Something keeps biting me!” one of our children yelled. We ran into the family room to investigate what was happening. As soon as I realized the cause, I froze. Fleas! Nope, no way, this was too much. Everything in me wanted to run for the hills, escape the horror we were living in, and… Continue reading There is no Pit so Deep That He is Not Deeper Still
I don’t have to tell you that there’s a lot to fear in this world. And we don’t have the promise that our fears won’t become reality. We’ll all be faced with some degree of unwanted sorrows, hardships, and disappointments simply because we live in a fallen world that still groans under the curse of… Continue reading Fear Takes You Where Grace Has Not Yet Gone
Encouragement for Today: If today feels dark and difficult, know that Jesus walks with you through it and the light will dawn again. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. (Psalm 23:4-5)… Continue reading Trusting Our Shepherd in the Darkness
It’s been so many years of waiting. I've prayed, longed, and sacrificed for the desired healing of my earthly body for over two decades. And yet, I've often felt like the women in Mark 5 who bled for 12 years, suffering "a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she… Continue reading God’s Heart for our Healing
Suffering. How can one small word hold so much complexity? It can elicit: fear, dread, anxiety, bitterness, anger, and panic. It can also stir up: courage, strength, growth, humility, and faith. Suffering is so painfully complex that we struggle to find answers to it, yet it demands answers nonetheless. Which is why, I believe, we… Continue reading Don’t Downplay the Pain of Suffering
Last December, emotions were at an all-time high. Our family had endured a long and painful season with one of our children and, deep down, I hoped (and expected) that Christmas would offer a much-needed dose of joy. It turns out, God’s plans and my expectations were sailing in opposite directions. To my great disappointment,… Continue reading Unrealistic Expectations: A Thief of Joy During the Christmas Season
I can’t live like this anymore!” I cried through sobs. “I just want to be free from the torment of my mind!” I sat on my bed and tried to make sense of what was going on inside. I was tired of the chronic pain, the frequent bouts of illness, and the weariness of dealing… Continue reading Trapped in My Own Mind – Three Lies Depression Whispers
It's been a week. And depending on your perspective, it's either been a really good one or a really hard one. Few fall in-between. But no matter where you fall on the spectrum of the election results, if you’re a Christian, there should be a noticeable difference. Why? Because regardless of what your perspective is… Continue reading A Call to Christian Unity in a Divided Country
To say it’s been a fight for faith is an understatement. Not because this has been the most painful season of my life, but because of the longevity, depth, and layers of hardship that have worn me to a pulp. I’ve had seasons when my agony has driven me to worship as Job did: “The… Continue reading When Our Foundation Falters
This is a personal one for me. One I don’t share much of, but I know many are quietly suffering in this way, so here it goes - As I’ve shared before (including in my essay response to some unhelpful comments recently made about mental illness and parenting), most of my 17 years of motherhood… Continue reading Mental Illness, Parenthood, and a God of the Impossible.
Set Apart 