About the Author

Kristen Strong, author of Back Roads to Belonging and Girl Meets Change, writes as a friend offering meaningful encouragement for each season of life so you can see it with hope instead of worry. She and her US Air Force veteran husband, David, have three children and live in Colorado...

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(in)side DaySpring:
things we love
& you will too!
Find more at
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  1. Kristen,
    Your words and the words of Mother Theresa are a balm to my weary soul this am. You said those two words that always seem to go together: “Expectation” and “Disappointment”. So many times I have even subconsciously expected things….my husband to read my mind, my family to ooh and aahh over my efforts, something I do to be met with affirmation and applause. Many times the engine of expectation is followed by the caboose of disappointment. Oh what a gift that we have a God who doesn’t expect anything from us other than we just “be” and make ourselves available. He loves us even when we are doing and accomplishing absolutely nothing. He IS love and that’s just what He does. He also doesn’t get disappointed. Nowhere in the Bible does it say that He does. If we are believers, He’s given us something that conquers disappointment….grace. God always sees us as perfect through the blood of His Son so there is no such thing as disappointment. We assign these human characteristics to a God who simply isn’t human. I love your line “Enfold yourself in God’s all-ready approval.” It’s there….we just need to embrace it. Much needed lovin’ this morning my friend!!
    Blessings,
    Bev xo

    • Dear Bev, I love the way you phrase this: “Many times the engine of expectation is followed by the caboose of disappointment.” Amen. May we indeed remember God’s grace conquers all disappointment as we embrace His approval. Love you, girl!

  2. Thank you for the encouragement reminder that Christ Jesus is all we need in the end and beginning. On our down days and up days together. If only I could rest in His approval every day, what days that would be.:)

  3. I love this image of God’s already-there, chasing-after-me-to-bless-me love!
    This is a big party day here in the Morin compound: lots of effort, lots of fun– and plenty of opportunities to fail. I’m grateful for this reminder that God’s measuring stick for his much-loved party planners is full of grace and truth.

  4. Kristen, I love this! Thank you so much for sharing this experience and your beautiful insights. Is the photo from the actual staircase the one used for this post?

    • You’re so welcome, Pearl. And sadly, no, it’s not. Womp, womp. BUT the stairs in it are very similar to the stairs I referenced in the post!

  5. Thank you for this! I’m an approval junkie I think. These words made me feel peaceful. I don’t have to earn God’s approval.
    Good way to start my day. And I’m wondering along with Pearl, are those the stairs? Wowser.

    • Thank you for your kind words here! I need the reminder for my own heart as well, Paula. #approvaljunkiesunite

      And like I told Pearl, they aren’t the same stairs, but very similar!

  6. Sometimes we have to stop seeking for God to reveal what we’ve been looking for to us. Such a beautiful story. Thank you for sharing it with us.

  7. Kristen,
    This was a very soothing piece to read, thank-you. We were specially created to be placed on this Earth where God saw fit. My husband gets asked this all the time, “So what does your wife do?” “Well”………..pause. It must be hard to answer because really I don’t have a title, but I hope the answer would be,” What she’s meant to.”
    Have a blessed day all,
    Penny

  8. So, so much of life is about perspective, isn’t it, Kristen? Those disappointing perspectives can be so easy to dwell on and camp there way too long. Thanks for the reminder to look around and find the perspectives that bring life. ♥

  9. I am so touched my your words this morning. I feel I’ve lived my whole adult life in a huge swirl of disappointment. Words of affirmation are my love language and when you never receive that, you do have a tendency to feel insignificant and unimportant. The quote from Mother Theresa made me weep. I wrote it in my little book of quotes that I keep and it will soothe my aching soul when I feel unappreciated and unloved. I need to rearrange my thoughts and set my mind to do things for an audience of one….the only One who can fill this void and make me feel genuinely loved. Thank you for your gift of words! I am changed today because of them. Big hug

  10. Hi Kristen! Thank you for these encouraging words today. We all feel down sometimes. But I’m so thankful to know that Jesus is there to lift me up, dust me off and send me back out into the world again. Saying a prayer for you. God bless!

  11. Kristen,

    Psalm 139: 13-14 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. 14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; After Jesus made man & woman He said it was “very good.” That should be proof enough of our specialness. We will have failures & let downs. Projects won’t turn out right, things get delayed or declined. The evil one wants us to think less of ourselves. He loves nothing more than to have us depressed or down over an error, problem or situation. All those disappointments, nothing special times help us to lean on Jesus & makes us stronger Christians. He will strengthen us & encourage us to carry on. We need to run to our ever loving God & enfold ourselves into His all-ready approval.

    Blessings 🙂