Vanessa Dorsey
About the Author

Vanessa is an ordinary woman looking for Jesus in my sometimes messy life, without the pretense, and finding Him in ways that make me wanna write about it.

(in)side DaySpring: things we love
& you will too!
Find more at DaySpring.com
(in)side DaySpring:
things we love
& you will too!
Find more at
DaySpring.com
Recent Posts

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. So excited for you! Great post for your debut on (in)courage as I think of my own season of change because I get to do something Sat. I’ve always wanted to do. I can only thank God for the opportunity as I’m sure you are doing today. Your blog posts have offered a great break from my daily work load. Sometimes a laugh, sometimes a cry, sometimes encouragement that we are not alone. Love you, Deanna

  2. Thank you, Deanna. I look forward to hearing about your new opportunity. I know whatever it is, you will be a blessing! Laughing, crying and encouraging one another is what it’s all about 🙂

    Love you, too!

  3. Oh my, you beautified the season I just walked though. Thank You! Father God is so faithful even in our winter seasons!
    I am stepping into spring now. Not sure what the next season will fully look like, but He has given me excitement and Joy at the fruits of spring pop up. In the natural but also in the spirit realm.

    • Yes! I I feel that renewed sense of expectancy, as well! Like a sweet sigh of relief 🙂

  4. I so can relate to this article .I am strugling with the season in my life when my daughters were young, so wanting to return to that time.I am 58yrs old wondering what my next season is going to be about!!!!!! I have no grandchild as of yet. And want to know what
    the future will hold for me.Sometimes I get really scared feeiing my life is on the down
    hill and my life short. Lord help me to embrace this new season in life!!!!!!

    Anita

    • Hi Anita 🙂
      My heart is touched by your comment. May I encourage you that although your girls are older now they will continue to need your love and wisdom as they enter new seasons of their own? These will be new seasons you walk through together when the time comes! God is not finished with you…your most joyous days have not passed…the best is yet to come!!

      • Vanessa,
        Thank You so much for encouraging message! It truly encouraged my heart.
        And brought much joy to my day. I will keep your words” God is not finished
        with you….your most joyous days have not passed…….the best is yet to come!” in
        my mind and heart.
        Bless You!
        Anita

  5. God is using your post in a powerful way for me today. I stand in a place of not wanting to let go of things I had hoped and dreamed and planned for. Pain is ahead and I fear the life that awaits. I am afraid of being alone. Will Jesus really stay with me? Will He really be enough? Can I let my life give way to needing and wanting Him more? It’s the question of doubt that entered in the garden…Is God really good? Can He be trusted?

    • Thank you for sharing, Paula. Your comment brings tears to my eyes. I could never expand in a comment…but I am praying for you now…that you sense His comfort and love and presence. Even in doubt, especially in doubt, He longs to show us compassion and understanding. The Bible says nothing can separate us from His love and that He will never leave us. If your future holds a season of being alone, discover His nearness to greater depths. Our fears, our doubts, our pain…cannot separate us from His goodness and care 🙂

  6. Thank you for reminding me that it’s ok to be in a season of discontent and that it doesn’t mean God has for gotten me!

    • Hey Randi 🙂
      Part of my struggle was in the condemnation I felt for my discontent! I searched and searched for the magic “fix” :). Eventually I began to just sit quietly with my Bible. Not try to over think or analyze…and I would find that in spite of my discontent He still meant to comfort me. And so I can trust He is still leading. No, you are absolutely not forgotten 🙂

  7. Thank you for the encouraging words. So many days I overwhelmed by the day to day of my current life, I am trying to enjoy it while I can because I’m sure it’s one I’m going to miss when it’s over.

    • Hi Jen 🙂
      It’s hard sometimes to enjoy the overwhelming stages, especially with small children! After Leighton I felt like I was always driving on “E” and couldn’t get filled up…and so in my grumpy rants and exhausted responses I am learning another lesson in grace. The grace I need for the little people and the grace I need for my own heart as I confront my less than perfect mothering. Jesus loves us so much and He’s got so much for our families in every season 🙂

  8. Vanessa, thank you so much for sharing this post. It’s one of my favorite things I’ve read in a long time. This message of seasons is a truth I’ve been learning recently – and one I have needed to hear and understand SO MANY TIMES. So, thank you. I’m going to be coming back to your words again, I’m sure.

    • Wow, thank you Mary. Today is a day of tears:). I am so encouraged by your comment and those of the other ladies sharing. It’s so scary to put ourselves our there and walk blindly. Except today is one of those days His presence shines so brightly I can only see Him. And I remember Jesus is always where I’m headed.

  9. This post is speaking volumes to me where I am at, right this minute! Thank you, Vanessa, for writing about this process, this refining. It’s hard to remember, sometimes, that there will always be a reflection in the silver, isn’t it? As I close out my season in one ministry and head into a time of rest, I am tucking this post away in my heart.

    • Hey Missy 🙂
      I pray your time of closure and rest is full of peace and precious reassurance from God that you are right where He means for you to be!

  10. Of course, I love the meaning and the message behind this post but the prose was what really stopped me in my tracks: “in this great romance between Creator and created…Crucified and called…Lover of souls and the lost.” Gorgeous. You have a gift. Thanks for sharing this with us.

    • Thank you Cynthia! I know it’s His work in my heart, nothing I can produce. I’ve told Him I quit more than once but He never lets me :). Have a great day!

  11. Hello Vanessa:
    I just happen to run across this and as I read it I started tearing up. I felt like you were talking to me……
    I was recently part of a work reduction process and i am totallly lost! I have been a nurse for 30+ years primarily in a leadership role. I loved the role of developing others and l love nursing(health and wellness). So when I was let go…..I seem to have lost my identity. Additionally, I was also seeking admission to a Christian university to pursue a Masters’ Degree in Christian Counseling…..I thought this was where the Lord was leading me because of role at church. Well I didn’t get accepted. So when I read your article …..inspite of feeling lost……it was very encouraging! I will trust in the Lord and try to continue on this journey because I know God knows what is best for me.
    Thank You
    Yolanda

    • Hi Yolanda 🙂
      Thank you for sharing. So, this morning amidst the chaos I stepped outside onto my porch for a moment. I needed to pray for the one(s) who need the encouragement these words have to offer. You are one of those I prayed for…one of those He gave me the words for…planned for May 2nd just when you need them. I’d like to encourage you right now… you can never truly be lost. Lost to your own expectations and plans perhaps, but never lost to Jesus. He holds your future in His hands. I find He is the Master at closing and opening doors if we allow it. He is trustworthy, Yolanda. It’s okay to walk afraid as long as you keep moving your feet 🙂

  12. Oh thank you for these words, what a gift. I am a sad, scared, crispy little leaf right now and you have reminded me that the season I’m in will lead to the next, that this is not the end of my story but rather is meant for something else… And that Jesus is always where I’m headed. Yes, that will carry me today. Through doubt and fear and not understanding. Thank you, thank you.

    • Hey Aimee,
      Thanks for sharing in your comment. My heart goes out to you…whatever you are facing, I’m so glad today you were reminded that it is a season, a leg of your journey, and it will change. The only thing that stays the same is His love, mercy and grace. I was a sad, somewhat despondent little leaf for a while too…but the one thing I kept doing was sitting down with my Bible even when I could barely open it. Jesus sees you and He loves you so much! He’s got you 🙂

  13. “Maybe your winter seems especially long and harsh. Perhaps you can easily count the blessings in your life and yet discontent is reigning. Maybe your heart is still clinging to a season that has ended. You can’t let go. It’s frustrating and hard. You’re tired.” Does that ever describe me right now.

    Almost 6 years ago I started a job in a medical clinic as a medical assistant doing vitals, and some procedures on patients. Since then many changes have taken place at the clinic. We now have an EMR system and a new director. My job has shifted from doing vital, procedures–that which I love–to scanning papers into EMR system, stocking room and only getting vitals occassionally. This change has made me feel uselss and unwanted.

    During this time I have prayed hard for God to show me His plans for my life and where I could go to feel useful, needed and mostly wanted.

    Thanks for a wonderful post!@

    • Hi Beth!
      Thanks for sharing in your comment:). I really can relate to struggling with my sense of worth being tied into what I do or my performance. My experience has been/is that in time He makes me face it by not having the roles or approval that I crave…so I learn to truly find my worth and sense of belonging in Him. That’s hard to tell someone else because it sounds easy but is hard to do! So as I sit responding to you in carpool lane (smile) I pray Jesus finds ways to draw you so deeply into His nearness that you never again need anything or anyone to give you that feeling of usefulness and being wanted…Jesus wants you and IS using you!!!!! A joyful heart in “mundane” tasks is a powerful witness:)…says the stay-at-home mom 🙂 have a nice weekend!

    • Thank you, Jen:)
      Surrender…over and over and over!!!!! 🙂
      Have a great weekend!

  14. Boy did I need to read this today. I am in an in-between and it is hard! The Lord brings me to these places 1) when I get complacent and 2) when I need a reminder about being patient. Not good at either. Thank you for reminding me that this isn’t forever and that there are plenty of people who would trade their best for this moment of my worst in a red hot second. Bless you!

    • Thanks for sharing, AR!! The in-between seems to be the most fertile ground for growth! Hang in there…God is walking with you and He knows where you’re going 🙂