About the Author

Jen encourages women to embrace both the beauty and bedlam of their everyday lives at BeautyandBedlam.com. A popular speaker, worship leader, and author of Just Open the Door: How One Invitation Can Change a Generation, Jen lives in North Carolina with her husband, five children, and a sofa for anyone...

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

  1. Thank you for sharing this. I often wait for the other person to take the next step. It has indeed been a rough couple of years. Yesterday I met someone new at church who said we ought to get together. I will take the first step. So I appreciate the reminder that I can follow through.

  2. I have learned over the years to be more intentional that if I don’t mean “let’s get coffee sometime” then I shouldn’t say it. I have been pretty good about following through, but I will say that your message today showed me I was following through to check it off my list. I need to follow through and ask God how he wants me to move. This is such a wonderful devotion. Thank you for sharing.

    • Thank you and Yes, Deanna. That’s how I was convicted too. If I know I won’t follow through, I don’t throw it out there because I know how disappointing it is when I’m on the other side of no follow through. It’s so much more than a check list, right? We never know when He decides to use our simple text to do so much more. And then again, sometimes it’s just coffee for coffee sake of catching up. 😉

  3. Thank you for sharing this. It definitely hit close to home and tugged at the heart. In a same place of reaching out to my bestie, but she hasn’t taken me up on any offers and I have found myself taking it personal. Thanks for sharing your heart.

    • Oh Sammy – I know this feeling on such a personal level too. I am trying not to let it impact our friendship, but it does feel personal. I’ve had to share with her from a vulnerable place how it’s affecting me and we had some good, hard discussions.

  4. Thank you for this post. I also recently decide to put into action all of those good intentions that pop into my head. It is so easy to make a declaration of caring but much hard to put it into action due to the fear of rejection. I have decided to take the risk and put it into action!

    Thank you for your encouraging words and actions!

    • Yes, Geralyn, the fear of rejection is very real. I wish I could say that you will never be rejected when you initiate but it still may happen. The reality is that so many more people will truly appreciate your heart felt care than the one or two who may be too busy. Your follow through may be the way Jesus uses you to hold the others close.

  5. Dear Jen, thank you so much for this! Yes, I have had a lot of that “let’s get together” rejection. Sometimes I feel like I’m the only gal feeling that need for connection. But you have encouraged me to keep reaching out. I will.

    • Irene – you are SO NOT the only one who feels that way. In fact, I would say statistically it’s 80% that need connection, are struggling with loneliness etc. It’s sometimes hard to bridge the gap but we can keep reaching out until we find that one in which it truly makes the difference. You are so loved. 🙂

  6. Such a beautiful reminder to follow through. I struggle with that also…a work in progress.

    • You are not only. I always think there’s a better time and then it doesn’t come, so I’ve had to change that and realize a bad time is better than none at all. We can do this. 🙂

  7. Jen, your writings always speak to my heart. God has made you a people person! I learn so much each time you share. Thanks. I will follow through with the invite and make the call!

  8. Focused ministry of presence! Amen amen amen! Thank you for sharing! I love this encouragement! Blessings!

  9. Jen,

    These past few years have been hard on many people. We’ve all felt isolated in some way. Now is the time to take the first step & talk with others. God has made me an encourager. Often I am the one to text or call people & see how they are doing. If I don’t see you at church & you’re an elderly single person I will call & check on you. Making sure you are alright. When new people show up at church, which isn’t often, I will make an effort to say welcome please come back. I understand that everyone needs someone sometimes. A person they can confide in or just spend time with. We don’t need to have fancy words or speeches just our presence may be enough. I’m going to make the call, send the text & sit with her.

    Blessings 🙂