What the Olympics Teach Us About Delighting in Diversity

What the Olympics Teach Us About Delighting in Diversity

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My husband Shawn and my late husband Ericlee both independently and collectively dreamed of going to the Olympics in person one day. That dream came to fruition on a humid August night this summer under a star-kissed sky in the north of France. Shawn and I entered the stadium with our three teenage daughters. We spent the next three evenings at the Stade de France, watching the finals of Track & Field at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Reports said 10,500 athletes competed overall in this Olympic Games from 206 nations. But perhaps more impressive is that this was the most well-attended Olympic Games in history. In the colossal stadium, the energy of 80,000-plus people was electric. Our family of five treasured this opportunity to be a part of it.

We cheered wildly with the rest of the world while my all-time favorite American athlete, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, smashed her own world record in the women’s 400-meter hurdles to finish in 50.37 seconds. Many professional female runners can’t run 400 meters (with no hurdles) in that time. 

Sydney is special because of her poise, her speed, and her commitment to giving God the glory while achieving superhero status in her events. She joins the ranks of many athletes who broke records, acquired medals, and used the Olympics as an opportunity to share their faith.

The Olympic Games started in 776 B.C. in Greece. Part of the tradition of the games through the years is that the host country welcomes and offers safe passage for visitors from around the world to take part in the games. Weapons are laid down; politics are set aside; people rise above their differences to cheer their favorite athletes to victory.

Our family experienced first-hand this coming together of people from across the globe. As we ran through the streets of Paris and sat on the edge of our seats at the stadium, I was overcome by the spirit of welcome and community we felt.

Throughout the week, we met people from many countries. We walked to the sessions with our new German next-door neighbors, a family who also rented an Airbnb in the neighborhood. We befriended an Irish dad and his 8-year-old daughter who were on a daddy-daughter getaway week, traveling the country to attend different Olympic events. We dished on the Metro with a group of guys from Spain about plans for the 2028 Olympics in LA. We borrowed binoculars from a German couple next to us in the stands so we could get a better view of the long jump. We high-fived fellow Americans after victories in the relays and 200-meter race. We cheered until our voices grew hoarse with the Brits, French, Pakistanis, Nigerians, and Dutch in our spectator section.

The truth is: we are living in a tumultuous time in history. Wars rage between countries, guns infiltrate schools, trafficking steals the innocence of children, and elections deepen the fissures between us. And yet, in that open-air stadium with thousands of people made in God’s image from around the globe, I felt like I had a glimpse of the vision John describes in Revelation:

After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice:

“Salvation belongs to our God,
who sits on the throne,
and to the Lamb.”
Revelation 7:9-10 NIV

In this passage, John describes the completion of God’s salvation plan for the world. God sent his son Jesus to die on the cross for sinners like you and me. He rose again, conquered sin and death, and ascended to the Father where we will meet Him one day. He is waiting for the right time to return and welcome all believers from all nations, tribes, and languages to join Him in heaven. 

David gives us a taste of this in Psalm 22: “All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the LORD, and all the families of the nations will bow down before him, for dominion belongs to the LORD and he rules over the nations” (Psalm 22:27-28 NIV).

Maybe you didn’t attend the Olympics, but you stayed up watching the games and got a glimpse of the glory too. What we experienced during the Olympics and Paralympics pales in comparison to this moment at the end of history, when we will all celebrate the ultimate victory of salvation and worship Jesus, our Champion, together in unity.

Paul echoes it in Romans 5:5-6 (NIV): “May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

In the meantime, what if we purposely live differently than the tumultuous world around us? What if we offer hospitality to strangers? What if we work toward reconciliation in the church and our communities? What if we decide to raise our voices in worship alongside brothers and sisters who are different from ourselves? 

In this way, we might step into the spirit of the Olympics year-round. And more importantly, we might walk in the shalom of Jesus, the Lamb who will one day delight in our diversity as He sits on the throne.

Dorina helps people feast on the glory of God through her weekly Glorygram and Global Glory Chasers podcast. 

You’re Not Too Old – and You’re Not Too Young Either

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It’s a Sunday morning, and I’m sitting at the back of the gathering room at a senior-living center.

Eight people are facing a TV screen fixed to the wall. There’s a smattering of wheeled walkers in various colors, with those flip-up, padded seats where you can keep your purse and your hanky.

Behind me, I can hear a machine pumping someone’s supplemental oxygen.

It’s Sunday morning, and in this room, we are watching a live-streamed church service. I’m with my mom. She lives here now, and while living in a facility wasn’t Mom’s first choice, this is life, and she’s making the most of it. She’s meeting new people, trying new things, and showing up on Sunday mornings, like a champ, with a small group of people who – like her – love Jesus.

The pastor’s message on the TV screen is stirring, for sure. But there’s a whole ‘nother sermon being preached in the room, and I’m captivated. I scan the room and see a handful of men and women in their 70s, 80s, and 90s, leaning in.

They are leaning toward the TV, but even more, they are leaning in toward God to take note of what He wants to say to them right now.

Instinctively, they seem to know that God is continuing to grow them – just like He did from the very beginning of their lives. They seem to understand that one doesn’t reach a certain point of having “mastered” this thing called faith.

And isn’t that what we all need to know, no matter what age we are?

If we are still breathing on this earth, God is still working. God is molding us, growing us, and conforming us more and more to His likeness. It’s just what He does.

That’s true when we are in our teens and 20s … and it’s equally true when we are in our 80s or 90s.

God didn’t bring us to earth as fully matured humans, with our intellect and spirituality completely formed. Instead, He deliberately chose to grow us slowly through each stage of life – proof that He continues working in us until we breathe our last breath.

When I read the Bible, I see how true this is. Many people from the Bible “grew up” with God and served Him until the very end of their lives.

Moses served God until his death at 120 years old (Deuteronomy 34:5-7).

Joshua remained faithful until his death at 110 years old (Joshua 24:29-31).

Daniel continued to grow with God, and never wavered in his faith. He honored God even in his old age.

And Paul dedicated his life to preaching the gospel, enduring many hardships along the way. Near the end of his life, Paul said, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:7 NIV).

That is what we are called to do – to grow one day at a time, one step at a time, until we have finished the race.

If you are wondering right now if God has stopped “growing” you, be assured: HE HAS NOT. He was steadfast and faithful to Moses, to Joshua, to Daniel, to Paul, and to countless others in biblical times, and throughout world history.

And He is steadfast and faithful to you and me today. He is growing us, even now.

I challenge you to pray this prayer to God today: “Lord, keep working in my heart. Keep growing my faith. Keep me close to You all the days of my life, until I take my last breath.”

And then, take a deep breath… and count on the fact that God loves that prayer. He is answering it already.

God is never done working in our hearts and lives, no matter how young or old we are.

Jennifer’s book, Growing Slow, helps you embrace the fact that God grows us no matter where we are in our journey — even when the growth feels slow.

The Power of God Displayed Through the Gospel

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If you’ve been a Christian for any length of time, you likely know what the gospel is. It’s the Good News of what Jesus has done for humanity. You understand that through it, we are restored to a relationship with God. Many of us can point to the moment we believed in our hearts and confessed that Jesus is Lord. His kindness led us to repentance, and His grace opened our eyes to the truth. Salvation, redemption, forgiveness, healing, and freedom became ours. We were transferred from darkness into light. Once orphans, we are now daughters of God. Once enemies, we are now His friends. THIS IS THE GOOD NEWS!

At my church, the gospel is preached consistently and powerfully. But in the past couple of years, God has called us to more — not just as individuals but as a unified body. Our youth pastors sparked a fire by teaching a simple tool called 3 Circles, used by the North American Mission Board, to equip our young people to share the gospel. This training ignited a passion in them to step out in faith and evangelize in our city.

One Sunday, our entire congregation felt led to take the gospel beyond the church walls. We went into the neighborhood, knocking on doors, praying for people, and sharing the message of Jesus. This wasn’t just an outreach; it was an anointed movement of God. We felt His power flowing through us as we stepped into His calling to make disciples.

This past August, we embraced another shift, moving our prayer service to Wednesday nights and using Sunday afternoons for city outreach. We all received the same gospel training, and for three weeks straight, we went out to share the gospel in our community. At the same time, others remained in the church, interceding in worship and prayer for those evangelizing and the people they would encounter. It was a beautiful picture of unity — young and old, new believers and seasoned saints, people of every race, coming together with one mission.

The testimonies that followed were nothing short of awe-inspiring. People accepted Christ, recommitted their lives, experienced answered prayers, and witnessed God’s provision. The book of Acts came alive in our midst, and we knew that what God was doing in our church wasn’t just for us— it was for the world around us.

Acts 2:1-4 describes the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost. Our gatherings have always reflected this, but in August, there was a fresh anointing, a greater grace to carry the gospel. God poured out His Spirit in new ways, filling us with boldness, courage, joy, and expectation. That faith became fuel as we took the gospel into a city filled with darkness.

Yet, if we’re honest, the Great Commission is often neglected. Fear of rejection, feeling unqualified, or simply focusing too much on our own lives can hold us back. Sometimes we lack compassion for the lost. But God is calling us higher. He’s stirring hearts, breaking chains, and inviting us into the incredible work of sharing His love with a broken world.

At my church, we’ve also seen God move mightily at Louisiana State University, where students have encountered His power, love, and grace. Many have come to Christ, been healed, delivered, and baptized. But let me be clear—my church isn’t special. We were just obedient. God gave us a deep love for the lost, and we stepped into the calling to be salt and light, to give an account of the hope we have.

We’re all called to this. As a royal priesthood, entrusted with the ministry of reconciliation, let us grow in our passion for those who don’t yet know Him. People are desperate for something to fill their emptiness. They are waiting for someone to declare the Good News of Christ boldly. And that someone could be you.

So, I encourage you to take that step of faith. Share the gospel where God is calling you. The same Spirit that moved in Acts is alive in you. Leave a comment and let’s celebrate the testimonies of lives transformed and pray for even more opportunities to be His hands and feet. 

Where can you share the gospel today? Let’s do this together!

Which Voice Is the Loudest in Your Life?

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I’ve been told that I’m too naïve. That always believing the best about people will get me into trouble. I’ve been told I’m too sensitive, too emotional, too positive.

I am sensitive, emotional, and positive. I am also wired with extra empathy receptors—I can feel all the joy, all the sorrow, all the tension in the room. Sometimes it short-circuits my system. (Hello, anxiety.)

There have been times I’ve believed all these things add up to one big, consuming weakness. I believed that life would be better if I could just feel less, care less, and be more logical, more “realistic.”

But then I learned to listen to the voice of God. And the voice of “you’re too much this and not enough that” is never His.

That voice sounds like shame. God’s voice sounds like love.
That voice belittles. God’s voice uplifts.
That voice stifles. God’s voice celebrates.
That voice condemns. God’s voice calls.

The voice of God calls me — and you — to be exactly who He created. God’s creation was never meant to fit in a mold for the approval of others; we are made to fulfill a unique calling, bestowed by the Creator, to serve and expand His kingdom.

But in order to answer God’s call on our lives, we have to know who He calls us. And to receive who God calls us, we have to reject the false names spoken over us. This is crucial. Why? Because a cup full of mud can’t hold fresh water.

The process of releasing the false to receive the true isn’t anything new. Just flip through your Bible and you’re bound to land on the story of someone battling worldly voices before stepping into God’s truth.

Take Moses. Do you think he ever heard the whispers, Traitor, Murderer, Stutterer, Deserter? The facts proved that Moses did live in cross-cultural tension, he did kill an Egyptian guard in a rage for justice, he did lack eloquence in speech, and he did run away to the desert.

But God looks beyond the facts of our lives to the identity of our souls.

Who was Moses, really? He was God’s leader, deliverer, and friend. The one the Lord Almighty spoke face-to-face with inside a tent and met with on a mountain. Moses was God’s staff holder and mouthpiece, the one through whom He parted the Red Sea and delivered the Ten Commandments. The world judged Moses. God called him.

Look at Gideon. The angel of the Lord called him mighty warrior! But Gideon called himself the weakest and the least.

Abram called himself old and his wife, Sarai, barren, but God gave them new names. Sarah was meant to be a mother and God deemed Abraham the father of many nations.

When Jesus called Peter to follow Him, Peter only saw himself as a sinful man. But Jesus knew that Peter’s true self was a fisher of men.

Are you getting the picture? The bleeding woman was viewed as a hopeless outcast; Jesus called her daughter. The man on the cross next to Jesus was labeled condemned; Jesus called him forgiven. Saul lived by the labels Pharisee, prestigious pedigree, and persecutor of Christians. But the Lord called him Paul, the one who would no longer oppress Christ but most boldly proclaim Him.

And over and over and over, on every page of Scripture, in every season of history, God untangles the lies that bind hearts and tears off the scales that blind eyes so His people can be set free, to see and receive their true identity from Him.

It’s miraculous grace every time.

And? It’s often vulnerable to not only receive our true identity but to believe it. Over and over we see people learning to walk in their calling and doing it scared. Messing up. Believing and then doubting. Running and then stumbling.

And it’s okay.

It can take time to unlearn the false and relearn the true. Sometimes I’m still tempted to push down my feelings, tamp down my heart, and just stay quiet. Sometimes I allow myself to absorb the cynicism and criticism of the world—and what we absorb eventually leaks out!

But then I remember who God has called me: His Word Warrior, Hope Wielder, Mouthpiece of Comfort.

God has put hope in my heart so I can confidently offer it to others. He’s made me sensitive so I know how to share His comfort. He’s made me insightful and outspoken so I can battle the darkness with the words He provides.

Walking in the name Jesus calls me isn’t always easy, but it is the greatest joy of my life. There is always joy in truth, joy in surrender, joy in obedience.

What voices are you listening to today? It’s time to silence the voices of shame and discouragement and turn up the volume of God’s voice of love. What God calls you is the truest thing about you. Ask Him your name.

Then receive it. Believe it. Live it.

Becky loves teaching women to hear God’s voice and walk in their true identity. If you want to know who God calls you so you can step into what He’s calling you to do, learn more about The Identity Intensive.

 

 

If You’ve Ever Asked, “Who am I to…?”

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“Therefore, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh so that you may lead my people, the Israelites, out of Egypt.” But Moses asked God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and that I should bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” He answered, “I will certainly be with you, and this will be the sign to you that I am the one who sent you: when you bring the people out of Egypt, you will all worship God at this mountain.”
Exodus 3:10-12 CSB

When we meet Moses in Exodus 3, he has a complicated history. He was an Israelite, born into slavery in Egypt. In an effort to spare his life, his mother placed him in a basket in the Nile River, where he was discovered by the daughter of Pharaoh. Though Pharaoh had given the order to kill all Israelite baby boys, she was moved by his cries and adopted him as her own. So Moses grew up with prestige and privilege — a life completely opposite from that of his people.

One day, in an ill-conceived effort to stand up for his own, Moses killed an Egyptian whom he witnessed beating a Hebrew slave. He thought what he’d done was a secret, but word got out and he had to flee from Egypt, losing everything — his identity, his family, his life as he knew it.

Moses settled in the desert land of Midian, where he got married and settled down. It’s in this mundane season of life, while tending his father-in-law’s sheep, that God met Moses in a burning bush.

Knowing his history, we can understand why Moses responded to God as he did: “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and that I should bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” (Exodus 3:11). He couldn’t see how or why he would be qualified to lead the Israelites to freedom.

How many times have we asked ourselves the same question when we’ve felt called to something big or impossible?

  • Who am I to sing in front of a crowd?
  • Who am I to raise my children when I have no idea what I’m doing?
  • Who am I to speak out about a leader who’s done wrong to me?
  • Who am I to share my story when so many other people have more powerful testimonies to share?

The list could go on and on.

A thousand reasons might prove why you’re not qualified, but when God asks you to do something, all He’s looking for is a yes.

Today’s reading is an excerpt from the Courageous Influence Bible Study, by Grace P. Cho with stories from (in)courage writers.

Want to embrace the way God made YOU for impact? Get Courageous Influence while it’s on sale for only $10 at DaySpring.com. Hurry because this massive deal ends tomorrow!

 

This Is Your Invitation to Cultivate Holy Cravings

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I blink back tears as I open a new package of gochujang to add to dinner.

I’m not crying because of the spicy scent that wafts up to my face as I pull open the plastic seal. I’m crying because of my dad. Two years gone. Nobody prepares you for the random moments that pull grief up, like a rope tugging on a lifebuoy caught down in the deep.

Grief surfaces in the most mundane moments, like opening this brand of gochujang, the red pepper paste dad liked best. Many of the things that bring me delight are those I’ve unintentionally learned to appreciate . . . from my dad.

A hot mug of corn silk tea. Spontaneous movie nights.

If you stopped to consider it, you might be surprised by how many of your favorite things are influenced by the people around you. The music you like, the way you relax, the dessert you crave. In nearly all things, we are influenced by the preferences of those around us. Often, what is deemed good by them becomes what is desirable to us, too.

This is good news that can work for our holy cravings, too. If cravings can be caught, we can be strategic about who and what we choose to expose ourselves to most. Just as there is danger for the person who stands in the path of sinners or sits in the seat of scoffers, there is also blessing for the one who follows those who thirst for righteousness.

And, if cravings can be caught, the most obvious person we want to be around is Jesus. The gospel accounts show us Jesus’ affection for the lost, His delight in little children, and His preference to be alone with the Father in the wee hours of the morning and late into the night. Observing what our Lord enjoys doing and deems worthwhile can stir up a love for good deeds within our hearts.

Yet, while Jesus is our ultimate influencer, Jesus isn’t our only influencer.

“Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ,” wrote Paul. We are sinners saved by grace, thrust into community. We’re not left to our own devices as we seek to follow Christ in loving what He loves and living out His ways.

Who in your life rejoices in God’s Word? Who loves to go before the throne of grace? Who delights in their family and the duty of caring for their household? Who makes you want to love what ought to be seen as lovely?

I know a woman who cherishes God’s Word so much she can barely speak about His truth without a glimmer in her eye and a lump in her throat. She studies it with such fervor and devotion that I’m convinced, every time, there must be another pearl of great price for me to discover within its pages. Her joy makes me want to bury my face in the Scriptures to see what wonderful things I might behold.

I know a group of women who have, for decades, gathered to pray for global missionary families. These steadfast sisters, who once brought their own babies along as they prayed to the Lord for those fulfilling the great commission, look back on hundreds of answered prayers and see the fruit of their labor. Their babies are my age now, and those women inspire me to be faithful in my years of motherhood, not neglecting my part in ministering to the lost overseas . . . and at home.

There are women in our churches, women online, women who write books, women who host podcasts, women in our libraries, women in our grocery stores, and women all throughout church history who have earnestly loved what is true, honorable, pure, lovely, commendable, and excellent. With so many examples of women who thirst for righteousness, we ought to surround ourselves with their influence.

Holy cravings are worthy of being caught and, for as much as our day and age presents a myriad of opportunities to develop unholy appetites, surely . . . we are abundantly surrounded by those who love and do good.

May we imitate them, as they imitate Christ. And, may we catch their holy cravings, loving what God loves — good deeds, global missions, gochujang, and all.

Gospel Truth for When You’re Pinching Pennies and Waiting on a Paycheck

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It was the last of my money. Coins, might I add.

I was six months pregnant and working in a bakery. One of the best dessert bakeries in Charlotte, North Carolina. I took custom cake and cookie orders. I slugged twenty-five-pound bags of granulated sugar over my shoulders and carried them from the basement to the kitchen. I stocked the bakery display with sprinkled sugar cookies, apple fritters, cream horns, guava pastelitos, and six-inch cakes with diplomat cream and strawberry filling.

Have I tickled your taste buds, yet?

At the end of each shift, I’d count my tip money and stuff it away. In time, these collected quarters and stray pennies would end up supplementing my grocery bill. Not many people knew, but I was on Medicaid at the time. Being a newlywed and in ministry with no money for insurance will do that to you. 

I’ll never forget that October, our third of the ten years we lived in Charlotte. It was my husband’s birthday and I wanted to celebrate how far he (and I) had come. It’d been a long few years of starting a new life in a new city and I wanted to mark the moment. We had friendships that were flourishing and a baby on the way. Despite all that was hard and heavy, there was much to give thanks for . . . and much to celebrate.

I remember dipping into my stash of tip money and using every last penny to buy food for the party I’d been planning for weeks. I’d stretched seventy-something dollars to buy custom birthday cookies (discounted from the bakery I worked at) and finger foods to feed about ten people.

But then the unimaginable happened: no one showed up.

Every RSVP of a Yes quickly turned into a No. This couple could no longer make it. That friend could come, but couldn’t stay for more than a minute. We grieved that night, my husband and I. We shot up questions into the long, dark night, wondering why it hurt so much and what to do with all our disappointment — and, also, what to do with all that food?

No one but my husband knew what it cost to set that table. No one knew just how precise I needed to be in my planning and purchases, or the sacrifice of time, or the earnest hours of work put in. No one but my husband knew about the exhausting effort spent in pinching pennies and balancing budgets, all while robbing Peter to pay Paul. 

Now, seven years later — after that heartbreak of a party — I feel like I’m looking for the gold thread in all of this. Because my husband and I still share one car. We’re still pinching pennies, still livin’ on a prayer, and staying with our parents to make ends meet.

In fact, being broke, short of cash, poor, in need, in debt, in the red, struggling, cash-strapped, and in lack is never easy, efficient, or encouraging. There are no pretty words or promising platitudes that are helpful or hope-filled enough for the ones living paycheck to paycheck to paycheck.

But there is this: never giving up on the gospel truth that God is good, whether we are in plenty or in want. No one may know what it costs you to set that table. But God knows. No one may know just how precise you need to be in your planning and purchases, or the sacrifice of your time, or the earnest hours of work you put in. But God knows.

No one may know how or why or for how long you’ve been pinching pennies, or gathering quarters, or balancing budgets, or robbing Peter to pay Paul. But God knows. God sees every sacrifice. He sees every swipe of the card. He sees every handwritten check, every cent saved, every coupon collected, every debt collector dialed.

I feel a little like Peter who, on the way to the temple with John, encountered a lame beggar at the temple gate. Peter, looking straight at the man, said to him, “Look at us!” And the man did, giving Peter and John his full attention. “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you,” said Peter. He spoke to the man, saying, “In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” Then Peter took the man by the hand and helped him up. Instantly, the man’s feet and ankles became strong . . . and he went into the temple courts — walking, jumping, and praising God” (Acts 3:1-10 NIV).

Friends, silver or gold I have not . . . but what I do have I give you. Receive this encouragement, and let it strengthen, liberate, and enliven you with supernatural joy: God sees you standing at the gate, knocking and in need. He knows, and He alone can strengthen and sustain you, in the name of Jesus.

God is good, whether you are in plenty or in want. Pay attention to His goodness. May your praise empower you wherever your finances stand today.

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Friends — I’d love to hold space for any pressing financial or work situations you’re currently facing. Comment below and share a little bit about what you’re going through — I’d love to encourage you.

 

What Alleviates Your Loneliness

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I’m not a stranger to seasons of intense loneliness. I experienced it as a young girl who often felt like the odd duck in a beloved extended family of beautiful swans. I experienced it as a military spouse who often did the rinse-and-repeat routine of move, find new friends, and move again. And I’ve experienced it as a middle-aged woman who’s worried that a large portion of her identity has flown the coop right along with her adult kids.

Loneliness is especially hard because it compounds whatever struggle we’re enduring. Whether it’s a difficult move or a difficult marriage, loneliness makes your circumstances that much more difficult to walk through.

I know the frustration, too, of doing things to try and alleviate my loneliness only to be met with a lackluster response. Years ago, I cooked up a storm for a party and invited several folks over, but not one single person showed up. Later, when my husband deployed, I risked vulnerability by telling a group of new-to-me girls I was lonely only to hear nothing but chirpy insects. Sometimes, I’ve felt it after my family or I made a decision that few (if any) people understood.

As one now blessed to look back at a lot of life, I see obvious highlights where people alleviated my loneliness along the way. My magnificent Mema Rea and my other Mama Mary, always concerned that I was hungry, cooked pizza and baked homemade Reese’s bars because they knew I loved them. My high school best friend, Cathy, and her amazing mama, Dorothy, repeatedly welcomed me into their family like another daughter. When I had to leave my first teaching job for an across-country move, Patty and Susan threw me the best farewell party. Rebecca, after knowing me for only a month, threw my 27th birthday dinner party complete with a cake (the fastest way to my heart).

So, what did all those folks have in common? They noticed me. That’s the beginning and end of it, really. Through a kind word or small action, they noticed me. And as I passed by the mile markers of their loving kindness and friendship overtures, I felt less lonely.

Of course, it’s lovely when life works out that way. To be noticed is about the best feeling there is, I think. But what about the times you’re ignored, left out — not noticed? Perhaps you’re younger and so new to an area that no one knows to notice you. Or, perhaps you’re older and know the pain of people looking right past you.

To the degree it feels good to be noticed is the degree it feels awful to remain unseen.

The fact is, it takes time and opportunity to be noticed and to get to know people. In the waiting time between being unseen and seen, I’ve found this course of action the most helpful thing I can do to alleviate my loneliness:

Instead of waiting for someone to notice me, I notice someone else.

If we hopscotch through the Gospels, we see that Jesus was a pro at noticing people. He noticed when the bleeding woman touched His hem (Matthew 9:20-22, Mark 5:25-34, Luke 8:43-48). He noticed when Simon Peter and other disciples couldn’t catch any fish. (John 21:1-6). And He noticed when Mary Magdalene stood crying outside His empty tomb (John 20:11-18).

In all of these cases and many more still, Jesus’s first step to helping people was noticing them.

The same prescription is a good way to work through our own seasons of crushing loneliness. So, if I notice a new-to-me person in the neighborhood or at church, I’ll introduce myself and ask her a question or two. If I see someone at the grocery store wearing cute sandals or boots, I’ll tell her exactly what I think of her shoes. If I’ve made a too-big pot of soup at home, I’ll give the extra to someone. Or, I’ll simply double the recipe in the first place in order to double the blessing.

It’s certainly possible that in the Lord’s kindness, someone else may notice us without us having to reach out to them first. But we have 0% say in whether or not that happens. On the flip side, we have 100% say in how we choose to act in every season of our lives.

While there’s not a thing wrong with lamenting my lonely circumstances, I don’t want to turn inward to such a degree I give up my agency to see others. I want to notice others — and therefore create the opportunity for them to notice me in return.

To that end, may each of us notice someone else and in turn, notice that our loneliness is lessening, too, praise be to the good Lord above.

Are you, like so many others, in a season of loneliness? This 90-day devotional, Praying Through Loneliness, may be of help to you.

A Promise for When the Waves Just Keep on Coming

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“I can’t take my eyes off them,” I said, staring at the sea. The roar echoed off the nearby mountains, reverberated off the hotel walls, reached a crescendo, and then began again.

She followed my gaze, watched the crashing waves, and we stood still, silent, frozen, and amazed.

I’m no stranger to waves – literal or metaphorical. I spent the first 18 years of my life in Florida, and every summer we return to the same stretch of sand for our annual family reunion. Last year, in less than two minutes, the sky changed from baby blue to a deep gray as rain fell in sheets. The waves that gently splashed began to slam the shore, and I couldn’t help but laugh as I gathered beach chairs and turned to dash inside, only to walk straight into a wall of wind. Inch by literal inch, my cousins and I shuffled toward shelter, soaked through and shocked by the strength of the sudden storm.

After drying off inside, I stood on the balcony of the rented condo and noticed the small speck of a bird riding out the crashing waves. As if we switched places, I watched the bird from above and I told the One who walks on water, “That’s me right there and I’m exhausted.”

It was a tsunami of a year, and honestly, all these months later, the waves continue to rage.

Yet there I stood, on a different balcony on the opposite side of the country, another coastline before me and a friend beside me, shocked into silence by majesty.

Hours later, with sand squishing between our toes, we got as close as we dared and then we simply stared. Wonder. Awe. Beauty. A healthy fear, too, of what could be… and yet, as the water soared to heights above our heads and then crashed down before reaching our feet, what grew inside me was an unexpected peace.

I turned toward Tasha and said, “All year, it’s been one difficult thing after another. Every time I thought I saw a break in the waves, the storm picked up. But there’s just something about the strength of these waves. I think… maybe… God is inviting me to look at waves through another lens. Not to minimize the terror or the trauma or the terrible-ness of it all, but to remember that even the wild waves can be beautiful, too. They might keep on coming, but He’s greater than even THIS, so I’m going to be okay.”

Her eyes danced with delight as she exclaimed “We have to take a picture of you still standing, brave, and walking toward the water!” I slipped my phone into her hand, turned to face the roar, and walked forward, my words lost to the wind:

“God, You’ve heard every desperate prayer, but here’s one more. This storm, God… You know I never saw it coming. You know I’m weary and I’m heartbroken and I’m waiting for You to do what only You can do. Like the ocean in front of me, there’s no end in sight. But You’re mightier than even this, and I know You won’t let me drown. Teach me to dance in the deep. Help me see beauty, even here, before the storm stills.”

Sometimes, it seems like the waves will get the last word.

Sometimes, it feels like we’re gulping air — doggy-paddling and desperate and just trying not to drown.

Sometimes, years go by before the winds hush and the waters calm, their roar silenced in obedience to the One who says, “Peace, be still.”

My circumstances didn’t change as I stared at the sea, and watching the majesty there at the water’s edge didn’t make my own still-raging storm suddenly look beautiful. But I was reminded of a beautiful promise from the Maker of those mighty waves:

“The sound of the water is loud; the ocean waves are powerful, but the Lord above is much greater.” Psalm 93:4 NCV

His never-ending love is mightier than the waves of the sea, more powerful than the waters that crash, stronger than the fiercest storm, and greater than anything we face.

God is good and constant and constantly working all things for good. Love does not leave when waters rise, does not abandon us to the waves, or stand by wishing us well as we sink down deep. Oh no, Love Himself stays with us in the storm and says, “I’m mightier than even this, and so is My love for you.”

Maker of the waters, we ask You to speak peace over the chaos that is raging. In the Name of Jesus, the One who walks upon the storms that threaten to overtake, we declare that we aren’t going to drown. Instead, You’re teaching us to dance upon the waters, holding us up and holding true to Your word: You are greater than anything we face. You see the other side, and You will see us through. Help us hear Your voice above the roar, Your never-failing promise behind every wave: mightier than this, and this, and yes, even this, is Your love. Amen

If it feels like the waves just keep on coming and you’d like extra encouragement as you ride out the storm, Kaitlyn’s book Even If Not: Living, Loving, and Learning in the in Between will help you choose hope for tomorrow when today feels like a question mark.

 

Look for the Evidence of God’s Love

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I sat in my counselor’s office. I had many things I wanted to talk about, but before I could bring up any of the topics I wanted to discuss, I heard myself saying, “I am afraid to date. I’m afraid I won’t be safe. And I’m afraid I’ll make bad decisions. I don’t know how to look for someone good.”

My counselor took out a piece of paper, scrawling a word in capital letters near the top. In large letters I saw the word EVIDENCE. She drew a line down the middle of the paper and held it up to me. “See this?”

I nodded.

She told me to look for evidence in a guy’s life: how he talked to his friends, the music he listened to, how he spoke to a barista. She told me to pay attention to everything: “Be alert and look for the evidence. The evidence doesn’t lie.”

I took her wisdom to heart. And I’ve realized that looking for evidence isn’t only wisdom for dating relationships — it’s also a way to see God.

I think of her words: be alert and look for the evidence.

Am I alert when it comes to seeking God? Am I looking for evidence of His love? When I truly think about it, get my trusty notebook out, and jot down the signs of God’s fingerprints, I am astounded by all the ways He shows me He loves me.

I see the love of God in the eyes of my nephew and niece. I see the love of God in the friendships He has given me. I see the love of God in the way He’s redeeming some hard parts from my past.

Be alert and look for evidence of God’s love. I think you’ll be surprised by what you find. God’s love is as close to you as the air you breathe. He delights in you and sings over you. Sometimes we just need a reminder to wake up and look.

“The Lord your God is with you,
the Mighty Warrior who saves.
He will take great delight in you;
in his love he will no longer rebuke you,
but will rejoice over you with singing.”
Zephaniah 3:17 NIV 

By Aliza Latta as published in 100 Days of Strength in Any Struggle

 

You can’t do this life on your own . . . and you’re tired of trying. You need evidence that God is still present and good when everything around you tries to convince you otherwise. You need help and encouragement to keep going when the one next step is simply too much. We get it.

What if you don’t have to muster up more grit, determination, and wisdom on your own but could tap into the source of true, unfailing strength? Here’s the good news: You can.

You are stronger than you think because God is closer than you know.

100 Days of Strength in Any Struggle will take you on a journey of learning to see God clearer and to know Him deeper in the middle of your struggles. As you experience pain, move through daily challenges, or get bogged down by anxieties big or small, you’ll learn to find Him right in the middle of it, ready to strengthen you and give you rest.

In a Dark World, Notice the Glimmers

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I’m a full-steam-ahead kind of person. This can have its perks — I’m always planning and never stuck in the past. But there’s a shadow side, too — I can be so caught up in what will be (or might be) that I lose track of what is.

I often find myself so distracted, caught up in all my daily to-dos, that I miss the gifts of grace right in front of me. The first inhale of fresh air as I step outside. The perfect song on the radio as I turn the key in the ignition. The maple leaf’s satisfying crunch under my feet as I venture down the doorsteps to check the mail. 

Life is made up of a million little glimmers — small, seemingly ordinary glimpses of goodness that bring light into our everyday lives.

These glimmers of hope are all around us, but it’s easy to be too distracted to notice them. 

Deb Dana, a therapist who specializes in complex trauma, first shared the term “glimmers” in her book The Polyvagal Theory in Therapy. She describes glimmers as “micro-moments” that foster feelings of well-being. “Glimmers routinely appear in everyday life, yet frequently go unnoticed,” she writes.

What would it take for you to stop thinking about the future, even just for a moment, to glimpse the holy hiding in the mess of the everyday? Noticing these small, sacred moments — the steam hovering over your morning coffee, the flame of a candle dancing on your bedside table — can restore our bodies and even rewire our brains.

God made us to notice. Because when we notice, we restore and renew our weary minds, bodies, and souls.

Research shows that our nervous systems, often in survival mode, benefit from noticing glimpses of goodness. Paying attention to even the briefest positive emotion can help nurture our nervous systems and build resilience. 

How often are you in survival mode, moving from one thing to the next, shoulders tight and heart heavy, just trying to make it through another day? Maybe you’re caught in an unending cycle of work and worry, with little room for joy. But glimmers are always there, like the sunlight filtering through your window just so, illuminating tiny particles of dust that seem to dance in midair.

These moments, small as they may seem, can help us feel safer and more grounded. Psalm 34:8 invites us to “taste and see that the Lord is good” – because when we do, we find refuge in the One who loves us and will never leave us. God is present in it all, beckoning us to experience goodness in everyday glimpses of grace.

Maybe it seems flippant to look for small glimmers. After all, our world is spinning at hyperspeed. Division, discord, and distraction shout for our attention. Our world, our countries, our neighborhoods, and even our own families sometimes struggle to find common ground. We can get so caught up in what-ifs and worries that we lose sight of the beauty nestled into the here and now. Even in life’s chaos, Lamentations 3:22-23 reminds us, “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.”

Glimmers in our fantastic, dirty, messy, holy lives remind us that over and over again, we are offered a chance to receive restoration. Each sunrise brings new mercy, and every glimmer of hope hidden in the corners of our lives reminds us of God’s faithful presence in the present moment.

Noticing small signs of hope doesn’t mean denying the shadows or ignoring the realities of a weary world; instead, it keeps us going, giving us the strength to keep showing up. When we stay awake to the glimmers in front of us, we reorient our hearts to the Everlasting Light.

Glimmers remind us that though the world may grow dark, we are safe and held in the loving arms of Christ.

In Strong Like Water, my friend Aundi Kolber, a licensed professional counselor, contrasts glimmers as a delightful counterweight to the triggers we have in our lives. “If a trigger is anything (smell, taste, experience, person, etc.) that activates an embodied memory of a past threat or trauma, a glimmer is something that helps us connect with a sense of our felt safety.”

The briefest glimmer — like a crumpled $5 bill you find in last year’s coat pocket or the flow of your favorite pen as you write a grocery list — can act as nudges to the depth of your soul that you are safe. That you are seen. And that you are loved – right here, right now.

What would it look like to open yourself to noticing the glimmers in your life today? Maybe it’s slowing down to breathe in the earthy smell of new beginnings after an afternoon downpour or taking a minute to delight in the simple satisfaction of finishing a good book (or starting a new one). 

Take a minute. What glimmer might be hiding in plain sight?

Can you smell that freshly cut grass? Do you see how your loved one’s eyes crinkle when you walk through the door? Can you hear the birds singing in the distance? Do you feel the way that ice-cold sparkling water tickles your tongue?

God is with you now, offering grace to light your way through the darkness.

Will you notice?

A Breath Prayer for Noticing Glimmers
From the “Noticing” chapter in the fall section of Every Season Sacred, you can use this simple breath prayer to help you notice the glimmers of grace all around:

Inhale: Help me see You
Exhale: In and around me

May glimmers light your path, helping you notice and name even the tiniest reflections of God’s goodness in the days ahead.

 

A Five Dollar Kindness Miracle

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I stood in my kitchen riffling through a small accordion file where we kept money for our monthly budget. It was the end of the month, so the file was mostly empty. My sister was coming over soon, and I was scrambling to find some cash to give her. I checked my wallet. the jar where we stash dollars to save for vacation. My bottom desk drawer. All the places I might have hidden a few extra bucks.

My search was semi-successful. I thumbed through the wad of cash. Somehow I had found a hundred dollars. Strangely, though, they were all five-dollar bills. Suddenly, 20 five-dollar bills felt like both too much and painfully not enough. I wasn’t sure what to do.

My sister was going through a hard time — a really hard time. Life had imploded, and the gap between what she had and what she needed seemed impossible to bridge. I wanted to support her, to let her know that she wasn’t alone. In some ways, a hundred dollars felt embarrassingly inadequate, as I knew it would hardly make a dent in her needs. On the other hand, I felt a little guilty that I had the resources to scrounge up that sum of money and the sacrifice didn’t hurt too much.

I stared at the stack of five-dollar bills. I didn’t want to make my sister feel insulted or ashamed by my gift. I just wanted her to know that she was seen and that I would walk through the fire with her. “Lord, help me to know what to do,” I prayed.

I felt a stirring in my spirit. Ihe whisper of God that said, I know your heart and will honor it. Give joyfully — exactly what you have.

Later that afternoon, while cousins played together in the backyard and my sister and I cleaned up from lunch, I handed her a white envelope with my gift. She stuck it in her purse without opening it.

That night my phone binged with a new text: “Sister, I couldn’t believe it when I opened your envelope. This morning at church I put my last five dollars in the offering plate. I knew God was asking me to trust Him, but it was hard. Your generous gift was God reminding me that He sees me and will be faithful to provide for me.”

With tears in my eyes and a smile spread across my face, I stood once again in my kitchen, just shaking my head. Only God. His kindness to use and bless exactly what we have is abundant.

-By Becky Keife as published in Courageous Kindness

Have you ever looked at the world’s limitless problems in comparison with your limited resources and wondered if it’s even possible for one person to make a meaningful difference? Or maybe you think about today’s culture and feel disheartened by all the critical voices and division. Maybe kindness seems like a long-lost virtue without enough power to impact a single life let alone change the world.

Through the pages of Scripture and stories from women just like you, the Courageous Kindness Bible Study will show you how God’s kindness is an unrelenting pursuit of human hearts and an invitation to partner with Him.

God is absolutely wild about people — including you! His kindness is the catalyst for our salvation; His work in our lives is like a love letter inviting others to repentance and relationship. God goes to unimaginable lengths to wow and woo and call His children to Himself. Does this mean life is easy, peachy, and pain-free? We all know the answer to that is a resounding no. Yet when we learn to live with eyes wide open to the evidence of God’s kindness, it will not only change our view and understanding of God but will transform the way we see and relate to others.

Courageous Kindness by Becky Keife, with stories from other (in)courage writers, is on sale now at DaySpring.com for only $10! Plus, you can find more (in)courage Bible studies for $10 here through the end of Septmember!

God wants to use your ordinary days to accomplish more than you could ever expect.

I Am a Writer with Dyslexia and I Bear Witness to God’s Grace

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I am a writer with dyslexia.

Even typing those eight words feels like a paradox. It’s taken me years since the diagnosis to claim both titles — writer and dyslexic — without feeling a pressing need to spout off a list of achievements faster than the words “a writer with dyslexia” landed on a hearer.

I had hoped my accomplishments could outrun the words that sometimes elude me.

It was during my first year working as a digital managing editor at a publishing house, helping to shape the words of some of the most gifted writers, when I learned I had dyslexia. This reality stirred a well of insecurities, adding another layer of vulnerability to my already overflowing desire to prove that I was enough.

I often doubted how the very tool of words could, on the one hand, be instruments gifted by God to create sentences that sing of His grace and truth and yet, on the other hand, be the source of my greatest struggles. It’s a paradox that I still wrestle with. But it has become a sacred wrestling, one where my weakness collides with God’s immense strength. It’s in the quiet spaces between the stumbles with words that His truth whispers most profoundly. Here, in this very tension, lies an encounter, a holy ground where my limitations bow to God’s boundless power and glory.

For many of us, we have spent years seeing inadequacies and limitations as only weakness adjacent. And we’re not the first to know this struggle. During His day, Jesus’ disciples (despite witnessing His many miracles firsthand) didn’t always see how God’s power and glory could and would work through, not apart from, their imperfections and limitations.

In John 9:1-3, Jesus encounters a man who was born blind. His disciples asked Him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him.”

Just as it was with Jesus’ disciples, this story of the blind man challenges our conventional understanding and approach to limitations. Jesus’ intention? That, through this encounter, we might gain better sight.

Take a brief moment to consider the areas where you are experiencing lack or limitation. Could it be that what you see as a perceived lack is leading you toward greater dependence on God? Is this lack or limitation posturing you to receive His provision and not your own?

There’s no denying that our limitations are hard, and our lack is inconvenient. Surely, this fallen world is not the way God originally intended it to be (Genesis 3:16-19). Still, He’s not left us without hope nor without the ability to still give Him glory.

But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
2 Corinthians 12:9

It’s now been four years of working in publishing, and I can bear witness to God’s grace being sufficient, as He uses my weaknesses to qualify His call on my life. I am a writer who wrestles with dyslexia but, more than anything, I am a child of God whose identity is found in Christ — the Word who became flesh.

Could it be that God permitted this paradoxical path for me that I may, all the more, embody the power of His grace? If so, it’s a paradox I am willing to live out until He heals me . . . or calls me home.

Do You Want to Get Well?

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Curled up on the sofa, I sat in silence as my friend sobbed. We’d been here once before as she tried to unearth personal layers that had held her hostage for too long. When she was in financial debt and depressed, I’d text, talk, feed, and pray with her when she isolated — but now we were paused at a crossroads.

Loneliness darkened her soul. Hope felt hard and her couch felt too comfortable. Complacency lingered. She didn’t want to get up and all my attempts to help halted.

I’ve always been a “pull myself up by the bootstraps” kind of gal, so I was stumped. Life often felt challenging, but I was always willing to put in the work. Give me a wise rule and I’d follow it. Offer me a hard job, I’d do my best. Tell me how to get better, I’d try it. Until years later, when I didn’t want to try anymore either. I was tired, discouraged, and, for the first time, understood my friend’s painful crossroads.

I burrowed at home and isolated. Betrayal stung and going to church hurt, so I withdrew. As an extrovert who was historically busy with others, my friends never guessed because I hid behind the kids’ schedules. That hurt more. Emotional anguish rolled into physical weakness and the longer I stayed hidden, the more alone I felt.

One lonely evening I heard Jesus’s gentle prodding. “Jen, do you want to get well?”

This is the same question Jesus asked the man who had been sick for thirty-eight years. The man who waited, wallowed, and wondered what was next for him — who laid by the pool of Bethesda alongside a host of other sick people who pined for a miraculous healing of their own. The Greek word used here for sick (astheneō) doesn’t focus solely on the physically weak. It extends to any of us who lack strength, feel powerless, or struggle with weakness of faith.

Can you imagine the environment? The desperation and hopelessness as a multitude of those with diseases and disabilities waited? I wonder if despair and discouragement had become part of their identity. If we’re honest, sometimes it’s easier to define ourselves by weakness and wounds instead of the wonder of who God made us to be.

When I first read that passage, I thought Jesus’s question was a bit ridiculous to ask anyone desperate for healing. Rejected by those closest to them and cast out by society, doesn’t everyone in anguish want to get well?

While we’d expect a bold declaration of “Absolutely!” to Jesus’ seemingly simple question, the ailing man didn’t reply with a yes or no. Instead, he answered with an excuse.

One man was there who had been disabled for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and realized he had already been there a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to get well?”

“Sir,” the disabled man answered, “I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, but while I’m coming, someone goes down ahead of me.”
John 5:5-7 CSB

This interaction not only shows his physical struggle, but his spiritual one as well. The sick man doesn’t recognize the Savior who offers unconditional hope and compassion. Instead, he’s blinded by doubt and lists all the reasons why healing is too difficult:

I am all alone. No one will help me. Someone is always ahead of me – they have it easier.

Right then, I saw myself in his excuses. I’m lonely and invisible. I’ve been betrayed. Why didn’t they pick me? Instead of pursuing spiritual wholeness, my heart posture focused inward. It was all about me. My Savior extended a lifeline, but I didn’t recognize it because bitterness bristled.

It’s normal to feel sad and weary. But we can learn to welcome the tension of heartache and hope by trusting Jesus is Jehovah Rafa — the One who heals. The hardest things do not last forever. When we allow our suffering to create a longing for eternity, hope prevails.

Jesus gently asks each of us, “Do you want to be made whole?” Questions like this simmer in the quiet of our souls, yet we’re given a choice.

“Get up,” Jesus told him, “pick up your mat and walk.”
John 5:8 

Christ wants to heal and set us free, but it requires action. Hope and healing don’t come amidst indifference.

With newfound compassion, I sat again with my friend and asked the uncomfortable question of Jesus.

“Do you want to get well?”

“Of course I do, but…” She listed her excuses, but this time I was able to listen and acknowledge how painfully hard healing and transformation can be. I learned you can’t pull yourself up by your bootstraps when they’ve seemingly disappeared, but we know the One who will pull us out of the pit.

It’s a vulnerable question, but do you want to get well? What does it look like for you to live whole?

Lord, soften our hearts. Convict us where we need it and give us a willingness to change. Strengthen us with Your courage so we can pick up our filthy mat filled with past choices, problems, hurt, dysfunction, bitterness — whatever it holds  — and run it to You, our Healer. Amen.


Listen to Jen’s devotion below or wherever you stream podcasts.

 

What Are Your Key Pillars?

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There’s a brand-new digital course from our friend Melissa Horvath, and we’ve got a teaser of it and a deal for you today! Embark on your personal journey with God to find direction and meaning for your next steps; sign up today for the 21-Day Unlock: Discovering Your God-Given Purposes!

This 21-day journey is designed to help you discover your divine purposes, find passion in your every day, and develop a personal mission statement. It includes 10 insightful video lessons, 21 thought-provoking devotions, and PDF workbook downloads.

Through September 30th, you can enjoy this course for only $29.99! Here’s an excerpt to give you an idea of the content: 

Imagine you’ve purchased a new dining room table — a gorgeous oak table large enough for your whole family to enjoy Thanksgiving dinner together. Only, when the truck arrives and the delivery guys set up the table in your dining room, there’s a problem. Only three of the four legs have arrived.

Now what? You can’t trust a lopsided table to safely hold all of your dishes, can you?

Sometimes our faith walk is a little like that wonky table. When we don’t have solid footing, we’ll topple over. Consider the words found in Matthew 7:24, where Jesus says, “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock” (ESV).

That’s the goal of this course — to build on the Rock of Christ Jesus, to develop the best possible foundation.

With that in mind, think through four truths that have stabilized you throughout your life. When life gets shaky, which of God’s promises do you rely on the most to make you steady again? Take some time to consider what your four key pillars are.

Having trouble? Here are four key pillars you can stand on today and forever.

  1. God is in control at all times.
    Because He’s the supreme authority, above any earthly king or kingdom, we can trust that He’s all-powerful and all-knowing.
  2. God’s Word is true.
    By applying the Scriptures to your life, no matter what you’re walking through, you can find guidance, strength, and wisdom to navigate any challenge or circumstance.
  3. God’s plans for us are good.
    Even when we don’t understand what God is up to, we can trust that God sees the bigger picture. It’s important to know that He’s working not only in our lives but in everyone else’s too. When we start to align our desires with His, we’ll see that He’s not out to get us (or to punish us for some sin we committed in the past). We can rest easy, knowing that He has a purpose and a season for everything.
  4. God can move mountains through our faith.
    “‘If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, “Move from here to there,” and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you’” (Matthew 17:20 NIV). You see, it doesn’t take much faith, just a tiny mustard seed (about the size of a pinpoint) to be unstoppable. But here’s the deal: you must be aligned with God and His will in order to see the miracles happen before your very eyes.

These four pillars of the faith will keep that table — and everything on it — in perfect condition. You can gather safely around that very solid table and trust that it will hold all that you have going on in life for a lifetime.

Are you feeling overwhelmed by the mundane routine of life? Do you feel like your spark is fading? You’re not alone. Many women find themselves feeling lost and unsure of their purposes. It’s time to shake off those feelings and start stepping into your calling.

Introducing the 21-Day Unlock: Discovering Your God-Given Purposes. This transformative course, designed by celebrated writer and entrepreneur Melissa Horvath, will help you unearth your unique purposes and empower you to live a life of profound meaning and fulfillment. The course is tailored specifically for women who want to lean into their God-given purposes.

You’ll be guided through a journey of self-discovery, enabling you to assert your calling with conviction and confidence. With Melissa’s inspiring words and practical applications, you’ll also be encouraged to create a personal mission statement that truly resonates with your life’s purposes. It’s never too late or too early to start anew and live the life you’ve always dreamed of. God has so many wonderful purposes for you throughout your life. Take the first step towards your new journey today. Don’t just exist, live your purpose! Now through September 30th, enjoy this course for only $29.99!

Grab your course today, and listen to the (in)courage podcast this weekend for a special conversation with Becky Keife and Melissa Horvath!

We know this course will be a blessing and we can’t wait to hear how it impacts your life!

 

Celebrating the Sacred Silly

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Yesterday my youngest turned four. He is a constant joy to our whole family, full of mischief and love and big feelings and silliness. We all pile onto his bed at night to read him stories, he tags along to his siblings’ sporting events and is a pro sideliner, and he melts our hearts regularly.

My kids love their birthdays, and I love celebrating them (well, and really I love celebrating just about anything)! For the nearly thirteen years I’ve been a parent, I have thrown amazing birthday parties. I’m not shy about saying it’s a gift I have – the gift of planning a party that walks a thin line between over-the-top and casual fun. Themes in the past have included a Bob the Tomato VeggieTales party and a hamburger party (yep, hamburgers were the theme). I’ve made a from-scratch standing doll cake for a princess party, wiggly blue jello ‘ice blocks’ for a Frozen theme, and a three-foot sub sandwich waiting inside for the ‘players’ after they ran football drills in the snow. I’ve created an entire party themed around hairbows, one for the color pink, and one all about horses (complete with horsey snacks like carrot sticks and apple slices). One year a unicorn party involved a ring toss game with an inflatable unicorn horn that one bold uncle donned.

The themes have evolved and grown up as my kids have done the same, and this year with a couple of tweens and an official teen they will be the most mature yet (we’re looking at a Vikings football party, a Taylor Swift party, and a spa party). But my newly turned four-year-old continues to keep us all in the moment in the way only a toddler can do.

Because his birthday party theme this year?

Pickles.

That’s right. My guy had a million options he shared during the three months he realized his birthday was coming up (awareness of time isn’t exactly the skill set of a toddler). He considered characters like Paw Patrol, orange – his favorite color, dinosaurs, and other things he currently loves. But when he landed on the idea of a pickle party, we were all so tickled that it stuck!

During his party, we will be enjoying pickle pizza, dilly lemonade, giant pickles on a stick, popcorn with optional dill seasoning, and a big green pickle-shaped cake. I’m also thinking of some kind of beanbag game, or maybe pin the pickle to the jar. It will be silly and fun and perfect for him!

Celebrating the silly is something that I love to do. Like, let me in on the obscure thing you adore, and we’ll make it a whole thing. One line in a movie? Let’s say it whenever possible. A favorite 90’s era sitcom? I’ll binge it with you and bring the popcorn. Quilting, a favorite pop star, beloved dog breed? I’m here to recognize the joy it brings you and celebrate it. Why?

Because experiencing pure delight in the things we’re hardwired to love is worth leaning into – whether or not it makes sense to anyone else.

For instance, nothing makes sense about my deep love of our Minnesota State Fair. I hate crowds. (and between 150,000-250,000 people attend each day. Over 1.9 million people this year!). I hate hot weather (and it takes place over the twelve days before Labor Day – likely our hottest days of the year). I do not prefer operating on whims and without a plan (and we twist and turn our way through hundreds of acres of fairgrounds, being led fully by whims). My stomach hurts if I look at a new food (and we sample ev.ery.thing at the fair, from mini-donuts to milkshakes, corndogs to walleye bites).

Yet our annual State Fair day brings Christmas-morning-level excitement and joy to my heart. Each year, it’s just us and a couple hundred thousand others gathered at the Great Minnesota Get-together, testing out tractors and each other’s patience.

This year we spent 13 hours walking over 18,000 steps and 7+ miles. We tried new foods and savored old favorites. We pushed the stroller through crowds and celebrated our beloved state, beaming every time I felt camaraderie and group bonding over the DNR building and Miracle of Birth Center and the intricate handcrafts on display and buckets of cookies and old church dining halls and gigantic pumpkins and big Minnesota love. We had such a great day at the fair that, for the first time, we surprised our kids with a second day and had just as much fun doing entirely different things!

Between the fair and my youngest’s pickle birthday theme, it occurred to me that maybe the things we love most don’t have to make sense. Maybe the silly things we adore are actually sacred.

Maybe the things we love can just make us really happy. Period. And maybe it’s by design that they do.

Would the leaves have to change color in the fall? Probably not, but it absolutely delights my soul that they do. Would zebras have to be striped? I don’t think so, and they are one of my kids’ favorite animals. Would delicious, complex, and beautiful fictional worlds have to exist? No, and yet the way in which our favorite characters and series impact our lives is wonderful.

What about music? Choral arrangements and marching bands and jazz ensembles? All interpreting the same notes in wildly differing ways to the sheer delight of audiences.

Cool water on a hot summer day. Best friends, sharing lives and hearts. The fact that no snowflake is exactly like another. A perfect strawberry, bursting with ripe flavor.

There are just-for-joy creations, designed by the Creator for the pleasure of His favorite of all — you. And you know what? He takes even deeper delight in who you are.

“The Lord your God is with you,
    the Mighty Warrior who saves.
He will take great delight in you;
    in his love he will no longer rebuke you,
    but will rejoice over you with singing.”
Zephaniah 3:17 NIV

As you go about your day, I hope you seek and find glory in the everyday, the small, the just-for-you treasures. I hope you tuck away in your heart and know in your bones that the One who created constellations of twinkling stars and coral expanses under sparkling oceans loves and delights in you, just as you are. And may this be the lens through which we view one another — beloved, delighted in, adored.

 

Listen to Anna’s devotion below or wherever you stream podcasts.