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Stillness and Snowflakes

You are an unrepeatable miracle of God.

You’ve likely heard the comparison of people to snowflakes. We’re unique individuals despite sharing the same qualities with one another that make us human. No two persons are the same.

Yet it’s so easy to look around and feel like the odd one out, the one who just isn’t as worthy or valuable as everyone else.

When’s the last time you stared up into the sky and watched the snow fall around you? Shivering as little flakes dust your eyelashes, causing you to blink in delight.

Perhaps you live somewhere without snow, so you’ve never had the opportunity. Or maybe snow is such a common commodity that you have forgotten what it’s like to stand in wonder.

Today, we were driving through thick, fluffy flakes on our way home from church. As we went along, the snow appeared as nonstop lines connecting the heavens to the ground, simple white streaks. But when we stopped at a red light, I stuck my head out the window and everything froze.

Every single unique snowflake fell delicately at its own pace, one after another. There was beauty because there were so many of them. Yet each one fluttered and flew in full acknowledgement of its own importance.

It took hitting the breaks to notice. To care. To ponder.

Whether or not you have snow to admire, perhaps taking a pause today will allow you to reflect on how God has showed up for you in the past and equipped you to face each day’s challenges. The emptiness in your heart will slowly mend as you remember those who did love you rather than those who didn’t take the time to understand you.

As an old professor once told us every class, you are an unrepeatable, irreplaceable miracle of God. Let the truth of those words sink into your heart today.<3

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

Psalm 139:14

You Won’t Miss What’s Meant for You

Are you tired of trying to figure out what God’s will is for your life?

God’s will. Two scary words for anyone in a season of waiting, transition, or decision-making.

Every time I’ve made a life decision over the past several years, I’ve been asked, “Is this choice within God’s will?”.

Usually it comes after I’ve asked for advice, when I’m not sure what is the “right” decision. In these moments of overwhelm and confusion, being thrown this additional component makes the process even more daunting.

Perhaps you’ve been in that situation. You really want to please God with your life, use your gifts for His glory, and live with purpose. But…the will of God can seem so broad and significant that even thinking about it results in a headache.

Here’s the thing: We have no control over God’s will. It will happen regardless of what decision we make. One yes or no isn’t going to ruin God’s plan for our lives.

This news might be a relief, or it might be frustrating to hear. We’d like to think we have some sort of handle on what happens to us, right?

I was rereading Luke 1 today, and a new detail caught my eye. For those of you unfamiliar with the beginning of the Christmas story, it starts off with Zechariah the priest in the temple receiving a message from the angel Gabriel announcing the promise of Zechariah’s son, John the Baptist.

However, what I never noticed before was this detail:

Once when Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense. 

Luke 1:8-9 (added italics)

It was beyond Zechariah’s control to be in the temple that day to receive that message at that specific time, yet God orchestrated it in a way to uniquely speak to Zechariah. Even when Zechariah didn’t believe the angel (and received the consequence of losing his voice for nine months), God’s will was done. No matter what, God knew He wanted to use Zechariah and his wife, Elizabeth, for the key role of raising up an important leader.

No person, thought, fear, or feeling could remove God’s divine purpose from this family.

God’s will isn’t supposed to be a scary thing that we have to figure out. By prioritizing our relationship with Him and trusting Him with every detail of our lives, we will be able to witness God working even in the most troubling of circumstances. Most of all, as we grow to become more like Him, it will be easier for us to understand how to react when difficult situations arise.

But through it all, even when we make mistakes, God will use you and your special gifts no matter what. He will never leave you alone. ❤

But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John. He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth.”

Luke 1:13-14

Gratitude in All Seasons

Encouragement if it’s hard to be grateful this Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving is always a time for reflection.

You may be looking back on the past year with contentment. Perhaps this was the year when a lifelong dream came true or new hope was birthed within you.

Or maybe this year has been painful and you don’t know how you made it this far. Fresh scars were stitched permanently on your heart. All you can do is anxiously anticipate the future.

This time of year forces us to generate feelings of “gratitude”, whether we want to or not. It seems wrong to feel discouraged or overwhelmed when we’re supposed to be cheery and excited.

Then, of course, it can seem like we’re betraying God when our immediate emotion isn’t happiness or thankfulness when looking back on memories. Does this mean we don’t trust God?

Something I’ve been realizing this year is that God appreciates genuineness above praise that doesn’t come from the heart. He wants us to be open with Him about what we’re going through, which deepens our relationship with Him.

But how do we avoid enabling ourselves to live in a constant funk while also not forcing ourselves to appear surface-level happy?

Perhaps by redefining what it means to be grateful.

Another word for gratitude is appreciation. When we look back on the variety of moments in our lives that have shaped us, we can appreciate why God allowed us to go through them without being glad that they happened. We don’t have to smile when we remember the loss of a loved one or a heartbreaking situation. We don’t have to shrug off the effort it took to grow in patience or to learn how to take care of ourselves.

Rather, we can have joy knowing that we can trust God with everything, including our disappointments and struggles and injustices. Joy doesn’t equal happiness; it makes room for deeper healing to be explored.

Today, when perhaps there is nothing else to be thankful for or you have everything in the world to be excited about, go to God and be renewed in the hope only faith can bring.

Though the Lord is exalted, he looks kindly on the lowly;
    though lofty, he sees them from afar.
Though I walk in the midst of trouble,
    you preserve my life.

Psalm 138:6-7

The Name You’ve Always Needed

Encouragement for when you feel forgotten. ❤

It stings when someone forgets your name.

Names are a funny thing–they seem so simple, just a word to identify yourself, and often not one you’ve chosen. Some people seem to really fit their names, while others…may deserve some sympathy from overly humorous parents.

I’ve never felt particularly attached to my name, Hannah. I’ve always liked the sound of it, and I’m named after two amazing women. But somehow, perhaps after being in classes with five other Hannahs, the name never really felt like mine.

Names play a pivotol role in the Bible.

Mary Magdalene finally recognizes Jesus after His resurrection when He says her name.

The birth of Israel as a nation occurs after Jacob is renamed.

Abram becomes Abraham after making a covenant with God.

Saul transitions to Paul after his life-altering encounter with the Light.

We could go on and on.

Names are so much more than just a word. They make us feel remembered and important. They give us worth. When someone says our name in just the right way, we are washed over by their love.

And yet, our earthly names are not the names that truly identify us. We have another name–unknown to anyone but God–written on a white rock in Heaven to be given to us when we are reunited with God.

I am instantly enveloped in comfort at the thought of God having a unique name for every single person who has ever–or will ever–exist, the name we have longed to be called without even knowing it.

God remembers you and sees your worth even when no one else does. Even on the days when it feels like the entire world has left you. You are not alone. We have so much to look forward to, but for now, let’s go out and help others feel remembered too. ❤

Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give that person a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to the one who receives it.

Revelation 2:17

Every Person Plays a Part

Your role in this world is vital.

If you’ve ever been in a school play or seen one of the million Disney movies about musicals, you’ve surely heard the phrase, “There are no small parts, just small actors.” Cliché, and yet a glimmer of hope for anyone who hasn’t gotten the staring role.

I was writing Christmas Sunday School curriculum today, and one lesson focuses on Joseph, Jesus’ earthly father. Now, Joseph’s role might feel redundant considering Jesus already has God the Father. Mary is often the one who gets the spotlight in this story, and for good reason, considering the sacrifice, courage, and humility she displayed. Yet there’s something rather comforting about Joseph’s involvement in this pivotal moment in history.

God didn’t have to include Joseph in Jesus’ arrival, yet God chose to include Joseph for many reasons, one of them being that Joseph provides an example for us as to how to be purposeful outside the spotlight.

Joseph took care of Jesus’ earthly needs. He remained loyal to Mary when others likely turned against their family. He listened when God spoke to him and protected his family from danger. He never slay dragons or laid down his life in a dramatic way, yet God’s story wouldn’t be complete without him.

It’s easy to feel like our roles are minimal, especially if we spend most of our time encouraging others with more “exciting” purposes. Yet God has created each one of us uniquely in order to fulfill equally important roles intended for us.

You have an important part to play in the continuation of God’s great story for the world. No matter how others have made you feel, you are valuable, vital, and valiant as you continue to pursue God.

But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 

1 Corinthians 12:24-25

Fading Into Glory

Encouragement when the journey is difficult. ❤

After making a full 360 around my room, I determined a full redecoration process was in store for these dingy walls. I grimaced as I peeled off old drawings, photos, and cutouts.

While deciding what could be salvaged, I realized everything framed with construction paper had become faded. Through heavy exposure to the sunlight, I couldn’t tell a red paper from a green. They all were stripped down to their original color.

Sometimes, it feels like our transformation process is a little like this. We were created to be natural and authentic images of God, and yet the world dips us in distinguishing colors that separate us into groups, even when we’re all molded after the same Creator.

As we learn to follow Jesus, the ultimate Light, we are stripped back down to who we are meant to be. This process can be messy and ugly and broken. Many people won’t understand why we choose to go through it when we may outwardly appear more beautiful or comfortable without changing.

And yet change, as painful as it is, must happen if we want to be anything like Christ. We physically cannot grow without setting aside our own humanly inclinations in order to have a trusting relationship with Him.

Today, you may be feeling discouraged, wondering if you will ever blossom into your purpose or become like Jesus. You are not a failure for feeling behind or making mistakes–that’s all part of the process. Jesus never said that following Him would be easy, but He did promise that you will never do it alone. ❤

{Jesus said} “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

John 16:33

Who Are You Listening To?

Retraining our thoughts towards Jesus.

You’re going about your life and–BAM–an intrusive thought slivers its way into your brain. Telling you lies, which are hard to let go of. In fact, it takes 3oo times of repeating a better thought before the lie is removed.

God cares about our thoughts. When we are told to be obedient to God, it not only means following the commands in the Bible for living a healthier life. Obedience means listening with our full selves to God.

I’m sure you’ve experienced conversations where you have something else playing in your head while the other person is talking. You leave unsure of what was even discussed. When lies fill our minds, causing us to doubt ourselves and the truth of God’s love, we aren’t able to listen to God.

There are two practices I have been introduced to this week that may help both of us on our journey towards listening to God.

  • Practicing listening without responding

Read a portion of the Bible with a loved one, then take turns listening without commenting, agreeing, or inflicting your opinion. By allowing yourself to be solely focused on absorbing what the other person has to share, you won’t be consumed with figuring out what to say next.

  • Write down a situation where you had strong (negative) emotions today. Record what you were thinking during this experience and then consider whether there’s a more constructive thought to replace it with when in a similar situation.

For example:

Original thought: I didn’t get the response I wanted, which must mean I’m not good at what I’m doing.

Replacement thought: Perhaps this response can give me new perspective. I am still loved and purposeful even when I don’t do as well as I had hoped.

Your state of mind matters just as much as all the other parts of you. I hope and pray this week is the start of allowing God to speak to you above all other voices.

My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand.

John 10:28-29

Close to God’s Heart

Encouragement for when you feel alone ❤

I’m a self-proclaimed awkward hugger. I enjoy hugs, but I think the hardest thing about them is knowing when to let go. The quick side-hugs are the easiest, yet least impactful. Then there are the ones that seem to never end, and always result in a weird back-patting situation.

There are two long hugs that I will likely always remember vividly. The first was saying goodbye to a (very good) hugger friend of mine who wasn’t ready to let go. So we stood there, embraced, and I knew it was an excuse for her to not move forward. As hard as it was, I had to release her.

Then there was a night when I was the one who needed comforting, the one not ready to be set free. Overwhelmed and in tears, I was a glob in the arms of my very gracious friend who eventually sat me down in a chair so that I could collect myself.

What I’ll remember about these events are the love and affection shared within my relationships, but the bond eventually had to be broken, at least physically. There’s no way you can just stay in that posture forever.

And yet, there’s a little piece inside that grows cold when the hug is over. When you feel all alone again. Inevitable, right?

Well, maybe not.

God, being the definition of love itself, is able to hold us close without ever letting go. But God is also capable of moving forward with us, prompting us to grow in the ways we are meant to in order to become the people He created us to be. Yet this transformation doesn’t happen independently. God doesn’t give us a pat on the back and walk away.

No, God will be holding us close through the whole process. That is how we can have peace in the midst of challenging, even heart-breaking situations.

Tonight, whether you feel alone or stuck or confused, I hope you can rest in the knowledge that God loves you so much and is holding you close to His heart. He won’t ever let you go. ❤

And He has raised up for His people a horn, the praise of all His faithful servants of Israel, the people close to His heart.

Praise the Lord.

Psalm 148:14

The Power of Lament

What if your pain can bring you closer to God?

Some call it feeling “low”, others call it “the blues”. But in reality, that sinking, twisting pang of sorrow, longing, or even misery can seem to great for words.

Yet what if words, though shallow they may feel, can actually bring deeper healing?

I used to feel guilty for complaining to God, but recently I’ve discovered the power of a prayer of lament. It’s not a long list of complaints, gossip, or ramblings. Rather, it’s a chance to grow closer to God by trusting Him with your deepest feelings, even when they are negative.

God cares about you–not just the sunny, cheerful parts or the action-packed, exciting moments. Not even the side that witnesses best. It is through dealing with the painful, dark times that we can open ourselves fully to the love God has for us and the love we are meant to share with others.

So, how do you write a lament? Here are a few simple steps (though really, with patience and reflection, will be so much more than simple):

  1. Address God (what names make you feel most connected to Him?)
  2. Admit your innermost feelings. Even if they don’t feel right or true, just write them out. Sometimes looking at words on a page can help them feel less overwhelming.
  3. Remember the ways that God has shown up for you in the past and thank Him.
  4. Find an aspect of your life that brings you hope. It doesn’t have to be big to be meaningful.

God loves you so much and wants desperately to hear from you. No matter what you are going through, you are not in this alone.<3

For no one is cast off
    by the Lord forever.

Though he brings grief, he will show compassion,
    so great is his unfailing love.
For he does not willingly bring affliction
    or grief to anyone.

Lamentations 3:31-33

You are Not Forgotten

No matter how you feel today, you are not alone.

I stood at the edge of the curb, rain dripping down my back, one earbud hanging loose over my shoulder. Angry, confused, wondering what was wrong with me.

And then soft words, as though an angel were singing in my ear, flowed through my remaining earbud:

You are not hidden
There’s never been a moment
You were forgotten.

Lauren Daigle, “Rescue”

That was four years ago, and yet her words never cease to haunt me. In the most comforting way possible, of course. But it’s funny how someone’s simple words can reach into your soul and pull something out that you never thought possible.

I’ve come to notice a trend in theology classes: they always start with Genesis. No surprise there. But this year, after reading these chapters countless times, my professor brought something new to light.

The first time we hear God speak to Adam and Eve, He asks, “Where are you?”. And this question, my professor remarked, is what God continues to ask humanity throughout history. Even now, each day, God might ask this of us.

It’s weird how difficult it is to answer that question. I mean, there’s the simple answer, “I’m at ___ address”, or even if you were to take it metaphorically, “I’m at peace in my life right now”.

Yet I don’t think I really had an answer until I didn’t know where I was geographically.

I was sitting in my room–which had only been “mine” for a few days–in Cambridge, overlooking a river full of punting boats and swans. I couldn’t tell you where to find me or how to get anywhere other than the local grocery store from there. And yet, as I took a deep, steady breath, I finally knew where I was. I wasn’t in hiding anymore.

Last week, I sat alone on the grass on my university’s campus watching the bright yellow leaves float down around me. This campus has engulfed me in loneliness, gripped me with terror, and coated me with shame. And yet, I could finally sit comfortably where anyone could see me and feel well.

God doesn’t ask Where are you because He wants to “get us” for our sin or pile on guilt. God asks because He wants to be in relationship with us, and we can’t have a loving, open relationship without being brave enough to present our full selves. To come out of hiding. To be honest about how we truly feel and what we’ve become.

Ultimately, God asks this of us because He never forgets us. He remembers us. Through the tears that came down with the thunder and lightning roaring inside to the quiet moments where no one knew we were hurting.

God remembers us in the joyful moments, the excitement that no one else can truly understand but Him. In the meaningful connections, the smile after the conversation is long since over, the memory that keeps us alive.

While we’ll always be remembered by God, we can’t feel remembered until we step into the light and allow God’s love to cover any inadequacies we still face.

Today, I hope you can believe that you are not forgotten. God loves you so much and He will never let you go.

I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life.

Genesis 9:15