Category: Purpose

Speak What You Need to Hear

Reflecting on the words that make a difference during painful seasons of life.

Most of us have been through (or are currently going through) a time in life of doubting our self-worth, questioning whether we belong, and wondering if we even have a purpose. Whether through ongoing mental health difficulties or external circumstances, dealing with the heaviness of isolation and hopelessness can cause us to spiral into doubt over whether or not anyone–even God–cares.

What words would’ve comforted or reassured you during that season?

Perhaps:

You are loved no matter what.

You are wanted here.

You matter to me.

You belong just as you are.

God’s grace is sufficient for you and made perfect in every weakness.

You have a purpose, even if you can’t see it yet.

Keep extending this list, contemplating what would’ve soothed your soul during troubling times.

When we are in seasons like this, it can be easy to believe the lie that we are the only ones who feel this way. No one knows how I feel. No one has been where I’m standing right now.

And while each journey is individual and personal, we share common experiences as human beings. In fact, that’s what connects us to one another and allows for empathy.

When we are in lighter seasons, we may forget that there are those struggling, unable to put out their best selves right now. We may be hurt by unreciprocated generosity or unanswered texts and calls.

During these times, it is important to journey back to the messages we would’ve benefitted from hearing during our times of weariness and despair. It will likely feel vulnerable to repeat these mantras of truth and grace to someone else, not knowing how they will be received.

It’s true: you might be laughed at or responded to with silence. But even with those reactions, or ones that feel sincere and heartfelt, these words will make a difference.

We often respond with laughter or skepticism when we are uncomfortable. We often respond with silence when we are scared. Sometimes receiving loving truths is uncomfortable and frightening, yet it is also vital to our journey toward healing.

Today, think of a person in your life who may need to experience God’s truth of their worth through you. Then speak these words in a way that allows them to experience grace and compassion. Whether you ever feel appreciated afterwards or not, it will make an incredible impact on someone else’s life. ❤

Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.

Colossians 3:12


Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church.

Ephesians 4:15

The Quiet Voice

Listening to God through the still moments of the day.

It is often easiest to listen to the loudest voice in the room. The attention grabber, the leader, the one setting all the expectations. But what if the leader’s voice is quiet, barely above a whisper, the tugging on one’s heart?

You likely know which leader I am referring to, especially if I were to go one step further and describe this leader’s voice as a still, small whisper in the wind. That’s right, I’m referring to God, our ultimate guide.

I’ve often come to notice that the moments I most regret are those when I fail to listen to the quiet voice inside me–the Holy Spirit–who is otherwise referred to as our Helper. It is true; the Holy Spirit is the power within us that connects us to God and helps us know what choices God would want us to make.

While God certainly can speak in loud, attention-grabbing ways, I think it’s quite fitting that He often speaks softly. I picture God as the type of teacher to patiently wait for the noisy class to settle down on their own rather than yell above them in a desperate attempt to rally them up again.

God is not desperate. God is all-powerful and relational. Most of all, He wants us to freely choose to grow more like Him.

In the end, God can save the world without our help. But God desires for us to follow Him and live into our purposes. He wants to use us in the beautiful ways we were created for.

Today, take a moment to be still. No distractions, not even music or the ticking of a clock. It’s even better if you find yourself alone in nature. Gently ask yourself, what is God telling you today? Is He saying “wait” or “move forward”? Is He calling you to reach out to a specific person or spend your time in another way?

Or maybe He’s simply guiding you toward rest, allowing you an opportunity to soak in the peace only He provides.

Whatever it is, take His words to heart and let them flow through you today.

 “Go out and stand before me on the mountain,” the Lord told him. And as Elijah stood there, the Lord passed by, and a mighty windstorm hit the mountain. It was such a terrible blast that the rocks were torn loose, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 12 And after the earthquake there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper. 13 When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave.

And a voice said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

1 Kings 19:11-13

His Spirit made the heavens beautiful,
    and his power pierced the gliding serpent.
14 These are just the beginning of all that he does,
    merely a whisper of his power.
    Who, then, can comprehend the thunder of his power?”

Job 26:13-14

Moving Forward While Honoring the Past

Is it difficult to find the balance between appreciating the past while moving forward?

Yesterday, I glanced out the window and noticed my next-door neighbors’ old playhouse. There it stood, stained with permanent purple handprints, the swings barely clinging onto the post, and cobwebs filling the room that used to serve as the kitchen.

This playhouse provided a place for adventure, friendship, and community. Alas, its time has come to an end. But does that make it an unworthy investment?

We are so often focused on the future that we work ourselves up over whether or not we wasted time in the past. Why didn’t we do more extracurriculars rather than hang out with friends? Why didn’t we work more hours rather than explore new hobbies? Why did we make that purchase that didn’t last forever?

Even worse, we begin to fret about regret. But what may be unusable or unappreciated now can still have value in reflection. And that includes relationships.

Do you ever beat yourself up over spending time with someone who you don’t talk to anymore? Maybe this person won’t ever have the same significance they once had in your life, but they were there to teach you something valuable.

Instead of looking back at the past with doubts and alarm, perhaps today you can reframe your perspective and appreciate all that your growth has taught you. All these people and experiences and even possessions have brought you to the place you are today. But none of it has any value without God.

Thanks to God, we don’t have to have regrets. We know that even when we mess up or make a questionable choice, God will use it to bring us closer to Him. We just have to keep our hearts open to the possibility that it isn’t too late for us.

If you are caught in confusion, overwhelmed by mistakes or lack of closure, call out. to God for insight. Peace is one of the many gifts He willingly gives us.

You are not a failure when your thoughts linger on a place that’s no longer here or a person who doesn’t occupy your time anymore. But the past is not a place to live; rather, it’s a place to reflect in before moving forward with renewed courage and hope.

You have made it through all the storms that have come your way so far. You will be able to do it again. ❤

My son, if you accept my words
    and store up my commands within you,
2 turning your ear to wisdom
    and applying your heart to understanding—
3 indeed, if you call out for insight
    and cry aloud for understanding,
4 and if you look for it as for silver
    and search for it as for hidden treasure,
5 then you will understand the fear of the Lord
    and find the knowledge of God.
6 For the Lord gives wisdom;
    from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.

Proverbs 2:1-6

Life Doesn’t Have to Make Sense

Do you struggle to trust God when life doesn’t go as planned?

There have been many moments in my life where I’ve watched a situation unfold, a relationship end, or my path take an unexpected turn that’s caused me to wonder, “Where is God in all this?”

The thing that’s been difficult for me to accept is that God is right there in the middle of all that doesn’t make sense. God desires to be known, but we will never fully be able to comprehend Him with the limited capacity we have as humans. And maybe that can bring us hope instead of fear.

Accepting that life is confusing and chaotic and even incredibly painful at times doesn’t mean we have to hide our emotions or deny the way these difficulties affect us. But it does mean we won’t lose our faith and trust in God even when the journey holds things we don’t understand or desire.

Today, I encourage you to be reminded that God is the God of the impossible. That means you won’t have everything figured out and that’s perfectly fine. Good, even.

God has extraordinary plans for you that may be hard to see right now, but it doesn’t make them any less possible. So whether you are holding up a troubling situation or an unknown future, hand your burdens to God because He cares for you.

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

10 And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.

1 Peter 5:7-10

To Be Alive

A reflection on truly living in 2023.

Have you ever stopped in your tracks and wondered, “I’m breathing, but am I truly living right now?”

In a culture swept up in the “latest things” and keeping up with everybody else, it’s easy to be caught in this whirlwind of panic and restlessness. But when we don’t pause to enjoy life where we’re at–a stage that is precious and unique all on its own, despite the difficulties–we will never fully experience the gift of life itself.

As we head into 2023, I’m left with more questions than answers. Perhaps pondering these questions with me will lead you on a path towards healing, intentional living, and hope for the future.

  1. How are you experiencing peace (or a lack of peace) in this present season?
  2. What changes could you make to feel less drained?
  3. What activities or experiences leave you feeling fulfilled and joyful?
  4. Are you currently making the time to do those things on a regular basis?
  5. How is God calling you to act in this season?

In reference to the final question, I don’t just mean the basic: God wants me to follow His laws and live righteously. Rather, what specific things can you do this year to be faithful to God and pursue His calling on your life?

No matter what gets accomplished and where you are on the journey, you are loved and you are here for an important reason. I hope this new year fills you with hope, healing, and anticipation for greater things to come.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!

2 Corinthians 5:17

Unapologetically Authentic in an Uptight Society

Encouragement to be your authentic self in a critical world.

We don’t often realize what truly inspires us.

“Aren’t you scared?” Over and over that question lingers on my tongue, haunting my thoughts, tainting my words.

I thought that when my friend joyfully danced in a foreign country on the side of the river where anybody could see her.

I wondered that when another friend shared her differing values on social media.

I questioned that when I saw someone befriend a lonely individual who wasn’t accepted by everyone else.

I believe that every time I edit a Bible verse out of a public message, nod and smile when people assume I’m agreeing with them, and gloss over details about myself in order to appear as “normal” as possible.

Living bravely enough to be genuine to yourself may seem like the backwards approach to getting away with justifying your choices and flaws and hypocritical gestures as simply “part of your faith or personality”.

But being courageous and being critical are two very different things.

Criticizing others for the sake of feeling right is the opposite of living into who we are meant to be. Consider, for a moment, that you are wrong.

How hard is it to admit someone else might be right? That someone else will always be more right than you–God. The Creator of all, who is the only Knower of all. Who will always know more than you. And me. And all of us. (Thankfully)

Being courageous means standing up for the truth. Being willing to risk your reputation, your people-pleasing abilities, and everything else for the sake of being authentic.

At first, authenticity might seem antiquated. It’s just so easy to conform. To give up a dream, change the script, not recognize yourself in the mirror because you don’t like what you see first thing in the morning.

What we are lacking most in the world is authenticity. We can’t trust anyone anymore because we are so afraid of being cancelled or exposed or mocked. We live into the question, “Are you afraid?”. And if you aren’t, shouldn’t you be?

But God doesn’t want us to live in fear. He wants us to be so confident in who He made us to be–loving, compassionate, bold, honest, and curious–that we aren’t afraid to show others who we really are.

Yes, you might have strange hobbies or odd friends. Yes, you might not hold the same set of values or opinions as your neighbors. Yes, you might be laughed at, uninvited, or ridiculed for the beautiful pieces that make you you.

And, you will have parts of you that need to be transformed over time. The rough edges smoothed out until you become a new person. But not a person copied and pasted from the latest top celebrity or even humanitarian. The person God created you to be.

When you do everything with a heart for God, when you are never trying to hurt others but always trying to help them grow, you will be doing the right thing.

It isn’t about having the right set of beliefs about what people should or shouldn’t do. It isn’t about knowing all the answers or never having a doubt.

It’s about being so full of gratitude for the gift of life God gave you that you can celebrate by embracing your unique characteristics and skills in a way that serves the world.

Isn’t it remarkable that we have this opportunity?

At first, when I watched my friends make these risky decisions, I experienced second-hand embarrassment. The world tells us to be ashamed of ourselves. The world beats us down to the ground until we don’t know how to dance or speak for ourselves or notice the overlooked.

But then, something sparked in me. Inspiration, you could say. And to me, that’s the best gift (after salvation itself) that God grants us.

Maybe it isn’t too late to be myself after all. And if it isn’t too late for me, then it certainly isn’t too late for you.

So go out there and live unapologetically authentically. The world needs the real you. ❤

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.

2 Timothy 2:15

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

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

Grace Through It All

Encouragement for your heart today ❤

There is grace in the waiting, the wishing, the wanting. Even when it feels like you have hoped for too long with no results, even when it feels selfish to persist.

There is grace in the mistakes, the ones that feel countless and the ones teaching you new things. Even when others make it seem like a flaw counts against your humanity, remember that pride steals our joy, and when we can laugh and learn, we are best headed towards becoming our full selves.

There is grace in the loyal, the faithful, the true. The times when you feel as though your heart can’t hold much more, yet there’s still much to do.

There is grace for the humble, the overlooked, the neglected. When you feel behind others after overcoming more obstacles to get to where you are today.

There is grace for the doubtful, the skeptical, the tired. The ones who wonder if God really exists, or worry that He doesn’t care. Even through the questions, God is right there.

There is grace for the arrogant, the prideful, the hard-hearted. One doesn’t create such a shell without wounds to hide and unfinished healing to repair.

There is grace for the soft-spoken, the lonely, the spoken-over. Though you may have felt like your words don’t matter, they are what will bring needed change to this world.

There is grace for the loud, the chaotic, the energetic. You may have been led to feel like “too much”, when really our world wouldn’t function without your constant motion.

There is grace for the creative, the thoughtful, the dreamer. Though you have often been told that your imagination isn’t practical, hold onto your dreams and know that someday you will find yourself in a place greater than you can comprehend.

There is grace for you, whoever you are, wherever you are. Whether today was the best day of your life or left you in tears. Whether you have found yourself at the end of your rope, continuing a cycle you thought you had broken. Whether you are wishing to hold this day in your heart forever, never wanting to let go of the comfort it brings you.

We need grace because we are all of these things at points in our lives, whether in the past or yet to come. We are only human, and yet we are wonderfully human. God holds us close and sets us free to grow, guiding us through with each heartbeat, with every step.

These steps, these rhythms are bringing you closer and closer to the person you are meant to be. And that, my friend, is a beautiful thing indeed. ❤

You will go out in joy

    and be led forth in peace;

the mountains and hills

    will burst into song before you,

and all the trees of the field

    will clap their hands.

Instead of the thornbush will grow the juniper,

    and instead of briers the myrtle will grow.

This will be for the Lord’s renown,

    for an everlasting sign,

    that will endure forever.

Isaiah 55:12-13