Devotional – Page 19 – The Will to Wake Up

Day By Day

You are free to take life day by day.

You are free to take today one moment at a time. You are free to live day by day.

The future can cause a great ache in our hearts, a flutter in our chests, and an instant sweat to form. We try to calculate things according to our overarching plans, but problems come up, new relationships form, and old ones evaporate, leaving stains on our weary hearts. What are we to do in such a fast-paced world?

We are to be still.

Be still, right here, right now. Take a deep breath.

Everything will be okay. Not everything will go according to your plans. In fact, it’s likely that most things won’t. But what if that’s a good thing?

There are people in your life who you may be longing for, yet feel far away. Perhaps a closed door will bring you closer to them, or an unexpected conversation will lead you to others who are better suited for you.

There may be a dream that surfaces your brain whenever you allow yourself to hope. The path towards achieving this goal will not be linear, but it will be full of growth opportunities.

The things you cling onto now may be holding you back. These hopes and dreams are important and valuable, but will only lead to more stress if you place them before your trust in God.

God is the only one who knows you fully and is capable of cultivating a purposeful life for you.

Cling onto God and the rest will fall into place.

Your progress may feel slow, but it will all be worth it. These small acts of obedience, this budding hope, this glimmering light–they mean something, something beautiful. You are blossoming into exactly who you are meant to be.

So give yourself grace today. You have weathered many storms, yet none have blown you over. You are the last one standing, victorious.

You are improving; you are growing. God is at work within you.

So give yourself the opportunity to breathe and let today be whatever it needs to be.

You know with all your heart and soul that not one of all the good promises the Lord your God gave you has failed. Every promise has been fulfilled; not one has failed.
Joshua 23:14

But you are to hold fast to the Lord your God, as you have until now.
Joshua 23:8

Joy Can Be Found in Every Season

No matter what season you’re in, joy can still be found.

Does each new season of life come abruptly for you? In certain seasons, this change may be warmly welcomed. But in others, this shift feels like the rug has been torn out from under your feet.

Each season is unique and special, both in its pain and healing. But what if I told you that joy can be found in every season, even the most difficult?

Every individual’s life is different, but I often think of life as having five general seasons (not always cycling in the same order).

A season of preparation (also thought of as waiting, though I’ll explain the difference in word choice momentarily)
A season of loss
A season of trials
A season of rest and healing
A season of new opportunities

Now, once again, I’d like to clarify that our lives are too complex to be minimize and shoved into a set of five boxes. However, for the sake of simplicity, we will stick to these five main categories for today. I also realize that my life doesn’t mirror everyone’s lives, but I will use personal illustrations because these seasons have been so clearly reflected throughout my past year.

I use the word preparation rather than waiting because I believe we are waiting in every season. In a season of preparation, we are eagerly anticipating what’s to come. In a season of loss, we are waiting for the pain to ease. In times of testing and trials, we are waiting for our hard work and persistence to pay off. When we are recovering from fast-moving seasons, we are waiting to feel ourselves again. And when we are being restored, we are waiting to see what comes next.

Yet, through everything, we can still have hope and joy.

The SEason of Preparation

I distinctly remember this season starting. I had just graduated and the future felt so bright and hopeful. Yet, I was overcome by a sense of longing, a desire to move forward faster. Little did I know all that lie ahead.

Now, I firmly believe that preparing is an active word. When we feel stagnant in our current states, we must take the time God is giving us to be with Him, encourage others, and spend time in the Bible. We must be ready for what’s to come, yet ultimately trusting God with whatever the future holds.

How can we have joy when life feels boring?

We can reflect on the past and all that God has done through our different stages of life. We can develop our dreams and see how they align with God’s will for us. We can get excited about the future while being intentional about noticing what’s beautiful in the present.

More than any other season, intentionality is key as we prepare for what God has in store for us. Our time won’t feel wasted when we know our efforts are being put to good use.

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Ephesians 2:10

The season of loss

This is arguably the most difficult season to find joy. When a loved one or a dream is stripped away from us, we are left feeling wounded, abandoned, and empty.

During this season, we are tempted to escape from the deep healing God is trying to stir within us. Last summer, I experienced loss and a sense of impending doom for the future. I wanted to run away from my problems, and I tried to do that, only to be faced with the truth.

God only wants the best for us. When we are experiencing pain, He is using that to draw us closer to Him. That doesn’t mean we should belittle our pain or brush off the efforts of others to relieve it.

Rather, we should allow ourselves to feel the depth of our pain and heartache. We may not always be in safe places to do this, but when we are given the opportunity, we must be honest with our feelings.

I have often found that my most intimate moments with God come out of seasons of disappointment, loneliness, and grief.

Allow yourself to be immersed in God’s comfort and love. Let these truths sink in:

You are loved.

You are important.

This person, this dream, this opportunity matters.

Your feelings matter.

You are going to get through this, one day at a time.

You can still find joy in this season by realizing you have the unique opportunity to feel God’s very presence in your life. You are able to relate to Jesus’ pain in a way you never have before. And ultimately, this season will lead to deeper healing.

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ. If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort.
2 Corinthians 1:3-7

The season of Trials

This season may feel as difficult as the season of loss, yet for different reasons. Instead of feeling immense sadness or grief, you are faced with feelings of frustration and discouragement. You may even wonder whether or not you have a purpose.

You may be tempted to give up when the end feels so far away, yet our greatest strength comes from our most trying circumstances.

We experience the most growth during our tests of faith and perseverance. This growth should not be taken lightly. It is a true gift to be able to develop the skills and characteristics God has placed within us.

We can find joy in the fact that we are becoming more and more like Jesus the longer we follow Him and allow His love to infiltrate every aspect of our lives.

Yes, you are being challenged, and yes, you deserve time to rest. You may feel stretched to the limits, perhaps both emotionally and physically. But you can trust that this time is not being wasted.

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
James 1:2-4

The season of rest and healing

Though some would rather choose to “skip” this season, we all must take the time to rest and heal from the strain life puts on us.

You are not weak for needing rest. You are not weak for needing time to heal. You are certainly not weak for asking for help during this season, whether it be from a trusted mentor, a close friend, or a professional skilled in helping others work through trauma.

Now, this season may not come after the “most traumatic incident of your life”. We need to periodically take the time to recover so that we are able to show up as our best selves during the seasons that ask a lot of us. Even the most skilled warriors and leaders in the Bible took time to rest. God commanded it, that’s why He built it into our weekly schedule.

But our society makes us feel insufficient when we aren’t able to carry the weight of the world alone any longer. How can we respond to that with joy?

By accepting the fact that yes, we are all insufficient. We need Jesus to carry our burdens with us and give us the deep healing we desire. And once you accept the restoration Jesus offers, you will begin to feel fully yourself, deeply known and loved by God.

Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it. For we also have had the good news proclaimed to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because they did not share the faith of those who obeyed. Now we who have believed enter that rest, just as God has said.
Hebrews 4:1-3

THe Season of New opportunities

I have recently come out of a season of healing. Though I put every last bit of myself into my work, relationships, and education, I plummeted into the season of healing as a shell of myself. I am so thankful to have had several weeks to rest and do things that bring me joy. This has prepared me for the season I believe to be entering, a season of new opportunities.

Over the past few days, I have been overwhelmed by new opportunities and fresh starts. Never have I actually entered a new year with this many changes.

While this is exciting, it is also slightly frightening. After so much has happened, it is hard to believe that good can really come out of life.

During this season, we face immense pressure to be grateful and happy. But we can’t force those feelings. Gratitude is important, but must come wholeheartedly. Happiness doesn’t last, not the way joy does.

Perhaps you are also in this season, or have experienced the desire to be joyful, yet you aren’t sure how to make these feelings appear.

The truth is, joy comes slowly but surely. It isn’t necessarily the initial spark of excitement or eagerness that comes when an opportunity is first presented to us. It isn’t even the relief that comes once things work out. It is in the process of trusting that God is using our gifts and diligence for good.

So, despite the unknowns lying ahead, you can have hope that everything will work out according to God’s faithful plan.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!
2 Corinthians 5:17

Carrying Courage, Abandoning Shame

What should you save and let go of as we head into the new year?

To this day, I absolutely love scented body wash. When I was growing up, I loved my body wash so much that I refused to use up a bottle. When there was about 1/4 left, I’d stash the bottle under the sink and find a brand new one.

I’m not entirely sure the logic behind this scheme. Seeing the bottle collect mold and dust didn’t enhance my shower experience. In fact, I felt wasteful as I tossed several disgusting bottles away years later. Yet there was a part of me that felt I had to save the remains of each bottle just in case I’d need it later.

Now, this story may seem a little ridiculous, but hear me out. As we head into 2022, we are all carrying more than we should. I don’t just mean in terms of our possessions, though a new year’s cleaning may be therapeutic 🙂 We are carrying too much in our hearts.

Have you been walking around with a lifetime of broken memories and scars from the wounds of others? Have you been harboring resentment towards others who still don’t seem to be worthy of forgiveness? Perhaps you are saving the fragments of a mistake in order to get what you want.

Our mind lies to us, telling us that we can’t be better than this place we’re in. The darkness in our hearts that emerges when we harm ourselves or others, even internally, forms a block in our path. We can’t move forward like this.

Whether you are ashamed of your past or you are frustrated by someone else’s mistakes, I encourage you to let go of shame as you enter this new season. It may not seem “fair” to forgive yourself or others, especially if someone got hurt along the way. However, by allowing yourself to accept this generous gift from God, you are released from the chains of hopelessness and despair.

But we shouldn’t walk into 2022 empty handed, right?

It takes great courage to face unknowns, particularly after the past few years we’ve had. Yet we can have courage because God is always with us.

A few weeks ago, I asked my Sunday schoolers what helps them feel less afraid, and they unanimously replied, “Having someone with me.”

We always have someone with us, even when we feel alone and afraid.

Take God with you into 2022. He is the one thing that will never mold or decay, nor get stolen or lost. He will always be waiting to show His love and mercy towards you.

May 2022 be a year full of hope, peace, and patience as we watch our lives unfold according to God’s greater plan. You are here for an incredible purpose, and I believe God will use whatever comes your way to shape you into the person you are designed to be.

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.
Psalm 46:1-3

The Power of a “Thank You”

When have you been particularly touched by a simple act of gratitude?

Thank you. The magic words alongside “please” and “may I”. This simple phrase that we often disregard or use simply out of politeness may be the answer to saving your relationships.

A family member of mine has worked for years for a company that surrounds him with untrained “assistants”, a demanding boss, and a mountain-load of work that spews into his vacation time and weekends. Understandably, he has wished to leave this company for quite some time. You might think a raise or a promotion or a superior title might convince him to continue his job. But no–all he wants is one thing: a simple “thank you”.

A few days ago, a friend reached out with a kind message of appreciation. Up until this point, I was weary of helping this person and considered distancing myself from the friendship. But this message provided renewed energy and a desire to be there for them.

A person close to me has been a devote member of her church for nearly a decade. She offers her time, talents, and energy into a volunteer position that has enough work to really be a paid job. She particularly poured her heart into the Christmas activities and gifts for the leadership team and children’s families. But all she got in return was a half-hearted, pre-printed card, and a candle with wax spilling down the sides. She didn’t serve for the recognition (or else she certainly would’ve left a long time ago!). All she wanted was a simple “Merry Christmas”, a thank-you for her efforts.

Can thank-you’s really be that powerful? Can they transform relationships, work environments, and communities?

I believe they can.

I don’t mean a hastily tossed out “thank-you” as you head out the door. I mean taking the time (which often only takes a few minutes) to send an appreciative text or mail out a thoughtful card. If you are feeling more generous, taking this person out for lunch or buying a small gift. Don’t do it out of obligation, but out of your admiration and gratitude for this person.

We often come up with excuses to not show our gratitude. We’re “too busy” or “don’t have enough money”. But we don’t have to spend money or take much of our time to remind others that they are loved, that their efforts don’t go unnoticed. Just showing up and listening to them can be enough.

At the end of the day, you have to ask yourself: Is this person worth the effort it will take to make them feel appreciated?

I hope the answer is yes. In fact, I hope the answer is that they are worth much more than whatever you can offer.

The truth is, when we have someone in our lives that restores our hope in humanity, who is there in our time of need, or simply makes the world a brighter place, we feel like we have little to offer in return.

That’s the real reason we are scared to say “thank-you”. We don’t believe we can return the favor, so we don’t even try.

But trust me, whatever you do will make a difference. When our acts of service or generosity come from a heart of love, then it won’t matter how big the reward is, if any.

Today, think of someone who has changed your life, even in small ways. Now, take the time to thank them in an intentional way that you know they will personally appreciate. You won’t regret it.

And as this year comes to an end, thank God for His blessings, despite a difficult year, and the people He has placed in your life.

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.
Colossians 2:6-7

Never Too Late for Prayer

Is there ever a time when prayer won’t help?

I’ll admit it: I often underestimate the power of prayer.

When a tough situation comes up that I have no control over, I get upset that “all I can do” is pray, when in reality, prayer is the most powerful weapon we have against the brokenness in our world. Certainly we should take action when opportunity allows, but prayer should be our first priority.

This evening, my family said goodbye to an elderly family member over the phone. This side of my family hasn’t accepted Jesus, and at this point, it feels hopeless. What’s the point in praying for them when they are reaching the end of their lives? What can Jesus do when they can’t even talk or move anymore?

But something I must remind myself is that we should never underestimate the power of prayer. Jesus can do anything, right? Even turn a hopeless situation around.

But when things don’t go the way we pray, it’s easy to lose faith that prayer even works.

Jesus doesn’t promise us that our prayers will be answered the way we hoped, but He does promise that it will make a difference. Every prayer counts, even when it’s our last resort.

To our last breath, Jesus pursues us. If you are being faced with an impossible situation or a person you feel tired of praying for, remember that your efforts are helping. The Holy Spirit intercedes for us so that God hears our every prayer. He listens to us no matter what.

It’s never too late to pray. We never truly know all that Jesus is doing in the hearts of those we love. Remember: He loves them even more than we ever could. ❤

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.
Romans 8:26-27

Celebrating the Prince of Peace

How are you longing for peace this Christmas?

I hope you are having a very merry Christmas!

No matter how you are feeling today, I’m sure we are all longing for peace. The funny thing is, while Christmas celebrates the birth of the Prince of Peace (aka Jesus), Christmas has become a chaotic time.

We are searching for peace after endless shopping and crazy spending.

We are searching for peace when our mind tells us we aren’t good enough or happy enough to fully appreciate Christmas.

We are searching for peace when we are running from one activity to the next, hoping that finally things will click and feel like the “most wonderful time of the year”.

We are searching for peace when we are missing a loved one who made Christmas magical.

How are you searching for peace this Christmas?

To be honest, I’ve been giving that question a lot of thought recently. While I’ve been able to heal and restart over my holiday break, I’ve had trouble truly feeling the “Christmas spirit” this year. It feels like something is missing.

I’ve wracked my brain over and over again, trying to figure out what that missing piece could be. Sure, some traditions haven’t happened and I haven’t been able to see family this year. But that doesn’t seem to be it.

The Christmas season flew by in the blink of an eye. It feels like sand slipping through my fingers. Little bits of magic just out of grasp.

What is that void? Lacking peace. Fearing the world after Christmas.

I’ve been reading through the book of Luke, and one of Jesus’ remarks caught my eye. As He is riding through Jerusalem shortly before His death, He expresses sorrow for the crowd.

As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it and said, “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes.”
Luke 19:41-42

Though He’s speaking to the Israelites in this passage, I believe this lament is applicable to us today. That gap in our hearts is a longing for peace, the peace that only Jesus can bring.

And the thing is, we can know Jesus and love Jesus and fully understand the true meaning of Christmas, yet still lack peace. It’s not until we accept that peace can only come from Jesus that we begin to experience inner healing.

Peace is an unexplainable thing. By definition, peace is “harmony, tranquility, and freedom from oppressive thoughts or emotions” (Merriam Webster Dictionary).

We are lacking peace because we are being oppressed by our destructive thought patterns, the trauma of living through the pandemic and all the unique trials of the past two years (or longer), and the utter state of brokenness in our world.

How can we have peace amidst all of this? How can we hold onto the true miracle of Christmas once the presents are unwrapped and the tree is taken down?

We can immerse ourselves in God’s word. We can ask God for healing. We can close our eyes and take a moment to simply breathe.

Allow peace to become a regular part of your life. Cherish the moments of stillness and accept that being still doesn’t mean you are weak, but rather that you care about yourself and others enough to appreciate the gift of quiet.

I hope and pray that you are able to feel God’s presence this Christmas. He has overcome the world and promises us a better future. We have nothing to fear.

Merry Christmas! ❤

May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.
Thessalonians 5:23-24

You Can’t Stop God

How do you view God?

Not when you were a child, not when you were a teen, not even yesterday, but today. How do you view God?

For many people, God is this powerful, tyrannical being who refuses us our desires and makes us earn His love. For others, God is a carefree parent who lets us do whatever we want out of the sake of His never-ending love.

To be honest, there are brief snippits of truth in both, yet it’s missing the core of who God is. But before I dig into that, I’d like move this conversation to the musical level 😉

I recently came across the song You Can’t Stop Me, by Matt Hammitt, that perfectly depicts our relationship with God. While this song could be a beautiful dialogue between two people (which it is!), I believe these lyrics are even more profound when spoken between us and God.

The song begins with these lyrics:

Keeping my heart at arm’s length
Pushing me so far away
Keeping my kindness at bay
Tell me who hurt you
Every time that you think
You’ll be too much for me to take
You give me a reason to stay
To see mountains move

Often, the reason why we are in a tense or distant relationship with God is because we have been hurt and misled about the character of God. We believe it’s safer to pretend like there isn’t a God so that we don’t have to “burden” Him with our lives.

However, God is given an even greater reason to pursue us when we believe our problems are too much for Him. God is given the opportunity to prove His love, such as Jesus did on the cross. God continues to show us reasons why He is powerful and all-knowing.

And if you don’t think I’m afraid
That loving you could bring me pain
Oh, I know that my heart could break
It’s a chance I’ll take

Now, God isn’t afraid of anything, but loving us does bring Him pain. While the earlier verses indicate God’s glory and supernaturalness, these verses remind us of God’s human qualities.

When Jesus sacrificed Himself on the cross, when He came down at Christmas to endure earthly trials, He did all this out of His love for us. However, He certainly endured pain and heartbreak at the hands of sin, our sin.

Yet He reminds us that we are worth it.

And you won’t let anyone see you
But I know that one day I’ll reach you
You won’t let anyone love you
But you can’t stop me

In our society, we often choose to hide our true feelings and lives in order to portray an idealized version of ourselves in the hope of pleasing others. But God sees us. He knows us to the fullest extent.

In the end, it’s not our choice whether or not God loves us. We can’t stop God’s love. He doesn’t force this love on us, but it will always be there for us to accept. And someday, He will make His face known to us.

So does this God sound tyrannical, unreasonable, or overly tolerant? I certainly don’t think so.

It’s out of His love for us that He wants us to change and grow into better people, which means He will let us go through difficult circumstances. But it’s also out of His love that He never gives up on us and is willing to sacrifice everything for us.

So, let me ask you again: How do you view God?

For me, on this very day, God is certainly powerful, deserving of our adoration and respect. God is also loving and merciful, forgiving me when I repent from my mistakes. But most of all, God is here. God is with me. God is with you.

God is love, so when we are with God (which is always) we have nothing to fear because there is no fear in love.

And the sooner we accept the fullness of God’s love, the sooner we will finally find hope.

But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because God chose you as firstfruits to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth.
2 Thessalonians 2:13

To listen to You Can’t Stop Me, by Matt Hammitt (featuring Fleurie), check out this link: https://youtu.be/l_RUtxDRwJA

You are Somebody

Do you want to be “someone” in this world? Well, guess what? You already are!

A song that’s been stuck in my head the past few days is Someone to You, by Banners. A repeated line goes, “I just wanna be someone. Well, doesn’t everyone?”

Come to think of it, yes we do!

While this song implies finding a romantic partner, I believe we are all hoping to be someone in this world. We want to have meaning. And in a world of nearly 8 billion people, it’s a struggle to feel significant.

Often, on this quest to “be someone”, we get lost along the way. We may search for validation in romantic relationships, which leave us brokenhearted. Or perhaps we strive for a promotion or impressive resumé to boost our marketability. Maybe we think we can only be someone if we are famous or rich or popular.

And while the truth is that Jesus sees all of us as someone, this fact doesn’t bring us much reassurance. After all, if everyone is someone, then what’s so special about it?

Our society strives for uniqueness. Think about it in the fashion world. What’s more expensive, the mass-produced dress at Target or the hand-embroidered, one-of-a-kind designer gown? Obviously the one that’s harder to come by.

But here’s the thing: Jesus doesn’t work the way our society works. When He calls us treasured and valued and loved, it doesn’t matter that He also loves every single other person who ever existed. That’s because His love is infinite. It isn’t mass-produced, but unique and special to each individual.

As a kid, did you ever try taking home a stray animal or even a wild critter from outdoors? Your parents warned you not to name it because you couldn’t keep it. What’s so special about a name? Names build attachment; they form a connection.

Jesus knows us by name. In fact, He’s the one who named us and continues to call us by name. He knows every intricate detail of us, from the number of hairs on our head to our distant memories we can’t even remember anymore.

No matter what anyone says, you are somebody.

In fact, Jesus says that you aren’t just somebody. You are everything to Him.

Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine…Because you are precious in my eyes, and honored, and I love you, I give men in return for you, peoples in exchange for your life.
Isaiah 43:1,4

Jesus, Heal Our Land

Our broken world needs healing more than ever, but how can we obtain that?

I came across a verse this evening that really resonated with me.

If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
2 Chronicles 7:14

Now, for a bit of context before we dive into this passage, God is speaking to Solomon right after Solomon dedicated his newly constructed temple to the Lord. Clearly, the Israelites already have a track record of not listening to God after asking for a worldly, human ruler in place of God and constantly looking to other ungodly people groups to gain “inspiration” for how to live. However, even after everything, out of the endless love in His heart, God promises His people that He will listen when they call out to Him.

As you can see, our world is no better than the world during 2 Chronicles. There is so much man-made destruction of relationships, identity, nature, and internal wellbeing. People are dying every day at the hands of others’ selfishness. Others are suffering for the sake of wealth or status or even tradition. None of these things would be happening if God were recognized as our leader because God is just, merciful, and loving. We need deep healing in our land.

You might think that we are too far gone. And truthfully, I often feel that way as well. But God is always willing to give us a second (or millionth) chance. When we cry out, He listens. But we need to be in the right “heart space” in order to have this intimate relationship with God.

And where better to learn than through God’s own instruction?

Humble Yourselves

The first command God gives Solomon for the Israelites relates to humility. Pride (the opposite of humility) is one of our biggest separators from God. When we recognize that our worth comes from God alone, we accept that we need His grace and forgiveness in order to live fully. We cannot do anything by our own strength. The glory must truly go to God.

Pray

Prayer comes in many forms. The traditional list of prayer requests often feels lengthy and unnecessary. But prayers are really just a conversation with God. We need to build in time for listening and accepting the convictions He gives us. That often requires discomfort, but it’s worth it for the sake of growth. And if we have followed the first step, humbling ourselves, then we are more likely to be able to take the changes God wants for us. We are also given the opportunity to experience joy through gratitude during these times of prayer.

Unique ways to pray:

Prayer journaling

Writing letters to God

Singing

Taking a walk through nature and listening for God

Popcorn prayers (going back and forth with another person to list off what needs prayer)

Reading scripture

Seek My Face

We can’t just expect God to be waiting to serve us at our hands and feet. We need to make intentional effort to have a relationship with God too. By reading the Bible, listening for God, and truly having the desire to know Him, we will be able to seek His face. God loves a willing, inquisitive heart and will reward the efforts you make to find Him.

Turn from Your Wicked Ways

Something our culture doesn’t like to hear is that we do actually do things that aren’t right. Shocking, I know.

But seriously, while God loves us no matter what, He doesn’t want us to stay buried in our lives of sin. He wants to free us from the chains sin places on us. Knowing what is a sin and being willing to accept that we aren’t perfect requires all the previous steps (humility and knowing God’s character).

The awesome thing is that when we do things that are wrong, God doesn’t inflict shame upon us the way the world does. Rather, we are given hope that things can get better and that we are designed for greater things.

I hope you will join me in praying for our broken world. My heart goes out to all of you who have truly felt the weight of the world on your shoulders. You are loved. Don’t give up showing God’s light, we need it more than ever.

More Than You Can Bear

Are you feeling overwhelmed, wondering where Jesus is in the midst of all you’re going through?

Sometimes, life just feels like too much. One thing after another, spiraling into a season of chaos. And when one stressful season ends, it feels as though another is just around the corner. During these times of uncertainty, you may only have the energy to ask God one simple thing: “Why?”.

To be honest, I’ve been asking God “why” a lot recently. Why this school, why these feelings, why don’t I understand?

What are some questions you have for God? Maybe they are related to your mental or physical health, or perhaps an important relationship in your life. There are countless things to question God about; the tough thing is waiting for an answer.

Yesterday, I was feeling overwhelmed by the burden of wanting to do whatever I can to help others, yet not knowing where to start. I was reading about how my generation, Gen Z, is considered a “lost generation” due to the high levels of anxiety, depression, and overall despair. Everyone feels…alone. All they want is to feel something, which leads to an assortment of harmful behaviors that take the place of being fully cared for and embraced.

Do you ever read Bible verses that make you frustrated? Often these are verses that are designed to make us feel better, yet when they don’t, they almost feel like a mockery of our pain. We read verses about Jesus carrying our burdens and our joy being complete through Him, but when we feel hopeless, heavy, and tired, these promises become empty words.

So often, we expect Jesus to be like another person: fallible. We avoid calling out to Him because we assume our emotions are too much for Him or that He won’t follow through in time, if ever. And when we do call out, sometimes nothing changes for a while.

All we have left is our weak, exhausted soul calling out for help and clarity.

When I hear about all the things people are struggling with, I want to scream at the top of my lungs, “Where are you, Jesus?”. But for some reason, that feels wrong. How can I scream at the One who is the source of my joy and peace? He literally saved me. Shouldn’t that be enough?

But here’s the thing: Jesus doesn’t expect us to be satisfied just with His earthly appearance and sacrifice thousands of years ago. That’s why He’s given us the Holy Spirit, called our Advocate, to speak on behalf of us.

Jesus, God, the Holy Spirit…they are all-powerful, incomparable, divine beings who want to be in relationship with you.

The Holy Spirit is inside you, feeling everything you’re feeling, enraged about everything that bothers you, and desperately fighting for you. And when you take the time to listen, really listen, and look for the ways Jesus is showing you He’s there, maybe this burden won’t feel so lonely.

Last night, I wrote in my prayer journal, as I always do, yet I couldn’t feel Jesus. I couldn’t really feel anything except frustration and fear. I asked Jesus what I should do, but I didn’t hear anything. A little while later, I opened up my Bible to continue reading Nehemiah.

In that chapter, Nehemiah was assigning tasks to those helping him do God’s work of restoring a city that had previously been oppressed. One particular character caught my eye, a “faithful person who feared God more than most”. This man was given an important task, a task that was clearly not for the faint of heart. However, Nehemiah, through the guidance of God, knew he could handle it because of his obedience and dedication to God.

Right in that moment, I felt Jesus speaking to me, reminding me that He has given me this life because He knows that I can make good use of it. He knows that it’s hard, but He has equipped me with everything I need to carry on.

I believe that Jesus is telling you the same thing. No matter what you are going through, Jesus is right beside you. He is waiting for you to call out to Him. He wants everything, even your toughest questions. He’s making a way for you, even if you can’t see it yet.

I encourage you to make the time to simply rest with Jesus. Allow yourself to step away from the world and let His Spirit of peace fill your mind and heart. You never know what may come out of it, perhaps even a change in perspective and a renewal of hope.

Jesus promises to never give us more than we can bear. He knows you, He loves you, and He is ready to transform you into the person you are meant to be.

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
James 1:2-4

God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
1 Corinthians 10:13

A song recommendation if you need encouragement: It’s Gonna Get Better, by The Young Escape: https://youtu.be/DDSNoibW41M