Tag: Devotional

10 Reasons to Stay

Are you struggling to understand why you’re still here? This is a reminder that you are so deeply loved. Here are ten reasons why you should stay simply for you.

When someone is struggling to understand their place here, their reason for existence, people often shame them. They say, “How can you think of leaving me? How can you do that to your family? That’s so selfish!” They provide countless reasons to stay, yet these reasons often come from a place of selfishness from the person being left behind, because they are struggling to cling onto a person they love and need. But today, I am sharing 10 different reasons to stay. Not because of what your absence will do to other people, but because of what you will miss if you leave.

1. Your purpose hasn’t been fulfilled yet

God pursues us until our very last breath. He uses every situation we’re in to make a difference, even in hospital rooms, lonely cars, broken relationships, and wounded hearts. God takes us when He’s ready, not when we are necessarily. That’s scary, but it’s for the best. It means that God has a plan for us up until His end.

2. You will fall in love someday

You may be feeling hopeless after a heartbreak or a person you love leaving. But I guarantee that you will fall in love again. That rapid, heart-pounding sensation that leaves a smile on your face, a twinkle in your eyes, and an airiness to your steps. Maybe it won’t be with a person. Perhaps it will be with a hobby, or a place, or with a new pet. But I promise that you will love again.

3. There are places you haven’t seen yet

Perhaps you are feeling stuck, whether it be physically in your hometown or in a career, relationship, or stage of life. But you will not remain there forever. You will grow and blossom into who you’re meant to be. You will leave a place in wonder, in awe of all that God is capable of. Just keep your eyes open to the possibility that there is more than what’s on the surface.

4. There are foods you haven’t eaten yet

Yes, this might seem trivial, but come on, good food is good food, am I right? Close your eyes and allow yourself to taste the best food you’ve ever had. Perhaps it’s a moist, rich piece of chocolate cake. Maybe it’s slippery, smooth noodles. Or the crunchy freshness of a summer salad. Perhaps you have yet to find your favorite food!

5. There are people you haven’t met yet

You may feel like no one sees you, loves you, or cares about you. Maybe you feel like a burden. But trust me, you are not. You maybe just haven’t found the right people yet. But you will. There are 7.9 billion people on Earth, and you can’t tell me you’ve talked to all of them and they’ve all rejected you, even if your mind lies to you and says that.

There are people out there who will love you just the way you are. They will sit with you and listen to you. They will make you laugh and think your jokes are funny too. They will care so deeply about you.

6. You will miss out on all that nature has to offer

Think about the beautiful sunsets you’ve seen. The swirl of tangerine orange, scarlet red, and navy blue. The puffy cotton-candy clouds painted across the sky. Or how about the sound of a trickling stream or the roar of a mighty waterfall? The soft fur of a kitten and the sloppy kiss from a puppy’s tongue. Sitting beneath a dark canvas, illuminated by bright, sparkling stars. Sticking your head out the window and allowing the cool breeze flow through your hair and nip at your cheeks. Bring yourself back to the place that fills your heart with peace.

7. You won’t know how strong you are until at the end of the battle

At times, I have struggled to understand why I’m here. But the truth is, we underestimate our strength. But it’s the most beautiful thing, looking back at the end of the battle, and seeing how far we’ve come. It’s the best feeling, a feeling that lifts us off our feet and makes us feel ten times as powerful. I don’t want you to miss out on that feeling.

8. God loves you

God didn’t create you by accident or put you in the situation you’re in because He didn’t have anything better to do. He didn’t give you the parents you have because He wanted to burden them. He didn’t give you your friends so that you can annoy them. Because the truth is, you don’t. You may feel like you do, but beneath what they may show you, they truly love you. God gave them you because He knew that you could make a positive difference in their lives.

God isn’t disappointed in you for feeling the way you do. How do I know this? Because no matter what you do or how you feel, His love covers it all. But He wants you to realize that through your weaknesses, His strength can be revealed.

9. I care about you

This is not to guilt you in any way. You don’t have to stay for me, but remember that there is someone who cares. You may think, “Oh she doesn’t know me.” And maybe I don’t. Maybe you’re sitting in a ball on the floor in the dark, a stray tear slipping down your cheek as you contemplate life. Maybe you are sighing in exhaustion after a long day of work and this article is your only escape. Maybe you’re sitting in your car, the light of your phone illuminating your face, a face that’s seen tearful goodbyes, angry authority figures, and words that have broken your heart.

Or maybe you aren’t experiencing any of those things, and that’s okay. Regardless of if we’ve met, spoken, or you don’t even know what I look like, I care about you. I care about you because you have been created by God, chosen and adored. Because I love God, I love you. When we love someone, what matters to them matters to us. You matter to me.

10. For some reason, God wanted you to read this

There’s a reason the title drew you in. There’s a reason you may have subscribed to my blog or clicked on the link. Something called you to it. It has nothing to do with me. It’s all God. God is sending you a message through this, revealing His love to you, and perhaps He’s given you even more reason to stay.

We don’t talk about mental health enough. We just don’t. It’s often seen as taboo or a point of disagreement, especially among Christians. But what are we doing? What are we accomplishing this way? Certainly not making people feel wanted or needed.

I don’t think it’s selfish to want to leave. I don’t. You might disagree with me, and that’s okay. But one of the first things I heard after a classmate died was that they were selfish for leaving their family and friends. For taking the “easy way”.

But I don’t think there’s anything “easy” about struggling to understand your purpose. I don’t think there’s anything “easy” about feeling like a burden. I don’t think there’s anything “easy” about having a brain that constantly replays the enemy’s lies to you.

Mental illness is exactly what the name suggests, an illness. And it should be treated like cancer or heart disease. We shouldn’t stop fighting for the people who suffer with it, or for ourselves, if we do. We should pray for healing, because God has the power to heal anything. But most of all, we should come around whoever is struggling and remind them that they are loved no matter what they are going through.

If that’s you today, I want you to know that I love you. I want you to know that God loves you, way more than I do. And even though each day may feel exhausting, you can make it through. I am proud of you for being here. For every breath you breathe, you can and are making a difference. ❤

But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you.

Psalm 5:11

Turn, Lord, and deliver me; save me because of your unfailing love.

Psalm 6:4

Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Psalm 23:6

Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.

Matthew 10:1

Is This Person Right for Me?

Have you met someone you really like, but you aren’t sure if they’re meant for you? Or maybe you had a person in your life that you wish you could get back? Here’s some advice that will hopefully encourage you.

I don’t believe in “right person, wrong time”. I understand the idea. Sometimes, we meet someone who we think is super great, and then things don’t work out. We want to blame anything we can. They weren’t understanding, we weren’t attractive enough, the timing was off. If it had only been different circumstances…

But no, I can’t and won’t believe that. I believe with my entire heart that God places the people in our life at the time when we need them or they need us. Often, it’s mutual benefit, even if we can’t see it at the time. God knows what He’s doing. He’s got a bigger plan, even when we can’t make sense of it.

The thing we don’t want to admit is that this person that we cared so much about wasn’t meant to be in our lives. We may have invested so much into the relationship, whether emotionally or otherwise, and now it’s all gone. But nothing is put to waste, even painful things. Often, those painful things are what bring us closer to God and teach us the valuable lessons we needed to learn before meeting the “right” person.

Speaking of the right person, you may be wondering if the person in your life right now is the person you’re meant to be with. It’s tough to know that for sure, but there are a few things you should look out for before pursuing a relationship with them. If these things apply and you believe God wants you together, then you should go for it! Who knows, you could end up making the second best (after starting a relationship with Jesus, of course 🙂 ) decision of your life!

  1. They love God more than anything else

This one’s a little hard to wrap our heads around. They have to love someone more than us?! But yes, just one other person, or rather, being. If they put God first in their life, then they will make decisions that best help both of you. You will see them grow into an even better person. And their faith and dedication will inspire you. Speaking of which…

2. They help you grow in your faith

This one is just as important. It’s wonderful for the two of you to grow together in your faith. Perhaps you are at different stages, and that’s okay. The most important thing is that you help each other on your faith journey. That can look different for different people. For some, it might be going to church or doing a Bible study together. Maybe you text encouraging verses to each other and discuss what God’s doing in your lives on a regular basis. Whatever it is, they encourage you and strengthen your faith.

3. They pass the “coffee filter” test

You might be confused on this one, and that’s okay. I recently heard of this concept from a mentor in my life who was sharing how she had to do the “coffee filter” test on her husband before they got married.

Let’s be honest, you both will not agree on everything. If you do, then you are not being honest with each other. It’s totally fine, and good actually, to have differences. It makes life interesting and helps you both learn about other perspectives. But there are always a few things that cannot be tolerated, and it’s important to distinguish between the “not preferred” versus the “cannot tolerate”.

When you use a coffee filter, you see how some things can slip through while others are too big and stay at the top. The things that slip through are the differences or slightly annoying characteristics of the other person that you can live with. Maybe these quirks are helping you grow…in patience :). But then there are some no-goes, the things that are too big to ignore or tolerate. If the person cannot change in those areas or you think it would hurt who that person is to change, then they may not be the one for you.

4. They encourage you

I mentioned encouragement in the faith area, but encouragement in other areas of life is important too. Encouragement looks different for different people. Personally, I enjoy personalized compliments and spending quality time together. For others, it might be gifts, exciting adventures, or even just a fresh cup of coffee in the morning.

When someone is a good encourager, it means they care enough to see what encourages you personally. They may not get things right every time, but when you are around them, you feel like the best version of yourself.

5. They help you pursue God’s calling

This one can get tough, because when we care a lot about someone, we only want the best for them. But our best doesn’t always line up with God’s best, and we can often forget that God’s version of “best” is better than ours.

When you have a calling and you know it’s from God, your significant other should encourage you to pursue it and understand why you feel passionately about it. Of course, this doesn’t mean they have to automatically jump up and want to join you, but it does mean they respect your decision and want you to do whatever God leads you to do.

I hope that this advice helps you! This topic means a lot to me personally for many reasons. I grew up in a home where my parents were unequally yoked (one was Christian and the other wasn’t). In some ways, it strengthened my faith because it had to be my own. But in other ways, it deeply saddened me as I had to keep the biggest part of my life to myself when around one of my parents. They also couldn’t connect on the spiritual level nor had the same priorities, which made life less pleasant for them.

I’ve also experienced the feeling of “right person, wrong time”. I really thought this person was the one, and then he wasn’t. That broke my heart, but over time, I’ve realized that God has better things in store for me. It’s taken me a year to figure that out, and I want to help you if you are in the broken hearted stage right now.

A friend once told me, “I’m confident that you will end up with a really good, godly person. And I’m not confident about most things!”

That really encouraged me. As for you, I believe the same thing. If you listen to God and follow His lead, you will end up with just the right person.

Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 

Ephesians 4:2

Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.

1 Peter 4:8

There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. We love because he first loved us. 

1 John 4:18-19

Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. 

Romans 13:8

In For a Dollar

What keeps you from having a deep relationship with God?

At the end of every speech, Christian writer Max Lucado tests his audience by offering a dollar bill to anyone who wants it. Usually, he’s met by silence, a confused crowd. After a little while, one nervous or daring audience member stands up and claims it.

He concluded that there are a few reasons why people don’t race each other to the stage. First, for simply a dollar, it might not seem worth the humiliation of going up there. Second, they may think someone else needs the dollar more than them. And third, they may think it’s a trick.

Lucado compares this example to salvation. There’s nothing we can do to earn God’s forgiveness, it’s simply there for us. We may not believe it will benefit our life, even though it certainly will. We may think others need it more than we do.

I’ve come to the conclusion that there’s two things separating us from God: fear and pride.

Fear tells us that salvation isn’t “really” free. It makes us doubt God and His plan, and even His existence. It causes us to hide our beliefs or ignore our convictions.

Pride makes us think we don’t need God. We allow self-sufficiency take the place of our need of our rescuer–God. We do whatever we can to avoid humiliation.

In order to have a deep and honest relationship with God, we need to trade our fear and pride in for two things: trust and humility. When we trust God, we are willing to do whatever He asks us to, even if the world thinks it’s strange. When we are humble, we allow the Holy Spirit to work within us by showing us where we need to grow and allowing us to demonstrate God’s love to everyone in our path.

We can be confident without being prideful by remembering we are made in God’s image and everything we have comes from Him. We can be logical without being fearful, by taking necessary precautions to be safe while not allowing them to come between us and God’s call.

Sometimes it feels like a long, endless journey towards becoming who God has created us to be. But don’t lose hope. Each day, by striving to know Him and become more like Him, you are growing. God is not wasting this season of learning. He’s shaping you into exactly the person you need to be.

Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.

Ephesians 4:2

But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”

James 4:6

When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me?

Psalm 56:3-4

Don’t Explain Your Smile

Do you feel the need to explain away your joy? Here’s some encouragement!

How often do you find yourself smiling over the littlest thing? Maybe it’s an unexpected text from an old friend, or a dollar bill stuffed between the cushions of your couch. Perhaps you see two kids helping each other on a playground or an elderly couple walk hand-in-hand across the street. Or maybe you have no reason to explain your smile.

And then do you find yourself talking your way out of that smile? Perhaps you feel like you need to justify it. What if someone looks over and thinks you’re crazy for smiling in a world of brokenness, isolation, and violence? Not to mention all the pain within your own story.

Soon, that smile is wiped off your face, and instead you’re thinking about all the reasons you should be unhappy. I’ll smile when I get a raise, you think. Or maybe if that person I care about finally gets their act together.

Today at church, we talked about the word “behold”. To behold something means to relish in its presence, to be in awe of it. During the benediction, our pastor prayed that we would allow ourselves to behold God and allow His joy to fill our hearts, even when our minds are coming up with a hundred excuses why we shouldn’t smile.

I’m not going to deny that there are bad things in this world, things that need to be taken seriously, and shouldn’t be laughed at. However, when we smile, when we reveal the joy that’s inside of us, we are only making the world a brighter place. Our joy can never be shaken or taken away from us because our joy is found in Jesus, and He never leaves us.

I’ve worked through a series of gratitude journals, and all of them have asked me to make a list of things I’m grateful for. Though it would make sense to list the “big things” first, like having a warm house or a stable job, I usually think of the “little things” first. Watching the sun set across the sparkling ocean. Having a fun conversation with a new friend. Watching people laugh together, or better yet, laughing alongside them.

While the big things allow us to live, it’s the little things that allow us to live well. They are the constant reminders that God is watching over us, caring about our every need. They are what prompt us to hum in the shower or skip down the street. They are what make us smile.

Today, think about all the little things that made your day enjoyable. And let yourself smile, really smile, knowing that while things aren’t perfect, your hope and joy are found in the only One who is perfect–Jesus.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Romans 15:13

Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the Lord’s people.

Philemon 1:7

Does God Love Me When I Don’t Feel Worthy?

Do you ever worry about God being disappointed when you don’t feel your best? Here’s some advice and encouragement!

Something that stuck with me one time was a remark someone said regarding self-worth. “It really must grieve God’s heart when we don’t see ourselves the way He sees us.”

When I first heard this, I was startled. But of course, isn’t God upset when we aren’t kind to ourselves? However, that only made me feel worse when I experienced self-doubt or self-criticism. On top of feeling worthless, I felt like I was angering God.

While God obviously wants us to see ourselves the way He sees us, I want to assure you that God still loves you when you don’t feel worthy. How am I so confident of this fact? Well, because Jesus says it pretty directly in a familiar parable.

In the parable of the prodigal son, the son had clear reasons for feeling unlovable. After all, he dishonored his father by demanding his inheritance before his father even had the chance to die, and then he wasted it all in a short period of time. He was stuck cleaning after pigs, the “dirtiest” animal by Jewish customs. That was the lowest of the low. He’d rather be a servant at his old home than make pig slop.

Imagine the humiliation of trying to re-enter a space where he was confident and arrogant after failing as miserably as he did. Yet he was willing to risk it in order to get a second chance.

Close your eyes for a moment and picture yourself at your lowest point. Feel the soft sand beneath your feet as you trudge up the hill to your home. There’s a weight on your shoulders, a weight that has only grown heavier as the mistakes pile up. Your clothes are torn and stinky. You’re drenched in mud. But a familiar scent of sweet flowers sends tingles down your back.

Open your eyes and squint–can it be? Your father, a ginormous smile on his face, running faster than any other elderly man has run before. He’s got no weapon in his hands, only open arms, ready to embrace you.

You stop dead in your tracks. Beads of sweat drip off your face and you lift a hand to swat them away. But before you get the chance, your father sweeps you into a giant hug, his familiar scent of sawdust comforting you.

After he steps away, you blunder through your speech, ending with, “I am no longer worthy to be called your child.”

That’s exactly what the prodigal son said, “I am no longer worthy to be called your son.” No longer worthy.

But how does the father respond? He doesn’t even answer that. He might chuckle, like, how could you possibly have thought that? Then he sends out his servants to prepare a feast to welcome you home.

What bigger act of love is there than combining all five love languages together? The father wanted to spend time with his son by racing to see him. He gave him a big hug and kiss. He gave him the gifts of service and presents by preparing this party and pampering him. And he proudly announced to the world that this is his son, who was “dead and has come alive again”. Not wasting time. Not humiliating the family. But dead, lost, missed.

We so easily believe the lie from the enemy that our feelings towards ourselves reflect how God and others see us. When we feel embarrassed, we are sure we can’t be used for good. When we fall into temptation, we believe we can never be forgiven. When we make a mistake, we think we are unlovable.

But God says otherwise. He doesn’t go off of feelings; He goes off facts. And the fact is, He loves us so much that He wants to welcome us home after every mistake, every self-doubt, and every stumble.

Today, if you’ve been feeling ashamed of yourself, remember how God sees you. He loves you so much and He’s ready for you to come home.

But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.

Luke 15:20

Therefore, my friends, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you.

Acts 13:38

Too Late…Or Right on Time?

Do you feel like life is passing you by? Here’s hope for the times when you feel too late to make a difference.

Growing up, one of my biggest fears was being late. Late to school, late to appointments, late to practices. My stomach would churn, my heart would race, I would gag in the car on my way if I knew there was a chance I’d be late.

So often, we are afraid that things are too late. We think God’s answer to our prayer is too late. We’re too old to meet someone new. We’re too burned out to make a difference. We’ve been sick too long to be healed, and if we are healed, then why didn’t God heal us fast enough?

I think this stems from our society’s fear of being late. It started off as a sign of respect, being on time. That’s a good thing. It’s good and professional to be on time to meet. But now there’s this stigma around being late to life events. Oh, you don’t know what you’re going to do with your life by the time high school’s over? Too late! Oh, you aren’t married and you’re over thirty? Yikes. Oh, you haven’t gotten the job of your dreams by age forty? Guess you never will!

Besides how hurtful these assumptions are, and how they are completely WRONG, they also cause us to doubt God’s timing. And let me tell you something, God’s timing is never off.

I’ll never forget 10th grade, the year that completely changed my life and my relationship with God. I struggled with my mental health; I was really lonely. I thought my loneliness would be “cured” if I had someone to eat lunch with. I tried reaching out to different people, but after being rejected countless times, I stopped. Then, a few weeks before school got out, I realized a fellow classmate was also sitting all alone, and we were able to eat lunch together for the rest of the year.

I kept wondering why God didn’t allow us to connect until so close to the end of the year. I wouldn’t have had to suffer the rejection and humiliation of being all alone, I told God. But then, maybe I wouldn’t have realized how much I need God. I might not have had this burning passion to reach those who feel lost and alone, unseen and unheard. Though that year was tough, really tough, God used it to bring about longer lasting effects than if I’d gotten what I wanted right away.

Waiting often comes with pain, whether we’re waiting to be appreciated, loved, healed, or valued. But in the end, pushing through it is worth it. There have been many times when I’ve wanted to give up on things that God’s called me to do. His answers haven’t come “fast enough” or the reward for the action, whether it be a word of thanks or a renewed relationship, haven’t been given to me yet. But I’ve come to realize that God gives us those things right when we need them most. Not when we think we need them, but when we actually do.

And the best part is, those things that we think we have to wait for, we can find in God. He calls us chosen, loved, valued, seen. He loves us and wants us to come running to Him when we feel anything less than that.

Don’t give up hope. God is never late. He is right on time.

I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him.

Ephesians 3:16-21

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

Galatians 6:9

But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.

2 Peter 3:8

Our Reunion with Jesus

Are you worried about Jesus’ return? Here’s some encouragement!

I’ll always remember one “Truth or Dare” game I played with my close friend in middle school. We both always picked truth since we were afraid of the dares, and we ended up learning a lot about each other that way. Once, she asked me, “What’s your biggest fear?”

I was ashamed to admit (because you can’t lie in Truth or Dare, right?) that my biggest fear was Jesus’ return. I told her I remembered a part in the Bible about no one knowing when Jesus would come back, so I’d constantly think “Jesus is coming today” in the hopes that He wouldn’t come back.

You might laugh, as I currently am, at my logic. However, I’m sure many of us have been worried about the end of the world, and thus Jesus’ return, before. It makes sense to be afraid of the tribulation and even what the rapture will be like. But there’s one thing that we shouldn’t be scared of, and that’s meeting Jesus.

I like to think about it in this way (if you have any long distance relationships/friendships, you’ll understand):

It’s sort of like a long distance friendship. You can get to know each other over the screen, through calls and Facetime. You will grow to love them and care about them. You can even get a sense for what they are like, really like, and can share deep things.

But nothing compares to when you finally get to be together in person. You are a little nervous, but mostly excited, and it’s like the love, care, and affection has multiplied exponentially when you finally get to hug, hear each other’s laughter in person, and spend time together.

I’ll always remember the two times I’ve been able to meet up with online friends. Two of my closest friends, in fact, live far away from me.

The first time I drove to Pennsylvania while on a trip in Michigan visiting family. The car ride felt forever, but when we finally pulled up to her driveway, there she was, in the flesh, waving at me with a big smile on her face. We only had a few hours together, but we cherished each and every moment, and I left wanting more time.

The second time was last summer, when my friend flew from Colorado to visit me. She risked a lot coming, since it was during the pandemic, but we had planned the trip in advance and we both knew she just had to still come. I wandered through the airport looking for her, and I nearly screamed when I finally found her. I remember her turning around and seeing her eyes light up. We embraced, and for a moment, it was like time had stopped.

If it was that awesome meeting friends, it will be even more amazing meeting Jesus.

Just think, the One who loves you the most, died for you, and calls you His chosen creation, is waiting for you. It will be like seeing all your loved ones embodied in one being, only without their flaws and with an infinite amount of love.

So don’t be afraid for when Jesus comes. Instead, get to know Him. The reason I can have confidence now is because I’ve spent the years between that Truth or Dare game and now reading the Bible, praying, and seeing Jesus work in many lives, including mine. It’s always awkward and nerve-wracking meeting a stranger, so don’t make Jesus one. Instead, remember that He loves you more than words can ever describe.

The end is coming. Every second that passes brings it closer to now. So don’t waste this precious time we’ve been given to build relationships with others to bring them closer to Jesus and show them His love.

Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay everyone for what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.

Revelation 22:12-13

Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.

1 Thessalonians 4:17

A Season of Preparation

Are you in a season of preparation right now? Here’s encouragement when God’s plans are different than ours.

Sometimes, God really wants to make things clear to us. We avoid it, we dismiss it, we try to forget about it. But God will continue to bring it to mind until we must admit that He’s trying to tell us something.

That happened to me today. A motivational influencer shared a video where we were supposed to take a random screenshot and whatever word was on the screen we landed on would be our “word of the month”. When I first did it, I got preparation. I rolled my eyes and thought, “I’m already prepared. Why did I get this word? It’s boring.” Then I proceeded to try again, hoping for a different word, and even purposely waiting until a different time to take the screenshot.

But yet again, I managed to land on “preparation”. I saved the photo and stared at it a moment. This must mean something. The longer I thought about it, the more I realized that this word is very applicable to the situation I’m in right now. I’m in a season of transition, and I’ve been restless. I’ve been wanting to do more, not desiring to wait for God. But God is using this season to prepare me for what’s next, even when I don’t know what that “next” is.

The more I’ve thought about it, the more I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s pretty amazing that God’s the one in control. He’s the only one who knows the future and when He doesn’t give us what we want, it’s because He’s doing something better.

Take graduation weekend, for example.

We had family over from California and we were hoping to bring them around Seattle. However, throughout the entire weekend, there was pouring rain. I’m sure many families of graduates, including mine, were hoping and praying for sunshine, yet all we got was rain.

God still provided for us, by giving us the idea to travel over the mountains to a small town that had drier weather. But He had an even bigger plan in store.

Two weeks later, we experienced the worst heatwave I’ve ever been through. We reached record-high temperatures. Yet God provided rain earlier to protect our plants and prevent wildfires. Had all our plants shriveled up and died or worse, we experience the effects of fires, we would be in a much dire situation than getting a little wet during a ceremony.

God knew what was going to happen and that’s why He didn’t answer our earlier prayers the way we had hoped. But in fact, He was looking out for us, and now I’m grateful for the rain.

I’m not sure about you, but being in a season of preparation is hard. God challenges us and tests us to make sure we are strong enough for what’s ahead. But as my mom eloquently stated, “God knows the future, and He will equip you for what’s ahead.”

You are being equipped right now. You may not know why. You may think God’s tactics are strange. But hey, God’s logic is not our logic, and that makes life a lot more interesting.

But if you listen and grow in the ways God’s calling you, you will be ready.

 Now may the God of peace, who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus—the great Shepherd of the sheep—with the blood of the everlasting covenant, 21 equip you with all that is good to do His will, working in us what is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ. Glory belongs to Him forever and ever.

Hebrews 13:20-21

Leaving a Lasting Legacy

What do you want to be known for? Here’s some encouragement and advice for the journey ahead.

A couple months ago, while scrolling aimlessly through videos, I stumbled across one that’s been on my mind ever since.

A woman, sitting in a studio, stared into the eyes of her camera audience and said, “If I could ask everyone one question, a question I know will change their lives, it would be this: What do you want written in your eulogy?”

I nearly dropped my phone. My eulogy? Isn’t that a little morbid? (And in case you don’t know what a eulogy is, which no shame if you don’t, it’s what people say about you after you die, usually at your funeral or in the newspaper)

But as she continued, her idea began making sense. We make a lot of small goals throughout our lives and things come up that distract us, and we forget our mission. But when we write out the main things we want to be known for, then we can prioritize them when we make decisions.

I recently completed a Bible study with a few friends on the topic of legacies. We were studying the legacies of women in the Bible, such as Ruth, Esther, Mary, and many others. If you think about it, we only get a snapshot of their lives. Usually just a short season, if even that. But they each did one or more things that made them remarkable, leaving lasting legacies.

But what makes someone even have a lasting legacy? Let’s be honest, there are so many people who have come and gone without much recognition. Does that make them less valuable than others whose names have outlived them?

No, not necessarily. There’s a song on the radio that goes something like, “I don’t want people to remember my name, only Jesus”. I love that reminder to not strive for worldly fame but instead pointing as many people as possible to Jesus.

And that’s also the ticket to having a lasting legacy– keeping Jesus’ mission, reaching everyone with His love, our mission too.

There are two main things to keep in mind when striving to create a lasting legacy:

Demonstrate Jesus’ qualities

Right now, jot down a list of five or so characteristics of Jesus’ that you admire. Maybe they are unconditional love, a forgiving heart, or a deep understanding of people. It’s pretty much impossible to suddenly obtain all of Jesus’ qualities at once, but if you have a few that are really meaningful for you to strive for, that’s a good start.

When we learn about people in the Bible, we don’t just learn about when they were with or referring to Jesus. We learn how they demonstrated His characteristics. Esther showed courage, Ruth demonstrated loyalty, and Mary provided an example of trust. Think about what qualities you want to be known for and what will be impactful to others.

Reach out to others

I saw a movie last night based on the life of a teenager who was sadly killed in a motorcycle accident, yet left a lasting legacy that touched the lives of thousands. In fact, 4,000 people attended her memorial service. The thing people remembered about her was that she saw every person, whether a stranger, an awkward kid at school, or a worker at a store, as a friend.

I haven’t met many people like that, and I’m guessing you haven’t either. That’s why people like this young woman are seen as an inspiration. But wouldn’t it be wonderful if everyone reached out when they saw someone hurting or alone? I’m sure our mental health crisis would no longer be such a crisis if this were the case. A lot of times, all it takes is one person reaching out, making sure that the people, even the people who seem to have it all together, are okay.

What if you’re that person? Wouldn’t you like to be known as the person who made life more bearable, even enjoyable, for others? Yes, it will come at the cost of your pride, considering reaching out to others can be a scary and humiliating experience. But in the end, isn’t a little embarrassment worth the potential gain?

What’s your legacy going to be?

Obviously, you won’t know right now what your legacy is going to be. None of us do. But we can think about what we’d like it to be and make proactive choices now instead of wasting time…like scrolling aimlessly through videos haha. In all seriousness, I believe that simply by doing what God calls you to do, whether that’s traveling to the other side of the world or staying right here, you will have a lasting legacy.

No matter what, just by being you and not for anything you can or will accomplish, you are loved. So loved. And you have an incredible purpose. ❤

One generation shall commend your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts.

Psalm 145:4

But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Matthew 6:20-21

But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children’s children

Psalm 103:17

If you’re looking for a song about seeking Jesus above all else, this one is one of my favorites!

First, by Lauren Daigle: https://youtu.be/26Mqmc5rWM8

Losing Sight of Beauty

Are you currently in a season of waiting? Here is some encouragement for the times when it feels like God isn’t working.

Do you ever get super excited about something? It might be a new opportunity or a relationship. But then, you find out you have to wait for it. You might be willing to wait a while, but the waiting grows longer…and longer. You’re tired of waiting. You’re tired of being patient. You begin to wonder why you were ever excited in the first place, even if the thing you’re excited about hasn’t changed.

I’ve had this happen to me countless times. Most recently, I got the opportunity to partner with a brand through my photography. I was so excited! This is what many photographers in my “line of work” (more like hobby) hope for, and essentially what I’ve been working towards for over four years.

When the company first reached out to me, I was ecstatic! I called my close friends, I barely resisted the urge to text everyone in my contacts. I was truly overjoyed.

But then…it took weeks for them to respond to me. Once they finally did, it took even longer before we could work out the details of the deal. They were kind and thoughtful, but it was still frustrating having to wait for everything to work out, not knowing if everything would eventually go through.

Then, when they shipped out the package with the merchandise for me to photograph, the package kept getting delayed. The latest it was supposed to come was 7 p.m. and it came close to 6:30 p.m.

But when I opened the front door, there were five GINORMOUS (I do mean that in the most literal sense) packages. I was so touched…and embarrassed I had been annoyed at the wait.

To be honest, during the waiting process, I struggled to find joy in the project. I no longer wanted to tell everyone and their neighbor. When my friends asked how things were going, I mumbled something about things probably not working out.

But then, it did. It worked out even better than I could’ve imagined. To say I was overwhelmed by their generosity is an understatement.

Seasons of waiting (often when they are for even bigger things than photography partnerships) can feel like the toughest times to draw close to God. We’re often impatient with Him, wondering why He isn’t “following through” with His promises. But the truth is, He is always working, even when we can’t see it. He has something much bigger in store for us if we can only wait. Often, His answers come in different shaped packages than we imagined, but they are better, more profound than anything we could ever hope for.

It’s easy to give up hoping when things aren’t happening at the speed we want them to. We lose sight of the beauty. The beauty in what we’re waiting for, the beauty in the world around us, in the little things. But most of all, the beauty that comes in a season of waiting.

God doesn’t waste the waiting, and He doesn’t want us to either. God often meets us in these uncomfortable places and teaches us everything we need for the next season of life. Often, the reason we have to wait is because we aren’t ready for what’s next. But if we allow God to work through every season, He will help us become ready for the things He has planned for us. He doesn’t promise to give us all we wish for, but rather what He desires for us.

You may wonder, “Why go through waiting periods if God isn’t planning on giving me what I want?”. Well, when we align our hearts with God’s, our deepest desire is for His will to be done. When we keep ourselves open to the unexpected opportunities God places in our path, we won’t feel quite so stuck. Instead, we will always have things to do for God’s kingdom.

Today, I hope you can revisit the part of your life you feel stuck in. I hope you can see that God is working through this season of waiting. And most of all, I pray that you can see the beauty in everything God is doing in you and through you.

Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.

Romans 12:12

The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him.

Lamentations 3:25

But as for me, I will look to the Lord. I will wait for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me.

Micah 7:7