Tag: Hope

Who Are You Listening To?

Retraining our thoughts towards Jesus.

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

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

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

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

  • Practicing listening without responding

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

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

For example:

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

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

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

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

John 10:28-29

Close to God’s Heart

Encouragement for when you feel alone ❤

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

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

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

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

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

Well, maybe not.

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

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

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

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

Praise the Lord.

Psalm 148:14

The Power of Lament

What if your pain can bring you closer to God?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

For no one is cast off
    by the Lord forever.

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

Lamentations 3:31-33

You are Not Forgotten

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

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

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

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

Lauren Daigle, “Rescue”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Genesis 9:15

The Arch of God’s Love

Life is more than a cycle.

So often, life can just feel like a cycle.

Brush, rinse, wash, repeat. Meet-cute, fall in love, break up, repeat. Feel lonely, make friends, get heartbroken, repeat.

Even life itself: Born, struggle, succeed, decline, die, onto the next.

But is that really life?

For the past few years, I’ve been caught up seeing life as a cycle. It’s more draining making friends after knowing how quickly you can lose them. It’s harder to take initiative after being rejected.

Perhaps you can relate. The worst is when you pray, God answers the prayer, and then the thing you feared happens anyway. False hope cuts deeper than no hope at all.

But maybe what we’re feeling isn’t false hope. Maybe we have our hope placed in the outcome more than in who gives us hope.

This week, I was reminded of the story of Elijah and the widow. He meets the widow and her son during a drought when they are preparing their last meal in anticipation of their greatest fear: death. But miraculously, God provides them with enough food to survive!

But then…her son dies anyway.

Arguably, the widow is distressed. Why would God save them just to have her son die shortly after? He’s all she has, or so she thinks. What good is life without him? And what kind of God would allow this?

When we have a pressing need, it’s easy to become obsessed with it. Perhaps it’s a person in our lives who seems like a miracle, just to be taken away from us. Or maybe it’s an opportunity that would bring so much joy, only to fall through. It could even be a physical need, such as a place to live, food on the table, or enough money to make it through the month.

All these things that feel like necessities. That are necessities when living in this world.

When the woman cries out to God, He hears her. Through Elijah, God is able to bring her son back to life. And through this heart-wrenching experience, she can finally proclaim, “Now I know that you (Elijah) are a man of God and that the word of the Lord from your mouth is the truth” (1 Kings 17:24).

Now. Now I can see. Now I know that You hear me.

It took not a cycle of God’s love coming and going. It took an arch of belief. Starting off helpless, going on a journey towards trusting God fully, and ending with the knowledge that God loves without fail.

Maybe the “son” in your story has already died. Maybe it feels like God was too late.

But I promise that God is using everything in your life to bring you back to His love. Through hardship and heartache, God is right there, protecting you from things you couldn’t even imagine.

God wants you to turn to Him when you feel yourself sinking in despair, loneliness, or confusion. He doesn’t want you to be alone. Through it all, you will never be alone. ❤

For none of us lives for ourselves alone, and none of us dies for ourselves alone. If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.

Romans 14:7-8

To the Wanderer

Not all who wander are lost, and perhaps those are who God enjoys using.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart
    and lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways submit to him,
    and he will make your paths straight (Proverbs 3:5-6).

Printed on mugs and plaques, recited in every Sunday School class, and written in the most encouraging of cards, this Proverb is unforgettable.

And yet, so many times I’ve collapsed at my desk, head in my hands, racking my brain as to why I’ve trusted and trusted and trusted…and yet I’m still wandering.

Last night, I told a group of kids at my church the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and the blazing furnace, when they trusted God even though they were on the brink of losing their lives. Kids being, well, kids, immediately raced through their own version of the story faster than you could say “Nebuchadnezzer” and were ready to jump up and play games.

But holding them in the moment, I asked, “How do you think they felt when they were about to be sent into the furnace?”

I anticipated reactions such as “scared”, “terrified”, and “worried”.

Instead, I got: “They were okay! They were happy!”

So then I went off-script and asked, “How would you feel if you were in this situation?”

Again, the answers were instantaneous: “Scared! Horrified! Soooo nervous!”

This group of kids have been through a pandemic, breathed in smoke fumes every summer they can remember, and have had their share of personal battles, all before the age of ten. Each one has their own furnace.

And yet, as we later bowed our heads and prayed to the same God who Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego trusted, none of us could confidently say we wouldn’t be shaking in our bones standing in front of the pipping hot flames awaiting our potential doom.

Here’s the thing: the Bible never says these men weren’t nervous. They outright admit that God may not “save” them (in the physical sense) from this fire. But they trusted that no matter what would happen, they knew God would take care of them.

Ironically, or possibly not, earlier yesterday one of my professors told us something my mind is still trying to grasp: “We are best used by God when we are wandering. Not lost, but not with a clear path ahead of us.”

When I picture that promised “straight path”, I must confess that I envision a life of smooth relationships, clear calling, and free from doubt. But that’s not what God is promising at all.

Trusting God is less about getting your life put together perfectly and more about feeling God’s presence. Throughout the Bible, God makes many promises to His chosen people, but the biggest one is the promise of His presence in their lives. And through that presence, they are secured the chance to be a “blessing to all nations” (Genesis 12:3).

Anyone who trusts God and wants to do His will can also be part of this covenant. God chose you before you were born to live out an incredible purpose. To be a blessing to everyone put in your life.

That ache in your heart for the neglected, that strange surge of care for a stranger, that desire to make things right–those are all passions given to you by the Holy Spirit. Yet knowing how to respond to the needs of the world in a Christlike manner can only happen after getting to know Christ for yourself.

Don’t worry about trusting God “enough”. Just focus on the ways you can hand God each detail of your life, one day at a time, until it becomes so natural that you can’t think of life the same way again.

Those who know your name trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you.

Psalm 9:10

You Are Worth The Cost

You matter to God ❤

It’s just a paper plate.

I kept trying to convince myself of that as I walked in the door last night after a long evening of leading children’s programming at church. Still recovering from jet lag and a full day of classes, I funneled the remnants of my energy into spending time with the kids. Yet, of course, it was completely worth it after reflecting on their thoughtful answers, seeing their smiling faces, and most all, hearing their laughter!

Though the highlight of the night came at the end, when a sweet little girl came up and handed me a plate. It wasn’t just an old plate–it was adorned with multicolored paint splatters surrounding the words: “I ❤ you”.

A smile immediately illuminated my face as I gave her a quick squeeze and a “thank you” that couldn’t have possibly conveyed how much it meant to me.

And then in the hubbub of parents picking up their children and cleaning the giant mess of paint, the plate was somehow lost in the mix. It wasn’t until I got home that I realized my special gift was missing.

I tore apart my bags, just to make sure, though I knew deep down that it was somewhere in the locked up building.

It’s not worth driving all the way back and setting off the alarms, I reminded myself. But somehow, it almost felt worth it.

How funny it is that something as simple as a paper plate can have so much value once personalized. You might have something similar at home: what was once a piece of scratch paper is now a treasured love note; an old receipt is the reminder of easier days; a dusty photo is the last memory of a beloved person.

And to God, we were once just dust particles, and now we are worth the ultimate sacrifice. God would give up everything–in fact, He did!–just to be with us. As the Good Shepherd, Jesus would go searching high and low to make sure each of us are still with Him. He would go back for that one paper plate, no matter the cost or humiliation or time. We are worth it to Him.

Today, I hope you can allow yourself to believe that you are a valuable, beloved creation that has an extraordinary purpose. When God made you, He knew exactly what He was doing. You can’t mess up God’s plan for you. And even when things feel all out of alignment, God’s love for you will never fail. ❤

“I [Jesus] have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”

John 10:10-11

Making Room for Rest

What does rest look like for you in this stage of life?

I have just returned from my time abroad! I am thankful for your patience as this site took a break, and I look forward to sharing all that God taught me during my trip over the next few weeks!

Heading into this trip, I distracted myself with many things. I was working multiple jobs, starting various creative projects, and never letting myself take a moment to realize what was happening.

Forcing myself to feel productive and purposeful left me feeling drained and overwhelmed. Actions meant to prevent me from harm ended up postponing the deeper healing I needed.

But thankfully God gave me the opportunity to step out of my current reality and objectively look at my life. Through the four weeks I was away, rest had to take a different form.

Often it was simply a necessity after running around a Tube station in search of the right train or a particularly intense class session. There was no other way to move forward without taking a breather first.

Ultimately, I realized more deeply than I ever had before that rest needs to be a priority. It may feel like laziness or procrastination, but making room for rest in life is the only way to do things well. To live fully into the purpose God has created us for.

And then, of course, the day after I get home the one thing I haven’t checked off on my to-do list is “rest”.

But rest can’t be checked off. Rather, it needs to be a practice. Pausing before reaching for our devices to soak in the moment and regroup. Praying and reading the Bible before starting or ending the day. Taking a walk before starting a task.

Rest looks different in each season, but it’s vital no matter where you are in life. I hope you can love yourself enough to give yourself the chance to rest and bring your best self to the table. You are worth it. ❤


Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, Jesus said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”

Mark 6:31

Faith is Strength

Encouragement when faith feels like a weakness.

We’re taught from an early age that belief in the impossible, in the supernatural, is a sign of childishness–a weakness. We’re told to put away childish things, yes, but faith and hope in a brighter future are not foolish passions.

When the world is dark, as it so often is, faith is what we have to cling onto. It’s what keeps us going. Without faith…what good is life?

While the world says faith is weak, faith can be your strategy for staying strong amid the uncertainties and chaos of life.

You can trust that while we don’t know what tomorrow, or next year, or fifty years from now will bring, God remains the same. He promises to take care of you, to show you a perfect world once this one falls completely apart.

It’s scary, yes. But it’s also a source of hope.

No matter what, you are destined for a greater place. Holding onto hope is what makes you brave.

Even when the flames of your faith flicker, God is right there, ready to scoop you back into His arms and remind you of the unfailing love and peace He offers. Call out to Him today–He hears you and cares about what’s burdening your heart.

No matter what, we have a reason to keep on believing ❤ God has the best plan in store, no matter what happens here.

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for.

By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.

Hebrews 11:1-3

(As a side note, I will be traveling for the next few weeks, so this blog will take a short hiatus, but will return in mid-September! I will be praying for you all ❤ )

Reminders of His Love

God’s love isn’t far–it’s right here, in every detail of your life.

God’s love shows up in mysterious ways. Yesterday, it came in a lost receipt.

Recently, I’ve been struggling to figure out a lot of things, including where God is during this stage of my life. I know He’s always there, but it’s hard to remember that during the seasons when life feels directionless. An additional concern is my health, which has taken some unexpected turns over the summer.

Last evening, after a day of asking God for strength and answers, I was running around the house in search of a receipt I needed to turn in for reimbursement for my job. I turned over objects, reshuffled the dining room table (which is always too cluttered to eat on anyway), and poked through every possible location it could be in.

As I headed up the stairs, I silently asked God for help. Literally less than a minute later, in the one place I didn’t think to check, there was the receipt.

Honestly, most of my “big” questions weren’t resolved last night. Yet God was still showing up, reminding me that even the small things matter to Him. When we pay attention to how God is within every detail of our lives, we can have peace even in uncertainty.

Today, no matter what you are going through, I hope you can give God the things that are burdening your heart. Everything feels so ginormous when we’re caught up in them, yet God has a plan to use it all for good, even when it doesn’t feel good right now.

God has an extraordinary plan for you.

You may not feel like it when the days begin to take their toll on you, or when you aren’t at the point you thought you’d be at by now. Yet God is in control, and that promise will never fail. ❤