Tag: Life

Resting to Rise

Are you making time for rest in your life?

If you’ve ever made bread before, you know the importance of yeast and resting time. Allowing the dough to rise for a set period of time seems like the easiest part of the baking process, but for an impatient baker like me, it’s the most difficult.

And, as you may have already guessed, I’ve tried avoiding this key step. And, without fail, skipping this seemingly mundane, “unnecessary” step causes my bread to end up flat and dense, pretty much inedible. Once I finally allowed for a proper resting time, I certainly saw the difference. With all the same ingredients, my bread transformed into a fluffy, soft, and flavorful delight that was praised rather than hesitantly bitten into.

When we allow our dough to rest, we are preparing it for the process of rising and becoming what it’s meant to be. And when we allow ourselves to rest, we are preparing ourselves for the process of becoming who we’re meant to be too.

We are often shamed for taking the time to rest. But the truth is, without rest, we don’t have the energy or motivation to keep going.

Now, perhaps the reason why rest has been dubbed “lazy” or “unproductive” is because we don’t fully understand what rest looks like.

Rest isn’t putting off work or avoiding certain tasks. It doesn’t mean scrolling on our phones or falling down the rabbit hole of aimless Google searches. Rest isn’t an excuse to not follow through with our promises or mooch off of others’ hard work.

Truly wonderful, life-giving rest comes from three main components:

Listening to your body

This means getting extra sleep when you feel fatigued or eating what makes you feel nourished and energetic. Listening to your body can also mean listening to your feelings and releasing what you’ve been bottling up inside. You aren’t ignoring your body’s cries for help, but instead expressing yourself and taking care of yourself in the ways you need.

Going on REtreats

You don’t have to go far to be on a retreat, but you certainly can if that’s what refreshes you. The simple act of stepping away from your day-to-day life and taking time to be in the presence of God can give you a new perspective on life. Being intentional about your time and taking these necessary breaks will help you see things on a broader scale and have more appreciation.

Doing what you love

Taking the time to pursue a hobby or passion, even if it’s for a few minutes a day or only on the weekends, will remind you what’s wonderful about life. These activities can remind you that you are made for more than just creating or following instructions. You are made to explore and discover all that God has for you. You are made to share your talents and passions with the world!

If you want to rise up into who you are meant to be, the first step is resting. Rest in the Lord. Rest in God’s promises for you. Rest in the fact that you are exactly where you are meant to be; there is no room for comparison here, only hope for the future.

We ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love all of you have for one another is increasing.

2 Thessalonians 1:3

Why Saying Goodbye to a Comfort Character Feels Real

Have you ever wondered why a piece of you feels missing after a favorite series ends?

Have you ever felt close to a fictional character? Perhaps it’s the way they talk or make you laugh or help you feel less alone. But then, when the inevitable time comes for the show or series to end, you’re left feeling empty inside, like you are losing a real friend. Whoever the character is, they make you feel seen or cared about in some strange, unexplainable way.

If you’ve shed a tear or lost a night’s sleep over a fictional character, you’re in good company. Perhaps it’s the increased accessibility to media or the fact that people feel lonelier than ever these days, but losing a character who makes you valued can be heartbreaking.

However, if you’ve shared this experience, you may have also felt silly for getting upset by someone “not real”. Yet these feelings are more valid than you might realize.

After spending the past couple years far away from loved ones and living through our screens, it’s only natural for our minds to merge our “real” relationships with our “on-screen” ones. The awesome thing about technology is how we are able to connect with people from all over the world. However, that also means many of our relationships are long distance, and our sense of reality gets altered.

Therefore, when our brains convince us that these characters are real friends, we feel like we’re experiencing a real loss. This may trigger past experiences of ending a relationship, losing a loved one, or having a source of security become unstable.

You are free to feel grief when a source of comfort is lost or a season has come to an end.

But, we don’t have to stay stuck in those feelings.

We have someone very real, despite also not being tangible, who is right here with us. And, you guessed it, Jesus is the best source of comfort.

Jesus doesn’t change. He will always be loving and powerful and patient. He will always be there for you, no matter what you are going through or what you’re feeling.

Just think about that for a moment: Jesus doesn’t ever change. We can’t even fathom that because everything–our Earth, our society, our loved ones, us–change. And that’s what makes us crave comfort or stability.

But Jesus promises that He will be faithful to the end and even after the end. He wants us to cling to Him when we feel afraid or unloved or isolated. Jesus will remind us that He is our source of courage and He paid the ultimate sacrifice to be there for us. We are never alone.

So today, don’t feel guilty for whatever you’re feeling. Instead, bring all these complicated emotions to God and allow yourself to feel comforted knowing that there will always be one thing that never changes.

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

Hebrews 13:8

To the Person Who Needs to Let Go

The first of many letters to my faithful readers ❤

I’m starting a new series sharing journal entires I’ve written (either to myself, God, or others) that I believe will encourage you. Each post will be dedicated to the person who I best believe will benefit from these simple words. Hopefully that person is you today. ❤

Today’s journal entry comes from last August.

Dear You Who May Relate,

Recently I’ve been sad for many reasons, but a big one is the fear of letting go. I’m scared of letting go of people. I’m scared I won’t make new friends. I’m scared of leaving my job and I’m worried I won’t find a job as meaningful. I’m scared all my relationships will change.

But today, something I’ve been trying to repeat to myself finally clicked.

If I hold too tightly to the past, I’ll miss what’s coming. If I allow the past to dictate the present and future, then things won’t get better. But if I have hope for each brand new day, then I can finally experience true joy and rest. Maybe each new day is one step closer to meeting a new friend or mentor or achieving a dream?

What if–instead of dread–I can feel excited for the new season? Letting go is not abandoning others–it’s leaving room for joy and expectation of God’s promises.

And, as Hannah six months later, I can confirm that the road to this new season is rocky, but also lined with unexpected blessings and growth opportunities.

Hope is not lost–not for either of us. God has never (and will never) leave your side. You are not alone.

Love, Hannah ❤

What no eye has seen,
    what no ear has heard,
and what no human mind has conceived”—
    the things God has prepared for those who love him.

1 Corinthians 2:9

“Letting go” does not mean you’re giving up, it just means that after all this time, you are finally beginning to see even without the closure: You are worth the new beginning.

Morgan Harper Nichols

The End is in Sight

Have you lost your hope for the future?

When you read the title, you might’ve expected this article to be related to the “End Times” or the end of the world. However, I’m no expert on that subject (though who is?) and I’d rather focus on what we don’t have to speculate about.

The truth is, the reason why we long for the end and speculate about Jesus’ second coming is because life on Earth can be really stressful and unnerving. We feel stuck here, unsure where life will take us next.

So the real question is, how can we get unstuck?

Whenever I’m in a tough class, it encourages me to count down the days until the end of the quarter. Why? Because having a specific number of days, no matter how many, reminds me that the end is in sight. I know I won’t be stressed forever.

My answer to how we can get unstuck boils down to one word: Hope.

Hope is laughed at, scorned upon, and belittled in our current society. Yet I believe hope is waiting to be found, a glimmer of light that grows the longer we cling onto it.

Just as classes don’t go past their end date, we won’t suffer through seasons for an unnecessarily long period of time. And ultimately, we won’t be on Earth longer than we have to be either. God knows how many days until we’re with Him, and until then we are meant to make an impact right here, where we are.

When we get burned out, we forget to focus on the present’s generous offerings. Perhaps those offerings are a smile from a stranger or a moment of stillness or laughing with loved ones. Even the small moments of beauty and hope mean something.

If you are feeling stuck, step back and breathe. Remember that you will not be in this situation forever. Trust that no matter what life throws at you, you still have a reason to keep hoping.

Why? Because the God of the universe is in control and He will make all things right in their own time. Most of all, God loves you very much and will use you for great things.

And remember, no matter what, you are loved beyond comprehension ❤

Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming.

1 Peter 1:13

How Can a Good God Allow Pain?

Can pain actually bring deeper healing?

Out of curiosity and genuine concern, a friend of mine took a poll asking her followers why they choose to not believe in God, and the main result came down to this simple question: “How can I believe in God when there is so much pain and evil in the world?”

This is one of the trickiest theological questions of all time, likely due to the fact that while we can discuss pain at the intellectual level, it’s a completely different story when we’re the ones in pain or watching others suffer.

However, I hope to shed light on this subject in case you are on the fence about God these days. Many of my points are inspired by the book, The Problem of Pain, by C.S. Lewis, which I would highly recommend 🙂

The first step in Christianity is declaring that God is good and sovereign over our lives. But when a relationships falls apart, a loved one passes away, or even when a day full of humiliating mishaps occurs, we are left wondering if God even cares.

But C.S. Lewis argues (which I very much agree with) that the reason we have pain is because God cares. God cares enough about finishing what He’s started (us, His precious creations) to allow pain and suffering because He wants what’s best for us.

Think about it this way: When a potter is forming a masterpiece, will he leave it in a motionless, stable block on the table? No, of course not. Then the clay would just be a meaningless clump of wet dirt. The potter will pound out the air pockets, cut it into the right shape, and bake it to perfection.

Assuming clay has feelings, I’m sure the clay doesn’t enjoy the molding experience. But in the end, the clay has a purpose, a beautiful purpose, after going through the transformative process.

We are like the clay and God is like the potter. God doesn’t want us to stay useless. Our pain, our struggles, and ultimately overcoming those hardships creates a stronger, more faithful spirit within us. God doesn’t inflict pain on us, but He allows it in order to help us reach our full potential.

This, in fact, is what makes God loving. Loving someone isn’t condoning all their behavior. It’s about encouraging them to be who they are meant to be, even if that means going through difficulties or changing. It means being present through it all, just as God is for us.

God has done everything within His power (which is infinite) to ensure a wonderful future for us, an eternity with Him. But we must overcome the obstacles on Earth and carry on His legacy first.

The best gift we can have isn’t even Heaven–it’s being in a relationship with God, the most loving, perfect, and faithful being in the universe. Our pain often draws us closer to God, which is what it’s intended to do. By allowing us to experience difficulties, we are given the best gift of all–God’s comforting presence and understanding of our situation.

Now, like I said earlier, this can all be debated on the academic level. But when it’s personal, things feel a whole lot different.

Though pain has a purpose, it doesn’t make it easier to experience. If you are struggling today, you are not alone. You are loved and valued just by being here. You don’t have to explain your feelings or force yourself to feel “happy” about them. Rather, by being honest about how you feel, you can find deeper healing.

These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

1 Peter 1:7-9

Unraveling the Cycle of Overthinking

Do you find yourself ruminating on embarrassing or hurtful memories rather than feeling good about yourself?

It’s the end of a long, brutal day. You settle down for a relaxing evening when suddenly–WOAH–something on your phone catches your eye. Maybe it’s a post or a text that reminds you of someone from your past. Or perhaps your phone is put away and an embarrassing memory pops into your brain instead.

Now your evening is essentially ruined because you’ve spent the past hour or so ruminating over a single interaction or response or photo. Maybe they like you, or maybe they never want to see you again. Maybe they think you’re attractive, or maybe they took one look at you and decided you’re not their type. Perhaps they left hidden messages in their text, or perhaps they were on the go and sent whatever Siri suggested for them.

You’ll never really know, and that’s the key issue. You just HAVE to know!!

Or do you really?

Have you ever found yourself stuck in the cycle of overthinking?

I appreciate Merriam Webster’s definition of overthinking, which is classified as, “putting too much time into thinking about or analyzing (something) in a way that is more harmful than helpful”.

The truth is, everything does have meaning, even if the meaning isn’t what we are imagining. However, we can’t let these embarrassing moments or interactions control our lives. Getting stuck down the rabbit hole of overthinking leads to feeling bad about yourself, resentful towards others, and fear for the future.

But how can we stop it? As an overthinker myself, I am also on the journey of reversing this cycle. Here are a few tips, and I’d love to hear any pieces of advice you have on this topic!

Tips to Avoid Overthinking

  1. Figure out what triggers your overthinking. Is it a particular app? If so, limit your time on it or unfollow the person who makes you feel bad about yourself. If a specific person leads you to overthink, reevaluate the relationship to see if your interactions with this person are leading to growth and joy or doubting and stress.
  2. Listen to positive and/or calming music. Sometimes songs, especially about heartbreak or disappointment, can lead to overthinking. Or if a song is tied to a memory that you continue to relive, you may want to avoid listening to it and focus your mind on things that will bring you hope.
  3. Acknowledge that you could be right, but that doesn’t mean the end of the world. See if there are any realistic, practical steps you can take to get out of the situation or change your circumstances. If not, seek help and wise advice rather than trapping yourself in the cycle of overthinking.
  4. Ultimately, remind yourself of what God says about you. God’s thoughts are the only ones that should really matter to us. He’s the only one who knows us fully and has our best in mind. He loves you, cares about you, and plans to use you for amazing things!

Everything does have meaning, but rarely does anything mean enough to take over our lives. Don’t let these intrusive thoughts get the best of you, but don’t beat yourself up when a discouraging thought pops into your head. Instead, take hold of it and release it. You are stronger than you think and more loved than you will ever know ❤

For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
    neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the Lord.
“As the heavens are higher than the earth,
    so are my ways higher than your ways
    and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Isaiah 55:8-9

Presenting Our Gifts

Do you ever worry your gifts aren’t enough?

Have you ever remembered someone’s birthday last minute and had to muster up a frantic, lower-tier gift? Perhaps a few things stored away in case of a rainy day or something that catches your eye while grocery shopping ends up in the birthday bag.

You already feel self-conscious about this gift, but you don’t have the time or means to give a better present. What makes you almost feel worse is when the receiver acts completely shocked and delighted by the gift, a measly gift in your eyes. A gift that could’ve been so much more, but could never fully repay the gift of this friendship.

I had that experience today. I found out about a friend’s birthday with less than a week to get her a gift, yet she’s been such an amazing friend, I knew I wanted to honor her in this way. I managed to put a gift together the day before, knowing before I even gave it to her that I could’ve done better.

But then, to both my horror and delight, she was completely surprised and eager to open her gift. Without even knowing what was inside (perhaps due to not knowing…) she thanked me profusely for the gift, touched by being remembered, while I wallowed in embarrassment for not trying harder.

As I’ve thought about it more, I’ve begun to contemplate the real purpose of gifts. Often, we give out of appreciation or care for someone else. It’s a way to thank them, or even repay them, for the role they play in our lives. Gift-giving models the gift of salvation we have from Jesus, but on a significantly smaller scale.

Speaking of Jesus, how can we possibly repay Him? We have gifts to bring to Jesus, such as love, thankfulness, and treating others the way He did. However, our gifts can never amount to the extraordinary gifts Jesus continues to give us each day.

Does that mean we should stop giving Jesus our gifts? Absolutely not. When we give Jesus our gifts, especially through helping others, we are showing Jesus that we love Him and that we aren’t putting His gifts to waste.

Should we be ashamed of how our gifts are so small in comparison to all Jesus has done for us? No, not at all. We could never, no matter how hard we try, give as much as Jesus has. We weren’t created to fulfill one of God’s needs. We are here so that God can love us and so that we have the freedom to love God back.

So the next time you are tempted to think little of a thoughtful, yet unassuming gift for either God or a loved one, remember that the value of the gift all comes down to one thing: your heart. When you give from the heart, it means the world to people. Don’t stop giving. Rather, allow yourself to relish in the fact that when we give, we are able to imitate Jesus, the best gift giver of all.

And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!

2 Corinthians 9:14-15

The Gratitude Challenge

Are you up for the challenge?

Thirty days, ten minutes a day; costs nothing, but worth everything.

You in?

A couple years ago, I presented a challenge designed to get you out of your comfort zone. The goal was to exchange fear for joy.

This challenge is similar, a means of cultivating joy. Only…a little different this time 😉

At the beginning of the new year, I started regularly recording prayer requests each morning as well as small moments of gratitude. Even after a mere two weeks of journaling, I went back and could already see God’s hand at work. I am tempted to stay stuck in my current stage of life, but by reflecting and thanking God for all that He has done over just a short period of time, I am reminded why I can have joy amidst anything.

I want to offer this gift to you and challenge both of us to be more grateful. This challenge isn’t supposed to inflict guilt on you for the times you have forgotten to thank God. It also isn’t supposed to belittle the difficulties in your life. It’s simply a way to connect with God and improve your outlook on life.

So, ready for the challenge?

The Gratitude Challenge

What you need:

  • A notebook or journal
  • A colorful pen
  • A few minutes of stillness each day

What to do:

For the next thirty days, I challenge you to write down a list of all your current needs and the needs of those around you. Afterwards, write down at least three things you can thank God for, and try not to repeat those things throughout the month.

At the end of thirty days, get out a clean piece of paper and reflect on all the things you asked God for throughout the time frame. Write down everything that was answered and how it was answered. Think about whether or not things worked out the way you hoped, and perhaps how a “no” or a different answer may have even brought new opportunities.

I hope this challenge instills the habit in you of thanking God regularly and seeing Him at work. Despite all the unknowns, all the doubts, and all the losses, we still have so much to be thankful for because we are never abandoned by our ever-loving God. ❤

I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds.

Psalm 9:1

You Can’t Save Yourself

Do you feel ready to give up on God and turn to yourself when life gets difficult?

I firmly believe you have immense value, you are loved, and we should do whatever we can to encourage each other. But one thing I will never stand behind is the false belief that we have the power to save ourselves.

Usually, this lie isn’t delivered this bluntly. It’s packaged in phrases like “I am my own hero” and “I am the only one I can rely on” and “The only one who can help me is me“.

When we first get tempted to believe this lie, we may feel refreshed, happier than we’ve ever been. But over time, we become even more drained than before, wondering what went wrong, and having even less self-confidence than before.

How do I know this is true? Because I’ve tried it, my friend, and it doesn’t do any good.

A few years ago, I was in a situation that left me feeling rejected and unimportant. So where did I go with my wounded pride? Social media.

Scrolling through positive self-confidence feeds until all I could repeat were those mantras. I believe repeating positive phrases is important, but not when they cause us to fixate on ourselves and rely on false strength.

At the end of it, I felt invigorated, ready to conquer the world and bash all those people who had hurt me. I’m a better version of me now, I thought. I can do anything!

As time went on, I began harboring more and more resentment towards the people who made me feel less-than. My focus wasn’t on helping myself; it was on seeking revenge.

Have you ever heard the phrase, “The best revenge is living a life worth being jealous of?”

No–don’t live a good, fulfilling life that way. Why? Because you can’t live an honest, purposeful life while constantly looking over your shoulder to make sure others are admiring it!

Live a life you are thankful for and proud of so that you can know you’ve made a difference in the world for the greater good…for God’s good.

So what finally got me out of this resentful, self-consumed mindset? Actually spending time with the people who had hurt me.

After one conversation, my feelings fizzled away. I was humbly reminded that I wasn’t the only one going through tough things. That yes, my feelings mattered, but they don’t dictate everyone’s lives and they shouldn’t be the sole ruler of mine.

That night, I felt stripped of any false confidence and strength I possessed before. Instead, I was convicted of the bitter, awful feelings buried in my heart.

Those feelings weren’t pleasant. I’d prefer not to relive them, even though I have been convicted of these things since then. But you know, by the end of it, I felt even better than I had before.

I was finally at the root of my problems. It wasn’t really about trying to improve myself; it was about the hurt and rejection I had experienced that led me to believe I wasn’t worthy in the first place.

But that just isn’t true, for either of us.

After admitting the core of my problems to God, I felt clean. I felt made new. I felt like I was finally getting somewhere in life.

Ultimately, I felt like God was using me again.

The saddest part about believing we can save ourselves is how it influences our relationship with God. God is the only One who can save us. He’s the only One who could’ve created us to begin with! So how can we possibly take credit for the work only our Divine Savior can accomplish?

It’s tempting to believe we are our only saviors when life doesn’t go the way we hope. It’s tempting to turn to positive mantras, colorful reassurances, and all the things that give us a temporary confidence boost.

But God never promises that life will be easy or that our prayers will be answered the way we hoped or within our timetable. God gives us a greater promise: that His will is going to be done, that He is always with us, and that we have nothing to fear.

I’m urging you now, before you become somebody you are not, to release your wounds and deep feelings to God. Allow yourself to feel disappointed or scared or overwhelmed with grief. Once you admit how you feel and that you are only truly strong through God, you will begin to feel better knowing that you are not alone.

Though none of us can save ourselves, you do have the power to help yourself. So help yourself today by resting and being vulnerable with Jesus, as well as those who also love you. I know that you can get through this, one step at a time. Remember, you are worth what it takes to truly heal ❤

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Ephesians 2:8-10

United in Christ

How do our presumptions about others hinder our witness for Christ?

Let me describe someone for you.

There’s a person here on Earth who has faced many trials, yet also many joys. This person breathes the same air as you, watches the sun come up each morning, and the stars as they dot the night sky. They have been created in the image of God and have a divine purpose.

You probably like this person, right? Or at least feel indifferent about them?

That’s because I haven’t really told you anything about this person. You don’t know what they look like, what their beliefs are, or even where they come from. All you can see is this person’s humanity.

Now, what if I told you a few basics about this person? Perhaps if I told you their age or gender, it would elicit a few new perceptions about them. If I said they are five, you might smile. If I said this person is a man, you might picture someone who has either hurt you or brought you great joy.

With only a few basic characteristics, not even about the person itself, you already have assumptions about who they are.

Let’s dive even further. Say this person has spiky pink hair and several visible tattoos. Or maybe they wear torn, dirty clothes and no shoes. Maybe they have on a crisp business suit and sparkling blue eyes. Your mind is swirling with opinions about person, perhaps even an imaginary backstory.

And I haven’t given you a single detail of their personality or lifestyle or beliefs.

Imagine if I told you this person has the opposite political beliefs as you? Or maybe that they disagree with your faith or have a career you don’t respect?

Chances are, at least one of the qualities I’ve listed above would be a turn-off for you. And I don’t blame you, it’s part of our human nature to judge others.

But does that make it right?

Every single human being, regardless of their appearance, personality, or beliefs, has one thing in common: they are made in the image of God.

Going further, within the body of Christ, we have even more in common. We are united through the Holy Spirit. But what does that mean going forward?

First of all, it means that we don’t have an excuse to judge others, especially other Christians, without knowing the full story. Sure, we can’t help our subconscious thoughts, but we can take those thoughts captive and not allow them to influence our care and concern for others.

What if we saw everyone–regardless of their beliefs, the issues we disagree with them on, or anything that normally defines a person for us–as a fellow human being? What if we thought of everyone the way we did in my first description?

Think back to how you imagined that person. Another person like you with an extraordinary purpose too.

And what if that mindset influences the way you treat the people around you? That can only bring about beauty, I’m sure of it.

That is what it takes to foster intentional, compassionate community, and bring the love of Jesus on Earth. It takes seeing people as real, honest human beings.

I’ll leave you with one final story.

Last year, I asked a friend to pray for someone in my Bible study dealing with a difficult diagnosis. Unknown to either of them, they held the opposite political views as each other. All my friend knew about the person she was praying for was that she had pressing needs, also believed in Jesus, and deserved prayer.

I can’t help but wonder if her prayers wouldn’t have been as earnest and her concern so genuine if she knew of their differences. Would the person in need be any less deserving of prayer?

How often do we allow our disagreements and differences come before our call as followers of Christ? Our call to love everyone–yes, even the haters, the unjust, the ungodly–and present the truth of the gospel to the world. We all have the capability of being that way, even if we don’t want to admit it.

Yet Jesus saw us all as deserving of salvation and more importantly, His love. The least we can do is treat others as deserving too.

And trust me, this new mindset can make all the difference in the world. ❤

My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

Colossians 2:2-3