The shock of loss seems to steal our breath and with it our ability to think clearly. It can be extremely difficult to think of how to pray for ourselves and the people we love so dearly. Thankfully, our faith in God and reliance on Him has greater power and yields greater results than our grief.
God knows precisely how our brains function in times like these and He has mercifully given us the Holy Spirit to pray for us.
I was recently talking to a young woman who was struggling to find purpose and meaning in her current season of life. Her job was draining, her relationships felt forced, and her faith was tired. As I began to share a few things I hoped would encourage her, she shrugged her shoulders and said, “Yeah, that is easy for you to say since you actually have a job that you are passionate about… but I’m stuck.”
When it comes to mental health challenges like anxiety, the Bible may not give you a clearly listed 10-point plan on what to do, but in its entire context we are guided on how to apply specific practices that combat anxiety. This is why it’s so important to not only know the Word but have it stored in your mind and heart so that you know what God’s wisdom has to say about the troubles you’re facing. And what’s really cool is that psychological research has discovered these very same practices to be the most effective.
When my husband and I walked across the stage at our Bible College graduation, we were hopeful, excited, and motivated. We were confident in our abilities and our calling and were ready to change the world for Jesus. Now, almost 10 years later, I look back at who we were then and wish I could have slipped us a note about what we could really expect from ministry and marriage. Things they don’t really teach you in the classroom. So, learn from us, young grasshoppers. Here’s what I wish I could have told us.
Uniquely Woman is BACK on air! After several months' hiatus, Lisa and I are delighted to bring the podcast back to you with brand-new episodes (and even better sound). A lot happened in our lives this last year - and even in the past summer. In this episode, we...
“I just didn’t think it was possible to stay pure after falling.” she said, fighting back tears.
As a girl who had previously obliterated my own purity, I wondered the same thing myself. I was a new Christian faced with the mistakes I had made and the consequences they brought to my doorstep. Could I truly say “no” if my next boyfriend wanted to have sex? Was it even possible to conquer the beast that is lust?
Here’s the biggie: Could I ever love God more than my sexual desires?
I shot out of the gate ready. There was no wishy-washy, “Maybe, I’ll give this a try.”, “Maybe I’ll just get my AA for now.” No maybe – I knew. I was leaving my private high school and small town behind, headed straight for a communications degree. A different coastline and cities with more than a handful of stoplights would be my future.
I was decisive and ready.
When we met (online) two years ago, we were both expecting baby girls, just 1 day apart. We didn’t have chance to meet until after her Addie was born, and eerily enough, she had no idea my baby girl would have been called Addie, too. I am so grateful for her friendship, especially as we walked through the trials that child-bearing has brought, and so excited to share with you, her readers, today!
One of the questions I receive every Monday on my Q&A show is, “What are your favorite podcasts?” The list is embarrassingly long! So this week, I’m starting a new blog series that I think you’re going to love: biweekly podcast playlists! Every other week I’ll be sharing the must-listen episodes you don’t want to miss.
Loneliness is a human condition – not relegated to singleness, but present in marriage, motherhood, work, and home as we experience seasons of relational and spiritual drought. We want it to go away, and for good reason. The gnawing feeling of “aloneness” is uncomfortable. But when we rush through these seasons, desperate for them to end, we’re missing out on their purpose.
Your loneliness can glorify God. In fact, when this trial – because that’s what loneliness is – is permitted to accomplish its full work, loneliness always points to the goodness and glory of Jesus Christ.