Trusting God’s Presence When You Feel Lost – Guest Post by Jodie Bailey

by Jennifer Slattery on January 22, 2026January 21, 2026

Note: I first shared this post here in April of 2022.

I’m pretty sure you haven’t missed it. The outside world is a pretty intense place right now. War, division … Honestly, if I start listing everything, we’ll all just get depressed.

For the past few years, it seems I have lived my life by some verses in Psalms:

“My frame was not hidden from You when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in Your book before one of them came to be.” (Psalm 139:15-16 NIV)

There’s an immense comfort in knowing God knew everything that was coming before you were even born. When I look back on my life, particularly the times that have taxed me and brought me to the end of myself, I don’t often see the hardship first. What stands out most clearly is God’s presence and how He made a way. It’s not just that God knows what’s coming; it’s that He has already prepared a path through that place. Even my hard places. Even through a pandemic. Even through the threat of war.

Even in the midst of whatever you are personally going through, God knows what’s coming. He has already prepared a path through.

Awhile back, while I was praying some things for my daughter, I went back to Psalm 139 and started looking at it again. This is where I find my comfort. I started wondering: what else does Psalm 139 have for us in these anxious times? It’s a Psalm about God being in charge, so it seems like a good thing to realize right now, in the middle of uncertainty, anxiety and just plain weirdness.

There is so much to see in this chapter. Beautiful promises like, “Where can I go from Your Spirit? Where can I flee from Your presence? If I go up to the heavens, You are there; if I make my bed in the depths, You are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there Your hand will guide me, Your right hand will hold me fast.” (Psalm 139:7-10 NIV)

It doesn’t matter where we are. At home, away from home, with our family or alone: God is there. In the midst of sin, God is there, waiting for us to turn to Him. In the midst of fear, God is there, waiting for us to turn to Him. In the midst of a complete loss of control, God is there, waiting for us to turn to Him. If He feels far away, please know that’s a lie straight from the enemy. Right here in Psalm 139 is the promise that God is right here. Right there. Right where you are.

Even better? Darkness isn’t a thing to God. “Even the darkness will not be dark to You; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to You.” (Psalm 139:12 NIV)

When it all seems bleak and we can’t see what’s coming, God can and does. Nothing surprises Him. Nothing startles Him. He’s not wringing His hands in heaven, wondering what to do next. He already knows what’s coming, and He’s already at work in the “what next.”

When it all seems bleak and we can’t see what’s coming, God can and does. Nothing surprises Him.

Know what that means? We don’t need to know everything. One of my precious former students texted me last night and said, “I have never wanted so badly to be able to see the future.” My initial response was, “Me, too.” But then God dropped Psalm 139 on me yet again. He already knows the future. It’s already taken care of. We don’t need to know, because our loving Father does.

He’s already made a way in the darkness. A stream in the desert. If we stop and take some time to look and listen, I know we will see places where He is working. Sometimes it’s in the greater world. Sometimes it’s in our living room. And sometimes it’s right inside of us. But never doubt: He is working all over the place, in every inch of this, even when it seems like the darkness is winning.

But never doubt: He is working, in every inch of this, even when it seems like the darkness is winning.

Know what? I’m praying for you. Praying that if it feels like you’re in the dark, if you’re scared or anxious or
wondering what comes next, God will show you that He is right beside you, no matter where you are.

There is no darkness to God. Only glorious light.

Take a look around, even at the hard places. God is there. Where do you see Him at work today?

We hope this post has blessed you today! If you’d like to support or get involved with Wholly Loved Ministries, check out our upcoming Gala and see how you can be a part of it!

Get to Know Jodie Bailey:

Jodie Bailey is a New York Times, USA Today and Publishers Weekly Best-selling author who writes “soul-stirring suspense” filled with love, faith and intrigue. Her novel, Crossfire, was an RT Reviewers’ Choice Award winner that was commended for addressing “the stigma associated with mental health services and the military.” She is a mom and Army wife who believes dark chocolate cures all ills. She lives in North Carolina with her husband and a lab-husky mix. –This text refers to the paperback edition.

Check out her latest release, Buried Mountain Justice (Trinity Investigative Team Book 3):

These mountains hide many secrets…
and uncovering them could be deadly.

Returning to her hometown has perilous consequences when private investigator Kelsie McIlheney stumbles upon a murderer in the midst of burying their latest victim. To investigate the burial site, she’s forced to team up with her former love, Special Agent Noah Cross, who’s rattled to see Kelsie again after she left without a word nearly two decades ago. When more bodies are uncovered and attacks begin to escalate, it becomes clear that Noah is the killer’s next target. As the past comes back to haunt them and a long-standing vendetta is revealed, Noah and Kelsie must risk everything to ensure justice is served.

From Love Inspired Suspense: Courage. Danger. Faith.

Trinity Investigative Team

Book 1: Taken at Christmas
Book 2: Protecting the Orphan
Book 3: Buried Mountain Justice

Grab your copy here.

If this post resonated with you, you might find this Faith Over Fear podcast episode encouraging: “How God Brings Good Through Wilderness Seasons“

Calm Anxiety and Overwhelm Through Time With Christ – Faith Over Fear

What happens when grief, stress, distraction, and emotional exhaustion leave you feeling spiritually numb? In this episode of the Faith Over Fear podcast, Jennifer Slattery talks with pastor and author Tara Beth Leach about how daily connection with Christ helps us remain grounded during overwhelming seasons. Tara shares the deeply personal story behind her book, The Great Morning Revolution, including the grief of losing her father, caring for her mother through dementia, leaving ministry in California, and the spiritual awakening God brought through that difficult wilderness season. Together, Jennifer and Tara discuss: Why anxiety and distraction often shape our days before we realize it The spiritual impact of constantly consuming news, social media, and notifications How daily time with God renews our minds and anchors us in truth What Scripture teaches about wilderness seasons and dependence on God Why spiritual practices should remain flexible rather than legalistic How Christians can resist cultural formation and develop a kingdom mindset instead The difference between building earthly kingdoms and living for God’s kingdom This conversation offers practical encouragement for anyone feeling emotionally depleted, spiritually distracted, or overwhelmed by life’s demands. Scriptures Referenced Exodus 14 Lamentations 3:22–23 Romans 12:1–2 Ephesians 5:13–14 Psalm 23 Philippians 2 Mark 1 1 Samuel Resource Mentioned The Great Morning Revolution by Tara Beth Leach Connect with Tara Beth Leach On her website On Instagram On Facebook Follow her work on Amazon Find Jennifer Slattery: On her website Instagram Facebook Amazon Subscribe to her free newsletter Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Celebrating a joyful, painful, Hope-filled Christmas

by Jennifer Slattery on December 24, 2025December 24, 2025

This Christmas feels paradoxical. I wonder if you can relate. Part of me—the wife and mom in me—is looking forward to a simple celebration with those I love most. But my heart also … carries the weight of conflicting emotions. Perhaps my undercurrents of melancholy stem from the weather—less light each day, the blue sky of fall blanketed in gray, and nights that come sooner and lasts longer. It could also be because holidays and birthdays, historically, haven’t always felt so nostalgic or enjoyable.

And then there’s the loss of my dad, who I would’ve called today, despite the fact that he hated Christmas, and would likely tell me so. And the loss of my funny, brilliant and oh, so humble father-in-law two years prior.

Yet that’s also why Christmas feels so profound. Christ entered a world with relational, emotional, and global chaos. He saw our darkness and despair and didn’t turn away. Instead, He responded with a compassion that drew Him close. He left heaven’s glory, took on flesh, stepped into our brokenness, and later, carried the weight of the world’s sin and sorrow on His shoulders so we could experience healing, freedom, and relational intimacy with the God who never leaves.

When this season feels confusing, when praise and sorrow, joy and grief, intertwine, I celebrate because:

Christ came.
Pain and hardship won’t get the final say.
Love reigns.
Hope prevails.
Light remains and holds the power to chase the deepest darkness away.

If your heart feels torn…
If you’re grateful and grieving…
If you love the season but feel the ache beneath it…
If anxiety hums quietly in the background alongside your smiles…

I see you. I get it. And so does Jesus. On Christmas morning, He came for you. He’s still coming for you—in your hard and in your joy—and He won’t leave.

Because of His presence, Immanuel, God with us: “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light.”— Isaiah 9:2

Merry Christmas, friend. Hold tight to this truth: the best is yet to come.

Calm Anxiety and Overwhelm Through Time With Christ – Faith Over Fear

Surprise endings – Guest post by Kelly hall

by Jennifer Slattery on January 23, 2025January 22, 2025

Surprise Endings by Guest Blogger Kelly Hall

I never could have imagined the surprise that awaited me at the end of the day.

Our son, David and his wife Danielle, were staying in our home for a few months as they transitioned to new jobs and a new home. It was a sweet gift getting to know them as a couple and watching them navigate through life decisions.

They were the ideal house guests: closets were organized, furniture was rearranged, broken things were repaired, our dryer was replaced, and all of our computer/phone issues were resolved. Danielle organized a “paint day” and we chose a blue-grey slate for an accent wall in their bedroom. We painted the entire room, while David repaired holes in the walls, moved furniture, removed blinds and cleaned up when we were done.

I could hardly believe the difference. It was gorgeous!

And I was exhausted!

Later that evening, over snacks of crackers and cheese, Danielle asked me to go downstairs so we could talk about painting my study.

Not at all excited about the prospect of another exhausting day of painting four walls, baseboards, window sills and doors, I followed her as she threw open the door to my study.

I couldn’t believe my eyes!

Danielle had already finished the hardest job of all – the rich blue-grey slate of an accent wall had completely transformed the room! My response reminded me of game show contestants who discover a brand new car awaits them behind door number three. Barely intelligible words and loud gasps were interspersed with wild flailing arms and punctuated with wide-eyed delight.

Best surprise ever!! Over-the-top-extravagance! Beyond anything I had even imagined!

It reminds me of the way God often surprises us with His goodness – throwing open doors suddenly and unexpectedly – revealing lavish gifts of personal love – when we least expect it and often when we need it the most.

In uncertain times, when we can’t see what God’s up to, He gives us a powerful promise to help us remain anchored to His heart of love:

“The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you. He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid. Do not be discouraged” (Deuteronomy 31:8, NIV)

If your patience is being tested and your heart laid bare by a season of unanswered prayers, remember that God often does His best work behind closed doors. We can always be confident that God is with us and that He also goes before us, preparing surprise endings for us that will warm our hearts and elicit wide-eyed delight.

Lord, today I choose to throw off my weariness with the breath-taking reminder that You are working behind closed doors, preparing extravagant surprises just for me. Jesus, I love you so much. Thank you for the evidence of your personal love and care that is all around me.

Get to Know Kelly Hall

Kelly Hall is a wife, mom, Bible teacher, speaker, author, occasional blogger, and the host of the Unshakable Hope podcast. She has a unique story enriched by her four children, three of whom have special needs. She and her husband, Lee , raised them in the constantly challenging world of Air Force military life. Their story evolves into an unexpected journey of chronic illnesses, medical treatments and ongoing caregiving.

She is intimately familiar with the ache of unanswered prayers and experienced in the anguish of wrestling with the Lord through the weariness of long waits. Her family’s deepest comfort is the unshakable hope we have through faith in Jesus Christ—through Jesus and Him alone, we have hope that holds us even when life shakes us.

Catch my and my cohost Carol’s conversation with Kelly in the Faith Over Fear podcast episode titled, “How God Frees Us From Imposter Syndrome.”

Calm Anxiety and Overwhelm Through Time With Christ – Faith Over Fear

When Our Greatest Need Leads to Our Greatest Blessing

by Jennifer Slattery on November 21, 2024November 20, 2024

quote from post with the backdrop of a blue door framed by ivy.

(This first published on October 3, 2019)

What if your greatest need, your greatest challenge, strategically leads to your greatest blessing? What if, in your place of struggle, of uncertainty, God is chiseling away all that is shaky and false to lay beneath you a sure and steady foundation? What if, when it feels as if everything around you is shattering, God is actually using those broken pieces to create something eternally beautiful and precious?

My mind likes to shoot straight to fear. When our car breaks down, or our daughter struggles, or maybe someone I love experiences a health challenge, I’m tempted to forget. To forget that God is with me, with us. To forget He’s ever present, certain and true. That His love is big enough to cover every need and hurt. But most of all, I’m tempted to forget that He is in my difficulty, using the situation to reveal hidden lies lurking in my heart. Shining His light on what is diseased in order to bring life and light to what’s gone dead.

For years, I felt food insecure. Even with a full pantry and well-funded savings account, financially, everything felt uncertain. I remembered my time wandering the street of Tacoma, of eating potatoes, and lets be honest, large quantities of malt liquor.

My vision from that time was selective, distorted. I remembered the hard more than God’s hand. And so, I lived in fear. Fear that, at any moment, the life I’d created—that I thought I’d created—would unravel.

In essence, I made much of myself and little of God. I placed my husband’s paycheck, or working car, or our checking account in place of my faithful Provider. Yet, in the deepest recesses of my fearful heart, I intuitively knew that none of those things had the power to carry me. But in focusing on all those lesser, powerless, ever-shifting provisions, I forgot who was and always has been holding me.

My focus on the “bread” hindered my view of the “Baker” and this kept me from resting firmly in His embrace.

This was precisely what happened some two thousand years ago, when Jesus and His disciples encountered a large crowd of hungry people. We likely miss the magnitude of this situation as most of us have never truly been food insecure. When we want something to eat, we run to the store or hit the nearest restaurant. But for ancient man, hunger was a real and pressing concern.

And so, seeing their hunger, Jesus said to Philip, one of His disciples, “You feed them.”

To which Philip replied, in essence, “Um, what?”

“Philip answered Him, ‘It would take more than half a year’s wages to buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!’” (John 6:7, NIV). Peter responded much the same, saying “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?” (John 6:8, NIV).

Like I so often do, Philip and Peter allowed their need to blind them from their Provider. In that moment, the need felt huge and their God felt small.

Have you ever been there? I have. And when I land in that place, God doesn’t chastise me or turn away. Instead, He draws me close and says, “What you have is enough, because I, who always am enough, will make it enough.”

That’s precisely how He responded to His disciples. “Jesus said, ‘Have the people sit down.’ There was plenty of grass in that place, and they sat down (about five thousand men were there).Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish’” (John 6:10-11, NIV).

Did you catch that? Jesus didn’t just give the people a little. He didn’t feed them enough to hold them over until they could find another meal. He gave them each as much as they wanted. He gave them an abundance, because He is the God of abundance, and He wants us to know that He alone, not our jobs or our paychecks, will meet our needs.

Text pulled from post with a flower background.

God calls us to utilize what we have, not obsess over what we lack. When needs arise, it’s easy to become paralyzed by our lack. But even in our lack, we have hope, because we have Christ. And the same God who used a simple lunch of five loaves and two fish can use our meager resources and feeble strength to perfect all that concerns us.

In fact, sometimes, oftentimes, He will allow us to land in situations that feel hopeless so that we can truly and securely grab hold of the only One who is hope. That is a precious blessing that will never fade or disappoint.

What are you facing today? What might God be showing you through it? In the middle of your struggle, what lies are rising to the surface? That God doesn’t care? That He won’t provide for or protect you? That He’s distant or not listening?

What does truth say?

Share your thoughts, stories, and encouragement with us in the comments below, because we can all learn from and encourage one another!

Calm Anxiety and Overwhelm Through Time With Christ – Faith Over Fear

God’s Heart for a mom in need – Guest Post by LInda Rondeau

by Jennifer Slattery on January 26, 2023January 26, 2023

Graphic with quote from Spurgeon on God's provision.

God’s Heart for a Mom in Need

by Linda Rondeau

I wondered if my life could get worse? I was filled with self-pity as I loaded the three children into one grocery cart. Then I grabbed another few items I could afford. Pushing my cart with my right hand and the kids’ with my left, I choo-chooed my way down the aisles on this winter afternoon in 1973.

I reached for a jar of peanut butter and caught the sight of a toy gun my two-year-old had hidden in his coat. I retrieved the item, apparently stolen from somewhere since it wasn’t his.

“Where did you get this?” I asked.

He met my answer with a blank stare. I checked the price tag, then remembered the sales display near the cash registers. He must have picked it up while I was getting his brother and sister situated.

“I can’t buy this, John. We’ll have to put it back.” I suppose I should have used the teachable moment for a lesson in honesty. To be truthful, I could barely focus on my list.

A divorced, unemployed mother of three pre-school children, I believed, prior to that morning, I had already sunk to the bottom—until I opened up my eviction notice with the morning’s mail. I’d achieved the impossible, a new depth from which to wallow.

What had I done to deserve these troubles? My present circumstances weren’t my doing. I’d been a model tenant, paying on time, my home spotless. I even waxed my floors on a weekly basis. My landlady planned to place a family member coming in from out of town in my apartment. I lived in space she thought she needed more than I did.

Humiliation pricked me like a thousand sewing needles. I didn’t blame the property owner, at least not intellectually. If in her shoes, I’d have done the same. And I’d have gone on my merry way believing my good tenant should have no problems in finding another place to live. And, like her, I’d have given the individual a letter of reference. But finding an affordable apartment with my limited resources in a safe neighborhood posed challenges beyond my scope of solvability.

Tomorrow lay before me like an unwritten movie script, but I knew the logline: A divorced woman and her three children huddle together in a cardboard box.

“Well, Lord,” I prayed through tears. “I need a miracle.”

Re-reading my grocery list, I mentally scratched off items I could possibly do without. I could forego the floor polish. I wouldn’t be able to wash and wax the street. How could I decipher if toilet paper were more critical than toothpaste?

I looked up in time to witness John lean over from the kids cart and dump a handful of candy bars into mine.

“What are you doing!” My howls echoed through the store like canyon winds. “Don’t even think you’re getting candy.”

I felt like Snow White’s evil stepmother as I heaved the treats back on the shelf with one huge huff of indignation. Even so, wet trickles slid down my cheeks as John’s little face turned from rosy innocence to gray fright, his wails even louder than my reprimands. As if sucked into another dimension, I saw myself in frozen ugliness, fearful I was observing my own mental breakdown.

From somewhere, staccato-like bursts of joy pierced the nightmarish scene.

That’s when I saw him, the man I’d learn to call my supermarket angel, a department store Santa type, even sporting a long white beard and black boots but sans the red suit. He held his middle as he nearly doubled over with amusement, seemingly as frozen in the instant as I was.

Ire erupted. How could anyone so obtusely enjoy my pain. As I surveyed the surreal, I felt a growing pressure in my abdomen. Within seconds, my own gurgles of laughter sprayed the atmosphere like a happy geyser.

I don’t know how long time stood still. But when I returned to the present, my mood had miraculously transformed from bitterness to hope. Despair fled replaced by the reassurance God had already made a plan even before I demanded a solution.

I gathered up the rejected candy bars and cradled them back to my cart.

“Just because I love you,” I said, and kissed my child on the top of his head.

I should thank the odd man for bringing me back from the precipice of insanity. When I looked for him, he was nowhere to be seen. I’d turned away for less than a minute. How could he have disappeared?

I’d heard how God sometimes sends his angels to us at odd times, in odd places, and perhaps in the form of an obese elderly man on a supermarket bench. Had I been so graced?

I won’t know this side of heaven for sure. But whenever I drift into a woe-is-me attitude, the image of that jolly, fat elf never fails to bring me out of the pit.

*** Postscript

Some wonder what happened after this event, assuming I did not end up on the street. God did lead me to a public housing project with sufficient room for the four of us. Later, I moved near my parents, joined a theater group, and remarried a wonderful Christian man, my partner in life for forty-five years. God uses the upsets of life to redirect us to better things.

Get to Know Linda:

Award-winning author, Linda Wood Rondeau writes stories that grip the heart, inspired by her nearly thirty years of social work. Her motto is, “With God, our worst past becomes our best future.” When not writing or speaking, she enjoys the occasional round of golf, visiting museums, and taking walks with her best friend in life, her husband of forty-five years. The couple resides in Hagerstown, Maryland where both are active in their local church. Readers may learn more about the author, read her blog, or sign up for her newsletter by visiting up for her newsletter by visiting www.lindarondeau.com.

Follow the author on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Tumblr, Linkedin, Bookbub, Twitter, or Goodreads as well as her Youtube Channel, My Favorite Bible Verses Off the Cuff.

My Favorite Bible Verses Off the Cuff. Watch for the author’s newest devotional release in March, Lessons Along the Way, Volume I of three.

Check out Linda’s book, Ghosts of Trumball Mansion

Why do the ghosts in his wife’s ballroom attack only him? Or is publishing tycoon Henry Fitzgibbons insane?

Lana Longstreet is his star author … and his informally estranged wife. Now that the children are grown, maybe the time has come to officially end any obligation to his wife’s Connecticut estate and be free of their torment.

Sylvia Fitzgibbons has grown tired of the charade. She’d ask Henry for a divorce if the children weren’t planning a lavish anniversary party in August, and she has a deadline for her Johnny Gallant suspense series in the same month. Then there is the matter of the decaying rose gardens, Henry’s only allure to the estate and launch parties.

She insists Henry spend the summer to tend to estate matters, and Henry reluctantly agrees. Hoping for an early escape, he hires a gangly landscape artist who eerily resembles a washed out country singer. But when Sylvia’s housekeeper must retire due to an auto accident, she begs for his help. Unable to resist her femme fatale pleas, Henry is trapped for the duration.

Forced closeness and Sylvia’s dependence on Henry draws them closer. As a reconciliation proves possible, Lana Longstreet is charged with plagiarism threatening their publishing empire and the malignant forces within the estate become increasingly aggressive.

Something evil seems to conspire against them that only Faith can conquer.

Calm Anxiety and Overwhelm Through Time With Christ – Faith Over Fear

Overcomers in Christ

by Jennifer Slattery on June 2, 2022June 1, 2022

(The following is an adapted transcript from the Your Daily Bible Verse podcast, which aired on November 3rd, 2021.)

Jesus didn’t say our would wouldn’t hurt. He didn’t promise to shield us from disappointment and struggle, but He did assure us He’d give us the strength to remain standing, to keep stepping, and ultimately, to overcome.

“I have told you these things,” He said, in John 16:33, indicating everything He discussed in the chapters prior, “so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Some translations say, “In this world you will have tribulation,” which would make us think of external problems like storms, wars, persecution, and sickness. Jesus certainly told us to expect all of those things. The word He used in this instance, however, pointed to the internal pressure one experiences outward hardships leave them feeling trapped without options or means of escape.

It’s like He was saying, “My dear friends whom I love, life is going to become hard, and you will be afraid.”

This reminds me of His earlier statement in John 14:1 and 27 when He told the disciples not to let their hearts be troubled, adding, the second time, “and do not be afraid.”

When we read those words, we might feel a surge of guilt or self-condemnation, assuming Christ becomes upset we feel afraid. But I view His statements as gentle encouragement; an invitation to seek Him and His strength.

“Do not LET your hearts be troubled,” He said, as if He knew this was going to be a fight. Adding in verse 27, for emphasis, and do not be afraid.

“Take courage,” he urged, which, based on the original Greek, means to strengthen oneself from within, or better yet, to allow God to strengthen us.

That is how we battle our fears. By believing in, trust in and rely on, Christ. As we intentionally reflect on who He is, what He’s done, and all He’s promised and evaluate our fears in light of all we know is true, our faith grows.

And so He invites us to believe, in an ever deepening way, in Him.

Why?

Because He overcame the world.

Notice, He didn’t say, because “I might overcome” or even “I’m going to overcome” but rather, “I’ve already overcome.” He let His disciples know, before the resurrection, that the victory was already won. He had already overcome. His disciples, His beloved friends who belonged to Him, had already overcome as well. And just as surely as their victory had been already been won, in Christ, ours has also.

Quote from post on white background with plant border. — Photo by Josh Calabrese on Unsplash

As 18th century Bible scholar John Ellicott wrote, “The enemies they fear, the world in which they have tribulation, are already captives following in the Conqueror’s train. They themselves have pledges of victory in and through His victory.”

Life will feel hard at times. Frightening. Jesus didn’t deny that, nor did He condemn His disciples for the emotional struggle they’d soon experience. As He was speaking to them, laying out all that would soon happen, not once did He chastise them for their sorrow and fear. Instead, He acknowledged it, validated it, but then He spoke His truth, peace, and love into them.

He invited them let their fears drive them deeper in their relationship with Him. That was how they’d “take heart” or have courage, as some translations phrase it.

And in this, we see His tender heart to comfort and encourage us. To love us, because He knows it’s His love, not His anger or judgment, that has the power to cast out all fear.

What is one truth regarding Christ-His character, power, or promises-you can focus on the next time you feel afraid?

Speaking of enduring hard circumstances, make sure to listen to the latest Faith Over Fear podcast episode to hear how God helped Wholly Loved’s Kelly Campbell hold tight to hope when she began slipping into despair.

Calm Anxiety and Overwhelm Through Time With Christ – Faith Over Fear

God Among the Bullet Points

by Jennifer Slattery on January 13, 2022January 13, 2022

*Note: This post first published on January 11, 2018.

Every birthday and New Year, I’m forced to take stock. Have I lived the past year well? Am I moving forward in faith? Can I reasonably recover from all my mess ups and mishaps and perhaps behave differently the next time around? Unfortunately, I fail much more often than I’d care to admit, but despite my mess-ups, mishaps, and downright failings, one thing remains certain and unwavering, as my guest today discovered while doing a little life-check of her own.

God among the bullet-points

By Jessica Brodie

Ever try to sum up your life in a bullet-list? It’s a weird, sometimes painful, sometimes hilarious exercise in self-absorption (if I’m generous, self-healing) that I tried one lonely New Year’s Day 13 years ago.

It went something like this:

Born January 19, North Miami, Florida
Lived with parents in small house near grandparents
Earliest memories: books, brown shag carpet
Age two, moved to better house
Favorites: banana trees, stripy sneakers, books, spiky grass, swing set, Mom’s typewriter
Afraid of everyone and everything

I should mention I was a full-fledged grownup when I did this, well into my career, married…old enough to have achieved some maturity. And at the end, I had a neatly printed six-page document filled with all the dysfunctions and quirks that had comprised my life. Right there, in black and white, I could see exactly how far I’d come.

Take that, Mean Girls of the Sixth Grade. Harrumpf.

Sure, I’d had my share of embarrassing failures and broken hearts, but a few lines later there was the college scholarship, the promotion, the kiss. Life went on. Ups, downs—they littered the page without discernible pattern.

“That’s just life,” I’d concluded—random, messy, beautiful, full of chance and happenstance, with me in the starring role. I saw how time and again I’d navigated a difficult circumstance with a solid, moral decision or confronted a tough issue by standing strong, staying true. I congratulated myself on my perseverance and gumption.

Ah, younger me.

I knew nothing.

See, all that time I thought I was steering myself through the tough times. But it wasn’t. It was God. Now I see the light.

Thirteen years later, I’ve had two children and gained two stepchildren. I’ve become a daily reader of Scripture rather than a casual Bible-thumber. I’ve experienced loss, single-momhood, near-poverty, and wealth. I’ve been to Africa and walked with lions, seen miracles happen before my eyes and within my body.

I’ve lived. And in living, I’ve come to understand how little any of it has to do with me or the choices I made. I’ve also come to see how lucky I am God has allowed me to experience this grand, majestic ride.

Recently, I tried that bullet-list exercise again—but this time, instead of chance and happenstance, I was struck by the master pattern I saw: God’s hand on everything. Every. Thing.

Why had I ever thought my life was random? It was a magical, God-orchestrated symphony. In every moment, big and small, God was there—guiding, maneuvering, until whatever He’d planned had been fulfilled … then leading me onto the next step.

That infertility struggle that seemed to last forever? Now I saw it so clearly pointing me toward humility and submission to God’s will.

That tough job where I felt so utterly alone? God was helping me rely on my internal chops—and Him—to be a better leader.

Today I look at my list and don’t regret any of the mistakes and painful moments I see. My only regret is all the time I wasted from worry.

And I see what I should have been doing all along: resting securely in the knowledge that God has our roadmap already printed out for us in the form of the Holy Bible.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” He tells us, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11, NIV).*

Try the bullet-list for yourself and see if you, too, can tell all that God has done and is doing in your life.

*Bible verse taken from Biblehub.com

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Jessica Brodie is a Christian author, journalist, editor, blogger, and writing coach. She is the editor of the South Carolina United Methodist Advocate, the oldest continuously published newspaper in Methodism. Learn more about her fiction and read her blog at http://jessicabrodie.com/.

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Let’s talk about this! In her book, Victim of Grace, author Robin Jones Gunn talks about taking an annual “Selah” where she hits the pause button and sort of takes stock of her previous year and what God might want to do in the year ahead. This really struck me because I have a tendency to stay so busy doing, I can miss observing all God has done or might want to do. Jessica’s post today encouraged me to hit the pause button this week, to take some time to prayerfully look over past journal entries, to meditate on Scripture, to contemplate all God has done.

What about you? Do you normally take time to remember and contemplate? If so, when and how? If not, how might doing so increase your sense of peace and awe for God? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below, because we can all learn from and encourage one another!

Calm Anxiety and Overwhelm Through Time With Christ – Faith Over Fear

Calming The Storms in Your Life––Guest Post by Kathy Howard

by Jennifer Slattery on December 10, 2020November 1, 2021

Many of you have had a rough, exhausting, and frightening year. Some of you have been hit by one difficulty after another. You’re entering the Christmas season with your galoshes on, barely coming out of one storm before entering another. And maybe, while feeling pummeled on every side, you’re wondering where God is. If He sees you, and most importantly, if He’s with you in this mess.

If that’s you, I hope Kathy Howard’s guest post encourages you.

Calming the Storms in Your Life
By Kathy Howard

The forces of nature regularly demonstrate their power in our world. Tornadoes topple high rises like a toddler flattens block towers. Tsunamis sweep over cities burying them beneath the waves. Mankind is powerless against the funnel cloud and the rushing ocean. But there is One who has power over all these forces and more.

One night on the Sea of Galilee, Jesus gave His disciples a glimpse of His kingly glory by demonstrating His power over the natural world. After a long day of teaching, Jesus needed rest. As soon as the boat pushed away from the shore, Jesus laid His head on the cushion reserved for guests and quickly feel asleep. (See Mark 4:35-41 for the full story.)

Away from the safety of the shore a storm hit with fury. As the boat filled with water, even the experienced fishermen feared for their lives. But Jesus slept on. To the disciples it seemed as though Jesus did not care. But the big storm was an opportunity for Jesus to reveal something about Himself they did not yet know.

“And He awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, ‘Peace! Be still!’ And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm” (Mark 4:39, ESV).

Only the Lord of all creation (Colossians 1:16-17) could calm the storm with a word. Only the God of the universe could speak peace to the tumultuous waves and still the whipping wind. “Peace! Be still!” The winds and the waves obeyed Him. Immediately the howling wind was silent. The thrashing sea became like glass.

Anyone would be afraid in a similar situation. Yet, after Jesus commanded the storm to cease, He asked the disciples why they feared, why they failed to trust Him to care for them.

The disciples had heard Jesus’ authoritative teaching. They had seen Him heal broken and diseased bodies. But they had not seen power on this level.

Trembling with fear and awe, they looked at each other. They thought they knew this man, but Jesus blew away their assumptions during the violent storm. What else did they not know about Jesus? This One who had authority over nature?

Storms of difficulty often hit our lives too. They rush in, often popping up quickly like that storm on the Sea of Galilee. We have little power to stop them.
When trouble comes, we may react much like the disciples in the storm. Fear may rise. Doubt about God’s concern for us may push in. And though He rarely works in the way we might expect, He will always work for our ultimate spiritual good and His own glory.

Every trial is an opportunity for God to teach us more about Himself, to reveal Himself to us in a new way. Each difficulty and struggle open the door for God to display His power in our lives. Trust Him to do what only He can do. He sees. He cares. And He is able.

King Jesus, You are Lord of all creation! You have the power and authority to calm the storms in my life. Thank you for Your love and care. Amen.

(This post was adapted from Kathy Howard’s new devotional book “Deep Rooted: Growing through the Gospel of Mark.”)

Meet Kathy!

A former “cultural Christian,” Kathy Howard now has a passion for God’s Word that’s contagious. With more than 30 years of experience, Kathy has taught the Bible in dozens of states, internationally, and in a wide range of venues including multi-church conferences and large online events. Kathy, who has a Masters of Religious Education from the Canadian Southern Baptist Seminary, is a devotional and Bible study author. She also writes for multiple online magazines and devotional sites. Kathy and her husband live near family in the Dallas/Ft Worth. They have three married children, six grandchildren, and two accidental dogs. Kathy provides free discipleship resources and blogs regularly at http://www.KathyHoward.org. Kathy’s new book, Deep Rooted: Growing through the Gospel of Mark, is available now!

Deep Rooted: Growing through the Gospel of Mark

Foster a delight for God’s Word that keeps you rooted and growing. Want to experience regular spiritual nourishment from the Bible, but not sure how to start? Deep Rooted, a 40-day devotional journey through the life and ministry of Jesus, will show you how to interact with and apply Scripture, not just read it. These meaty, daily devotions, which are based on the 4 R Bible study framework, is designed to help you:

• Develop a regular habit of spending quality time in God’s Word
• Know Jesus more fully and intimately
• Learn how to dig into Scripture on your own
• Be transformed by God’s Word, not just informed
• Practically live out the truths you discover in Scripture

In Deep Rooted: Growing through the Gospel of Mark, Kathy Howard’s seminary education, passion for God’s Word, and vast Bible teaching experience come together in a unique devotional experience. Finally, a daily devotional with some meat on its bones!

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Mamas of daughters aged 13-70+, mark your calendars for Wholly Loved’s online mother daughter event!

You might also find my iBelieve video on remaining anchored helpful.

And make sure to check out Wholly Loved’s Advent Bible reading plan, found on the Back to the Bible app. Find it HERE.

When Our View of God Clashes With Reality

by Jennifer Slattery on August 1, 2019November 1, 2021

Sometimes our expectations lead to our greatest disappointments. They can hinder us from truly knowing one another.

They can hinder us from truly knowing God as well.

Have you ever had someone grow attached to the person they thought you were? Not who you were but an individual they’d conjured in their mind? I have, and the situation didn’t end well.

I met Anna* at church. Though we had numerous mutual friends, children close in age, and had been part of the same faith community for years, we didn’t really know one another. But then, after having read material I wrote, she initiated a conversation. We soon developed a relationship and began to go on walks and talk over coffee. Our interactions, though brief and sporadic, were pleasant enough, until I ceased meeting the woman’s expectations.

She acted as if I had deceived and cheated her.

Have you ever experienced something similar?

Have you ever felt that way about God?

I have. My relationship with Christ has swung from one side of the pendulum to the other, finally resting back in center. Early on, I viewed Him as hard and exacting, the One with the power and authority to send me to hell and who would be quite justified in doing so. I knew Him as the Rule Setter but struggled to see Him as loving and compassionate Father.

Steadily, one sermon, Bible passage, and Christ-centered interaction at a time, He transformed my thinking so that I began to view Him as my Savior and Friend. And for sure, He is both of those, but somehow, in the softening, I lost sight of the fact that His merciful side doesn’t negate His awesome sovereignty as the One who formed and retains full ownership of all creation, myself included.

As a result, I began to expect blessings and abundance. Oh, I never would’ve said that, if asked. I understood, at least in theory, that life held no guarantees and often horrible things happen to really good, God-loving people. I had read the book of Job, after all. But when that somebody was me, I grew sulky, frustrated, and at times, downright angry. I accused God of holding out on me, of not caring, and of not listening.

But really the problem lay with me. I allowed my self-created ideas of who I thought He was hinder my intimacy with the God who is and always will be:

Always good, faithful, loving, and true.

One day, when our daughter was young, I asked her to help me unload groceries from the car. She huffed and said, “If you really loved me, you wouldn’t make me do this.”

I’m not sure if she really believed that or was simply trying to talk her way out of what she clearly deemed to be a rather torturous event. I suspect the latter. But she was so melodramatic about the whole thing, it was all I could do to keep from laughing. Once certain I could respond with appropriate sternness, I replied, “It is because I love you that I must insist you unload them all.” Then, pocketing my keys, I left her to it, adding, “I’m raising you to have a servant’s, not serve-me, heart.”

Then I went inside.

I wonder how many times God whispered similar words to my huffing and hemming heart over the years. “I know you want that promotion. I know you feel I’m being unfair withholding it from you, but I would rather raise a daughter who trusts in Me more than her paycheck.”

“I know you don’t enjoy having chronic illness. I know it hurts and is hard. But I want you to experience My strength made perfect in your weakness.”

Or perhaps most challenging, “I know you don’t like to see your daughter struggle in this way. I Know it breaks your heart, and it does mine as well. But you must entrust her to Me. I’m growing her, patiently and faithfully, just as I have you all these years.”

I’ve seen enough of His heart, of His faithfulness, to know just how true that is. I’ve come to trust Him, to see Him as Father and Savior and Friend and King. I still have areas of deception He’s working to rectify with truth, areas of misconception His grace will expel. But for now, I’m resting in this:

He is good. He is loving. He is faithful, and He is enough. Regardless of what my fickle feelings or faulty perceptions might tempt me to believe. And perhaps that’s the most glorious lesson He’s taught me—to question everything else but Him. To say, like the apostle Paul did in his letter to the Romans, “Let God be true and every man a liar.”

When our view of God clashes with reality, it’s an invitation to get to know Him better.

*Name changed for privacy purposes

Let’s talk about this! When have circumstances challenged your view of God? How did you respond? Did your understanding of Him deepen through that event?

If you haven’t yet, make sure to check out Wholly Loved’s Bible reading plan, available on the YouVersion app, 30 Days of Emotional Health. You can find it HERE.

And join our Facebook community on Facebook to connect with other women and find encouragement as you grow in your faith. Join by clicking the button below, and make sure to follow us on Instagram. And if you’re a book lover, you can follow my author page on Amazon HERE. Contact me HERE to book me for your next women’s event or Bible study.

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When Our View of God Clashes With Reality