Focused and Spirit-led living

by Jennifer Slattery on May 25, 2023May 25, 2023

(Taken and adapted from a previous Your Daily Bible Verse podcast episode.)

I often tell my team, If we’re in God’s pocket, nothing else matters. And if we’re not in God’s pocket, nothing else matters. In other words, we want to be squarely, unwaveringly, in the center of God’s will, on the path He has determined for us.

In Proverbs 4:25-26, we read, Let your eyes look straight ahead;
fix your gaze directly before you.
Give careful thought to the paths for your feet
and be steadfast in all your ways.

Fix our gaze on whatever it is He’s assigned.

If we’ve been called to parent, may we parent well, with determination and focus, refusing to allow life’s petty inconveniences or empty promises to distract us. If it’s to lead a team at work, may we do so as a deeply loved and empowered child of God, His ambassador. If we’re called to serve the needy or homeless or maybe at risk youth, may we continually be led not by pride or selfishness but the love of Christ.

And so we fix our eyes, because we will face numerous distractions, externally and internally. Fears that will make us doubt that God’s path truly is good. Pride that will deceive us into believing that we can forge our own way. Selfishness that will fill our hearts with lies, making us believe that life and soul-deep joy comes through grasping and striving and gaining rather than living deeply connected to Christ.

This reminds me of Hebrews 12:2, which tells us to focus, unwaveringly, on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. This means we keep Him in the center of our mind, seeking His help and His guidance throughout the day. Because we don’t always know where to walk, do we? But He does. He’s already marked out our path, knows where the potholes and deceptive detours lie, when we’ll need to prepare for a steep and grueling climb. The word our Bibles translate as pioneer or author can also mean captain or chief leader, so we follow Christ’s lead, however He leads.

Sometimes He leads us with a gentle nudge from His Spirit, sometimes with a truth from Scripture. And sometimes with that deep understanding of who He is. Meaning, the more we come to know God, through Bible reading and simply doing life with Him, the more we recognize ways in which He would and wouldn’t direct us.

To put it simply, we’re best able to follow God’s lead when we know God’s heart.

God’s heart for the world, including all the people you and I interact with each day, but also God’s heart for us. It’s easier to follow the One we trust, right? When we know they’re good and always have our best in mind, and that their wisdom is greater than ours.

Oh, the danger of thinking we know best which way to go! Scripture, history, and for most of us, personal experience demonstrates that our plans apart from Christ lead only to destruction and death. Death of relationships. Of dreams. Of opportunities. But following Christ leads to life and increased joy. Always.

And so, when our journey feels tough and our feet begin to slip, we keep stepping toward Jesus, the One who longs to see us thrive.

Author Steve Carter once wrote that he keeps a compass in his pocket, to help him remain focused on his true north, God. We all need those tangible reminders, especially when the world is pulling our eyes in a thousand different directions. To please others, to maybe appease our boss by cutting corners. To chase after numbers rather than personal integrity.

We’re better able to stand strong, when we determine where we will and won’t step before the temptation or difficulty hits. We focus on what’s ahead, that next step, yes, but it’s so much more than that. We also focus on all God’s promises–His perfecting of our souls, how, through this journey, He’s making us whole, and the hope of heaven, where all our pain and struggle will be eradicated for good.

And finally, we make level paths for our feet and take only ways that are firm. This means we think about where we’re going. If we take that step, and then the next, where might we land?

Are we heading the direction God wants us to walk? Are we taking steps of faith or fear? If fear, we are likely trusting in ourselves, and I don’t know about you, but I’m highly aware of how my “wisdom” rates against God’s. I’d much rather follow the brilliance of my Creator than the whims of my emotions or the pull of my temporary desires.

And so, I want to remind myself to pause, contemplate, and align my steps with God’s good, pleasing and perfect will, trusting so long as I keep my gaze fixed on Jesus and live as He leads, He will direct our steps.

Let’s talk about this! When do you find it most challenging to follow God? What helps you to trust in His guidance more fully?

The Courage That Comes When We Know We're Not Alone – Faith Over Fear

Our world has become increasingly disconnected, where independence is often emphasized. This, and the past wounding that comes from engaging with imperfect people living in a broken world, can make it challenging to build deep, interconnected and interdependent relationships. We might even begin to believe that we can live life alone. But God invites us to find safe, loving people we can connect with, gain strength from, and experience support when circumstances feel hard and uncertain. In this episode, Wholly Loved's Michelle Lazurek and Jennifer Slattery discuss the courage that can come when we know we're not alone. (Scroll down for discussion/reflective questions.) Find Michelle: On her website Facebook Instagram Amazon Find Jennifer Slattery: On her website Instagram Facebook Amazon Discussion/Reflective Questions: What resonated with you most in this episode? What are some of the characteristics of healthy relationships? How would you describe "interdependency"? When do you tend to feel you most need the support of others? Who, in addition to God, do you most tend to turn to when you feel overwhelmed or frightened? How can (or has) leaning on others during difficulties help (or helped) increase your strength during stressful times? How can our living deeply connected with others help us experience God's love on a deeper level? What is one action step God might be asking you to take having listened to this episode? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Angels Watching OVer Me – Guest post by Candy Arrington

by Jennifer Slattery on April 6, 2023April 5, 2023

Sometimes God speaks to our hearts while we quietly read through Scripture. Sometimes He comforts us as we pray or listen to praise music. And as you’ll see in my guest’s post today, other times He uses someone unexpected to let us know He sees us, loves us, and holds us securely now and forever.

Angels Watching Over Me
by Candy Arrington

I stared at the ceiling of pre-op outpatient surgery, wishing I was somewhere else. Earlier, the nurse hustled my husband to the waiting room, believing I was minutes away from my turn in the operating room.

Now, nearly an hour later, I was growing increasingly uneasy. Alone, at the far end of a long room, away from the nurses’ station, I felt my resolve to remain calm dissolving. I willed myself to remain in the bed and not bolt for the door.

As I turned, I saw a little lady moving a push broom across the floor near my bed. She softly hummed “Amazing Grace.” Leaning the broom against the wall, she came to my bedside and straightened the covers, smoothing and tucking as she worked. Gentleness tugged the corners of her mouth into a comforting smile. Her face was unlined and serene.

She placed my hand in hers and patted it in rhythm with her humming. Then she moved to sit in a rocking chair I hadn’t noticed in the shadows. Rocking slowly, she continued her soft humming, a different, but familiar, hymn. I was intrigued. I hadn’t seen her enter the room and now she settled in a dim corner, as if for a visit.

Suddenly leaning forward, she stopped humming and asked, “You’re not scared, are you?” Before I could answer, she followed with, “Don’t be scared, Baby. Jesus, take care of you. You rest. Jesus gonna take care of you.”

The humming resumed. I felt myself beginning to relax. The fear drained away, and my panic evaporated. With a sigh, I felt peace settle over me like a warm blanket. My eyes grew heavy as I gave in to sleep.

Later, I was awakened by a bustling nurse preparing to take me to surgery. Groggily, I looked toward the rocking chair. My visitor was gone. Smiling at the nurse I said, “That was the sweetest little lady. She calmed my fears.”

The nurse looked at me with question mark eyebrows, and said, “What lady? No one else has been in the room.” I explained she must have been a cleaning woman. Again, the nurse gave me a quizzical look, and said, “The cleaning lady went off shift hours ago.” There was no further discussion as she wheeled me into the operating room.

Angels are mentioned numerous times in Scripture. A few include: messenger angels, who appeared to Zechariah, Mary, Joseph, and the shepherds (Luke 1-2, Matthew 1:18-25); rescue angels, who opened prison doors (Acts 5:19-20, Acts 16:25-34); an angel leading and guarding the Children of Israel (Exodus 23:20); and worshiping angels (Isaiah 6:2-3).

I’ve often thought of that little lady in pre-op. I guess I’ll never know for sure if she was human or an angel, but I believe God sent a messenger that day to provide comfort in my hour of need.

This article is brought to you by the Advanced Writers and Speakers Association (AWSA).

About the author: Candy Arrington has written hundreds of articles and devotionals on faith, personal growth, and moving through and beyond difficult life circumstances. Her books include: Life On Pause: Learning to Wait Well (Bold Vision Books), When Your Aging Parent Needs Care: Practical Help for This Season of Life (Harvest House), and AFTERSHOCK: Help, Hope, and Healing in the Wake of Suicide (B & H Publishing Group). Candy is a native South Carolinian, who gains writing inspiration from historic architecture, vintage photographs, nature, and the application of Biblical principles to everyday life. Learn more about Candy at www.CandyArrington.com, where you can also read her blog, Forward Motion: Moving Beyond What Holds You Back.

Candy’s new book, Life on Pause: Learning to Wait Well, provides insights on learning from and growing through a time of waiting.

Let’s talk about this! When has God loved and encouraged you through someone else? How did that increase your faith? What did that instance reveal regarding His heart for you?

The Secret to Safeguarding Our Faith (Philippians 3:1) – Your Daily Bible Verse

Want to listen without the ads? Become a BibleStudyTools.com PLUS Member today: https://www.biblestudytools.com/subscribe/ MEET OUR HOSTS: JENNIFER SLATTERY is a writer and speaker who hosts the Faith Over Fear podcast. She’s addressed women’s groups, Bible studies, and writers across the nation. She’s the author of Building a Family and numerous other titles and maintains a devotional blog at https://jenniferslatterylivesoutloud.com Follow Jennifer: https://www.lifeaudio.com/faith-over-fear/ https://www.facebook.com/JenSlatte https://www.instagram.com/slatteryjennifer/ CAROL MCCRACKEN is a Christian communicator who teaches women Biblical truths through real-life application and humor to connect them to their God-given purpose. Carol has been a Bible teacher for twenty years and served on church staff and in women's ministry for three decades. Follow Carol: https://www.carolmccracken.com/ REVEREND DR. KYLE NORMAN is the Rector of St. Paul’s Cathedral, located in Kamloops BC, Canada. He holds a doctorate in Spiritual formation and is a sought-after writer, speaker, and retreat leader. His writing can be found at Christianity.com, crosswalk.com, ibelieve.com, Renovare Canada, and many others. He also maintains his own blog revkylenorman.ca. He has 20 years of pastoral experience, and his ministry focuses on helping people overcome times of spiritual discouragement. Follow Rev. Kyle: https://revkylenorman.ca/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Experiencing the Fullness of His gift

by Jennifer Slattery on December 22, 2022December 22, 2022

May you personally experience Christ as each of these this Christmas.

Prayer prompt:

Jesus, help me experience You and Your love. Help me to sense Your presence throughout the day and to pause to acknowledge this. Help me to experience the soul-deep peace of complete absolution, knowing through faith in You, that I am lavished, surrounded, and completely covered by Your grace. Help me to worship You from a trust-filled, fully yielded heart that I may, daily and progressively, experience Your gift of life. True and vibrant life. And thank You for seeing my need and coming to dwell with me and to remove everything that hinders my relationship with You, God the Father, and God the Holy Spirit. In Your victorious Name I pray, amen.

The Courage That Comes When We Know We're Not Alone – Faith Over Fear

Courageously doing what god asks and trusting him with the rest

by Jennifer Slattery on December 15, 2022December 14, 2022

A question posed in a book I read years ago periodically replays through my mind, and often with an unsatisfactory answer: What are you doing in which you know you will fail if God doesn’t come through?*

I would rephrase this as, “In what ways do I insulate myself from needing to rely on God’s strength, accomplished through my weakness?”

In other words, how quickly do I give God my yes?

If you can relate, I hope today’s devotion, written by my guest Martha Rogers, encourages you.

‘“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May it be to me as you have said.” Then the angel left her” (Luke 1:38 NIV).

A simple verse, but oh the power in her response, “may it be to me as you have said.” How frightened Mary must have been when she heard the pronouncement from the angel. Still, she listened, acknowledged then obeyed. Despite the circumstances, she knew the angel had given her a special blessing and wonderful task.

We don’t know for sure how old she actually was, but she was old enough to be betrothed. Tradition has portrayed her as being in her teens. How would you have handled the great responsibility placed upon her by God?

Often, God allows difficult challenges and asks us to simply trust Him in what He is doing. Mary trusted God and accepted the task. For nine months she carried the child, but we know little of what happened in that time except that she did visit her cousin and tell her the news. Elizabeth and the child in her womb immediately recognized the significance of the child Mary carried.

Mary praised God in what is called Mary’s “Magnificat” in the first chapter of Luke. She praised Him for what He had done in the past for His people. Her soul glorified the Lord God. Sometimes, praising God and glorifying Him may be difficult in troubled times, but we forge ahead in faith.

He promised never to leave us and to work things together for our good, but we become impatient and want things to happen right away. We want our troubles to go away now. We want things now instead of waiting for God’s timing.

Sometimes God does take away our troubles in a miraculous way, so the suffering is short lived, but other times it remains for a long season. That is when our trust and faith in the Lord is so important. We must never give up on the fact that His mercy will endure, and He will overcome. Like Paul, we praise God for His love and His enduring promises.

Jesus was and is and shall be evermore, the perfect Gift. Each day is a new gift from Him to be opened and treasured no matter what may come. Treasure and ponder all the things He has done and will do for us as faithful, obedient servants. His love knows no end.

Let’s pray.

Heavenly Father, may we always be as trusting and obedient as young Mary was when she learned what her responsibility would be. May we rejoice and praise Your name in any and all circumstances.

Meet Martha Rogers:

Martha Rogers is a free-lance writer and multi-published author from Realms Fiction of Charisma Media and Winged Publications. She was named Writer of the Year at the Texas Christian Writers Conference in 2009. She is a member of ACFW and writes the weekly Verse of the Week for the ACFW Loop. ACFW awarded her the Volunteer of the Year in 2014. Her first electronic series from Winged Publications, Love in the Bayou City of Texas, debuted in the spring of 2015. Martha is a frequent speaker for writing workshops and the Texas Christian Writers Conference. She is a retired teacher and lives in Houston with her husband, Rex. Their favorite pastime is spending time with their twelve grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Visit her online HERE.

*Francis Chan, the Forgotten God

The Courage That Comes When We Know We're Not Alone – Faith Over Fear

For the Leader who feels discouraged and defeated

by Jennifer Slattery on November 10, 2022November 11, 2022

I just left a conference full of tired and discouraged women leaders. Yes, some attendees came full and encouraged, but I suspect, based on the tears I saw and conversations I overheard, they were in the minority. And for many of them, it wasn’t the demands of ministry that most fatigued and disheartened them. These precious women felt beaten down by the hurtful actions of others. Words that cut straight to their most wounded placed, feeding the lies that whispered, “You can’t do this. You’re insufficient. Too broken. Too flawed and too weak.”

I imagine you can relate. We’ve all found ourselves on the receiving end of careless yet painful statements and verbal attacks. In those moments, if we’re not anchored firmly in Christ’s love and grace, we’ll crumble.

Some time ago, I felt as if I was hit on every side. Significant health challenges. Loss of sleep. Major technology issues that interfered with my ability to complete important and time sensitive responsibilities, which, unfortunately, had recently increased. Relational difficulties. All of this triggered anxiety that, in turn, fueled my insomnia, which only further hindered my productivity. Then came what felt like the verbal assault that poked at some already bruised areas.

For a while, I slipped into a vortex of condemnation.

I felt like a buoy tossed into a raging sea, thrown about with every wave.

But then I sensed God asking me, “Who will you live to please? Whose voice will you allow to become loudest in your life?”

He was calling me to close my ears to everything and everyone else except for Him, to soak in His truth, and to rest momentarily in His protective embrace. It was in that quiet sacred place that His voice, previously muted by my insecurities, became clearer. He told me I wasn’t insufficient or defected. In Him, I was holy, chosen, and adored. Flawed, oh my, yes, but also empowered and redeemed. Called by my Savior to growth, healing, and even in my broken state, to impact.

As God’s gentle Spirit nourished my hurting soul, I sensed Him saying, “I’m calling you to something beautiful.”

Our God of infinite beauty always brings the yielded heart beauty from their pain. Trusting this, I clung to that and deliberately surrendered to His will–even though I knew it led to a path of increased pain. But as I sat, quiet and yielded, filled and comforted by my God, I reflected upon the wounded people God was inviting me to reach. Those who were deeply hurting and aching to experience, through His flawed yet redeemed children, His love and grace.

Would I abandon those precious souls in self-obsession, in self-protection, or would I courageously keep stepping, in love?

Would I hold tight to the condemnation spoken over me or the truth of Christ coursing through me?

And would I lean on another leader who, at least temporarily, wasn’t slung about by a storm? Someone one step beyond me, someone who could uniquely speak encouragement to my bruised soul—because she’d been there and understood.

I knew I couldn’t stand firm on my own, and so I called in reinforcements. While I still fulfilled my responsibilities and met my deadlines, my world quickly narrowed to those who spoke life and strength into my soul. I carved out time in other places to increase time for Jesus, my husband, and Spirit-filled women who could hear my struggle, with compassion, but also with their gaze focused entirely on Christ. Ladies who recognized His call on my life, not just for ministry, but for personal wholeness, growth, and freedom.

You see, a lot of people can speak truth. And a lot of people can share love. The one who consistently reveals both is a priceless jewel. A gift sent from Christ to our weary souls.

And so, those were the individuals to whom I reached out, even if that meant allowing some things to slip, and trusting God in that. Living with opened hands, unburdened shoulders, a purified and filled heart, and a mind set on truth.

That is the only way to live—and love—freely.

Notice what Paul says in Philippians 2:1:

Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, ²then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. ³Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, ⁴not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

“Therefore,” he wrote, pointing back to what he wrote regarding suffering for Christ. He wanted them, and by extension, us, to remember, even when hurled into a violent and choppy sea, we are still held firm by grace. Encouraged and united, and comforted by His tender, compassionate love (v. 1).

This understanding helps shift our focus off of the turmoil around us, and perhaps even raging within, and onto the God who remains sovereign over the storm.

The God who invites us to cling to Him, surrender to Him, and to rest in Him, knowing He will always reveal our next step. He’ll teach us how to experience His strength when our knees feel ready to give way, resting in His inconceivable grace.

A grace that says:

Your sins are forgiven, their power broken.

Your weaknesses compensated for.

Your healing and growth, a process initiated, sustained, and one day fulfilled, by the One who bled and died to set us free.

A grace that anchors us so securely in Him, we can then become an anchor for others.

Let’s talk about this! When are you most tempted to yield to your feelings of insufficiency? How do you respond when you feel under attack? What are some ways you intentionally anchor yourself in Christ’s love and grace? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below, and make sure to connect with me on Facebook, Amazon, and Instagram.

The Courage That Comes When We Know We're Not Alone – Faith Over Fear

Help my unbelief – with surrender: Guest post by Jessica Brodie

by Jennifer Slattery on October 27, 2022October 26, 2022

I sat there in church, the room darkened and the praise band’s thrumming set now just a soft, slow piano tune as our pastor spoke words over the congregation.

“Has the Lord turned your life around?” he asked us, raising his own hand to indicate God had done this for him, too. “Have you surrendered to Him and drawn close to Him? I invite you now to pray with me … and surrender.”

There in my seat, my head bowed and my palms upturned, my heart reached toward God. The prayers in my heart swirled—my daughter, my sister, my friend with heart issues, my friend with bleeding and pain, my friend recovering from shoulder surgery, an acquaintance just diagnosed with a massive brain tumor. So many prayers … for them and for others, for the world in general … circled around me, fleeting thoughts in my brain and tugs at my heart. I know God is big and powerful, mighty to save and capable of doing any miracle. I squeezed my eyes closed, opening myself to all of this. Please, God. Heal, save, protect, I whispered in my soul.

Quote from Woodrow Kroll on teal and blue water color background

And yet from somewhere, a little seed of doubt crept in. Would He?

Then I allowed my pastor’s words to register once more—surrender.

Surrender.

Surrender.

For a moment I was reminded of the desperate father’s plea to Jesus as told in the Gospel of Mark, when Jesus’s disciples could not drive out a demon that have plagued the man’s child.

The father doubted whether anyone could save his son, and he asked Jesus to do something “if you can.”

The word “if” was the word Jesus seized upon. If? Jesus, part of the Holy Trinity encompassing God—Father, Son, and Spirit—three in one, Word become flesh. This was Jesus standing before him, and the man was asking “if”?

“‘If you can’? said Jesus. ‘Everything is possible for one who believes.’ Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, ‘I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!’” (Mark 9:23-24 NIV).

Jesus did just that, driving out the demon and displaying the power and glory of God Almighty.

As I prayed in church, instantly I understood: In this moment I was the father of that boy. That little kernel of doubt creeping in, not wondering if he could but if he would, that too was “unbelief.”

Right there with my eyes squeezed shut, I prayed the prayer of that father in my own head: “I do believe. God, please help my unbelief.”

Immediately, I felt the peace and comfort of the Holy Spirit shimmer down upon me like tiny drops of mist and sunshine.

God heard. God could. And God would shine His light into all of this.

God is always in command.

And that is my invitation to you today, my brothers and sisters in Christ. Wherever you are and whatever prayers are in your heart, I invite you now to join me and surrender to God. Let go of the doubts and pray the prayer of the desperate father: “Help my unbelief.”

God hears you, and God will respond in the way He knows is best.

Then go in peace, knowing God has heard you and felt you, for God knows the cries of your heart. He created you. You are not an exception, but rather you belong to Him.

And He holds you close. Amen and amen.

Grab a free copy of Jessica’s ebook A God-Centered Life

If today’s post encouraged you, you might also enjoy Wednesday’s Your Daily Bible Verse podcast episode, When Your Faith Fails.

Get to Know Jessica Brodie:

Jessica is an award-winning Christian journalist, author, blogger, and editor. She is the editor of the South Carolina United Methodist Advocate, the oldest newspaper in Methodism, which has won more than 118 journalism awards during her tenure. She is the author of two devotionals, Feed My Sheep (2019) and More Like Jesus (2018), and editor of Stories of Racial Awakening (2018) and Called by God (2020), all from her newspaper’s Advocate Press.

Jessica also writes fiction, represented by Bob Hostetler of The Steve Laube Agency, and her novel The Memory Garden won the 2018 Genesis contest for unpublished contemporary fiction from the American Christian Fiction Writers. A speaker and contributor to Crosswalk, Christianity.com, and the United Methodist News Service, she has a faith blog at JessicaBrodie.com. Subscribe to Jessica’s YouTube Channel HERE.

I also encourage you to catch the latest Faith Over Fear episode as well, titled Building a Faith that Stands.

Sitting with Sorrow – Guest Post by AC Williams

by Jennifer Slattery on October 6, 2022October 6, 2022

Romans 12:25 on a teal and coral graphic

How do you respond when someone you care about hurts? Do you immediately feel an intense desire rise up to to fix their situation and in some way to alleviate their pain? That’s a tendency I’m learning to fight. I’m trying to get better at remaining present when those I love are experiencing pain.

That’s the topic, in fact, of the presentation I’ll be sharing with a group of women at the Carol Joy Holling Retreat Center: How God is growing me to love others well by fighting my aversion to discomfort. By learning, in fact, to walk with others through their “messy middle” as we wait, together, for the joy Christ promised is yet to come. And while contemplating all God is doing within me, as I seek to share what I believe He might want to do within these precious women, I stumbled upon the below post and asked the author, AC Williams, if I could share it with you. (Contact me here to book me for your next event.)

Title graphic for blog on coral and teal background

Why is it therapeutic to fix broken things? What is it that makes us feels better after we piece together fragments of something that used to be whole? I think part of it is being made in God’s image. He is the Master Fixer, after all.

So what happens when we encounter something that can’t be fixed? Where no act—physical, mental, or spiritual—can restore what has been lost? What do we do then?

I think often of Job’s friends, Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar. We vilify them as examples of what not to do when someone you love is hurting, and rightly so. Job’s friends tried to fix the situation. They needed to understand, which meant they had to assign blame. And, frankly, I’m not sure assigning blame ever helps.

What we tend to forget, however, is that when they first arrived, they did it right (Job 2:11-13). They mourned with him. They grieved for his loss right alongside him, and they were silent. Because they could tell that his grief was too great for words, so they sat with him in his sorrow without speaking.

But after a week, they couldn’t be silent anymore.

Why do we think that a grief too great for words must endure only a short time? We think once the initial grieving period is done, it’s time to get down to business and figure out what went wrong. Whose fault is it? How do we fix it?

Friends, we don’t get to decide when someone else is done grieving. It’s not our responsibility to tell someone it’s time to move on.

Job’s friends eventually got tired of sitting with his sorrow and tried to fix his life for him. That’s where they went wrong (Job 42:7-9).

Sitting with sorrow isn’t fun. It’s not pleasant. And the longer it lasts, the more uncomfortable it gets. It’s frustrating. Heartbreaking. Exhausting in every sense of the word. We want to point fingers. We want to cheer people up. We want to do something.

And maybe there is something we can do, but it’s important to remember that sitting with sorrow isn’t about making ourselves feel better. Sitting with sorrow is the sacrifice we bring to support someone we love on their terms. Not ours.

Quote from post on coral and light mint graphic,

Part of being in Jesus’ big family is bearing the burdens of our brothers and sisters (Galatians 6:2). We offer a shoulder to cry on, a hand to steady them when their world is upside down, or a prayer when they are so broken they can’t pray for themselves.

I’m not saying people don’t need to eat or that they don’t need clean clothes or a clean house. There’s absolutely a need for practical support in the face of overwhelming grief. But in our compassionate drive to bless others, don’t forget that grief is a process that looks different for everyone.

Be willing to help, yes, but be patient. Then be available to help on their terms when they ask. If we’re with them in their moments of deepest grief, understand that we are in a place of privilege and trust. When they’re ready, they’ll tell us what they need.

We can’t fix grief. We can’t fix mourning and sorrow and trauma. Those are things that will never be fixed in this world, but they can be redeemed. It’s just not us who can do it.

***

Get to Know Amy C. Williams

Amy C. Williams loves cats, coffee, and sushi and not always in that order. An award-winning author and writing coach, she has fifteen published books in both fiction and non-fiction. She is a popular monthly contributor for two blogs ranked in Writer’s Digest’s Top 101 sites for authors, and she was named the 2022 Arise Daily Writer of the Year. Learn more at her website, www.amycwilliams.com, or subscribe to her daily devotionals at www.alwayspeachy.com.

The Secret to Safeguarding Our Faith (Philippians 3:1) – Your Daily Bible Verse

Connect with Jennifer on Facebook or Instagram.

When we can’t break free from bitterness

by Jennifer Slattery on September 22, 2022September 22, 2022

Some time ago, a young adult struggling with some significant hurts said, “I’m not like you. I can’t just forgive.”

As I considered his words, I immediately thought of numerous times when this was far from true. When I held grudges, harbored bitterness over an offense, and longed for vindication. There’d been a season when this was my default response, and this grieved me. I knew God called me to forgive and to love from a pure heart. I wanted to obey, but I didn’t know how.

One evening, battling anger over a recent hurt, I sensed God calling me to meditate on Ephesians 4. Paul, the first century evangelist who wrote this letter, began the chapter calling the Christ-followers in Ephesus to live up to their true identity. In verses 1-2 he wrote, “As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love” (NIV). In the passage that follows, he explained the benefit of remaining connected to a Spirit-led, interdependent community.

Then I reached verses 30-32, which states, “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you” (NIV).

Convicted and conflicted, I prayed, “Lord, why is my bitterness so hard to release?”

As I sat in His presence, He spoke, reminding me of who I am in Him and to Him. Anchored securely in my Father’s love, knowing I had no reason to hide, I found the courage and desire to say, “Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting” (Psalm 139:23-24, NIV).

Reveal every crevice, every sin, falsehood, and wound—everything that keeps me from the vibrant life, the freedom to which I’m called.

There, in that quiet place, God illuminated the root of my struggle: Shame, pain, and pride.

Shame. I realized I wanted the individual to know how they had hurt me to prove that they were broken, too. So that my brokenness wouldn’t seem so bad.

This meant, I was seeking something from an individual that only God can give. Only my Father can heal my soul and eradicate my shame.

He also helped me understand that I was using anger and bitterness as a defense mechanism. A way to distract me from my pain. I found increased freedom as I gave myself permission to grieve; to fully feel my hurt.

And finally, God revealed an insidious and toxic seed of pride. I had forgotten all the ways I’d fallen short of who God called me to be. Of all the times I’d desperately needed, and then received, His grace.

A grace meant to set me free from everything that enslaves; to flow first within me, then from me, giving me the power and desire to forgive others as Christ, my Savior, forgave me.

When negative emotions arise, many of us respond in one of two ways: We can become so stuck in self-condemnation and shame that our sins and weaknesses begin to overshadow God’s grace. Or, we can fall into a “grit-your-teeth,” self-reliant, surface level obedience. Granted, obedience to Christ is always the right response.

But our tender, liberating Father invites us to go deeper. To experience the soul-deep freedom that comes with increased intimacy with Him. So that we can live up to our true identities as loved, chosen, empowered, and transformed children of God.

Let’s talk about this! Has a seed of bitterness threatened your freedom and joy? Is God inviting you to experience greater healing and transformation in Him? How will you respond?

The Secret to Safeguarding Our Faith (Philippians 3:1) – Your Daily Bible Verse

Be On Guard When Life Takes a Detour – Guest Post by Grace Fox

by Jennifer Slattery on September 1, 2022September 1, 2022

Many people I’ve spoken with over the past month have expressed the same sentiment—life isn’t going as they’d planned or hoped. They feel squeezed, without margin, and overwhelmed. I imagine you’ve been there. Maybe that’s where you’re at now. If so, I hope Grace Fox’s post below encourages you and soothes any anxiety you’re feeling with truth.

Be On Guard When Life Takes a Detour

By Grace Fox

What does it mean to be on guard when life takes a detour? Eight months after receiving “guard” as my focus word for 2022, I’m beginning to appreciate its relevance to my life in ways I hadn’t imagined.

“Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong,” says 1 Corinthians 16:13 (NLT). In times past, I’ve read that verse and nodded in agreement before closing my Bible and going on my merry way for the day. But this week was different.

Life has taken a detour.

I’m sitting in a friend’s basement suite as I write this. Sailor-Man and I are temporarily displaced from our boat-home while she sits in the marina’s repair yard. A submerged log bent her rudder in July, and without a rudder, she has no steering capacity. A massive sling pulled her from the river on August 9, and there she sits, on the concrete, more than two weeks later with only a hopeful end date in sight.

Living in the repair yard especially during summer heat is not for the faint of heart. I’m okay with using public showers, but exiting the vessel via steep stairs to use the community outhouse especially at night—not so much. Besides, there’s no access to wi-fi there, and I can’t do my work without it.

When a couple from our church invited us to stay in their basement suite an hour’s drive from the marina, we accepted their offer with gratitude. Still, Sailor-Man drives back and forth nearly every day to oversee repairs while juggling his ministry responsibilities. The other day, he made the round trip twice, and he has spent about ten nights aboard the Makana to accommodate the repair guys’ early morning schedule and to ensure all systems—especially the freezer—continue to work.

Life has taken a detour. Our routine is anything but normal, and I miss it.

Writing deadlines are hurtling towards me at breakneck speed, and I’m seriously struggling to meet them. It didn’t help that my computer went for repairs last Wednesday, and things didn’t go as well as expected. I lost access to my documents for three days. That meant losing three days to prepare for upcoming speaking engagements, write podcast episodes, and research for my next First 5 assignment.

Quote on faith from Francis Chan on blue background.

A little voice inside says, “It’s time to push the panic button.” Another says, “It’s time to practice what it means to be on guard.” I’m choosing to listen to the latter voice, and wow—it’s taking me to new places. New lessons learned. New fodder for writing.

What does it mean to be on guard when life takes a detour? Here are 5 hot-off-the-press insights:

Be on guard against the little voice that speaks lies. It’s not time to push the panic button. My present circumstances are no surprise to God. He knew about the detour well in advance. He knew what my calendar would look like at this time, and He’s got this. He’s got me. I can trust Him.

Be on guard against idols. I’m asking myself where I’ve placed my hope in times past. Have I trusted in the power of a comfortable routine to help me stay focused when juggling multiple balls, or have I trusted in the Lord’s strength?

Be on guard against anger. The other day, I felt my blood pressure rise when I couldn’t get access to my documents. In all honesty, I wanted someone to blame. Thankfully the Holy Spirit got hold of my head and tweaked my thinking. “Anger doesn’t fix anything. Try prayer instead,” He said.

Be on guard against a woe-is-me attitude. I might be temporarily displaced but I’m staying with sweet friends in their lovely home. How different from millions of Ukrainian women who have lost everything and fled to a foreign country to start life over not knowing whether they’ll ever be reunited with their husband and loved ones? My circumstances are far from what I wish they were right now, but they’re far better than those faced by millions around the world. Perspective goes a long way.

Be on guard against what-if thinking. Several days ago, repairs seemed to be going well. Then Sailor-Man discovered that a rubber sleeve (a “gator”) associated with the rudder shaft had been torn when the rudder was removed. It’s a necessary piece of equipment because it prevents water from seeping into the boat. When he asked the repair guy about it, he learned that it has to be custom-made in the States.

It’s now on order, but its delivery date is beyond our control. My mind goes to places like, “What if it doesn’t arrive within a few days? Then repairs can’t be complete and we can’t move back into the boat. We can’t stay with our friends indefinitely….yada, yada.” I have to switch my thinking to, “Even if this piece of equipment takes longer than expected to arrive, God is still in control.” It takes intentionality to turn my thinking around, but it’s necessary for calm in the chaos.

Be on guard, the Word warns.

It’s the only way to keep hope alive when life takes a detour. Besides, there’s a silver lining to this whole misadventure: I’m learning firsthand to re-apply the lessons about which I’ve written in Keeping Hope Alive: Devotions for Strength in the Storm. (FYI — it’s on sale today on Amazon.ca)

How about you? How does the concept of being on guard when life takes a detour resonate with you? What hot-off-the-press insights would you add to my list?

This song by Ryan Stevenson is sooo relevant right now for sooo many reasons:

Get to Know Grace Fox

Get to Know Grace!

Grace Fox is the author of 12 books, a member of the “First 5” writing team (Proverbs 31 Ministries) and a regular contributor to Guideposts’ annual devotional, Mornings With Jesus. She also co-hosts the podcast “Your Daily Bible Verse.” A career missionary for nearly 30 years, Grace lives aboard a sailboat in Vancouver, British Columbia. Married in 1982, she and her husband celebrate three grown kids and eleven grandchildren.

Her latest release, Keeping Hope Alive: Devotions for Strength in the Storm, is available wherever Christian books are sold. https://www.hendricksonrose.com/p/keeping-hope-alive/9781649380517

You can subscribe to Grace’s weekly devotional blog and monthly update on her website – www.gracefox.com/blog

www.fb.com/gracefox.author

https://www.instagram.com/graceloewenfox/

Check Out Her Latest Release!

Keeping Hope Alive: Devotions for Strength in the Storm

The storms of life hurl us into uncertainty and leave us longing for rescue. In times like this, we need the hope God’s Word offers, and we need it in snippets our overloaded minds can absorb. Keeping Hope Alive delivers. Ninety brief meditations offer nuggets of encouragement, a sentence prayer, a point to ponder, and a thoughtful quote by someone who’s survived the storm. Its daily messages and beautifully designed full-color interior soothe the troubled soul and remind readers that God is faithful and sovereign in their circumstances.

Available wherever Christian books are sold.

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Before you go, make sure to check out the latest Faith Over Fear podcast episode!

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