When Relational BEtrayal Challenges your Ability to trust

by Jennifer Slattery on February 19, 2026February 18, 2026

Relational betrayal is one of the most disorienting and longest-lasting wounds we can experience. I suspect most, if not all, of us know this from experience. When a caregiver uses our vulnerability against us, a friend slanders or gossips about us, or we discover that the spouse or spiritual mentor we once trusted implicitly told more lies than truth, it shatters more than our faith in that person.

It can challenge our ability to trust ourselves.

If we didn’t catch the warning signs with, say, that neighbor known for years, how can we feel confident in our perspective of that acquaintance we think might make a good friend?

This can also intensify any sense of self-loathing or condemnation we carry, particularly if our inner critic bombards us with blame.

Yesterday, I spoke with a precious, godly woman who endured—and is enduring—soul-crushing hardship related to an illness that has stolen her mobility and her strength. When her body first began failing and the doctors predicted a lifetime of disability, she consoled herself with the thought, At least I won’t be alone. At least I’ll have my husband.

Isn’t that what marriage vows proclaim—in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer, until death do we part?

But what happens when your spouse refuses to honor the promises they made, not because of any horrific, divorceable deed like infidelity or abuse, but rather… inconvenience? What happens when one you gave your heart to without reservation walks away—when you need them most?

That was precisely what happened to the woman I spoke with yesterday. Praise God, by the time I heard her story, He’d brought deep healing to her soul and a healthy relationship with a much more honorable man. But while I celebrated the joy I saw in her eyes as she shared all the Lord had done, I doubt her journey to her “happily ever after” was anxiety- or pain-free.

I imagine she spent many nights wrestling with her past, herself, and maybe also her Savior who allowed her previous betrayal. maybe, at times, she still does.

Perhaps you can relate. Maybe you grew up in a home where caregivers exploited your weaknesses, mocked your tears, and responded to your desperate cries for help with contempt. Or you learned that a friend who seemed so kind and supportive used you for personal gain. Or that the supervisor you trusted to advocate for you blamed you for their mistake.

Now you don’t know who to trust—and you doubt yourself most of all.

I wonder if David, ancient Israel’s second king, ever felt this way. As a youth, he courageously and sacrificially served his predecessor, a man named Saul, and received homicidal malice in return. He defended an entire town, only to have them turn on him, knowing their betrayal could lead to David’s death. Then, years later, his son—whom he deeply loved—sought to kill him to usurp the throne. And while, admittedly, David wasn’t the wisest or most honorable father, that still had to sting.

Perhaps, in fact, that made the betrayal hurt all the more by convincing him he deserved it.

He could have become bitter and spent the remainder of his life in isolation, or fueled by a toxic desire to get even. Yet that’s not what happened. Instead, he is forever memorialized in Scripture as a man after God’s own heart.

Based on his prayers recorded in the Psalms, he reached that place of maturity and intimacy with the Lord the same way the woman I spoke with did—by turning to Him in his pain, processing every tear and gut-wrenching emotion with God, receiving His comfort, and routinely anchoring his soul in truth.

I want to get better at following those steps, regardless of how long that takes. I want to react less in the moment, process more with Christ, and wait on Him to heal and guide my soul. When I’m tempted to lash out, withdraw, or move through life with some level of self-imposed isolation, I want to seek God’s heart and strength instead.

I want to routinely, and increasingly, accept my Father’s invitation in Psalm 55:2:

Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken (NIV).

Otherwise, I fear I’ll become the betrayer and wound myself for far longer—and with farther-reaching results—than my initial offender ever could.

I don’t want to downplay poor behavior or ignorantly invite harm. But neither do I want to block my soul from experiencing all the good God has in store for my tomorrows by forever expecting a repeat of yesterday’s pain.

***

If this post resonated with you, and you’re looking for more insight and encouragement related to building healthy and support relationships, make sure to check out my cohost Carol’s conversation with Faith Over Fear guest Becky Harling in the episode titled, “How to Find Godly Friends When You Don’t Know Who to Trust.“

Why You Feel Overwhelmed Even When Life Seems Okay – Faith Over Fear

Life feels okay. So why do you still feel overwhelmed? Maybe you're constantly on edge. Maybe your body won't relax. Maybe you find yourself carrying the weight of heartbreaking headlines, other people's pain, or experiences you thought you'd already moved past. If you've ever wondered why you feel exhausted even when nothing seems "wrong," this conversation will help you understand what may be happening beneath the surface. In this episode, Jennifer's cohost, Carol McCracken, sits down with Rebecca Taguma of the Trauma Healing Institute to discuss why overwhelming experiences affect our minds, bodies, and faith, practical ways to calm our nervous system, and how God gently leads us toward healing—one step at a time. In this episode, you'll discover: Why you can feel overwhelmed even when life seems okay What trauma really is—and why it affects us more deeply than we realize Practical ways to calm your body when anxiety rises How safe relationships and biblical practices can support healing Why you don't have to carry your pain alone Guest: Rebecca TagumaExecutive Director of Restoring Hope Ministry, Trauma Healing Institute (American Bible Society) Bible Passages Discussed Genesis 2:18 Psalm 42:1 Psalm 46:10 Psalm 34 (lament) Job 33:4 Connect with Rebecca Taguma Trauma Healing Institute Trauma Healing Basics (Free Resources) Trauma Healing Institute on LinkedIn Find Carol McCracken: On her website On Facebook On Instagram Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Ever tempted to “rebuke” God?

by Jennifer Slattery on March 27, 2025March 26, 2025

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

Have you ever “rebuked” God, or felt tempted to do so? What about when you’re certain you know how something should play out, tell Him this, through a prayer request, of course, and He doesn’t respond to your prayers as you hoped?

Are you tempted to correct Him?

I doubt we’d do this intentionally. We’d never say, “Hm, God’s really messing up today. I need to educate Him on the best course of action.” But a lot of times our actions make the same statements, or at least, mine do.

Far too often, I’m tempted to act like the disciple Peter, when the Lord told him something he didn’t want to hear.

In Matthew 16:16, Peter declared, to Jesus, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

The Lord commended Him for this. But then, a short time later, what seems like mere moments, Peter rebukes the “Son of the living God.”

Does that shock you? It does me, until I consider some of the fits I’ve thrown during challenging or frightening situations. This had to have been a highly anxious moment for Peter.

He’d left everything, had devoted his life, to follow Jesus for two and a half years. Plus, from a human perspective, this was at the height of their ministry. Crowds were following Jesus from village to village and town to town. He fed thousands and healed even more, demonstrating clearly, vibrantly, and consistently His power and the coming of God’s kingdom.

But then came His prediction of something Peter absolutely did NOT want to hear. Jesus, his master, the Messiah, said that He’d be killed.

This was not what Peter, or anyone else expected. Like so many others, he probably hoped Jesus would over throw the Romans and the crippling taxation the government’s crippling taxation. He likely envisioned a restoration of Israel, a return to the nation’s golden years under the authority of King David. And perhaps for his people experience some of the dominance like during the days of Joshua, the courageous military leader who God direction, with the help of his soldiers, to take possession of the Promised Land.

No doubt Peter had read the passages in Isaiah that foretold the coming of a suffering servant, One who would be despised and rejected by the very people He came to save. Someone considered stricken and cursed by God and who would bear our pain and experience wounding for our sins. I’m certain, as a Jew raised on the Jewish Scriptures, that Peter had heard or read this passage at least once. But the truth it revealed didn’t seem to stick.

According to Craig S. Keener, author of the Intervarsity Press Bible Background commentary, “The New Testament writers interpreted some Old Testament texts as referring to the Messiah’s suffering, but most Jewish People in the first century did not recognize these texts as referring to the Messiah, who was to reign as king. Most Jewish people believed in the resurrection of all the righteous dead at the end of the age, and the inauguration of a kingdom under God’s appointed ruler afterward. Jesus’ explanation of his mission in 8:31 thus seems to Peter to contradict his confession of Jesus’ messiahship in 8:29”

Because that Messiah, the humble, meek, and slaughtered Anointed One didn’t match what he’d envisioned. Nor did Jesus’ words regarding His death.

And so, when Christ’s words contradicted Peter’s expectations, instead of setting his expectations aside, instead of questioning his perception, he questioned the Son of God. But if you follow his story through the resurrection and beyond, you’ll notice Peter eventually developed supernatural, rock solid faith. A faith that became his filter for everything else he experienced, rather than the other way around.

This demonstrates the reality and power of grace.

God wants us all to reach that place where we question our perception before we question our God. He wants us to doubt our perceived reality before we doubt God’s truth, lovingly preserved for us in Scripture.

He longs for us to know Him deeply and to experience ever-deepening peace, healing and freedom through His loving embrace.

Why You Feel Overwhelmed Even When Life Seems Okay – 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!

Why You Feel Overwhelmed Even When Life Seems Okay – Faith Over Fear

The Beauty on the Other side of control

by Jennifer Slattery on August 22, 2024August 21, 2024

Note: This first published, with some adaptations, on February 1st, 2018

Before I launch into today’s inspirational message, two invites! Have you subscribed to Faith Over Fear’s GodTube channel yet? You can do so HERE. And, my Your Daily Bible Verse team and I recently launched a GodTube channel as well on which we discuss truths presented on our podcast that week that most impacted us. Find us HERE.

And now to today’s content. 🙂

If God were calling me to a temporary fast, I could do it. Give up sugar? Ice cream? Television and technology? I wouldn’t forego those things easily, but I could do it. But this, what God’s calling me to release, indefinitely, feels harder than anything He’s asked of me before. This thing cuts to the core of my hopes and dreams, triggers insecurities and fear, and ultimately, reveals in which I haven’t fully trusted God.

So what is this thing that God calls me, persistently, to relinquish?

Control.

My agenda. My time and my to-do list. Whatever I’m striving for that keeps me from saying, at each moment, “Not my will, but Yours, Lord Jesus, be done.”

When I’m sitting with my Bible, reading of His love and care, meditating on all He’s done for me, yielding to the Spirit fills me with a sense of anticipation.

But then the day begins, and pricks of selfishness, doubt, and uncertainty weaken my resolve and hinder my obedience. My prayers sound more like complaints and long-winded requests than commitments to my Savior.

Perhaps because, while stuck in my head, where all the what-ifs run amuck, I forget that, at His core, my God is good. I’m reminded of Christ’s words in Matthew 16:25, when He said, “For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.”

I know, from Scripture and history, that, sometimes, God indeed calls us to willingly give our lives in our allegiance to Him. I won’t deny that this present life can feel hard, heavy, and overwhelming. But I also know that Jesus endured the tortures of the cross for the joy set before Him. This, and everything He preserved in Scripture, tells me that all that awaits us, in Christ, will be infinitely more pleasurable and beautiful than anything we’ve ever experienced on this present earth, a thousand times over. Filled Living FB

But I also believe the Lord leads us to filled and fulfilling life now, and we most experience that life by living it as He knows best.

I’ve discovered, If I want to be used by God and touch lives for eternity, my life must be touched first by the transforming power of God, the God who shows me how to love, and live, well.

This is the call. And it begins with a quiet, yet desperate plea, “Change me, Lord. Help me. Do whatever You need to within me to make me pliable in Your hands, a cleansed and open vessel ready to do Your will and Your will only. ”

***

Let’s talk about this! Did anything resonate with you as you read today’s post? Is God asking you to lay down, or perhaps pick up, anything? What makes that hard? Share your thoughts and stories with us in the comments below, because we can all learn from each other!

Why You Feel Overwhelmed Even When Life Seems Okay – Faith Over Fear

Hope When Your Trust is Failing – Guest Post by Becky Harling

by Jennifer Slattery on July 25, 2024July 25, 2024

Sometimes life pummels us so fiercely, we can barely breath. In those seasons, it can feel hard to hold tight to the truths we’ve learned. When our hearts are breaking, we need to know that we’re not alone and God won’t abandon us in our pain. If that’s where you currently find yourself, I hope my guest’s post encourages you.

Hope When Your Trust is Failing

by Becky Harling

I am convinced that trusting God is a lifelong journey. There are days when our faith is strong and steady and then life hits. We receive a cancer diagnosis, or a relationship crumbles, or financial difficulty hits. During those seasons we may start to wonder, “Does my faith really work?”

You are not alone in your wondering.

Asaph the Psalmist cried out, wondering if God had rejected him or if God was really listening to his prayers (Psalm 77:1-2,7).

John the Baptist, when in prison, sent word to Jesus asking, “Are you the one, …or should we look for someone else?” (Luke 7:18-23).

Jerry Bridges, author of Trusting God, Even When Life Hurts, writes that “Trust is not a passive state of mind. It is a vigorous act of the soul by which we choose to lay hold on the promises of God and cling to them despite the adversity that at times seeks to overwhelm us.”¹

In other words, there are action steps we can take when we feel our trust is wavering.

What are those steps? Here are just a few:

Remember. When I feel my faith shaking or my anxiety rising, I look back to remember how God has provided or met me in the past. The Psalmist Asaph does this in Psalm 77; he boldly declares, “I will remember the deeds of the LORD” (Psalm 77:11). A few weeks ago, I was having difficulty trusting God with a certain situation. But as I paused and made a mental list of the miracles I had seen God do in the past, my faith was strengthened. The same principle holds true for you. Take time to remember.

Lean In To Your Community. Everyone needs 3-5 close friends who will pray when a crisis hits. Who are the close friends you have with whom you can be vulnerable and honest? Dare to be authentic. Take the risk and call or text them for prayer.

Praise Him, Even Though You Don’t Feel Like It. This type of praise is not all “happy clappy”. It’s more of a grunt and groan. It’s where you declare by faith what God’s word says is true about God. Asaph writes, “Your ways, God, are holy” (Psalm 77:13). My guess is he didn’t feel that, he just declared it. Don’t wait to praise God until you feel like it. Instead, take action and praise by faith, and trust that your feelings will follow.

Friends, the truth is trusting God may always feel challenging. But I have found in my own life that taking these three steps strengthens my faith enormously. I believe they will help your faith as well.

Check out Becky’s latest release, Cultivating Deeper Connections in a Lonely World:

Loneliness is an epidemic, but you can live life with a deep sense of belonging.

If you’ve ever felt that ache to connect and belong, you’re not alone: three out of every five people are suffering from loneliness. No group is excluded—married, unmarried, parents, pastors, leaders, elderly, and teenagers. We all experience moments . . . or long seasons of heart-aching loneliness. And it hurts. It can hurt right to the core.

In Cultivating Deeper Connections in a Lonely World, relationship expert, mother, grandmother, and John Maxwell Certified Coach Becky Harling taps into the deep ache of loneliness and shares with readers a rich theology of belonging. Does God ache for us? What does it mean that we belong to Him? How do we establish a deeply bonded relationship with others? What steps can we take to improve our relationships?

Because we were made for God and for community, relational isolation or brokenness is incredibly painful. But we don’t have to live isolated and unconnected. In fact, we must not. Our souls were designed for more. Deeply rooted in Scripture and joined with reflection questions, this book shows us how we can strengthen our relationships and experience deep connection.

Get to Know Becky Harling:

A best-selling author, Becky Harling has written 15 books. She is a popular speaker at conferences, retreats and other events. She has been a guest on many media outlets including Focus on the Family, Family Life Today and Moody radio. Becky is the host of, The Connected Mom Podcast and is a John Maxwell Leadership and Communications Coach.

Why You Feel Overwhelmed Even When Life Seems Okay – Faith Over Fear

A Difficult but glorious trade

by Jennifer Slattery on February 29, 2024February 28, 2024

When I feel frightened or overwhelmed, my first response tends to be self-reliance. But this has never gone well. In fact, the more I turn to myself–my faulty wisdom and insufficient strength–the more I distance myself from the mighty, loving, faithful hand of God. Not because He has or ever will push me away, but because in those moments, my pride and anxiety seem to speak louder than His voice.

I’ve heard from others that their greatest struggle is overcoming a conditioned response developed from years of relational hurt and betrayal. Due to past pain, they’ve come to equate trust with danger. While God understands, He also gently and lovingly invites them to experience the transforming power of His love.

I’ve discovered, beauty comes whenever I timidly release my grip on all those things I try so desperately to control and entrust my life, dreams, hurts, and fears, to my Savior’s care.

This is the promise Jesus made, “For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it” (NIV).

At every moment, He beckons us to “lay down our lives,” not so that we would remain in the dust, but rather to place ourselves in a position for Jesus to pick us up and remove from within us everything that hinders His freedom giving Spirit.

In his book, The Holy Spirit Or Power From on High, Reverand A. B. Simpson tells a story about missionaries who shared a meal with an impoverished group of people. Prior to their arrival, the couple told their hosts to prepare for them their best feast. The woman of the home responded that she had nothing but a little fish to share. Still, the missionaries insisted she serve what she could.

Then, on the day of their “feast”, the couple, who were the guests, arrived with a dog sleigh filled with bundle after bundle of food, much more than needed for their shared meal.

This is a picture of what it means to lay down our lives. To lay down everything within us that doesn’t honor Christ, knowing that He always has good planned for us.

We give Him our selfishness, and in its place, receive the ability to love more freely, which results in deepened relationships.

We relinquish our pride, and in our humility, receive grace upon grace.

We hand over our bitterness, and experience soul deep freedom and a heart open to connection.

We relinquish our dysfunction and self-deception and take instead a healing and growth that radiates the loveliness of Christ for generations.

This is what I must remind myself of, in my most reluctant and frightened moments. Whatever Jesus asks of me, it is always to lead me to into a more thriving life. And when wounds and lies from my past challenge my trust, may I reflect upon the contrast presented in John 10:10 when Jesus said, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”

This reminds me, with every choice, that I’m heading in one of two directions– further from or closer to the thriving life my soul needs and craves.

Why You Feel Overwhelmed Even When Life Seems Okay – Faith Over Fear

Resting in God Our Rock When Our Enemies Attack

by Jennifer Slattery on December 28, 2023December 27, 2023

Note: This first published on January 15, 2020In 2006, my husband stepped into an ugly power struggle that nearly cost him his job. In the span of a year, he’d changed employment three times, landing, precariously, at the company he’d started with, but in a different location and with a pay cut and demotion. The organization he initially quit, with zero notice. Therefore, though my husband’s former boss, through God’s grace, invited him back, Steve’s position felt shaky at best. Like he was one mistake away from unemployment.

Adding to this mess of uncertainty was the fact that my husband was coming in both equal and under the current shop director. A man accustomed to little oversight, and whom we soon discovered was behaving unethically in countless ways. He was allowing employees to “steal” time, was misreporting injuries, misusing his company credit card in outlandish and grievous ways, and gave those with influence special privileges. Worse, he pressured my husband to comply with his dishonest tactics.

Though anxious, my husband refused, knowing, however his boss responded, whatever occurred, his allegiance was to Christ and Christ alone. He made the right hard choice. The result: the truth eventually came out, his boss and numerous managers were fired and walked off the property, while my husband was promoted.

We rejoiced at God’s goodness and grace, celebrating the fact that righteousness and justice had prevailed. Soon, however, our praise turned to desperate prayers for God’s intervention and protection as evil, power-hungry men used to getting their way slandered and attacked him.

One man in particular, the union rep, determined to make it his mission to get my husband fired. Every day, he bombarded my husband with accusations and demands in an attempt to wear him down. When this didn’t work, he turned to the Chief Executive Officer telling him how “terrible” my husband was. Once sent, he printed and prominently displayed the letter he wrote, in which he’d twisted everything my husband had or hadn’t done in an effort to make him look bad.

While walking down the hallway one morning, my husband happened to see this letter, tacked on one of the union bulletin boards. He felt attacked and deeply fatigued. Not only had his continual decision to make the right hard choice not produced positive results, but it’d landed him in a mess. One that felt never-ending and in fact appeared to be gaining momentum.

With every interaction, my anxiety climbed. What if this man succeeded and Steve’s company let him go? Where would he work? How would we pay our bills? Our mortgage? What if we lost our home?

Initially, our world felt out of control. Our security only as steady, as sure, as my husband’s next paycheck. But then we remembered our sure foundation, the immovable rock upon which we stood.

Psalm 18:1-2 says, “I love You, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my deliver.”

This was written by ancient Israel’s second king, a mighty warrior who’d once defeated a tyrannical giant without displaying a hint of fear. But this warrior found strength not in himself and his military prowess, but instead in His sovereign, all-powerful, ever-present God. He recognized how insufficient, how vulnerable, he was apart from God, but more so, how protected, untouchable, he was when raised upon the crags of God’s love.

Towering rocks or bluffs dotted the landscape of ancient Palestine, providing places of refuge, of protection, for all who scampered upon them. These elevated geological edifices were difficult to reach and offered shelter within their caverns. Therefore, they became places of safety in times of danger.

Fortresses offered similar protection. The people built heavily-fortified cities high upon a cliff, where they could see enemies approach for miles. Then, they erected stone towers at the highest point in the city.

Can you sense the layers of protection revealed in the Psalm 18 passage? In Christ, we stand high upon an immovable rock of power and grace, further hidden within the clefts of His love. His strength is greater than anything or anyone that comes against us. We are triply protected within His steadfast embrace. He is our sure and constant deliverer, the rock beneath our feet, and the fortress surrounding us.

In 2006, as attacks continued to barrage my husband and our family, we hid ourselves deeply in God. When anxiety arose, we reminded ourselves of where our true security lay, and all we knew to be true about God. He was faithful, loving and attentive—unconquerable. He was our ever-present provider, the only One with the power to sustain us.

That year, He proved Himself to be all those things and more. I’m confident He’ll do the same for you. Whatever you’re facing, whatever is coming against you, rest in this: God’s got you. He’s standing beside you, within you, and is camped around you. He is your refuge, your rock, and your strong, fortified tower.

You don’t have to be strong or know all the answers—that secret that will somehow whisk you to safety—because in Christ, you’re already safe.

Let’s talk about this! When has God proven Himself to be your rock and your fortress? How might remembering this time help you when future problems hit?

If you’re facing a difficult, uncertain period, how might it help to shift your thoughts off your ever-changing circumstances and onto your immovable Savior?

The Surprising Message behind the Parable of the Sower (Luke 8:5-6) – Your Daily Bible Verse

Today's Bible Verse: "A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds ate it up. Some fell on rocky ground, and when it came up, the plants withered because they had no moisture." — Luke 8:5–6 (NIV) The Parable of the Sower is one of Jesus' most familiar teachings, yet its message is just as challenging today as it was for His first listeners. At first glance, the story seems to be about a farmer and his seed. But Jesus uses this simple illustration to reveal a much deeper truth about the condition of our hearts and how we respond to God's Word. Not every seed takes root because not every heart is prepared to receive it. Some people hear God's truth but quickly dismiss it. Others receive it with excitement, only to fall away when life becomes difficult. Jesus invites us to look beyond the surface and ask an important question: What kind of soil is my heart? Want to listen without ads? Become a BibleStudyTools.com PLUS Member today: https://www.biblestudytools.com/subscribe/ Looking for a peaceful way to end your day? Listen to "Your Nightly Scripture" to end your day with God's word MEET YOUR HOST: Dr. Kyle Norman at https://www.lifeaudio.com/your-daily-bible-verse/ The 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. Rev. Norman has 20 years of pastoral experience, and his ministry focuses on helping people overcome times of spiritual discouragement.Find more from Rev. Norman at revkylenorman.ca Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

A Nearly Missed Gift – Guest post by Kathy Collard Miller

by Jennifer Slattery on December 7, 2023December 6, 2023

What happens when God sends a gift in an unexpected manner or package? Have you ever felt disappointed about something only to later realize God was doing something beautiful in your life? Kathy Collard Miller’s story of a Christmas gift wish reminds me of those times.

Quote from Philip Yancey on a blue and gray winter graphic.

A Nearly Missed Gift

by Kathy Collard Miller

I waited impatiently along with my sister Karen and brother Chuck at the closed door leading into the living room, where we could imagine the sparkling Christmas tree awaiting us. Nine-year-old Karen murmured, “I can’t wait to get my new bicycle. I just know it’s under the tree.”

Then it was time. We sprinted into the living room and gasped with delight. The tree blazed with colored lights. Karen’s eyes scanned over the gifts, some wrapped, some not. But there wasn’t any bike standing by the tree. I heard her murmur Where is it? and knew her heart felt heavy with disappointment. But I could also see that she was trying to push her disappointment aside as she grabbed the unwrapped doll sitting on top of her pile. It was the doll she wanted—but it wasn’t the bike!

From my vantage point, I could see Karen’s bike over by the front door next to the hall closet. Even though I wondered why she didn’t see it, I was too engrossed in my own gifts to say anything.

“Karen,” I heard our mother call, “please go to the hall closet and get me one of the folding chairs.”

“But Mommy, I’m not done with my presents…” Our mother’s warning look stopped her whine. She got up slowly. “Oh, OK.” I knew she wanted to scream, “Where’s my bike?” as I saw tears pooling in her eyes. She had been talking for months about getting that bike for Christmas.

Karen walked across the small living room to the hall closet and jerked open the closet door. Tugging at the chair inside, she pulled it out and carried it to where her mother sat. “Thanks, honey,” her mother grinned.

Moments later, Karen’s shoulders slumped as she reached for her last present which wasn’t her bike. “Karen, if you’re done opening your presents, what do you say?” her mother asked.

“Thanks for my presents. They’re nice.” But I knew what she really wanted to say. We all did.

Then our mother spoke up again, “Karen…” but started laughing before she could say anything more. Before she could control herself, our father had burst into laughter too. Mom’s giggling subsided and then she said, “Karen, would you please go to the closet again and stand there?”

My sister obediently trudged toward the closet and then jolted to a stop. There, right in front of her, leaning against the opposite wall, was her shiny, red bike decorated with a big red bow! As she stood transfixed with her mouth agape, we all roared with laughter.

“Honey, why didn’t you see it before?” Mommy called out. “It’s been there the whole time. That’s why I interrupted you with that silly task.”

Karen delightedly jumped onto her new bike’s red plastic seat that sported bright yellow sunflowers. “I guess I was so disappointed when I didn’t see it under the tree that I just didn’t notice it over here.” She paused. “But it’s here! My bike! I love it!” She ran to Mommy and Daddy and hugged them.

I’ve always remembered that Christmas morning. Karen thought the bike would be under the tree and her ability to see it was blocked by her locked expectations.

Graphic of Psalm 27:13 on a winter, blue and cream background.

When I get disappointed by life and other people, and even God, I’m reminded how blessings are often all around me but I just don’t see them. I’m expecting them in a certain way—like under the tree, but not sitting by the closest door.

I must be open to God’s unusual and creative ways to bless me and others. He knows what’s best.

“For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:9 NASB

Get to Know Kathy Collard Miller:

Kathy Collard Miller is an international speaker and best-selling, award winning author of 60 books including Christian Living topics, women’s Bible Studies, and Bible commentaries. She lives in Idaho with her husband, Larry, of 53 years, and they are the parents of two and grandparents of two. She loves to see spiritual applications in the daily moments of life and pass them along to others. Her most recently published women’s Bible study is: God’s Heart for Your Marriage: Daughters of the King Bible Study Series. It Includes 10 lessons on a variety of topics about marriage. Great for group or individual study with questions to answer, commentary to learn, and biblical couples to study. For more about her ministry, visit her website, Facebook Page, on Twitter @KathyCMiller, YouTube, Instagram @kathycollardmiller and Amazon.

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Expectations or Expectancy – Guest post by Ava Pennington

by Jennifer Slattery on August 17, 2023August 17, 2023

Expectations or Expectancy

by Ava Pennington

Have you recently experienced frustration? Something or someone irritated you? Plans didn’t go your way? That seems to be happening to me more as of late.

I get annoyed at the increased seasonal traffic in south Florida. I’m frustrated by people who don’t follow through on what they said they would do. I’m irritated by circumstances that cause me to make two separate trips to purchase the same item. But what if the cause of the irritation is not external at all?

What if I’m the cause of my own frustration? Someone once said “the level of your frustration is directly related to the level of your expectations.” Ouch.

So the real cause of my own grief is most likely…me. Knowing we live in a broken world, why do I go through life expecting people to respond perfectly? Especially when I know I don’t! Understanding that our little town experiences a population surge during the winter season, why do I get annoyed at the increased traffic?

Failing to take the time to plan properly, why am I surprised that one task requires multiple trips to the store?

Unrealistic expectations.

Expectations grounded in reality as I want it to be, rather than the way it is. Ancient Israel had a similar problem. Their expectations of the coming Messiah were based on cherry-picked prophecies. The sad result was that they didn’t recognize Him when He did come. They were so busy looking for a victorious military leader that they missed the Suffering Servant who came to redeem humanity. So what’s the answer?

I believe the answer for a Christian is to live expectantly. To live expectantly is to live in without setting specific expectations or demands on what that will look like. Living expectantly allows us to recognize where the Holy Spirit might be moving in areas we would not normally look for Him. And it communicates that we are satisfied with whatever the Lord does, allows, or gives—without comparing it to our own agenda or shopping list.

Those who live expectantly have the privilege of living out a truth understood by martyred missionary Jim Elliot: “God always gives His best to those who leave the choice with him.”

Will you join me?

Together, let’s put aside our expectations and live in daily expectancy for how God will show Himself active in our life. And as He does, share your experiences with others to increase their own sense of expectancy.“He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not” (Isaiah 53:3 ESV).

Let’s talk about this: How are you living expectantly?

About the Author: Ava Pennington is an author, speaker, and Bible teacher. She’s also a freelance editor, and a certified coach for writers and speakers, and she teaches a weekly Bible Study Fellowship (BSF) class.

Ava is the author of Reflections on the Names of God: 180 Devotions to Know God More Fully (Revell Books, 2022), an abridged gift book edition of the one-year devotional, Daily Reflections on the Names of God. Three devotions for each name/attribute explore who God is, and how this changes us and our relationships. Visit her at www.AvaPennington.com to learn more.