Mental Health Meets Faith
“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed-or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:41-42) Yesterday, I applied the delete function to my to do list. I went through and deleted items I hadn’t actually done yet, only leaving behind what was absolutely essential. Why? Because if I’m honest, although I have the desire and heart […]
Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!” He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and waves, and it was completely calm. (Matthew 8:23-26) In our culture of “go, go, go” […]
We have this hope as anchor for the soul, firm and secure. (Heb. 6:19) Hope is a powerful force and agent of change. It inspires us. It motivates us. It brings joy, faith, and confidence. But hope can be painful as well. Hope can be scary, uncertain, and leave us feeling vulnerable to disappointment and failure. Have you ever been let down over something you were hoping for? I think that relates to all of us and many of us have said, “I […]
Now may God, the inspiration and fountain of hope, fill you to overflowing with uncontainable joy and perfect peace as you trust in Him. And may the power of the Holy Spirit continually surround your life with his super-abundance until you radiate with hope. (Romans 15:13) Have you ever experienced a moment of uncontrollable laughter? Despite all attempts to get it together and regain control, or a semblance of order, wave after wave of laughter continued to […]
We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. (2 Cor. 10:5) I spend a lot of time thinking about thoughts. That may sound a little funny, but a long journey with anxiety has taught me that paying attention to my thinking is crucial. Prior to that, anxiety was often a debilitating force, wreaking havoc in the background of […]
A friend loves at all times. (Proverbs 17:17) Recently, I was reflecting on some healing I have seen in my personal journey and thinking about how much anxiety in my life has been caused and exacerbated by negative self-talk. As I thought over the past season, areas I’ve grown and ways I want to continue growing, I felt the familiar voice of God within urging me… “It’s time to befriend yourself.” What kind of friend are […]
Being the Best Version of Me For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 3:20) Throughout my journey, I have learned many people’s stories. Many have shared with me about their fears and insecurities, and I have walked through many of my own. One thing I have heard over and over, and that I have experienced personally, is a general sense of […]
For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. (Eph. 2:10) Recently, I stumbled across this quote in a book I read: True freedom will only bloom in your life when you put on the truth of who God says you are. Knowing who God wants you to be is not the same as practicing who He wants you […]
Don’t copy the behavior and customs of the world but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. (Rom. 12:2) One night as I was dozing off into sleep, an image came to my mind of one of those old computers, the kind that extended from floor to ceiling and took up a […]
I’ll fight to be a woman with a little girl’s heart. -Joanna Gaines You have received the “Spirit of full acceptance,” enfolding you into the family of God. And you will never be orphaned, for as he rises up within us, our spirits join him in saying the words of tender affection, “Beloved Father!” For the Holy Spirit makes God’s fatherhood real to us as he whispers into our innermost being, “You are God’s beloved child!” (Rom. […]