Sarah Geringer's Blog, page 4

Close Proximity

Close proximity is a part of a quote from my book Transforming Your Thought Life, and I’m pondering it with you today.

For Lent 2025, I’ll be writing new blog posts every day. I’m writing for just five unedited minutes on a quote of the day to deepen our faith in this Lenten season.

Day 41 of Lent 2025 – April 14

I’m using my own books for quotes this final week of the Lenten season. This quote is from the Unforgiving Thoughts chapter of my most popular book.

Here is the quote in context:

Jesus offered compassion and healing in close proximity, not from a distance. He touched the eyes of two blind men who needed his miraculous healing and compassion (Matt. 20:34). As often as possible, offer your compassion closely too. A face-to-face meeting, phone call, or a card can transform a relationship marred by unforgiveness.

I’ve seen lots of posts on the topic of forgiveness this week in my feed. Usually, that means God is trying to tell me something, and I’m getting the message loud and clear. I need to work on forgiving people who have hurt me, and this advice I wrote in 2018 also applies to me.

Forgiveness is hard, but when we pair it with compassion, it’s easier to offer. The more I understand about a person’s hurts that motivated their sinful actions, the more I can show compassion. I have also hurt others from a hurt place inside me, and I want to be compassionate like Jesus was.

Recently, I’ve worked on forgiveness and compassion in a relationship I didn’t think would ever recover.  However, I am enjoying the surprise God gave me in all he did to give resurrection to this relationship. It’s only because of God and the good works he does in me that this is possible, and I’m praising him for this blessing. I share this to help you know that offering compassion in close proximity can heal relationships and even turn them around for your own benefit.

I pray that my book will help you in whichever thought life struggle you’re facing, whether it’s unforgiving thoughts or one of the other sixteen types listed in the book. It’s now available as an audio book HERE.

You can order bulk signed copies of my book for the cheapest price in my Etsy shop. I also include meditation cards that you can’t get anywhere else. Check it out HERE, and don’t forget the discount codes below!

Join me again tomorrow for another reflection on a different quote.

'Close proximity...' - ponder this quote with me. #quote #quoteoftheday #lent #spiritualgrowth
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Find all my additional resources for Lent on this page.

Are You Looking for a Book Launch Manager or Virtual Assistant?

If you’re launching a book in 2025 or beyond, be sure to book a call with me HERE to discuss your book launch. I’ve had over 50 clients since 2022, and I’d love to speak with you soon. I’m also taking on new VA clients. You can learn more and book a call with me on THIS PAGE.

If you liked this post, I would appreciate your shares on social media!

Also, if you make a purchase from any of the links on this post, I receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support!

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I send my weekly newsletter Tea on Tuesdays at 3:00 p.m. Central time every Tuesday.  I write an exclusive devotion for you each week that I share with you first.

To receive the newsletter, please subscribe below. I can’t wait to share personally with you each week!

Want to know more about me before you sign up? You can read my story here and learn more about my books here. By signing up, you are agreeing to the terms of my privacy policy.

The post Close Proximity appeared first on Sarah Geringer.

Overcome Guilt

Overcome guilt is a part of a quote from my book Transforming Your Thought Life for Teens, and I’m pondering it with you today.

For Lent 2025, I’ll be writing new blog posts every day. I’m writing for just five unedited minutes on a quote of the day to deepen our faith in this Lenten season.

Day 40 of Lent 2025 – April 13

I’m using my own books for quotes this final week of the Lenten season. This quote is from the Guilty Thoughts chapter of my book for teens.

I struggled with guilty thoughts in my teen years. Some were based on true guilt, but many were based on false guilt. In this chapter, I delve into the difference that we all need to know for our spiritual growth.

As an adult, I also sometimes experience guilty thoughts. Yet, as I write in today’s quote, the keys to overcoming guilt combine confession and repentance. Rather than beating myself up for what I did wrong, I take these steps and have greater peace with God while I deal with the consequences of my sins.

Freedom in Christ is truly possible when we get serious about confessing our sins and repenting from them. I only wish I had taken hold of that truth in my teens, and that’s why I want teens to read my book and know this is true for them.

I encourage you to order a copy of my book for teens HERE.

Cool Story!

Right after I published this blog post, I saw this tweet:

You can order bulk copies of my book for the cheapest price in my Etsy shop. Check it out HERE, and don’t forget the discount codes below!

Join me again tomorrow for another reflection on a different quote.

'Overcome guilt...' - ponder this quote with me. #quote #quoteoftheday #lent #spiritualgrowth
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Find all my additional resources for Lent on this page.

Are You Looking for a Book Launch Manager or Virtual Assistant?

If you’re launching a book in 2025 or beyond, be sure to book a call with me HERE to discuss your book launch. I’ve had over 50 clients since 2022, and I’d love to speak with you soon. I’m also taking on new VA clients. You can learn more and book a call with me on THIS PAGE.

If you liked this post, I would appreciate your shares on social media!

Also, if you make a purchase from any of the links on this post, I receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support!

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I send my weekly newsletter Tea on Tuesdays at 3:00 p.m. Central time every Tuesday.  I write an exclusive devotion for you each week that I share with you first.

To receive the newsletter, please subscribe below. I can’t wait to share personally with you each week!

Want to know more about me before you sign up? You can read my story here and learn more about my books here. By signing up, you are agreeing to the terms of my privacy policy.

The post Overcome Guilt appeared first on Sarah Geringer.

Only God

Only God is a part of a quote I read in Meshali Mitchell’s book Restored, and I’m pondering it with you today.

For Lent 2025, I’ll be writing new blog posts every day. I’m writing for just five unedited minutes on a quote of the day to deepen our faith in this Lenten season.

Day 39 of Lent 2025 – April 12

I have been blessed to read an early copy of Restored, a beautiful book in many ways. It not only has an encouraging story of redemption but also gorgeous and peaceful photography.

Meshali writes about trauma recovery with gentleness and grace. She tells how restoring a farmhouse revived her soul and brought her closer to God. One of the stories, which I will not spoil for you, reveals how only God could use old wallpaper to show her how much he loves her.

I’m encouraged by Meshali’s story of redemption. She’s still in the process of healing, and so am I. I’m glad I found another Christian woman who is honest enough to speak about the pain yet also hold hope that God will fully redeem her story.

You’ll find much encouragement in Restored, which I encourage you to order HERE.

Join me again tomorrow for another reflection on a different quote.

'Only God...' - ponder this quote with me. #quote #quoteoftheday #lent #spiritualgrowth
Click To Tweet

Find all my additional resources for Lent on this page.

Are You Looking for a Book Launch Manager or Virtual Assistant?

If you’re launching a book in 2025 or beyond, be sure to book a call with me HERE to discuss your book launch. I’ve had over 50 clients since 2022, and I’d love to speak with you soon. I’m also taking on new VA clients. You can learn more and book a call with me on THIS PAGE.

If you liked this post, I would appreciate your shares on social media!

Also, if you make a purchase from any of the links on this post, I receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support!

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I send my weekly newsletter Tea on Tuesdays at 3:00 p.m. Central time every Tuesday.  I write an exclusive devotion for you each week that I share with you first.

To receive the newsletter, please subscribe below. I can’t wait to share personally with you each week!

Want to know more about me before you sign up? You can read my story here and learn more about my books here. By signing up, you are agreeing to the terms of my privacy policy.

The post Only God appeared first on Sarah Geringer.

The Unreasonable Person

The unreasonable person is a part of a quote I read in How to Solve Your People Problems, and I’m pondering it with you today.

For Lent 2025, I’ll be writing new blog posts every day. I’m writing for just five unedited minutes on a quote of the day to deepen our faith in this Lenten season.

Day 38 of Lent 2025 – April 11

I first read How to Solve Your People Problems when I was still in relationships with several difficult people. It gave me the validation, insight, and strength I needed to stand firm on my boundaries.

Today’s quote helped me see the “why” behind their behaviors. I knew their childhood stories of pain, and I knew none of them had fully healed and grown from the traumas they had faced. They hadn’t taken steps to grieve, own their part, and learn better skills. Seeing them as emotional infants helped me show compassion while also reinforcing my boundaries.

If you have an unreasonable person in your life, this quote can give you perspective. It can help you view them with empathy but also remind you to stand firm in your right to be treated as an adult. However, you may need more help to learn how to deal with them. The book is packed with practical advice from a Christian perspective, and I recommend it to you for the difficult relationship you’re facing today.

More quotes from How to Solve Your People Problems :In the Bible, they are called “fools” or “the wicked.”Unreasonable people have an aversion to personal wrongness that extends far beyond anything experienced by reasonable people. To them, being wrong presents a threat to survival that equals most physical threats. Unreasonable people put all of their energy into safeguarding rightness – to staying safe – and none into solving conflict problems.Most unreasonable people missed attending Good Conflict Camp, but they all attended Drama School, where they developed into thespians of the highest orderThe unreasonable person performs his drama for self-serving reasons – to maintain rightness and avoid wrongness.The best alternative to a flight reaction is also honest civil conversation. Tigers need to be more civil, while turtles need to converse more. We can be tigers, turtles, or talkers.Rehearsing our responses, anticipating button pushes, and knowing how we will respond ahead of time alters our behavior.The Cold War ended not because the U.S. was nice but because the U.S. was strong…We didn’t change their minds; we changed the conditions. And when the conditions changed, they changed their minds.

You’ll find much help and encouragement in How to Solve Your People Problems, which I encourage you to order HERE.

Join me again tomorrow for another reflection on a different quote.

'The unreasonable person...' - ponder this quote with me. #quote #quoteoftheday #lent #spiritualgrowth
Click To Tweet

Find all my additional resources for Lent on this page.

Are You Looking for a Book Launch Manager or Virtual Assistant?

If you’re launching a book in 2025 or beyond, be sure to book a call with me HERE to discuss your book launch. I’ve had over 50 clients since 2022, and I’d love to speak with you soon. I’m also taking on new VA clients. You can learn more and book a call with me on THIS PAGE.

If you liked this post, I would appreciate your shares on social media!

Also, if you make a purchase from any of the links on this post, I receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support!

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I send my weekly newsletter Tea on Tuesdays at 3:00 p.m. Central time every Tuesday.  I write an exclusive devotion for you each week that I share with you first.

To receive the newsletter, please subscribe below. I can’t wait to share personally with you each week!

Want to know more about me before you sign up? You can read my story here and learn more about my books here. By signing up, you are agreeing to the terms of my privacy policy.

The post The Unreasonable Person appeared first on Sarah Geringer.

Decrease So God Can Increase

Decrease so God can increase is a part of a quote I read in Sacred Rest, and I’m pondering it with you today.

For Lent 2025, I’ll be writing new blog posts every day. I’m writing for just five unedited minutes on a quote of the day to deepen our faith in this Lenten season.

Day 37 of Lent 2025 – April 10

I first read Sacred Rest when I was on a winter beach vacation a few years ago, and the book has changed my life since that time. I blogged about that experience in THIS POST, which I encourage you to read HERE.

What I learned from this book that revolutionized my life was that there are different types of rest we need, not only sleep. Once I started putting Dr. Saundra’s advice into practice, I experienced great changes that I keep to this day.

The most important advice is to observe a weekly Sabbath rest. I’ve intentionally cultivated this habit for the past 20+ years. Since I work from home full-time, it can be difficult to stop working. Surprisingly, I became more productive throughout the week as I chose to take a dedicated break each Sunday.

When we decrease the noise and busyness in our lives, we can hear God’s still, small voice more easily. As I spend time in Bible study, prayer, and corporate worship every Sunday, I remember that God comes first on my priority list. When I practice the spiritual discipline of silence on the Sabbath, his peace and guidance increase in my spiritual life.

This book has changed the way I observe the Sabbath. It’s no longer regimented but delightful. You’ll find much practical encouragement in Sacred Rest, which I encourage you to order HERE.

Join me again tomorrow for another reflection on a different quote.

'Decrease so God can increase...' - ponder this quote with me. #quote #quoteoftheday #lent #spiritualgrowth
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Find all my additional resources for Lent on this page.

Are You Looking for a Book Launch Manager or Virtual Assistant?

If you’re launching a book in 2025 or beyond, be sure to book a call with me HERE to discuss your book launch. I’ve had over 50 clients since 2022, and I’d love to speak with you soon. I’m also taking on new VA clients. You can learn more and book a call with me on THIS PAGE.

If you liked this post, I would appreciate your shares on social media!

Also, if you make a purchase from any of the links on this post, I receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support!

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I send my weekly newsletter Tea on Tuesdays at 3:00 p.m. Central time every Tuesday.  I write an exclusive devotion for you each week that I share with you first.

To receive the newsletter, please subscribe below. I can’t wait to share personally with you each week!

Want to know more about me before you sign up? You can read my story here and learn more about my books here. By signing up, you are agreeing to the terms of my privacy policy.

The post Decrease So God Can Increase appeared first on Sarah Geringer.

Interested in Spiritual Matters

Interested in Spiritual Matters is a part of a quote I read in Contagious Faith, and I’m pondering it with you today.

For Lent 2025, I’ll be writing new blog posts every day. I’m writing for just five unedited minutes on a quote of the day to deepen our faith in this Lenten season.

Day 36 of Lent 2025 – April 9

I read this book when I was leading a Twitter chat for it. (You can join the #HealthyFaith chat on X – just search for the hashtag there, and the times for the chats will pop up).

Contagious Faith is so encouraging about a topic that scares most of us: evangelism. We know we should share our faith, but many of us are too intimidated to try. This excellent book demystifies this for us and gives practical, everyday tips for sharing your faith in natural ways.

An encouraging fact to consider: Gen Z, people under the age of 25, is the most open generation in American history to hearing about the gospel. Older Christians must be intentional in passing our faith to the next generation. The great news is that they are truly open to hearing about it!

Sharing Your Testimony

I’ve written other posts about how to share your testimony – you can read them here:

4 Tips for Sharing Your Testimony Why Your Testimony Matters More Than You Know

I’ll share my favorite tip from those posts here from my late pastor Mark Martin – tell your own story. Telling your own story of how God worked in your life is far better than preaching or even sharing relevant Bible verses. He said this is because no one can argue with you about your own story. That’s why it pays to consider your life experiences and how God has used them to shape your faith.

What I’ve learned in sharing my testimony is that people respond most strongly to these types of stories:

Times that I failed (more than times I succeeded) and how God used that experience to shape my characterTimes God spoke to me and how that message became true years later (you can read the story of how God spoke to me at a James Taylor concert HERE )Times of deep trauma that were impossible to survive without God’s help – this seems to speak most loudly to unbelievers

Another key tip is the more you meditate on Bible verses, the more naturally they will come up in your conversations. Your conversations will be sprinkled with salt and light as you weave those Bible truths wisely and intentionally into your words.

You’ll find great encouragement and more practical guidance for sharing your testimony in Contagious Faith, which I encourage you to order HERE.

Join me again tomorrow for another reflection on a different quote.

'Interested in spiritual matters...' - ponder this quote with me. #quote #quoteoftheday #lent #spiritualgrowth
Click To Tweet

Find all my additional resources for Lent on this page.

Are You Looking for a Book Launch Manager or Virtual Assistant?

If you’re launching a book in 2025 or beyond, be sure to book a call with me HERE to discuss your book launch. I’ve had over 50 clients since 2022, and I’d love to speak with you soon. I’m also taking on new VA clients. You can learn more and book a call with me on THIS PAGE.

If you liked this post, I would appreciate your shares on social media!

Also, if you make a purchase from any of the links on this post, I receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support!

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I send my weekly newsletter Tea on Tuesdays at 3:00 p.m. Central time every Tuesday.  I write an exclusive devotion for you each week that I share with you first.

To receive the newsletter, please subscribe below. I can’t wait to share personally with you each week!

Want to know more about me before you sign up? You can read my story here and learn more about my books here. By signing up, you are agreeing to the terms of my privacy policy.

The post Interested in Spiritual Matters appeared first on Sarah Geringer.

How You Wait Is an Act of Faith

How You Wait Is an Act of Faith is a part of a quote I read in The 10 Best Decisions a Single Mom Can Make, and I’m pondering it with you today.

For Lent 2025, I’ll be writing new blog posts every day. I’m writing for just five unedited minutes on a quote of the day to deepen our faith in this Lenten season.

Day 35 of Lent 2025 – April 8

I bought this book because my good friend Pam Farrel is one of the writers. I appreciated its wisdom in the past three years of being a single mom.

Here’s the quote in context:

Then the Lord spoke: How you wait is an act of faith. Do you want to wait in unbelief and doubt? Or do you want to continue to sing praises as strongly to my name today as you will when the blessings find you?

It’s difficult to wait this way. Since my whole life has been marked by abuse and trauma, I am not accustomed to looking forward with any hope. I was in survival mode for decades, and in that mode hope is too expensive. But I’m learning to apply this quote because I don’t want to stay stuck.

My counselor told me that when good things happen while I’m waiting in faith, I need to jump up and down with joy. He said I should praise God while I do that. The muscle memory will help me in my trauma recovery process.

So, I use my mini trampoline to do just that. Last week a client gave me an idea for a solution that will save me loads of time. I went straight to my trampoline and jumped while praising God. When I reflect on that moment, I pull up the muscle memory, and let it sink further into my psyche for greater healing.

Singing praise songs also helps heal me. They help me remember God’s unchanging character. They sometimes express my prayers in words I can’t form myself. Sometimes I combine the singing with the jumping for joy, and that supercharges my healing.

I want to wait well, and this book reminds me to do so. It also offers many practical ideas for single moms that are too numerous to mention. Get your copy of the book or gift it to a single mom you know HERE.

Join me again tomorrow for another reflection on a different quote.

'How you wait is an act of faith...' - ponder this quote with me. #quote #quoteoftheday #lent #spiritualgrowth
Click To Tweet

Find all my additional resources for Lent on this page.

Are You Looking for a Book Launch Manager or Virtual Assistant?

If you’re launching a book in 2025 or beyond, be sure to book a call with me HERE to discuss your book launch. I’ve had over 50 clients since 2022, and I’d love to speak with you soon. I’m also taking on new VA clients. You can learn more and book a call with me on THIS PAGE.

If you liked this post, I would appreciate your shares on social media!

Also, if you make a purchase from any of the links on this post, I receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support!

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I send my weekly newsletter Tea on Tuesdays at 3:00 p.m. Central time every Tuesday.  I write an exclusive devotion for you each week that I share with you first.

To receive the newsletter, please subscribe below. I can’t wait to share personally with you each week!

Want to know more about me before you sign up? You can read my story here and learn more about my books here. By signing up, you are agreeing to the terms of my privacy policy.

The post How You Wait Is an Act of Faith appeared first on Sarah Geringer.

God Can Allow Evil

God Can Allow Evil is a part of a quote I read in Dr. Michael Messina’s book Death, Disease, Disaster, and Despicable Evil, and I’m pondering it with you today.

For Lent 2025, I’ll be writing new blog posts every day. I’m writing for just five unedited minutes on a quote of the day to deepen our faith in this Lenten season.

Day 34 of Lent 2025 – April 7

I read this book because Dr. Messina reached out directly to me and asked me to read and review it. I have to admit, it’s not an easy read at all. It directly takes on the problem of good vs. evil which has caused many debates for centuries. Yet I found it to be brutally refreshing in that it doesn’t sugarcoat the hard truths of faith.

Dr. Messina is no stranger to death, disease, disaster, and despicable evil. His father died a tragic death from suicide. In his training to become a Christian psychologist and counselor, he has been exposed to the worst sides of humanity. Also, even though he’s in his 40s like I am, he has been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, which is a slowly debilitating disease that has no cure. With all that suffering in his life, I was more than willing to listen to his stories.

Though Dr. Messina is a former pastor with a compassionate heart, he does not share any Christian platitudes in this book. That’s why I find it refreshing because I’ve heard overly simplified words of “comfort” from well-meaning Christians my whole life. Those words never cut it for me. As I was exposed to the hard truths in this book, I had to come to terms with them in my own life.

I wish I could be transparently honest and list the excruciating traumas in my life. But because evil people still try to stir up dissent against me, I’ll spare you the detailed play-by-play. Suffice it to say I’ve been through a harrowing divorce, endured intense betrayal in multiple relationships, faced high-level spiritual warfare right in my face, and dealt with a stalker in the past three years. That’s why this book was hard for me to read because I’m still processing the trauma. Yet it was what I needed to read, like a bad-tasting medicine to help me heal.

God Can Allow Evil

Dr. Messina spends much time describing this nuanced truth in his book. I’ll do my best to pull some quotes for more context. Yet I encourage you to get a copy of the book to dig in deep. Here are some other quotes to ponder, along with today’s quote.

Letting this truth sink in, that God has the ultimate, decisive control of all evil tragedies, will help us in our emotional healing when we consider that this sovereign God loves us (Romans 8:39), is for us (Romans 8:31), and works all things together for our good (Romans 8:28).God is constantly at work in our lives, shaping us into who he wants us to be. And that shaping is often painful.Sometimes God allows suffering in our life so we will change our price tags. The world holds great value when things are going well, and heaven is kind of meh. When things aren’t going great here, the value of here goes down and we see heaven as the greater reward.The Western diet of comfortability simply does not have the capacity to bring repentance, sanctification, and glorification in the Christian life.Experiencing God in tragedy is perhaps the best way to grow deeper in your relationship to him.Taking God off the causal hook in tragedy does not help us; rather, it produces more emotional distress, especially anxiety. If God is not the ultimate cause of tragedy, then who is…I would rather take my chances with God, who loves me and has my best interests in mind…We can rest in the knowledge that neither disease nor disaster happens outside God’s will, which is always good and perfect, even when it doesn’t seem that way.

I first read this book months ago, and quite frankly, I felt angry because the trauma was so fresh at the time. Now that I’ve had some time to heal, I can assent to these truths with both my head and my heart. They are hard truths to accept but necessary ones. That’s why I can be thankful for this book because when the next severe storms in my life occur, I now have a healthier cognitive pathway to process them.

Get your copy of Dr. Messina’s book HERE.

Join me again tomorrow for another reflection on a different quote.

'God can allow evil...' - ponder this quote with me. #quote #quoteoftheday #lent #spiritualgrowth
Click To Tweet

Find all my additional resources for Lent on this page.

Are You Looking for a Book Launch Manager or Virtual Assistant?

If you’re launching a book in 2025 or beyond, be sure to book a call with me HERE to discuss your book launch. I’ve had over 50 clients since 2022, and I’d love to speak with you soon. I’m also taking on new VA clients. You can learn more and book a call with me on THIS PAGE.

If you liked this post, I would appreciate your shares on social media!

Also, if you make a purchase from any of the links on this post, I receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support!

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I send my weekly newsletter Tea on Tuesdays at 3:00 p.m. Central time every Tuesday.  I write an exclusive devotion for you each week that I share with you first.

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The post God Can Allow Evil appeared first on Sarah Geringer.

Let Me Be Your Mirror

Let Me Be Your Mirror is a part of a quote I read in the book Growing a Joyful Heart, and I’m pondering it with you today.

For Lent 2025, I’ll be writing new blog posts every day. I’m writing for just five unedited minutes on a quote of the day to deepen our faith in this Lenten season.

Day 33 of Lent 2025 – April 6

Pam Farrel is my good friend, and I always learn good lessons from her writing. This book on joy is just what I needed when I read it in 2023.

Let Me Be Your Mirror

The quote from the book that still sticks with me today is this one from her husband Bill. Here it is in context of a time Pam was struggling with doubt and lack of self-worth.

“Bill, fearful that I would spiral into depression, shot up a prayer to God for wisdom.

He came over, wrapped his arms around me, and said,

‘Let me be your mirror.

If you need to know how beautiful and godly you are, come see me and I will tell you.

From this moment on, let me be your mirror.'”

This is a beautiful picture of marital love, yet I think it has even broader application.

Let’s Be Each Other’s Mirrors

What if we decided to be others’ mirrors of encouragement?

For at least half of my life, I struggled with a low self-image due to bullying, criticism, and emotional abuse. I treasured the times when others spoke encouraging words to me. It took a long time for those messages to penetrate deep enough to make a difference. Yet I’m grateful for all the kindness of friends, teachers, pastors, and even strangers who decided to be mirrors of encouragement to me in my youth, early adulthood, and adulthood.

What if you told someone who is struggling that you will be their mirror? It reminds me of the movie The Help, in which the African American nanny Aibileen constantly spoke words of encouragement to the little white girl whom she dearly loved. The little girl’s own mother withheld love, but Aibileen freely offered it by serving as the little girl’s mirror of encouragement.

Let’s be each other’s mirrors. Determine that you will speak words of encouragement to inspire joy in people rather than tearing them down with criticism. You might be planting seeds for them that will grow into fruit many years later, just like people did for me when I was young.

There are many other encouraging devotions in this book on various topics. Get your copy of Growing a Joyful Heart HERE.

Join me again tomorrow for another reflection on a different quote.

'Let me be your mirror...' - ponder this quote with me. #quote #quoteoftheday #lent #spiritualgrowth
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Find all my additional resources for Lent on this page.

Are You Looking for a Book Launch Manager or Virtual Assistant?

If you’re launching a book in 2025 or beyond, be sure to book a call with me HERE to discuss your book launch. I’ve had over 50 clients since 2022, and I’d love to speak with you soon. I’m also taking on new VA clients. You can learn more and book a call with me on THIS PAGE.

If you liked this post, I would appreciate your shares on social media!

Also, if you make a purchase from any of the links on this post, I receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support!

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I send my weekly newsletter Tea on Tuesdays at 3:00 p.m. Central time every Tuesday.  I write an exclusive devotion for you each week that I share with you first.

To receive the newsletter, please subscribe below. I can’t wait to share personally with you each week!

Want to know more about me before you sign up? You can read my story here and learn more about my books here. By signing up, you are agreeing to the terms of my privacy policy.

The post Let Me Be Your Mirror appeared first on Sarah Geringer.

Accept the Mystery

Accept the mystery is a part of a quote I read in Julie Sunne’s book Sometimes I Forget, and I’m pondering it with you today.

For Lent 2025, I’ll be writing new blog posts every day. I’m writing for just five unedited minutes on a quote of the day to deepen our faith in this Lenten season.

Day 32 of Lent 2025 – April 5

My writing friend Julie Sunne was kind enough to send me a copy of her book when it was first published. It’s all about God’s unchanging attributes in short devotional format. I have to admit, it was too painful for me to read at the time she sent it to me. My head was on board, but my heart was hurting as my relationship with God was suffering at the time. However, I’m glad to say that I’ve healed enough to read it now, and I’m gleaning good truths from it.

I’m sharing today’s quote from the chapter God Is Sovereign. This is a truth that has long comforted me about God. Yet my belief was put through a refining fire when Julie first sent me her book. I never stopped believing it. But it was hard to apply to crushing trauma that seemed so custom-fitted to me.

Sometimes Things Seem Unfair

Julie addresses this in another chapter named God Is Simple with these words that affirm so many of our feelings:

“Sometimes it seems God isn’t very caring or understanding. Sometimes things seem unfair. If all things flow through God’s sphere of influence before they get to us, why doesn’t He make them better…Was God punishing me for something? Was He ignoring my needs, or didn’t He care?”

That’s exactly how I felt when I received this book. It was just too painful to think of God being loving, kind, compassionate, etc. I knew those things to be unquestionably true with my whole mind. Yet my heart was in retreat from being so severely traumatized.

Accept the Mystery

Let’s return to the chapter from which today’s quote is drawn and look at it in context:

“Whatever difficult situation we face, the God of the universe is in charge of it. Whether large issues or seemingly small ones, He knows what’s going on, and He has a plan. As the Sovereign, He is allowing the hardship in this season for a reason. We may not understand, but when we accept the mystery of the Divine Supreme Being, believing He has control over all and is never caught off guard, we can choose trust over worry. We can look into our unexpected situation with expectancy for how He will use it in our lives – remembering He’s guiding it all.”

Julie shares with honesty about the huge trials she’s faced. Many are related to being a mom of a child with special needs. She is no stranger to what feels unfair or unjust. That’s why I respect and appreciate her testimonies in these devotions.

Trusting God with Hope

At the end of the book, she tells about going to a national park with her husband on their honeymoon. They saw charred ground from a recent forest fire. Even though they were both scientists who knew the earth would recover from disasters, the loss shook them.

However, decades later, she returned with her husband and children to the same area in Yellowstone. This is what she saw:

“Instead of charred earth, stretched a sea of green grass broken up by the purple, yellow, white, and red of various flowers. Lodgepole pines reached for the sky, while strawberries and huckleberries dotted the undergrowth, begging to be eaten. Life had sprouted from the ashes. It’s a testament to the goodness of a God who controls the universe – a God who transforms the endings we want into the glorious beginnings we need. Trust Him for your new beginning.”

I’m glad I am in a place now where I can accept the mystery. I can trust God over worry and hope for a new beginning after the traumas I’ve faced. I’m grateful Julie painted this beautiful picture of hope in her book while remaining honest about suffering.

Get your copy of Sometimes I Forget HERE.

Join me again tomorrow for another reflection on a different quote.

'Accept the mystery...' - ponder this quote with me. #quote #quoteoftheday #lent #spiritualgrowth
Click To Tweet

Find all my additional resources for Lent on this page.

Are You Looking for a Book Launch Manager or Virtual Assistant?

If you’re launching a book in 2025 or beyond, be sure to book a call with me HERE to discuss your book launch. I’ve had over 50 clients since 2022, and I’d love to speak with you soon. I’m also taking on new VA clients. You can learn more and book a call with me on THIS PAGE.

If you liked this post, I would appreciate your shares on social media!

Also, if you make a purchase from any of the links on this post, I receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support!

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I send my weekly newsletter Tea on Tuesdays at 3:00 p.m. Central time every Tuesday.  I write an exclusive devotion for you each week that I share with you first.

To receive the newsletter, please subscribe below. I can’t wait to share personally with you each week!

Want to know more about me before you sign up? You can read my story here and learn more about my books here. By signing up, you are agreeing to the terms of my privacy policy.

The post Accept the Mystery appeared first on Sarah Geringer.