Sarah Geringer's Blog, page 6

Deepest Longings of Your Heart

Deepest Longings of Your Heart is a portion of a quote I read in “Make Sense of Your Story,” and I’m pondering it with you today.

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

Day 21 of Lent 2025 – March 25

I just downloaded this new book on my Kindle last night, and it is blowing me away. Within the first three chapters, I was sobbing because it cut me to the core. Like Adam, I have invested tens of thousands of hours in my healing journey over the past few decades. Also, like him, I read hundreds of books, spent thousands of hours in therapy, and attended many seminars to heal and grow. However, I hadn’t considered his strategy for healing until I started reading this book.

I’ve listened to Adam’s podcast, The Place We Find Ourselves, for years. I even featured parts of it on my podcast episode HERE. My friend recommended the podcast to me, and it permanently changed my perspective on healing from a lifetime of abuse.

Last night, when I read this quote, I pondered it deeply. The premise of his book is wrapped up in this quote. He’s saying it’s not enough to simply state the facts of your trauma, for example, that you are a child of an alcoholic. Adam posits that we must go deeply into individual moments of our trauma to be healed from those painful moments. We must revisit them in detail, trusting that God can redeem them as we do the work.

The Deepest Longings of Your Heart and the Most Devastating Disappointments

I have experienced much growth and healing in the past three years, but this book shows me there is more work to do. There are more disappointments to explore and more longings of my heart to name. Some have even occurred in just the past six months. Adam states that we must reconcile ourselves with ourselves, God, others, and the earth, and I’m looking forward to learning more as I keep reading.

Why invest in this work after I’ve already done so much to heal? Because I want to be ready for the next chapter of my life without the baggage of unresolved hurt. I want my wounds to turn into sacred scars. If this is what it takes, I’ll do it, even though the work will certainly be painful.

If you’re ready for a deep dive into the healing journey, I couldn’t recommend a better book for you. It’s not a quick or easy read, but it’s a massively helpful and insightful one. I learned about it by following Adam on Instagram, and I’m glad I invested in my healing again by purchasing the book HERE.

Join me again tomorrow for another reflection on a different quote. I encourage you to share your thoughts about today’s quote in the comments below.

'Deepest longings of your heart...' - 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 Deepest Longings of Your Heart appeared first on Sarah Geringer.

Embrace Silence

Embrace Silence is a portion of a quote I read in “Present in Prayer,” and I’m pondering it with you today.

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

Day 20 of Lent 2025 – March 24

This is a lovely book on the benefits of biblical meditation. Since I have written two books on the topic of meditation, I couldn’t resist buying it, and I’m glad I did. You can get your own copy HERE.

The book is especially beautiful because it’s full of illustrations. Here are a few photos of the interior:

 

 

 

 

Aren’t these so pretty? They make me want to sit down with this book and enjoy some silent moments with it. Order your copy HERE.

Embrace Silence

I agree with the author that our culture does not embrace silence. We are paying for that with high anxiety rates, shorter attention spans, and lower listening skills. Those choices affect our relationship with God and others, because our patience quickly wears thin.

Silence is necessary for meditation. It stills and quiets our minds as we focus on a verse in God’s Word. That’s how it can transform our hearts and minds, according to this verse:

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.Romans 12:2 NIV

I took a deep dive into the spiritual discipline of silence through the Emotionally Healthy Spirituality course and companion book at my church. During the course, we were encouraged to spend two minutes per day in silence before the Lord. It was difficult to silence everything in my mind and heart at first, but with practice it became easier.  Those two minutes started to increase my peace despite the daily stress I faced.

Present in Prayer is a lovely invitation to embrace silence and grow in faith. It’s a good morning companion at my breakfast table, when I sip my tea and study God’s Word. This book is great for meditation beginners, and also seasoned meditators like myself. It’s a long guide through Philippians 4:8, and it shows us how to apply it to our daily lives:

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.Philippians 4:8 NIV

I encourage you to use the books I mentioned today to help you embrace silence. Over time, this spiritual discipline will settle your mind, still your heart, give you greater peace, and increase intimacy in your relationship with God.

Check out my popular books on meditation as well:

 

Join me again tomorrow for another reflection on a different quote. I encourage you to share your thoughts about today’s quote in the comments below.

'Embrace silence...' - 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 Embrace Silence appeared first on Sarah Geringer.

The Inner Circle

The Inner Circle is a portion of a quote I read in “The Characters of Easter,” and I’m pondering it with you today.

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

Day 19 of Lent 2025 – March 23

I am revisiting this book in Lent 2025 since I first read it in 2021 and reviewed it on THIS POST. Purchase your copy on Kindle for $2.99, paperback, or audio HERE.

The Inner Circle

Peter was in Jesus’ inner circle. He was one of the disciples closest to Jesus, present at his transfiguration with James and John (Matt. 17:1-8). Though the Gospels show him with his foot in his mouth, Jesus still kept him in the inner circle.

I had never considered the point in this quote until I read it in The Characters of Easter. Through watching The Chosen series, particularly this episode, and reading books like this one, I’m learning how Peter was Jesus’ chosen leader for his church, and how much Jesus loved him for who he was.

Isn’t it encouraging to consider that though Peter kept messing up, Jesus kept drawing him closer? Peter rebuked Jesus (Mark 8:31-34) and denied him (Mark 14:66-72). But even in these major faith blunders, Jesus kept reaching out to Peter, encouraging him about his destiny and purpose (Matt. 16:18) (John 21:15-25).

Drawn Into the Inner Circle

This is encouraging because God keeps drawing us closer as we wrestle with him. Peter had to lay down his pride, temper, and agenda to become the rock upon which Jesus built his church. He had to become a living sacrifice fully surrendered to God’s will, just as we do as true believers.

Because I’m coming out of a season of wrestling with God, I relate to Peter’s struggle. I see Peter’s passion and boldness. I appreciate that the scriptures don’t hide Peter’s imperfections, so we can relate to them. I’m encouraged to consider that while Peter struggled big time with God, he was also being shaped into a future leader of the church (Acts 2). Peter couldn’t have imagined the plans God had for him, even when he was seeing Jesus face to face. This truly encourages me as a believer 2,000 years later, who is trusting God to reveal better plans for me after my season of suffering.

I encourage you to read this book to gain a greater perspective on the characters of Easter, particularly Peter. I also encourage you to watch the full episode of The Chosen season 3, episode 8 for the full context of Peter’s struggle. These stories breathe life into our imaginations about who Peter was, and how he was so much like many of us.

Join me again tomorrow for another reflection on a different quote. I encourage you to share your thoughts about today’s quote in the comments below.

'The inner circle...' - 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 The Inner Circle appeared first on Sarah Geringer.

Instead of Being Afraid of the Lord

Instead of being afraid of the Lord is a portion of a quote I read in Susan Chamberlain Shipe’s book “40 Days of Lent,” and I’m pondering it with you today.

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

Day 18 of Lent 2025 – March 22

Susan Chamberlain Shipe is a dear friend of mine. Though we’ve never met in person, or even chatted on Zoom, I affectionately call her my “Auntie” because we’ve been in the blogging space together for 15+ years. She’s a prolific blogger and author of several self-published books, including one on gardening that I featured on THIS POST. Today, I’m focusing on a quote from Susan’s Lenten book.

Instead of Being Afraid of the Lord

Susan’s book talks about the people, places, and events of the Passion in a down-to-earth way. She starts the book with a common feeling many of us have toward God:

“How many of us were taught if you do such and such, God will punish you in a terrible way? We’ve learned to be terrified of God. That my friends, is the last thing God wants us to be. Here’s a fabulous exchange – from fear to faith. Instead of being afraid of the Lord, receive the measure of faith he gives and live in it.”

Her quote makes me think of 1 John 4:18 NIV:

There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

Lent is a time for personal reflection. It’s a time to examine the reasons why Jesus came to die for us, individually. Lent is when I look at sinful patterns in my life, confess them, and repent of them. If you are doing this during Lent, perhaps you are also afraid of God’s judgment.

Meditating on 1 John 4:18 helps overcome my fear of punishment from God. In the past three years, during the hardest times of suffering, I have asked that all-too-human question when trying to make sense of my pain: Is this punishment for something I did wrong? I questioned whether the worst decision of my life, living together before I was married, was coming back to haunt me 20+ years later.

When I brought this up with my counselor, he took me back to the broken, unhealed person I was when I got married out of desperation, guilt, and shame. He said, “Surely you can see how far you’ve come since that time. You’re not the same person.” My counselor reassured me of God’s forgiveness for my costly choices, and we talked about how God has a purpose for my pain now, though I still can’t discern it.

In this in-between time when my suffering still doesn’t make sense, I can meditate on God’s Word to hide his love in my heart. His perfect love will cast out any remaining fear I have, and give me hope that he will use my suffering for his glory someday.

Join me again tomorrow for another reflection on a different quote. I encourage you to share your thoughts about today’s quote in the comments below.

'Instead of being afraid of the Lord...' - 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 Instead of Being Afraid of the Lord appeared first on Sarah Geringer.

When Stress Dominates

When Stress Dominates is a portion of a quote I read in Holly M. Andrews’ book “Heal Your Stress from the Inside Out,” and I’m pondering it with you today.

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

Day 17 of Lent 2025 – March 21

I’m thrilled to be the editor, cover designer, interior designer, and book launch manager for Heal Your Stress from the Inside Out, the first book from my friend Holly M. Andrews. We met when we were fellow students at Covenant College, and now God has brought us back together in this creative collaboration.

When Stress Dominates

Is stress dominating your life? It has certainly dominated mine many times, especially during times of crisis and trauma. Holly has dealt with major stress in a high-ranking position as a government official, and she knows exactly what the struggles feel like as a wife, mother, and friend. Stress impacted every portion of her life, and she finally learned to break free from it by developing healthier habits.

Holly’s book is highly informative with lots of research. However, she presents the detailed information in an easy-to-understand way. She gives insight into how our bodies and brains suffer from the effects of stress, and how healthy habits can reverse the damaging effects of stress.

Though I’ve been committed to a healthy lifestyle for years, I learned many new and helpful facts from Holly’s book. Her encouraging wisdom is helping me sleep better, order my day with greater intention, and make better eating choices. I’m thankful Holly writes from a faith-based perspective so I can trust her advice even more.

I’ve been privileged to read the whole book as an editor, and I can’t wait for you to read it too. It will be releasing into the world soon, and I hope you will consider joining us for the launch in April and May. Learn more about the book launch HERE.

Join me again tomorrow for another reflection on a different quote. I encourage you to share your thoughts about today’s quote in the comments below.

'When stress dominates...' - 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 When Stress Dominates appeared first on Sarah Geringer.

Will You Say Yes?

Will You Say Yes? is a portion of a quote I read in Kate Battistelli’s book “The After Party of the Empty Nest,” and I’m pondering it with you today.

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

Day 16 of Lent 2025 – March 20

 

I’m facing the empty nest as a single mom, and it’s scary. I never wanted to be in this stage alone, but that’s the hard truth. For months, I’ve tried to deny this stage is coming as sure as the sun rises each morning. I blocked it out of view. However, when Kate Battistelli contacted me and asked me to be her virtual assistant, I couldn’t hide from this fact any longer.

It’s my job to read this book so I can pull quotes from it for Kate’s graphics. In a way, I’ve been forced to read it though I’ve been scared to face the truth. The good news is that this book is giving me the hope I’m seeking, even as a single mom.

Will You Say Yes?

It’s been hard to look at the future with any hope in the past three years of trauma and hardship. That’s why it’s hard for me to say yes that the future could hold any hope for me once my children aren’t here as often.

The current status is this: my oldest son moved out last year, and that was a taste of the empty nest beginning. My middle son lives with me, but we’re like passing ships in the night because he works full-time in the afternoons and evenings. My daughter is with me the most as she does online school. However, she’ll start college in the fall, and I’ll be alone more than I have been in over 20 years, as a young, neglected wife.

Soon after my divorce in 2022, my counselor shared something important with me. He said, “This isn’t going to be easy for you to hear.” So he let me prepare myself. Then he said, “Your children are not your emotional support system.” He explained that as teenagers, they were all preparing to spread their wings and fly. I would need to depend on my friends for the support I needed, and let my children grow up without suppressing them. So far, all three have said I have done this fairly well. But because my children have been my main source of joy in my difficult life, it has been challenging to let them go the way I need to do.

The After Party of the Empty Nest

The last thing I was thinking about the empty nest is that it can be a party. More like a funeral, if you would have asked me a month ago. However, Kate’s warm, encouraging words are letting hope into my heart. She even has a chapter just for single moms. As I prepare her social media posts and read the content, I’m gently led forward in faith that things will be not just okay, but good, even while my nest empties. I’m grateful she’s showing me how I can celebrate some new things I hadn’t even considered before. That’s why it can feel like a party instead of a funeral.

I encourage you to get your own copy of The After Party of the Empty Nest today. If you aren’t in that stage, gift it to a mom whose senior is graduating this year. Perhaps order copies for a moms’ group at your church to help them prepare for this phase while their kids are in junior high. I know it will be a blessing to each woman who reads it and needs encouragement for this phase, just like I do.

Order your copy HERE.

Join me again tomorrow for another reflection on a different quote. I encourage you to share your thoughts about today’s quote in the comments below.

'Will you say yes...' - 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 Will You Say Yes? appeared first on Sarah Geringer.

It Wasn’t the Wall

It Wasn’t the Wall is a portion of a quote I read in Levi Lusko’s book “Blessed Are the Spiraling,” and I’m pondering it with you today.

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

Day 15 of Lent 2025 – March 19

I wish this book had existed three years ago when I hit the worst wall of my life. It’s a book about hitting the proverbial wall and the potential to spiral downward into despair. But it’s more about seeing the possibilities ahead as we cling to faith in those hard moments.

I’m reading a preview copy of this book that releases April 1, and I encourage you to order your copy HERE.

I’m only through chapter 2 at the moment, and it’s speaking loud and clear to me. Here’s why.

It Wasn’t the Wall

I’ve told my pastors thank you for talking about the hard things of life in their sermons. Every year since I’ve been a member, they preach on hitting the wall, as Paul Scazzero talks about in the must-read book Emotionally Healthy Spirituality. Because the EHS courses are part of the spiritual formation track for people at my church, both of my pastors talk about the wall frequently.

A wall is not an everyday inconvenience. It’s something very challenging that shakes your faith, such as a death, divorce, tragedy, or major situation change. When you hit a wall, your faith doesn’t work like it used to do. As my pastors have said, 85 percent of people either bounce off the wall, try to go around it, or stay stuck. But God invites us to go through it on a path of self-reflection, grief, and personal growth. If we go through that painful process, we can be stronger on the other side of the wall and better equipped to love God and serve others.

I hit that wall in 2022 when divorce shattered my world. I’ve spent three years in the dark night of the soul, a concurrent theme often discussed in my church. My faith was shaken to the core, and it didn’t work the same way anymore. But I hung on through the spiritual disciplines, waiting to see some light in my path. Mostly, I saw the wall as an enormous obstacle that only God could remove when he deemed the time to be right.

Blessed Are the Spiraling

Levi Lusko hit his wall in the form of a midlife crisis. He was forced to slow down, accept his limits, and reconnect with God in new ways. Since I’m only in the beginning of the book, I know I’ll learn more as I keep reading. But I know that he has faced huge trials, such as the death of his daughter, losses in his ministry, and the FBI confirming threats on his life.

The quote before this one in the graphic shook me up:

How do you feel when you slam into the upward plane of a new phase?

Upward plane? As I said before, I have only seen the wall as a big obstacle. I didn’t often think about climbing up the wall, though I even wrote a popular devotion about this in 2021, right before my world fell apart.

Back to today’s quote. If I see the wall as a stair, that changes my perspective. A stair is meant to be climbed. If I bump into it and bloody my nose, I need to heal. But I shouldn’t stay stuck on the stairstep. I need to start climbing again.

I love that God doesn’t require us to climb walls or stairs in our own strength, especially when we are bloodied. Instead, he encourages us from David’s psalm:

“In your strength I can crush an army; with my God I can scale any wall” (2 Samuel 22:30).

This is the truth I’m pondering today, along with more quotes from Levi’s book:

The gloomy mountain you now look at in fear and terror, once it is aflame with the glory of God, will transform before your eyes.There is significance in the spiral. It is not meaningless. The goal is to get closer to the center as you go around and around in smaller and smaller circles.You can view [transitions] as catalyzing forces preparing you for the coming attractions of joy and development.Round and round you are meant to go, tighter and tighter in smaller circles, toward what really matters. The worthless burning away, the Worthy remaining. And at the end of your journey, you will find not something, but Someone.In your life, as you face what seems to be a free-fall swan dive toward the bricks, believe that the death will lead to a resurrection.

Order your copy HERE.

Join me again tomorrow for another reflection on a different quote. I encourage you to share your thoughts about today’s quote in the comments below.

'It wasn't the wall...' - 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.

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Building Connection

Building Connection is a portion of a quote I read in David Brooks’ book “How to Know a Person,” and I’m pondering it with you today.

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

Day 14 of Lent 2025 – March 18

 

I purchased this book because my pastor referred to it several times in his sermons. It’s a well-written book based on research about how people crave more quality in relationships in our current culture, but don’t know how to get it.

I highlighted many passages in the Kindle version, and today I’m simply sharing one of them with you.

Building Connection in a Divided Culture

I wrote some posts about this topic back in the fall during election season. I had pondered what to say for months and thought it would be the right time to share my thoughts. I wanted to challenge fellow Christians to act like Christians rather than the world. I’m sharing an excerpt of one of my posts below.

Since kindergarten, I’ve had friends who are on the other side of the aisle from me. Friends with whom I do life, like sharing meals and attending events together. Some of these friendships have lasted for decades.

Lately, I’ve been asking myself why this is true because it certainly seems unique in our current culture.

I can’t speak to why my friends chose me, but I can say why I chose them:They make my life richer, more interesting, and far more beautiful.These friends stretch and expand my viewpoints.They show me how God is working in their lives, which is sometimes vastly different yet often quite similar to how he works in mine.My friends teach me how childhood experiences, religious backgrounds, family dynamics, and socioeconomic settings inform their decisions and shape mine too.They challenge my tendency toward black-and-white thinking and help me see the amazing nuances of God’s love and grace.

I don’t normally discuss politics with them, because I tend to say really stupid things that I deeply regret later. However, as I grow in wisdom, I try to practice curiosity rather than getting furious about stark differences of opinion.

I’ve realized that there is a low chance I will change their opinion, and vice versa. So I focus more on enjoying their company, celebrating their humanity, and as Paul said in 1 Cor. 9:22 NLT:

“Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone, doing everything I can to save some.”

The most important thing I talk about with them is faith. I also look for open windows to do this, rather than preaching at them. Faith is what can unite us, while politics tend to divide us.

Building Connection in Three Ways

I like how David Brooks, who converted from agnosticism to Christianity in his adult life (read his testimony here), simplifies building connection into three statements or attitudes:

I respect youI’m curious about youWe’re in this together

I need much growth in this area of building connections. However, I can look back and see how God has grown me in this area over the past few decades. That fact gives me hope that with God’s help, I can become more loving, compassionate, understanding, and accepting in the future. As I put these statements into practice when I meet people different from me, I will be more like Jesus, and that’s my goal.

Join me again tomorrow for another reflection on a different quote. I encourage you to reflect on a special gift God has given you and let me know about it in the comments.

'Building Connection...' - 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.

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The Dad Who Danced with His Daughter

The Dad Who Danced with His Daughter is a portion of a quote I read in Abby McDonald’s book “Surrendering Certainty,” and I’m pondering it with you today.

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

Day 13 of Lent 2025 – March 17

I’m proud to be the book launch manager for Surrendering Certainty, Abby McDonald’s upcoming book. She sent me a preview copy I’m happy to be reading now. You can learn more about the book and join the team for the launch HERE.

The context for this quote is Zephaniah 3:17 NIV:

“The Lord your God is with you,
    the Mighty Warrior who saves.
He will take great delight in you;
    in his love he will no longer rebuke you,
    but will rejoice over you with singing.”

When she was a tween, Abby heard four words from a spiritual leader that affected her deeply: “You can’t please God.” This phrase had a negative impact on her faith. God worked to redeem that misunderstanding in her life. She says,

“My journey to see God as someone who delighted in me was a slow and sometimes painful one. When you haven’t confided in God in years, it takes some major mindset shifts to bring you to a place where it feels natural to do so.”

After her first child was born, God wooed her back to him. That’s where today’s quote originates – “Instead of being the distant Father I couldn’t please, he became the Dad who danced with his daughter.” What a beautiful word picture!

The Dad Who Danced with His Daughter

One of the reasons my healing journey has been so difficult in the past three years is that I was already so close to God before my life fell apart. Many people find or rediscover God after divorce, but I was already super close to him. You can listen to my journey of drawing close to God the Father, then God the Spirit, then God the Son in my friend Eric’s interview with me HERE. In it, you will learn why Song of Songs 8:3 was so meaningful to me.

The intense pain that God allowed in my life felt like such betrayal after being so close to him. As a lifelong victim of abuse, the pain God allowed in my life felt custom-fit to hurt me in my most sensitive areas. Only someone who knew me very well would understand why the hurts felt so customized. That’s how abusers act – they prey on your vulnerability and intimacy, then hurt you intentionally in the most tender places. So my mind and heart have been hijacked by those relationship dynamics by people with evil intent.

Trusting the Dad Who Danced with His Daughter

In this recovery stage, I’m learning to trust God again. From decades of being a Christian, and also from reading the Bible all the way through 18+ times, I know without doubt that God’s unchanging character is nothing like that of an abuser. However, what I know in my head to be unquestionably true has to move to my battered heart, and that will require time.

Trust always takes time to rebuild. I need to dare to trust again one day at a time in my relationship with God. I want to trust him as a loving father delighting so much in me as his daughter that he rejoices over me with singing. I’m thankful that Abby’s book pointed me toward that beautiful picture upon which I can focus as I take daily steps to trust him more each day.

Join me again tomorrow for another reflection on a different quote. I encourage you to reflect on a special gift God has given you and let me know about it in the comments.

'The Dad Who Danced with His Daughter...' - 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.

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The Power of Perseverance

The Power of Perseverance is a portion of a quote I read in “Strength in the Storm,” 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 12 of Lent 2025 – March 16

Strength in the Storm is a compilation book of stories from several Christian women, many of whom I count as friends. In the chapter “Forged Through the Fire,” Andrea Nyberg expounds on James 1:2-4 NIV.

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,  whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

She says that when we are going through trials, people attempt to console us with platitudes such as, “Don’t worry, it’s all going to be okay! Just keep praying and stay positive. God’s got this!” She admits that she’s been both the recipient and the reciter of those well-intended statements.

But then our quote of the day comes in. When she faced trials, those platitudes didn’t help at all. However, allowing the testing of her faith helped her develop perseverance. Andrea focused on God’s desired character development in her in her suffering.

She writes, “Joy is found in choosing to have hope beyond our circumstances. It is recalling the times God has been faithful before and choosing to believe He will be faithful again.”

She quotes Timothy Keller in “Walking with God through Pain and Suffering,”

“Christianity teaches that, contra fatalism, suffering is overwhelming; contra Buddhism, suffering is real; contra karma, suffering is often unfair; but contra secularism, suffering is meaningful. There is a purpose to it, and if faced rightly, it can drive us like a nail deep into the love of God and into more stability and spiritual power than you can imagine.”

I was truly encouraged by the whole collection of stories in Strength in the Storm – I highly recommend you get your own copy HERE.

The Power of Perseverance

In my intense suffering in the past three years, the last thing I wanted to focus on was more character development. I had already invested in over a decade of counseling, plus countless books, seminars, and videos to overcome codependency and a lack of boundaries. I had worked hard on forgiveness every day. After divorce and ridding my life of all abusive people, I was ready to start a new and better chapter. That was my focus.

However, much more suffering followed that was out of my control, and none of it was my fault. I didn’t want to learn about perseverance – I wanted relief from the searing pain. That’s a feeling reinforced by our pain-averse culture.

Yet God set me apart for his glory. I did not turn to the things of the world to comfort me in my grief. I learned to lean more heavily on the Lord as I persevered and continued to trust God had a purpose in my suffering, though I couldn’t see it (and still can’t see it fully today). The language of lament became my most common prayer, and I accepted the invitation to take my anger to God rather than hold it in. In my seasons of depression, I remembered to hold on for my kids’ sake and for the story I’m trusting God to write in my future.

The Perseverance Payoff

I can look back now and see that my perseverance has paid off. As I’ve kept to my rhythms, I’ve stayed true to myself while staying tethered to God. I don’t have guilt or regret from making self-medicating decisions post-divorce, which was only possible because I allowed God to be my portion. My relationship with God has become deeper, more authentic, and more seasoned due to perseverance. I can also see how God is using this character development trial to help me minister to others from a richer place of vulnerability and affirmation.

This character growth could only happen over time, and it couldn’t be rushed. Most of it happened in the dark, where growth is slow. Yet as I’ve learned from growing seeds indoors, some seeds only sprout in the dark. In my current season when the sprouts of hope are just pushing through the surface, I can finally say “Thank You” to God with a genuine heart. The tiny leaves of broccoli, lettuce, and spinach in my garden bed are a living picture of the reward of perseverance.

Join me again tomorrow for another reflection on a different quote. I encourage you to reflect on a special gift God has given you and let me know about it in the comments.

'The Power of Perseverance...' - 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 Power of Perseverance appeared first on Sarah Geringer.