Jennifer Slattery's Blog, page 3

How I came to love my mother-in-law: guest post by Patti Ritcher

“Na-na-na-na boo-hoo. I’ll be with Jesus before you.”

My mother-in-law sang that little ditty to me in our final phone conversation. She had just accepted hospice care and, knowing I was crying, she tried to make me laugh.

Marion, who I always called Mom, kept me laughing for most of the 45-plus years I knew her. But our relationship didn’t begin so promisingly; she wasn’t sure that I was the right one for her firstborn son to marry.

Jim and I had been close friends at college for two years before we suddenly announced our engagement—with a wedding day planned for six weeks later! This caught his mother off guard since she and I barely knew each other. Further, Marion’s five other children included a three-year-old, so she had the challenging circumstance of “losing” her oldest while still raising her family.

I understood some of those concerns, but I also felt Marion’s disapproval. She had grown up in Chicago in the 1930s and 40s; she loved fashion and all things fine. She attended St. Mary’s College, across the street from Notre Dame, where she met Jim’s father. In contrast, I was from Arkansas, raised by less sophisticated parents who considered Little Rock a big city. Fashion was not my priority and I had little experience with the finer things in life. 

Romans 12:10 became a lifestyle, as Marion and I both grew in our knowledge of God and His ways,  and we learned to honor the other above self. This verse emphasizes the need to prioritize the needs and desires of others over your own, even when it’s difficult or requires sacrifice. My relationship with my mother-in-law was strengthened during the times she came to help out after our three children arrived, and later, just to spend time with our family. Marion loved cooking healthy meals, and I enjoyed letting her take over in the kitchen. And, as I said, she made me laugh.

Having been raised by immigrant parents, Marion had stories to tell, along with all the right accents, expressions, and mannerisms. Further, there were some English words she could never quite pronounce correctly. With the emotional wound of rejection in childhood, her humorous antics might have been a lifelong coping mechanism.

At age 50, Marion was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Her doctor removed a massive tumor, ordered chemotherapy, and gave her six months to live. She endured treatments but also asked the elders at church to pray for her healing, according to James 5:14. She then proceeded to live for another 40 years.

Marion gradually became more of a mentor to me than a mother-in-law. She encouraged me to seek God daily through Bible study and prayer—without forgetting to wait and listen for His guidance.

Mom wanted to be remembered for more than her fun and laughter. She hoped to be remembered as one who was led by the Lord. And I hope to carry on this legacy she left behind for me and so many others. I honored her while she was living and honor her now.

When God puts someone in our life that we do not immediately connect to and love, it is important for us to pray and ask God to show us how to honor the person and sacrificially love them. The transformation happens when we no longer need to make an effort, but develop a genuine affection for the person.

Prayer: God, I ask you to help me love those around me, and to honor them above myself.

About the author: Patti Richter lives in north Georgia with her husband, Jim. She is a freelance journalist and long-time faith columnist at BlueRibbonNews.com with more than four hundred published articles. Patti is the co-author of the award-winning Signs of His Presence—Experiencing God’s Comfort in Times of Suffering. It is the story of Luann Mire, whose godly husband was blindsided by an indictment due to a former employer’s tax fraud. The resulting prison sentence and restitution took the once joyful couple into a long season of suffering as they fought judicial tyranny. Helpless to change her situation, Luann endured a painful examination of her life and found God faithful to His promises.

Check out Patti’s Book:

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Voted 2020 Best Memoir by the Advanced Writers and Speakers Association Luann Mire faced overwhelming circumstances when her godly husband was blindsided by an indictment due to a former employer’s tax fraud. The resulting prison sentence and restitution took the once joyful couple into a long season of suffering as they fought judicial tyranny.

Helpless to change her situation, Luann endured a painful examination of her life-long faith as she faced evil and distress. Fear, anxiety, and depression worked against her ability to trust in God’s goodness. Meanwhile, she wrestled with powers of darkness she had never before encountered. Luann’s desperate desire for a restored family life kept her looking to God through prayer, Scripture, and every trustworthy scrap of divine encouragement she could find. Yet doubts plagued her as months turned into years, and hope for justice was continually deferred by an ironclad court system. Though trapped in severe circumstances, Luann found God faithful to His promises, especially Psalm 34:18, which says, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit” (NIV). Signs of God’s presence came at timely moments of need―often in astonishing ways.

https://www.lifeaudio.com/faith-over-fear/

When Faith Feels Fragile: Holding On Anyway – Guest post by Zeeva Usman

There are days when faith feels unshakable—when the worship is sweet, the Scriptures speak directly to your heart, and the path ahead looks clear. But then there are days … when faith feels like it’s barely hanging on. Fragile. Thin. Quiet. And maybe today is one of those days.

I remember a time when I wrestled with doubt. I had been praying and seeking God’s guidance, but everything felt still and silent. I wondered if my prayers were even heard, and I began to question my faith. During that time, I realized that it’s okay to wrestle with doubt—it doesn’t mean we’ve lost our faith, but rather, we’re being honest with God and ourselves about our struggles. That moment taught me that faith isn’t about never feeling weak; it’s about choosing to trust, even when we’re unsure.

If so, you’re not alone.

Even the strongest believers face seasons when doubt whispers louder than truth and prayers feel like they bounce off the ceiling. But Scripture doesn’t shame us for fragile faith. In fact, it gives us permission to be honest—about our fears, our questions, and our weariness.

Even Heroes of Faith Had Weak Moments

Abraham doubted. Elijah hid in a cave. John the Baptist—who once pointed boldly to Jesus—sent messengers to ask, “Are You the one, or should we look for another?” (Matthew 11:3)

If they struggled, why do we think we shouldn’t?

Faith isn’t about never wavering. It’s about choosing to trust—even when we’re trembling. It’s about leaning in when everything in us wants to run. It’s about holding on to Jesus, not because we’re strong, but because He is.

When All You Can Do Is Stay Close

Sometimes faith is loud and confident. Other times, it’s quiet and persistent. It shows up in whispered prayers. In opening the Bible, even when it feels dry. In wearing faith-based apparel as a simple reminder of who you belong to. In choosing worship when you feel numb. In staying in community, when isolation seems easier.

And sometimes, it simply looks like saying, “Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief.” (Mark 9:24)

That prayer counts. That is faith.

God Doesn’t Despise Fragile Faith

The beautiful thing about our God is that He doesn’t require perfect faith—He just invites us to come. He meets us in the valley, in the questions, and even in the silence. Jesus never turned away the weak-hearted. He drew near. He lifted heads. He offered peace.

He still does.

You don’t have to have it all figured out. You just have to be willing to reach for Him, even with trembling hands.

Faith That Grows in the Cracks

The very places where your faith feels fragile might be where God is doing His deepest work. Growth doesn’t always happen in the mountaintop moments—it often happens in the in-between, the unseen, the waiting.

So if your faith feels fragile today, let this be your reminder: Fragile faith is still faith. And the One you’re holding on to will never let go of you.

Get to Know Zeeva Usman

Zeeva Usman is an experienced content manager at Christian Marketing Experts and a content specialist at Salt of Heaven, where she uses her expertise to create impactful, faith-centered content. When she’s not crafting words, Zeeva finds joy in worshiping and singing for the Lord Jesus, drawing inspiration from her faith to encourage others.

https://www.lifeaudio.com/faith-over-fear/

God’s Perfect Love for Imperfect People

(This first published on Crosswalk.com and in the Crosswalk Devotional, adapted below.)

Many of us have heard people talk about the Lord’s complete forgiveness and unconditional love but can expect Him to withhold both when we mess up. Most often, this stems from times in which others responded to our mistakes with some degree of emotional distance. I can relate. For decades, I struggled to fully receive God’s grace, and sometimes still do. Perhaps that’s one of the reasons I find the words recorded in Psalm 103:8 so beautiful.

It reads:

The Lord is compassionate and gracious,
    slow to anger, abounding in love (NIV).

Written by David, ancient Israel’s second king, this verse reiterates the way God revealed Himself to a man named Moses around four hundred years prior.

This occurred shortly after the Lord’s newly liberated people rebelled against Him to worship idols. Following, God told Moses that He wouldn’t accompany him and the Hebrews into the new land He’d promised them. But then He appeared to relent and in Exodus 33:15 stated, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” 

Perhaps confused, or simply wanting to experience more of the God with whom he’d already come to converse with as a friend (Ex. 33:11), Moses said, “Now show me your glory.” One could phrase this as, “Reveal the essence of who You are.” God did, declaring Himself compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness. 

David likely knew how the Lord described Himself to Moses and how consistently He lived out those traits with the often faithless and rebellious Hebrew people. In today’s verse, He praised God for those same qualities. While Scripture doesn’t reveal David’s circumstances when he wrote Psalm 103, we do know from other passages that He landed in numerous situations that plunged him into despair and overwhelming fear. We also know that God faithfully cared for, protected, and defended David throughout His life. And, the Lord showed David grace when he failed as a father, a king, and chief commander over the Israelite army.    

In other words, David hadn’t simply learned of the Lord’s love, mercy and compassion from Scripture. He’d experienced those same traits when he’d desperately needed them. Likely reflecting on who God was and all He’d done, David began his prose with a praise that arose from his inmost being, the deepest and truest part of him. He then recounted numerous blessings God provided—forgiveness for even the worst of sins, emotional and physical healing, restoration of seemingly hopeless lives, provision, vitality, justice for the oppressed, and guidance for those who find themselves wandering about in desert places.

In verse 4, we read that the God who “redeems [our] life from the pit” also “crowns [us] with love and compassion.” One might phrase this as, “He rescues us in our weakest and most helpless state and enveloped us in grace.” When the devil tries to bury me in toxic shame, I’m reminded that God’s favor toward us stems from His goodness alone, and not from anything we have or haven’t done. 

Because while He is the Almighty Creator of all that exists and the One who holds all authority in His powerful hands, that wasn’t how He most defined Himself to Moses, and therefore, to us. When we reflect upon who He is at His core, He doesn’t want us to think of His anger. Instead, He wants us to recognize, intellectually and from personal experience, that He is first and foremost a God of unfathomable love and grace.

Expanding on this, David then drew an analogy between the Lord and caring parents (Psalm 103:13). Our heavenly Father views us with more tenderness than an attentive mother with an over-tired two-year-old and a patient dad with an emotionally dysregulated middle schooler. Because, as verse 14 states, “he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust” (NIV). In other words, He remains cognizant of our humanity. 

The Lord recognizes how much we long to please Him and how grieved we feel when we mess up. He sees our ongoing struggle against sin and the wounded places in our souls that cause us to react in fear and self-protection. And while He’s given us everything, in Christ and Scripture, to stand firm, whatever we face, He also understands how easily we become deceived. 

He has compassion for who we truly are, in all our weaknesses and sins, and responds to our greatest failures with mercy and forgiveness, rather than anger and condemnation. Living in that reality helps us rise again when we fall, with our gaze fixed not on our past nor our shame but on the Savior who proved every word of today’s verse true when He died on the cross to quite literally redeem our lives from the pit of hell (verse 4).

https://www.lifeaudio.com/faith-over-fear/

Remaining Focused Amid Opposition

(Note: This first published on April 1, 2021.)

When God calls us to something, we should expect difficulties and opposition. Not everyone will understand our actions or motivations. Some people might even misjudge us or actively fight against us. The question is, how will we respond? Will we shrink back? Lash out in anger and frustration, or diligently, confidently forge ahead?

In short, when obedience feels challenging, whose voice will we give preeminence? Those of our naysayers or our own insecurities? Or will we give our Savior the authority He deserves?

Years ago, I served in an area for which I was unqualified and ill-prepared. Having received zero training, I wanted to learn to lead well. To glean from other female leaders who had perhaps encountered similar challenges and understood all the relational dynamics involved with leading women. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find that in the church I attended at the time, so I began reaching out to others in my community. Within a week, I’d gathered eight Christ-led, wise women of grace excited to share their insights and also to learn from others. Basically, to join a mission-minded group of ladies.

Filled with joy, I began envisioning what our meetings might look like. We could discuss highlights from ministry-related articles and books, pray for one another, and share ideas. We could learn from one another’s successes and failures and together, impact our community for Christ.

My excitement quickly deflated, however, when one of the pastors I served under called me in to his office. His facial expression, body language, and tone made it clear—he was not a fan of my endeavors. I sensed, in fact, that my actions raised suspicion, as if this small group of women were in some way acting with subterfuge.

Hurt and confused, I said I would quietly let this group I’d launched die and determined to do my best to honor my role with my limited training and experience. But my heart continued to ache for deep, ministry-related connections with other Christ-focused women. And I was saddened to know how close such a group had come to taking form.

My soul felt burdened to pursue the call God had given me, but the doors in front of me felt perpetually closed.

One afternoon, I shared my frustrations with my husband.   

He shook his head and said, “Don’t let anyone stop you from doing what you know is right.”

I contemplated his statement for some time, struggling to determine my next best, most God-honoring step. Did He want me to initiate change in my current environment? Was He calling me to seek support elsewhere?

I prayed over that situation, over the need, the hole God made increasingly apparent, for over a year, until I knew with certainty, He was calling me to act. The following week, Wholly Loved Ministries was born, a place where women from diverse denominations can grow in their gifting and their relationship with Christ. That small group of women who gathered together in a local coffee shop to dream of all the lives God might change, through our first timid yet obedient steps, has now grown to a team of 30 speaking life across the globe.

All by God’s grace, and in part, because we refused to allow opposition to dictate our actions.

Perhaps you’ve experienced a similar situation—an invitation to act that left others confused or even angered. And maybe in the moment, compliance felt easier, safer. Certainly less confrontational. But if we want to live for Christ and fully embrace all God’s called us to, we cannot be swayed by other people’s hostility.

Consider the example Jesus provided in Matthew 12:9-14. He’d recently made some pretty big claims: That He was the Son of God who knew God intimately and always did as God desired. (John 5:16-21.) That He possessed the same life-giving power as God the Father. And that He was Lord of the Sabbath. Then He performed miracles to validate His claims.

About this time, the Bible says Jesus went over to the Pharisee’s synagogue. While there, He noticed a man with a deformed hand. Seeking a way to trick Christ, the Pharisees asked, “Does the law permit a person to work by healing on the Sabbath” (Matthew 12:10, NLT).

They saw this individual as an opportunity for entrapment. But Jesus saw the man’s wounded heart, his need, and was moved by deep compassion. Though He knew His actions would lead to increased opposition, He chose to advance God’s light. He told the man to stretch out his hand. When he obeyed, Scripture says “it was restored, just like the other one” (Matthew 12:13, NLT).

Can you imagine the man’s joy? This was cause for celebration. He had been touched by the light of Christ. But the religious leaders were not impressed. Instead they “called a meeting to plot how to kill Jesus” (Matthew 12:14, NLT).

And yet again, Jesus remained focused on His mission and, leaving the area, continued healing and teaching.

He didn’t let spiritual resistance keep Him from the synagogue or hinder His decision to heal. Nor did He try to fight against it, at least, not as we might expect. Instead, He kept moving forward, kept spreading the light, wherever He went and to whomever would receive it.

His faithful, steady actions provide a model for us. When darkness hits, and it will, we can falter in fear, lash out in anger, or faithfully advance God’s light.

In what way is God calling you to advance His light this week? In what way has darkness threatened to halt your steps? What is one truth that will help you move forward in confidence and victory?

Speaking of embracing our calling, if you haven’t already done so, I encourage you to listen to Faith Over Fear episode: The Courage to Pursue Our Calling.

https://www.lifeaudio.com/faith-over-fear/the-courage-to-pursue-our-calling-ep-44

And there’s still time to sign up for Wholly Loved’s Beautiful Mess Mother Daughter Conference. Find out more HERE.

For those following our chronological New Testament Bible reading plan, today’s post kicks us off with the first suggested passage.

Seasons of overwhelm: When all you can do is cling to Jesus

(Proofread by Aneah Epshteyn)

While preparing to present to a women’s group on discipleship, I couldn’t shake the feeling that some of the ladies in attendance had landed in a state of overwhelm. Reflecting upon how my message might hit them, I thought of how I felt during what I’ve since termed as my terrible, horrible, no good, very bad year (and a half). In that season, I frequently felt conflicted between all the “I should” filling my brain and weighing down my heart, and God’s gentle Spirit calling me to find shelter in Himself.

In faith communities, we hear a lot about serving Jesus, and rightly so. That is why we’re here, and He is worthy of whole life worship. But how does this apply when we begin to feel crushed by the weight of our circumstances?

In those seasons, God might ask us to persevere with the grit and strength only He can provide. This was the example the apostle Paul set. When beaten and left for dead, he got up and resumed his mission. While imprisoned, he wrote letters to the church that became sacred pages in our Bible. Yet, I’m also reminded of the night when he and his ministry partner, Silas, cried out to God in weakness and desperation.

Granted, this is how I read the story as I consider the circumstances and his humanity. Acts 16 tells us about a time when Paul miraculously freed a demonized slave, whose previous “divination” earned considerable money for her masters. As you can imagine, her owners weren’t pleased to lose their income source. Angered, they dragged Paul and Silas into the marketplace and before the magistrates who beat the men with rods.

Following, we read:

After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully. When he received these orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks (Acts 16:23-24, NIV).

First, notice, these men landed in prison because of their obedience. For those of us in a western context where cultural notions of success and prosperity have seeped into the church, it’s important to remember that hardship comes to the faithful and unfaithful alike. Difficulties doesn’t mean we’ve “lost God’s favor” anymore than blessings mean we’ve gained it. The Bible tells us that all who believe in Christ have been “lavished” with “grace upon grace” and “every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms” (Eph. 1:8, John 1:16, Eph. 1:3).    

In each season, the most challenging or joyous, God’s greatest desire is that we turn to Him, listen for His guidance, and follow however He leads. For some, that might mean serving Him in our pain. The Lord might call others to demonstrate what it looks like to lean hard on the One who remains with us in our suffering and upholds our weary and broken souls with His mighty right hand.

This was the God Paul and Silas revealed in Acts 16—not through their eloquent words, but rather their anguish. Or more accurately, through how they responded in their anguish.

In verse 25, we read:

25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them (NIV).

To understand their impact, we must first grasp the reality of their situation. This “prison” was nothing like our climate controlled environments with beds and three meals a day. The authorities placed Paul and Silas, who’d been “severely flogged” in stocks, in the deepest, darkest section of a maritime dungeon—a place prisoners were often left to die.

How did they respond? By crying out to God. I believe their singing came from their need to connect, deeply, with the heart of Christ and to receive His strength in their time of extreme weakness.

They sought the One greater than their circumstances.

What if our world is most impacted not by “superhero” Christians who loudly proclaim “superhero” faith but rather weak and needy people, like you and I, who lean hard on a an their all-powerful God? Like Paul and Silas did when they landed in an earthly “hell.”

In their moment of overwhelm, they turned to, and depended upon, the Lord, and in doing so, they brought light and life into a place that quite literally smelled like death.

If you’re familiar with this event, you might remember how God responded. He caused a violent earthquake to shake the prison’s foundations, burst open the doors, and shattered the prisoners’ chains. This resulted in salvation for the prison guard and his family, and likely many of those previously bound as well.

Here’s my point: If all you can do, in your current season, is to cry out and cling to God, that is enough. Your very dependence on Him in your time of overwhelm loudly proclaims the gospel and the tender, ever-present love of Christ.

I’ll end with the question I left the sweet women in Louisiana: How are you pursuing God in your current season?

What is He asking you to do?

Will you trust Him to lead, whether that means persevering through the wilderness, trudging up a steep incline, or resting in His presence?

If you’re comfortable sharing, let us know in the comments so that others might gain encouragement from your journey.  

https://www.lifeaudio.com/faith-over-fear/

Deepening Our Trust in God Guest Post by Grace Fox

Note: This first posted on July 7, 2022

What most tends to make you anxious? Where do you find it hard to trust? Your loved ones? Your career? Your health? Some of you may be nodding affirmative to each of those questions. I get it. I know that queazy stomach feeling that comes from watching someone I care about struggle, from stepping into the unknown, or waiting for news that could either allow me to catch my breath or cause my heart to race.

If you can relate, I hope you’ll find encouragement in my friend, Grace Fox’s guest post below.

Deepening Our Trust in Godby Grace Fox

In a recent conversation about trusting God with our concerns, a friend reflected on bygone days when her kids were young. She recalled sleepless nights, laundry piles that multiplied by the minute, and temper tantrums (not hers!) over simple things like broccoli touching macaroni and cheese on one’s lunch plate. “Those times were challenging,” she said, “but they were nothing compared to the challenges I face as the parent of adult children, especially when they make choices that hurt themselves or others. I can’t tell them what to do. I have to just pray and trust God to work in their lives.”

Another friend told me about her dad. Widowed and in his 90s, he’d recently moved into a seniors’ care facility and was finding the transition difficult. “I worry about him,” she said. “The facility is short-staffed. What if Dad’s needs can’t be met adequately? I begin every day by asking God to watch over him. When worry starts to creep in, I have to intentionally choose to trust God with my concerns.”

I just returned from moving my youngest daughter and her family to northern B.C. As a mom, I pray that they’ll adjust well and find friends who not only share common interests but who love the Lord and make His kingdom their first priority. Today I’m heading south to visit my other daughter. My prayers for her focus on persevering with hope through chronic pain. Oh, how I wish I could fix it for her, like in those bygone days when I could kiss my baby’s boo-boo away. But I can’t. I can, however, trust God with my concerns.

The Bible tells us over and over to trust God with our concerns.

Philippians 4:6-7 is one example: “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”

Trusting God with our concerns is easier said than done, but it can be done.

Paul and Barnabas put this into practice. On one particular occasion, they’d been crisscrossing the country to preach the Gospel and encourage believers to continue in their faith despite suffering. They’d also helped churches set up their leadership. They could have hovered over the new leaders to ensure they understood their roles and did things right, but they did not. Here’s what they did: “Paul and Barnabas also appointed elders in every church. With prayer and fasting, they turned the elders over to the care of the Lord, in whom they had put their trust.” (Acts 14:23)

Don’t you love that? Despite the potential for things to go sideways, Paul and Barnabas trusted the elders to God and headed to the next location to continue the work He’d called them to do.

My friend, what concerns are on your heart today?

Are you like me, feeling concerned for your adult kids? Maybe you’re concerned about your marriage, your church family, your financial state, or a major decision coming your way. Isn’t it reassuring to know that we don’t have to carry these alone? God invites us to give them to Him because He cares for us. (1 Peter 5:7) He also commands us to combine prayer with fasting as a way of showing that we depend on Him more than on physical food. (Matthew 6:16-18) There are different types and lengths of fasts, and He’ll teach us what to do when we ask Him for direction in this regard.

No matter what worries weigh us down, let’s acknowledge our need for God’s help, invite His intervention, and expect Him to answer in His way and in His time.

The One who is all-wise and forever faithful knows our hearts and hears our cries. He holds us and those we love in His hands. Our souls crave peace, and trusting God with our concerns is the pathway to finding it.

Here’s a simple but powerful exercise to do today. Take Acts 14:23 and make it personal by filling in the blank: “With prayer and fasting, I will turn _____________ (identify your concerns) over to the care of the Lord, in whom I have put my trust.”

Feel free to post your completed statement here so others can pray for you, okay? Know you are loved.

Get to Know Grace!

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

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

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

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

https://www.pinterest.com/gracefoxauthor/Check Out Her Latest Release!

Keeping Hope Alive: Devotions for Strength in the Storm

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

Available wherever Christian books are sold.  

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

https://www.lifeaudio.com/faith-over-fear/

Choosing Appreciation over comparison – guest post by Dr. Michelle Bengtson

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Comparison. I’m pretty sure we all do it. But this toxic tendency also tends to increase our insecurity, misery, and can make us feel as if the Lord loves others more than us. Today’s guest, Dr. Michelle Bengtson, offers a much more hopeful, and encouraging practice able to turn our competitions into celebrations.

Why did God open those doors for her and not me? What did she do that I didn’t, to deserve the picture-perfect family? Why have her books been more successful than mine? Those are the sneaky thoughts that filter into my unguarded mind, like sand into my sandals even weeks after leaving the beach. It’s not something I’m proud of…it’s embarrassing. But the enemy knows how to distract me from my identity, the source of my worth, and my calling: comparison and jealousy. Maybe you can relate.

Jealousy sneaks into our hearts in subtle ways. We scroll through social media, see the successes of others, and feel that quiet sting of comparison. Without realizing it, we begin to question God’s goodness, wondering why we don’t have what others do. But here’s the truth: jealousy shifts our focus from what we have to what we lack. In contrast, gratitude turns our hearts back to the abundant blessings God has provided.

One powerful way to overcome jealousy is to cultivate a heart of gratitude and contentment.

Paul’s words teach us that contentment doesn’t come from having it all; it comes from a grateful heart that recognizes God’s sufficiency in every season. “Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content…I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound”. (Philippians 4:11-12 ESV)

When we actively look for things to thank God for, we invite Him to transform our mindset. Instead of longing for someone else’s story, we start cherishing our own. After all, God’s plan for each of us is unique and purposeful. The moment we start to count our blessings, we see how He has equipped us with all we need for our own journey.

Thank God for His specific blessings. When we focus on what we’re grateful for, jealousy loses its grip. Through gratitude, God shifts our perspective from comparison to contentment. Then we see that what God has given us is not only enough but abundant.

In what ways does jealousy threaten your peace?

How will you choose gratitude today, allowing God to fill you with His peace and contentment?

Father, help us to be grateful for all you’ve done and who you are, knowing you are sufficient for every need. Amen.

Get to Know Dr. Michelle:

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Dr. Michelle Bengtson is the author of the multiple award-winning books Hope Prevails: Insights from a Doctor’s Personal Journey Through Depression, Hope Prevails Bible Study, and AWSA Book of the Year: “Breaking Anxiety’s Grip: How to Reclaim the Peace God Promises. She is also the author of Today is Going to be a Good Day: 90 Promises from God to Start Your Day Off Right, The Hem of His Garment: Reaching Out to God When Pain Overwhelms, and Sacred Scars: Resting in God’s Promise that Your Past is Not Wasted. She is the host of the top-rated podcast, Your Hope Filled Perspective with Dr. Michelle Bengtson. Her ministry’s goal is to restore hope, renew minds, and empower others to live in their God-given identity, and she provides regular hope for her readers at DrMichelleB.com.

Catch her conversation with my cohost Carol McCracken on the Faith Over Fear podcast, episode titled “Finding God in Our Pain”.

Check out her latest release, Sacred Scars: Resting in God’s Promise That Your Past Is Not Wasted:

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We all endure trials, pain, and hardship in this life. The enemy often uses those experiences to convince us that our brokenness disqualifies us from ever being used by God again–that we can no longer be a testimony because of our emotional or physical scars. The truth is, your past pain and brokenness actually serve as preparation for what God wants to do in you and through you, if you will but surrender to and trust in him.

In Sacred Scars, neuropsychologist and fellow sufferer Dr. Michelle Bengtson helps you

· understand suffering through a biblical perspective
· discover how the trials of your life serve a purpose
· reflect on the healing that God has accomplished
· comfort others with the comfort God has given you

Just as Jesus’s scars didn’t disappear after his resurrection, our scars tell our story and lend credence to our testimony of the love and power of God. If you are ready to turn your past pain into present comfort and future hope, let Dr. Bengtson be your compassionate guide.

Follow her on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.

https://www.lifeaudio.com/faith-over-fear/

Ever tempted to “rebuke” God?

(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. 

https://www.lifeaudio.com/faith-over-fear/

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

(Note: This first posted on September 1, 2022.)

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

Be On Guard When Life Takes a Detour

By Grace Fox

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

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

Life has taken a detour.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Be on guard against the little voice that speaks lies. It’s not time to push the panic button. My present circumstances are no surprise to God. He knew about the detour well in advance. He knew what my calendar would look like at this time, and He’s got this. He’s got me. I can trust Him.Be on guard against idols. I’m asking myself where I’ve placed my hope in times past. Have I trusted in the power of a comfortable routine to help me stay focused when juggling multiple balls, or have I trusted in the Lord’s strength?Be on guard against anger. The other day, I felt my blood pressure rise when I couldn’t get access to my documents. In all honesty, I wanted someone to blame. Thankfully the Holy Spirit got hold of my head and tweaked my thinking. “Anger doesn’t fix anything. Try prayer instead,” He said.Be on guard against a woe-is-me attitude. I might be temporarily displaced but I’m staying with sweet friends in their lovely home. How different from millions of Ukrainian women who have lost everything and fled to a foreign country to start life over not knowing whether they’ll ever be reunited with their husband and loved ones? My circumstances are far from what I wish they were right now, but they’re far better than those faced by millions around the world. Perspective goes a long way.Be on guard against what-if thinking. Several days ago, repairs seemed to be going well. Then Sailor-Man discovered that a rubber sleeve (a “gator”) associated with the rudder shaft had been torn when the rudder was removed. It’s a necessary piece of equipment because it prevents water from seeping into the boat. When he asked the repair guy about it, he learned that it has to be custom-made in the States.

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

Be on guard, the Word warns.

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

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

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

Get to Know Grace Fox

Get to Know Grace!

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

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

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

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

https://www.pinterest.com/gracefoxauthor/Check Out Her Latest Release!

Keeping Hope Alive: Devotions for Strength in the Storm

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

Available wherever Christian books are sold.  

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

https://www.lifeaudio.com/faith-over-fear/

Unlearning Psuedo-spirituality to more deeply rest in grace

I’m in a season of unlearning pseudo-spiritual maturity and resting afresh in Christ’s grace. If asked a few years ago, I would’ve said I had a close relationship with God and learned to trust in and receive His love. That’s not to say I haven’t experienced transformation in my three-plus decades of actively following Him. But I spent too much time operating from self-reliance rather than the grace He lavished upon me. As a result, shame often overshadowed the freedom Christ promised.

The other day, I happened upon decade-plus old prayer journals. Day after day, my entries read much the same. I wrote how I needed to be more patient and gracious with others, less irritable and prone to “offense”, and more apt to pray before reacting in frustration or overwhelm.

Don’t misunderstand. Those are lofty goals that, embodied, beautifully reflect our Savior’s heart. The problem stemmed from my largely self-reliant approach. I knew, intellectually, that I couldn’t will myself into better behavior, or correct my faults by memorizing and reciting verses.

Yes, my soul needs truth. Absorbing Scripture into the marrow of my bones, as my Faith Over Fear cohost Carol McCracken once phrased it, plays a vital part in my spiritual vitality. But its most significant role is helping me experience the One who preserved every word recorded in my Bible and to teach me, through that connection, how to truly love and live loved.

If you’ve spent much time in church, you’ve likely heard sermons on John 15, where Jesus encourages us to live as closely connected to Him as a ripening grape remains with the vine. The moment someone plucks the fruit, it begins to die; no amount of effort, regardless how sincere, can prevent that.

But what does remaining connected to Christ look like in our typical, often busy and stressful day? And when the chaos of our world pulls us from our figurative prayer closets, have we failed?

That brings me back to those old journals filled with regret, “shoulds” and “musts.” If only I resided more fully in God’s presence and yielded more completely to His Spirit within me, I wouldn’t become emotionally triggered or allow selfishness, pride or fear to drive my actions.

Not necessarily.

We can’t will ourselves to increased healing, love, or faith. As Dr. Markus Warner stated in his book Breakthrough, “… for most of us, willpower and decision making are pretty fickle allies. … While both truth and wise decisions are good ideas, there is something deeper than both of them: our bond, union, or attachment with God. The true hub of our faith is our union with Christ, which makes us one with God.”

For some, this may feel like a soul-crushing statement. How can we develop that level of attachment when past wounds challenge our trust and perceptions? More difficult, how can we break free from lies that cause us, subconsciously, to approach God from a “pass-fail” mentality where we feel close to Him when we’re doing the right things and distant when we’ve messed up?

In those moments, has He truly withdrawn from us, or are we interpreting our expectations as reality? How can we possibly see His heart accurately, and receive His grace, in that mentally skewed place?

By turning to Him, as best we can, as often as we can, trusting Him to lead, heal and transform. By relinquishing false notions of instant, or even quick, healing and transformation. And lastly, by resisting our often deeply ingrained beliefs that we earn His love and grace through right behavior and instead allowing Him to teach us what true, holy relationship looks like.

If shame, rather than a desire for deeper connection, tends to drive your spiritual disciplines and your inner narrative gets stuck on what you should and shouldn’t do, rather than reflecting on how deeply you’re loved, you might find the following resources helpful:

Breakthrough!: 5 Essential Strategies for Freedom, Healing, and Wholeness by Dr. Marcus Warner

The Emmanuel Promise: Discovering the Security of a Life Held by God by Summer Joy Gross.

https://www.lifeaudio.com/faith-over-fear/