Sarah Forgrave's Blog, page 3

The Art of Being with Someone in Pain

When someone we know is in pain, it’s often easy to do things for them. I’ve shared lots of practical ways to put your care into action on my blog. (You can find examples here and here.) But sometimes, when a person close to us is in pain, they need more than our physical acts of kindness. They need to know we’re willing to sit with them and just be.

As I prepare for the launch of my book Prayers of Hope for Caregivers in just over a month, I’m reminded that those who care for people in pain...

4 Steps to Renew Your Hope at Christmas

Have you noticed there’s a lot of pressure to be joyful during the Christmas season?

With phrases like “Joy to the World,” “Merry and Bright,” and “Happy Holidays” being spoken everywhere we turn, it’s no wonder depression can set in.

Sure, it’s easy to be merry and bright when life is good and you’re surrounded by family and love and warmth. But the reality is, not everyone experiences warm fuzzies this time of year.

Loss can be magnified, a diagnosis can turn your world upside down, and str...

5 Bible Verses to Grow a Grateful Heart

Have you ever found yourself in a grumbling mood? I’ve been there recently. Rollercoaster hormones, a messy house, a mile-long to-do list, and plain old exhaustion make it hard to appreciate the good things in my life sometimes.

But here’s the thing: God doesn’t want me to stay here. He’s brought me too far and given me too many good gifts to let an ungrateful heart rule my attitudes and actions.

We’re officially in the season to celebrate gratitude, but I don’t want it to be limited to a sea...

4 Bible Verses for When You Need Wisdom

Big decisions can be downright overwhelming, can’t they? I’ve had to process some doozies in my life, and they’ve threatened to send my head into a tailspin. But each and every time, God has grounded me in the waiting and praying.

I don’t know what decision you’re weighing today – or what type of wisdom you’re seeking – but I hope you’ll seek it in your heavenly Father.

Down below, I’m sharing four verses that portray just how loving and sovereign He is. I pray they’ll comfort you and draw yo...

5 Habits to Build a Rich Prayer Life

I’m embarrassed to admit that I never thought of myself as having a rich prayer life. I think it’s because I assumed a rich prayer life meant locking myself away for hours with a five-page list of prayer requests, maybe dropping down to my knees with hands folded, and spending at least 30-60 minutes of uninterrupted time.

But the truth is a rich prayer life is simply conversing with God. Once I shifted my thinking, prayer became more natural. Yes, there’s still a place for devoted prayer time...

6 Bible Verses to Cultivate Your Prayer Life

Do you find yourself in a rut when it comes to your prayer life? I sometimes find myself walking through a season of habitual prayer…but not necessarily meaningful prayer.

It’s easy to do. Life is busy. Demands are constantly pulling us away. And saying quick, rote prayers is our solution to keep moving forward.

But the more I study God’s Word, the more I realize prayer is meant to be so much richer than a checked-off item on my to-do list.

When I compiled the Bible verses for my book, Prayer...

When Someone Laughs at Your Dream

Hundreds of people filled the elementary gymnasium, waiting for the group of kindergarteners to step on stage. The stars of the show soon filed in, decked out in frilly dresses and suits and ties. It was the end of the school year — time to graduate to first grade.

I sat with my in-laws, watching my niece sing in the front left corner, her motions precise and a little bit timid. Phones recorded every moment, and smiles abounded.

After songs were sung and diplomas were given, a video played on...

Listen Up: 3 Ways God Speaks to You

For the longest time, I treated prayer as a one-way dialogue from me to God. But as I’ve learned from prayer warriors and the example of Jesus in Scripture, I’ve discovered there’s so much more to it.

My guest today, Janet Holm McHenry, has studied Jesus’s prayer life in detail and shares her findings in her upcoming release, The Complete Guide to the Prayers of Jesus: What Jesus Prayed and How It Can Change Your Life Today. The book releases June 5th, and I’ve got it marked on my must-read l...

When the Dream Shifts: Following God Wherever He Leads

It seems like whenever we settle into a pattern in life, something changes, doesn’t it? That’s been the case for me lately, so I wanted to fill you in on where God’s been leading.

A few months ago, I reached a point of complete burnout. My book release last fall led straight into an intense season where I juggled a new book deadline + an extra load of teaching wellness and fitness classes + supporting my husband as he took the leap from his steady paycheck to be an entrepreneur full-time + ke...

When Rest Produces Strength

I’m thrilled to introduce you to my friend Janell Rardon today. Her book, Overcoming Hurtful Words, is a worthwhile read for many reasons: (1) Janell’s writing is vibrant and empowering. (2) The book is real and honest. (3) It draws from a solid Scriptural foundation, and (4) It offers practical life coaching tools that will empower you in every area of life.

Today I’m interviewing Janell to explore one of the topics in her book — collecting strength. She offers a unique perspective that turn...