A season of lit trees and celebration was closing and I heard excited talk about picking your “one word” for the New Year. Piqued by curiosity, I researched and loved the idea of such specific focus instead of forgotten resolutions, unrealistic expectations and lists.
It seemed doable. Everyone was jumping in. So I followed suit and picked a word God had laid on my heart for months: see.
I thought about the ways I would explore the opposition between the seen and unseen in scripture and committed to searching for God’s light in the everyday. Driven by a desire to reawaken the wonder and the awe of his creation, I took time to notice things I’d often overlooked.
The crisp skyline of winter against the white, barren landscape. A solitary tulip peeking out from the frozen ground during the first glimpses of spring.
It was beautiful. I saw God’s grace in new, unexpected ways. But then another winter swept in and God seemed to hide himself behind a veil.
Clamoring for the peace of his presence, I prayed he would reveal himself.
Where are you, God? Show me your glory. Let me know you are here.
I perused the internet and found stories of terror and finger pointing. Then other news much closer to home hit.
My friend walked through the grocery store with her eyes down and shoulders slumped. She was having a hard day and it showed.
A woman from church saw her and asked, in a seemingly patronizing way, “Are you struggling?”
My friend felt like the woman’s question, laced with pity, was suggesting that it was not Christlike to be struggling.
Listen, we all have hard days and hard seasons.
It would be a lie to answer with an, “I’m fine” during those times.
But sometimes we mask our pain because we fear:
1. The other person won’t care.
2. They won’t know what to do with our hurt.
3. They don’t seem like a safe place to share.
4. We don’t want to burden them or overshadow their happiness.
But life is plain hard sometimes and we need one another to stand up when the waves of circumstance threaten to capsize us.
Just the other day several friends and I were swapping some good news. One of our friends bravely admitted that she was struggling with bouts of sickness with her kids, but she didn’t want to rain on everyone’s parade. She definitely shared in our happiness yet, instead of saying, “I’m fine too”, she was honest with how she felt.
I was grateful for her authenticity, it actually strengthened our friendship—knowing that she wouldn’t lie or put up a front that everything was okay when it wasn’t.
Just because you are struggling to find joy does not make you a weak Christian.
Look at all the biblical greats who struggled with various things like unbelief, temptation, jealousy, fear, anger, etc.
Sure, Christ wants us to have victory and count it all joy, (see James 1:2-4) but that doesn’t mean we have to put on a Pollyanna plastic smile and pretend that everything is okay, when it’s not.
The holiday season can fill us with moments of wonder and worship yet also remind us of loss and pain.
It’s as if our senses are more acutely aware of both our blessings and brokenness this time of year.
Think of the conflicting emotions felt during that first Christmas season long ago.
I am sure that Mary experienced the loss of her reputation when the naysayers discovered that she was pregnant. Then, months later—great with child—she rode on a donkey, not in comfort but on a bumpy journey away from home.
Yet, in her struggle with pain, she was carrying the Good News, the long awaited One, who would bring lasting hope to a hurting world.
Even in the dark there is light. There is hope in the struggle, but that doesn’t minimize our pain.
I doubt that God shouted to his bond-servant, “C’mon Mary, suck it up sister. You’re swollen with the Savior yet there’s no time to complain about your pain.”
God was with her as she labored and He loved her no less in her messy state.
The Good News should cause us to rise up and celebrate but that does not mean we have to be super-human or deceitful and pretend that nothing discourages us.
The super-human Savior, both God and man, came to us in our struggling state and loved us so much that He took on more pain that we will ever experience.
Whether you are struggling or soaring this season, know that you have an empathetic Emmanuel who is with you and for you.
He doesn’t scold you in the shopping aisle, He nods with understanding as you unwrap your feelings and let Him in—even to those untidy corners of your heart.
Thank You Jesus that You love us so well. Even when we are falling apart You hold us together with Your strong arm. You are the Hope of the Ages. Help us to rest in Your embrace and to live bravely, whether we are happy or sad. Thank You that You are patient with us—not condescending. Oh how we need you, this day and for all time. Lift up our heads and may we magnify You—the One laid in manger, killed on cross and resurrected in victory. You are the best gift of all. Amen.
Get all Purposeful Faith blog posts by email – click here.
Katie M. Reid is a tightly wound woman, of the recovering perfectionist variety, who fumbles to receive and extend grace in everyday moments. She delights in her hubby, four children (and one on the way) and their life in ministry. Through her writing, singing, speaking and photography she encourages others to find grace in the unraveling of life. Connect with Katie at katiemreid.com.
Isn’t this the same question the he’s asked since the beginning? These manipulative words attack Jesus’ identity when he is in the middle of the desert, hungry and exhausted. Matthew aptly refers to Satan in this passage as “the tempter.”
Although his angle varies, the father of lies loves to question. He makes us doubt what we believe and second-guess what we heard from the One who is the source of all things good and true.
“Did God really say…” (Genesis 3:1)
If the foundation of our trust becomes shaky, then everything else will shake along with it. And no one knows this better than the one who’s been telling lies from the beginning.
As much as I would like to have a trumpet blast or an alarm to announce when the enemy of my soul is on the prowl, this isn’t how he works. His strongholds start in the mind, and once he builds his fortress there, actions follow suit.
Then calamity hits and I question the goodness of God. Just like the battle between good and evil in the wilderness all those years ago, God’s identity is in question.
Would a good God allow this? If God was really all-powerful, wouldn’t he do something about this?
Friends, this is exactly where darkness starts. And it only becomes darker and more hopeless once we question who God is.
I wish the struggle was different, but this is what we face day and day out, as we’re bombarded with news of people starving and terrorists performing unthinkable acts of evil. When we’re in the thick of health crisis and heartache with those closest to us, we fight to keep our thoughts from going to that place of doubt.
So what do we do? When the world, as the popular song puts it, is “going to hell in a hand-basket,” how do we keep our minds from going there too?
When I go back to the passage in Matthew where Jesus is being tempted, I love how he responds to Satan. Jesus knows this world contains nothing which will sustain us, not even food and water.
Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” Matthew 4:4 NIV
We are a creation made not only of body, soul and mind, but spirit.
And that which is spiritual can’t be sustained by the material.
So today, as you’re gathering around the table and spending time with loved ones, I want you to remember that as good as that turkey tastes, there is a life source far greater. It can’t be neglected or shoved to the back burner.
His words aren’t just black and white on page or an item to check off our to-do list, but a never-ending spring of truth. When we come to him with humility and minds open to receive, he transforms our doubtful thinking and heavy-laden hearts into hearts filled with peace and hope.
There is a reason why scripture refers to Jesus as “the Word.” (John 1:1) The Word brings life and Jesus is life. It is a mystery interwoven into the fabric of our beings, and through it the Father speaks and reveals pieces of his greater plan.
The more time we spend in his presence, the more our questions become affirmations. The more we fill ourselves up with the Living Water which never runs dry, the more we can discern what is eternal and true.
Get all Purposeful Faith blog posts by email – click here.
Abby McDonald is a writer who can’t contain the lavish love of a God who relentlessly pursues her, even during her darkest times. When she’s not chasing her two little boys around, she loves hiking, photography, and consuming copious amounts of coffee with friends.
Sometimes I’ve had a not-so-fun day at home with my kids. When my husband walks in and asks about our day, I let it all roll out. And what rolls out is a list of complaints, how everything went horribly for me. “I had to deal with ____ and take care of ____ and then they ____ and so I had to ____.”
As I recount the day’s battles, I sink deeper and deeper into my desire to just call it a day and go to bed, in hopes that I’ll wake tomorrow, having forgotten it all. In hopes that tomorrow, everything will be different.
When things are hard, I’m far more aware of my hardships than my treasures.
My hard days are not the whole story of my life, but I start to feel like they are. And I sink lower, because of my awful perspective.
I used to think I didn’t struggle much with worry.
And then I became a Mom a decade ago. Suddenly there were so many what ifs to contend with. My imagination easily ran off to terrifying places, thinking two steps ahead of them, often fearing the worst.
Sometimes still, I get caught up in a whirlwind of worry, even though I know I don’t get to control things. Even though my trust in God has grown.
Shakespeare said cowards die a thousand deaths, and the brave die only one. I’ve heard a variation of his quote, which rings true for me:
“Some people die a thousand deaths before they die one.”
(Author Unknown)
I know the truth of my thoughts and my imaginations. I don’t tend toward bravery, but fear. How many deaths have I died in my head, or how many deaths have I feared for my loved ones?
What about you? Do you get trapped in worry? Have you grieved for those you haven’t even lost? Do you try to figure out the future, even though you have no power there?
When I’m stuck in worry, my best response is to turn each concern into a prayer, and to listen.
I am God, He says.
I am a good God, He says.
Trust me, He says.
He calls me to hand over all of my concerns to Him, each time they find their way back into my mind.
He calls me to bring my life before Him, to bring my loved ones’ lives before Him, day after day, and to place them in His hands.
He calls me to come to Him in prayer, to lay out the pieces of my life, to entrust it all to Him.
He calls you to all of the same.
When worry takes over, what we need most is to find our way back to the quiet, to fix our eyes upon Jesus once more. There, He speaks kindly to us, transforming and renewing our minds.
There, peace takes over, and worry morphs into trust.
We stop trying to carry our hurts, our struggles, our pain on our own.
We stop trying to bear our burdens–both our real ones and our imaginary ones–apart from the God who holds the whole world in His hands.
And when the worries return, as they often do, the Lord invites us to trust Him again, because He is God and He is good.
Some people die a thousand deaths before they die one, and I don’t want to be that person anymore. Lord, help us to live in peace instead of worry, to trust you with all the pieces of our lives.
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Colossians 3:15
Peace I leave with you, my peace I give you; I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not be afraid. John 14:27
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Angela Parlinis a wife and mom to 3 rowdy boys and 1 sweet girl. In addition to spending time with friends and family, she loves to read and write, spend days at the beach, watch romantic comedies, and organize closets. But most of all, she loves Jesus and writes to call attention to the beauty of life in Christ, even when that life collaborates with chaos. Join her at www.angelaparlin.com, So Much Beauty In All This Chaos.
He was heavy. His sickness weighed them down—not just physically, but emotionally as well.
They took his suffering seriously and they longed for a different outcome. They wanted to see their friend healed.
But what could they do?
If they could take away his pain, they would.
If they could fix him, they would.
If they could heal him, they would.
But they couldn’t.
So they got together—worked as a committed team—and decided to take him to a renowned physician who was growing in popularity. He was more of an non-traditional doctor—but they were desperate for a cure and open to trying unconventional methods.
So they took their friend, by faith, to go and see this peculiar man.
They hoped for a miracle.
When they reached their destination there were crowds gathered, blocking the door. But these determined friends removed a part of the roof and let down the pallet on which their friend, the paralytic, was lying (see Mark 2:4).
They made sure their friend made it to Jesus.
And Jesus seeing their faith said to the the paralytic, ‘My son, your sins are forgiven.’ Mark 2:5, NASB
But in order that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins—He said to the paralytic—’I say to you, rise, take up your pallet and go home.’ Mark 2:10-11, NASB
Obviously I took a little liberty in the retelling of this familiar bible story, but I wanted to share it to explain a work that God did in my heart a few weeks ago.
The Heavy Load
I had been carrying around a heavy burden. I was dragging around a dead-weight mummy, wrapped tightly in burial clothes. I had a few friends who were sick spiritually and I was trying to shoulder their choices by carrying them around.
This effort was weighing me down, both physically and emotionally. I was discouraged and unsure if I would see their healing.
I was weary.
Then God reminded me of the account of the friends who carried their paralyzed friend to Jesus. They carried him, but only so they could lift him to Jesus and trust Him to heal him.
They did what they could do from a human standpoint and believed that Jesus would do what they could not.
I wept with relief as God asked me to let down what I had been carrying all this time.
It wasn’t my place to be my friends’ savior. It wasn’t my job to try and carry them. My part was to lift them up to Jesus and let Him take it from there.
As I raised my arms to reflect what He was showing me I felt the weight lift.
He took me from a place of pain and enabled me to rise up—crippled no longer.
I am not responsible for the outcome of my friends’ decisions. My part is to be a good friend and lift them up in prayer, to the One who can make all the difference.
He Stoops to Save
Sweet peace floods our soul as we release our weighty burdens to the Lord.
The Burden Lifter reaches down and comforts His daughters.
He stoops down to help us walk free.
He speaks clear, gentle wisdom that realigns our thoughts to His truth.
He removes our poor attempts at bandaging others and works His healing salve into the cracked places.
My friends:
Are you carrying around something that is not yours to bear?
Are you trying to be a savior instead of lifting up your loved one to the Savior, the Great Physician?
Do your shoulders ache from taking on responsibility that is not actually yours to carry?
Let’s stop, kneel and ask God to help us release that which belongs to Him.
Dear God: Thank You for the sweet peace that is ours in You. Help us to release all that is weighing us down and holding us back from connecting with You. Thank You that You are Mighty Savior, Great Healer and Faithful Friend. Forgive us for trying to take on things that our shoulders weren’t meant to carry. Thank You that no problem is too heavy for You. Thank You that in You freedom, hope, healing and joy are found. Thank You that You tore off the roof of earth to come down and connect us to the Father again. We praise You Jesus. Help us to walk with You each day, as You lead the way Home.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Easy-to-Subscribe: Get all Purposeful Faith blog posts by email – click here.
Katie M. Reid is a tightly wound woman, of the recovering perfectionist variety, who fumbles to receive and extend grace in everyday moments. She delights in her hubby, four children (and one on the way) and their life in ministry. Through her writing, singing, speaking and photography she encourages others to find grace in the unraveling of life. Katie is a contributing writer here at Purposeful Faith and also over at God-sized Dreams. Connect with Katie at katiemreid.com
We’ve been working on folding shirts a new way, in my two younger kids’ rooms, because the old way, Mom’s way, was not working.
Our new fold is really a cross between rolling and folding. Instead of stacking shirts flat, we place them in their drawers almost upright. The kids are able to see which shirt they’re pulling out before they move anything around, and so the rest of the drawer stays neat. I like neat. 🙂
Our littlest is five, a great age for being a helper. This new fold is something he does well, and he’s excited because he does it all by himself. He often says, “You HAVE TO come see this, Mom! My shirts are so good!”
I gasp and tell him, “I’ve never seen anything so neat (especially in this room)!” And he nods his head, proudly.
We get a little excited around here about new systems for keeping things neat and tidy and well-managed. But there are some things which were never meant to be kept in a drawer, out of the way, folded up tight, and managed.
Psalm 119:30 says, The unfoldingof Your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.
I wonder, what is this unfolding, and how often do we approach God’s Word this way?
Do you come to this ancient book, ready to unfold the words and let them unfold upon you?
Do you sit long enough to allow layer upon layer to open before your eyes,
lighting the path of your life? Lighting the way to life?
I love to study God’s Word, yet I’m convicted. Sometimes I allow myself to get swept up in the busyness of life, much of that busyness my own making. Then I approach God’s Word as a super-quick fill-up. I know I need it to get through the days, but I don’t always spend the time.
I don’t always approach the Word the way I’d approach a person I love.
I come rushed, asking for what I need, and please, God, drop it on me fast, because I also need to be out the door in a minute.
I hope you don’t hear any condemnation here. I believe God honors any minute we give Him, just as He honors the hours. But sometimes I see a pattern in me, and I wonder if you see the same.
Sometimes I forget this book is a treasure waiting to be unfolded, waiting to give us light.
His Word is alive and divides me in two. It lifts my eyes beyond everything I can see. It lifts my eyes to heaven. It grows my love for Jesus, for others, and even my love for me–as His work of art, His chosen, His beloved, His sister.
Do you unfold His words, and let them unfold upon you?
To unfold means to open. That’s a pretty straightforward starting place. We open His Word and let His words enter into our hearts.
To unfold is also to reveal, which is something the Lord does for us. He unfolds His words upon us, reminding us of truth or revealing truth in a new way.
Finally, to unfold is to interpret or expound, which takes time and the effort to dig in.
God’s Word is a treasure, and any effort we spend unfolding it, manifests in our lives as light and understanding and wisdom.
Lord, Your Word is perfect, and it refreshes our souls. Your Word is trustworthy, making us wise. Your Word is right, giving joy to our hearts. Your Word is radiant, giving light to our eyes. Your Word is righteous and pure. It is firm and endures forever. Your words are more precious than gold. Help us to treasure them, to treasure You. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. {adapted from Psalm 19}
Get all Purposeful Faith blog posts by email – click here.
Angela Parlin is Dan’s wife and “Mom” to 3 rowdy boys and 1 sweet girl. In addition to spending time with friends and family, she loves to read and write, spend days at the beach, watch romantic comedies, and organize closets. But most of all, she loves Jesus and writes to call attention to the beauty of life in Christ, even when that life collaborates with chaos. Join her at www.angelaparlin.com, Eyes on Jesus.
I am running. Panting hard, unsteady breath—not effective.
I need air. I need to breathe deep and steady or I’ll double over from exhaustion.
I am covering ground but I am losing it at the same time.
I’m exerting an excessive amount of energy and depleting my reserves as I take shallow breaths. I am flying past the scenery and missing out on the depth of beauty found on these country roads.
As I mentioned before, I am training for a half-marathon. The task is beyond me. I can’t do it without the help of the One who put this body together and is able to sustain me when I reach my limits.
In just a little over a month, I’ll come face to face with cold November air and more than a dozen miles stretching before me.
I have been living as if life is a 100 meter dash, not a marathon. I need to grasp a marathon mindset or be injured or maybe even taken out of the race.
But I’m not just talking about this literal race.
Covering Ground
Have you been training? Have you been doing time on your knees? Have you been stretching your faith muscles through prayer, so that you are prepared for what’s to come?
Are you giving your body a rest?
Have you been taking time to slow so that your body can be repaired?
Are you caring for those in your charge or are you pushing them to the limits as you race ahead?
Are you relying on your strengths to push forward or are you receiving His grace for your lack?
I am not proficient in prayer or rest—in fact sometimes I’m a downright pathetic pray-er and a restless rester. I want this to change. It has to change for the sake of my health, family and spiritual life.
For the next 31 days I am focusing on this dynamic duo—prayer and rest—and asking God to help me grow.
I like to plan my course, but I want God to lead these days instead.
I like to know what the outcome will be, but I want Jesus to overcome me instead.
I like to avoid pain, but I want the Holy Spirit to burn through my weaknesses instead.
Are you following His pace for your path? Are you leaving space for grace?
As we settle into our stride may we keep in step with the Spirit. May we not lag behind nor run ahead. May we stop running ourselves ragged and run instead to that old rugged cross—wrapping ourselves around His love.
May we enjoy the route that He has ordained for us—even when it’s uphill, even when it’s muddy, even when there are detours.
We will likely stumble on this journey, but instead of throwing in the towel, let’s receive and extend His grace for ourselves and those around us.
There is beauty to be found at our feet, let’s not miss it. Let’s embrace His pace for each of our lives.
Let’s Pray
Dear God:
Help us to catch our breath and wake up to Your Presence. We are not able to breathe without you. May we not take the next breath for granted but “breathe in Your grace and breathe out Your praise*.”
May You recharge us as we go down the road that You have laid. Help us to drink in Your grace as You set the pace. Help us to lay down our hurry and scurry and grab hold of Your Body and Blood, broken for us.
We repent of wimpy prayer lives and ask You to strengthen our resolve to cry out to you, often, and with great faith. Help us to unwind in Your Presence, through prayer and rest, as we grow in trust that You will be with us each step of the way. Help us to run the race set before us, faithfully.
Thank You that You are able to take our frazzled and harried days and transform us—free and healed.
Amen.
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*adapted from Your Grace Finds Me lyrics by Matt Redman
Katie M. Reid is a tightly wound woman, of the recovering perfectionist variety, who fumbles to receive and extend grace in everyday moments. She delights in her hubby, four children and their life in ministry. Through her writing, singing, speaking and photography she encourages others to find grace in the unraveling of life. Katie is a contributing writer here at Purposeful Faith and also over at God-sized Dreams. Connect with Katie at katiemreid.com
Sometimes, life leaves us wondering, Jesus? Where are you?
Sometimes trials last year after year, and we don’t see how God works good things through those hard places.
So often, we need a reminder of who Jesus is and what He’s done and what He’s still doing for His loved ones.
The book of Hebrews begins by telling us that God speaks through Jesus to the world.
Previously, God spoke to the prophets, the Old Testament writers. He revealed Himself to them, with divinely inspired revelation, but that revelation was incomplete. He also spoke to people through angels. The original audience for this book, the Jews, had highest regard for the ministry of angels.
But now, God wants us to know, He has spoken in a far superior way.
God has spoken to the world through the person of Jesus Christ, His Son, who is greater than prophets and angels. More.
I started this year reading through Psalms slowly. I was learning to sit alone with God to pray, making it a practice to adore God each day. I quickly understood it wasn’t coincidence at all that I had begun this reading plan along with the desire to grow in prayer.
The Psalms filled my mind with ideas and images about who God is and what He does.
God is the One enthroned in heaven, Most High, maker of all, majestic, righteous ruler & judge, our Rock, our refuge, our strength, the One who sees, and these are only the beginning.
As for His actions, in the first few chapters alone, God surrounds the righteous with His favor like a shield. He watches over them and leads them. He blesses all who take refuge in Him. He listens to their prayers and answers them. He delivers, gives relief, disciplines, and judges evil. He fills hearts with joy and peace and brings prosperity.
God is King of kings, who made the world and owns the world and rules the world and sustains it.
So then, what does all this mean about us?
God chooses to be involved in the details of our lives, we learn in Psalms. And also?
He is worthy of our confidence and trust.
David, who wrote many of the Psalms, had such deep and abiding confidence in God. I’m convicted by it, in the area of belief.
Don’t get me wrong–I don’t usually struggle with doubting God. But sometimes I struggle with doubting me. Deep down, that’s an issue of confidence in God—that He is who He says He is, that He does what He says He’ll do, and especially, that He does it for me.
I do believe; Lord, help me overcome my unbelief! (Mark 9:24)
I don’t think we need more confidence in ourselves. Because at some point in life, even the most self-confident among us will experience their confidence shaken. We are human, and in this state, we are dependent on God, whether we admit that or not. It doesn’t matter how much confidence you were born with or how much you developed through the circumstances of your life.
What matters is that we hope and trust in God.
At the beginning of our school day one morning, I asked my kids what they think it means to have confidence in God.
One of them said, “You just trust Him, because you know He’s God.”
Another said, “It’s like Hope. You have confidence because you hope in God.”
Doing a quick word study using confidence, I found the Greek word parresia, and the Hebrew word, mibtach.
Parresia allows us to look ahead with confidence–because we know Who is in control. With parresia, we have freedom and boldness, but only because of a relationship with Jesus Christ.
Mibtach carries the idea of security, trust, hope, and certainty.
Mibtah assumesour confidence is based on the object of our confidence.
It’s the word King David used when he prayed in Psalm 71~
Lord, You have been my hope, my confidence since my youth.
That was David’s beautiful confession, and his story. Because of what Jesus has done for you and me, this can also become the story of our lives.
Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him. Jeremiah 17:7
Get all Purposeful Faith blog posts by email – click here.
Angela Parlin is a wife and mom to 3 rowdy boys and 1 sweet girl. In addition to spending time with friends and family, she loves to read and write, spend days at the beach, watch romantic comedies, and organize closets. But most of all, she loves Jesus and writes to call attention to the beauty of life in Christ, even when that life collaborates with chaos. Join her at www.angelaparlin.com, So Much Beauty In All This Chaos.
Abby McDonald is a writer who can’t contain the lavish love of a God who relentlessly pursues her, even during her darkest times. When she’s not chasing her two little boys around, she loves hiking, photography, and consuming copious amounts of coffee with friends.
