"I love waiting!" Not many people, if any, would ever say this. On the contrary, long seasons of waiting leave our hearts tangled up in frustration and crying out, "When God, when?" We stubbornly throw little tantrums as if we are three again, all because we're weary and worn out from the wait. In past seasons of waiting, my eagerness and readiness for the next chapter of life to start have often left me feeling hurt and disappointed. As God whispers, daughter, wait!

Most days, I know I'm right where God wants me to be. I'm living out my purpose as a daughter of the King, a wife, a mother of three amazing children, and a servant. Yet, on those days, I sometimes experience the devil's attacks. He tries to break down my faith and create confusion in my life. As a result, I start second-guessing my choices in life and question if I've missed the great opportunity God has for me in this world.

Over the years, I’ve received many gifts, whether the occasion was my birthday, Christmas, or a celebratory moment such as college graduation. Yet, as much of a blessing as it was to receive these gifts, the ones that stood out the most were those I felt undeserving to receive. At times, the gift came as forgiveness for a wrong committed on my part. Another time, the gift was a second chance to pursue a desired vocation when I thought my chances were all but gone. Still, others were financial, such as help with school debt or an upcoming bill.

As Christians, God’s grace is the main theme of our relationship with the Lord. We know that God’s grace is the reason we are able to know the Lord and eventually spend eternity with Him. However, God’s grace doesn’t just hold one purpose; it extends far beyond salvation into every aspect of our lives. It is available to us daily and can be a source of spiritual comfort in many ways. Let’s explore five comforting characteristics about God’s grace!

I wish I were writing this blog post from a place of victory. But if I'm honest, I'm writing from a place of vulnerability. Like many women today, accepting my body image has been a major struggle of mine over the years. This struggle is beyond just body dysmorphia (a mental condition where you cannot stop focusing on one area of your body). Others may never notice your physical 'flaws,' but they continue to give you anxiety. 

Currently, I’m in a season of change. My role as a wife is changing, my position in the home is shifting, and my faith is stretching. As a recovering perfectionist, let me be the first to tell you that changes in my schedule without ample notice and game planning cause me stress and anxiety. I would love to go along with the ebbs and flows of life, but something inside my heart tells me that I am insignificant if I am not doing enough.

We’ve all heard the word joy and it is considered a synonym for words like happiness and bliss. But what if I told you that there is so much more behind this three letter word? That you could have joy even when you don’t have happiness, and that your joy never has to be stolen from you? That’s what God has to say about joy and so much more! Let’s dive into four truths from the Bible all about joy.

A woman who says yes to God must confront the places and people she may have avoided in the past. For example, I have been taking my son on morning walks before the day's heat scorches everyone and everything outside. I have been enjoying my time getting outside, but my postpartum anxiety has me praying that no one stops me to talk. Spending quality time chatting with friends is a rarity I thoroughly enjoy. Still, unwanted talks with strangers leave me with anxious feelings and wanting to escape rather than engage in conversation.

Have you ever felt like giving up and just throwing in the towel? If I’m being completely honest with you, I have more than once. I have felt the world pull me in various directions, I’ve allowed myself to be swayed by the evils of this world, and I have even given in to temptations. I don’t know about you but man alive, life can throw some curveballs at us and earthly wisdom tells us we need to compare ourselves to other women whose life appears to be easier than ours. But I’ve found that in order to shift my mindset and perspective I need to lean into the word and put my faith in my Father above.

In the Bible, we find many references to friendship. God has made it clear in his word that having the right friends in our lives is not just good but essential, especially regarding our Christian walk. But how do we know what to look for in someone when seeking a godly friendship? What characteristics does a godly friend have? Let's dive into Scripture and find out.

Have you ever felt misplaced, misunderstood, or isolated from other women? I have, and it hurts. Even those with whom I would never have expected, women at my church, have sometimes left me out. Of course, it wasn’t their intention to do this, but the sting of not being considered or invited to a social event made me feel misplaced and forgotten.

Treat others as you want to be treated. Simple right? Sort of…I mean it’s super simple when your friends and acquaintances are getting along. I’m a grown woman with 3 small children and in the last 10 years I have seen and heard more drama than all my middle school, high school and college years combined. Granted most would say I was sheltered growing up because I went to a Christian school and hung out with the same group of kids most of my life but when did our society start thriving off of drama?

For the sister who is tired, physically and mentally, the truth of God’s Word can refresh your soul. So let’s look at what the Lord says about our weakness and taking a rest…The truth is God promises refreshment for the weary! He has not asked us to run on fumes or rely on our flesh.

I wish I could wipe away every hurt, rejection, and loss the world has thrown at you so that you wouldn't have to experience the deep wounds and heartaches that are inevitable to happen to us on this side of heaven. But, I do know that though I can't protect you from hurting, the Holy Spirit that Christ guaranteed to us can provide the healing your hurting so desperately needs. Who is the Holy Spirit, and how does he heal our heartaches?

It's Okay to be a Faith-filled Christian and have a Therapist Too! Stop worrying about what others will think! Even Elijah battled depression, and we didn't see God sending angels to preach at him to pray more fervently or condemn him. Instead, he sent an angel to comfort him while he rested!

As Christians, we all know the parts of the Trinity: God the Father, Christ the Son, and the Holy Spirit. God the Father and Christ Jesus are typically quite easy to understand, but the Holy Spirit can be quite mysterious. Let’s dive into six facts about the Holy Spirit, and understand a little more about who He is and what His role is in our Christian walk.

Has anxiety ever weighed so intensely on your heart that it consumed your thoughts, even as you spent time with friends? We’ve all experienced those moments where we were physically present but mentally absent because we were immensely enthralled in our doubts, anxieties, and fears. The night comes to an end in a blur as we can’t remember what was said amongst our friends, but we vividly remember the torment of our mental anguish.

Don’t get me wrong Easter is one of my favorite times of year because let’s get real: the joy of our children as they find the hidden plastic eggs, the egg coloring, and the new crisp Easter Sunday outfits are just magical. But it can be frustrating as a Christian mom in a world where we commercialize the greatest event in all of history. It’s the apex of our humanity and the path that was paved for us to receive salvation.

What if there is redemption, love, and assurance on the other side of rejection, loneliness, and anxiety? When you are walking through hard seasons, it's difficult to quiet your mind and allow the inner working of the Holy Spirit to speak His grace and truth over your life, but what if doing the very hard thing is the very thing we need to grow in our faith?

Is this you? You're struggling to hear from the Lord, sending up prayers but getting no answers, maybe even walking a little aimlessly through your spiritual life at the moment, feeling distant from God.