rebelling against low expectations
I can see the promised land, though there’s pain within Your plan. The opening lyrics to one of my favorite songs (Every Giant Will Fall, by Rend Collective) is a powerful message to the hope of Heaven. The promised land is ahead. Yet woven in God’s plan is something we do not enjoy–and often don’t count on–suffering. The pain of life on earth frequently overshadows the hope of Heaven in our...
“Where are You, God?” Tear-stained cheeks and a heart, with only a faint whisper of hope left, accompanied these words. I had said them so many times, but it didn’t seem like I was getting any answers. I felt trapped in a world of depression and loneliness—despite having more supportive family and friends than a girl could ask for. It wasn’t like when my extroverted mind went crazy because I...
You scroll down on your phone or computer; sickening headlines make your gut clench. Stories of war, hatred, violence, bloodshed… the list goes on and on. You click away, your head spinning. Images flood your mind, blaring article titles seared in your brain. As much as you try to drown it out—the noise, the pain, the heartache, the shattered souls–it only intensifies. Because the hard reality is...
I stared up into the darkness of the hotel room, my mind reeling. God, what did I do to deserve this? A knot of fear sat heavily in my stomach, haunting me. The fear that clenched me was something I hadn’t experienced at that level before. I was under spiritual attack. I tried to breathe deeply, mentally singing the lyrics of one of my favorite hymns. Crown Him with many crowns / The Lamb upon...
Your head rests on your desk. Bags under your eyes indicate lack of sleep. Tears spill out of your closed eyelids, and for a moment, all you can think about is your exhaustion. You’re so tired you can barely function. Whether it’s due to stress, anxiety, or illness, exhaustion is a heavy enemy. We fight it, but eventually, it overtakes us, hurting us and the people in our lives. Your life is so...
Let’s face it: the Christian walk is hard. It’s not—and shouldn’t be—easy to walk the straight and narrow way. Matthew 7:13-14, ESV, warns us of this, saying, “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.” As Christians...
Why is it so important to filter what we consume? Because the things we consume shape us. What we read, watch, and listen to—whether movies, social media, or articles online— influences us. It may be as simple as being depressed after watching a certain movie or feeling anxious after reading a book. The effects of what we consume can be drastic, but more likely they are subtle—so subtle we don’t...
There are many things in life that can get us down. Daily struggles and difficult situations try to steal our joy all the time. This is something I personally have experienced in my life. But God doesn’t want us to live in constant sorrow. In fact, He came so that we might experience His joy even in the middle of our struggles and hard seasons. Here are three reasons we can rejoice in the Lord...
I was depressed and scared. A list of my sins ran through my head, and I couldn’t let go of them. Condemnation gripped me as I thought of all the ways I had done wrong. I was covered by a cloud of gloom and sadness. My joy was gone. But God’s forgiveness is more than all my sins. His divine plan was forgiveness, to free His dear children from condemnation. All I had to do was embrace His grace...
“I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands…” If you live in America, these words are undoubtedly familiar to you, but sometimes they can seem rote and meaningless. When you recite the Pledge of Allegiance, do you really think about your liberty and our country’s values? It may be hard when our country has values like abortion, racism...
rebelling against low expectations
