Caroline

Not Easily Broken: Heal the Past – Week 2

John 9:35
Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and when he found him, he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?”

Church trauma. Two words that should never be put together but are increasingly becoming more recognized in therapy and counseling circles as a true form of trauma. Research done by Barna in 2010 concluded that “four out of five unchurched people were formerly regular participants in church life of whom departed after an ugly incident that hurt them deeply.” A more recent report by the Billy Graham Center Institute and Lifeway research in 2019 determined that, “a third of the people who used to attend church has lost trust in God, the church, or Christians.”

It is heartbreaking how hurtful experiences from the church and Christians are turning people away from God. Christians are commissioned to be light in the darkness pointing people to love, forgiveness, grace, and mercy, yet they are oftentimes the ones causing a mass exodus in churches. But this is not new. In John chapter 9, Jesus healed a man born blind on the Sabbath. Instead of celebrating an amazing miracle, the religious leaders interrogated the man about his healing. Because Jesus healed on the Sabbath and broke their law, the religious leaders could not accept that Jesus was from God (John 9:16). The interrogation eventually led to the healed man being excommunicated from the synagogue. The man was kicked out of church because Jesus healed him in a way they did not agree with.

Jesus stepped into a deeply religious culture rooted in the pride of being children of God. They had rules to help them keep the laws of holiness and purity. The very law God gave them to keep their hearts near to Him was used by the religious leaders to shackle His people back into a slavery of their own making. As Jesus showed the people the spirit and heart behind the law so they could have freedom, it ignited fury into the religious system.

Like some in the church today, the Pharisees hungered for power, wealth, recognition, and a following. Instead of focusing on fostering a relationship with their Heavenly Father and guiding people to righteousness, they used self-righteousness to twist God’s design and burden His people. So, when their long-awaited Messiah came, they did not even recognize Him. They mocked, beat, and crucified Him instead.

Jesus later found the man He had healed physically and opened his eyes spiritually. After he was excommunicated from the synagogue, Jesus brought him into His flock. Friends, this is what Jesus is still doing today. There are so many who have experienced the deep wounds and hurt from the church in so many ways. Whether it was the burden of legalistic oppression, exploiting the vulnerable, or even treating each other with the same hate, prejudice, and exclusivity of the world, the spirit of the Pharisees lives on in our churches.

I have personally experienced this in my own life. My experience with the church growing up in ministry was so unattractive and hurtful. Pair that with a rebellious heart. I wanted nothing to do with church. For years, I was one of the statistics but then Jesus called me by name. He came into my hurt, anger, and brokenness and showed me the healing, inclusion, and freedom He offers. This took time, but through His truth, forgiveness, and grace, I was able to see that it wasn’t the church that I could put my faith in but Him alone.

Are there terrible people in the church? Yes, but they aren’t the only people in the church. It is so important to heal our past wounds, so we don’t let it keep us from the joy and strength of Christian community. Your Christian community should be Bible teaching, disciple making, and being the hands and feet of Jesus. If this is not the core of the church, then it is simply a glorified country club with a religious sign out front. A true church or Christian community acknowledges that we are all sinners in need of a Savior. Jesus is our Good Shepherd that calls us into His flock to lead us, guide us, and heal our spiritual blindness.

If you have been thrown out, abandoned because of judgement, or shunned by the religious, be encouraged that Jesus is seeking you to bring you into His flock. Just like the blind man Jesus healed, when we experience Him, we receive truth, healing, freedom, acceptance, unconditional love, and we are never alone.

Let forgiveness reign in your heart so that you can be free from hurt and open to the strength of Christian community. Though opening yourself back up to others can come with risks, the benefits of like-minded believers spurring one another on in love as we follow our Good Shepherd together far outweighs the risks.

1 Peter 4:8
Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.

Romans 12:21
 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Colossians 3:13
Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

Ephesians 4:32
Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Not Easily Broken: The Strength of Community – Week 1

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
Two are better than one because they have a good reward for their efforts. For if either falls, his companion can lift him up; but pity the one who falls without another to lift him up. Also, if two lie down together, they can keep warm; but how can one person alone keep warm? And if someone overpowers one person, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not easily broken.

If it had not been for our community, we would have broken. Left to navigate the hurt and brokenness of our marriage and home on our own was too heavy of a weight to bear. We were weakened and unraveled by years of maintaining a façade of normalcy. We were quite truly hanging on by a thread.

Our need for community was designed by God. God is a triune God made up of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The Godhead three-in-one is the Creator and Maker of humankind created in His image (Genesis 1:26-27). We were formed from community and designed to live within community.

Our Western, American culture celebrates and advocates individualism. We, as a society, are so far from the original design of God, that we let this idea of individualism infiltrate our identity as the body of Christ. Basically, we need each other (1 Corinthians 12:12-20), and to try to live otherwise leads to destruction.

What secrets do you keep from your brothers and sisters in Christ? What is forbidden discussion in your small group? What hidden struggle are you working so hard to keep tucked away for fear of discovery? The real question should be: Why have we created an environment within the church that prevents people with struggles from coming and showing up as their authentic, broken selves in need of healing? Why is the church usually the last place hurting people want to go? Why are we so afraid to take off our masks?

I have shared before how vital community has been to our family over the last two years (read more here). Community is also one of the key foundational steps to walking in providence ( read more). I do also understand the barriers that keep us from embracing community and being willing to be vulnerable and open with people.

I didn’t tell a soul what was going on in our home for seven years. Fear and pride constantly whispered that I could handle it on my own and it ate me alive. I slowly became open with two trusted friends who began to pray and encourage me. The burden was finally given aid so that I could keep going, but I was still not being honest with most people in my life. There were past wounds from Christian community that kept me from trusting and believing that letting people in would be helpful.

This all changed two years ago. The moment I let down my guard and let people in with the truth and honesty of needing help was the moment the weight was lifted and the healing from past wounds began. It was in the very act of taking my mask off and revealing my true self with all my hurt, pain, disappointment, and fears to other believers that restored my severed heart towards Christian community.

After a very painful season in ministry for my parents, my sister and I gave them wall décor that hangs in their kitchen to this day. It says, “Heal the past, live the present, and dream the future”. This quote is a sweet reminder of how we navigate the good, the bad, and the necessity of Christian community. Over the next three weeks, we will look at how healing the past, living the present, and dreaming the future allows us to fully embrace and thrive in Christian community.

God laid this devotional series on my heart because not only have I experienced the beautiful strength in community but also because His Word has a lot to say about community. His Word gives us His clear design for community, instructions on how to live in community well with each other, and His Son to model this for us in His ministry here on earth. My prayer is that you can evaluate your own community and seek His guidance on what to keep and celebrate, what needs distance and healing, and what needs adding and intentionality.

Community must come from love. Love of the Father is our greatest gift, and we are called to walk in that love with others.

Romans 12:9-13
Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

We need each other to travel through this sinful and painful world.

Galatians 6:2
Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

We need community to hold us accountable and to cheer us on in the race.

James 5:16
Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

Not Easily Broken: The Strength of Community – New Series Begins 5.6.24!

The strength of community keeps us from breaking. How do I know this? Because if it had not been for Christian community, our marriage would have broken. We were weakened and unraveled from years of doing it our own way and without much transparency with our Christian friends., However, in those broken times, our Christian community stepped in and strengthened us through prayer, support, and encouragement so we could keep fighting and persevering. It was that same community that stood by our sides as we renewed our vows and covenant to each other celebrating God’s redeeming and redemptive work in our family.

Over the next four weeks, we will look at how there is strength in community and how healing the past, living the present, and dreaming the future allows us to fully embrace and thrive in Christian community.

Do Not Fear: Death – Week 5

Hosea 13:14
“I will deliver this people from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death. Where, O death, are your plagues? Where, O grave, is your destruction?”

For many, death is the ultimate fear. Fear of dying too soon, dying alone, loved ones dying, or even just the idea of death in general. It is, after all, the greatest unknown. No one has ever been able to come back and tell us what to expect once you die. Or have they?

In the last few verses in Luke Chapter 8, we learn about Jarius. Jarius was a synagogue leader facing the greatest fear of a parent; the death of his twelve-year-old daughter. Jarius sought Jesus with the faith and belief that Jesus could heal his daughter and prevent her untimely death. It was urgent, yet the crowd continued to follow them slowing Jesus down. And then, Jesus takes the time to heal the woman suffering from bleeding that we discussed last week. Where was His sense of urgency? Didn’t he know how serious this was?

Then the news came, Jarius was too late in seeking healing. His daughter was dead so he felt like there was no need to bother Jesus anymore. Imagine that horrific feeling. Jarius was so close but now his fear had been substantiated. His daughter was gone. It was then that Jesus looked at Jarius and said, “Don’t be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed” (v50). Believe? Believe what? She was dead, that’s it. The end.

Jesus knew death was not the end. Jesus knew the reason He came was to conquer sin and the punishment of death. He knew what His own death and miraculous resurrection would do for mankind. He knew the eternal life available through His redemptive work on the cross was finally here to rescue us. He is our resource for what to expect when you die.

The Bible has a lot to say about death. Death was the punishment for sin back in Genesis 3. Our sin made it impossible for us to be in relationship with a Holy God (Romans 6:23). For centuries, something had to die to cover the sins of man. The moment Jesus gave up His spirit on the cross, was the moment death was destroyed. Yes, our earthly bodies will decay and our time on earth will be finished but it is not the end for us. Because of Jesus, we do not have to fear death! What freedom we have from this fear!

This is amazing news, but I know death can still be hard. It can be tragic when lives are robbed through violence, it can be gut wrenching to watch loved ones’ bodies and minds decay because of age and disease, and it can be deeply lonely to lose the companionship of those that go before us. It is during these moments that we realize our need for redemption and can express our gratitude for Jesus.

I have recently been to two different funerals. One was for a man whose eternal fate was unknown. It was the saddest funeral I have ever attended. Then, later I attended a funeral for a woman whose faith was so great, her loved ones couldn’t help but celebrate her departure from earth. For her, death was a kindness. The woman’s faith was lived out in such a way that no one questioned where she would spend eternity. Her earthly life was plagued by illness and a failing body, but her family rejoiced in her being healed and made whole in Heaven.

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words.

As Jesus told Jarius, “Do not be afraid; just believe.” This too can be our hope and the remedy for the fear of death. Death no longer has power over us. This is what we celebrate at Easter, our freedom from the fear of death! When we understand the hope and promise of Heaven, death loses its sting. We can even begin to look forward to the day our time on earth is done. When we no longer have pain, illness, tragedy, struggles and heartbreak. Paul expresses this radical perspective in Philippians. Life on earth gives us the opportunity to grow and experience the sanctifying power of Christ in our lives but death allows us to be freed from sin and in the perfect presence of our loving Father.

Do not fear. Death is really no big deal.

Philippians 1:21-24
For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body.

Do Not Fear: Sickness – Week 4

Psalm 91:4-6
He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be our shield and rampart. You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday.

Sickness was not a fear of mine until I became a mom. Nothing will send a chill down my spine like the words “stomach virus”. One of the hardest things I have done was care for a three-year-old and a nursing baby while we all three had a stomach virus. Oh, and Matt was out of town. There are few terrors like the terror of a stomach bug wrecking your house and your plans. We had a few terrible days, but it was a short-term alignment that we all fully recovered from.

I have been very fortunate to have never had a long-term health issue. However, five years ago I began to have problems similar to the woman in Luke chapter eight. Thankfully, my health issue was treated after several months, and I experienced a full recovery. It was during those months of waiting for a cure that gave me more compassion and understanding for the woman seeking healing from Jesus. In Luke 8:40-48, a woman had been hemorrhaging for twelve years. Though she sought medical treatment, she was never cured, and her issue became worse. As a Jewish woman under Levitical law, this health crisis was also a social crisis. She was considered unclean and could not worship or socialize in her community.

If you have ever suffered from a long-term health issue, you know the pain is more than physical. It affects every part of your life. It can drain your finances as you seek medical treatment or are unable to work. It can cause depression and anxiety feeling isolated from your “normal” life of friends and family. All this physical, mental, and emotional pain can affect you spiritually as well. You may not have the energy or physical ability to attend weekly worship at your church and be a part of small groups, the pain can cloud your ability to find comfort in God’s Word, and it can feel like God is distant and detached from your struggle. Our faith can become weakened and shrink down to almost nothing.

This story of healing the hemorrhaging woman is a testimony to what Jesus can do with weakened faith. The woman was risking a lot by going to see Jesus who was surrounded by a large mass of people. She snuck into the crowd with an almost superstitious hope to touch the hem of his clothes. She had a small glimmer of faith that if by simply touching Him, she could experience the healing she had heard He was capable of. It was a mere ounce of faith that led her to Jesus’ feet, and it was at His feet that she received instant and completed healing.

Unfortunately, sickness is a part of life on this earth. Sometimes it’s a fast and furious 24-hour stomach bug, sometimes it’s a month’s long battle with cancer, and sometimes it is a life long physical affliction that doesn’t receive healing on this side of heaven. Even though this is our reality, it is not something we have to fear. Sickness may weaken us in every possible way, but all we must do is come to the feet of Jesus. In our weakest moments, He provides for all our needs. It is at His feet we find refuge from all the pain we experience on earth.

Paul shared his own experience with this in 2 Corinthians as he explained that he asked for relief from “a thorn in his flesh” (2 Corinthians 12:6-7). We don’t know what this was, but we know it tormented him and he specifically asked three times for it to be removed (2 Corinthians 12:8). God’s response to Paul was, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9).

It is in weakness that we recognize our need for God. It can be in times of sickness, doubt, and pain that we experience the love, faithfulness, and protection of God our Father. Therefore, do not fear sickness. Rather trust that God will be everything you need when moments of weakness and trails come. Just like Paul, we can rest and say, “Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me” (2 Corinthians 12:9).

Do Not Fear: Evil – Week 3

Romans 8:37-39
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Evil can be terrifying. The one movie I saw growing up that kept me awake at night was the original The Exorcist. When I think of demon possession, this movie is what I imagine. Evil experiences, demon possession, and spiritual battles are not things many of us are comfortable making a part of our daily, polite conversations. However, evil is all around us whether we want to acknowledge it or not. Spiritual warfare is real and the enemy is ruthlessly after our hearts and minds.

In the story of the demon-possessed man in Luke 8:26-39, a legion (meaning thousands) of demons possessed a man that caused him to be cast from society to live among the graves. Regardless of how he was restrained, the towns people felt powerless to his strength and were unable to control him. But, we see how Jesus, our example of how to live here on earth, handled evil. He confronted it, called it by name, and used His authority to expel it from His presence.

It can be easy for this story to feel like an ancient problem, but I see the same pattern happening in our society today. Evil is uncomfortable, scary, and we don’t want it in our everyday lives. We shield ourselves from the obvious symptoms of evil by avoiding the “bad” neighborhoods, schools, and people.

Viewing evil as something to be afraid of and to avoid at all costs can be so dangerous for the heart of a Christian. We have an enemy and his evil schemes are real. It doesn’t always look like demon-possessed insanity running wild in a graveyard. “Satan is a thief that robs people of everything good and tries to destroy them” (Wiersbe). He does this covertly by challenging our faith and belief. It can be as simple as manipulation, doubt, or a lie whispered in our thoughts. He can use a simple disagreement to sow seeds of discord in marriages, friendships, and churches. The enemy can use the shiny things of this world to distract our hearts from the promises of eternity and our call as followers of Jesus.

With Jesus, we can stop the enemy in His tracks because our God is bigger than the enemy. Just as Jesus did with the legion of demons, we can confront the evil, deception, and distraction and cast it from our presence. We do not have to fear our evil enemy because the power of the Almighty God dwells within us. With the mention of Jesus’ name, demons are commanded to submit and obey. In the midst of His presence, the demons were fearful and begged Jesus for mercy (Luke 8:31). As children of God, we have the authority to cast evil from our presence and stand firm on the truth. We do not need to hide or avoid this reality. Understanding the spiritual battle around us, equips us to fight it better.

In Ephesians 6:10-18, Paul explains the tools we are given to fight our enemy and protect ourselves from evil.

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.”

How are you letting the fear of evil rob you of the freedom we have in Christ? Whose voice is telling you who you are? Are you meditating on the truth or dwelling on the shame of your past? Remember that nothing, not even evil, can separate us from the love of God. Gear up and put your enemy in his place!

Do Not Fear: The Storm – Week 2

Luke 8:25
“Where is your faith?” he asked his disciples.
In fear and amazement they asked one another, “Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him.”

The weather can make or break a day. Here in Alabama, we are in the midst of the most perfect weather, cool in the mornings and comfortable during the day with lots of sunshine. We will get this for a couple of weeks before the oppressive heat and humidity return for at least six months. This weekend we have so many outdoor plans including baseball and an outdoor wedding, but the forecast seems to indicate that it will all be affected by rain. There are times when the weather can even cause catastrophic damage to property or lives, doing more than ruining our day.

The opening of Luke chapter eight begins with Jesus teaching His followers the parable of the Sower. Then in verse 22, Jesus instructed His twelve disciples to get in a boat and cross a lake. Jesus fell asleep and a great storm threatened to overtake the boat they were in. The storm came out of nowhere and the disciples were terrified.

How easily we can relate to this situation. We are being obedient, a major life storm comes out of nowhere, and it feels like Jesus is on a break. We may panic, withdraw, or take life into our own hands because of our fear. Our faith can be shaken or even dismissed. We look at our circumstances and can only see the storm raging instead of looking to Jesus who is right there in the boat with us.

It can be so easy to give the disciples grief over their lack of faith. They had been following Jesus for a while and witnessed amazing miracles of healing and heard His teaching of hope and promise, and yet still let fear overshadow their faith in trusting what Jesus could do. Don’t we do the same thing? We can have amazing experiences of miraculous provisions, healing, and experiences in the presence of God, but moments later something unexpected comes along that levels us and we cry out in desperation, “Jesus, wake up! Don’t you care about me?”

In Warren W. Wiersbe’s commentary on Luke chapter eight, he says, “Faith is not believing in spite of circumstances; it is obeying in spite of feelings and consequences. The disciples looked around and saw danger, they looked within and saw fear; but they failed to look up by faith and see God”. We are to trust God no matter our circumstances, feelings, or the consequences of following Him. When we let fear become our focus, it prevents us from focusing on the One who is guiding us.

Isaiah 43:2 tells us:

“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.”

Notice it doesn’t say you won’t walk through waters, rivers, or fire. It says, WHEN you do, He will be with you guiding and protecting you.

No matter how faithful and obedient we may be, we still live in a world plagued by sin. Storms happen, plans fail, people leave, and life can become a mess, but we are promised God’s presence and protection. We are commanded to not fear or be anxious because He is merely a breath away in prayer with the future already figured out. Though things may come out of nowhere for us, they aren’t a surprise for God that will catch Him unprepared or ill equipped. He is always with us giving us exactly what we need for that day. Therefore, we can rest secure in the promise that we do not have to fear the storm.

Philippians 4:6-7
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Do Not Fear: What are you so afraid of? Week 1

Romans 8:15 
The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.”

Fear is given to us to make us aware of danger or harm, but there are the more common moments of experiencing fear that we create for ourselves. It can be deep, dark, and debilitating. It can consume us and overtake at any given moment. Fear can be strong and overpowering and if we do not appropriately guard our hearts against such fear, it can rob us of the freedom Christ died to give us making us slaves to it.

It has been almost a year since we have overcome a major family crisis and celebrated the restoration of our marriage. There were several months we all had to adjust to reunification, walk through daily grace and forgiveness, and be exposed to selfish patterns that had taken root in our hearts. After the first of this year, for about six weeks, I was basking in the joy of a peaceful home and happy marriage. Then, without warning, fear overshadowed my heart like never before.

It was so confusing! We were no longer in crisis. The hard part was over. Healing and health were budding its fruits. Where was this fear coming from?

Fear can take many forms. Here are some examples of what I was feeling: anxious, worried, nervous, insecure, intimidated, overwhelmed, frantic, flustered, and mistrustful. There are several emotions and words we may use to express how we feel, but the root of them all is fear. It felt like I had fallen into a pit of quicksand and the harder I tried to climb my way out of the mental black hole, the more it sucked me in with a fresh horror of “what if”.

What I have learned over the last several years was how our bodies are designed to respond to fear. As mentioned earlier, fear is given to us to make us aware of danger or harm so our bodies respond to fear to protect us. It is rare that we will find ourselves in the woods forging for food and happening upon a bear that threatens our life. However, we will experience more common fears of this life, like triggers from past traumas, anxiety, insecurity, or mistrust. When those fears set in, our bodies will respond the same as if a bear is about to eat us for lunch. The four most common responses to fear are fight, flight, freeze, and fawn.

The basics of these responses are common knowledge, but we can allow them to manifest within us in different ways. Fight can look like taking control, acting out, going into fix it mode, or broadcasting your problems to anyone who will listen. Flight can manifest as avoidance, distracting yourself, withdrawing, and denial (hello hours of mindless scrolling). Freezing can look like shutting down, ignoring, or isolating. And my most recent discovery is fawning, and it can look like people pleasing, pacifying, minimizing, or rationalizing. Does any of this sound familiar? I must admit, I have recognized a combination of these in how I respond to fear at any given moment.

Even knowing all this, when fear hit me earlier this year, I was still struggling to pull myself out of the quicksand. I was finally in a good place and the enemy used fear to distract me from admiring and enjoying the good that God had done in our lives. It took days of intentional time in God’s Word, prayer, and worshipping for the cloud to clear. However, God used that time to grow my faith and pull me closer to Him. It was so impactful that I knew I would have to share it. I took the time during Lent to study and journal my experience of what God showed me as I battled this fear, and I am so grateful I can share it with you over the next several weeks. Together we will look at Luke Chapter Eight and see how Jesus conquered our fears of storms, evil, sickness, and death.

If fear is something you have also faced and battled, I pray this series encourages you that you are not alone. No matter where we are in our faith journey or the season of life we are walking through, we all experience fear, worry, and insecurity. But the good news is that we have the Holy Spirit to walk us through with bold confidence that is not of our own strength. He never leaves or abandons His children. He is the Great Shepherd that walks with us through the valley.

I used a journaling exercise my counselor gave me several years ago that helped me fight the overwhelming fear I faced. This exercise has helped me so many times before and I want to share it in hopes it can help and encourage you. Write down all your fears, worries, and insecurities, then let the Holy Spirit guide you through His word to reveal the Truth. Use the search feature in your Bible app or topical concordance in the back of your Bible to help you search for verses that relate to your fear.

Here are some of my personal examples:

Fear vs. Truth

Abandonment and loneliness – I am never alone, God is my comfort and friend (Deuteronomy 31:6-8, Psalm 23:4)
Loss of control – God is in control, not me (Isaiah 55:8-9, Hebrews 11)
Things not going my way – God is faithful and trustworthy (Jeremiah 29:11-13, Philippians 4:6-9, 2 Corinthians 4:18)
Pain and suffering – suffering is temporary, and Jesus is my sympathetic High Priest (James 1:2-5, Romans 5:3-5, Hebrews 4:14-16)
Loss of approval & acceptance by others – His approval and acceptance is enough (Hebrews 13:6, Philippians 3:20-21)

New Series Begins 4.1.24!

What are you so afraid of?

We all have fears that haunt us and creep into our everyday lives. Fear can become so common that we allow it to move in and take residence in our minds without realizing it. Then, before we know it, we have enabled fear to completely control us.

The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” (Romans 8:15)

There is a better way to live. Over the next five weeks, we will walk through what scripture tells us about fear.

Do not fear. You are not alone!

New Year New Goals – Week 5 Encouragement: Share with Others

2 Corinthians 1:3-4
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.

We have all had the experience of a text at just the right time, a verse that hits the heart in the most needed way, or a compliment that lifts the weary head just a little on a defeating day. Encouragement can come in many ways, but it is the right amount of hope given at just the right time. Imagine a place where no encouragement can be found. How much easier and faster would we all give up?

The verse of 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 is what gave me the confident assurance that there is always purpose in my pain. During dark, dreary days, encouragement from others kept me going. There were times when prayers were poured over me by phone when I didn’t have the words to pray myself, times when scripture was texted to me at the perfect moment reminding me of God’s promises and Truth, and invitations to safely share what was on my heart that had been weighing me down. Once you have been the recipient of that kind of hope from encouragement, you know the value of giving it to others.

Though the details of our stories are different, we have all experienced the deep hurt from living in a broken, fallen world. When we encounter the Great Comforter in these moments, it shifts our perspective and hearts. God is our source of encouragement and hope in a messy world and it is our call as Believers to share this hope and comfort with others.

This encouragement should be an overflow from the first four steps of walking in providence: devotion, scripture, prayer, and community. When we experience the protective care of God, especially in difficult situations, we can’t help but share it with others. When we look at the miracles of Jesus, we see the first response of those touched and healed by Him is to run and share the good news of their healing with other, even when Jesus asked them to keep quiet. When the Father of all compassion comforts us in our troubles, we naturally want to share this same comfort with others.

Romans 15:13
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

How can we be an encouragement to others? We are all different with unique talents and gifts and this may look different for all of us. One of the best ways to be a great encourager is to make a list (if that’s your thing) of all the ways you have been encouraged by others. Have you been encouraged by someone texting that you were on their hearts and being prayed for? Has someone brought you a meal during a busy or difficult season? Has someone taken you to lunch or bought you a coffee? Think of ways you have been greatly encouraged and look to be a similar source of encouragement to someone else.

The best way I have found to be a source of encouragement is to be tuned into the promptings of the Holy Spirit. If you get a nudge to text someone, speak to the girl you don’t know well, or pay for the person ahead of you at the coffee shop, be obedient. The Holy Spirit knows what others need and may be using you as a vessel to be their comfort. Sometimes it can be as simple as a warm smile in the long line and a compliment on the shirt the cashier is wearing. Imagine this woman as being beaten down by life and wearing the same tired shirt she has had for five years, but the moment you warmly smile and sincerely compliment her, it could be the very thing that encourages her to keep going.

Be light in the darkness. Be the hands and feet of Jesus. Be kind. Be compassionate. Let the love and peace you have received from your Heavenly Father spill over to the lives of others pointing them to your source of strength and hope.

2 Corinthians 13:11
Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you.

1 Thessalonians 5:8-11
But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

If list making isn’t your thing, here is a list of ways I have received encouragement over the last several years. I pray it inspires you that even the smallest things can be a huge source of encouragement to someone else.

A texted prayer
Sending a link to an encouraging scripture, devotional, or sermon
Someone sending a praise song
Being invited to lunch or coffee
A meal provided for our family
A friend helping me fold my laundry while we talked
Offering to take the kids for an afternoon
A small gift like a candle or plush blanket
A compliment (this goes a long way when you feel tired and have cried a lot)
A hug

Prayer: Father, thank You for the ways I have felt encouraged this week. I ask that it is through Your protective care that I am filled to overflow with Your love, kindness, and encouragement to those around me. As You provide for my every need, use me to be a source of encouragement in meeting the needs of others.