• Storm image for Don't be afraid post
    Anxiety,  Encouragement,  Soul Care

    Don’t Be Afraid

    True Confessions. When I read Don’t be afraid or Fear not in the Bible, I think of Jesus standing with his hands on his hips, frowning, scolding me. I mean, it’s a command, and it’s a command I break with frightening regularity, so Jesus is disappointed with me, right? Maybe angry? Someone recently helped me see these commands in a different light, and I want to share that light with you. (Thank you Carrie Mars for your devotion Calm Your Anxious Mind.) Picture the scene. You’re in bed in the dark, and a storm is raging outside. Wind pelts the house and rhythmically slaps rain against the windows. Shadows from…

  • sound and fury banner
    Encouragement,  Lifestyle,  Soul Care

    Sound and Fury

    Shakespeare's Macbeth said life was a tale of sound and fury. Some days this is an accurate description. But look at God's kingdom, which is a place of peace, rest, and hope, and step away from the chaos into his quiet spaces.

  • Boat in a storm, the authority of Jesus
    Anxiety,  Bible Study,  Soul Care

    Asleep in the Boat–The Authority of Jesus

    This is who loves me. He’s Other, not quite tied to this world. That means I, as his daughter, am also other, not quite tied to this world. Anxiety, which plagues me, is worse when I forget that, and it lessens when I remember. The rules here, the chaos and noise, the rises and the falls—this isn’t my kingdom. It’s not my home. Jesus was homeless, and in a way I am, too, only it’s a good thing. How much time do I want to spend on real estate here? This place is a mess, and it isn’t mine. Not permanently.