If you ever feel stressed, a bit cranky, or as though you’ve been hit by a bus, this blog post is for you.

It was the last day of school, and my son Jon cheered with delight on our drive home. Outwardly, I applauded him for his learning and growth; inwardly, I felt . . . well, as though I’d been hit by a bus, which often tumbles me into being testy and short-tempered.

Reason being, my son with special needs goes to a great school for kids with learning differences. The staff and teachers carefully plan the students’ entire school-day schedule.

No stress.

But when summer rolls around, the thoroughly planned daily/weekly agenda falls on the shoulders of parents and caregivers . . . which brings lots of stress. In addition to the busy lives we all live, Jon’s school-day schedule was not finished, and the ol’ capricious state of anxious worry began to rise within me. I don’t know about you, but stress and I don’t do well together. I become cranky, the kids scatter, and even the dogs keep their distance.

A few days later, things were quiet around the house, and I noticed a “Family Rules” plaque which hangs close to the entrance of our home. How easy it is to miss valuable advice when tension fills our heads and worry floods our hearts.

Tired of myself and tired of being tired, I pondered each rule and asked myself some questions.

• Was I choosing to be kind, thankful, patient, and polite?
• How was my attitude . . . grateful or complaining?
• How were my manners with others . . . thoughtful by saying please and thank you?
• Were my responses to others loving, forgiving, honest, and kind?
• Finally, was I praying and in communion with the Lord?

Notice that the “Say Your Prayers” rule appears at the center of the plaque.

I didn’t pass with flying colors.

What Was Christ’s Attitude?

Christ encountered more pressure, pain, and hardship than anyone who has walked the earth.

Called to walk among us and sacrifice His life that we might have the hope of eternal life, no one can have more reasons than He did to be stressed out. But was Jesus ever stressed out? The four gospels—Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John—provide a close-up view of how Christ lived His life.

The picture is multicolored. Christ received death threats beginning just after His birth, unfair judging, ridiculous insults, discrimination, and relentless questions by the pathetically proud. All the while, He loved His enemies, cared for the downtrodden, healed the sick, opened His arms to the undeserving, listened to those in pain, responded to many in need, and lived peacefully in the midst of it all.

Never was Christ portrayed as losing his wits, frazzled with pressures, jittery with anxiety, hassled or worried—even though God’s plan for His life was far beyond the worries of our own modern-day daily schedules and planned summer events.

Help from God’s Word

So what can we learn about living out a few of the “Family Rules” in spite of our circumstances? How do we remain calm when storms hit, when sorrow spills, or when life isn’t as we planned it to be?

The answer is found in the gospels . . . weaved within the words and chapters, we see a model of one who consistently communed with the Father. He was obedient unto death, focused on His call, and dependent on God in ALL THINGS.

• Luke 24:49 reminds us that the Holy Spirit is present, willing to fill us with all strength.
• John 14:1–16:15 promises the Holy Spirit is our advocate, present to encourage, instruct, and strengthen us.
• Finally, John 15:4 offers the final answer—or “rule” shall we say: “Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me” (NLT).

Let Me Hear from You

Christ, our ever present strength, our unconditionally loving and kind and forgiving Lord is waiting for you to reach out and rest in His calm hands. And how do you get there? Always remember to “say your prayers.”

Questions: Have you broken away from the Vine? How is your connection to Christ’s life-giving strength? Does the love of Christ flow through you? How are you doing with some of the “Family Rules”? Better yet, how would your family say you are doing? You can leave a comment by clicking here.

I love it when things thrive and live and hate it when things wither and die. It all sounds quite simple. However, in the past few years, I’ve found a correlation between beautiful landscapes and beautiful souls.

Lovely landscapes don’t just happen. Preparing a beautiful landscape begins long before the flowers arrive.

The soul is cultivated in a similar way.

They Lied

It all started when I began to dig in the dirt.

When I moved to Texas, I noticed my yard lacked creative curb appeal. Updating the yard didn’t seem complicated; lots of hard work mixed with some creativity and a yard improvement magazine would fix things up. I hauled in 2,000 pounds of rock and stone, built flowerbeds and a cozy pathway, tilled and amended soil, and planted a few trees.

Curb appeal was over the top . . . for a while.

Slowly but ever so surely, things began to come apart. My English rose leaves became covered in black spots and died. My vibrant, colorful flowers wilted and expired. And what wasn’t dead was eaten up by the ever-increasing population of wild rabbits.

I tried everything. I added fertilizer, compost, anti-fungal sprays, water, organic material. I checked the pH levels. And I repeated the cycle with relentless resolve. Interestingly, every product I purchased promised to provide a beautiful, healthy landscape like the one pictured on the package.

They lied.

The Problem is Dirt

My husband and I attended one of those weekend home shows that had landscaping booths. I zipped from one to another until . . . until one guy told me the problem. It wasn’t the plants, sprays, water, or even the rabbits. The soil had a deeply webbed infection that attacked the roots of healthy plants, clotted up the soil, and sucked the plant dry. The prognosis was not grand . . . this infection was one of the worst any yard could have.

Healing the land required two seasons of amending the soil, constantly digging up the knotted webbing, replacing the Texas clay with healthy soil, irrigating well, and mixing into the ground “healthful bugs” (for lack of a better term) and worms, all of which would help kill the disease.

I kid you not; I thought parenting was painstaking until this yard problem exploded. I’ve spent the past several years carefully following directions, and hopefully, this year my plants will survive.

Curb Appeal

Like curb appeal, I’ve noticed there is a form of “Christian appeal.”

Many Christians appear lovely, as if they’ve got it all together . . . but upon closer inspection, their appeal is only skin-deep.

If our souls are not saturated with Christ, we quickly wither away. Our soul infection is sin; it weaves its webs around the roots of our souls, eventually leading to a worn out, withered soul.

Life-Giving Lessons

Using soil as a metaphor for the soul, here are three life-giving lessons.

1. Find the root of the problem. Outer struggles and circumstances reveal areas where our soul needs God’s care. Believing a change of circumstances will offer a better life is like believing all those bottles of spray and bags of fertilizer will heal a diseased yard. Our real need is soul-healing. Proverbs 4:23 speaks well to this need: “Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life” (NLT).
2. Focus on the life-giving power of God’s Word. Psalm 119:105 says: “Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path” (NLT). In my yard, I had to dig down beneath the surface and take out the infected stuff and put in the right nutrients—consistently and continually. God’s Word contains every nutrient for our soul, so we must consistently and continually put it into our lives. (See also Romans 12:1–2, Ephesians 6:10–17, Philippians 4:8–9.)
3. Follow God’s direction as outlined in Scripture with deliberate, determined, and disciplined effort. I was given direction for cultivating healthy soil and followed it with deliberate, determined, and disciplined effort. The book of Deuteronomy tells us to love the Lord with heart, mind, and soul; the book of James speaks of having a congruent life—in mind, thought, word, and deed; Romans reveals a practicum, so to speak, for the Christian life. Following God’s Word with deliberate, determined, and disciplined effort will keep your soul healthy.

Let Me Hear from You 

Questions: Are you consistently cultivating your soul with the deliberate, determined, and disciplined study of God’s Word? What has blossomed in your life as a result of your digging into God’s Word? You can leave a comment by clicking here.

It was an enviable life.

Jennifer Shaw had strong Christian parents, an excellent education, a loving husband, and two adorable girls.

But it changed almost overnight.

A miscarriage that almost took her life, her beloved father’s diagnosis of a terminal disease, and the birth of her non-typical son turned Jennifer’s life into one of suffering, sorrow, and searching. 

But her story of also includes a surprising turn as she discovered God’s faithfulness and goodness through her suffering.

Click play to watch video.

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Jennifer offers a depth of understanding for caregivers and those with disabilities, empathy for those who have lost a loved one, and compassion for all who encounter lifechanging circumstances.

An award-winning recording artist, writer, speaker, and worship leader, Jennifer Shaw is also an advocate for those diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease) and Sensory Processing Disorder, and she stays active with World Vision.

Interview Questions:

1. What prompted you to write your book, Life Not Typical?
2. You came back to the Lord, married, and seemed to have a blessed life. Then it all changed. How would you describe the “life before/life after” scenarios, when hardships began to multiply?
3. What can you say to those who are in deep grief?
4. While your dad was very ill, you wrote a song to him. How did that come about?
5. What were some essential passages of Scripture that helped you survive?
6. As your dad’s life was failing, your son was born—which started another crisis. What was that about?
7. You spent years searching for some kind of explanation for your son’s differences. How did you experience the day of diagnosis? What were your experiences as you desperately sought some answers for his challenges?
8. What helped you through the overwhelming feelings after the diagnosis?
9. How is Toby today?
10. What final thoughts can you share with those who are in the midst of great struggle?

For You

Question: Based on the difficult issues Jennifer touches on, what thoughts do you have to share or what needs for support do you have. You can leave a comment by clicking here.  

Recommended Resources

To contact Jennifer, to listen to her music, to order her book, Life Not Typical or for event bookings, you can connect with her on her Web site.

Insight for Living Suggested Resources

CD Series by Charles R. Swindoll:

•  Encouraging Words for Discouraging Days

MP3 Instant Downloads by Charles R. Swindoll:

• Hope Again: When Life Hurts and Dreams Fade

• Timely Reminders of God’s Sovereignty

Books by Charles R. Swindoll:

• Living the Psalms: Encouragement for the Daily Grind
• Perfect Trust: Ears to Hear, Hearts to Trust and Minds to Rest in Him

The opening story of the evening news was about a parent who forgot her child in the car. The day’s temperature was 107 degrees, outside of the car.

The next story was about several people gunned down, and the next one detailed a car accident that resulted in severe injuries to all parties.

By then, I turned the channel.

We hear about crises all the time. Sometimes we receive reports from friends and family about recent deaths or diseases, accidents, unexpected losses, divorces, financial hardships, and ongoing national disasters.

At other times, television news or Internet sites report an impending crisis in the economy, the weather, or our neighborhoods. Regardless of how often we hear about crises in general, when they happen close to home—to a loved one, a friend, a family member, or to us personally—most people say, “I never expected this would happen to me, to us, to them, or around here.”

Rarely does a person expect a crisis to be personal; therefore, rarely are most people prepared for the recovery process.

But you can be.

Preparing for What You Never Expected

In Dr. H. Norman Wright’s book titled A New Guide to Crisis and Trauma Counseling: A Practical Guide for Ministers, Counselors, and Lay Counselors, he wrote:

The journey through life is a series of losses, crises and, in some cases, traumas—some are predictable and expected, but others are total surprises. Some crises are developmental; some are situational. . . . Being alive means that we constantly have to resolve problems. Every new situation we encounter provides us the opportunity to develop new ways of using our resources . . . [and] by being persistent, we discover ways to overcome these problems. . . .

One day, however, we will encounter a change or problem that seems beyond our capacity to cope. When a problem is overwhelming, or when our support system—within ourselves or from others—doesn’t work, we are thrown off balance.¹

Many of us are currently enduring a crisis. We are filled with worry, panic, pain, and loneliness. As adults, we must remember that crisis and chaos affect others as well—specifically children and adolescents. They often encounter awful tragedies with very few resources to get through the pain. As adults, we are responsible to look out for their well-being, as well as our own.

What We Need To Remember about What We Forget

Yes, crisis changes the course of our lives.

But what we often forget is that the changes can open doors to a life better than what would have been if the crisis had not happened.

• When we turn to our powerful and sovereign God, He opens our eyes to new and different opportunities, which creates new hope.
• God brings that hope by directing our lives to a meaningful purpose during the healing process.

Sometimes we need guidance in moving forward, in getting through that process.

Here are some suggestions:

1. Plan time for purposeful self reflection: Identify your feelings; then talk with the Lord about them, seeking wisdom and direction. Commune alone with Christ at intervals throughout each day. Seek an older, spiritually sound individual to assist you with your struggles.
2. Pursue healing from your losses: Choose to face the losses and pain you experience. It is helpful to begin a journal, to meet with a counselor or mentor regularly, and to document significant losses on a timeline. Allow yourself to grieve, then ask the Lord for His healing. You might also become active in a group recovery program or a related class.
3. Practice spiritual disciplines: To discipline means to set in a right course or direction. In other words, set your mind on what is right, good, true, and pure. Begin with some of these ideas: meditate, recite, or memorize a passage of Scripture that speaks of what is right and pure, of walking in wisdom, or of an attribute of God such as His sovereignty, faithfulness, goodness, righteousness, power, justice, and holiness. You could also spend time each day in prayer following the Lord’s Prayer found in Matthew 6:9–13.

May these actions become rich reservoirs of restoration for you in the days ahead.

Question: What helps you deal with the unexpected? You can leave a comment by clicking here.

"Timely Reminders of Timeless Truths" (CD or MP3)

The Best of 2009 (CD or MP3)

Peace . . . in Spite of Panic (booklet)

"Promise Notebook" Video Insight

1. H. Norman Wright, A New Guide to Crisis and Trauma Counseling: A Practical Guide for Ministers, Counselors, and Lay Counselors (Ventura, Calif.: Regal, 2003), 9.

When I say desert, what comes to your mind?

Perhaps the brilliant stars, the bursting colors, or the brisk, cool evening air that brings relief from the day’s heat. Such thoughts refer to physical deserts, but I’m thinking of the periods in our lives that leave us feeling desperate, disillusioned, and dry.

Desert seasons lack sparkling stars and brilliant colors, don’t they?

Some of you have been there; some of you are there right now. In this broken world of ours, we all will pass through a desert or two . . . or more.

Needing a Cool Drink

Not long ago, I found myself recalling a former desert period in my life. During my time in that spiritual desert, breathing was a robotic action, time ticked along slowly, my soul was barren, and I felt bewildered in my faith. I wanted to sit, waste away, and stop my mind from thinking, which it rarely does.

Deep down, I longed to find joy and laughter that had been my constant companion. But life continued as it always had, with no grand shazam or poof . . . all is well. Time had to pass for transformation to take place. It is hard to believe that vibrant life develops in desert places because the landscape seems awfully dusty and dismal.

Following my visit to this once forsaken spot, I reflected on what God had done in my life as a result of my desert experience.

Let me share them with you.

3 Truths about Desert Experiences

I pass these thoughts along to you in case you or someone you know needs a bit of hope or some help trudging through the dusty desert.

1. We are never alone in the desert. Though we often feel alone, God is more present than ever. In the desert, God removes our dependencies, our delights, and all we have hoped for in this life, and it feels awful at the moment. But desert experiences reveal our true character and give us the choice, either to depend on God to transform us or to reject Him and run. Letting go and trusting God is hard, so it helps to reflect on others who have faced that same choice. Think of Joseph, Moses, David, Elijah, Hannah, Ruth, Job, Jeremiah, Daniel, Paul, the disciples, and certainly Christ Himself. They were all desert dwellers, and God did amazing things in and through them! We know the end of their stories, but yours is still being written. Clinging to Christ will result in your own amazing story.


2. We must choose upon whom to fix our minds because there’s a lot of thinking time in the desert. We can ruminate on the past, the losses, the wrongs and become dry and ugly or we can think on truth and become vibrant and lovely. I chose to fix my mind on truth . . . to firmly focus on God’s eternal Word. I frequently read passages like Job 23:8–10; Psalm 1; 27; 40–41; 90– 91; 119; 121; Isaiah 26:2–9; Matthew 5:3–12; Romans 5:1–5; 2 Corinthians 1:2–22; and Philippians 2; 4. How is God’s truth quenching your thirsty soul?


3. Deserts reveal our attitudes, senses of entitlement, expectations, and our broken, selfish conditions. Time in the desert gives us the opportunity to change our perspective and our attitude. Characteristics of a good attitude include gratitude, thankfulness, humility, purity, peacekeeping, gentleness, kindness, mindfulness, grace, sacrifice, tenderness, mercy, honesty, and authenticity. Attitude change begins when we stop demanding answers and trust God’s purpose. How is your attitude these days?

Let Me Hear from You

As I returned from a visit to the desert of my past, I realized God had used that time to change me. Now it’s your turn.

• If you are currently in the desert, are you choosing Christ and trusting in Him?
• I would love to encourage you—we all need support to endure. Please share your experience below.

Question: If you have endured deserts in the past, what have you learned that you can pass along? What an encouragement you could be to others! You can leave a comment by clicking here.

This was a doctor’s office first.

The room was superbly sterilized, and I was nervously flipping the pages of a magazine when I saw something move across the floor. Tiny as it was, its color caught my attention. Wrapped in its itsy-bitsy armor, colored red with black dots, a ladybug was crawling across the floor.

Obviously, he’d taken a wrong turn outside and was lost.

My thoughts fluttered . . .

• How did he end up on the fourth floor of a medical building?
• How long had he been missing?
• Did his parents know he had been out all night?

Because it was early spring, there had to be ladybug spring fests everywhere and little Junior was missing; in fact, he had to be absolutely lost.

I kept my eye on Junior through the appointment in hopes that I could give him a lift homeward.

As the doc left, I snatched a paper towel and leaned over toward the bug.

I gently scooped him up. Wouldn’t you know, that tiny insect did a ladybug “stop, tuck, and roll” move; defending himself as ladybugs do when confronted by a potential predator.

I carried the rolled-up ladybug on the paper towel down the elevator and released him onto the sun-drenched, shiny green leaves outside.

What was lost had been found and returned to safety.

Ladybugs and God's Grace

We can learn much from Junior because Junior represents something in all of us.

We are lost, fearful, and without hope for rescue unless we entrust our lives to Christ. On our own, we end up lost in many ways . . . physically, emotionally, spiritually, socially, personally, and mentally—to name a few.

The very worst is when we are lost spiritually, when we’ve lost hope, or trust, or faith that God is real and on a rescue mission purposed to save us.

• In these moments, we are often afraid.
• Fear causes us to believe we can rescue ourselves through our own control, power, skill, knowledge, ability, strength, or what have you.
• Yet this very moment, Christ’s eyes are on you, and He is reaching out to rescue you.

Right now, say “Lord, I trust you to save me, to bring me through. I surrender my life to you.”

You’ve just been rescued!

Comfort from God’s Word

I’ve been lost many times. During one such season of profound pain, the Lord directed me to this passage, rescuing me from fear and doubt.

Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust." . . .

"Because he loves me," says the LORD, "I will rescue him;
I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.

He will call on me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble,
I will deliver him and honor him.

With long life I will satisfy him
and show him my salvation." (Psalm 91:1–2, 14–16 NIV)

Let Me Hear from You

If you are lost or afraid or running away from Christ, will you let me know? I would love to share other words of hope which are sure to restore, repair, renew, and reveal that God is our sure and safe refuge.You can leave a comment by clicking here.

Marriages often struggle with the significant challenges that come with raising a special needs child.

Joe and Cindi Ferrini have been there—and are making it work.

This interview will encourage you in your marriage as Joe and Cindi balance serious topics with much-needed humor. We discuss commitment, good choices, adaptation and acceptance, divorce, dependence on biblical truth, and the importance of a Spirit-filled life.  

Your special needs family doesn’t have to erode your marriage. Joe and Cindi are proof that you can make it stronger.

Click play to watch the video.

(Can't see the video in email or RSS? Click here.)

Interview Questions

1. What are some common marital challenges when raising a special needs loved one?
2. How do you manage family time and fun in the midst of trying to cope as individuals and as a couple?
3. Joe, what advice do you have for fathers or male caregivers?
4. What are some things couples can do to move forward with success?
5. What are some key points couples must focus on?
6. What passages of Scripture do you use to encourage others?
7. When marriages are struggling—or if there is a divorce—what guidance do you recommend?
8. How does your relationship with the Lord strengthen your marriage?

Joe and Cindi Ferrini have been married for 33 years and have three grown children and two grandchildren. They speak nationally with Family Life’s “Weekend to Remember,” and they have appeared as guests on Family Life Today and Focus on the Family. 

Joe and Cindi host the broadcast, Marriage Matters—a fun and informative five-minute radio spot that airs Monday mornings at 6:05 and 8:05 AM.

Their book, Unexpected Journey: When Special Needs Change Our Course, weaves their story about raising their special needs son as well as caring for their aging parents.  

For You

Questions: What did you find helpful from the video? What are some issues for which you would like to have more direction or support? You can leave a comment by clicking here.

Recommended Resources

To connect with Joe and Cindi—or to find more information about their resources, books, blogs, and speaking engagements—you can connect with them in the following ways:

• Broadcast: My Marriage Matters
• Facebook: My Marriage Matters
  
• Web: joeferrini.com or cindiferrini.com

Books by Joe and/or Cindi:

• Unexpected Journey: When Special Needs Change Our Course
• Balancing the Active Life: A Bible Study
• Get it Together: An Organizational Planner
• Tis the Season: A “Less Stress” Christmas Planner

Insight for Living Suggested Resources

DVDs by Charles R. Swindoll:

• Family Matters: Investing in the Things That Last
  

MP3 Instant Downloads by Charles R. Swindoll:

• Family Matters: Investing in the Things That Last
• Life Lessons Just for Women
• Getting through the Tough Stuff of Divorce  

While sitting in a doctor’s waiting room the other day, I wondered, If the walls could speak, what would they say?

Stories of sorrows, successes, survivors, suffering, surprises, and more? I mean, what would the walls say about our thoughts when all is silent and we wait?

I bet the walls would speak of wordless things like our fears, loneliness, sadness, self-doubt, loneliness, questions, bewilderment, anger . . . and oh, and did I mention loneliness?

Henri Nouwen says this about silence:

For most people, silence creates itchiness and nervousness. Many experience silence not as full and rich, but as empty and hollow. For them silence is like a gaping abyss which can swallow them up. . . . [P]eople tend to become restless and preoccupied with only one thought: "When will this be over?”¹

I’m sure the walls would tell you such were the thoughts and emotions I had in many silent waiting rooms. Today, I would say silence has become the wisest teacher I’ve ever known.

Isn’t it odd to say that silence is a teacher . . . a teacher has to talk to teach, right? In this distracted, disengaged, and dying world of ours, we often make that assumption.

However, it has been in those still and silent waiting rooms I have learned the most.

Let me share with you what I've learned in God's waiting room.

What I’ve Learned While Waiting

• I must listen with my eyes, with my mind, and with my heart.
• Significant comfort doesn’t require words or knowledge, just one’s presence.
• My discomfort with silence usually isn’t about the silence itself but about what rattles around in my mind in the silence . . . an unrested soul has a lot to say.
• Being resentful of silence is often connected to the conflict between accepting God’s will and wanting my way.
• The depth of my brokenness is unveiled . . . I hear emotions of bitterness, anger, resentment, blame . . . or nothing but echoes of an empty, hollow self.
• At the center of it all, silence reveals my greatest need: God’s presence in my life.

Have you been a bit restless lately? Maybe sitting in a waiting room and wondering when it will all be over?

I still fight restlessness at times, but I’ve learned the fighting is simply a resistance to accept circumstances I don’t like. When we choose to ask for His presence to fill us, transforming change begins; the battles of the will are reduced, and we find peace.

Encouragement from God’s Word

Perhaps David’s prayer will encourage you to pray what David prayed:

Search me, O God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
Point out anything in me that offends you,
and lead me along the path of everlasting life. (Psalm 139:23–24 NLT)

If the walls of waiting rooms and silent places could talk, what would be said of you?

Let Me Hear From You

Question: What have you learned from waiting on God? You can leave a comment by clicking here.

1. Henri J. M. Nouwen, The Way of the Heart (New York: Ballantine, 1981), 52.

We all have little habits that help us along in life, and writers are no different.

Some need silence; others compose in chaos. When I write, quiet music calms my soul, soothes my busy mind, and sweeps away the troubles of the day.

However, the other day it felt like no words would come. I sat at my messy desk for several hours writing, deleting, writing, deleting. Finally, at 11:23 p.m. I laid my head on my desk and let the quiet music play.

The hymn began . . .

Be still my soul; the Lord is on thy side;
Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain.
Leave to thy God to order and provide;
In every change He faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul; thy best, thy heavenly Friend
Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.

Be still, my soul; thy God doth undertake
To guide the future as He has the past.
Thy hope, thy confidence, let nothing shake;
All now mysterious shall be bright at last.
Be still, my soul; the waves and winds still know
His voice who ruled them while He dwelt below.

Be still, my soul, though dearest friends depart
And all is darkened in the vale of tears;
Then shalt thou better know His love, His heart,
Who comes to soothe thy sorrows and thy fears.
Be still, my soul; thy Jesus can repay
From His own fullness all He takes away.

Be still, my soul; the hour is hastening on
When we shall be forever with the Lord,
When disappointment, grief, and fear are gone,
Sorrow forgot, love’s purest joys restored.
Be still, my soul; when change and tears are past,
All safe and blessed we shall meet at last.¹

Being still is not a natural habit for me, which is why writing had become nearly impossible that night. So I chose to sit in stillness, open my soul, and listen to the Lord. And worries, recent losses, deep grief, discouragement, and exhaustion bubbled up. I needed to cry, to pray, to let go, and to quit trying to run my life. God wanted my heart, not my “to do” list. So for the next hour or so, my heart opened up to His care.

When was the last time you slowed down, sat in silence, and allowed the Lord to care for your soul? This hymn reminds us to leave our pain at the cross. Our Lord guides our future, He rules the waves and the wind, our tears matter to Him, and He soothes us in our sorrow. When we encounter Him in the stillness, our soul finds unshakable confidence and hope as we rest upon Him. The Lord is directing me to cultivate the habit of stillness. If you have felt stuck lately, your soul may need to rest. In rest we can find freedom and peace.

Let Me Hear from You

How about cultivating this habit together? Let me know what happens as you choose to be still . . . it is an amazing experience. You can leave a comment by clicking here.

I promise to share how He’s working in my life too. It all started with this very post.

1. Catharina von Schlegel, “Be Still, My Soul,” in The Lutheran Hymnal, trans. Jane Borthwick (St. Louis: Concordia, 1941), hymn #651.

I think Thomas the apostle gets a bad rap. Nicknamed “Doubting Thomas,” he is often negatively characterized and judged in many Christian circles. Who would want to be looked down upon as a doubter? Have any of us lived without wrestling with doubt? When our faith grows deep, doubt is often a part of the process. The following passage offers a wealth of freedom and hope to all who experience doubt.

Now Thomas . . . one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:24–28 NIV)

Some Observations

First, I want to mention four observations:

1. Thomas, one of the 12 disciples, was chosen by Christ and had close fellowship with Him.
2. Thomas was not present when Christ appeared to the disciples the first time.
3. Thomas was told by the other disciples that Christ appeared.
4. Thomas verbalized his need to see Christ’s hands, feet, and side so that he could believe.

Next, one must remember that Thomas had just watched one of his closest friends viciously and violently killed. Watching, hearing, and experiencing such fierce brutality is extremely traumatizing. It is impossible to know how Thomas’ mind, body, and spirit were affected by his grief and by the intensity of such trauma. Considering these realities, I’m filled with compassion for Thomas. He was overwhelmed and had a hard time believing the disciples’ report about Jesus’s resurrection.

But that was not the end of the story. A week passed and Thomas was gathered together with the gang once again. Jesus miraculously appeared, spoke peace, and then turned to Thomas. I get so excited here because, remember, Thomas told the disciples, not Jesus, what he needed. But Jesus knew Thomas and repeated some of Thomas’ exact words . . . hand, side, finger . . . to help Thomas believe. What love, what comfort, what grace!

“Peace Be with You”

If you happen to be one who struggles to believe, I understand. Sometimes I wrestle with trusting in what I cannot see. May the following passages encourage and lift your soul.

God Is Our Sustainer

I cried to the LORD with my voice,
And He heard me from His holy hill.
I lay down and slept;
I awoke, for the LORD sustained me. (Psalm 3:4–5 NKJV)

God Is Our Guide

Now thanks be to God who always leads us into triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. (2 Corinthians 2:14 NKJV)