Poetry: Risen

Risen

Prostrate fallen, to holy knees 

Beneath the Olive Trees.

Tears of Scarlet did fall

And no friends to come when You called

Conversing with the holy Father

Fear and Love, in one prayer.

You prayed for unity

For Your bride, in love and beauty.

Betrayed by a beloved friend

Sent with no one to defend

All alone You suffered

The cruel hands of the soldiers’ scourge

Denied by the best of friends

Body torn, agony deepens

Alone, is He, perfect Lamb;

No one can save the purest Man.

Shame has become his crown,

The thorns sharp upon His brow.

Mocking words, spitting mouths

In all sorts of manner uncouth. 

The riotous crowd calls for blood,

The sound is as a roaring flood. 

They call for the release of a criminal;

To treat the innocent as a sacrificial animal.

Here it comes: The darkest of Days

Trudging down Calvary’s way.

A tree is carried, splintering

Grinding against flesh torn and bleeding

Spikes driven, forced through,

Two for hands, one for foot. 

In His shame they raise Him high;

Between criminals left and right. 

Mercy for one; but the other denies. 

The women lift their cries,

And His forever beloved friend,

Will care for His mother to the end.

He cries for heaven; His Father of Love;

But there is no help to come from above.

God, in His pain, gives His Son

So that our hearts may be won.

His breath, final and sure,

Finishes what He endured. 

The earth trembled and shook,

The sun darkened like soot.

From top to bottom the temple curtain tore;

For we will ne’er be separated from Him evermore.

For truly, He is the Son of the most High,

And salvation is drawing nigh.

They laid Him in the tomb,

Thinking all was lost and darkness loomed.

A heavy stone was made to cover

For He was never again to wander.

Day one, dark; the fallen angels revel.

Day two, dark; the Liar thinks he’s level.

But the next day to come

Will bring light to end the doom.

Day three, Light! The angel tosses a stone.

The bruiser of heels, cracks like dry bones.

The Lion of Judah stands on his feet,

And the enemy’s head is crushed in defeat!

And this I know, He’s paved a way

A way for me to be saved.

To know a God whose love is endless

For me, a broken sinful mess. 

To know His heart, to know His Grace,

I now can run this race!

I have a love, a friend a Father;

Earthly success I do not need to gather.

He loves me for me,

A child redeemed and free!

And I know beyond all doubt, or fear,

That my Jesus is very near.

The resurrected Jesus, the risen One,

Has lifted my head up to the sun. 

He rose, declaring death did not own me. 

For I am His child, forever will I be.

Fruit of the Spirit, Kindness: Loving Helpfulness

 Dear Sisters in Christ,

Think of our modern-day world, especially this past year. Think of people's behavior. Think of behavior by politicians, radio talk show hosts, people on the news, and even those on social media. 

How would you describe their behavior? (Maybe even yours?)

For the most part, not good; because our nation is extremely divided right now.

Truth is, a lot of these people show the exact opposite of biblical kindness. I am not saying we can expect non-Christians to behave like Christians. However, what about us? How have we been acting? It is always good to be checking in with ourselves on these issues. 

In the original manuscripts of the bible, the greek word for kindness was Chrestotes (Kress-toh-tez; this is a translation I heard. If any Greek scholars see this pronunciation is incorrect, please tell me!) This has a few different meanings such as:

-Useful

-Useful for others

-Pleasant

-Having integrity or value in relationships with others

This brings me back to the verse Ephesians 4:29:

"Let no filthy or abusive language enter your lips. Let your words be helpful and good, so that they may help and encourage those who listen."

From Walt Disney Studios

There are many ways we can give kindness; but oftentimes, we think about kindness in our words, spoken or typed. As Christians, we are to treat brothers and sisters as well as those in the world as fellow image-bearers of God. Are the words you utter really, truly going to be useful to the person hearing it? Is it helpful? 

And in the context of today's world, is what you say, type, or share contributing to the rising division of today's world? Is it demeaning, abusive, or unhelpful? Then, if so, in the context of the biblical meaning of kindness, it is wrong. Things that harm, hurt, or push others away from God are not kind. Gossip, slander, abusive or harsh language, dishonesty, bullying, humiliating others are all things that have no place in the life of someone proclaiming to follow God.

We are to be kind to others even when they are people we aren't crazy about. (Luke 6:32, Matthew 7:12.) And since every human being regardless of political affiliation, monetary status, fame, background, race, ethnicity, etc. is made in God's image, we don't discriminate our kindness. 

Kindness is love in action, my friends. 

God has been so tenderhearted, patient, and of course, kind, with us. Do the things you do, and the words you say or type, truly reflect God's character to the world? Is it going to pour more hatred into an already divided world? 

If we truly want to be transformed and set apart in this world, then choose to not participate in speech, or actions which only cause harm. (Romans 12:2.)

The more we pursue a relationship with God, the more our character should be changing to be more like Him. If your actions and character are not evolving to be more like Him, then it's time to take a hard look at our lives and ask if we really have been spending enough time with Him. We should also ask if our pride is preventing us from really being honest with ourselves about the things we know we shouldn't be doing. Pride can hinder our growth and walk with God as well. 

Sisters, this week, please consider how you can pour more kindness and goodness into the world around you. Consider how your words and your deeds can be more helpful. Let's make this world a more beautiful place.

Love, 

Chelsea

Fruit of the Spirit, Patience: More Than Quietly Waiting it Out

 Dear Sisters in Christ,

When I first wanted to start wanting to write this blog series in September, I came to a realization. I came to understand that I didn't fully understand these fruits as well as I thought. Patience was one of the ones I was definitely a little more uncertain on. 

When I began doing a word study on Patience, what I found was that in certain translations, like the NKJV, Patience was not really the best word for every place it appeared. 

Patience is often translated from two different Greek terms: Hypomone (Hi-po-moh-nay) and Makrothymia (Mack-Ro-Thigh-Mee-Uh).  Hypomone means to be steadfast, to persevere, to have endurance, and to be unwavering in one's faith regardless of circumstances. I will do an article on Hypomone at another time.

However, the one discussed in Galatians 5:22-23, Makrothymia, refers to being slow to anger, to wait out having anger, or to be without an angered reaction to something. 

Patience as a Fruit of the Spirit, means that we are gracious to others. It means that we are careful not to display rage or say hurtful things to others out of anger. This does not mean that we cannot express when something has hurt or upset us; but we cannot be rude, hateful, act in a rage, or maliciously make fun of another person. (Psalm 37:8, Proverbs 15:1, Ephesians 4:26, Colossians 3:8)

That cashier who messes up your order? Smile at them, and tell them that you understand that it was an honest mistake, but that you would still like for it to be fixed. You can request something be corrected without being ugly. You meet someone who is not a Christian and doesn't understand you? Don't belittle them for not understanding you. Simply say that you understand that in their shoes, you could see how the way you live might not make sense to them. Don't lash out and judge them for it.

You get the idea. Patience isn't the act of letting someone walk all over you. It is the act of taking a breath and realizing that none of us are perfect, and extending grace to our fellow man. How patient has God been with you, dear sister?

Every one of us has things in our own lives that we struggle with. We have bad days, highs and lows; yet, God is still here with us, holding our hands and leading us to better tomorrows. (Psalm 103:8.)

If you happen to act in a way that doesn't display the patience of God, admit that you absolutely did not act like Jesus in that moment.  Apologize to the person, if possible. (Side note: Parents need to be better about admitting when they don't respond in a Christ-like manner to their children.) Ask God for forgiveness; then resolve to do better. Acknowledge those triggers that lead you to lose your temper. Then, have a plan in place, and pray, to help you escape the temptation in the future to lash out. God always provides a way. Believe it and look for it. (1 Corinthians 10:13.)

We don't always know someone's full story. We don't always know if they have had a bad day, or if they are struggling and overwhelmed. When people are struggling with mental health problems, grieving a loss, or just going through a trauma, people may behave in ways they might not normally. They may become more absentminded and make really dumb mistakes. 

I knew a lady a few years ago who had experienced a great loss. A relatively short time afterwards, she had said something careless to me. When she realized what she had said in that moment, you could see on her face she felt very regretful and embarrassed.

 I've been there. I know how clouded and heavy your mind can get when you are overwhelmed by things going on. And, knowing how tender-hearted this lady is, I know she sincerely didn't mean anything rude or hurtful. This incident also got me thinking. 

How would have I reacted if I hadn't known what was occurring with her? It was humbling, and good food for thought.

You don't always know. God knows. People around us are hurting everyday, and in so many ways.When someone makes a mistake, does something ridiculous, wrong, or does something less than loving, this is where patience needs to come in. We don't know a person's story like God does. 

Be patient and gracious. Smile and offer compassion. Be slow to speak, and quick to listen (James 1:19.) 

And, I know we joke about it a lot, but don't be afraid to ask for more patience. Granted, you will probably be put in a lot of frustrating situations, but you will grow. It's a tough pill to swallow, but you cannot grow unless you are uncomfortable. It isn't easy, but it always leads to good things.

Love,

Chelsea

Fruit of the Spirit, Peace: The Piece of Completeness

 Dear Sisters in Christ,

One of my favorite hymns is "It is Well With My Soul". The first verse says this:

When peace like a river attendeth my way, when sorrows like sea billows roll; whatever my lot thou hast taught me to say it is well, it is well with my soul."

In times of hardship or goodness, God gives those that follow Him this: Peace. 

But, what is biblical peace, exactly? I'm going to be honest, when I first started writing this, I realized that maybe I didn't understand as well as I originally thought. One part of bible study for me that is particularly helpful is looking at the words in the original translations to really understand what they are all about. It really gives a more complete picture of what the biblical authors and Holy Spirit are trying to portray to us.

Peace is a prime example of this. In the hymn mentioned above, the writer expresses that, even in difficulties, he can still say that things are well with his soul. Just how does this happen?

In Hebrew the word used for peace is 'Shalom' (Shah-lohm), and in the New Testament Greek, 'Eirene' (ay-ray-nay). Both give the idea of binding things together that were once broken. About making things complete, or to restore something. For instance, let's say you're building a wall or tower from blocks or stone. If one block is missing or out of place, we all know that the structure will not be able to hold itself up. 

God is the missing piece to the brokenness that comes from living in world that has been made imperfect from sin.

God completes us. When we look to things of this world to make us complete, whether it be things like relationships, money, sex, or whatever the case may be, they will ultimately never be the missing piece we are looking for. These things will always be tarnished in some way, shape or form because of the brokenness of our world. People are imperfect, and will make mistakes or hurt us. 

Not to say that these things are not necessarily evil or bad in of themselves, but they will never fully satisfy the deepest longings of our hearts. It's important to understand that we need to be careful not put things that are not God on too high of a pedestal.

There will always be a part of us longing for more. Our hearts will always yearn for perfection.

This is where God comes in. God is complete goodness, love, and purity (2 Corinthians 12:9, Psalm 19:7, 2 Samuel 22:31, 1 John 4:7-21.) God is perfect in all His ways. Everything He created was and is good; but creation chose to separate itself from Him, leading to the pain, war, disrest, anger, hurt in the world. 

So, we can see that the only way for true and lasting peace (completeness) is by choosing to reconcile to God and give into His immense love for us. We become complete by building a relationship with Him, and having His love fill our hearts. With Him, we will lack nothing. (Ephesians 6:10-18, James 1:4.)

To wrap up, peace is being complete. Peace is God's strength being made full in our hearts. It comes from building a relationship with Him, and allowing Him to love us as His children. The peace of God is what holds us steady regardless of the situations this life leads us to. 

That is what it means for it to be well with our souls, as the writer of the hymn pointed out. Regardless of whether things or good or bad, God is the glue, the stone, the block, that holds our lives together. With His blood, His love, perfection, we are never alone, and we can face anything this life throws at us.

My hope and prayer for my life, and for yours, friend, is that this peace will take hold in your life, and continue to do so, all the days of your life. Don't forget of His immense love and care for you.

Love, 

Chelsea

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Resources:

1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oLYORLZOaZE (The Bible Project: Shalom-Peace

2. https://www.preceptaustin.org/peace_eirene (Peace-Eirene [Greek Word Study])

2020: Finding the Beauty in Trials

Dear Sisters in Christ, 

2020.

I think most everyone can agree that this has been one of the hardest years in many of our lifetimes. So much happened all at once to so many of us. I have cried so much this year, and have had my heart break in so many ways.

Early this year, I faced a traumatic event that impacted me in a profound way, and sent me into another struggle with my mental health. I made a LOT of mistakes this year. Then, add in the social distancing, and being stuck at home so much, it was a perfect storm. Despite being an introvert, I can't say that I want to be home all the time. 

Add in the stress of everything else going on politically and socially; and then, at the smack-end of the year, around thanksgiving, my gallbladder decided it hates me, and become basically bed-bound for almost two weeks.

However, despite these things, I see that they have been desperately needed in my life. All of these things have struck me upside the head, stretched me thin, woken me up, and forced me to grow. 

Somehow, I think the biggest thing that has come from this year is that I have been forced to run back to God time and time again.

Within the insanity, He is my peace, my anchor, my constant. Even times when I have felt terribly lonely this year, He has been a friend that I know that I can always turn to. 

This year has also been challenging me by way of forcing me to develop stronger boundaries with myself, and others. The biggest way comes down to the fact that I struggle with being a "fixer". I sometimes bear the weight of the world too much on my shoulders. I allow the things people do to pull me down far too much. I often feel like I have to give advice or try to fix situations that are basically a dead end. 

I can't make people do the right thing. I can't stop people from making self-destructive choices. I can't stop dishonesty. I can't stop people choosing to be ugly to fellow people made in the image of God. I can't make anyone do anything.

I can't save people. That's God's job. And unfortunately, I realized that I was trying to take on what was supposed to be His job in some situations. And that is a really hard pill to swallow, my friends. God has a profound way of humbling you.

What can I do? Love them. Pray for them. I can also warn them; but I can't beat a dead horse. I have to learn to simply say my peace, and walk away, and leave people to do what they are ultimately going to do. I have to leave them to live as they choose, even if it means they get seriously hurt. 

And even if it means my heart breaks too.

And, in the end, I absolutely cannot let that destroy my peace. While it may hurt, sometimes unbearably, my hope, my peace, my strength, and my joy is in the Lord. Whatever happens, or however I may feel at any given moment, God will hold steady in my heart. 

Coming off of this, I also came to the realization that I had developed an unhealthy relationship with Facebook. It had gotten to the point that I began allowing what people posted to get to me far too much. 

I took a break, and began working on ways to, whenever I get back on, to have better boundaries with it. I don't ever want to allow a social media platform to have so much power over my emotions ever again.

It may seem silly, but I think this is more of a problem for a lot people than they might admit. This year has ultimately showed the full-blown negative side of the media in so many ways. The internet gives people a bravery to say so many things they wouldn't normally. And that can be a very negative thing. 

The older I get, the more I find that, when it comes to controversial subjects, much more gets accomplished speaking face to face rather than over the internet on a social media platform. When speaking face to face, and two people have a mutual respect for each other, more change happens that way than on the internet. 

I want to help facilitate change in the world. But it isn't going to happen debating on social media. 

I can change the world by sharing my heart; whether through my writing, by loving my foster sisters and brothers; being kind, non-judgmental, and gracious to strangers; and offering up acts of kindness to people in need; listening to, and sharing in others' pain. 

And sometimes, this listening can be terribly uncomfortable; especially when we are told things that challenge what we've always thought. That is how we inspire change: by using our talents and spreading love in real life. That is the kind of life I ultimately want to live. 

I don't want to live a life through a screen that only tells half of the story. I want to live an abundant life; a raw, honest, open, loving one that honors my Father in heaven. 

And that, my dear friends, is ultimately what 2020 has taught to me this year. 

While this year may have been so difficult, I am going to let the year go. And when I walk into 2021, I will walk in stronger, and wiser, and even more sure of my God's love for me.

What other image would I possibly put here? Haha

I hope and pray the same for you as well. 

Love, 

Chelsea

When You Judge that Girl's body or Outfit, It's Hurting You Spiritually.

Dear Sisters In Christ,

Being a plus sized woman, I have heard it all about what I should or shouldn't wear: 

-No stripes. They make your body look wider. 

-No leggings, ever. Or skinny jeans. Not attractive on fat legs.

-No ballgowns. They Will make you look like you are taking up more space. 

- I have even heard people say that bright colors look bad on plus sized bodies. 

 So, basically what it boils down to is this: In order to appease society at large and not offend them with our bigness, we should never leave our home; and if we do, we MUST wear as dreary and billowy clothes as possible at all times. No one can ever notice or see that we are larger people. We must fade into the background as to not offend those sensitive to legs, stomachs, arms, and booties with a larger circumference.     

 In this article, I would like to tackle where these ideas come from, because, I find them to be horribly ridiculous. I also want to address the spiritual implications of such ideas. Whether people want to admit it or not, these statements are largely based in fat phobia. I am sure some people who are reading this are probably getting defensive as they have probably said some of these things themselves and even believe them. I am sure some of you are saying, "But, some things just look bad on big bodies!" 

Okay then. Let's challenge that. Who decided that? Like, seriously, WHO? What standard are you using to say something looks bad? Have you ever really thought this through as to why? If we are truly honest with ourselves, we would realize that these standards come from society itself. From Hollywood. From the Fashion industry. 

 We have been conditioned by society to view plus sized bodies as bad and/or disgusting. So many plus size women and girls have been convinced that, because their bodies are offensive, they should never wear certain things and try to hide themselves. They have been taught to be ashamed of their bodies.

I can't tell you how many times I have heard fellow sisters in Christ point at someone and say things like these:, "Um, why is she wearing that? Her thighs are way too big for those shorts!" "Someone her size shouldn't be wearing a ballgown on her wedding day." "Ugh. Why in the world is that girl wearing leggings? Doesn't she know that big girls look awful in them?" 

Statements like these make me extremely uncomfortable. For one, it's gossip, plain and simple. Yes, observations can be gossip too. Gossip, plain and simple, is saying things behind another person's back that you have no intention of saying to their face. You know what scripture says about gossipers? They are included in a list of sins that are worthy of death. So, you know, we really ought to take it very seriously when God tells us to mind our tongues. (Romans 1:8-22.)

So, next question; what are you looking for? So many of us are super tuned into judging ourselves and others over appearances, and we don't even pause to consider it. It is so ingrained into many of us. Even as Christian women, despite having been told time and time again that the heart matters infinitely more (1 Samuel 16:7, 1 Peter 3:3-4), we still find ourselves overly in tune with judging others' appearances...or worrying that our bodies will offend other people. 

Ladies, when we are too focused on appearances, it hurts us spiritually. Instead of seeing the person's beautiful soul, or the light in their eyes, we are judging them based on worldly standards and we end up leaving God out of the equation. 

When we see ours or someone else's bodies as bad or disgusting, we believe a lie. Again, these judgments we make are based on the idea of fat phobia and what society has deemed undesirable. 

But, some may argue: "It's unhealthy to be overweight or obese. We shouldn't be glorifying it or saying it is a good thing." 

There are a few problems with this statement. One, there are many reasons a person can have weight problems. There are quite a few health conditions and even medications that can lead to weight gain. Someone may be in a tough spot emotionally; or economically and can't afford healthy food at a point in time. Maybe they have a condition that causes severe fatigue, or pain that interferes with exercise. 

Also, food addiction and binge eating disorder are real things. Some people turn to drugs. Some turn to sex or porn. Some turn to TV. And yes, someone else may turn to food.You don't know the ways in which people are struggling. Nearly every one has some sort of bad habit that they use to deal with their problems. And since most of us do have these bad habits in one form of another, we have no right to judge one another for them.

 And also, there are some people who do exercise and eat well. And you know what? They have naturally larger bodies. Many plus sized models are actually this way, believe it or not. 

People shouldn't have to stand there and vomit their entire medical or emotional history just for you to respect them as a fellow human being.

And someone simply living their lives, or sharing their joy on social media is not glorifying obesity. They have every right to enjoy their lives and share about it just as much as you do. They shouldn't have to hide in the shadows just because of their weight or appearance.

Being a Christian is about growing to be more like Christ and having our focus more on what He focused on. When Jesus was going through His ministry, as God in the flesh, He had the ability to look into the hearts of the people. He showed compassion, and always knew the best way to respond based on what was in their hearts.

We, not being God in the slightest, do not have that ability. So that means we ought to do the next best thing: love fiercely, and be wholly compassionate. We must get to know people to figure out what their needs are and how we can best be there for them in their circumstances. There is a quote from Mother Teresa that says it best: "If you judge others, you have no time to love them."

The more time we spend making assumptions, turning up our noses, living in disgust of their bodies or outfits, the less time we have to be the servants that our God has called us to be. Those thoughts and actions prevent us from sharing the goodness of God with others. 

We have to begin by challenging every thought and idea that invades our minds. 2 Corinthians 10:5 says, "We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive and make it obey Christ..."

As Christians we need to be getting in the habit of challenging every single idea, from us, from others, and society at large. We must always be seeing if they hold up to the word of God. If it is something contrary to the word of God, then we need to make it something that is obedient to Christ. 

For example, in this situation, let's say you see someone who doesn't look the way you think they should look. You begin thinking or saying things like, "Man, they need to lay off the donuts",  or "That girl is too fat/skinny/whatever for that outfit". It could be more than things having to deal with weight. It could also be making assumptions about others when you only have what you are seeing in that moment (i.e., making assumptions about a Mom with a bunch of different kids of different races/heritages and using food stamps)

Train yourself to stop and compare those thoughts with scripture. Break it down. Ask yourself if these statements, thoughts, or actions are honoring to God and people. Ask yourself how much you actually know about the person you are judging. Consider if these thoughts have the potential to prevent you from seeing them as made in the image of God and loving them properly. If so, you need to let them go. 

I want to make the point that I'm not really talking about modesty. I am simply talking about the ways in which we tend to judge people for their bodies and appearances, which is something we really need to be careful of. 

Sisters, Jesus came to give you an abundant life. We have to let go of anything that gets in the way of us fully loving God, others, as well as ourselves. We have to let go, ignore, and challenge any thoughts or ideas we have in the light of God's word. When we hang on to societal ideals that are not in line with scripture, the more weighed down we feel; the pettier we will act towards ourselves and others. Joy, peace, love, and other fruits cannot thrive when our hearts are weighed down by thoughts and ideas contrary to God.

We will never be perfect. But when you challenge those thoughts that aren't from God in the first place, the more light radiates from within. This light will draw others in. The Gospel is for every soul regardless of what they look like, or whatever standards society believes they should fulfill. 

Please know that regardless of what you look like, you precious in God's sight. He made you so specially and perfectly. Let that little light of yours shine.

Love,

Chelsea

I'm Going to Quit...

 Dear Sisters in Christ,

We are now in the final leg of 2020; and in a few months, it will be over. This year has been completely nuts. No other way to describe it. I don't know what 2021 will bring, but there are things I hope for, yearn for. (Like, Christmas.)

I haven't written much on my blog the past few weeks, mostly because I felt so rotten, physically and mentally. I didn't want to do very much, and I had horrible, horrible fatigue. I always have fatigue, but it was much worse than what it usually was. I sincerely didn't feel like my brain was functioning at full capacity. I was stumbling over things, physically, as well as my words. 

But despite this year's difficulties, there has been a lot of clarity on things in my life, and the world. The past few weeks and months are opening my eyes to a lot of things. Despite 2020 being a bit of a train wreck, I know that it is just one blip in my journey. 

So. I'm just going to quit...

Not really; though I do feel like this a lot of days. ^^^

I'm going to quit putting so much time into things that steal my focus. 

Why should I put focus on things that direct my attention away from God, and my purpose in life?

And, I am finding, those things can be seriously sneaky. You know what they are: 

-Those extra "few minutes" binge-watching a TV show

-Choosing to argue with someone on the internet in a conversation that is very obviously not going to go anywhere (I've really gotta stop getting sucked into those.)

-THE NEWS. 

-Making little excuses not to do the important things. 

There are many other things we can probably name as well.

I don't have enough energy to pour into things that take away my focus from where it needs to be. I am finding when I pour that energy into mundane things constantly, the more my joy is robbed, and the less I feel as if I am truly living out my purpose. 

So what do I need to do? The answer is simple, but difficult: Put my focus back on God.

I'm going to quit forgetting that God is my Strength when I feel like I have none.

The other day, I found myself in prayer. In the face of depression and mental health issues, you can feel empty, drained, and exhausted for no good reason. You can feel completely numb, without any desire to do anything. 

I asked God how I was supposed to find that strength to just do basic life right now. Mostly because I just didn't feel like I had it in me.

Then, two scriptures came to my memory:

"The Lord is my strength and shield; in Him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to Him. The Lord is the strength of His people; He is the saving refuge of His anointed." (Psalm 28:7)

"The name of the Lord is a strong Tower; the righteous run to it, and are safe." (Proverbs 18:10)

Here's what I am realizing. We don't need strength of our own. God is our strength. When we are weary, all we need to do is run to Him, pour our hearts out to Him, and just rest in His presence. When we truly trust in Him, and  live in thankfulness, He is our rest and our strength. (Matthew 11:28-30.)

In our weakest moments, in our human frailty, God accomplishes everything we cannot. In the times we have nothing, He is absolutely everything.

I am going to quit complaining about how terrible the world is right now.

Things are tough. They have always been tough. Ever since the fall of Eden, things are going to be hard. That's just how it is. 

On this side of heaven, there will always be disease. There will always be pain. There will always be people creating division. There will always be hatred. 

No, I am not saying that we can't do things about it, or taking a "Hakuna Matata" attitude. 

However, I am saying that there are ways to find joy. There are ways to find the good. I had a child ask me recently, "Why are you trying so hard to find the good, especially with how bad this year has been?"

My response was simply this: "That is how we survive."

God makes it very clear in His word that we are going to face tough times (1 Peter 4:12.) However, the presence of difficulties doesn't mean that we can't find peace or joy. As a matter of fact, two of the fruits of the Spirit are peace and joy. Going deeper into a relationship with God, and growing with the Spirit means those two qualities are going to develop as well. 

In Philippians 4:6-7, it says: "....do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus."

A relationship with God creates peace within a person that continues to grow over time. Spending time in prayer and in scripture gives a peace that doesn't make sense to the rest of the world. And yet, the evidence is there, in a person who chooses to keep clinging to God. They are a person that, though they may have their anxieties and struggles, there is still a peace, and a light that emanates from them. I want to continue to be more like that.

To conclude, the closer I get to my Father, the more I fall in love with Him, the more I know that everything is going to be okay somehow. Is my depression or anxiety or OCD cured? No. God is not going to just take our struggles away. 

But these things get easier to deal with the more I open my hands and release my control over them. I don't have to be "strong". I don't have to have it all together; because, my Father does. And the more I pursue a relationship with Him, the more He does the healing and changing in my heart.

Love, 

Chelsea