Overcoming Trials
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How to Overcome Storms of Life: 10 Insights
Not long ago, we awakened to a world encased in a silver sheen of ice. Crystal droplets, frozen in time, hung from the railing of the deck like daggers waiting to fall. The wind howled, and frozen shards flew from the jostled branches of the poplar tree. The scene prompted me to think about how to overcome storms of life. How to Overcome Storms of Life The storm raged all day. When I came home from getting groceries in the evening, our daughter, Bekah, was outside attempting to feed our three pet beagles. Our beagles are hunting dogs, and they are happiest living in a well-insulated kennel in the backyard;…
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Scriptures to Speak Over Your Child: 8 Powerful Verses
Not long ago, one of our children was struggling with a challenging school year. As I aimed to help him navigate the difficult transition, I felt led to begin speaking biblical declarations over his life. Today, we’ll look at 8 powerful Scriptures to speak over your child as declarations. These declarations changed the trajectory of our child’s school year. I pray that they will bless your child as well. I invite you to read to the end of today’s post for a free devotional eBook to help you draw near to God and experience his love. 8 Scriptures to Speak Over Your Child Speaking God’s Word as declarations over our…
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A Prayer for Strength and Healing When Life Hurts
The Queen Anne’s Lace stands in full bloom—sprinkling the fields with flourishes of ivory. Admiring it from the window, I utter a silent prayer for strength and healing. Not long ago, I slipped into the woods on a balmy evening. As I gazed into the murky creek water, I assessed the state of my soul and realized I was wrestling with uncertainty. The creek bottom exhaled the pungent scent of decaying earth, and I immediately sensed an invitation: Anyone can declare trust in God when life’s going well, but it takes faith to declare our trust when life feels uncertain. A Powerful Prayer for Strength and Healing: “Lord, I trust…
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8 Hope-Filled Bible Verses About the Storms of Life
We all face storms in life. If you feel like your ship is about to sink, let’s dig into God’s Word together as we uncover eight hope-filled Bible verses about the storms of life. Be sure to read to the end of today’s post for a free devotional to help you weather life’s most difficult storms. Bible Verses About the Storms of Life Twenty years ago, I boarded a plane in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and flew to Anchorage, Alaska. I spent the next three months working in a deli outside Denali National Park and traveling across the state on the weekends. One weekend, I took a ferry through the fjords near…
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How to Give Thanks to God in Tough Times
Not long ago, I sat down with an older, wiser woman, and we had an honest conversation about our lives. We talked about how to give thanks to God in tough times, and she shared her wisdom and experience. No matter what you’re facing today, if you can learn to cultivate gratitude in difficult seasons, God will use it to lift your head. Here are a few things my friend offered to me as we sorted this out. I pray they encourage you to keep looking for God’s gifts in your life as well. Be sure to read to the end of today’s post for a free devotional eBook to…
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Psalm 23 Prayer Points With Scriptures
We all face times when we need the assurance that God is with us in the valley of the shadow of death. We need his assurance, comfort, and guidance. Today, we’ll explore six Psalm 23 prayer points with Scriptures to guide our prayers. Then, I’ll invite you to apply these prayers to your difficult situations. Be sure to read to the end of today’s post for a free devotional eBook to help you find comfort in the Lord. Let’s begin with our Psalm 23 prayer points. Psalm 23 Prayer Points With Scriptures Psalm 23 is an excellent model for prayer when life is difficult. Let’s use God’s Word to guide…
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A Powerful Prayer for Healing: Press Into God’s Power
Praying the words of others can be a powerful way to pray because we can soak in the words we are praying rather than trying to think of what to say. Others’ prayers can guide us and lift our heads when our emotions are shaken. Today, we’ll discover a powerful prayer for healing by an Italian priest named St. Padre Pio. Then, we’ll pray seven additional prayers for healing. I invite you to join me as I recently sat by the window at dawn and prayed this prayer. Be sure to read to the end of today’s post for a free devotional eBook to help you draw near to God.…
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12 Bible Verses About Weakness and Strength
Most of us have been taught to hide our weaknesses. Meanwhile, our weaknesses are the precise areas where God wants to reveal his strength. Today, we’ll explore 12 Bible verses about weakness and strength. Then, we’ll have an honest conversation about how to turn to God in our weak moments. Be sure to read to the end of today’s post for a free devotional book to help you turn to God in moments of weakness. 12 Bible 1Verses About Weakness and Strength Let’s begin by turning to God’s Word. Bible Verses About Weakness and Strength 1. 2 Corinthians 12:9 ESV But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for…
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What to Do When Your Dreams Are Shattered
Have you recently faced the loss of a dream? Maybe you’re wondering what to do next, and you’ve been wrestling with God about this dream. You are in the right place. Today, we’ll have an honest conversation about what to do when your dreams are shattered. I invite you to join me in the woods with my little boy, and we’ll talk about bringing our broken dreams to the Lord. What to Do When Your Dreams Are Shattered The earth breathes a new aroma, and we sit by the creek to watch the crocus rise. I could use a dose of hope today, but I don’t mention my heavy heart…
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Overcoming the Spirit of Failure and Trusting God
A placid lake shines silver beneath the sinking sun. As we sit along the water, a friend tells me I should share my writing with the world. I want to take her advice, but overcoming the spirit of failure feels daunting. I’ve been writing all my life, but this time feels different. It feels less like aimless wandering and more like a calling. Sometimes it’s hard to know the difference. Sometimes you just want God to write your next step in the clouds or dampen a sweatshirt on dry ground at dawn. You wish he’d tell you exactly what to do and when to do it. I tell my friend…
