When I was young, I lived in a very chaotic environment. I became very sensitive to the moods of those around me. My desire to be loved was strong, so I adjusted my behavior depending on those moods. I became a people pleaser who felt that I needed to justify my value to be accepted. As a believer, I adopted the same behaviors, thinking that I needed to justify my worth to God. I did things to stay in His good graces, not because He was so gracious, but because I didn’t wa

I think about the times God has saved and protected me. When I was with the wrong people, in places I shouldn’t have been. The moments friends, advisors, and Elders have “randomly” checked in on me by sending a text or calling to point me back to God, by sending a scripture or prayer. I would say under my breath, “I can’t get away with anything.” But even that was a mercy. I was on a path of tangling myself up in relationships with men that I knew I had no business being wi

Years ago, a friend of mine repented and prayed against the spirit of self-sufficiency. Just hearing this made my ears more attentive, and I began reflecting on the times I took control of situations I had prayed about or should have released to the Lord. Since then, I have continually prayed for the Lord to remove the innate reaction to be self-sufficient and instead help me become fully reliant on Him. In Scripture, we are reminded: “Cast all your anxiety on Him because He

"Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28 (ESV) There is a kind of freedom that does not come from doing more but from finally resting. So many of us [me] are used to carrying…Carrying responsibility, expectations, emotions, and sometimes even silent pressures no one else sees. We move through our days doing what needs to be done, showing up for others, staying strong, but deep within, there is a quiet longing to just breathe .

In Christ, we are not fixer-upper projects God tolerates. We are children He delights in.