I’m at the bottom of the pit again. My eyes strain to search for light. At first, I panic. I claw at the dirt and my chest tightens in fear. How did I get here? Why now? Why am I not strong enough to stay buoyant and light? My body knows what’s happening, but my…
Read moreA Prayer for Springtime
Lord, teach me to be wide awake to The soft pink petals opening on the magnolia tree Shifting weight inside my womb as baby dances and grows Broken hearts around me, even when (especially when) they’re not worn on outer sleeves When it’s time to say yes When it’s time to say no…
Read moreOn Swim Lessons, and Surrendering to Love over Fear
Our brains and bodies are wired to protect us against threats. But what about when we perceive threats that aren’t really there? Is there a way that we can shift our thoughts to a more loving place, in order to move forward instead of getting stuck in our fear? When I was younger, I took…
Read moreFear-colored glasses
When we see the world with rose-colored glasses, we see it with a positive outlook, maybe even better than how it actually is. Are there other types of lenses that color the way we see the world? Yesterday I realized I’ve been wearing a different kind of lens these past few months– a pair of…
Read moreThe First Step in Forgiveness
Three years. That’s how long I let the poison stay.⠀⠀ I once heard unforgiveness is like poison. We drink it, hoping the other person suffers.⠀⠀ After I left an abusive relationship, I didn’t want to forgive. I feared forgiving the years of complicated hurt would give God the go-ahead to send me back. So instead…
Read moreWalking out Forgiveness
If forgiveness is hard for you, you’re not alone. I just did a quick google search for “how to forgive” and pulled up 276,000,000 results. Oof. ⠀ ⠀ I am right there with Lewis. I love the idea of forgiveness, in theory. ⠀ ⠀ I am right there with Peter who asked Jesus, “How many…
Read moreFreedom From the Shame of Legalism- Rebekah’s Story
Freedom Stories are back, sweet sisters! After a summer of refreshing and refining on the focus of this space, I wanted to be intentional about sharing stories that align with our monthly themes. This month, as we’ve been learning about shame I knew we needed a testimony of someone set free from shame and self-condemnation….
Read moreWhat does it look like to dig up the roots of shame?
All this time, I’ve been trying to pluck the dead leaves and prune back the branches of shame. But there comes a time where we need to dig deeper. I have to uncover how the tree might have gotten there to begin with, before these symptoms of shame infiltrated my thinking.⠀ ⠀ Recently I…
Read moreThe Isolating Power of Shame
Earlier this month I announced I would write on the topic of shame. Little did I know that we would be walking through this together. I uncovered a new layer of trauma in counseling and I can’t stop going over the tendrils of shame that still try to sink their way into my thought…
Read moreYour Past Does Not Define You
“As far as the east is from the west, so far does He remove our transgressions from us.” -Psalm 103:12 When we wrestle with shame, we feel like our brokenness is the whole story. Shame says, “Your past defines you. You are too broken to be loved. You will never be whole or healed.” Shame…
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