It seems just when we least expect it - boom! Life hits. It feels like the wind has been knocked right out of your chest and there’s no breath to pray. No words to utter. Faith is on the edge of failing and yet we know the one place to go is to God. But what do we say?

Things like death, or circumstances that bring grief in strong waves, or pain that feels unbearable, causes us to either lean into faith or push away from it. The book of James in the New Testament gives us a glimpse into what it looks like to lean hard into a deeper life of faith. 

Discouragement and frustration can mount to unexpected heights and faith can feel like it is falling apart. Life is just hard sometimes. But there is hope! And help! Life might be filled with chaos, hardship, hurt, and burdens, but the Bible speaks to all of these things. 

The hope we have is that God’s Word gives us everything we need to fight against the fears that seem to come at us at the most inconvenient times. We do not have to live riddled with anxious thoughts, heart-pumping doubts, and mind-racing possibilities. We can live at peace with ourselves and with God, but we have to practice using our faith muscle. 

This is not a step by step look at what to do, it’s more like a list of things you could do if you are struggling with unconfessed sin, confessed sin that still haunts you, or a decision that comes up in your life repeatedly that you are trying to move beyond.

There are specific instructions Jesus gives that help us clarify how we can receive and practice true rest. Walk with me through each phrase of Matthew 11:28-30 and let’s uncover the truth tucked within these verses. 

A life of thanksgiving can change your life. Things like unpaid bills, unresolved conflicts, and unanswered prayers make it so easy to focus on the things we don’t have, that we forget to see the good things and to thank God for what we do have. There are a few things we can thank God for every day, and it will change our perspective and ultimately change your heart and life for the better.

In Psalm 27:13 David says, “I fainted unless I believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of living.” Today, I want to encourage you to see the “good” and to express gratitude for those good things. Giving God thanks changes the heart from seeking what I want to seeing what I already have.

Photo credit: Pexels/Cotton Bro

We all have those days when we want to pull the covers back up over our heads and hit the snooze button one more time. There is the occasional day that we wake up motivated and ready to conquer the day, but it’s easier said than done. We know God’s Word gives us everything we need, but sometimes we forget.

Life can be difficult and sometimes all it takes is one little bump in the road to knock us off our feet and make us feel less than motivated. Don’t stay stuck, but rather cling to God’s Word and let it help you shift your thinking. Even the most motivated people need the nudge to remember the truth. Start the day with scripture and let it sink in and catapult us into the right frame of heart and mind.

I have always loved a new journal and a fancy pen. There is something special about putting those first words on the page and filling each of the pages with thoughts, Scripture, and prayers. I find journaling God’s Word keeps me grounded in my faith and growing in my relationship with the Lord.

“Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You” (Psalm 119:11).

Journaling doesn’t just put the words on the page, but it helps engrain them in the heart. If you have ever wanted to journal God’s Word, but you aren’t sure what to write, or where to start, this is for you. I am going to share a few tips that have helped me journal through the Bible several times.

Photo credit: Unsplash/Kelly Sikkema

If you are looking for a simple way to get back on track in communing with God daily, or develop a regular habit of daily devotion, these simple tips might help. Photo credit: Unsplash/Joel Muniz

While we all wrestle with our own fears, there is one common place we can run to when fear gets ahold of our hearts. God’s Word offers truth, promises, and prayers as remedy to cure the heart of the uneasy worry that seems to wreck us.

The world tells our children so many lies. While we try to prepare and protect our kids from the enemy of their souls, there is no better defense we can offer than to stand in the gap and pray.

No matter how long you have been studying and reading God’s Word, there is always a way to extend your time and expand your relationship with God. While quantity does not always equal quality, your efforts of honoring God with your time will pay off.

The little eyes in your home are always watching and learning from you, for better or worse. The best way to teach your kids about faith is to model it for them. So what exactly are they learning from your faith?