I’m sharing chips and salsa with a friend on a summer evening. Outside the sky is clear blue, but clouds hang over our conversation. She’s in a difficult season, trying to navigate challenges she’s...
Changing the Way We Talk to Ourselves
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(in)courage
A Three-Sentence Prayer that Helps When I’m Worrying
I’m driving on a beautiful afternoon, the leaves just beginning to turn gold, orange, and crimson. I have my favorite playlist on, snacks in my bag, and a weekend away with friends to anticipate....
You’re Not Bad, You’re Beloved
"Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me." I’m a little girl standing in front of a wooden pew, hymnal in my hands, singing off-key. In the sincere sentiment of John Newton’s...
What to Say When Fear Interrupts Your Day
I take my seat at a coffee shop table on a lovely morning. Outside the birds are declaring love and war. The murmur of conversations and the scent of espresso surrounds me. I am here to work. Yet...
When Answers Don’t Come, But Jesus Still Does
The phone rings. I say an innocent hello. Unexpected news fills my eyes with tears, my thoughts with fears, and the conversation with unanswerable questions. Have you ever gotten a call like this?...
If You’ve Ever Asked, “Does God Still Want to Use Me?”
I settle in on a lovely morning, coffee next to me, ready to begin my work for the day. Then my thoughts shift to recent mistakes I’ve made, words I wish I could unsay, things I would do differently...
The Myth of Being 100% Sure
My parents tell the story of how I, at age five, climbed up a ladder and fearlessly jumped off a high diving board. I remember that moment—the smell of chlorine and sunscreen, the blue water beneath...
For the One Who Is Walking through Grief
I’m sitting in a coffee shop on a beautiful morning. My thoughts return to several recent losses in my life and I tell myself, “You have to be okay.” But then I realize I would never say this to...
Help If Joy Is Ever Hard at the Holidays
A little note before the today's post: Make sure you read to the end because I have several fun gifts for you, including a free mini ebook for the holidays! Friends don't let friends miss out on...
It’s Okay to Love Yourself Today (Here’s How)
Who struggles with self-criticism? (Raises hand.) I’ve talked with thousands of women through my work as a writer, counselor, and life coach. One of the most common phrases I hear is, “I don’t know...