Stories and reflections on faith and following God when anxieties and doubts try to get in the way
I just finished the third draft of my novel, and I'm finally finding room in my mind for more book ideas. I'm dreaming about gardening warriors and a girl with anxiety finding solace in a fantastical world where one's monsters can be beaten. But I'm also fighting some old fears that keep regenerating like so... Continue Reading →
Christian anticipation does more than look ahead--it looks behind at what Jesus has already done to save us, once and for all. Anything we could ever ask for has already been done, so we know our hopes will be fulfilled.
Expectations say that the day must be perfect. Any hint of anxiety is a failure that will ruin the day--and your memories of that day, and your expectations for that day next year--forever. Not eating, escaping to be alone, or missing out on any family tradition is devastating.
I have always loved nature photography. When I was struggling with depression during my senior year of college, my eyes ached from scrolling through Pinterest for pictures of mountains and butterflies and birds. I watched nature documentaries. I obsessed over pictures of snails taken by photographer Vyacheslav Mishchenko. I sat outside in the cold and... Continue Reading →
Can we change the way we perceive things by changing the language and images we use to think about them?
Every fall is like this. On the first day, I step outside, and everything is different. The air is cooler, slightly. There's a rich, nose-tingling scent of dried leaves.
Self-doubt turns me inward and tells me I'll never be good enough. But the Bible is full of stories of helplessly broken people who were used for God's glory, not because of their confidence or abilities, but because of God's power within them.
Because of the boost of medication, I have been able to try new things that I might not have tried before, like taking long hikes, kayaking, visiting friends, and more things that I love.
Empathy deepens relationships, fuels understanding, inspires reconciliation, unites us in our differences, and pushes us to act in love. But it is also dangerous.
