Category: Story

  • Confidence Through Christ

    Trusting God’s Work When Life Feels Unfinished

    “Being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” — Philippians 1:6

    Confidence is something many of us are chasing—confidence in our decisions, our purpose, our calling, and even ourselves. Yet in today’s world, confidence feels fragile. One unexpected bill, one hard conversation, one setback at work, or one glance at social media can shake it all.

    We are surrounded by messages telling us to “believe in yourself,” “trust your instincts,” and “have confidence in your abilities.” While encouragement has its place, self-based confidence often crumbles under pressure.

    Life is unpredictable, exhausting, and sometimes overwhelming. That’s why Scripture points us toward a different source of confidence—confidence through Christ.

    Confidence That Doesn’t Depend on Circumstances.

    Philippians 1:6 reminds us that our confidence is not rooted in how well we are doing, but in who God is and what He is doing. Paul doesn’t say, “Be confident because you’re strong enough,” or “Be confident because life will go smoothly.” Instead, he says we can be confident because God finishes what He starts.

    That truth matters deeply in today’s life circumstances.

    • When you’re juggling work, family, and responsibilities and feel like you’re falling short.
    • When you’re waiting for healing, clarity, or provision that hasn’t come yet.
    • When your faith feels small, your energy is low, and your progress feels slow.

    God is not surprised by the mess, the delays, or the unfinished parts of your story. He is still working—even when you can’t see it.

    Let’s be honest: many of us are walking through seasons that don’t look very “Instagram-worthy.” We’re navigating stress, anxiety, broken relationships, uncertainty about the future, and questions we never expected to ask. Confidence in Christ doesn’t mean pretending everything is okay. It means trusting God in the middle of what isn’t okay.

    Confidence through Christ looks like:

    • Showing up even when you feel unqualified
    • Taking the next step even when you don’t have the full picture
    • Trusting God’s process even when progress feels painfully slow

    It’s the quiet assurance that God’s work in you is deeper than your current situation.

    You Are a Work in Progress—And That’s Good News. He is working to transform you, if you are willing to let Him.

    One of the most freeing truths of Philippians 1:6 is that completion is God’s responsibility, not ours. We are often frustrated by how far we still have to go, but God is faithful in every stage of growth. The waiting, the stretching, the refining—it’s all part of the good work He began.

    Your confidence doesn’t come from being “finished.”
    It comes from knowing you are not abandoned.

    God is shaping your character, strengthening your faith, and preparing you for what’s ahead—even through the challenges you wish away.

    Confidence through Christ is a daily choice. It’s choosing to trust God when doubt whispers loudly. It’s anchoring your heart in truth instead of fear. It’s reminding yourself that your story is still being written.

    So today, wherever you find yourself:

    • If you feel behind, God is not done.
    • If you feel weak, God is still working.
    • If you feel uncertain, God remains faithful.

    Be confident—not in yourself—but in Christ, who is faithful to complete the work He began in you.

    A guided prayer for you:

    Lord, thank You for being faithful even when I struggle to believe it. Help me place my confidence in You, not in my circumstances or my abilities. Remind me that You are still working, still shaping, and still guiding my life. I trust You with what feels unfinished. Amen.

    With love and joy,

    Laura

  • Persevering in Faith

    “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” — Galatians 6:9

    There are seasons in life when faith feels effortless—when prayers seem answered quickly, and hope feels strong. However, there are also seasons when obedience feels burdensome, prayers seem unanswered, and discouragement whispers that our efforts don’t matter.

    It’s in those moments that Galatians 6:9 speaks most powerfully to our hearts.

    Paul reminds us that weariness is a real thing. He doesn’t deny the struggle. Instead, he gently urges believers not to quit—to keep going, even when the fruit of faith isn’t immediately visible.

    Persevering in faith doesn’t mean we never feel tired. It means we choose faithfulness even when we are tired. Whether you’re serving faithfully, praying for a prodigal child, loving difficult people, or trusting God through prolonged hardship, weariness can quietly creep in.

    The enemy often uses exhaustion to plant seeds of doubt:

    • Is this worth it?
    • Is God really working?
    • Does anyone see my faithfulness?

    God’s Word answers clearly: Yes.

    Galatians 6:9 points us to a powerful promise—“at the proper time.” God’s timing is perfect, even when it feels painfully slow. The harvest doesn’t come immediately after planting; it comes after seasons of nurturing, waiting, and trusting.

    Perseverance requires faith that God is working behind the scenes. Every prayer prayed in faith, every act of obedience, every choice to love and forgive is a seed sown into God’s Kingdom. Nothing is wasted in His hands.

    So, how do we keep going when our strength runs low?

    • Return to God daily. Time in His Word and prayer renews our weary hearts.
    • Lean on community. God never intended us to walk alone—encouragement fuels perseverance.
    • Fix your eyes on eternity. Temporary struggles pale in comparison to eternal reward.
    • Remember God’s faithfulness. Reflect on how He has carried you before.

    Isaiah 40:31 reminds us that those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. Perseverance isn’t powered by our own effort—it’s sustained by God’s grace.

    If you’re feeling weary today, take heart. God sees your faithfulness. He sees the quiet obedience, the unseen sacrifices, the prayers whispered through tears. The harvest will come—just not always on our timetable.

    So keep showing up. Keep loving. Keep trusting. Keep choosing faith.

    Don’t give up—God is not finished yet.

    With love and joy,

    Laura

  • 🌿When Seasons Change

    Life is full of seasons. 🍁

    We walk through seasons of change just as the leaves change color and drift to the ground. There are seasons of laughter and seasons of loss. We experience beginnings and endings. Some we welcome, others catch us off guard. But one thing remains certain: seasons always change.

    And through every shift, we have a choice. We can cling tightly to what was, or we can trust God enough to let go.

    💛Season of Letting Go: A Lesson in Trust

    A few years ago, I began choosing one word each year to focus on. That particular year, God whispered a word I didn’t want to hear: Letting Go.

    For someone who likes to plan, help, fix, and control, letting go felt impossible. Yet God was inviting me into a deeper trust. I was called to release what I was never meant to hold so tightly.

    Letting go wasn’t about giving up. It was about opening my hands to what God had next.

    🌸 Letting go of fear — “Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.” (Isaiah 41:10)
    🌸 Letting go of control — remembering that God is the Author of my story.
    🌸 Letting go of the past — “If anyone is in Christ, they are a new creation.” (2 Corinthians 5:17)
    🌸 Letting go of my own strength — “When I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Corinthians 12:10)

    Each time we release what weighs us down, we make room for God to move.

    💔Season of Loss and Surrender

    I’ve walked through seasons of deep loss. These include miscarriages, divorce, and the death of my father and sister. I also experienced a battle with breast cancer. Each one left me breathless and broken. But each one also became a classroom where God taught me to trust Him more.

    It wasn’t easy. I had to learn that joy is not the absence of pain, but the presence of surrender.

    “Consider it pure joy whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.” — James 1:2–4

    Through every trial, God was shaping me, strengthening me, and drawing me closer to Him.

    🌿 Seasons change — but God does not.

    “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” — Hebrews 13:8

    🌼 Season of Identity and Purpose

    Some seasons aren’t about loss — they’re about rediscovery.

    For much of my life, I defined myself by my roles and accomplishments. These included my job, my family, my appearance, and my success. But when those things shifted, I faced an identity crisis.

    Then I learned this truth. I stopped striving to define myself by the world. I began to rest in who God says I am — loved, chosen, redeemed. Then peace returned.

    “Do not conform to the patterns of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” — Romans 12:2

    When we stop fighting against the current of change, we find that God’s plan has been carrying us all along.

    🌸Season of the In-Between

    Life often feels like the “in-between” — that space between no longer and not yet. It’s uncomfortable, uncertain, and full of questions.

    But it’s also the place where faith grows deepest.

    “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” — Hebrews 11:1

    My sister Sara taught me that joy is not the denial of pain. It is the decision to trust God in it. Even in her suffering, she defined joy as:

    “The unwavering trust that God knows what He is doing and has blessed me with the opportunity to be a part of it. Not despite what is happening in my life, but because of it. When everything earthly feels heavy, He gives me an internal lightness that can’t be reached.”

    We can’t control the seasons, but we can choose how we walk through them — with or without Him.

    🌤 When Seasons Change

    What do you need to let go of in this season? Is it fear? Or is it control? Could it be the past, or your own strength?

    Whatever it is, remember this truth:
    When your seasons change, don’t cling to fear. Let go. Surrender. Choose joy.

    God’s presence is constant. His love is unchanging. His purposes are eternal.

    “For you have rescued me from death; you have kept my feet from slipping. So now I can walk in your presence, O God, in your life-giving light.” — Psalm 56:13

    The trees release their leaves. May we also release what we can’t keep. Let us trust the One who never lets go. 🍂

    💬 Reflect & Share

    ✨ What season are you in right now?
    ✨ What is God asking you to let go of?
    ✨ How can you choose joy in the in-between?

    Share your heart in the comments below — let’s encourage one another through every season. 💕

    With love and joy,

    Laura

  • Here to be Changed

    An excerpt from the book Choose Joy: Finding Hope and Purpose When Life Hurts. ~ Sara Frankl

    We are not put on earth merely to satisfy our desires, to pursue life, liberty, and happiness. We are here to be changed, to be made more like God in order to prepare us for a lifetime with Him. – Philip Yancey

    “Any time I got hurt when I was a little girl, I would go to my dad crying about my ailment and he would always do the same thing. He would take my pinched finger or other such hurt and say, “You know what the good thing about this is, don’t you? It’s a long way from your heart.”

    Then he’d laugh while trying to get me to laugh and think about anything else buy my hurt. Being a kid, I would always take my finder, hold it to my chest, and say, “No! See? It’s right here by my heart!” But the conversation and the laughter usually distracted me enough, making whatever had been hurting suddenly not so bad.

    I eventually understood his lesson behind the distraction, that no physical ailment could change my heart. That every hurt would pass and I would still be the same on the inside regardless of the outside.

    I’ve had many opportunities to put that saying to the test in my adult life, and I’ve realized something about Dad’s theory. Some hurts aren’t actually a long way from my heart. Some hurts reside there. But they don’t change who I am inside. They don’t change my faith. Every lesson I learned before remains the same after. Nothing is different. God is the same. Love is the same. No matter how much my heart hurts.”

    My friends, choose to nurture who you are and who God intended you to be. His child, made in His image. His beloved.

    With love and joy,

    Laura

  • When Seasons Change

    As Christians, we know that life is full of seasons. There are times of growth and times of rest. We also experience times of abundance and times of scarcity.

    Seasons of change also happen in all stages of life. We grow up under the wings of our parents. We graduate and begin our own independent life journey. Our journey will take each of us in different directions as we answer God’s call for our lives. No matter what directions God takes us, the one constant we will all experience is change.

    But no matter what season we’re in, God remains constant and faithful.

    I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately as I have been walking a season of change with my mom. This past month, we moved her to an independent living apartment. A place that provides for the whole continuum of care as individuals age.

    15 years ago, I lost my dad. Mom lost her husband. In an instant at the age of 67 she was a widow. Dad was stung by a bee, went into anaphylactic shock and died.

    14 years ago, I lost my sister. She lost her daughter. At the age of 38 years old she passed away after a long struggle with a disease that confined her to the four walls of her home.

    Each of these moments thrust her into change. None of them were changes she anticipated.

    We have choices when it comes to facing change. We can embrace the change or we can fight the change. We can ask why me or we can trust God to direct our path through the journey.

    As human beings, we prefer to control our circumstances. Often wanting to stay with what we know. We hold on to what we know like the security of a blanket. We are warm and comfortable. We know what to anticipate.

    Embracing change is the opposite. We are stepping out in faith. We are trusting God with our circumstances as he walks us through the unknown of the journey we face.

    I am so proud of my mom! Her life changes were hard and filled with tears. There was a lot of unknown about what her future was going to hold. Despite this, she chose to trust God. She faced her life uncertainty with grace and bravery.

    She chose to move forward instead of digging in her heels. She remained open and didn’t let the circumstances in her life change the core of who she is. A woman of faith, strength, love, confidence, and optimism.

    My mom has been a witness of God’s goodness to all those she meets. She has met new lifelong friends. She has experienced the love and support of community. This happened as she opened her heart to others.

    My mom has been a true role model for me. A role model of how to embrace change in life. She embraces life’s adventure and goodness. She does this with trust and faith in the one who never lets us fall.

    So, how do we know when a new season is approaching? Here are some signs to look out for:

    • Doors Opening and Closing: When new opportunities arise, and old ones come to a close, it may be a sign that God is directing you down a new path.
    • Desires and Dreams Changing: When your heart’s desires start to shift, and you begin dreaming about new goals and directions, pay attention! This could be God realigning your hopes and dreams to match the new season He has for you.
    • Divine Encounters and Revelations: Strategic people, conversations, resources, and ideas that come across your path can be a sign of a new season.
    • Life Happens: Sometimes things just happen. Accidents happen. Health changes.

    Embracing the Change

    When we recognize that a new season is approaching, it’s essential to embrace the change. Here are some ways to do that:

    • Let Go of Control: Recognize that you can’t control everything, and trust that God is in control.
    • Focus on Growth: View the new season as an opportunity for growth, and ask yourself how you can become a wiser, more mature, and more faithful person.
    • Pursue Community: Surround yourself with people who can support and encourage you as you navigate the new season.

    In the midst of change, it’s comforting to remember that God remains constant. As the Bible says, “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens” (Ecclesiastes 3:1).

    No matter what season you’re in, remember that God is always with you, guiding and directing you. Trust in His goodness, and have faith that He will lead you through the ups and downs of life.

    Embrace the change. EnJOY the journey. You will be amazed at the new beginnings you experience with each of life’s new seasons.

    With love and joy,

    Laura