Category: General

“Be alert, stand firm in faith, be courageous, be strong.” 1Cor 16:13 (CSB)

When you are independent, a problem solver, and a slight control freak, and you are going through something that you don’t know how to fix, can’t control, can’t see a solution, or there isn’t a solution, it can be tough and frustrating. I am that person. So, when I suddenly lost my husband, and it was a situation I couldn’t fix for myself or my family and was completely out of my control, it was hard. But I knew I had to remain strong for my girls and firm in my faith as we walked through this.

That meant me relinquishing my need to control a situation that I couldn’t control or fix to begin with and truly leaning into God and my belief that he would see us through. I spent a lot of time praying for strength and answers to all my questions while hanging on to the belief that God was there with me, walking with me and sometimes carrying me on this journey. I knew in my heart that God would use this for good and to his glory, but it’s hard for us as humans to have faith in something we can’t see, much less understand. But faith is all we have to help us through those valleys; without it we would be lost. Even the smallest bit of faith, if we hold on to it and lean into God, can help us through.

It has been a little over five years now, and it hasn’t always been easy to stand firm in my faith, but through all of it, I have seen God use me and what I went through to help others who find themselves in similar situations. Not just by my words spoken to them, but by the way that my faith has helped me walk down this road of loss, grief, and uncertainty for a future that now didn’t look anything like I had always thought it would. I am living proof that God can take those shattered pieces, those that can’t just be mended or repaired, and make something new and beautiful from them.

My future doesn’t look anything like I always thought it would, but it does look exactly like God had planned long before I was even born. We just have to stand firm in our faith and “Let go and Let God” because his plans are so much better than our plans, and his love for us is relentless.

“For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So, we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.” 2 Cor 4:17-18 (NLT)

We would like to thank Torrie Gilleland for writing this post.

When I was asked to write a blog on Standing Firm in Faith, I instantly thought of all the ways my LORD has been so very faithful to His Word. He has increased my faith with every life event I have been through. How can I not give testimony of how God brought me through it all?

There are so very many instances in my life that I felt God’s presence and protection in my life. Even as a small child, before I understood what accepting Jesus as my Savior meant, God was with me. I learned then that relying on him and leaning on him got me through very hard times. I believe that each time, I learned more to stand firm on the LORD.  

It’s like learning to walk. First, you fall a lot. Then, you gain strength in your legs, and you become steadier. You learn not to be afraid because you fall less and less. Then, you run. It doesn’t mean you won’t fall and scrape your knees, but most of the time you don’t. Each time you don’t fall, you have more faith that your legs will hold you up. God is like our legs. He is our strength! Each time he gets us through trials, our faith gets stronger. Only in his strength and support can we walk and run. Only then, can we learn to soar.

Isaiah 40:31: “But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint.”

In 2018 I found out I had breast cancer.  At first I thought something was wrong with me because I wasn’t afraid.  Actually, when I look back, there were short instances of fear.  But, fear didn’t take hold. I had many prayer warriors lifting me up to the LORD. I knew God was holding me in his arms. When you feel that, fear can’t take hold. I had two surgeries to remove the cancer and had radiation treatments. Through it all, I felt the prayers of the saints and the presence of God.

There was a new praise song we were singing at church that became my theme song during that season of life.

God is Always Good by Covenant Worship
You are constant and true
All my hope, found in You
Always faithful to do
What You promise

Through the dark, through the night
Flows a river of light
Through the storm, through the fight
Shines the promise

God is always good
Yes, God is always good
What I sing on the mountain, I’ll sing in the valley
That God is always good

When I rise, when I fall
You remain Lord of all
You run to me when I call
What a Savior

You alone freely give
So that all can truly live
Every good and perfect gift
Comes from Heaven

God is always good
Yes, God is always good
What I sing on the mountain, I’ll sing in the valley
That God is always good

Oh-ooh, mm
He’s always good

This one thing my heart holds on to
You are God and You are good
You are God and You are good
Through it all my soul will praise You
You are God and You are good
You are God and You are good

This one thing my heart holds on to
You are God and You are good
You are God and You are good
Through it all my soul will praise You
You are God and You are good
You are God and You are good

God is always good
Yes, God is always good
What I sing on the mountain, I’ll sing in the valley
That God is always good, oh

God is always good
Yes, God is always good
What I sing on the mountain, I’ll sing in the valley
That God is always good

What I sing on the mountain, I’ll sing in the valley
That God is always good

Singing this song reminded me that whatever happened it would be fine. God has always been faithful, and he would decide my future. If the outcome was good, I would praise him. If the outcome wasn’t what I wanted, I would praise him. Regardless, I would stand firm on God.

Fast forward a few years to January 2026. During a routine colonoscopy, my doctor discovered I had colon cancer in two places. When she told me about it after the procedure, I felt so calm. I knew instantly that this peace was from God. I’ve been through so much with my LORD that there was no fear. I had half my colon removed and no follow up treatments. I felt the peace of God through the whole ordeal. This was NOT coming from me. This was totally God!

1 Corinthians 16:13: “Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong.”

God is always faithful, but you have a responsibility too. You have to learn to be courageous. Courage means giving action even though you might be afraid. You have to turn your fear over to God. It may start out as baby steps, but the more often you do this, the easier it becomes the next time. Eventually, it becomes your first thought instead of an afterthought. Call out to God; he is faithful and true.

Psalm 28:7: “The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him.”
John 14:27: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”
Ephesians 6:11: “Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.”

If we keep our eyes on the Lord and not the circumstances that unfold in life, we will realize that everything that seems like a misfortune can be turned around to your good and His glory.

We would like to thank Naomi Jones for writing this blog.

I had a hard time writing this blog.

I’m not really sure why, but I got to the point where I wasn’t turning anything in because I honestly couldn’t think of what to write—and I didn’t want to write something just to write something. I didn’t want to be disingenuous.

Belief has not always been my strength. If you’re looking for an expert on faith and believing big, it isn’t me. But God has brought me a long way in building my faith, and I am so thankful for His faithfulness in that.

Recently—after this blog was already due—we hiked Pikes Peak with some of our friends and their families from church. And somewhere on that mountain, I think my faith grew a little more.

Day one started with the “easier” six-mile hike to Barr Camp. We packed in all of our camping supplies and hiked six beautiful miles up the mountain.

Hiking has always been special to me because I feel so close to God in nature. There is something about being surrounded by mountains, trees, and everything He created that quiets everything else.

We made it to camp, set up our tents, and watched the kids play in the creek and build forts out of limbs and string.

I felt accomplished. Proud. Tired. And incredibly thankful to be surrounded by God’s beauty.

Then came day two.

Another six miles, but this time with around 4,000 feet of elevation gain. We left around 6 a.m. hoping to beat the afternoon storms.

I woke up tired, but excited to hike.

Our team did so well. We pushed. We dug deeper. We encouraged each other.

But we didn’t beat the afternoon storms.

At that point, all of us knew we just needed to get up the mountain.

We helped each other. We encouraged each other. We carried each other’s loads—literally. Lucas and Cole were so steady through all of it. They showed their strength not just by carrying extra weight when others needed help, but by quietly stepping in and helping wherever they could. They carried loads, kept moving, and helped keep the rest of us moving too.

And when it felt like we had used everything we had, God sent some angels on that mountain to help us the rest of the way.

There was no going back down.

We had to go up.

And God gave us the strength.

The experience was deeply spiritual for me, and looking back, I think it gave me a glimpse of how much my belief has grown.

Even in the urgency of trying to get off that mountain and out of the storm, I had peace.

I knew I couldn’t make it up in my own strength.

I could see the support God was providing around us. I knew my worry couldn’t get us up the mountain any faster. My anxiety couldn’t make the storm go away.

So, I just kept going.

And somewhere inside, I knew we were going to make it.

Fast forward to getting home.

I was planning our homeschool year, looking at my work schedule between two jobs, looking at everything we had committed to—and I started to worry.

I was talking to my husband about how I wasn’t sure we could do it all.

He reminded me, we just hiked Pikes Peak.

I could, in fact, do hard things.

But more importantly, he reminded me that God can provide what we need for what He has called us to do. It doesn’t have to come from my own strength.

A few days later, I went on a run—because Pikes Peak also showed me just how much I need to work on my fitness, haha—and I felt God impress something on my heart:

“Quit looking for escape routes. Believe that I will get you through what I have called you to.”

That hit me.

Because I think, sometimes, I ask God to show me what He wants me to do, but then when it gets hard, I immediately start looking for the way out.

Maybe believing bigger isn’t believing that everything will be easy.

Maybe it’s believing that if God has called us to something, He will be faithful to meet us there.

It reminds me of 1 Thessalonians 5:24:

“The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.”

Not you are strong enough, and you will do it.

He is faithful.

Philippians 1:6 says something similar:

“He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”

God calls us to things. Sometimes He calls us through things. And He doesn’t promise that we will accomplish them in our own strength.

He promises to be faithful.

Ephesians 3:20:

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.”

Pikes Peak reminded me that sometimes there isn’t an escape route. Sometimes the only option is to keep climbing, one step at a time, trusting that God will provide the strength, the people, the peace, and even the “angels on the mountain” we need along the way.

So, whatever you’re walking through, or whatever God has called you to, my prayer is that you can stop looking for the escape route.

Believe bigger.

Not in yourself, but in the God who called you.

We would like to thank Lori Johnson for writing this blog.

I like to be in control of things. I like a clean, organized house. I like our finances to be in order. I like the yard to look nice and to know what is coming up on our schedule. I don’t like to be surprised. I like to be in control, and I like order!

However, there have been times in my life where I have had to surrender my control and order to the One who has it all under control! And if I’m being honest, He knows a lot more about that than I ever will!!!

Thinking back to our very first year of farming, God showed me that I didn’t have to have everything under control, and He would take care of us. One afternoon in late June, we were crushed by a hailstorm, and it left our 5-foot corn laying on the ground. We were devastated! I vividly remember watching my 20-year-old husband on his knees in the field looking at his ruined corn crop. I sat at the kitchen table wondering why God allowed this to happen. What were we going to do? We already owed money to the bank, so how were we going to pay them off if we didn’t have a crop? I had no idea how this was going to work out, and it was totally out of my control!

My husband immediately went to work to replant, and at the end of the year, we paid off the bank almost to the dollar that we owed them. There wasn’t anything left over, but at least we were able to pay off our debt. 

It was at that time that God showed a young married couple that He is faithful, and we can trust Him! God showed up in such a way that we knew it was only from Him! There was no other explanation of how we paid out at the bank. It was GOD!!!

I wish I could say that was the last time we had a hailstorm or lost a crop, but after 42 years of farming, we have had several storms over the years. Each time we have a disaster on the farm, I think back to that first year and remember God’s faithfulness to us. There was a song that was popular back then, and I still sing it in my spirit when I want to be reminded of God’s promises to us during hard times:

            He’ll do it again. He’ll do it again.

            Just take a look at where you are now and where you’ve been.

            Hasn’t He always come through for you, well He’s the same now as then.

            You may not know how, you may not know when, but He’ll do it again!

God is bigger than my control! Often, I try to put God in a box and think that I have to solve the world’s problems or keep everything in a certain order. But when I surrender to God’s plan in my life, things turn out MUCH better! Ephesians 3:20 says that “Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us,” 

Why do I think I can do it better than God? Why do I think I have to have everything in control, when I can just trust God? I know I can trust God completely, because He has proven time and time again that He is trustworthy! He can do things BIGGER and BETTER when I surrender! He’ll do it again!!!

We would like to thank Vickie Young for writing this blog.

I’ve been working my way through The Bible Recap, and in true form, I started it in the middle of the year.

It’s so easy to read through the Old Testament and think, Why do they keep making the same mistakes over and over? Look, the golden calf didn’t do anything for you the first time. What do you think it’s going to do this time?

My daughter even asked me, “Are we done reading about the Israelites? They just keep doing the same thing over and over.”

But then I remind myself that while my actions may not be the same, I still sin over and over again, making many of the same mistakes. I limit what God can do because I can’t wrap my mind around how He does it or why He would do it for me.

When King Hezekiah came to power, “he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, according to all that David his father had done. He removed the high places and broke the pillars and cut down the Asherah. He trusted in the Lord, the God of Israel, so that there was none like him among all the kings of Judah after him, nor among those who were before him. For he held fast to the Lord. He did not depart from following him, but kept the commandments that the Lord commanded Moses.” 2 Kings 18:2–3, 5–6

Because of Hezekiah’s faith and trust in God, the Bible tells us that he prospered. Then, when Hezekiah became sick and was near death, he asked God for healing, and God granted it.

What did Hezekiah do next?

He boasted about himself and became prideful. He stopped seeking God’s wisdom and made foolish decisions.

I want to focus on the moment when Hezekiah asked God to extend his life and God granted his request. Sometimes, I don’t even allow myself to ask for things because I limit what God can do or rather, what I believe He is willing to do for me.

I’m not the ruler of a country, so why would God do something big for me?

Thankfully, He is God, and He isn’t limited by those thoughts.

In times of doubt, I remind myself of examples from my own life when God showed up in big ways simply because I had the faith to ask.

When my youngest daughter was still in the womb, one of her kidneys was retaining too much fluid. We had to schedule an additional ultrasound, and the condition remained the same. The doctor told me that if things didn’t improve, she would need a procedure after birth to drain the fluid.

So, what did I do?

I stressed about it. Then I tried to rationalize it by thinking, Well, it’s not that bad. It could definitely be worse. It’s not a chronic illness. Maybe it’ll just work itself out.

Of course, even when my child has a cold, I worry, so those thoughts weren’t especially helpful.

Then one day, while I was sitting in church, I felt a strong urge to go to the front after the service and ask for prayer for God to heal her. Honestly, it was going to be the first time I had ever gone forward for prayer. I was uncomfortable and, once again, trying to talk myself out of it but I didn’t.

I told Ty, “We’re going to the front to get prayer for Audrey’s kidney.”

So, we did.

We walked to the front, which felt like a mile because we both usually sit toward the back and were feeling uncomfortable. We received prayer, and I felt such relief afterward.

At the next ultrasound, they measured her kidney, and it was within the normal range. They checked again before she was born, and everything looked great.

I’m not the ruler of a country, and I wasn’t asking God to extend my life, but none of that matters to Him.

He wants us to come to Him and bring Him the desires of our hearts.

Philippians 4:6 says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”

God wants our hearts and desires a relationship with us.

When Hezekiah turned away from God, he lost God’s favor and wasted the precious gift of extra life on earth that had been given to him.

We don’t know what big things God has planned for us. God can and will do more than we can imagine.

Sometimes, we just have to ask.

We would like to thank Chelsea Criswell for writing this blog.

 There’s a tension many of us live in but don’t always recognize: God speaks big, but people often think small. 

If we’re honest, one of the greatest obstacles to believing bigger isn’t a lack of faith, it’s the weight of other people’s opinions. It’s the offhand comments, the doubts, the questions, and even well-meaning advice that slowly pulls us back into what feels safe, realistic, and understandable. 

But God rarely calls us to what is safe. 

Isaiah reminds us, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord (Isaiah 55:8). When God places something in your heart, it often stretches beyond logic. It goes beyond your resources, your experience, and definitely beyond what others can immediately see. 

And because of that, the people around you may not affirm it, they may question it. Not because they’re against you, but because they’re limited to what they understand. 

The real question is: whose voice gets the final say? 

Because the voice you agree with will shape the future you step into. 

We see this clearly in Scripture. When David stood before Goliath, he was surrounded by voices telling him to be realistic. Yet David declared, “The battle is the Lord’s” (1 Samuel 17:47). Everyone else saw a giant that couldn’t be defeated. David saw a God who couldn’t be stopped. 

The difference wasn’t the size of the giant; it was the voice he chose to believe. 

If David had listened to the opinions around him, he would have never stepped onto that battlefield. His calling required him to reject what made sense to others in order to embrace what God had already spoken. 

And we face that same decision. 

Too often, we give people’s opinions a level of authority they were never meant to have. Proverbs 29:25 warns us, “Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe.” When we prioritize people’s reactions over God’s direction, we trap ourselves in hesitation and doubt. 

Believing bigger requires a shift. 

It means learning to filter voices instead of absorbing all of them. Not every voice deserves equal access to your faith. Not every opinion is qualified to speak into your calling. 

It also means accepting that obedience to God may look unreasonable to others. There will be moments when saying “yes” to God means saying “no” to the comfort of being understood. 

Paul writes in Galatians 1:10, “Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God?” That question still challenges us today. 

We all want confirmation. We all want support. But if you wait for everyone to understand what God is doing in your life before you move forward, you may never move at all. 

Believing bigger requires courage, the kind of courage that is willing to stand alone before it ever stands in victory. 

It’s choosing to trust God’s character over human consensus. It’s deciding that if God said it, that settles it, even if no one else sees it yet. As 2 Corinthians 5:7 reminds us, “For we walk by faith, not by sight.” 

This doesn’t mean we ignore wisdom or isolate ourselves from counsel. God uses people. But there’s a difference between seeking wise counsel and surrendering your conviction. 

At the end of the day, you must settle this: whose voice carries the most weight in your life? 

Before you ask, “What do people think?” ask, “What did God say?” 

Because you can’t step into something greater if you keep shrinking it to fit inside someone else’s understanding. 

Not every opinion deserves access to your faith. 

Believing bigger begins when God’s voice becomes louder than the crowd, and when His “yes” matters more than everyone else’s hesitation. 

We would like to thank Cassie Mogg for writing this post.

There are so many things that the hand of God is able to do. In my life, the two things that have had the most profound impact on me are that the hand of God has created me and covered me.

I have always been in awe of creation and the world around us. The peace and solace of being in nature is unlike any other. As my faith journey has progressed, I have learned that it is not just about being in awe of creation, but more about becoming more intimately connected to my Creator. About twenty years ago, I watched two talks by Louie Giglio titled “Indescribable” and “How Great is Our God”. From the massiveness of the galaxies and universe to the minute intricacies of our fearfully and wonderfully made human bodies, these two talks birthed a reverence and worship in my heart that has grown ever since. Spoiler (but no surprise!) alert: no matter how majestic or miniscule, the cross is at the center of it all.

We are not some random splat. We are the furthest thing from an accident, and there is nothing unplanned in God’s plan. We have been created in the very image of God (Genesis 1:27). We have been measured even to the number of hairs on our head (Matthew 10:30). Our DNA sequence has been calculated unlike any other of the billions of people on our planet. We have been known before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:4) and were knit together in our mother’s womb (Psalm 139:13). Knit. Intentionally. Intricately. Intimately. His hand has created me.

The story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego (Daniel 3:8-30) is a story of God’s provident protection when we refuse to bow down or worship anything other than Him. In my career as an educator, I have been faced with many situations where I had to choose between my earthly boss and my heavenly Master. It has not always been an easy road, but I have felt the hand of God cover me every single time. 

The most trying of situations came several years ago during our daughter’s junior year of high school. Matt and I both faced tremendous adversity and had several negative actions taken against us. It was no doubt the worst professional storm we had walked through together…the fire seemed seven times hotter than it ever had before. But God. We chose “One Way” as our basketball team’s theme for that season, based on the movie “Woodlawn”. We professed that Jesus would be at the center of everything for our team and season. Our covenant with each other, our team, and our God was that we would do everything “One Way” to bring honor and glory to Him and Him only. 

I have never felt the covering of God’s hand over my life as much as I did during that year. Even when the storm swelled and the fire raged, His peace was ever present on a daily, sometimes hourly, basis. Our team won the 3A State Championship with an undefeated 37-0 record, and I will forever be grateful to The One who scripted that entire season. Am I grateful for the furnace, fire, and flame? I would not know the 4^th Man in the fire more deeply without them. I would not know how powerful His presence truly is without them. I would not know the deliverance of coming out not even smelling like smoke without them. His hand has covered me.

One of my favorite song lyrics says, “I may not know what the day may bring, but I know Who brings the day”. When the almighty hand of God pushes that glorious sun up every morning, I am reminded of how thoroughly and affectionately I have been created. I am reminded that no matter what storm may come, He will be there in the fire and deliver me from it. My Creator is sovereign and I am safe in the covering of the Lord.

We would like to thank Courtney Garrett for writing this post.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30

Let’s talk about the hand of God. When you think about the hand of God, what is the first thing that comes to mind? We may first think about what He gives, how He provides, how He moves obstacles for us. For me, it reminds me of all the things God is willing to receive from us. I grew up with trauma being a regular occurrence, and it was crippling. When I was at the lowest time in my life, I turned to alcohol to numb the pain from the worst trauma I had recently experienced. I wasn’t drinking to party; I was drinking in attempts to just not think, to stop or slow down the anguish, to stop panic attacks. My mind was tormented with fear, suicidal ideations, flashbacks, intrusive thoughts, and wondering how this happened. My life as I knew it was over; I was a shattered shell of a woman and mother. I had been a fighter all my life and made it through so much, but this time I had no fight left in me. I prayed everyday asking the Lord for help to cope with this crisis. The Lord revealed to me that what I was going through was spiritual, and that I needed to deal with it spiritually. I rebuked the suicidal thoughts and told them to leave me in Jesus Name, and they immediately left. I started begging God to take the desire and addiction to alcohol away.  

God had supernaturally taken the desire for other addictions away throughout my life, so I knew He could and would. This time was different, every time I sat on my bed with a bottle of rum in my hand just wanting to numb the ravaging pain away, I would pray. Lord, please take the desire to drink away from me, I don’t want it. The Lord would show me an image of His open hand toward me, palm up, like He was willing to receive it if I was willing to give it to Him. No, Lord, please take it from me, then He would show me his open hand again and impress on me that this time I had to GIVE it to Him. I didn’t think I could put this in His hand on my own; I knew if I was willing to give it to Him that He would help me, but I just couldn’t give it to Him. I was stuck, fearful of how I would be able to manage this pain without alcohol. The alcohol was NOT helping; it rather held me captive in my body while my mind ran every scenario, every fear, everything that I could have done differently, and every way that I failed. I felt like I was stuck in a prison cell with little hope, but the Lord kept showing me that the prison door was open, and I could walk out if I wanted to.  

I didn’t want to have to do the work myself; I wanted the Lord to do the work for me. My daily prayers begging God for help went on for months. I knew what I had to do yet questioned my ability. God was showing His willingness to take it IF I was willing to give it to Him; God obviously knew I had the ability. I wish I could say that the battle was easy once I gave it to Him; it was not. I had a lot of spiritual warfare to battle after that, learning how to make healthy choices in my mind and body, and learning to lean on the Lord for strength and guidance every step of the way.  

Learning how to live life without substances to cope was a great challenge for me as my earliest addiction started at age 9. I learned, grew, and matured my ability to feel the feelings and not run from them. God offered me His open hand, and I took Him up on His offer; God knew that if I expected Him to do the work for me every time that I would not learn and grow the ability to do it for myself.  August 2026 will be 9 years sober for me, because I chose to put it in His hand. May He do the same for you in whatever He is leading you to put in His hand. God bless you.  

We would like to thank Leah Montez for writing this post.

There are many times in my life I can think of when the hand of God has definitely been felt and present. From answered prayers, opened doors, challenges, and provision even in moments of life where we did not recognize it. Seasons of life are inevitable and change has to happen. Some seasons come with excitement and anticipation while some come with uncertainty and letting go. As women, one of our greatest gifts is adjusting to changes as we watch our children grow. 

Over the past nine months, we have been in a season of lasts, watching chapters close in my son’s senior year of high school. In a couple of months my oldest will be moving to attend college. While I am so proud of him and have so much joy about his growth and upcoming experiences, this makes me anxious as well. I have spent eighteen years raising, nurturing, praying for and teaching him, getting to watch him become the amazing young man he is today, all thanks to God’s hand in our lives. 

As this next chapter draws near, I have to trust that God has him in his hands, as he always has and always will. Isaiah 41:10 says “Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will help you; I will hold on to you with my righteous right hand.” Being in God’s word and trusting in truths like these give me comfort. While I know that this season of change in life is inevitable, it is hard for me to think about him being on his own and not needing me. The realization that life is not only changing for him, but for me and his sister at home can seem overwhelming and scary. While we get impatient and want to know God’s plan for our lives and for our families, scripture reminds us to fully trust in God’s plan, because it is better than anything we can imagine for ourselves. As I watch my son prepare to step into this next chapter I am reminded to trust in God’s plan for every detail of his journey. Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and not rely on your own understanding; in all your ways know him, and he will make your paths straight.” 

Whatever season you find yourself in, remember God is already there. I encourage you as we go through seasons of change, whether they be exciting or scary, that you stay in God’s word. Trusting in His plan can be difficult but there is such a peace in knowing he has it and we do not have to worry about it. As women we take on so many roles and responsibilities, and this is something we can turn over to God and allow him to guide our paths. 

I want to end with one of my son’s favorite scriptures, Isaiah 43:2 “When you pass through deep waters, I will be with you, and the rivers will not overwhelm you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, and the flame will not burn you.” He has turned to this verse many times over his high school years, and it is such a good reminder that when you feel that overwhelming stress of the world, that God will not let it overcome you. I have no doubt he will keep this verse in his heart and God’s hand will be in every step of his next chapter.

We would like to thank Jamie Austin for writing this post.

Recently, I’ve been reading through the book of Acts, and I came across the story of Stephen. I’ve always known him as the first Christian martyr, but never really dove deep into his story. The story of Stephen is just a short story, but you can see God’s hand over it.

Stephen was chosen to serve the Hellenistic Jews and care for their spiritual needs. When Stephen was appointed, he started preaching boldly.

“Now Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, performed great wonders and signs among the people. Opposition arose, however, from members of the Synagogue of the Freedmen… who began to argue with Stephen. But they could not stand up against the wisdom the Spirit gave him as he spoke.” (Acts 6:8-10)

Stephen had remarkable wisdom for someone who had only recently begun his ministry. That wisdom came directly from the Holy Spirit. Being full of the Spirit was one of the reasons the disciples chose him in the first place. (Acts 6:5)

Stephen knew the hand of God was upon him because he knew the Holy Spirit dwelled within him. And he wanted the Jewish leaders to have a relationship with the Holy Spirit like he and so many other people had. This is how Stephen responded to the Jewish leaders when they accused him of being a false teacher. 

“You stiff-necked people! Your hearts and ears are still uncircumcised. You are just like your ancestors: You always resist the Holy Spirit!” (Acts 7:51)

The passion and boldness in those words just amaze me of the faith Stephen had. Stephen’s message wasn’t rooted in anger but in his love for God and his desire for others to know the God as he did. Yet this was their response:

“When the members of the Sanhedrin heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him.” (Acts 7:54)

But Stephen knew God and he had a relationship with Him. He knew the hand of God was over him every moment, even as he faced death. And just before he was stoned, God allowed him to see His glory.

“But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. ‘Look,’ he said, ‘I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.'” (Acts 7:55-56)

As I read Stephen’s story, I can’t help but reflect on my own life. Just as the hand of God was over Stephen’s life, I can look back and see the hand of God over mine.

Whenever I hear the lyrics from Goodness of God—

“All my life You have been faithful. All my life You have been so, so good. With every breath that I am able, I will sing of the goodness of God.”

—I always get the same picture in my mind. I see God’s hands resting on my head and my husband’s head and then moving on to resting on our children’s head. But God’s hand keeps moving, resting His hands on generation after generation. 

I know God’s hand is over my life. I know His hand is over my husband’s life. I know His hand is over my children’s lives. And I believe His hand will remain over the generations that come after us.

There are things about my heavenly father I cannot fathom but God gave me an earthly father whose life reflected so much of His character.

My dad was kind and loving, just as my Heavenly Father is kind and loving. My dad also corrected me when I needed it, just as my Heavenly Father disciplines His children.

When I think of my dad, one of the things that brings me the greatest comfort is remembering his hands.

From the age of twenty until he was sixty-four, my dad farmed. I remember him coming home with dirty hands, bruised hands, and sometimes even bloody hands from the hard work he did to provide for his family. His hands were ever-present in my life. Those hands provided and protected me. 

But when cancer forced my dad to stop farming, his hands began to change.

His strong and calloused hands become weak and smooth. Eventually, not only his hands but his entire body wore out, and he passed from this life into eternity.

As grateful as I am for my earthly father whose hands were all over my life, there is an even greater comfort in knowing that the hand of God has never left me.

My earthly father’s hands grew tired, but God’s hands never do.

My earthly father’s hands became weak, but God’s hands will always be strong enough to take on any battle I will face. 

My earthly father’s hands eventually gave out but God’s hands will continue for generations until His return.

Just like the words from Goodness of God, I can look back over my life and see the hand of God all throughout my life. Through every bad choice I made as a teenager, through the hardships my husband and I have faced, through every hill and valley of parenthood, the hand of God has remained steady, and He has been with me every step of the way.

We would like to thank Bethany Williams for writing this post.