"Be still and know that I am God." Psalm 46:10 What a beautiful invitation. At first glance, it sounds like a moment that we all long for. A breath of rest. A pause from the noise. A break in the relentless rhythm of life. But what happens when stillness doesn't feel possible? When life presses in so tightly that silence feels like a luxury we can't afford? When your days are stitched together by the needs of others... a constant swirl of motion and emotion. The noise, dem

On the hard days. In the darkness of a sleepless night. Through the trials, the pain, and the sickness that will not let up. Through the diagnosis, the disability, and the devastating phone call. How do we “count it all joy”? This phrase from James chapter 1 is sometimes used flippantly, as a way to dismiss our pain rather than truly acknowledge it. Sometimes others do this to us, and sometimes we do it to ourselves. But this verse did not flow from the heart of God to the

“You slept less than recommended and your body didn't recharge well. You may feel more tired today than usual.” Every morning my fitness tracker gives me the same message. “You didn’t sleep well” “Your sleep was non-restorative” “Your “body battery” did not recharge enough” “You may feel more stressed today.” “You should try to have a restful day to bring down your stress levels.” That last one is almost commercial… almost. Three months ago, when I started wearing my Garmin

As someone who makes a regular practice of the "Note to self" application, I appreciate that the Psalmist invites us into his own inner workings. "Why are you so downcast?" he says to his soul. "Why are you so disturbed?" If you are anything like me, you've got a list of things that you could rattle off at any given moment in answer to that question. Problems with money, marriage, health, kids, jobs, family... the list could go on and on. This life is full of trials, in f