Comparison is one of the biggest thieves of bravery. And in today’s culture, it has never been easier for us to compare our lives, gifts and spiritual walk to someone else’s. When I sense God calling me to take a step of faith, I often get derailed when I look at another sister and think, “I’m not the person for this task. She could do this better than me.” This happened a few years ago, when I was given my first opportunity to speak at a writers’ conference. At first, I was thrilled by Continue Reading
When the Holidays Cause Joy and Pain to Collide
There’s something about the holidays that magnifies our deepest emotions. Our joy and our pain collide, dizzying us at times. Our comfort and our grief come together, often leaving us searching for answers. In the midst of the carols, the lights and hunts for the perfect gifts, we sometimes flounder on a roller coaster of feelings. How do we find solid ground? What is it that can make this time of year both hard and joyous at the same time? Two weeks ago, a person I dated in college died. Continue Reading
How to Not Feel So Alone During Seasons of Depression
Depression thrives on two things: isolation and silence. During one of my darkest seasons, I convinced myself that if I didn’t tell anyone about my depression, it would go away. I feared the verbalization of how I felt, thinking it would somehow become more real. Some days, I rationalized the constant sluggishness, numbness and fog that hung over me. I believed I was having a bad day, and the next would be better. So instead of being honest, I tried to be happy. Or at least, to put on a Continue Reading
