Haven’t we all succumbed to this lie at one time or another? Here’s a phrase that should put you on high alert: “If only.” It sounds something like this: “If only I had a new car, if only I could get the promotion, if only I had the latest cell phone, or if only I got a popular toy... then life would be perfect.”

After enduring numerous trials, recognizing positive events becomes challenging. Or maybe you've prayed repeatedly for something, yet it feels like God isn't responding. This can lead to discouragement, making you feel unseen by God. You become weary and then decide, "I'm going to take action, regardless of whether it pleases God." You seek to escape the sensation of helplessness or stagnation.

I grew up in a rural section of eastern North Carolina where miles of crops lined the curvy country roads. Although both my grandparents owned farms, our family lived in town, one block from East Carolina College, with its large, lush lawn and towering trees.

“As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” Isaiah 55:10–11 (NIV) There was a season in my life when I felt like I was walking through a spiritual drought. I still believed

There are seasons in life when passion feels distant, when what once felt clear and meaningful now feels heavy or uncertain. In those moments, it is easy to wonder whether your voice, your work, or even your life’s direction still carries purpose.

Though we all experience life’s challenges, not everyone manages to get back up. It may take a day, weeks, or even years. But Proverbs 24:16 promises that the righteous—believers in faith through Jesus Christ—will rise again. We may fall, but we don’t have to remain fallen.

My first experience rowing a boat was on vacation in Florida. I was about twelve years old. My parents and their friends watched me from the beach as I tried to maneuver the small vessel.

While we learn to walk through stressful seasons, we sometimes stumble for various reasons: perhaps weakness, selfishness, or a lack of faith in God. We lean on our own understanding rather than depending on God’s goodness and wisdom. But God knows our every need.

Know this my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.—James 1:19-20 ESV “Lord Jesus! Why am I this angry, and why did I almost curse? " I muttered to myself as I sat at my desk, staring off into space instead of focusing on the pile of paperwork I needed to work on at my job. "This isn't who I am anymore." When I was in college, every other word out of my mouth was profan

I’ve lived with depression for a long time. I used to feel ashamed of it. Like if I were a better Christian, maybe I wouldn’t struggle the way I do. Maybe I’d be stronger, happier, or lighter. But I’ve learned that struggling doesn’t cancel out faith. Struggling doesn’t make you less than. And God doesn’t wait until we’re perfect before he calls us his. This verse in 1 John doesn’t say that victory comes from our strength or our performance. It says that our faith is the vict

I’ve experienced losing people I loved, losing things I worked hard for, and losing pieces of what I thought my life would look like. And if I’m being honest, those moments didn’t just hurt, they changed me. There were times I questioned everything, wondered why God would allow so much pressure, so much heat, and so much breaking. But then I started to see things differently. I thought about how steel is made.

Instead of a promise to achieve our goals, it emphasizes the inner strength we find in Christ in times of trial and hardship, as well as in times of contentment and peace. We always need to rely on Christ for our strength.

There was a period in my life when I was mentally and physically spent. My husband and I were raising two sons, one of whom has autism. I was also working at a job that required twelve hours of standing without a break and often without a meal. It was extremely stressful, and I wasn’t exactly young. I had long commutes, and my schedule was haphazard at best. However, it was necessary. Still, there were times I thought I would never make it. But God.

But the heart has other feelings. Hearts break, hearts weep, and hearts cry out for help. Hearts cling to the warm, fuzzy feelings of love, but they also hold on to profound loss, sadness, fear, and doubt. If we’re expecting our lives to look like the perfect Hallmark movie, the odds of that happening aren’t always in our favor.

Suddenly, uncontrollable tears streamed down my face as pent-up emotions surfaced. I reached for a tissue while tears flowed, and relief flooded me. God uncovered the dreadful memory of a critique where someone’s harsh criticism plunged me into deep despair. After forgiving her, I thought everything was well, but it didn’t erase the words stuck in my head.

We love the idea of God fighting for us. We pray and ask Him to step in and change our circumstances—the cancer diagnosis, the lawsuit, the struggling marriage, the wandering child. And often, He moves in powerful ways. But God’s faithfulness does not always look like immediate rescue or visible victory. Sometimes His work is quieter, deeper, and more mysterious than we expect. Scripture shows us that while God is always present and always good.

Here’s what I’m slowly learning. Letting go doesn’t mean I don’t care. Resting doesn’t mean I’m lazy. Being still doesn’t mean I’m failing. It means I trust that God loves my family even more than I do. It means I believe he’s working behind the scenes, even when I can’t see it. It means I choose to believe I don’t have to fight every battle on my own. That kind of stillness takes courage, especially when you’re used to doing it all.

When I hear the word unstoppable, I usually think of progress. Forward motion. Checking boxes and getting things done. I think of effort, determination, and pushing through no matter how tired I feel. But God has been teaching me that unstoppable does not always look like constant movement. Sometimes it looks like letting go and trusting him to take the lead.

We often face situations that seem insurmountable, with no way out or resolution. It may even feel like we’re going under for the last time. We may think our fate is sealed and that we have no hope. Common sense, logic, reason, and rational thought tell us to give up and accept our fate. Just toughen up and take it like a man. That’s the exact opposite of what we should do.

I’m certainly not suggesting that this adorable little paintbrush can wash away our sins — but if you look closely, there is an analogy to be found. Isn’t this how God restores our hearts to align with His? Picture Jesus standing before you, looking at your life. With His paintbrush in hand, He paints over your sins. But, not only does the paint cover your sins — His supernatural paint erases them for good.