Jessica Landmon's Blog

‘Tis the season to be jolly, or so the saying goes. During the Christmas season, we, of course, should be filled with joy and exuberance. What’s not to love? Christmas decorations adorn our homes, Hallmark movies are in marathon mode, and cookies and treats are everywhere.

Although I admittedly am a “Christmas-aholic”, I recognize that this time of year is not that “jolly” for many of you. Some of you are dealing with hurtful memories of Christmases gone bad. Others are coping with the loss of a loved one that makes this particular time of year very painful. And, still, others are feeling anxious about all the things that need to be accomplished.

In any instance, I want to encourage you with some truths.

1 –  Jesus wants to bring you peace this Christmas.

The holidays can be one of the most painful times of year, either reliving disappointments from prior years or missing that loved one who is no longer with you. Jesus can bring you peace and healing. You just need to come undone before Him.

Invite Him into all those areas that you try to hide from the world, and allow Jesus to minister to you soul. Let Him replace sorrow with hope, depression with joy, and anger with love. Stop looking to other means to fill that void. Jesus, and Jesus alone, is the answer.

2 – Christmas isn’t about you.

That’s right. It’s about the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Your shopping list may still be untouched, and your Christmas cards may not even make it out this year, but that’s not what it’s about. Who cares if you put on a Pinterest-worthy party? (Although, I’d like to be invited if you do.)

Christmas should be a time where we reflect on the single most significant gift we have ever received – Jesus. His birth, and ultimately His death, reconciles our sinful lives to God so that we may spend eternity with Him. If we reflect on this marvelous truth, all the pressure that we put on ourselves this season begins to seem silly. Let His presence overflow in your heart.

3 – Stop sacrificing your Christmas joy in pursuit of the “perfect” Christmas.

Yes, I love to decorate every room of my house. And, yes, I have an Excel spreadsheet that tallies all my gift purchasing. But, I will not allow the stress of the season to ruin my Christmas.

I used to think that I needed to have Christmas cards in the mailbox by December 1st, Christmas shopping done by Thanksgiving, and all presents wrapped and under the tree no later than the first week of December. Crazy, right? I thought that if I could get all this done early, I could really spend the season focusing on the important things. I guess that is true, but as what cost?

Instead of quickly checking things off my list, I decided to enjoy each and every thing I need to do no matter when it gets done. Of course, I still feel pressure at times, but I have learned to view these tasks as blessings, rather than burdens.

4 – You don’t have to act like Buddy from Elf to let the joy of the season fill you.

I know I may be offending some of my high-spirited readers, but we don’t need to decorate our cars with antlers, wear a Santa hat to the office, and play Christmas music around the clock to experience the joy of the season. If you enjoy this, please, by no means stop, but understand joy is something experienced in the heart, not necessarily put on display for everyone to see.

Joy isn’t a feeling – it is confidence in knowing where your hope lies. Joy comes from receiving our King, Jesus. And, it shouldn’t stop on December 25th. You can experience this joy year round.

Joy to the World! The Lord is come! Let earth receive her King. Let every heart prepare Him room, and Heaven and nature sing.

When love is absent, bitterness overflows. When love is absent, selfishness exists. When love is absent, pride manifests. Bitter, selfish, and proud – these three adjectives accurately describe the condition of Jonah’s heart.

The book of Jonah is only four short chapters. And, yet, his life has really stirred my heart – so much that I have now devoted two back-to-back blogs about it.

God asked Jonah to share a message of repentance to the people of Ninevah. But, Jonah did not want to go. He was afraid that the people would hear this message, turn from their wickedness, and that God would show them love rather than the judgment that Jonah felt they deserved.

Wanting people to receive punishment for their wrongdoing is a normal human reaction, but it is not Godly. I can totally understand how Jonah would want the people of Ninevah to get what was coming to them. They were evil and inflicted cruelty on the Israelites. But, that’s not God’s heart. And, Jonah knew that.

I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity. – Jonah 4:2

If you really study the scriptures, you will see that God uses punishment as a last resort. God is a God of love. He wants all people to turn from their evil ways. His hope is to restore all people. He wants to welcome everyone into a relationship with Him. And, He will give people numerous opportunities to do so.

When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he relented and did not bring on them the destruction he had threatened. – Jonah 3:10

Ladies, I am deeply troubled by the current state of our nation. Love is diminishing, while hate is growing. But, we need to remember that God is deeply in love with all of us, no matter what we have done. His hope is that we all receive His free offer of repentance and turn to Him.

Let’s make sure we remember this the next time we see people who have rejected God or are struggling in sin. It’s easy to see ungodly behavior and get all smug. But, aren’t we all just “a burning stick snatched from the fire”? (Zechariah 3:5) We need to extend the same grace to others that God has extended to us. If we lack love, how are we supposed to bring them to Jesus?

Loving people like Jesus is our choice. Love brings understanding. Love brings compassion. Love brings unity.

When love is absent, evil wins.

Has God ever asked you to do something that you just plain didn’t want to do? Maybe it was outside your comfort zone. Or, perhaps, you knew that there could be backlash that followed. Maybe you just weren’t comfortable with God’s strategy. In any instance, you convinced yourself that it just wasn’t something you were going to do, and the matter was settled.

You are not alone. Jonah was given such a task and initially responded the same way. God asked Jonah to go preach a message of repentance to the people of Ninevah. These weren’t just any people – they were evil – and they were Israel’s biggest enemy. Jonah wanted them to get what was coming to them, certainly not offer them a way out.

So Jonah said no. Actually, he said no and tried to get as far away from God as possible. He set sail for Tarshish, which was the opposite direction of Ninevah. Well, most of you who attended a Sunday school class or two know what happened next. Jonah ended up in the belly of a fish. And, the Lord rescued him from the depths of the ocean and graciously put Jonah back on his path so that he could fulfill his mission.

“Now the Lord provided a huge fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.” – Jonah 1:17

Ladies, you can’t hide from God. He will find you. In fact, He never lost you. His eyes are always on you. God has specific assignments that you – and only you – can accomplish. He wants you to walk in your calling, and He will take drastic measures to make that happen.

Make no mistake, God will sometimes ask us to do things we don’t want to do, but we need to trust that it’s the right thing even if we can’t understand it at the time. There is much Kingdom work to be done, and God is asking us to do our part. Listen, I’m not Jonah, and neither are you, but God still wants to use us to accomplish His purposes here on earth.

Whether or not you obey God’s request is entirely up to you. But, remember, God will not let you run from Him. He will pursue you with fervency. He has a perfect plan and path for your life, and He wants you to walk in it. It’s time to stop avoiding it. If you do, you might just end up in the belly of a fish!

“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” – Ephesians 2:10

Life is busy. Time is short. And, our priorities are often out of order. Our days are spent completing an endless list of things that “need” to get done. And, in the middle of this craziness, we squeeze in some prayer time and Bible reading, and hope that we make it to the finish line each night.

If this is you, I can tell you with certainty that you are doing it wrong. Yes, you are doing life wrong. Jesus came to give us life and life more abundantly, not this hectic life we have come to accept. In the middle of our busyness and good intentions, we have sacrificed peace, joy, and the abundant life God has planned for us.

The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. – John 10:10 (NKJV)

People hear the word abundant and immediately assume that the scriptures are referring only to material blessings. This is why many are chasing the wrong things and burning themselves out in the process. The abundant life referred to here has so much more to offer than just things and status. It is a life filled with God’s presence and counsel. It is a life filled with purpose and fulfillment. It is a life filled with laughter, gladness, and hope.

So what’s the solution? How do we step away from the rat race that we all have come to accept as normal? Well, the first thing you need to do is just breath. Actually, take a long, deep breath with me right now. Don’t think about all the things you need to get done. Inhale. Exhale. Inhale. Exhale. Meditate on God’s goodness and His immeasurable love for you.

Now, ask God to reveal His heart to you and show you where you should direct you time and energy. Focus on these areas. When you partner with God and are in alignment with His vision, our tasks begin to have purpose. These tasks won’t feel like burdens anymore, but rather opportunities to collaborate with the Kings of Kings.

Please understand that this isn’t an excuse to shirk our responsibilities. There are things that we just need to do each and every day. But, if we were truly honest with ourselves, we would see that many of the things we stress about are things we were never meant to do. That’s why we end up feeling overwhelmed and short on time.

Ladies, God doesn’t want you stressed and overwhelmed. He wants you to partner with Him so that you can accomplish your purpose. Let go of the old way of thinking, and start chasing after what God has in store for you. I promise, you won’t be disappointed. Now breathe.

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We hope that you will be able to join us for the “The Power Within” Conference on Saturday, October 29th from 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. at The Cornerstone Church in Cheshire, CT. We are expecting a refreshing time with the Lord.

For tickets, go to:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-powe...

I bought the present weeks ago. It was a nice present, and I put a lot of thought into purchasing it. However, the day of the party arrived quickly, and minutes before we had to leave, I remembered that it was yet to be wrapped.

Life had been just a little bit crazy the last few weeks. Now that summer was over, the running around and juggling act soon became a reality again. Unfortunately, picking up some wrapping paper from the store was not top on my list.

In a panic, I decided to make do with what I had. I grabbed a recycled gift bag from the closet and placed the present inside. Although the gift was obviously too big for this bag, I had no other options and felt pretty confident that tissue paper could fix this. Then, I realized that I had none.

Remembering that an item I ordered recently online was wrapped in gold tissue paper, I quickly ran to the recycle bin and fished it out. A conveniently placed piece of ribbon that my daughter didn’t put away from the day before sat lying on the counter and finished the look. Voila! The gift was ready to go.

When I took a step back, I admired my ingenuity, but recognized that the gift looked pathetic. It was a wrinkled, mismatched mess. And the worst part was that there was no time to do anything about it! Off to the party we went.

Things were going well until present time arrived. Of course, my interior designer sister-in-law’s present was up first. As you would expect, her presents are always wrapped in Pinterest worthy fashion. So when my present came up, I began to squirm in my seat, completely ashamed of the presentation of my gift. However, what happened next made all the embarrassment quickly fade away.

My father-in-law looked at the gift, unaffected by the exterior, and pulled the present right out of the bag. The expression of gratitude on his face made the gift-wrapping disaster fall to the wayside. He was truly excited and touched by the gift we purchased.

As the saying goes, it’s what’s on the inside that counts. I know this, but I sometimes allow my perfectionism to get the best of me. And sometimes, this transfers to other areas of my life. Can anyone relate?

All too often, we, as women, focus on superficial nonsense. We worry about the way we dress, our weight, our hair and make-up, the car we drive, and other worldly measures that don’t mean a thing. We tend to equate our exterior presentation with our worth. That’s ridiculous!

God is not interested in how we present, but very much interested in the condition of our hearts. We spend too much time on shallow pursuits, and not enough time working on our interior.

Ladies, it’s time to stop getting all wrapped up on the exterior, and remember that it’s what’s on the inside that counts! 

For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart. – 1 Samuel 16:7, NKJV

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We hope that you will be able to join us for the “The Power Within” Conference on Saturday, October 29th, from 9:00 a.m. – 2:oo p.m. at the The Cornerstone Church in Cheshire, Connecticut. We are expecting a refreshing time with the Lord. Early bird pricing is available through 9/30/16.

For tickets, go to: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-power-within-womens-conference-tickets-25701743607

All across the world, women in need are crying out to God. These women are undergoing severe hardships, extreme sadness, and overwhelming difficulties. To be honest, it amazes me to know that God can touch each of these lives all at the same time. But, He can. The Lord is right there in the midst of each of these situations ready and able to move.

To the woman in the hospital bed who is feeling hopeless, anxious, and afraid, God sees your pain. You have been patiently waiting for a miracle, and doubt is starting to settle in. Don’t give up. God does still heal today.

“But he was pierced for our transgressions,  he was crushed for our iniquities;  the punishment that brought us peace was on him,  and by his wounds we are healed.” – Isaiah 53:5

To the woman who feels invisible, like nothing she does matters, know that God sees you. In fact, He sees all that you do. You are precious in His sight, and He wants you to know that you are His beloved.

“You are the God who sees me.” – Genesis 16:13

To the woman whose marriage is falling apart, nothing is too difficult for our Lord. It’s not over until God says it’s over. He can take the most impossible situation and bring complete restoration. Just put all your trust in Him.

“So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.” – Matthew 19:6

To the woman who can’t make ends meet, whose bills are so far behind that there is no way out in sight, know that God is in this. You may not see it in the natural, but fortunately we serve a supernatural God. Hold on to His promises.

“But those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.” – Psalm 34:10

To the woman whose child has turned his back on God, know that God sees every one of your tears. He knows you are hurting, but He wants you to trust Him still. God loves your child more than you do, and although you can’t see it, God is moving behind the scenes.

“‘For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.” – Luke 15:24

And to the woman crippled with fear and anxiety, lean on Him. God wants you to rest in His peace. Allow the presence of God to permeate every inch of your soul. Let go of all the lies that the enemy has told you, and grasp hold of the truth of God.

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” – 2 Timothy 1:7

Ladies, it doesn’t matter how many requests are being called out to God right now – He hears them all. You matter to Him. He can bring hope like no one or no thing can. Keep your eyes on Him.

“I lift up my eyes to the mountains – where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.” – Psalm 121:1-2

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We hope that you will be able to join us for the “The Power Within” Conference on Saturday, September 24th from 9:00 a.m. – 2:oo p.m. at the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachussets. Additionally, we will be offering a second conference in Cheshire, Connecticut at The Cornerstone Church on Saturday, October 29th. We are expecting a refreshing time with the Lord.

For tickets to the Springfield event, go to:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-power-within-womens-conference-tickets-25701415626

For tickets to the Cheshire event, go to:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-power-within-womens-conference-tickets-25701743607

I am very blessed to be part of a family of believers. With this comes family members who can encourage you biblically. Just the other day, I had a great conversation with my brother – full of encouragement – and boy did I need it. Our conversation then shifted into a discussion about lies that people mistakenly believe about being a Christian.

These lies are very dangerous. If believed as true, one’s faith can be shaken the moment life contradicts these myths. One might wonder why such things are happening, question if they really hear God, and potentially even question His existence. A downhill spiral of discouragement and confusion could follow.

In order to prevent this disaster, I devote this blog to some common lies Christians believe.

False. In many instances, opposition and/or delay is often the biggest confirmation that we are doing exactly what God has instructed us to do. The enemy hates our obedience, and he will do anything to derail God’s plan for our life. Very often, we abandon what we’ve been asked to do the moment things become difficult. We think that surely God doesn’t want us to continue down this path if it is paved with opposition.

Don’t be hasty. It so important to pray for discernment to determine if God is closing the door, if the enemy is just trying to discourage you, or if God is checking to see if you will remain obedient when obstacles are placed in your path.

Lie. If we truly believe this, we will spend our lives down a fruitless path pursuing things God never intended for us. God has a specific plan and purpose for each of our lives, uniquely designed for us. He wants us to follow that path, not chase every good thing we see. We can’t allow the enticement of good things get in the way of the best things God has planned for us.

“Just because it’s good doesn’t mean it is God. But if it’s God, it’s always good.” – Kip Anderson

Big Lie. This is one of the biggest misconceptions Christians believe. We think that as soon as we become Christians, life is going to become easy. Life gets simpler, but certainly not easier. In fact, we are to expect trials and persecutions. But, by placing our hope and confidence in Jesus Christ, He will get us through any hardship life sends our way.

Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. – 1 Peter 4:12-13

Wrong. It takes a moment to become a Christian, but a lifetime to become like Christ. None of us are without sin, but His grace is enough to cover it all. That is why Jesus’s death on the cross is so powerful. It sets us free and gives us the power to overcome the temptation of sin. Be encouraged. Being tempted in and of itself is not a sin, but allowing it to manifest in action is. God always gives you a way out. Take it!

No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. – 1 Corinthians 10:13

This is the biggest lie of the enemy spoken to both Christians and non-Christians alike. The last thing he wants you to do is submit your life to the Lord. So, the enemy tells us we are not worthy or good enough to draw near to God. He spews lies that we’ve passed the threshold of forgiveness, that our deeds are just too despicable, or that God is too angry with us to have a relationship with Him.

If this sounds like something you are struggling with, silence these lies now in the name of Jesus! Jesus longs for a relationship with all of us. His hope is that all come to salvation in Him.

  Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. – Romans 10:13

Ever since I was a little girl, I have had dreams and plans that God has put in my heart. Some of them were your standard little girl dreams – getting married, having a family and owning a dog. Others were bigger and grander. As seasons of my life change, the Lord continually instills new dreams in my heart – dreams that I have and will obediently run after.

In fact, God has deposited dreams and desires inside all of us. You have heard me say many times that God has a purpose and a plan for each of us. And, there is nothing more fulfilling than achieving these plans, knowing that we are fulfilling our purpose here on Earth.

But sometimes, right when you feel like you’ve figured everything out, God can throw a curve ball in your life. He can add a detour to the path that He started you on. As uneasy as this can feel, God will sometimes ask us if we are willing to lay down the very thing He had us chase.

Lay it down? Why? Why would God ask us to do such a thing? Why would He have us spend all this time and effort chasing things that He ultimately would have us let go of? It all comes down to trust, a lesson that Abraham knew all too well.

Abraham and Sarah desperately wanted a child, but Sarah was barren. Abraham could not understand how the amazing promise God gave him could come to be. God clearly promised Abraham that he would have son, and through this son, a mighty nation would be formed.

“Look up at the sky and count the stars – if indeed you can count them.” Then he said to him, “so shall your offspring be.” – Genesis 15:5

And just as God promised, at the age of 90, Sarah bore Abraham a son, and she named him Isaac just as God had instructed. To many, you would think this was the end of the story, but what happens next is what always intrigued me. The Lord asks Abraham to bring this long awaited child to the region of Moriah and lay him down at the altar as a sacrifice.

Yes, the Lord asked Abraham to lay down the very thing he had been waiting for – the fulfillment of his promise – something he waited decades for. Why would God ask Abraham to do something like this? Why would God want him to lay his fulfilled promise down? To test his faith, that’s why. God wanted to see if Abraham was able to trust Him even when it didn’t make sense in the natural.

Mercifully, God supplied another sacrifice and stopped Abraham from harming Isaac. Let me make it clear, it was never God’s intention for Abraham to see this through. This is not God’s nature.

Ladies, sometimes God is going to ask us to lay things down – dreams, jobs, material things, and even ministries. Often, He is just checking to see if we will be obedient, and other times, He will ask us to see it through.

Are you willing to lay your dreams down? Are you willing to let go of the very thing you spent years pursuing to obey the Lord? Will you trust that God has something better in store, or out of fear and control will you hang on to a dream that God no longer has for you? I know this can be a daunting task, but, if God is asking, I promise you that greater things are ahead.

On the exterior, I am a glass half full optimist. But, if I really let you in on a personal level, you might notice I can be more of a glass half empty thinker.

As a mom, I tend to doubt myself. But even when I was working, I would often question by abilities there as well. In either arena, I often question how am I doing and wonder if I am doing enough? With my children, am I balancing love, discipline, encouragement, and consistency? Am I instilling my faith into my children’s lives, not just a religion, but a relationship with their creator? Are they learning enough? Are they behaving and being kind to others? In reality, the list can go on and on.

I struggle with self-doubt, and this can quickly turn into negativity in my mind. I often don’t give myself much credit for the good, but tend to focus on the shortcomings. It can be a dark and lonely place inside my own head.

Am I alone in this or can you relate? Are you ever prone to feeling down or having self-doubt? I think we all are on some degree. We even see Paul in the scriptures struggle with similar feelings. Let’s take a look:

For when we came into Macedonia, we had no rest, but we were harassed at every turn—conflicts on the outside, fears within. But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus. – 2 Corinthians 7:5-6

Paul was feeling a bit discouraged. His line, “conflicts on the outside and fears within” resonates with me. We all face conflict. Some small, some great. But like Paul, I also have fears on the inside. With these feelings so prevalent, how does God respond? In His all-knowing, loving-kindness, He sends along a friend. Titus comes to Paul and brings him comfort. Titus provides encouragement. What’s interesting to me in this instance is that God didn’t take away Paul’s troubles or fears, but rather sends along a companion to comfort. Paul certainly still faced opposition, however his friend Titus’ words and presence lifted his spirit. Sometimes in life, we all need a Titus.

How can we follow God’s lead here? How can we use our lives to be like Titus? I believe one of the greatest gifts we can give to each other isn’t anything material. It’s 100% free. It’s easy to give and requires very little effort, but yet so many of us find it hard or uncomfortable to give. I am talking about encouragement.

How often do you notice something about someone else? If you’re like me, you notice all kinds of things. How a person cares for themselves, how they speak, their mannerisms, how they respond, how they spend their spare time, their work ethic . . . on and on. Some of these things I observe within just a few moments, others take some time while getting to know a person. However, through my observations, there is ALWAYS something praiseworthy.

Do you know that God wants to use all of us to speak out these areas of admiration in others? If we notice something good, by all means, we need to SAY IT! I have observed an interesting phenomenon in this stage of life. We often notice something good, think it, and either say nothing OR we mention it to someone else.

Do we withhold praise or encouragement because we are afraid of puffing up one’s ego? Do we withhold encouragement because of our own insecurities? Do we withhold it because we are waiting for the other person to acknowledge something positive in us first? I’m not certain, but what I do know is that you could do a world of good in someone’s heart, mind, attitude and disposition by telling them the good you see in them.

None of us are perfect. We all have things we need to work on, but why not choose be a Titus? Why not encourage? We can’t take away life’s problems, but we can lift or lighten the load with a genuine word of praise or affirmation. I think of all of the children who long to hear a genuine word from their parents. I think of all of the spouses who just long to be appreciated or recognized. I think of all the stay at home moms, or hard working employees, who would be so lifted by a positive word. Let’s not wait to receive it ourselves. Let’s make a vow to not withhold it from others. Let’s freely give the free gift of encouragement.

Therefore encourage one another and build one another up. – 1 Thessalonians 5:11

Well, it’s official. Hurricane season is upon us. It’s been relatively quiet so far, but from what I’ve been hearing, this could be a bad year for storms. Temperatures are warmer than normal, which makes it ideal for storm formation and sustainability.

Fortunately, in Connecticut, we don’t get many storms that actually hit us. Most often, they turn out to sea, absent Hurricane Sandy and Hurricane Irene, of course. For the most part, we simply track the storm, buy our obligatory milk and bread, and pray that we will stay safe.

Sound familiar? This also sounds very much like the Christian prayer life. We are constantly faced with news of impending hurricanes. From something suspicious in our health to concerns over the well being of our children. We recognize that at any moment, the storm can organize and hit us straight on.

And, that’s when our prayer game steps up. We track the storm, make the obligatory preparations, and pray with fervency that the storm doesn’t hit us. And like most hurricanes, the storm turns out to sea. As a result, our faith in God gets stronger.

But, what if the hurricane doesn’t turn out to sea? What if the storm hits you straight on? What will your faith look like then?

I am going to be completely transparent with you for a moment in an area that I have been relatively private. Two years ago, my hurricane season began. And this time, the storm did not go out to sea. Up until this point, my faith had only been tested in the hypothetical. What I mean by that is I had encountered my fair share of impending storms, but God had spared me from getting hit straight on, until then.

Two years ago, I went to bed seemingly healthy and woke up sick. Two years ago, I learned that my random inflammation issues were anything but random, which resulted in a diagnosis that I wasn’t prepared to hear. I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis, an autoimmune disease that attacks the joints causing chronic pain and is potentially debilitating. I now realize how easy it is to trust God when things are going picture perfect. It is quite another thing to trust Him when your world doesn’t make sense.

I know that I am not alone in this. Storms sometimes make landfall. They don’t always go out to sea. What then? Will your faith in God crumble? Will you turn away from Him? Or, will you still trust Him when the rains and the winds are pounding overhead?

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. – Isaiah 43:2

Ladies, God never promised us that we wouldn’t walk through the fire. But, He did promise that He would always see us through and never leave our side. I guarantee you that if you remain in Him during the storm, you will come out stronger and more powerful than you did going in.

Two years ago was a very frightening time in my life. But, I can tell you that my faith in God never waivered, it just increased exponentially, something I am eternally grateful for. By trusting in the Father’s plan, I have become stronger in faith than I could have ever hoped for. I have learned to trust Him no matter what.

My storm is not over. This story is not finished. I am still waiting for complete healing, as I am confident God will do. But until then, I lean in to Him for strength. I’d much rather be in the middle of a hurricane with Jesus by my side, than be in the calm all by myself.

When the storms of life come, the wicked are whirled away, but the godly have a lasting foundation. – Proverbs 10:25