While the calendar may be relentless, we can take small steps to find joy and delight in our May days. We can find solace in our identity in Christ. His strength is enough to carry us through our moments of weakness. I often have to remind myself of this truth —I have full access to Him and the Holy Spirit, who can provide the rest we need. Let's embrace the potential for joy and meaning each day of this busy month. 

These are the characteristics of coaching and how it is different than counseling.

Sometimes, you need a prayer done for you. And that’s what I’m bringing you this week. I think God knew we would experience fear and all the feelings. He never asked us not to. Our emotions are like traffic signs that tell us how to proceed. Fear is an invitation to stop, ask questions, and pray.  

In most circumstances, fear falls into three categories: fear of Failure, Rejection, and Inadequacy. This isn’t all-encompassing, but I see these pop up a lot, especially when starting something new, walking in your calling, or managing your current circumstance.

Do you have something tucked close to your heart that you hope to start? Because the Lord is a good giver of gifts, I think we all have a unique way we are called to love and serve our neighbors.

We are being bombarded with messages that keep us chasing perfect. From our bodies to our kitchen cabinets. Our tails are spinning and our purpose is being robbed blind. The constant message of “more' plays right into ”perfect's" hand.  

It is incredibly easy to look at our stage of life, those around us, and our circumstances and determine it is too late to start. There may not be a runway in your life to be a world-renowned brain surgeon, but there is plenty of time left to start something meaningful.

When we peel back the covers from stuck, it is usually fearful. Fear of rejection, inadequacy, and failure are sneaky like that. Stuck keeps us from moving towards a goal, a person, or God. In the kingdom, we have complete access to possibility. At the bare minimum, we have the Holy Spirit to sit with us while we gently uncover the fear that keeps us “stuck.”

There is joy in deciding to delight. Not one rooted in toxic positivity and if you just think great thoughts, nothing bad will ever happen. This is the deciding in spite of my circumstances I will find glimmers of gratitude, and gratefulness.

Rewriting the story we tell ourselves comes with a lot of compassion, surrender, and willingness to see our lives through the eyes of the Lord.

If you are a little like me, you also might be filtering all our joy and disappointment through the stories we tell ourselves. Little armors we have built up to keep the tenderness and heartbreak at bay. And in the process have strong-armed soft-heartedness and joy.