Enjoy this guest writing by Claire Mariah… We’ve all heard the saying, “when life gives you lemons, make lemonade.” But, what about the times when the lemons we’ve been given aren’t the lemons we hoped for?
Read MoreJoy is a Fruit: Encouragement for the One Seeking Joy
If you are in a season that feels lacking in joy, I am writing this to encourage you.
It can be really hard—longing for joy—feeling like you simply can’t muster it up.
But I have some good news for you today; I don’t think you were ever meant to.
Joy is described in Galatians 5:22 as a fruit. It’s a fruit of the Holy Spirit. And how do we become filled with the Holy Spirit? John 7:38-39 tells us that it comes by belief in Jesus.
Joy is a fruit that is rooted in faith.
Over-and-over in the Bible, as we see joy discussed, it is consistently rooted in a belief in the Lord—who he is and what he’s done for us. Check out the examples ahead. (I’ve underlined the root of faith to highlight it for you.)
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Philippians 4:4 NIV
Rejoice in the LORD and be glad, you righteous; sing, all you who are upright in heart! Psalm 32:11 NIV
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13 NIV
We may end up at the fruit of joy, but we begin this journey with seeds of faith.
Now, importantly, this isn’t intended to bring about any feelings of shame if you aren’t experiencing joy. Shame sends the message that you are irreparably broken—that you have fallen too far for God’s rescuing grace.
And that is simply not true. We can turn to God in our pain, and he consistently hears the one who cries out to him. (Check out Psalm 107.) You may not feel immediately uplifted, but that doesn’t mean you aren’t planting seeds of faith each and every time you proclaim truths about who God is in the midst of your circumstances. Seeds take time to grow into fruit.
I believe there is precedent in Scripture to maintain the belief that we can plant seeds of faith in hard times, and experience the fruit of joy in season.
This verse below displays one who plants seeds of faith during a period of heavy sadness, and eventually ends up singing joyfully during their time of harvest.
Those who go out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with them. Psalm 126:6 NIV
Additionally, this beautiful excerpt from Psalm 27, below, tells us to wait on the Lord to strengthen our heart.
Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD. Psalm 27:14 KJV
In times of trial, our faith is refined, and there is a period of time in which we are waitingon the Lord. (James 1:2-4) We don’t live in the flourishing months of summer, however, there are things we can do “year-round” to invest in a harvest of joy at the proper time.
Even when our lives don’t feel happy, we can rejoice in the Lord. What I mean by this, is that even in hard times, we can take heart in the truths we know about God. We can write them down. We can post them around our house. We can whisper them to ourselves. We can bury these seeds deep into our hearts.
We don’t need to try to cover up our pain, or trial, or joylessness, pretending it isn’t there; there is room in the good news for the reality of our pain and brokenness.
We have a God who loves us, and cares about us. We weren’t mean to be joy-filled on our own—we were meant to go to the Lord in our humanity, and receive him. To trust him. To identify with him. Then, we can trust him to bring about fruit in season.
As you travel through trials, hold fast to these truths ahead. Bury them deep in your heart, and wait on the Lord.
Here are five beautiful truths for the believer to cling to:
God loves you. (John 3:16)
He is with you. (Isaiah 41:10)
He hears your cries and helps the hurting. (Psalm 34:17-18)
He redeems bad situations. (Romans 8:28)
All will be restored. (Isaiah 65:17-25)
Your heart and emotions may take some time to catch up to these truths you cling to, but just like fruit is produced naturally in season, these seeds planted in faith won’t be without effect.
Expose and align yourself to the good and nourishing truth as often as you can. And as you come to understand the beautiful realities of life with God, you’ll be able to better identify the life-sucking lies of the enemy. (And weed them out for good.)
And for one final planting metaphor, don’t forget: sometimes the hardest of times produce the softest of soil. The Lord is willing to allow the hard ground of our hearts to be painfully tilled away, in order that we might have more joy in the long run.
Plant seeds. Nourish the truth. Weed out lies. Wait on the Lord.
He is faithful, and he loves you.
The Goodness in God's Wrath: Five Key Truths to Remember
The Goodness in God’s Wrath
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him!
—Romans 5:8-9 NIV
The gospel is the most beautiful truth in the entire world. I believe that with my whole heart. I believe it is good down to its very core, and that there isn’t a corner of the Christian faith that we could shine a light on and remain un-enchanted.
So when it comes to a topic such as the wrath of God—a topic that, on the surface, may seem dark and dismal—my faith in the goodness of God bids my heart to explore the topic a bit further. My soul is beckoned to step further into the mystery of wrath with eyes prayerfully wide-open, as I invite God to reveal how even his wrath is enveloped in glorious light.
And oh! What a joyful endeavor this has been! Because it’s true, guys. God’s wrath is wrapped up in his goodness. His unceasing mercy is present even when we discuss the topic of his ultimate judgement of sin.
In this devotional, we will discuss the freedom God offers to mankind, his graciously clear boundaries, and his abundant patience. We will cover how God made a way for every person to be saved from judgment, and how his ultimate judgement is tightly knit together with his love for goodness and purity.
So, shall we? Let’s dive in.
Before we cover the obvious beauty found in God’s generous choice to send Jesus as an atoning sacrifice for believers (fully satisfying his own wrath), let’s take a moment to consider what stirs up God’s wrath in the first place…
May we remember, with sober hearts, that God hates sin; sin has seriously detrimental effects on the people and world he loves so very much. And yet, despite this hatred of sin, God holds a deep and everlasting love for the sinner.
You see, while the world was still in sin’s chokehold—being manipulated by and choosing to do evil—God, in his love, sent Jesus to the cross to die for those entrapped by sin. (Romans 5:8)
And Romans 8:1 tells us so clearly, that there is no condemnation for those who have chosen to trust in Christ’s atoning sacrifice on their behalf. If you are in Christ, you are set free from the wrath of God.
This freedom (from God’s wrath) is a grace-filled, compassion-cocooned gift. The life, death, and resurrection of Jesus is evidence that God does, in fact, love us.
So, as we keep God’s love at the forefront of our minds, I think there are some helpful things to remember as we process the wrathful actions observed in the Old Testament, along with the upcoming judgment described for those who choose not to place their trust in Jesus.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: God’s wrath is wrapped up in his goodness!
That’s the phrase that keeps coming to mind and heart. As I prayerfully read through Old Testament text, what becomes highlighted to me is the heart of a Father desperately after all things good.
I see a loving God who hates seeing the weak and defenseless in trouble. He hates seeing the pain inflicted on people by the sin of others. He hates obstruction. He hates perversion.
He is a masterful artist who created the most exquisite designs for his world, and seeing those good designs tarnished and marred is rightfully upsetting to him.
It is so fair that God has wrath over all these things that go against his perfect plan. May we not forget that he is the Good Master of the Universe; he wants goodness for the world, and he hates seeing that goodness opposed.
And yet, people were given the freedom to oppose God’s authority. (And they did.) Despite an abundance of blatant rebellion, God exemplified perfect love and justice as he sent Jesus to atone for the wretched sin of the world. It’s as though his fiercely justice-committed self couldn’t deny the truth that judgement was deserved, and yet because his justice lives in conjunction with his extravagant love, he created a sort of loophole for us.
He sent Jesus so that—while he hated our sin (and knew it was absolutely worthy of punishment)—there was still a way for us.
In Jesus, there is still a way for relationship. In Jesus, there is a way for us to be defended in heaven’s courtrooms against the sins we have clearly committed. In Jesus, we have been given access to God’s love, and the right to be called his children. (John 1:12)
In Jesus, God’s wrath is satisfied. And for every person who openly places their trust in the name of Jesus, there is salvation. For those who reject this generous gift of grace, even the wrathful judgement of God is wrapped up in the goodness of his character.
Below are five key truths below you may find helpful to keep in mind as the topic of God’s wrath arises:
Five Things to Remember Regarding God’s Wrath:
God has made himself known to all, through creation, dreams, warnings, consciences, and his powerful Word. In perfect goodness, God made a way for all to know about who he is and what he requires. (Romans 1:18-32, Job 36:5-12)
Despite knowledge of God, mankind chose to suppress the beautiful truth God had revealed to their hearts. They chose evil. God is the giver of all good things; he doesn’t tempt or cause anyone to do evil. Rebellion is a choice made by individuals, and we have all been found guilty of it. (James 1:13-18, Romans 1:18-32, Romans 3:23)
Although there has been blatant rebellion, God doesn’t want any of the people he loves so much to perish. His desire is that all would turn from evil and embrace his goodness. Even when tangled up in the most wretched of sins, God continues to love every person. (Ezekiel 18:30-32, Romans 5:8, John 3:16-17)
God provided a way for every person to escape judgement in the person of Jesus. He loves his people and has made a way for their salvation. And yet, he gives each person total freedom to choose him (or not). As people continually choose sin, God remains patient, holding off on judgement. And when they do turn from their sin and call out to him, it’s in his character to save the one who cries out, and to offer forgiveness to the repentant heart. He is merciful and forgiving—even to the most rebellious. (Psalm 106, 2 Peter 3:3-13, Daniel 9:9, Daniel 9:18, John 1:9-13, Romans 5:8-9)
When God does execute his wrath and judgement, even this action is wrapped up in his good character. His heart for the oppressed drives his judgement. His heart for goodness drives his judgement. His heart for purity drives his judgement. It’s God’s extreme desire for all things good and for the defense of the powerless—and his aversion to the pain of the world—that drives his wrath. God is all-the-way-through good, even in his ultimate judgement. (Jeremiah 21:12-22:17, Isaiah 1:16-28)
The entirety of the Good News Gospel is displayed in this topic of God’s wrath. He never stops being good! May we pray that those around us are able to step into the light of God’s beauty and embrace his purification and saving grace.
May you know and celebrate God’s glorious gifts—his generous grace and abundant love.
Annalisa
The Citrus Joy Series: Learn All About the Art + Writing Collection
The Citrus Joy Series is a collection of art and writing materials intended to glorify God through the celebration of the goodness found in his Word + the truth found in creation.
A Brief Introduction
Joy is sought-after in this world, and as believers, we trust that true joy is found in the person of Jesus. No counterfeit joy, here! We are after real and authentic fruit. Sometimes, our life feels lacking in that fruit, and if you are in a season left wanting, be encouraged: fruit comes in season, and there is a place for you here (among this series).
Through the study of Philippians (and so many wonderful cross-references across God’s precious word), we will learn how to cultivate real fruit in our lives. True joy is found by faith, and I can't wait to share with you all the beautiful truth the Lord has impressed upon me—sprinkled throughout these resources.
The Citrus Joy Series consists of the following:
The Joy of the Lord: A 4-to-8 Week Study of Philippians
The Joy of the Lord: Scripture Memory & Prayer Cards
A Mini-Collection of Original Oil Paintings (and Art Prints)
A Citrus Joy Sticker
Bonus: Cloth + Kin Clothing for Littles (Coordinating Outfits for Babes)
Let’s learn more about the different elements of this special series!
The Bible Study
Every step of creating this series brought me to the end of myself, and so my hope is that what you experience as you go through the pages of this study is a whole lot of Jesus. I pray that the questions cut right to your heart and spur you along in understanding the good news displayed in the book of Philippians. I hope you gain insight regarding the topic of joy and inspired to cultivate this fruit of the Spirit in your own life—by faith.
Practically speaking, this study can be covered in four or eight weeks, depending on your preference. There are instructions inside to help you choose which route is most fitting for you or your group. We will dive into the Word using word studies, cross-references, devotional content, and thought-provoking questions (perfect for individual study or small group discussion).
Here are a few features I hope you’ll enjoy:
Fresh, citrus-themed artwork sprinkled through the study
Thought-provoking, intentional questions—aimed to spur reflection and discussion
Four original joy-focused devotionals
Four interviews of everyday women in the community who exude joy
A special introduction by guest writer, Shea Steadman (who attained an exclusive quote by Bob Goff, just for this study! Haha!)
Memory verses and space for recording prayers
So much more!
Pre-ordering is available for the study beginning April 1st, 2023, and official ordering will be open May 1st-May 7th. All studies and packaged bundles (see the bottom of this page for more info) will be shipped out during the month of May.
The Scripture Memory + Prayer Cards
I envision these Scripture Memory + Prayer Cards being used in a variety of ways. I’ll lay out a few options for you below:
Giftables for group members: if there is one thing I’ve witnessed among women who lead Bible studies, it’s that they often have a joy-filled and generous heart towards the ones they serve. I imagine these prayer cards being purchased as small gifts for group members as they embark on their time together in God’s Word.
Prayer exchange cards (in group settings): Bring these cards to your small group and use them to record a prayer request. Then, have group members exchange their card with another member and the card can then be used to prayer for that person throughout the week, along with using the scripture portion to memorize the weekly bible verse.
Personal refection cards (for individual studiers): If you are on an individual journey through this study, there is an invitation to pray and see what God may be speaking to you personally through each week. As convictions and stirrings come to your heart and mind, you can use this card to write down a simple prayer in correlation with each week. You can also use the Scripture verses on the back to aid your memorization, as you seek to bury these truths deep.
Miniature greeting cards: For those who love to leave little notes for loved ones, these cards make a perfect small delight for the ones around you. One side of the card holds a powerful truth found in the book of Philippians, and the back side is left blank for you to write a personal note of encouragement to the one you care for.
Scripture memory cards: As touched on above, in addition to utilizing the blank side of these cards in a variety of ways, each one of these cards holds a key verse correlating with each week of the study. Use these cute cards by taping one to your vanity mirror, saving them in your car for slow moments in the school pick-up line, or keep by your bedside table for the moments before bed. (Maybe skip scrolling and study instead… I don’t know!) The consistency of studying Philippians, and revisiting key verses, is sure to bless you in your 4-to-8 weeks!
The Oil Paintings
To be completely honest with you, oil paintings are totally beautiful and soul-stirring, but the reason I like them in correlation with this study is actually kind of nerdy! You see, color and images have the ability to help powerful truths touch down in the right side of our brains. It helps truths about God that we access through study and rational thought (left brain stuff) cross over into our emotional outlook as we stimulate the right sides of our brains as well.
My hope is that these paintings of fruit serve as a simple, daily reminder to you that joy is a fruit. I have had times of discouragement, feeling like a failure that I couldn’t muster up more joy in my own strength. The beautiful truth is that joy is cultivated and shows up in its proper season. It’s a fruit of the Spirit, founded in faith! May these images keep this encouraging reality at the forefront of your mind, as they simultaneously add beauty to your home in celebration of God’s grace in filling the world with delights.
Logistically, you may like to know that these oil paintings will be available for purchase in May of 2023, along with art prints. You can pre-order two of the art prints in packaged bundles (at the bottom of this page), but individual art prints for the entire collection will be available beginning in May!
The Sticker
Similar to the oil paintings, the simple goal of this sticker is to fill your life with the reminder that joy is a fruit of faith. It’s to remind to you to cling, in faith, to what you know about God’s grace at work in your life. It’s a reminder to cultivate faith and surrender joy to the organic work of God’s design—trusting him to bring it about in perfect season.
The Cloth + Kin Collaboration
Young motherhood can be a season of life that has women especially poured out. The reminder that joy is a fruit can be life-giving and encouraging, when sometimes it feels like all we can do certain days is plant the tiniest of seeds. I created two patterns for the Citrus Joy collection that will be stitched with love into the most adorable clothing for littles.
Jessica (owner of Cloth + Kin) and I imagine this print, and a super fun Citrus Check pattern, being gifted in conjunction with “The Joy of the Lord” to young moms for baby showers or their children’s first birthdays. Cloth + Kin’s clothing for littles is of the utmost quality. I know you’ll love what you get!
Packaged Bundles
For the month of April, enjoy these packaged bundles. Every pre-order contains a complimentary 5x7 art print from the Citrus Joy collection—my thank you to you for pre-ordering! Check out the gallery below for the variety of different package available.
Simple, Sweet, Powerful: Five Prayers to Color Your Days
A Big, Fat Caveat
Welcome to this writing about prayer. As we dive into some little prayers I hope will bless your experience with God, let’s get a few things out of the way first…
God is totally in control, and we can trust him with that power. I say that, because if your experience isn’t exactly like mine has been, that doesn’t mean God doesn’t hear your prayers, or doesn’t care to come through. In fact, there are reminders all over Scripture of his compassionate tendency to hear us. (You can dig deep into this topic by checking out the a full post about this topic, titled, “The God of Compassion Hears Your Voice: An Invitation to Call Out”. You can read it below.)
I’m writing about these personal prayers, hoping that the tidbits of what I’ve experienced encourage you to bring your heart to Jesus, and entrust the outcome to him completely as he works in your life as only he can—full of tender love and a personal plan for you.
We will all have different encounters with the living God, and that’s exactly as it should be. I hope these prayers bless your personal relationship with Him—by the power of HIS Spirit at work in your heart. With that all being said, let’s dive in!!
1. Give me an awareness of You, today.
Inviting God to show you his presence around you can be so beautiful. When I have prayed this, I have experienced God nudge my heart in little directions all over to see how he is at work. Maybe something lines up perfectly in my day, or I run into someone encouraging at the store… normally, I might enjoy these moments and that would be the end of it... but it seems when I pray this prayer, my spiritual awareness goes up a little bit and I’m able to see the many ways that moments throughout my day that are actually attributed to God’s goodness at work in my life. The answer to this prayer can come in the form of feeling peace or comfort in hard times, too.
Honestly, I feel like what it comes down to is attuning your heart to the Lord. There is nothing special in the actual words of this prayer—but in fixing our hearts and focusing our gazes on Jesus—with his help, through the power of the Holy Spirit—it’s amazing how our days seem just a little more vibrant with his glory.
2. Give me Your eyes for this person.
Are you ever encountering someone who challenges your discernment or stretches you in your wisdom? At times, I have a hard time knowing how to respond to certain people honorably, or in a way that is in line with the heart of Christ. We want to love people well, as ambassadors of Jesus in this world, but sometimes our own personal sin nature or grievances can make it hard. Often, I it can be challenging to know where to set boundaries or extend ourselves.
In complicated relationships, (especially ones in which I can feel my heart growing a bit cold), I find this prayer coming to my heart and mind: “Give me your eyes for this person”. Asking Jesus to enable you to see this person through his eyes can impact you in a variety of ways. Personally, I’ve seen my own heart soften. I’ve had people share more of their story which gives me understanding in how to interact with them. At times, I even believe God has led me to see harmful patterns and gain wisdom on how to guard my heart in a way that is honoring and appropriate.
While the responses may vary, one thing is for sure: it never hurts, when walking into any situation with people, to ask for the eyes of Christ. It could be for someone as near as your spouse, or as distant as a new coworker on a Zoom call. Christ’s loving heart can infuse our vision and provide wisdom to our daily steps.
3. Show me answered prayers.
This one actually blows my mind! When I pray this prayer, it seems like I walk through the day with my heart and mind open to God’s goodness. Things I never would have remembered praying—things I prayed years, or just minutes before—suddenly come bursting back to mind. “Wow God, I did pray for these children, and you were faithful.” or “Wow, I forgot I was praying over this project, and you totally came through.” or “I forgot I was asking for your help to eat healthier, and I have been all week! That’s awesome.”
God is so faithful and answers prayers in ways we might never expect. Bring your heart to God and ask him for an earnest desire to know him more and see his work in your life. I hope your eyes are enlightened to see the many ways his faithfulness covers you.
4. Show me where I’m stuck in sin.
There might be (LOL, probably for sure ARE) areas of your life that sin is wreaking havoc. You may not even realize that your heart has gotten wrapped up in greed, or envy, or pride… and while the enemy has deceived you for a short time, convincing you that these attitudes will bring you pleasure, it’s time to expose the enemy’s schemes for what they are: deceitful piles of garbage. These sins aren’t blessing your life… they’re harming it!
God can show us areas in his life that we have strayed from his ways, and gently encourage us to turn back towards him and embrace the good life he intends for his people. Pray this powerful prayer, and wait to see what God if there are any dirty, dingy areas of your life that he simply can’t wait to shine his light on and purify. You might be amazed at what you start to notice, and how your heart changes, as you desire to embrace the perfect ways of your Heavenly Father.
(PS: If you struggle to discern between the shaming and condemning voice of the enemy, and the loving and kind heart of God calling you to repentance, you might find this reading helpful. It talks about God’s merciful character and how it is intertwined with the act of repentance.)
5. Speak to me in Your Word.
Boom Diddy! They’re all good ones on this list… but this one is also quite good. God’s Word isn’t just any old book. It is rich with the power of the Almighty and has the power to dig deep into our bones and alter our spiritual DNA. Invite the Holy Spirit into your reading and study time… see if your time in the Bible changes.
For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Hebrews 4:12
May our times of study always bring us to God himself, as we seek him and invite him to speak personally into our lives through His Mighty Word. I hope your experience is that words start jumping off the page at you, and pricking your heart with love and power.
A Final Piece of Encouragement
There have been times of my life that prayers have felt quickly answered and like everything is daisies spiritually. There have also been times of praying and praying and feeling like I have no sense of what God is doing. What God has showed me in these times that felt like spiritual darkness, is that his light was with me all along, guiding the way.
Pray these prayers with boldness, and trust God with the result. You might immediately experience his bright light coloring and illuminating all parts of your spiritual journey! You may feel like nothing changes at all. If you’re in that second camp, don’t despair. When things feel foggy, remember this: faith grows in the gray. (And find further encouragement in this blog post, titled, “Through the Fog: Trusting Jesus in Times of Uncertainty”.)
All-in-all, may we all direct our attention to God in the daily moments. May we converse with him, and view our lives through the lens of his faithfulness. An always-timely reminder: He loves you! I pray this post encourages you! Love to you!
Jesus Raises Lazarus: Endless Compassion, Mighty Power
Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
—Lamentations 3:22-23 NIV
The Lord is high and mighty, yet intimately involved in the lives of his people.
His power moves mountains, shuts the mouths of lions, and conquers giants—and yet his soft and gentle presence can soothe even the achiest of souls.
He is magnificently powerful. He is miraculously kind.
Though the LORD is exalted, he looks kindly on the lowly… Psalm 138:6
Let’s explore the story of Lazarus, which exhibits these qualities oh-so-well.
(This story intertwines with my own story, as I’ve come to know Jesus as my personal healer—a note on that at the bottom.)
This account of Jesus is honestly so special. If you have a few minutes, go soak it all in here, but if you’re short on time, I’ll toss you a quick summary:
Jesus was friends with a group of siblings: Lazarus, Martha, and Mary. He loved them all so much!
Lazarus grew quite sick, and Jesus assured those around him that his sickness wouldn’t end in death… but was intended to display God’s glory.*
Fast forward a little while… and guess who dies? Lazarus.
Faithfully, Martha and Mary approach Jesus and both proclaim that they believe if Jesus had been there, their brother would still be living.
Jesus sees people in mourning, including Martha and Mary, and he is “deeply moved” in Spirit. He weeps with them.
Jesus approaches the tomb of Lazarus and is once again “deeply moved”.
Then… drumroll, please! Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead!
In John 11:1-43, we observe two incredible aspects of who Jesus is:
We see him execute grave-shaking power as he raises somebody from death to life.
We see him exhibit heart-melting compassion as he encounters those in the midst of grief.
God has power to change our circumstances, and yet he beautifully, meekly, meets us right where we are… with tender care and compassionate love.
In our day-to-day struggles, may we be encouraged to remember how Jesus was compassionate with Mary’s hurt in this story, even with an impending miracle on the way.
Jesus fully knew his intentions to raise her brother from the dead, and yet when he saw her weeping, his heart was “deeply moved”.
If you are undergoing hardship right now, do you know that Jesus cares about your pain? Because he really does.
If nobody has ever said it to you before, I’ll say it now: experiencing pain doesn’t make you a bad Christian.Feeling pain doesn’t need to mean you’re lacking in faith. Often, it simply means you’re human. And when you’re in a pit of grief, Jesus is not berating you for a lack of faith; he’s weeping with you.
In the account above, Jesus did speak the truth about how God would be glorified in the hardship of Lazarus. He acted in incredible power. And when he saw his people hurt, his heart was moved for them. He is powerful; he is compassionate.
Additionally, keeping this reality at the forefront of our hearts and minds can be so fun: Jesus is an observable example to us of who God is.
For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form… Colossians 2:9
Let’s never forget that God and Jesus (and the Spirit) are one. Just as we saw the compassion of Jesus play out in the story of Lazarus, so God is. God is kind. God is compassionate!
I could probably quote this verse every single month, but here it goes again:
The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. Psalm 103:8
Look to Jesus in hard times, and let his love lift your head. Sadness doesn’t need to be equated with shame. You are loved in your heartache.
But you, LORD, are a shield around me, my glory, the One who lifts my head high. Psalm 3:3
Finally, I hope you remember that he is here to be with you. He is ever-present and full of love. He weeps with us.(And at the same time, he holds the power to change everything in accordance with his perfect will.)
You can trust his heart for you, wherever you’re at.
Love to you!
Annalisa
For more: Psalm 46:1, Psalm 34:5, Romans 12:15
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*A note about John 11:3-4: Can I be totally transparent here? I have been writing about this story all month… but I somehow missed that it contained a verse that is incredibly dear to me:
So the sisters sent word to Jesus, “Lord, the one you love is sick.”
When he heard this, Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.”
John 11:3-4 NIV
I shared my faith story a few days ago. (You can read it here!) And this was the very verse I stumbled across just hours before Jesus healed me, in a huge way, from depression. I was mentally and emotionally sick and this truth—that he is the one who redeems illness for the glory of God—sunk deep into my soul and encouraged me. And that redemption is exactly what he continued in my life. You can read the full redemption story below. Praise him!
My Redemption Story: How Jesus Changed My Life
Testimonies are powerful.
Take it from any ad or any influencer video that makes its way onto your phone’s screen today… stories give relatable illustrations of transformation.
People are so relational, and we love to hear how realities have touched down in the lives of others. These words of Revelation come as no surprise:
“They triumphed over [the accuser] by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony…”Revelation 12:11 NIV
The assaulter of human souls and deceiver of minds (aka The Enemy) has been defeated and is undergoing defeat. He has been obliterated by “the blood of the lamb”, also known as Christ’s sacrificial death on the cross. And he is continually triumphed over by real people sharing their real stories of who Jesus is and what he has done.
Christians are witnesses of who Jesus is, and the freedom he brings—actual witnesses in the sense that we have seen our own lives (and the lives of others) transformed.
I love that verse above, and I think it’s so powerful. And I don’t know about you, but nothing strikes me straight to the heart more than hearing somebody’s testimony of who Jesus is to them personally and how their lives have been changes by knowing him.
So, without further adieu, I’d love to share a snippet of my own story.
To share a bit of my faith story and why I have chosen to trust in Jesus, I will be answering three simple questions:
What was your life like before Jesus?
What circumstances led you to give your life to Jesus?
What does your life look like after Jesus?
I hope this snapshot of my life and faith encourages you in your own journey. I hope you’re able to gain a glimpse into the goodness of God, and that if you haven’t yet given your life to Jesus, that you might be prompted to “taste and see” for yourself that He is good.
Finally, before I dive in, here, and at the end of this document, there is an opportunity for you to share your own redemption/faith story.
What was your life like before Jesus?
Growing up, there is a lot about life that I have to be thankful for. I experienced love from others and while my life didn’t always feel stable, I had friends and family members to talk through things with. It seems like I always had an awareness of God—through things like Awana (Wednesday night groups)—or overhearing adults talking. I don’t remember ever not believing in God. But I’ll tell you that there is a big difference between believing God is real, and actually knowing the person of Jesus and receiving the gifts he offers.
I remember carrying a heavy sadness with me, even from a young age. I remember telling my mom, “I just feel so sad sometimes and I don’t know why". I was a tender-hearted little girl—one who loved to think and draw and connect with others—but who carried so much pain.
I cared a lot about pleasing other people. And of course it’s not bad to want other people to be happy—that’s great! But… the way I cared about pleasing people was actually really harmful to myself. I had no sense of my own worth, and when I did do things to make other people happy, I was puffed up with pride in a way that I would now consider harmful. When I didn’t… I completely crumbled inside.
All of this people pleasing, and just a heaviness of heart overall, led me in and out of bouts of depression. I was learning more and more about God through bible studies and other events as I grew to be college-aged, but this feeling of never being good enough burdened me.
I hated my own sadness. I just wanted to be happy. I hated the times I would hurt people. I just wanted to be good. I might not have used language this strong at the time, but what I experienced was a lot of self-loathing. I didn’t have any sense of offering value to the world, and my own shortcomings weighed my heart down in a way that felt unbearable at times.
What circumstances led you to give your life to Jesus?
Before I truly understood the love of Jesus, there were a lot of moments that my own pain and self-hatred caused me to offer my life to God… in a way. I certainly wanted God to come in and make me better. I liked learning about him and all… but there is a particular moment that I remember realizing that this faith wasn’t about God making me better as much as it was about receiving his love and care and help when I was still in a pit of struggle.
I remember being at a Young Life camp; I was actually there serving people younger than me, ironically. I was maybe already “saved” in the sense that I knew myself to be a sinner and trusted I’d go to heaven because of what I’d heard Jesus did for me. I was already following God in the sense that I read my Bible and wanted to do what God said was good.
But this knowledge I had in my head sunk deep into my heart when I was sitting in the crowd at this camp, wanting to curl up into a ball and hide. I was so depressed.
I had been at a square dance just hours before thinking about how I smiled outwardly to the world but inwardly, I was just a huge pile of pain. I looked at others dancing and laughing and I hated that I couldn’t escape my own pain and the sadness I carried with me.
What changed everything for me, came next. I was sitting in the crowd, waiting for a talk. The man speaking (shout out to Tim Stanley!) put a picture of mask on the screen. He said “Jesus doesn’t see your mask”. That image cut me to the core; I felt like I had been wearing a mask to the world. (This was pre-covid… so not that kind of mask but the mask that theater people wear to pretend to be someone they aren't.) I feel like I lived my whole life trying to hide my own pain.
He then proceeded to tell story after story of Jesus. Times that Jesus saw and heard the hurting people. He cared about their pain. He didn’t see the facade the rest of the world saw. He saw me in trueness—and he LOVED me.
That truth changed me. For the first time, I felt like Jesus was a real person, who cared about my pain. I understood that he died on the cross to rescue us from sin—the sin (or brokenness wrecking my life) was depression. I wanted to receive this salvation he offered. I believed in who Jesus was to me personally. It changed everything.
I realized faith was more than a factory to make me good. I had the opportunity to be loved by Jesus, to entrust myself to one who cared for me.
I walked away from that place differently. Lighter. My heart was healed by a knowledge of who he was. (And I don’t say that lightly because I know depression is complicated and if we could talk all day, I’d share with you how, although this was a huge healing moment, it was also just the beginning of a journey towards joy that Jesus was taking me on…)
In many ways, he healed me in a moment by understanding his love. In other ways, the healing journey was just beginning.
What does your life look like after Jesus?
Knowing the love of Jesus changed everything for me. My faith became not just something I learned and had to apply, but it because a real relationship with a real Savior who cared for me.
My life is completely different. Slowly, over the years, Jesus has invited me to “remove my mask”. This has meant beckoning me out of hiding and, in his love, sharing my true self with the world. I have a security in his love that I’ve never known in my life.
He’s so alive and present in my life. Like, praying for example. When I come across something hard, I get to go to him—remembering his caring heart—and ask for help. I trust him—again, because I know his caring heart—that he will address my concerns in the best way possible.
The “God stories” that happen are literally innumerable. Occurrences of feeling prompted in my heart to share a word or message with someone—and watching their face burst into tears... Or about provision showing up at just the right time in unexpected ways. God is MOVING, and I get to see it all the time. I even get to be a part of it. Praise him!
I have a deep desire to choose his ways—not because I have to, but because I want to. Because I know his love and I trust his intentions for me.
I feel like the childhood dreams of “Little Annalisa” are coming to be—only because of HIM. And I don’t even count on that! Like, it’s not even the point… I could live my whole life only having Jesus and that would be enough. He fills my heart up that much. And, yet, as if in a big BONUS move, he is continually reminding me of who he has made me to be, of the desires he has written in my heart, and I get to see him bring them to fruition.
I would never publicly share a single piece of artwork if it weren’t for Jesus in my life, affirming and guiding me.
I would never offer a single piece of writing, if it weren’t for him giving me a sense of his love for the world and enabling me to do so.
And I certainly wouldn’t be sharing this testimony, if he hadn’t called me out of hiding so many times.
Jesus has colored my life with love and purpose. Joy is so present. And in hard times, I have the unshakable hope—of truth about him and the promise of eternal life in heaven—that covered me with a deep hopefulness that carries me through the times I can’t see what he’s doing.
On the outside, I’ve probably experienced way harder circumstances since following Jesus. And yet life has been better. Because honestly—Jesus has gotten to the root of my pain. What I needed wasn’t easy life circumstances… what I needed was a deep sense of being loved and having purpose.
He has given me all that and more. And I am so grateful. Thanks for reading!
To share your own redemption story, click below!
The God of Compassion Hears Your Voice: An Invitation to Call Out
Our God is a God of compassion—and what a comfort that can be to us in our daily going-abouts.
We live our days in the high-and-low moments, and often forget the Mighty compassion and help that awaits us right on the other side of a breath-long prayer.
Hearing the cries of his people and offering saving help is who God is.
Psalm 107 is an entire chapter of people who find themselves in heaps of trouble.* Some of the trouble they come upon includes difficult circumstances that are outside of their control. While others are in prison because of their own sin and rebellion, or are crying out because of the mess they got themselves into.
While the circumstances change, God’s love remains the same: he helps them. Check out this verse below. This concept is repeated over-and-over again in Psalm 107:
Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. Psalm 107:6
I love the way this attribute of God plays out in the person of Jesus, who is a tangible image of our invisible God. (Colossians 1:15) Check out this short story—just five verses long—about Jesus healing two blind men…
As Jesus and his disciples were leaving Jericho, a large crowd followed him. Two blind men were sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was going by, they shouted, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!”
The crowd rebuked them and told them to be quiet, but they shouted all the louder, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!”
Jesus stopped and called them. “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked.
“Lord,” they answered, “we want our sight.”
Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed him. Matthew 20:29-34
I love that line: “Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes.” Can you imagine if it read something like, “Jesus let out an annoyed sigh and begrudgingly healed them. Then he avoided them from that point on.”
I hope that concept gives you a little chuckle—because it’s so far from the Jesus we see described in the Bible—and who we have the privilege of knowing personally.
Jesus is rich with compassion.
The LORD is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love. Psalm 145:8
Maybe your life experience has taught you that asking for help only brings pain. Maybe you only ask for help when you’re totally desparate. Maybe you avoid asking for help at all costs.
Maybe the times you’ve asked for help have been met with disdain, annoyance, or hesitation. If that’s the case, I’m so very sorry for that… and I want you to know that’s not the response you’ll get from God.
He longs to help you. You could say it’s his “love language”. ;)
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8
You don’t send your very own child to die a sacrificial death on behalf of all of humanity… if you don’t want to offer them salvation! We have done nothing to deserve Jesus. On the contrary, the many ways we do wrong have earned us a big ‘ol heap of death, rejection, and condemnation. And yet, God instead chose to lay out the gift of salvation for us, in Jesus. (John 3:16-17)
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23
All of that is to say, I hope you turn to him today. I hope you experience his restoration. I hope you get to know his love, and that his love transforms your life.
I hope you wake up in the morning and bring your requests before him. His love will be waiting there, ready to hear you. He listens with compassion.
I have this verse from Psalm 5:3 posted up at my desk currently… it actually sparked this entire writing! Read below:
In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly. Psalm 5:3
It’s the most beautiful reminder. Now, one last verse before we hit the road. The imagery is one of a loving Father, keen on hearing his beloved child. May it invite you to turn to God in prayer; he loves you!
Because he bends down to listen, I will pray as long as I have breath! Psalm 116:2 NLT
Anyways, that’s all for today. I’d love to add, that if you have any questions about how to embrace the gift of salvation offered in Jesus, or how to live your life with him and experience true love, contact me here. It would be my greatest joy to talk through that with you.
Annalisa
*If you want to study this Psalm further, grab Summer in the Psalms: A 7-Week Bible Study. This is one of the featured Psalms you will have the opportunity to take a deep dive into. Available May 1-May 7, 2023!
The God Who's Always Working: Remembering God's Caring Guidance
“I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them.”
—Isaiah 42:16 NIV
As Christians, we hold the eternal hope of heaven, yet are tasked with trudging through our day-by-day lives on this side of eternity.
It can bring us hope and joy to be reminded that God is always working. We get to step forward in whatever he is calling us to do because we have faith that he is by our side.
Friend, he hears your prayers. He knows your fears. He meets you with compassion and will not forsake you on your journey.
When things feel unsatisfying or incomplete, don’t forget that it’s good for your heart to hope for the glories of heaven—for perfection, beauty, and happiness. It’s what you were destined for.
It’s normal to be burdened by the “not yet” of this world, and to be perplexed by your present standing in a complex, eternal story.
Just remember, the best you can, that these times of uncertainty and pain are momentary. They are fleeting. They are building up to a more beautiful part of the story.
I have seen the burden that God has laid upon the sons of men to occupy them. He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men, yet they cannot fathom the work that God has done from beginning to end. Ecclesiastes 3:10-11 NIV
God’s ways of working are high and mighty, and yet he draws near to the lowly.
Though the LORD is exalted, he looks kindly on the lowly; though lofty, he sees them from afar. Psalm 138:6 NIV
God is working in your life, and he hears you. He cares about what’s going on. Keep praying. Keep taking steps forward.
Because he bends down to listen,
I will pray as long as I have breath! Psalm 116:2 NLT
There is a beautiful invitation held out to you—to offer Jesus your “yes” in the most faith-filled way you’re able to today. There is an invitation to find peace in the unknown circumstances, and to take one brave step forward at a time, in whatever God is calling you to next.
Your understanding of your circumstances doesn’t need to be a prerequisite to stepping forward. Just like the verse from Isaiah 42 written at the top of this devotional, we can trust Jesus to hold our hand and lead us, even in times of blindness.
Again, we are given that reminder in Proverbs 3:5-6, here in the NIV:
Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6
We can step forward in the faith that God is always working. We can find rest in believing that he hears our prayers and cares for us.
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To take a deep dive on this topic—of how God is with us in the all the highs and lows of our stories—there is more to read at the link below. We will break open our Bibles and explore the moment when Jesus miraculously feeds 5,000 people (and look at the many not-so-miraculous moments leading up to it). I think you’ll find it encouraging. Hope to see you there!