Encouragement — Blog — Shawna Sullivan

Shawna Sullivan

Posts tagged Encouragement

How to Fight Your Fear of Failure so God Can Take You Further

How to Fight Your Fear of Failure so God Can Take You Further

What keeps me stagnant in my faith is often not the fear of unknowns but the fear of failure. It has taken years of wrestling to understand that my hesitancy to say yes to where God is calling me lies in my propensity to trust in my own performance over his presence. But in his Word, God reminds us that we are called to go deeper on our journey of faith, and he promises to lead us himself.

So, if you feel stagnant today, stuck even, allow these encouraging reminders to help you fight your fear of failure so God can take you further.

Faith, Education, Parenting, StewardshipShawna SullivanOctober 8, 2024New York, Faith, Parenting, Encouragement, Failure, ProgressComment

Hope For When You Feel Trapped

Hope For When You Feel Trapped

There were seasons when those feelings dominated my days, and regardless of what else was going on, I felt constrained, restricted, stuck.

This reminder about God is a profound truth that I needed to meditate on back then and quite honestly, today as well.

Education, Faith, StewardshipShawna SullivanApril 3, 2024Time, Faith, Eclipse, Hope, Encouragement, EducationComment

What Potato Soup Has To Do with Gratitude

What Potato Soup Has To Do with Gratitude

After reading The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom, I knew it was the perfect time to visit our local Holocaust Museum. I attempted to prepare my eighth grade students for the breadth and depth of tragedy they would encounter. In hindsight, I’m not sure that’s possible.

However, what I didn’t expect was how much a simple story of potato soup would teach me about gratitude.

Education, Faith, ParentingShawna SullivanNovember 8, 2023Holocaust, Faith, Gratitude, Encouragement, Parenting Comment

Three Prayers to Pray at the Start of Something New

Three Prayers to Pray at the Start of Something New

Whether a new month, a new school year, or a new opportunity—there are always “what if’s” circling through my mind.

Here are three prayers ushering my heart into the unknown, as new opportunities present themselves this coming month. Perhaps they are helpful to settle your anxious thoughts as well and draw your eyes upward toward your loving Father.

Education, Faith, ParentingShawna SullivanAugust 29, 2023Faith, Prayer, Encouragement Comments

Finding Rest Where You Least Expect It

Finding Rest Where You Least Expect It

It never ceases to surprise me that after our annual summer vacation to Colorado—despite yard work, laundry, and cooking for six—we return to our regular lives rested, refreshed, and restored.

So, it has me thinking maybe rest is found where we least expect it. Maybe it’s right where we forget to look for it.

Faith, Parenting, Travel, SummerShawna SullivanJuly 19, 2023Colorado, Encouragement, Faith, Rest Comments

An Invitation When You Feel Stuck in the Valleys of Life

An Invitation When You Feel Stuck in the Valleys of Life

Life’s journey has long been represented by seasons of mountains high and valleys low. Commonly, mountain tops represent the peaks of enjoyment, satisfaction, and fulfillment, while valleys the deeper, darker, and difficult seasons. My age and experience attest to quite the opposite. So, I want to extend the invitation to you. Read why.

Faith, ParentingShawna SullivanJuly 5, 2023Colorado, Mountains, Valleys, Nature, Faith, Encouragement Comments

Five Things to Try When Disappointment Clouds the Summer Sun

Five Things to Try When Disappointment Clouds the Summer Sun

Surely our family is not the only one to experience an unexpected sickness, a discouraging diagnosis, or a disappointing change of plans during summer. Right? As much as we love summertime for making memories, finding rest, and seeking adventure, we equally feel the sting of disappointment when things don't go as planned.

So, I recorded my own thoughts to share with you in hopes that they bring you joy amidst your own disappointments this summer and always.

Education, Faith, Knowing God, ParentingShawna SullivanJune 7, 2023Summer, Family, Encouragement, Disappointment, SicknessComment

Spring Cleaning: 3 Ways to Tidy Up Your Time and Cultivate a Fruitful Life

Spring Cleaning: 3 Ways to Tidy Up Your Time and Cultivate a Fruitful Life

The time for spring cleaning is near, but have you ever thought of tidying up your time?

I know what you are thinking:

How can I tidy my time?
How can I continue to make progress if I allow rest to hold prominence?
How can I remain faithful to the goals I set at the beginning of the year?
How can I know what areas of my life need to be addressed this season?

I’m glad you asked. Read here and find out.

Faith, Parenting, Time, StewardshipShawna SullivanMarch 1, 2023Time, Encouragement, Parenting, Faith, Stewardship Comment

Where To Find Joy Here and Now

Where To Find Joy Here and Now

“What do you need to surrender?” Her question echoed through the microphone and searched my heart.

I sat while my mind invited the Spirit to search my heart. Before getting on a plane and entering back into real life, what was God asking me to surrender to increase my agility and joy along this faithful race?

While several areas came to mind, one clearly stood out.

Faith, Education, Parenting, SisterhoodShawna SullivanJanuary 31, 2023Sisterhood, Encouragement, Parenting, Marriage, FaithComment

Calm Your Anxious Heart: Three Verses to Fight the Fear at Three AM

Calm Your Anxious Heart: Three Verses to Fight the Fear at Three AM

My eyelids open. The sky is dark. My mind is awake.

Sometimes I pull out my phone and write down spiraling thoughts, pressing to-do’s and creative ideas. Most of the time I eventually feel the tension release, but for the times it continues to clasp tightly I use these prayers to return me to rest.

Faith, ParentingShawna SullivanSeptember 27, 2022Anxiety, Encouragement, Scripture, Prayer Comments

How to Finish Strong When Exhaustion is Real

How to Finish Strong When Exhaustion is Real

I am confident we are all in desperate need for a summer sabbath, so I’m reflecting on these questions today:

How can I finish the school year strong?
How can I enter into a restful summer that allows for an exhale of restoration and adventure?
How can I better prepare for the fall without wanting to give up right now?

Education, Faith, ParentingShawna SullivanMay 10, 2022resurrection, Easter, Encouragement, spiritual encouragement, perseveranceComment

A Holy Week Devotion: Who Is At the Center of Your Worship?

A Holy Week Devotion: Who Is At the Center of Your Worship?

This week, as we journey toward remembering the death and resurrection of Jesus, I’m mindful of who is at the center of my worship. I’m reminded that worship is costly. I’m reminded that we are constantly given the option of who to place at the center of our heart’s deepest affections.

Faith, Education, ParentingShawna SullivanApril 12, 2022Easter, Holy week, Worship, Faith, EncouragementComment

Balm for the Brokenhearted: Affirmations to Quiet Your Anxious Heart

Balm for the Brokenhearted: Affirmations to Quiet Your Anxious Heart

The Lord builds. He gathers. He heals. He binds.

I whisper in exhale, “Thank you, Jesus.” This is what my heart needs.

The beat in my chest rests, and I continue navigating the next seventeen verses of Psalm 147. Along the way, I discover five P’s of God that create a healing balm for areas that feel most broken in my life and in the world.

As if a healing balm, these attributes of God cover and calm.

Faith, Parenting, Lent ReflectionsShawna SullivanMarch 16, 2022Affirmations, Anxiety, Encouragement, Parenting Comments

Lenten Lessons: Three Questions to Prepare Your Heart for Battle

Lenten Lessons: Three Questions to Prepare Your Heart for Battle

Every day is a battle. Our hearts wage war to find joy. Our minds fight to discern truth. Our hands wrestle to value work.

Do you feel it too?

Here I’m sharing three questions to ask as we prepare our hearts, minds, and hands for battle. The weapons might be different than you think.

Faith, ParentingShawna SullivanMarch 2, 2022Lent, Encouragement, Faith Comments

Chase the Fun

Chase the Fun

The cold wore my emotions and nerves thin. The dense grey skies defined my mental state most days. February became the most difficult month of the year for me by far.

In order to get through the never-ending days, I would pour every ounce of energy into creative outlets within those walls for fun. I recently heard the term “chase the fun”, and I can’t think of a better goal in February. How can you chase the fun? Here I share a few of my favorite ideas.

Pure Encouragement, Rhythms of Life, Freedom in Christ, Investing in Your Heart, The Weary MomShawna SullivanFebruary 14, 2022Embrace life, Encouragement, Fun, February, Family ideas Comments

Maybe It's Not Just a Tree After All

Maybe It's Not Just a Tree After All

“I have always wondered if I could put up a tree, and just use blue and silver decorations instead,” she explained, wanting to honor both her Jewish heritage and her husband’s Catholic background.

“Of course!” I exclaimed. “The tree has little to do with Jesus,” I told her confidently at the time. “It’s just a secular expression of the season.”

But, what I didn’t understand until the last few years is just how much our trees actually do set the stage for the redemptive story of Christ and put in perspective our greatest longings. Allow me to share more.

Over the years, however, I’ve been reminded how little I understood the tree those fifteen years ago.

Faith, ParentingShawna SullivanDecember 8, 2021Christmas, Encouragement, spiritual encouragementComment

Trick or Treat: Three Reminders When God's Blessings Feel Painful

Trick or Treat: Three Reminders When God's Blessings Feel Painful

We have all been there, the moment when the gift we thought was going to be there forever was instead lost forever: a relationship, a child, a spouse, a raise, a job, a house, you name it. We like the part of God that gives, but not the part that takes away.

How can a loving God give and take? If you have ever had that question, this post may be of encouragement to you.

Faith, ParentingShawna SullivanOctober 27, 2021Halloween, Encouragement, Faith, grief Comments

Do You Tend to Inquire or Simply Proceed?

Do You Tend to Inquire or Simply Proceed?

God’s timing and our timing are rarely in perfect cadence. After some reading the past few months, I’ve been more mindful of whether I tend to inquire of God’s direction in all areas of my life or whether I simply proceed.

Here’s what i’ve learned.

Faith, Education, ParentingShawna SullivanOctober 13, 2021Bible, Faith, Encouragement, DecisionsComment

The Blessing of Sibling Rivalry

The Blessing of Sibling Rivalry

It has always existed and it will always be apart of our life on earth: conflict. The past few weeks have been peppered with more incidents of sibling rivalry in my home and it’s drawn us more deeply into a conversation of creation than I would have expected.

Here I share the one truth that has helped provide perspective and wisdom in this area of rivalry.

Faith, Education, ParentingShawna SullivanSeptember 29, 2021Parenting, Encouragement, Faith, Sibling RivalryComment

How To Make Time For Celebration

How To Make Time For Celebration

With so much collective pain and tragedy of late, it’s difficult to give ourselves the permission to simply celebrate. Yet here we sit on the dawn of holidays with its myriad of traditions, and I wonder if it’s possible for the grieving to lead us into a place of celebrating.

Here’s now.

Faith, Education, ParentingShawna SullivanSeptember 15, 2021Holidays, Celebration, Encouragement, Joy Comments