The holidays and the final days of the year draw near. As we prepare to celebrate with joy, chances are disappointments remain from unaccomplished goals, unanswered prayers, and unexpected challenges. We long to see fruit from the work of our hands this year, but what happens when there is no harvest yet?

Maybe we need a harvest of hope. Allow these faithful next steps to help you give thanks when you’re waiting for the harvest.

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.

When the world is spinning, maybe what we need is a little less worrying and a little more grounding. Maybe one of these ten ways will help you, too, stay rooted and soft, despite not having all of the answers. They may even surprise you with a smile.

Finances, marriage, parenting—each feel heavy in this halfway season of life. As I walked briskly, my heart pumping, I prayed for God to let me bypass these burdens. With each step, these three truths helped me continue moving when I wished to escape simply.

No one desires hunger. We like feeling full. Neither our rumbling desires nor our lacking longings are welcomed with joy. So, how can we grow in gratitude for hunger? How can we celebrate the ‘less than’ over the ‘more than’ of this life? Where are we turning to finally feel full?

As parents who desire connection with our children at a deeper level, it’s helpful to remember that there are layers to a conversation, much like water. We have a choice: slowly wade into the shallow or dive headfirst into the deep. Since not all circumstances allow for diving into the deep, here are ten strategies to better connect with your child and foster the art of conversation.

My budget shows red, and my energy is overdrawn. As the spring recedes and gives way to summer, I feel like I’m running low on all of my resources.

This passage from the gospel of Mark reminded me of a woman who gave out of her poverty not abundance, and I wonder if it might have a word for us as we seek to keep giving despite our lack.

Our calendar consistently needs more margin, especially this time of year. As spring activities and school events dominate, it’s easy to feel like a participant in a mad dash toward the finish line.

Solitude? Quiet? Prayer? We know we need them, but finding space for them remains pretty challenging. Yet it matters not only for the health of our souls but also for the health of our families. So, here are three ways for busy moms to consistently flourish in their faith, creating space for the seemingly impossible yet spiritually essential.

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. 

If you’ve ever wondered: Why here, Lord? Why not there? Why now? I get it.

Whether through your geography, relationships, or resources, allow these reminders to help you identify the blessings of boundaries God has placed in your life for this season.