My Facebook memories keep surfacing this month, reminding me of a season eight years ago when life was anything but calm. As I see those images of the hospital, emotions rise—both the weight of that time and the grace that carried me through.
Life looks different now. The acute distress and fear are gone, yet new challenges press in. No, it’s not calm. It’s not easy.
Reading J.C. Ryle’s commentary on the Gospel of Mark, I was struck by his words:
"Let us closely observe this lesson. If we are true Christians, we must not expect everything to be smooth in our journey to heaven."
One season gives way to another, bringing a different kind of chaos, new twists and turns in the story. Whether we recognize it or not, we often expect life in Christ to be easier—after all, we’re saved, right? Yet difficulties remind us that things are not as they should be.
But we do not lose heart.
Though we may grow weary and discouraged, “The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength” (Isaiah 40:28-29).
And it’s here we find hope—hope to take another step, to sit and dwell in the presence of our loving Father, whose steadfast love never fails, whose faithfulness never wavers.
Maybe it’s in recognizing my own fickle heart, my imperfect love, my weakness, that I truly grasp the greatness of our God and the goodness of the gospel. By His grace, I will trust and believe. He will walk with me along the narrow path, working out His good purposes in my life and in the lives of those around me.
So if you're losing heart a bit these days, you're not alone. I'm praying you'll see His hand at work, His presence before and behind you, and the goodness of His grace holding you.
Grace & Peace,
Amber
Content: This Week…
On the Blog
In Articles (curated content just for you)
Previously on Mosaic
On the Blog
In Articles
In Praise of Being Inconvenient | Nadya Williams (Mere Orthodoxy)
It’s easy to resonate with disruptions that throw life off course. But it’s humbling to realize just how much time I spend wrestling with what feels inconvenient in the moment—whether at work, dealing with sickness at home, or facing unexpected interruptions. Once again, I’m convicted of my need for flexibility and the invitation to see these moments as opportunities for the kingdom.
C.S. Lewis on the Danger of Getting Too Much News | Seth Lewis
Is it possible to consume too much news? We might think we’re just staying well-informed, but do we recognize the impact it has on us? It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by issues beyond our control while neglecting our own sphere of influence—the places where we can actually make a difference. Here’s some wisdom from C.S. Lewis.
Teaching Our Kids That They Don't Need to Self-Justify | Connie Leung Nelson (Rooted Ministry)
Oh yes, I hear this a lot in my house: "It’s not my fault—they did it first!" As parents, it’s all too familiar. But it also serves as a personal reminder to examine where this mindset shows up in my own life."We never have to self-justify. We should not self-justify. We have already been justified by the only one who can save us and make us righteous. Thanks be to God, we have nothing to prove and nothing to lose in Jesus."
I Was Once an Immigrant. Then I Forgot. | Paola Barrera (Christianity Today)
"God’s transformative work in our lives hinges on mercy. We cannot change without receiving this grace. We also cannot be recipients of mercy if we have not wronged or inconvenienced someone else. And according to Peter, that is all of us. Yet the New Testament consistently reminds us that this does not stop God from wanting to make us family." We thank God for his mercy and for the opportunity to extend that same mercy to others.
Dumb Will Do: Why Satan Doesn't Need Heresy | Tim Challies
"Do we believe God tells his people how to worship, or do we think God leaves that to us?" While it's good to seek growth in our churches, what are we willing to compromise to make it happen? When we were church-planting, we longed for people to come to Christ, attend church, and hear the gospel regularly. But that also meant patiently waiting for true repentance—watching to see old ways of witchcraft abandoned in order to worship the true God before baptism. We saw churches that were lenient in this, and the difficulties that followed. Standing firm in Scripture may mean fewer people come, but our calling is not to draw crowds—it’s to be faithful, obedient, and unashamed of God’s truth.
Previously on Mosaic
5 Years Ago (apparently I was MIA this week)
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