Are they going to like me? Why aren’t I as pretty as her? Are they going to listen if I share my heart? Am I dispensable? Am I capable enough? What person doesn’t deal with insecurities of some shape or form? Sometimes if they are bad enough, they take on a life of their own, even directing and controlling our actions. I struggle with insecurities; it seems like they manifest more heavily when I am feeling tired or already drained emotionally. I don’t think we have to stay in the position of succumbing to our insecurities. We can rise above them, but in order to overcome insecurities we have to learn what it means to be secure.

If only life was always filled with roses, where no pain could penetrate our heart; or our clocks would stop long enough for us to revel in the moment and be thankful. Then, it would always be easy to maintain our joy. But what happens when life isn’t going smoothly, when it takes all your effort to stay above water? What then? I have felt pain, and I have felt joy. Here are some ways I am able to keep my joy a little longer.

Procrastination, oh how you taunt me! Our list is a mile long of things to do, people we want to encourage, people we need to address. It is easy to push some things to the bottom of the list and literally never get around to them. And because we are staying busy, it relieves some of the guilt involved of achieving those things on the “to-do” list.

A friend is a trustworthy confidante and companion that you share your life with, some stay for a season, others for a lifetime. It is the necessary companionship that we all long for; the deep binding friendship that ties our heart to another.

What is the difference between sharing information and gossiping. What does the Bible say about gossip? A biblical definition of gossip is: one who reveals secrets, one who goes about as a talebearer or scandal-monger. So how do we carry this into our everyday lives?

Resentment, gossip, pain, and anger, these are some of the effects of unresolved conflict. Hurt by those we love, whether it be intentionally or unintentionally, our emotions stew up inside us. Instead of confronting our accuser we either talk to everyone but the one who hurt us, or bottle up the hurt convincing ourselves we should not have been hurt in the first place. Where does this get us? No where.

We’ve all heard the saying, ‘patience is a virtue’- now are we sure that’s in the Bible? I didn’t realize how much I struggled with patience before I had kids. The daily struggles of motherhood are uprooting a lot of things that I realize I have to work on. With one step in front of the other I go. Yes, God, I understand it is Your timing not mine, but please can you just let me follow my personal agenda today.

We are a society always on the go, looking to the future instead of appreciating the present. We work ourselves to the bone emotionally and physically, trying to get ahead, to some day attain rest. For most of us rest is an enigma. Even while we are “resting” our mind wanders onto what has to be accomplished the next day, the next week, the next year.

Why fear? Every day we are faced with our fears. Phobias consume the pages of the medical books, as we grapple with the enemy of our mind. It is debilitating and restrictive.My hope was that the one realm that fear would not venture would be my testimony of Jesus Christ. It seemed like a reasonable desire, considering I have been saved for so many years.