Motherhood isn’t what I expected. Don’t get me wrong—I love being a mom. Motherhood is a joy and privilege I prayed and hoped for.  To be honest, I’m not exactly sure what I did expect. Possibly a newborn who would be lulled to sleep by rocking or singing. Maybe routine check-ups and overall good health. […]

“I will hide God’s Word in my heart, so that I might not sin against God.”  I recited these words (a paraphrase of Psalm 119:11) every morning at the small Christian school I attended until eighth grade. Students learned pledges to the American flag, the Christian flag, and the Bible, then recited those pledges along […]

A Note from Gretchen A red bird flitters to the barren branch outside my kitchen window, and snapshots from a long-ago memory rush through my mind like the credits to a movie—my college dorm room, the ugly AC unit outside my fourth-story window, tears streaming down my face. It’s not a pretty memory, but it’s […]

At 8:45 pm on a quiet Sunday night, I noticed my nine-year-old son’s shadow appear in the dark hallway while I folded laundry and watched television. He approached me, sniffling with his head hung low. His tears alerted me. Did something scare him while he was in bed for the night? Pulling him close, I […]

Her eyes open to darkness all around. She’s exhausted, already drowning in the to-dos of today. Rolling over to turn off her alarm, she continues lying there, dreading getting up. It seems like she’s been living in a constant state of overwhelm. There are never enough hours in the day, no matter how productive she […]

[Editor’s Note: This excerpt is adapted from Humility by Gavin Ortlund, ©2023. Used by permission of Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.] Some years ago, I preached a sermon on envy. I had never really thought in depth about envy before, so it was fascinating to study this particular vice. It was also terrifying. […]

Whenever I’m experiencing discontent in the midst of the incredible bounty that God has blessed me with, it’s a sign that I’m looking for satisfaction in the things of this world.  Identifying the problem is a good place to start, but nothing will change until we begin searching for our satisfaction in the nutrient-rich truth […]

Lights down. Check. Decorations packed. Check. Pine needles vacuumed. Check. It’s official. Christmas is over, and a new year is upon us. Every January brings us a fresh start. And we all love new beginnings. It’s a chance to reset, a chance to try again. But within a few weeks, maybe even days, we sometimes […]

I was twelve years old when my youth leader handed me a journal and encouraged me to read my Bible every day. Desperate to please her, I heeded her advice. Each morning, I read my assigned Bible passages, picked up my journal, wrote down a brief response, and repeated it the next day. My leader […]

The phone buzzed repeatedly and my heart skipped as I rushed to answer the call. I waited all day for moments like these, where I was simply in the presence of my husband’s voice. I listened attentively, shared highlights, and processed the difficulties my day presented. Sometimes, we simply dwelled in silence, rejoicing in each […]