From My Heart to Yours
Hey sister,
Many of you who open the Unshaken journal are walking through a season of struggle, questioning, or suffering which has caused anxiety and worry to pile up in your heart like a heavy weight. You may even feel like the darkness you have encountered in this life has hidden the face of God.
I’ve been there, and I know the battle of anxiety all too well. In 2016, my life seemed to fall apart before my eyes. The things I thought I had under control disintegrated, leaving me feeling as if I had nothing to hold on to or anchor my soul upon.
During the darkest days when fear, worry, and panic gripped my soul, the only light I could find was in the Word. As I opened my Bible, even in the moments I didn’t “feel” like it, I encountered God’s endless mercy. In the Word, I read accounts of fellow believers who struggled with fears, anxieties, doubts, wayward feelings, and worries as well—and I began to feel less alone.
In every account I read in Scripture, it became clear to me that God has been and will always be faithful to His people (Psalm 33:4, 119:90). If that was really true, then would He not also be faithful to me? I cried aloud as I read different Psalms and passages in Scripture.
Sometimes I would shout the truths I read with the little strength I had. Other times I would whisper a prayer or verse as my petition. As each word moved from the page to my heart and through my mouth, the presence of the Lord surrounded me like a faithful shield. In searching for the answers to my suffering and a release from my anxiety, I found Jesus.
When Suffering Comes...
Christians are not immune to suffering or hardship. It is a fact of life that we will suffer, but we have a choice in how we will respond in the face of hardship. Will we embrace our suffering and fellowship with our Savior in the midst of it? Or will we turn from Him in disbelief?
There is no shortcut when we walk through suffering, but there is a Savior named Jesus Christ who has already walked before us and now walks with us.
Suffering is not an absence of God’s presence or favor; it is a recipe for deep intimacy and understanding of the gospel. There are no “quick fixes” to the trials we face and the anxieties that so often threaten to steal our joy and purpose, but we have the eternal Word of God, and that is more than enough to meet our needs in every season of life.
My prayer for you, as you hold the Unshaken journal in your hand, is that you’d discover treasures in the darkness as you cling to Christ (Isaiah 45:3). This journal is called a “faith journal” as a declaration that when we come before the Lord in prayer, we come by faith through Jesus (Ephesians 3:12). We pray in faith, believing that He is God and He is always good, no matter the outcome of our circumstances.
As you journal and pray, you may not feel like your prayers or petitions are getting anywhere. There may be days you struggle to muster up adequate words, but know that Christ is for you and He is interceding on your behalf (Romans 8:34). This journal will become a testament to His faithfulness in every season.
Walk in the Light of Faith
Remember, dear friend, there is no darkness too dark for our God (Psalm 139:11–12). When darkness seems to hide His face, rest on His unchanging grace and sing:
On Christ the solid Rock I stand / All other ground is sinking sand / All other ground is sinking sand
The darkness will not be dark forever, because Jesus is the light, and He always brings a rainbow after the storm clouds clear away. Until then, trust in His promises, pray boldly before His throne of grace, and live as the unshaken child of God you are in Christ Jesus.
Singing in the dark and placing my faith in Him,
Gretchen Saffles
“I will give you the treasures of darkness and the hoards in secret places, that you may know that it is I, the LORD, the God of Israel, who call you by your name.” Isaiah 45:3
“Because of Christ and our faith in him, we can now come boldly and confidently into God's presence.” Ephesians 3:12 (NLT)
What's in the Collection?
The Unshaken Journal is a 90-day faith journal we've created to help you claim truth, journal your thoughts, anxieties or fears, and pray Scripture over them. Use the two-day spreads as space to process and pray through a format that follows Psalm 55.
The Unshaken Verse Cards are interactive verse cards to help you memorize Scripture. The ten verses were selected to bring peace and hope to anxious moments. The questions on the back of each 4x4 inch card will help you understand and apply each verse more.
The Pause, Pray, Praise Mug is a beautiful pink, marble mug with a white imprint featuring lettering by Lovely Lettering Co. This 13-ounce mug will help you begin your day from a place of praise when anxiety threatens to overwhelm you.
The Rejoice Always Sweatshirt is a new favorite! This ultra-soft, mauve Bella Canvas sweatshirt features lettering by Lovely Lettering Co. and the reminder from 1 Thessalonians 5:16 to Rejoice Always.
The Rejoice Always Pen is a beautiful forest green pen with a pink and peach imprint that reads Rejoice Always. These pens write so smoothly, so they're our favorite for journaling and Bible reading!
The Unshaken Bundle contains the Unshaken Journal, Verse Cards, Pen and Mug. You can save 20% if you purchase the bundle through Friday, October 18, 2019. Afterward, the bundle will remain a 15% discount–an amazing deal for all these items!
Are you ready to grow in your faith?
We've created a completely FREE 7-day Unshaken Faith Email Challenge. You can join at any time and receive seven days of encouraging emails sent straight to your inbox. Each day has a key verse, a short devotion, a challenge, prayer, and free lock screen. We pray this seven-day challenge will spur you on in your faith as we become women who are Unshaken in the presence of Christ.
Unshaken Playlist
This playlist is full of hope-filled, calming, encouraging music to serenade your spirit in times of anxiety. Let the words of worship usher your heart into a time of praise before God. We pray you find encouragement through these intentionally selected songs as you journal, pray, and process with the Lord.
Save 15% on the new items
Use the code UNSHAKEN at checkout through 10/18/19 at 11:59 PM to save 15% on all the new items (excluding bundle which is already discounted 20%!)
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