I know I have so much to be thankful for and enough things to sing your praise for all of eternity.
But today, my heart is heavy for those who are struggling today during Thanksgiving.
I want to lift up those who are filled with sadness.
Thank you that though you are the king of the universe, you know each of us personally. For those who are suffering you know their silent prayers and how much their hearts are heavy.
Lord, please give peace to those suffering today; fill them with love and hope.
Thank you for your unconditional love and your mercies that are renewed every day.
As I watch the fires destroy LA my heart breaks and I feel so powerless to help. Through my church I was able to donate some items but I still felt like I was doing nothing.
Until I saw all the items the church had collected from the community. It was inspiring to see people come together and help. And it served as a reminder that it’s not about me and it was never about my impact. It was all about God’s power through the community. It’s only through God that in less than 24 hours after the church asked for help, so many items were donated. The impact of God through His people is powerful.
I share this as encouragement for those who are thinking about helping the victims of the LA fires. Whatever you can do will make a difference because God is at work and it will not go to waste.
As I reflect back on 2024, I would say the theme of the year is a testimony to God’s faithfulness.
For the past couple of years I have really been focusing on my mental health. During the pandemic I started to notice my anxiety and depression come back stronger. So I started the process of getting on new medication and starting therapy. And what a journey it took.
It was a battle of two years trying to find the right medication and learning tools through therapy that would help me manage my anxiety and depression. To say that I struggled those two years would be an understatement. For two years I was struggling with what the future held and who I was as a person.
But 2024 finally saw all the pieces coming together. It was the first time in two years my mental health was stable and I was able to really enjoy and live life!
As I finish 2024, I can see God’s faithfulness. When I was questioning everything on my mental health journey, He listened and He heard me. He never left me and now I have the mental health I prayed for. I just had to trust in Him and wait-which we all know is easier said than done. And it was His strength that got me through those two difficult years.
In the summer I made a decision to invest in my relationship with God again. I had been putting Him on the backburner for way too long. And as always, He proved His faithfulness by staying near me. He never gave up on me and knew that I would eventually come back home to Him.
I am so grateful for 2024 and that God showed His faithfulness to me. I am excited to see what He has in store for me in 2025. I will work on trusting Him fully going into the future.
I often worry that I won’t be able to handle situations that come my way. If something tough or bad happens, will I be able to handle it?
While reading Ephesians 6:17 this morning I was reminded that I have all the tools necessary to face anything with the help of Christ.
From ourdailyverse.com
I can’t do anything on my own, but through the grace and mercy of God I can do anything. He graciously provides all the armor I need to get through the tough times.
Going forward I am going to work on submitting my anxiety to God as well as putting on the full armor of God and finding peace within in.
Isaiah 53:5- But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.
Isaiah 53:5 is one of my favorite Bible verses and one I like to reflect on during the Easter season. It serves as a great reminder of my need of a savior and God’s love for me.
This verse really humbles me with a reminder that it is ME and MY SIN that nailed Jesus to the cross. I’m the reason that Jesus had to die. I’m imperfect and in need of a savior. I cannot save myself and this is hard for me to accept as someone who wants to be independent and not reliant on others. But I am always reminded how human I am and how much I need Jesus.
But Jesus WANTS to be there for me and to be my savior. So this verse also reminds me of God’s great love for me. He loves me despite my sin. He loves me so much that He sacrificed His son so that I may have eternal life with Him. His love and mercy silence me in amazement because I am so not worthy. But God views me as worthy and deserving of peace.
Going forward I need to do better at reflecting on God’s sacrifice for me and use it as a reminder to be grateful, that Jesus is there for me and that God loves me so much.
Like everyone on earth, I am on TikTok. One of the creators of the app that I follow is Ju & Chan. This is a power couple that bless everyone with their funny videos of their lives together.
They have been very open publicly about their struggle of getting pregnant and have suffered a couple of miscarriages. Yesterday I saw their video announcing that they are pregnant! The music of the video is the song Promises.
I have this song on my Spotify worship playlist, but it hit me extra hard yesterday and I have been listening to it ever since watching the TikTok video. As I shared previously, since Christmas I have really been thinking about God’s promises and how He always fulfills them; they always come to past. This song poetically puts that message to music.
At the end of this post I have shared the complete lyrics of the song, but here are the lines that really speak to me:
Time and time again/You have proven/You’ll do just what You said
Though the storms may come and the winds may blow/I’ll remain steadfast
And let my heart learn, when You speak a word/It will come to pass
Great is Your faithfulness to me
Your history can prove/There’s nothing You can’t do
I put my faith in Jesus/My anchor to the ground
He’ll never let me down
No matter the season or how bad the storm is, God remains the same. He is unchanging. He will never let you down and He ALWAYS keeps His promises.
When I feel weak, I will remain steadfast in the unchanging nature of God and meditate on all the promises He has kept and will fulfill.
Promises (full song lyrics)
Faithful through the ages
God of Abraham You’re the God of covenant And of faithful promises Time and time again You have proven You’ll do just what You said
Though the storms may come and the winds may blow I’ll remain steadfast And let my heart learn, when You speak a word It will come to pass
Great is Your faithfulness to me Great is Your faithfulness to me From the rising sun to the setting same I will praise Your name Great is Your faithfulness to me
When the seasons change You remain the same
God from age to age Though the earth may pass away Your word remains the same, yeah Your history can prove There’s nothing You can’t do You’re faithful and true
Though the storms may come and the winds may blow I’ll remain steadfast And let my heart learn, when You speak a word It will come to pass
Great is Your faithfulness to me, oh Great is Your faithfulness From the rising sun From the rising sun to the setting same (I will praise Your name) I will praise Your name (oh, praise Your name) Great is Your faithfulness to me, yeah, yeah (oh, oh)
Your faithfulness, it never runs out (yeah) It never runs out Oh-oh, Your faithfulness Oh, it never runs out (it never runs out) It never runs out (it never runs out)
I put my faith in Jesus My anchor to the ground My hope and firm foundation He’ll never let me down, no I put my faith in Jesus My anchor to the ground (my hope and firm foundation) He’s my hope and firm foundation (He’ll never let me down) He’ll never let me down, oh, I put (oh) I put my trust (faith) in Jesus (yes, I do) My anchor to the ground My hope and firm foundation (my hope and firm foundation) He’ll never let me down (He’ll never let me down) Never let me down I put my faith in Jesus (I put my faith in Jesus) My anchor to the ground (my anchor to the ground), oh He’s my hope, my only hope, my only hope (my hope and firm foundation) He’ll never let me down (He’ll never let me down) He’ll never let me down (Your faithful)
Great is Your faithfulness to me (faithfulness, oh, great) Great is Your faithfulness to me (from the rising sun) From the rising sun to the setting same I will praise Your name In every season, great is Your faithfulness to me
Say, I put my faith I put my faith in Jesus My anchor to the ground (He’s my hope) My hope and firm foundation (and He’ll never let me down) He’ll never let me down (I put my faith) I put my faith in Jesus (my anchor) My anchor to the ground (He’s my hope) My hope and firm foundation (never let me down) He’ll never let me down (come on sing it loud) Say, I put my faith I put my faith in Jesus (my anchor to the ground) My anchor to the ground (my hope and) My hope and firm foundation (never let me down, He’ll never) He’ll never let me down (never let me) I put my faith in Jesus (I put my faith in Jesus) My anchor to the ground (my anchor to the ground) He’s my hope and firm foundation My hope and firm foundation He’ll never let me down (He’ll never let me down) No, He’ll never let me down (He’ll never let me down)
Great is, great (oh, still great) Great is Your faithfulness to me In every season, great is Your faithfulness to me (great is Your faithfulness) From the rising sun From the rising sun to the setting same (hey) I will praise Your name From the rising sun From the rising sun to the setting same (hey) I will praise Your name From the rising sun From the rising sun to the setting same (let it go up and let it go down) I will praise Your name (I’ll still bless You, I’ll still praise You)
From the rising sun to the setting same (let it go up and let it go down) I will praise Your name (and I’ll still bless You, I’ll still praise You) From the rising sun to the setting same (let it go up and let it go down) I will praise Your name (and I’ll still bless You, I’ll still bless You) From the rising sun to the setting same (and I’ll still bless You, I’ll still bless You) I will praise Your name (I’ll still bless You)
Great is Great is Your faithfulness to me (I’ll still bless You) Great is Your faithfulness to me (I’ll still bless You) From the rising sun (I’ll still bless you) From the rising sun to the setting same (I’ll still bless You) I will praise Your name (I’ll still bless You) Great is Your faithfulness to me (I’ll still bless You)
Yes, I’ll still bless You In the middle of the storm, in the middle of my trial I’ll still bless You In the middle of the road, when I don’t know where to go I’ll still bless You (yeah) In the middle of my storm, in the middle of my trial I’ll still bless You (yeah) When I’m in the middle of the road and I don’t know which way to go I’ll still (I’ll still bless You) I’ll still bless You I’ll still bless You, oh (I’ll still bless You) I’ve got a reason to bless You, yeah I’ve got a reason to bless You (I’ll still bless You) I’ve got a reason to bless Your name You’ve been faithful, You’ve been faithful (I’ll still bless You) You’ve been so good to me, You’ve been so good Come on just lift up your praise Just lift up your worship to him You’ve been so good, you’ve been so good Let this, oh, this body be filled with Your praise Be filled with Your praise (we bless Your name, we bless Your name) We bless Your name, oh-oh-oh I’ll still bless You, oh-oh-oh I’ll still bless You, oh-oh-oh I’ll still bless You, oh-oh-oh I’ll still bless You Great is Your faithfulness
Great is Your faithfulness to me (great is) Great is Your faithfulness to me (from the rising sun) From the rising sun to the setting same I will praise Your name (from the rising sun) From the rising sun to the setting same (oh my God) I will praise Your name (from the rising sun) From the rising sun to the setting same (yeah) I will praise Your name (great is) Great is Your faithfulness to me
CE's Faith Journey 