Interview with Nichole J. Suvar about her new nonfiction book

Interview with Nichole J. Suvar about her book, I Don't Have to Hold It All Together: Cultivating the Peace of Eden When Feeling Overwhelmed

Alexis: Why did you write this book? Share the story behind its creation.

Nichole: Anxiety has been a part of me for as long as I can remember.

I have memories of panic attacks in early elementary school. It wasn't until I was 36 years old that I received a diagnosis of generalized anxiety disorder and major depression. At that time, I started what I call a healing journey. I saw a doctor for medication, started seeing a counselor, and began learning tools that I could use to help me address this overwhelming anxiety.

One thing that kept coming back to me as I went through this healing journey was thinking about Eden and how absolutely lovely and perfect it had to have been. Coupled with my struggle with an anxiety disorder, was perfection, and the striving for control. Because we believe that when we can control things, it helps us feel less anxious.

I would often ask myself, what part of this life that I'm experiencing right now was good back in Eden, but now it's just a little distorted because of the fall.

And because I was thinking through that quite a bit, it led me to think about different areas that God has left here for us, different attributes of Eden, that we can cultivate in our lives to better understand our Father, our Creator, and to know His peace more deeply.

Alexis: In your book, you talk about God and His creation. How did your faith in God impact your writing of this book?

Nichole: The only reason I wrote this book is because of Jesus Christ. I tried for years to manage this anxiety on my own. I thought I had to get it all figured out and had to get myself together before I could be of any use in the Kingdom of God.

Because of that, I wasn't taking it all to the Father (God) and asking Him to help me relieve it. I saw those verses in Scripture that tell us to “cast our cares on Him” and “not to be anxious about anything” as commands, not invitations. But when I started seeing my Father as One who wants to come alongside me and relieve me of these burdens, it helped me draw closer to Him rather than hide from Him and shame.

Alexis: You talk about how you lived with undiagnosed anxiety for over 30 years. How did you survive? Share how your life changed after your illness was diagnosed and treated by doctors.

Nichole: Survival is a great way of putting it because I survived, but I was not thriving. I just held on and white-knuckled my way through life. I kept myself busy. I got a lot done. As a high-functioning anxious person, I had a lot of things on my plate, and I could get a lot of things done because anxiety was fueling all of it. But if I really allowed myself to stop and slow down, the anxiety would overwhelm me. So, I just kept moving.

I tried to read my Bible more and pray more, but it came to a point where I felt shame because I just could not get a handle on the anxiety. It wasn't until I had a diagnosis and realized that this generalized anxiety disorder is more than just someone who doesn't have enough faith and they're worried about something, but it was an actual thing going on inside of my body.

And when I could see it that way, my perspective changed because I saw it as something in my body that wasn't functioning as it should. And I have to keep bringing it back to God every day, looking to Him to be the strong One to bring me through it. Instead of being the strong one and relying on myself, I have to admit that I am weak and trust Him to be strong.

Alexis: Why do you think there is a rise of anxiety in our culture?

Nichole: We have access to anything and everything. We know way more than what we need. We are handling way more in our brains than we need to. We're moving through life at increasingly faster speeds. We know way more than what our brains were made to really handle. And we are connected at all times.

Because of that, we don't have these times where we have the space to really rest. We are not spending nearly as much time with our Father (God) as we should. A lot of that is replaced by screens, endless to-do lists, and crammed schedules. Plus, social media is prevalent and always gives us a reason to compare and feel like we're behind. All of that adds up to a culture of anxiety.

Alexis: If you could speak into the life of every person living with anxiety, what would you say to encourage them in only a few sentences?

Nichole: Anxiety can come from a lot of different directions. Sometimes the root is unconfessed sin we need to bring before God. It could be a relationship that needs to be addressed. It could be an actual diagnosis of something, meaning our hormones or brain chemicals are unbalanced. There could be a lot of reasons for the anxiety.

Regardless of the source, we need to take it to Jesus first. We need to bring Him into it with us. He wants to meet us in the middle of it and to help us. And so, our first step is to invite Him in.

You can struggle with anxiety and still have a deep relationship with Jesus. Struggling with anxiety does not disqualify you in the kingdom of God. Just make sure that you're taking it to Him instead of trying to handle it yourself.

Alexis: You made an interesting point about how we as humans have always been chasing peace in all the wrong places. Why do you think it’s like that for us?

Nichole: The fall distorted things and made us start to think that we were in control.

When we're in control, we start to believe we're also in control of peace. But the problem is, we manufacture the peace instead of going to our Father (God), the true source of peace. We're trying to build it ourselves by controlling situations, people, places, and things.

It's the enemy's lie to keep us focused on our own things, thinking that we can control it. Because when we believe we can control it, we aren't taking it to God.

Alexis: What is the solution to our ongoing search for peace?

Nichole: Jesus. And we need to see that every part of our life needs to be brought to Him, every little bit. Nothing is insignificant for Him. And when we are bringing Him into the middle of everything, even the messy parts, He is ready to carry it for us. He is ready to meet us there, be with us, and carry us through.

Alexis: How did God teach you to let go of perfectionism, control and endless activity?

Nichole: It is an ongoing lesson as I continue to learn more about how anxiety affects me.

I see that when I pursue perfectionism, control, and endless activity, I am leaving less room for God to be God. When I chase after perfectionism, control, and productivity, I'm putting myself on the throne.

And sometimes, in some seasons, it has to be a daily giving up of that throne. I want to keep putting myself on it, but God has shown me time and time again that when I'm willing to let things be less than perfect, allow him to be the One in control, and to actually embrace rest, I can walk into a deeper relationship with Him.

Alexis: You said that your book invites people to return to the garden God created, one where true peace is designed. What do you mean? Please explain how this will help them as they journey through this life on Earth.

Nichole: In my book, I talk about seven attributes of Eden that are still present here today, helping us access God's peace and know Him better. I call these things God's design for mental wellness. He does not want us to live in a state of overwhelm and hurry. He wants us to live with a trusting heart, resting in his provision and not our own.

When we look to cultivate these Edenic attributes in our lives, it has to be intentional. Think about when you start a garden, you have to do your part, which involves getting seeds, tilling up the ground, planting the seeds, and even giving them a first watering from a garden hose. But then after that, the sunshine, rain, little sprouts, blossoms, fruit, and vegetables—all of that comes from God.

We have to be intentional with our part in cultivating the garden. We have to go in and pluck out weeds, but all of the increase and growth and provision comes from God. And when we are cultivating these parts of Eden, we're doing the parts that we can, and we're trusting God to bring the increase, to bring the peace.

Alexis: You’ve mentioned that God’s original plan holds the answers to our deepest desires. How so? And what was His original plan?

Nichole: His original plan was for humans to be in the garden with Him, to walk in communion with Him, to be in complete rest and peace, to be surrounded by beauty and perfectness. That is God's original plan. So, when we look at His original plan, what parts of Eden has He designed for us to still enjoy today? And those are the attributes that I discuss in my book.

Alexis: You’ve said that we don’t have to keep searching for peace because it’s been available to us all along. What do you mean by this powerful point?

Nichole: The peace that’s been available all along comes from God. We try to manufacture our own peace by checking off the to-do list, organizing more things, and getting our schedule the way it should look.

We believe that when we have those in a certain way, we will be able to calm the chaos, and we'll feel more peaceful. But the truth is, all of that is manufactured by us, and the peace attached to it is fleeting. But God's peace is permanent and steadfast, even in the middle of any kind of chaos.

That is the peace that's been available to us all along.

Alexis: What do you want readers to take away from your book?

Nichole: I want the readers to experience life with their hands open, not grasping for control or creating their own comforts, but looking for ways God is providing for them and meeting them in the middle of their overwhelm, anxiety, and chaos. I want them to see how they can have a deeper relationship with Him when they choose to let Him be the one holding everything together, not them.

Alexis: Thanks for the interview, Nichole! 

~*~
Author Bio:

Nichole J. Suvar is an author and speaker who knows what it feels like to live overwhelmed, rushed, and stretched thin by anxiety. 

Now, through her books, devotions, podcast, and speaking, she helps women slow down, understand what’s beneath the overwhelm, and step into a more grounded, purposeful life—one that reflects the peace God designed for them. She has published five books, her latest being I Don’t Have to Hold it All Together, Cultivating the Peace of Eden When Feeling Overwhelmed.

Nichole lives with her family in Northern Indiana. She collects chairs—the more colorful, the better—thinks all the best food is in sandwich form, and will stop everything to read a map. She’s a fan of hiking, cozy cardigans, and Earl Grey Tea, and she’s learning that life unfolds better with open hands instead of tightly held fists. 

You can connect with her at livewithintent.org

~*~
Blurb for Nichole's book:

In the beginning, God poured His love into a garden.

The Bible begins with the story of creation. God builds a beautiful world . . . and a garden. In the garden of Eden, creation drank of God’s goodness and lived in His perfect peace. Yet since the fall of humanity, we’ve all struggled to find or create our own versions of Eden. We’ve been chasing peace in all the wrong places.

Nichole Suvar knows this all too well. Living with undiagnosed anxiety for over 30 years, she’s tried to build a garden of Eden through perfectionism, control, and endless activity. These self-made solutions only deepened her unrest.

I Don’t Have to Hold it All Together invites you to return to the garden God created, where true peace was designed, and discover how His original plan holds the answers to your deepest desires. Weaving personal stories, practical wisdom, and insights from experts, Nichole explores the deep truths embedded in God’s original garden, truths about communion with God, purpose, community, the goodness of creation, boundaries, true rest, and more.

The rise of anxiety in our culture reflects a broken search for peace. Readers are invited to cultivate a life that seeks after God’s original plan of peace and comfort and identify areas in their life where they have built their own false Eden.

The peace we’ve been searching for isn’t something we can create ourselves; it’s been available to us all along. Come receive His gift.

~*~

Buy Nichole's book:

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Books-A-Million

Devotionals for the Heart: When you realize God is writing your life story

All the Little Stories Becoming One
A devotional by Jessica Brodie

“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”—Ephesians 2:10 (NIV)

Have you ever looked back on your life and been struck by how it all seems to fit together like a pattern you couldn’t see while you were living it?

I released my third Christian contemporary novel recently, Hidden Seeds, and during an interview with a news publication, something hit me like a splash of cold water: these books are an echo of the work I’ve been doing for the last 16 years.

Sixteen years ago this month, I was hired as editor of a Christian denominational newspaper called the South Carolina United Methodist Advocate, and my life has changed in so many wonderful ways since. I was already a Christian when I started, but my faith walk deepened significantly once I took the position. How could it not? I was surrounded by pastors and church leaders consistently modeling discipleship, day after day. And as the primary writer for the publication, month after month—for 16 years—I’ve been blessed with the opportunity to write about churches, pastors, and everyday Christians doing God’s work. That work takes every imaginable form: coffee ministries, reaching the unchurched through robotics, faith-based summer camps, mission trips, and so much more.

As I spoke with the interviewer, I heard myself say: “So many of the people, the ministries, and the stories from these last 16 years as a Christian journalist are peppered throughout the entire series of novels.” The realization was profound—and it filled me with overwhelming gratitude.

These 16 years have shaped me on a soul level like nothing else. I’ve always been grateful, always loved this work, and I’ve always known I’m blessed to hold this position. But it had never quite hit me this way before. Now I understand: Being a storyteller has changed me. In the telling, I’ve been transformed, inspired, and made new. To learn firsthand from the people who lived these stories, then to share them with others? What a glorious thing.

Now, looking back over the books I have written—and knowing the story for Book 4 that is already taking shape in my mind—I see how these years and all their stories are intricately woven into the characters and the town. As the saying goes, “You cannot pour from an empty cup.” Well, apparently, I’ve been pouring from a cup brimming with evidence of God’s people doing his will all across this state. That abundance lives in the pages of the Advocate . . . and within my novels.

Life gets hectic, and our thoughts get weighed down by daily concerns and distractions. We forget to step back, to take the long view, to marvel at what God is doing in the full sweep of our lives. It reminds me of watching my kids grow. Because I’m with them every single day, I don’t notice the slow climb from 4-foot-11 to 5-foot-1 to 5-foot-6 to 5-foot-10—until one day I look over and realize they’re taller than I am. That’s what happened to me in this moment of recognition.

God is the master storyteller, and He weaves all our little stories into His grand narrative—even when we can’t see it happening.

So, I want to ask you: What stories are quietly accumulating in your own life right now? What experiences, relationships, or seasons might be more connected than they appear? We don’t always get to see the pattern while we’re living inside it. But it’s there. God is writing something in you, through you. And one day, if you stop and look, you just might catch a glimpse of the whole beautiful design.

Let’s Pray: Lord, thank You for the opportunities you give me in life. Even if I can’t see the plan, I know you are behind the scenes, working it all out for your good and your glory. Help me hold fast to gratitude and trust your will and all the ways you are using me. In Jesus’s Name, I pray. Amen.

~*~
Song of Reflection #1: “God is in This Story” by Katy Nichole. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #2: “Glorious Unfolding” by Steven Curtis Chapman. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #3: “Just the Beginning” by Kurt Carr (feat. Vonnie Lopez). Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Jessica Brodie is an award-winning Christian novelist, journalist, editor, blogger, and writing coach. 

Her two Christian contemporary novels, The Memory Garden and Tangled Roots, are Amazon bestsellers and her third novel, Hidden Seeds, is out now and is a #1 New Release. Learn more about Jessica’s writing ministry and read her faith blog at http://jessicabrodie.com. 

She has a YouTube devotional, and you can also connect with her on Facebook, Instagram, and more. She’s also produced a free eBook, A God-Centered Life: 10 Faith-Based Practices When You’re Feeling Anxious, Grumpy, or Stressed. She is also the editor of the South Carolina United Methodist Advocate, the oldest newspaper in Methodism.

Devotionals for the Heart: When God challenges you to change you

Learning to Surrender to God’s Process
A devotional by Lynette Allcock Yoon

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time.”—1 Peter 5:6 (NIV)

I squirmed on the massage table as my massage therapist’s nimble hands stretched and kneaded each sore spot in my shoulders and neck. “Relax, relax,” she instructed me with a chuckle.

“I’ll do my best,” I laughed, trying to focus on deep, calming breathes even as my hands gripped the side of the bed. I knew that the therapist was working to help me. She had to get out my knots and stiffness. I knew that tightening my body against her pressure was only hurting me more. But it wasn’t easy to surrender to the process.

The next morning, as I stretched out my sore neck, a thought suddenly sprang into my mind: “How often do I struggle against God’s hand, just as I did during the massage?”

God’s hand in Scripture symbolizes His power, discipline, protection, blessing, and direction. However, the process of His leading and teaching can sometimes be uncomfortable—even painful—for us.

There are moments when God needs to get the “knots” out of my character. He wants to tackle my pride, my self-sufficiency, and my fear. I’m sure you can think of some traits of your own that God is challenging and changing. It would be nice to wake up one morning, feeling magically more patient, gracious, or courageous. But this change doesn’t usually happen overnight. Instead, God allows us to go through circumstances that require us to make choices, experience repentance and grace, and grow our character little by little.

Besides moments of God’s training and discipline, there are times when I sense God leading me somewhere I’m reluctant to go. Obeying God might put me into some difficult situations, that bring me to the end of myself and stretch my faith. Following God might challenge me to love and minister in ways that are outside my natural comfort zone. When God works in our lives in this way, the process isn’t always easy. But it is always for our good.

Isaiah describes God as a potter. If you’ve ever seen a potter at work, you know how literally hands-on they are as they craft their wares. Isaiah 64:8 (NLT) says, “O Lord, you are our Father. We are the clay, and you are the potter. We are all formed by your hand.”

But Isaiah also describes how God’s creations sometimes try to fight back against their Maker. He says in Isaiah 45:9 (NLT), “What sorrow awaits those who argue with their Creator. Does a clay pot argue with its maker? Does the clay dispute the one who shapes it, saying, ‘Stop, you’re doing it wrong!’ Does the pot exclaim, ‘How clumsy can you be?’”

God’s hand wants to stretch me, shape me, and ultimately make me into something beautiful. If I resist Him, I’m only making things harder for myself! Isaiah makes it clear that resistance ends in sorrow.

Hebrews 12:6, 11 (NLT) says, “For the Lord disciplines those He loves…No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.”

The promise of a peaceful harvest of goodness and righteousness to come can help us learn to surrender to God’s hand in our lives. God loves us. He is working all things together for good.

Where might you be resisting God today? Where are you struggling under His hand? I encourage you to surrender. Don’t make the process of spiritual growth harder for yourself by fighting against it! There is a beautiful harvest of peace and righteousness, and a closer relationship with God, awaiting you.

Let’s Pray:

Dear God,

Thank You for being our Maker. Thank You for guiding us through this life on Earth, blessing us abundantly, and disciplining us with your Hand. Help us not to resist You, but rather to submit to You. Help us to feel peace and joy in surrender, knowing that You are working for our good. In Jesus’s name I pray. Amen.

~
Song of Reflection #1: “I Surrender All” by Carrie Underwood. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #2: “Lead Me On” by Chandler Moore. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #3: “Have Thine Own Way, Lord” by Lynda Randle. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Lynette Allcock Yoon is a writer, teacher, and former radio host. 

She grew up in three countries and now lives in South Korea with her husband.

Lynette writes about life abroad, faith, and relationships from an expat, Third Culture Kid (TCK) perspective.

Outside of work, Lynette enjoys musical theatre and long walks with good friends.

~*~
Connect with Lynette:
Website: https://www.lynetteallcock.com/

My Review of The Explorer Bible Dictionary for Kids

When Momentum Influencers Network (MIN) asked me to review The Explorer Bible Dictionary for Kids, I readily agreed because I love reading God’s Word (The Holy Bible) and sharing it with everyone! This version of the Bible is a bit unique because of the way it caters to children. I found it to be an asset to the book world for young readers.

But before I share my review with you, I’d like to share a word from Momentum Influencers Network about this innovative product:

Splash into Scripture this summer! Dive into God’s Word and soak up truth with these Bible resources for curious and creative kids:

• Explorer Bible for Kids

• Explorer Bible Dictionary for Kids

• Scripture Memory Cards

• Bring the Bible to life for kids with the award-winning CSB Explorer Bible for Kids and companion products! Explore the (yet) unknown with the NEW dictionary and lock in key truths with these fun, NEW Scripture memory cards!

• Summer Goal: Develop joyful Bible study habits as a family! Get kids excited for
consistent days in God’s Word with Bibles designed for them.

Purchase link for this Bible Dictionary and to shop summer resources:
Explorer Bible for Kids - B&H Publishing

~*~

My Review of The Explorer Bible Dictionary for Kids

The first thing I noticed about this book is the colorful and decorative cover with pictures and a design that is very kid-friendly. I believe this factor alone will draw children to this book and encourage them to ask their parents to buy it for them.

When I opened the book, two blank pages covered in a gorgeous shade of teal greeted me. This hue of blue put my mind at ease at once and created a sense of calm in my spirit. It helped me to relax and prepared me to read this book.

The most surprising feature of this book is the Table of Contents because it is listed by the letters of the alphabet and each letter corresponds to a page. For example, it looks like this: A…2 and B…18. I’ve never seen this before, so I found that feature to be intriguing and it encouraged me to keep turning the page to figure it out.

After the Table of Contents is a page that says, “For Parents and Teachers”. I found this to be important to inform adults who may want to read this book with their children. This letter prepares them to be able to properly instruct the children about God’s Word and the people who we read about in the Bible.

Following the letter to the parents and teachers, there is a short section on one page titled “Just for Kids”. I found that to be very user-friendly and something the kids will love because it makes them feel included and like this is their book even though they might need an adult to help them read it.

The next three pages are very colorful and filled with facts that teach about reconstructions, illustrated charts, definitions, Name of God and other features including a pronunciation guide that the reader will encounter in this book.

Finally, we turn the page to see the title page: “The Explorer Bible Dictionary for Kids” and that lets the reader know their journey through God’s Word has begun.

The first page we see as we start reading the Bible Dictionary portion of this book is the letter “A” in big case and lower case and beneath to the right page we see that A stands for Aaron (a Bible character) then we read all about him. We learn about his story in the Bible, his birthdate, the meaning of his name, his occupation, his relatives, his claim to fame and a few related details.

After Aaron we turn the page to learn about Abraham who was known to be a friend of God then Adam who was the first man God created on Earth. As we continue turning the next few pages, we learn more about Bible characters, including a woman named Anna who was old and known to be faithful to the Lord.

Something that impressed me was the attention to detail, not only with the content but in the page layout design and illustrations. It is very vibrant but careful not to overload the reader with too much information or too many images. Impressive!

This book follows the same layout format for every page until we reach the last two pages after the letter Z. The final page to the left lists the Art Credits and the final page on the right concludes those details. The last two pages of this book are the same gorgeous shade of teal that restores a sense of calm to the reader’s mind.

I highly recommend this book to all children within the publisher’s target audience. I believe it provides an immersive experience that is very educational and informative at the same time. I think the content will not only enrich young minds but encourage the youth to ask questions about the Bible and that is a good thing.

Disclosure: Many thanks to Lifeway Christian Resources for providing a sample of the product for this review. Opinions are 100% my own. 

Giveaway: 1 GRAND PRIZE giveaway of the Explorer Bible for Kids + Toddler Theology

Series Bundle (retail value of approx. $149.99)

Qualifications: Giveaway winners must be a resident in the United States of America.

To enter: Entrants must fill out the form on Lifeway's website (there’s no other way to enter) by 06/10/26. Here is the link: Explorer Bible for Kids and Toddler Theology Series Bundle Giveaway | Lifeway

Bundle contents: 2 copies of the Explorer Bible for Kids, 2 Explorer Bible for

Kids Dictionaries, Explorer Bible Stickers, an Explorer Bible T-shirt, and the Toddler

Theology Series set (6 books in set).

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Devotionals for the Heart: Why God wants us to have a grateful heart

Do You Have a Complaining Spirit or A Grateful Heart?
A devotional by Colette Christopher

The rabble with them began to crave other food, and again the Israelites started wailing and said, “If only we had meat to eat! We remember the fish we ate in Egypt at no cost—also the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions and garlic. But now we have lost our appetite; we never see anything but this manna!”—Numbers 11:5-6 (NIV)

The children of Israel often seemed to forget what the Lord did for them after their exodus from slavery in Egypt and journey to the Promised Land.

They experienced mighty miracles from the hand of the Lord, but that did not stop their complaining spirits. We can be like that as well when we face situations that seem daunting and impossible. When the Lord allows hardships in our lives, we seldom stop to reflect on the good things He did for us in the past.

Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines complain as: “to express grief, pain, or discontent”. When we fail to see the good things that God has done and desire something else rather than what He provides, we are expressing our discontent with Him. This suggests that God does not have the best in store for us nor does He often give us the best. And that is certainly not true. When we read the history of the Israelites, we can see how much God loved His chosen people. It was He who was a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. It was He who parted the Red Sea and caused them to walk through dry land. It was the same God who gave them manna from heaven, yet they complained about what they had before, and not about what God was doing for them now. They reflected on the meat they had to eat in Egypt, but not on the harsh treatment they had endured as slaves, from which God had delivered them.

I am the first to admit that I was that person, and at times will lean back into that spirit. I tend to forget what God did for me in the past because my focus is on the current difficulty. This tends to happen when I am in a particularly tough season, praying for and expecting a miracle, but the Lord seems nowhere to be found. Can you identify with this?

We can read about the Israelites and think that we would not have complained, but we would. We just need to look back on past hardships and examine our hearts and see that we have done the same thing. Recently, I was praying to the Lord about a particular matter that I desperately need His help with. Truth be told, it required a miracle that I needed to have faith for, but in that moment, I had none.

My mind went back to a place I left seven years ago, and I started telling myself that maybe if I were still there, what I am experiencing would not be happening. As I engaged with that thought, I felt convicted by the Holy Spirit. Immediately, He reminded me of how God came through for me during those seven years. The multiple miracles, favor, grace, and mercy that He extended, and now, because I am in a hard place, I choose to forget what He has done and to complain against my Heavenly Father.

In that moment, all I could do was ask for His forgiveness. I started to recount the many ways that God showed up for me, and I felt so bad because I knew that it was God alone who kept me, my home, my sanity, and so much more. I chose to sing songs of worship from a grateful heart instead of engaging a heart of complaining. In doing so, my entire atmosphere shifted from one of darkness and gloom to one of brightness and hope. It is a choice that we can choose to make.

I still haven’t received the miracle yet, but I know it’s coming, and I still choose to have a grateful heart. It is important to command our spirits to remember the goodness of God because it doesn’t come naturally to us.

We must choose to give thanks for where we are now because God is right here with us, walking alongside each of us in this journey called life. Don’t choose to look back at only the things that you thought satisfied your cravings and made you happy in the past; look back at what God delivered and saved you from. A right perspective matters. God provides us with everything that we need on this journey. The problem is that it doesn’t always fit in with how we think our life should look.

Today, be encouraged that even in the hardness and the harshness of this life, God will take care of you. You may believe that what you are going through now and the provisions that God is giving you currently are inadequate to meet your needs. But please note that it’s not true.

Look at your life and think about the times you choose to express gratitude to God for what He’s given you instead of complaining to Him about what you do not have. What happens in your spirit when you make either the choice to complain or be grateful? What do you see?

The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines gratitude as: “the state of being grateful; thankfulness”. Today, choose thankfulness because the Bible says in Proverbs 17:22 (NLT), “A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength.”

I choose to be thankful today and every day. What about you?

Let’s Pray:

Heavenly Father,

We acknowledge that You are our God, our Provider, our Source for all that we need. We confess that we have complained against You. Please forgive us for forgetting Your goodness and Your grace. Forgive us for wanting the things of the past and forgetting what You brought us through. Please replace our complaining spirit with a heart of gratefulness. Father, help us when we choose to complain to look towards Your goodness and let praise flow from the inside of us. Lord, I thank you for my friend who is reading this today. Fill his or her heart with joy and remind them that just as You did for the children of Israel, You will do for them too. In Jesus’s name, I pray. Amen.

~*~
Song of Reflection #1: “God I'm Just Grateful” by Elevation Worship & Chandler Moore. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #2: “Thank You” by The Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Colette Christopher is an empowered woman who inspires women to be who they were created to be. Her core message is empowerment. She is an author, certified life coach, podcast host, and trainer with the Maxwell Leadership team. 

Colette believes that an empowered woman empowers others and is powerful in knowing who she is and what she can accomplish. Colette is on a mission to impact the lives of the women assigned to her, whether she is their coach or trainer or shares a word that will transform their lives.

Colette utilizes her Christian principles as the base of all her engagements. She is passionate about fulfilling her life purpose of empowering women to know who they are, rebuild their confidence, and use their voices as tools to uplift themselves and others.

​​She is the founder of the M.E.E. Movement L.L.C., a faith-based empowerment ministry business that helps women of faith rebuild their confidence and use their voice to walk in their purpose through life coaching, mentoring, and empowerment speaking. Colette believes in using the gifts God has given her to help women be who God has called them to be and ultimately fulfill the purpose for which they were created. She lives by Romans 8:28 (NIV), that promises, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."

A native of Jamaica, Colette resides in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. She is the mother of two beautiful young women, a son-in-love, and two grandsons. Colette enjoys reading, writing, watching good movies, and chatting with her daughters and friends.

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Connect with Colette:
Podcast: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2367935
Email: Colettemarieonline@gmail.com

Devotionals for the Heart: How God taught me to be more self-controlled

We All Have Smelly Words Sometimes
A devotional by Patti Schultz, Ed.D.

“Do everything without grumbling or arguing.”

—Philippians 2:14 (NIV)

There is a moment every parent knows. The moment before the words come out — that half-second when what we feel and what we're about to say are standing in the hallway together, and one of them needs to sit back down.

The Apostle Paul’s simple, almost laughably direct command in Philippians 2:14 is aimed right at that hallway: Do everything without grumbling or arguing. Everything. Even the homework battles. Even the spilled milk at 7 o’clock in the morning. Even the teenager who just rolled his eyes so hard you could hear it.

Before words become words, they are thoughts. And thoughts, like guests, need to be checked at the door. Not silenced, just screened. We should silently ask: Is what I'm about to say true? Is it kind? Is it necessary right now? That half-second pause is not weakness; it's the Holy Spirit doing His quiet, faithful work. Grumbling rarely starts loud. It begins as a murmur in the mind, a complaint rehearsed one too many times, until it walks right out the front door of our mouths and settles into the air around our children like a fog they can't quite name but can absolutely feel.

Here is a tender truth: Some of our words simply smell. They carry the odor of exhaustion, of unmet expectations, of fears we haven't handed to God yet. Grace is the deodorant. It doesn't pretend the smell isn't real; it transforms what goes out into the room. Before speaking to my child in a hard moment, I've learned to try breathing one honest prayer: Lord, let what comes out of me smell like You. A word laced with grace can correct without crushing. It can redirect without wounding. It can even say "no" in a way that feels like love because it is said from a place of care and compassion that lets the listener know they are loved.

Loving words are a currency we give, receive, and sometimes need to mop up from the floor. We give them when we choose encouragement over criticism, presence over distraction, saying “I'm proud of you” over silence. We receive them when our children speak their own brave truths to us and we resist the urge to defend or dismiss. And we mop them up on the days we get it wrong, which feels like most days for me, because parenting is not a performance. It is a long, imperfect act of love that keeps asking us to offer the same grace we so desperately need ourselves.

On the days I have already made a mess of it, when the words came out wrong and I know it, I found that going back is less scary than I thought. When I have to go back and mop up a harsh word, I try to do it with my whole self. Look them in the eye and say: “I was wrong, and you deserved better from me.” That is not weakness in front of your child. That is one of the greatest things they will ever see you do.

Philippians 2:14 is not a command to be cheerful at all costs. It is an invitation to carry our burdens without letting them become a burden on everyone around us. Somehow, in the middle of all that carrying, our kids are watching, not for perfection, but for what we do when we fall short. May they see in us someone who pauses in the hallway between what we feel and what we say…and chooses grace.

Let’s Pray:

Lord, set a gentle guard at my lips today. When I am tired and the words want to tumble out without kindness, slow me down. Let my thoughts pass through You before they reach my children. Where I have already spoken harm, give me the courage to go back and make it right. And in all the giving, receiving, and mopping up, let my children see not a perfect parent, but a loved and learning one. In Jesus’s name I pray. Amen.

~*~
Song of Reflection #1: “Speak Life” by Toby Mac. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #2: “Words” by Hawk Nelson. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #3: “Slow Down” by Nichole Nordeman. Listen to it here.

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Author Bio:

Dr. Patti Schultz’s inspiring journey weaves a tapestry of compassion, resilience, and divine hope. 

Formerly a public school principal, professor, teacher, and interpreter for the deaf, she now dedicates her life to a heartfelt ministry rooted in her personal experiences.

As a mother to three miracle boys here on Earth and a member of a heavenly soccer team, Patti’s story is one of unwavering faith and profound love. Her decade-long battle with infertility and recurrent loss fuels her deep compassion for grieving mothers, guiding them toward healing through the comforting embrace of Jesus Christ’s garment.

Patti’s gentle wisdom offers a safe haven for women navigating pain, reminding them they are never alone. Through her ministry, she seeks to envelop grieving mothers in divine comfort, encouraging hope, renewal, and the reassurance that God's love is always near, wrapping them in His compassionate hem as they walk the path to healing.

Living in northern Michigan, she cherishes precious moments with family and community, drawing strength from faith and connection.

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Connect with Patti:
Website: pattischultz.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.pattischultz/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Dr.Patti.Schultz
Email: dr.patti.schultz@gmail.com

Devotionals for the Heart: When God uses struggles to strengthen you

The Necessary Struggle
A devotional by Heidi Lewis-Ivey

“But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.”

—1 Peter 5:10 (KJV)

Nobody tells you that growth feels like breaking.

I know this because I had to eulogize my aunt, my hero, the cornerstone of my family, while I was still figuring out how to breathe without her. I stood up and found words for everyone else’s grief while mine was still raw, still unprocessed, still too big to name.

They show you the before and after, the transformation, the glow-up, the redemption and skip over the part where you were on the bathroom floor at 2:00 in the morning wondering if you will ever feel like yourself again. They skip the months when you couldn’t tell if you were healing or just getting better at pretending. I’ve been thinking about that gap a lot. The space between who you were and who you’re becoming. Nobody warns you how long you live in that space. How uncomfortable it is to exist in the middle of your own story, without knowing how it ends.

Here’s what I’ve come to believe: The struggle isn’t a detour. It is the road.

We’ve been sold this idea that difficulty is a sign something has gone wrong. That if you’re suffering, you must have made a wrong turn or picked the wrong career, the wrong relationship, the wrong path. So, we spend enormous energy trying to outrun the hard parts, or numb them, or at least make them look more bearable on the outside.

But what if the friction is the point?

Muscles don’t grow without resistance. A person doesn’t either. Not real growth, not the kind that changes how you see yourself, how you move through the world, what you’re willing to tolerate and what you’re not. That kind of change requires pressure. It requires uncomfortable confrontation with your own limits.

The struggle isn’t proof you’re failing. It’s often proof you’re in the middle of something that matters. I’m not romanticizing suffering. Let me be clear about that.

There is suffering that serves nothing and grinds you down without teaching you anything, that you should walk away from if you can. Not all pain is meaningful. Not all hard things are worth enduring. Some struggles are just bad situations you need to exit. But there’s another kind. The kind that comes from choosing something difficult on purpose and starting over, telling the truth, walking away from what felt safe, asking for help when your whole identity was built around not needing it. That struggle is different. That struggle has direction to it.

The question I’ve learned to ask myself is: Is this hard because I’m growing, or hard because I’m ignoring something? The answer changes everything about what to do next. The hardest part of my own necessary struggles hasn’t been the struggle itself. It’s been resisting the urge to rush through it.

We want resolution. We want to arrive. We want to be the person who has already figured it out, not the person still in the middle of figuring it out. So, we skip steps. We declare ourselves healed before we are. We perform the after before we’ve lived through the during.

And then we wonder why the same patterns keep showing up. There’s no shortcut through the necessary struggles. You have to let them take the time they take. You have to sit in the discomfort long enough to learn what it’s trying to teach you.

That’s the part no one wants to hear. But it’s the only part that’s true.

There’s a promise in 1 Peter 5:10 that I keep coming back to. It says, “after you have suffered a while, God himself will make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.”

Four words. Four distinct things. And I don’t think they’re accidental. Let’s examine each word:

Perfect means not flawless, but complete. Whole in ways you weren’t before. The broken places filled in.

Stablish means established. Rooted. Fixed to something that holds even when the ground moves.

Strengthen means not just surviving, but capable. Able to carry what you couldn’t carry before.

Settle means that deep, quiet thing. The internal stillness that does not depend on your circumstances being calm.

Notice what all four of these words have in common: None of them are possible without the suffering that precedes them. You can’t be settled without having first been shaken. You can’t be strengthened without having first been stretched. The struggle isn’t the enemy of the outcome; it’s the condition for it.

If you’re in the midst of something hard right now that you chose or that chose you, I want you to know something: The fact that it’s hard doesn’t mean you’re doing it wrong. The fact that you’re not okay yet doesn’t mean you won’t be. The fact that you can’t see the other side doesn’t mean there isn’t one.

Remember, God promises to restore you “after you have suffered a while”. Not forever. A while. There is a duration to this, even when it doesn’t feel like it. And on the other side of it not despite the suffering but through it you will be more complete, more rooted, more capable, more settled than you have ever been.

Some of the most important becoming of your life is happening in the moments that feel the least like progress. Keep going. Not because it will get easier immediately. But because you are, right now, being built into something stronger than what you were whether it feels like it or not.

The struggle is necessary. So are you.

Let’s Pray:

Lord,

I come on behalf of everyone reading this who is in the middle of something hard—the ones holding it together on the outside while quietly falling apart within. The ones who have cried in the car, in the shower, in the silence of 3:00 in the morning when the rest of the world is asleep. The ones who are grieving for what they lost, what they never had, or who they used to be.

Meet them here. Not on the other side of this, but here. In the thick of it. In the mess and the confusion and the exhaustion of a struggle that has gone on longer than they thought they could bear.

Remind them that You are not absent from their pain. That You are not waiting for them to get it together before You show up. That You are close to the brokenhearted—not close to the healed, not close to the finished, but close to the broken, right now, exactly as they are.

And Lord, let Your promise in 1 Peter 5:10 be real to them today—that this suffering has a while on it. That is not permanent. That on the other side of this, You will make them perfect, stablish, strengthen, and settle them in ways they cannot yet imagine.

Do what only You can do in what they are walking through. Make them whole where they are broken. Root them where they have been shaken. Strengthen them where they have been emptied. Settle them where there has only been chaos.

And until that day, give them just enough grace for today. Just enough strength for this moment. Just enough hope to keep going. They are not forgotten. They are not forsaken. They are being formed.

In Jesus’s name I pray. Amen.

~*~
Song of Reflection #1: “Wait on You” by Elevation Worship & Maverick City. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #2: “Open My Heart” by Yolanda Adams. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #3: “I Won’t Complain” by Le'Andria Johnson. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #4: “God Restores” by Dynamic Praise. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #5: “Meet Me There” by Lydia Laird. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #6: “Eye of the Storm” by Ryan Stevenson (feat. GabeReal). Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #7: “Jesus Walks with Me” by Be Still Studios. Listen to it here.

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Author Bio:

Heidi Lewis-Ivey is an affirmed prophet and an internationally acclaimed speaker. 

She impacts audiences with her authenticity and bold style of delivery. She has had the opportunity to minister in Trinidad, St. Thomas USVI, Manchester and Liverpool (England).

Heidi is an award-winning and bestselling author. She is the author of Can I Rest Awhile? and Black Girl Cry: What Black Women Need to Know to Amplify Their Voices. She is a co-author in Soulful Prayers (Volume 1 and Volume 2) and Soulful Affirmations. Heidi is the convener of the Encountering the Courts of God movement and the founder of Visions International, a training ground for five-fold ministry gifts.

She holds a Master of Business Administration in Organizational Leadership from Norwich University and a Bachelor of Science in Management from Boston University. Heidi is the CEO of Nael & Associates Inc and franchise owner of Patrice & Associates recruiting firm. She is a member of the Pentimenti Women Writers Group, a former mentor with Year Up, former board member for Friends of Young Achievers, and a Diversity Equity and Inclusion Strategist.

Heidi is the proud aunt/great aunt of 14 nieces and nephews and two bonus nieces. They are her joy. The older nephews have become her protectors.

Heidi is an NFL football fan. As a child, she taught herself the game. In 2017 she won her NFL.com fantasy football league. Heidi is an avid reader (Audible listener) of romance novels, a lover of purses and handbags, and a tea snob who believes bling is always appropriate.

She lives in Boston, MA.

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Connect with Heidi:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamheidi01
LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/heidi-lewis-ivey