Faithful Writers

Let me guess — you used to get excited about worship, but now the songs feel repetitive. Prayer used to feel meaningful, but now it’s just talking to the ceiling. Bible reading used to inspire you, but now it’s just words on a page. And somewhere in your head, a voice is whispering: “Real Christians don’t feel this way. You must be doing something wrong. God must be disappointed in you.” That voice is lying to you. The Lie That’s Destroying Christian Confidence Here’s the lie that’s been undermining believers for generations: “If you can’t feel God, you’re spiritually failing.” We’ve been conditioned to believe that authentic faith should always feel emotional, passionate, and spiritually “high.” When the feelings fade, we assume our faith is fading too. Churches accidentally reinforce this by celebrating the emotional testimonies. The person who “felt God’s presence” during worship. The one who “heard God’s voice clearly” during prayer. The believer who “gets excited every time they read Scripture.” Meanwhile, you’re sitting there wondering what’s wrong with you because church feels like going through the motions. But emotional connection and spiritual reality are two completely different things. What Spiritual Dryness Actually Indicates Spiritual dryness isn’t evidence of God’s displeasure. It’s often evidence of spiritual maturation. Think about human relationships. When you first start dating someone, everything feels electric. Your heart races when they text. You analyze every conversation. You feel butterflies constantly. But what happens in healthy long-term relationships? The constant emotional intensity fades. You stop getting butterflies every time you see them. Conversations become more practical and less emotionally charged. Does this mean the relationship is dying? Or does it mean the relationship is maturing from infatuation into something deeper? The same principle applies to your relationship with God. New believers often experience what theologians call “honeymoon faith” — everything feels fresh, emotional, and spiritually intense. But as faith matures, it transitions from feeling-dependent to trust-dependent. Spiritual dryness often signals that God is inviting you to love Him for who He is, not just for how He makes you feel. Biblical Evidence for Dry-Season Spirituality If emotional connection were required for authentic faith, most Biblical heroes would be disqualified. David wrote more psalms about feeling spiritually dry than spiritually high. “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” isn’t exactly a feeling-based worship song. Job experienced months of spiritual dryness while remaining faithful. He couldn’t feel God’s presence, couldn’t understand God’s plan, couldn’t see any evidence of God’s goodness. Yet God called him blameless. Jesus experienced the ultimate spiritual dryness on the cross when He cried out about being forsaken. If the Son of God could experience spiritual disconnection without it being sin, you can too. Mother Teresa famously experienced decades of spiritual dryness while serving the poorest of the poor. Her private letters revealed that she often felt nothing during prayer and questioned God’s presence. Yet she continued serving faithfully. The pattern is clear: spiritual maturity often involves learning to trust God’s character when you can’t feel His presence. Why God Allows (and Even Orchestrates) Dry Seasons God doesn’t allow spiritual dryness because He’s absent. He allows it because He’s preparing something in you that can only develop in the desert. Dryness reveals what you’re actually worshiping. When the emotional highs fade, you discover whether you’re truly devoted to God or just addicted to spiritual feelings. Many people think they’re worshiping God when they’re actually worshiping the experience of worshiping God. Dryness develops spiritual discipline. When prayer feels good, it’s easy. When prayer feels empty, it requires character. Spiritual dryness forces you to choose obedience over feelings, which is exactly what mature faith looks like. Dryness deepens your understanding of grace. When you can’t “feel” spiritual, you’re forced to rely on what God says about you rather than what you feel about yourself. This is where grace stops being a concept and becomes a lifeline. Dryness prepares you to help others. The believers who can guide others through spiritual struggles are usually those who’ve walked through their own. Your dry season isn’t just about your spiritual development — it’s about preparing you to mentor others through theirs. The Difference Between Spiritual Dryness and Spiritual Apathy Not all spiritual disconnection is healthy maturation. There’s a difference between holy dryness and spiritual apathy. Spiritual dryness says: “I can’t feel God, but I choose to trust Him anyway.” Spiritual apathy says, “I can’t feel God, so I’m going to stop trying.” Spiritual dryness continues spiritual disciplines despite a lack of feeling. Spiritual apathy abandons spiritual disciplines because of a lack of feeling. Spiritual dryness seeks God in new ways. Spiritual apathy stops seeking God altogether. Spiritual dryness asks, “What is God teaching me through this?” Spiritual apathy asks, “What is God teaching me through this?” The key difference is heart posture. Dryness with surrender leads to deeper faith. Dryness with rebellion leads away from faith. How to Navigate Spiritual Dryness Wisely 1. Normalize the experience. Stop treating spiritual dryness like a spiritual emergency. Recognize it as a normal part of the faith journey that most mature believers experience multiple times. 2. Separate feelings from facts. Your feelings about God don’t determine God’s feelings about you. When you can’t feel His love, remind yourself of what He’s said about His love. Scripture doesn’t change based on your emotions. 3. Maintain spiritual disciplines without demanding emotional payoff. Continue praying, reading Scripture, and attending church — not because it feels good, but because these are the means God uses to shape you. Obedience isn’t dependent on inspiration. 4. Look for God in new places. Maybe He’s not speaking through your usual channels because He wants to expand your spiritual vocabulary. Try new forms of prayer, different Bible translations, worship through service, or find God in nature. 5. Serve others during your dry season. Often, the best cure for spiritual dryness is getting your focus off your own spiritual state and onto serving others. God frequently reveals Himself through acts of love more than acts of worship. 6. Get spiritual direction. Find a mature believer who’s walked through their own dry seasons and can help you discern what God might be doing. Sometimes an outside perspective can help you recognize God’s work that you’re too close to see. Your Spiritual Dryness Might Be God’s Invitation What if your spiritual dryness isn’t evidence that something is wrong with your faith, but evidence that something is right with your spiritual development? What if God is inviting you to discover that His love for you doesn’t depend on your ability to feel it? What if He’s teaching you to trust His character when you can’t sense His presence? What if He’s developing the kind of mature faith that can encourage others when they go through their own desert seasons? Your spiritual dryness isn’t disqualifying you from God’s love. It might be qualifying you for deeper ministry. Some of the most effective spiritual directors, counselors, and pastors are people who learned to find God in the desert. Their dry seasons became the source of their ability to guide others through spiritual wilderness. So stop apologizing for your spiritual dryness. Stop trying to manufacture feelings you don’t have. Stop comparing your internal spiritual state to other people’s external spiritual performances. Instead, ask God what He wants to teach you in this season. Ask Him to show you new ways to connect with Him. Ask Him to use this experience to prepare you for whatever He has next. Your spiritual dry season might just be the most spiritually productive season of your life. You just won’t feel it while it’s happening. What’s been your experience with spiritual dryness? Have you found ways to connect with God that don’t depend on emotional feelings? PS. If you want to dive deeper into the neuroscience behind why our brains confuse emotional connection with spiritual reality — and practical frameworks for navigating dry seasons — I explored that in detail here. © Ashneil

Photo by Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash When life wounds you, it is easy to grow cold and guarded. Here is how to let God heal your heart so you can keep loving, forgiving, and shining with gentleness in a hard world. The Hardening Happens Slowly I have learned that nobody wakes up hardened. It happens little by little through disappointments, betrayals, and moments when kindness is met with mockery. You give your best, and it still gets misunderstood. You forgive, and it feels like it did not matter. You start building walls for protection, but before long, those walls become prisons. There was a time I thought withdrawing was wisdom. That being unbothered meant I was strong. But it was not strength, it was deep weariness. I had started believing that being gentle made me vulnerable. Yet deep down, I missed the version of me that still cared freely, that still believed the best in people. The Strength in Staying Tender God never called us to survive by becoming hard; He called us to overcome by staying loving. Jesus moved through rejection, betrayal, and misunderstanding, yet His heart never calcified. He wept, forgave, and loved people who would never love Him back. I am learning that softness is not weakness, but spiritual strength. It takes courage to keep your heart pure in a world that rewards coldness. Proverbs 4 verse 23 says, “Guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” Guarding it does not mean closing it; it means keeping it clean, keeping it tender enough for God to still move through it. Grace for the Gentle When life tries to harden you, grace comes to soften you again. God restores what pain tries to steal: your compassion, your empathy, your willingness to see good, but it takes surrender. I had to admit that pretending I was fine was only making me colder. Healing began when I started bringing my heart back to the One who made it. Ask Him to make you tender again. To remind you how to feel, how to forgive, how to care without fear. Because grace does not just forgive our sins, it softens our souls. Stay Soft Anyway There will always be people who take advantage of your kindness. There will always be moments when love feels like loss, but stay soft anyway. Because hardness may protect you, but it also isolates you. God does His deepest work through open hearts. Keep choosing compassion over cynicism. Keep choosing forgiveness over resentment, and don’t stop choosing light over self-defense. That is how I am learning to stay soft in a hard world:  by remembering that love is not naive, it is divine. © Favour

Photo by Cristina Zaragoza on Unsplash Somewhere in the world, someone has their hand on a Bible at the ideal angle, thoughtfully-placed coffee cup next to them, sunlight casting light on the page as if God Himself directed the sunrise. Caption: #QuietTime #Blessed. If I’m being honest, we’ve all had that urge to share our faith on the internet. Not only live it, but produce it. Because if no one is seeing your prayer journal, did you even pray? The Performance Problem Faith is now content, thanks to social media. We curate holiness with the same energy people use for skincare routines. Bible studies look more like brand launches. Even testimonies get edited for pacing and background music. It’s as if God’s approval isn’t enough; we want the algorithm’s too. I once saw someone pause mid-prayer to check if their phone was recording. And I thought, maybe the Holy Spirit couldn’t descend until the lighting was fixed. But here’s the thing: the sacred has never depended on a camera. The Sermon on the Mount wasn’t live-streamed. Moses didn’t pause at the Red Sea for a group selfie. And last I checked, the psalms don’t end with “smash that like button.” Faith Without Filters Some prayers are whispered through tears. Some days, belief feels as shaky as your Wi-Fi signal. The quiet, hidden, unfiltered parts of faith are often the most real. God doesn’t need a hashtag. God needs you: tired, hopeful, doubting, grateful, human. The divine isn’t scrolling for proof of your devotion. The divine is already present when you show up, unseen. The Invitation So maybe holiness looks less like polished devotion and more like holding space for your kids’ questions, for your students’ wonder, for your own imperfect humanity. Faith that doesn’t need the feed is faith that frees you. No ring light required. Because the truth is, God doesn’t need your TikTok testimony. He’s not waiting on a trending baptism tutorial. He’s been showing up in whispers, in silences, and in the small, ordinary moments long before hashtags existed. And honestly, if you’re worried about going viral, remember this: the Gospel already did. © T he Blooming Educator

Nope, and the Book of Psalms proves it. I'll show you. A common argument I see for validating 1 Enoch is from Matthew 5:5 when Jesus says, “Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.” Then in 1 Enoch 5:7, it reads, “But for the chosen, there will be light, joy, and peace, and they shall inherit the earth.” I’ll admit, this could be quite the convincing “evidence.” Except for this. Psalms 37:11 “ But the meek shall inherit the land, And shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.” The Psalms were written before the Books of Enoch, it took about 1000 years but they were all still written before Jesus was born. Blue Letter Bible goes even further in giving an estimate for each section of Psalms and the probable timeline it was written in, with Psalms 37 being written during Babylonian Captivity. 539 B.C. Some of my favorite personal qualms I consider when evaluating the authority of the Books of Enoch are: We know they were written during the Intertestamental period and after. Numerous scriptural contradictions. (Some sources to check out: 1, 2, 3 , and 4 , ) This one I know may get some kickback on but…….Jesus and the apostles never validated any of the subject matter the Books of Enoch talk about. I say that because Enoch paints a very different, odd, and bizarre narrative. The books of Enoch are titled as such because they all are attributed to Enoch. This is called pseudepigrapha . It was not uncommon to do this to noteworthy or interesting people in the Bible. Enoch was quite noteworthy, he walked with God and God took him. (I don’t however think God took him to heaven, I know. Not a popular belief.) Genesis 5:22–24 and Hebrews 11:5 So who quoted who first? — Psalms came first. — Jesus quoted Psalms. — Enoch quoted Psalms. That is undeniable, and historically and scholarly proven. What about the book of Jude quoting Enoch. Jude 14 is often also used to bolster the claim that the Bible validates Enoch as inspired scripture. “Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about them: “See, the Lord is coming with thousands upon thousands of his holy ones” Let us look at a part of this verse a little closer. Biblehub.com First, Jude specifically said the name of Enoch, not the Book of Enoch , he never said he was quoting a phrase from an authoritative source. Using an outside source (no matter the source) does not make it an authoritative work or statement. Jesus quoted Caesar, but that didn’t make Caesars words authoritative. Second, Jude was fighting back against people who had renounced Christianity (the apostates), people who were using 1 Enoch. Jude was making a rather sassy and clever point by using the religious material that was familiar to them. That judgment would come to the ungodly and all false teachers. By using this to make his point, he was able to engage the Apostates directly and more effectively. I recommend reading the article “ Why Does the New Testament Cite Extrabiblical Sources? ” It is very informative on the topic of Jude and extra Biblical sources and talks about Paul doing the same thing as well. The issue now. Instead of this being about the Apostates and the point he was getting across to them, it has turned into him “validating” 1 Enoch as being somehow authoritative scripture. Again, Jude never stated it was authoritative, all the Books of Enoch invalidated themselves as authoritative all on their own, and if people want to go that far then they might as well go after Jesus and Paul too. No one denies that books exist, and no one denies that there is some truth contained in them, but that does not make them authoritative or inspired. The Books of Enoch were written by people who wanted to believe certain things because they didn’t like what they were hearing. “Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish from it, that ye may keep the commandments of Jehovah your God which I command you.” Deut 4:2 “Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them that are causing the divisions and occasions of stumbling, contrary to the doctrine which ye learned: and turn away from them.” Rom16:17 Believe what you will, but ask yourself, why is there a need to put faith in these books that are proven to be unbiblical, inaccurate, and uninspired? © Jane Isley Thank you for taking the time to read, and please consider  supporting my work . Your gift helps keep this work going, blesses others, and means the world to me. You can visit me at Faithful Writers  on Medium, where other Christian writers have joined me in sharing the word of God. You can also find me on   Tumblr  and   Facebook.

I have a spectacular verbal rebrand that is going to confuse a few and probably annoy others when I say this:  1st and 2nd Testament I have made it clear many times that I don’t believe that once the “New” Testament came around, God kicked the “Old” to the curb.  People made that word distinction, not God. Honestly, though, I get the reasoning behind it; it does make sense simply from a distinction standpoint. But come on. You can’t expect people to do something and not figure that satan’s going to find some way to exploit it to his advantage. Out with the old, in with the new should honestly be satan’s motto at this point. Especially with the way people, Christian and non alike, are attacking the Old  Testament. Satan couldn’t have planned anything better if he tried, and he doesn’t have to; all he has to do is sit back and let people — well, be people. Here’s a good question:  Why do  we still call it the Old  Testament anyway? Why label it like it’s some dusty irrelevant relic, a “before” to something better? It’s misleading. It makes people think God suddenly decided to change. And calling the other the New  Testament? That makes it sound separate, shinier, less serious, and like a replacement. Let me point something out: 1st & 2nd Samuel 1st & 2nd Kings 1st & 2nd Chronicles 1st & 2nd Corinthians 1st & 2nd Thessalonians 1st & 2nd Timothy 1st & 2nd Peter 1st, 2nd & 3rd John Couldn’t have any of those  2nd’s  (or that random 3rd) without any of those 1st’s , otherwise that would make for a very odd read.  And no, word counts don’t apply here, and neither do writing styles, message, theme, time period, writer, etc, because the Bible is a very eclectic collection of inspired works, chosen by God, guided by God, and approved by God. It’s so eclectic you wouldn’t win any of those arguments. Here’s a thought: Maybe it’s high time we start calling them the 1st Testament and 2nd Testament.  Not just for kicks — there’s a precedent. We already have 1st and 2nd editions. Nobody is debating those. Everyone understands they’re sequential, chronological, and part of the same ongoing message to us. Nothing about that changes God’s character, story, or His message. Calling them 1st and 2nd Testaments keeps that continuity intact, puts God’s revelation in order, and then slows satan down from twisting things as easily. Because people would stop seeing the Old  Testament (especially the laws he’s trying to tear down) as irrelevant. It also pulls the plug on this whole “selective Christianity” BS. You know, the whole “I only follow the God of love”  nonsense.  That stops being funny when you realize you just tossed half of God aside because it made you uncomfortable. The case for 1st and 2nd: The 1st Testament sets the stage, the 2nd Testament reveals the actor.  The Law is the backdrop, Christ is the spotlight.  The prophets were the previews, Jesus is the feature.  The promises were written in ink, the fulfillment was spilled in blood. You don’t get the Messiah without Moses.  You don’t get the cross without the covenant.  And you definitely don’t get Revelation’s victory without Genesis’s beginning. Consider this with seriousness (at least the concept) because your life very well could depend on how much God you decide to chop out of your opinions. This article is inspired by God our Father and Medium writer, Richoka . © Jane Isley

Bing AI There’s something profoundly moving about the phrase “Abraham, God’s friend.” It’s not just a title, it’s a description of a life deeply intertwined with God’s heart. Abraham didn’t just serve God; he walked with Him. He laughed, questioned, trusted, and followed. And through it all, something beautiful formed, which was friendship . The Friendship Wasn’t One-Sided When we think about knowing God, we often imagine reverence, worship, and obedience, all of which are true and necessary. But Abraham’s story teaches us that friendship with God is not just about doing for Him, it’s about being with Him. “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do?” — Genesis 18:17 God didn’t hide things from Abraham. He said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do?” (Genesis 18:17). That’s what friends do; they share secrets, plans, and burdens. Abraham wasn’t perfect. He doubted, feared, and even made mistakes, but friendship with God isn’t reserved for the flawless; it’s reserved for the faithful. Those who keep showing up, even when they don’t understand everything. The Friendship That Grew From Trust Every friendship deepens through trust, and for Abraham, that trust was repeatedly tested. When God asked him to leave his home without a clear destination, he obeyed. When God promised a son long after it seemed possible, Abraham believed. And when God asked for Isaac, the promise itself. Abraham didn’t hesitate, because by then, he had learned something we often miss, which is the fact then when you know God’s heart, you stop fearing His instructions. It’s easy to serve a God you fear, but it takes intimacy to obey a God you trust. That’s why James 2:23 says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness, and he was called a friend of God.” His belief wasn’t passive; it was active trust. God Still Invites Us The most stunning truth is that the same friendship is still available to us. Jesus said in John 15:15, “I no longer call you servants, I have called you friends.” God doesn’t just want worshipers who admire Him from afar. He desires friends who walk with Him daily who share silence, laughter, questions, and trust. To be God’s friend means to let Him into your ordinary days, not just your holy moments. It’s hearing His whispers in your chaos, and learning that His presence isn’t always loud. Sometimes it’s gentle and near, like a heartbeat beside yours. Friendship with God is that confidence that says, “Even when I don’t know what You’re doing, I know who You are.” And I dare to say that’s what Abraham knew. He knew that knowing God is not about having all the answers. It’s about walking close enough to trust the One who does. © Favour

Photo by Sam Balye on Unsplash People crave validation. They want to be loved, accepted, and affirmed. That’s natural. I get it. And much of the criticism (indeed hate) directed against Christians and churches these days is due to people not being sufficiently loved or (in their minds) accepted or affirmed. In previous articles, I’ve repudiated all churches and church leaders guilty of abuse, toxicity, or callousness. I stand by that. Nevertheless… When it comes to whether a church makes you feel good… Here’s a hard truth… It’s not the role of the church to affirm or validate you. The purpose of the church, at least according to Jesus, is to disciple you. Before we get into what Jesus said, let’s talk common sense here. Religion, by its nature, is…to some extent…exclusive and discriminatory. Now, don’t get all triggered or reactive or bent out of shape. Take a breath and let’s look at this logically. I’m not talking about discriminating against people based on color, race, nationality, or anything like that. To be clear, count me among those who support civil rights for all — including those who don’t subscribe to a religious faith. I repudiate all forms of hate and bigotry. I believe everyone should be treated with dignity and respect. Okay? That said, religion (by its nature) involves beliefs and behaviors. It involves people orienting their lives toward the divine. That means that, while some religions may be more inclusive than others, all religions believe their take on spirituality is superior to any other take that disagrees with or counters their take. This is the case with Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Sikhism, Jainism, New Age Spirituality, and so forth. No offense to those religious faiths not mentioned. All religions have a take or point of view, no matter how broad. When you approach a particular religion, your sense of reality or your take on spirituality might conflict with the majority of adherents of that particular religion. And guess what? That’s okay. If you don’t think it’s okay, then I want to very respectfully say… Get over yourself! It’s not the responsibility of other people or communities (religious or otherwise) to automatically validate your beliefs, choices, or even self-proclaimed identity. The world does NOT revolve around you! If you believe the world and everyone in it should revolve around you, that makes you every bit as problematic and perhaps dangerous as the most extreme religious fundamentalist. Let’s hope we’re clear on that. If not, go back and re-read this article up until this point until you are clear. Okay? Now…let’s get back to Jesus… Following Jesus’ resurrection and before His ascension, Jesus said these words to His disciples… And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen. (Matthew 28:18–20, KJV) According to the King James rendering of Jesus’ “Great Commission,” Jesus said His disciples are to teach “all nations” (that’s all people groups) about Himself (that’s evangelism), then (when they accept), baptize them, and then…teach those who have accepted Christ and been baptized to “observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you.” In other words, teach them what He (Jesus) taught the disciples. That’s discipleship. In fact, most contemporary English translations make this clear, quoting Jesus as saying to “make disciples” of all the nations (or people groups). The church doesn’t exist to automatically validate you and/or help you self-actualize (to use Maslow’s term). It exists to make disciples of Jesus. Does that mean you should be required to join a church and be “discipled”? Absolutely not! Like I’ve said numerous times…I believe in religious freedom. No one should be forced to join a church. And no government should impose religious orthodoxy on its citizens. But if you’re going to voluntarily unite with a Christian church, don’t complain when that church disagrees with you or encourages you to follow Jesus instead of your own heart or wishes. Such a church may make you uncomfortable, but it’s doing its job. © Brian Tubbs First Published in Faith Renewed on Medium Thank you for reading! ✍️ You can follow me on Medium for more📖 Check out my latest book: Thou Shalt Not Kill: The Ancient Commandment We Dare Not Break

ChatGPT There is a common stereotype that the Bible does not represent women enough, and it barely has any women in it to start with. I once believed this before I followed Jesus, and as I began to read Scripture, I realized it was a complete lie. There are so many powerful stories of women in the Bible, and all of them bring me joy as I read them. Knowing that these women endured in faithfulness during the toughest parts of their lives is a wake-up call to all women that God loves and cherishes us as His own daughters. We are important and worthy to Him. Below, I will share a couple of women from the Bible and the lessons we can learn from them. There are many more that can be covered, so look out for a part 2! Ruth: Ruth is one of the two women in the Bible who has a book named after her. I know that number can seem disappointing to many, but let us not be discouraged by that. In the discourse of things, we know that women are still represented in the Bible, no matter what. If you haven’t read the book, I encourage you to read it. Ruth, a recent widow, leaves everything behind and follows her mother-in-law, Naomi, to Bethlehem after her husband dies. Initially, Naomi refuses to let Ruth follow her, but Ruth responds with the following words: “Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you live, I will live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God” (Ruth 1:16–17). How moving is that? After suffering a terrible loss, Ruth refuses to leave her mother-in-law behind, showing her complete loyalty. As Ruth and Naomi settle into Bethlehem, Ruth works in a field to provide for herself and her mother-in-law. Through this loyalty, she earns the respect of a man named Boaz, who turns out to be a distant relative of Naomi. Boaz recognizes her incredible devotion and says, “May the Lord reward you for what you have done. May you have a full reward from the Lord God of Israel, to whom you have come for protection” (Ruth 2:12). Despite her circumstances, Ruth puts her best foot forward. Through this, she captures the attention of a godly man and receives God’s blessings. Eventually, Ruth and Boaz get married, and they have a child named Obed. Obed becomes the Grandfather of David, who is an ancestor to Jesus Himself. Through Ruth’s devotion to the Lord, she was blessed with an equally devoted husband and, many years later, an even more devoted relative. Ruth shows us how pure devotion to the Lord leads to new doors being opened, allowing us to bask in His light. You never know what might happen if you stop following the world and start following Jesus. Deborah: During the chaotic times of the Judges, a prophetess named Deborah served as a judge for the Israelites (Judges 4:4). Deborah would sit under a palm tree, and the people of Israel would listen to her decisions. One day, a military leader named Barak was sent by her, and she told him that he would have victory if he defeated their oppressors. Barak responded with, “I will go if you go with me, but if you don’t go with me, I won’t go either” (Judges 4:8). The amount of faith he had in God was clear, as he completely trusted Deborah’s prophecy. Deborah agreed to his inquiry and fiercely responded with, “All right, I will go with you, but you won’t get any credit for the victory, because the Lord will hand Sisera (Canaanite military commander) over to a woman” (Judges 4:9). (She wasn’t talking about herself; Sisera was killed by another woman named Jael). Afterward, Barak agreed to her command with no hesitation and defeated Sisera’s army. In a time of struggle, Deborah was like a mother to Israel, consulting with and leading its people. She was a beacon of light in the dark time of Judges, sent by God to rescue Israel from oppression. Even though the Israelites had sinned, God still loved His children and welcomed them back to Him through Deborah. Deborah sets an example for women to follow their gifts that the Lord has blessed them with. Deborah was gifted with prophecy, and each of us also has a spiritual gift. It is our job to use it with authority, complete loyalty, and gentleness as she did. The Woman Who Touched Jesus’ Cloak: While unnamed in the Bible, this woman has a powerful impact on Jesus and His ministry. This woman had suffered from severe bleeding for twelve years, which made her ritually unclean and seen as a burden. Can you imagine that? How terrible and painful would that be, along with the judgmental stares of passersby as you deal with your condition? I can’t even imagine the pain that she went through for twelve years! However, through all her pain, this woman still had faith. She had heard about Jesus beforehand and all of the miracles he was performing. Because of this, she believed that He could also heal her. When Jesus was passing nearby to heal a Jewish official’s daughter, she reached out and touched his cloak. “If only I touch his cloak, I will get well” (Matthew 9:21). This woman had such great faith that she believed a single touch of his clothing would heal her. She didn’t even need to speak to Him or see His face; all she needed to do was grab a piece of his cloak. Jesus turned around to her and said, “Courage, my daughter! Your faith has made you well” (Matthew 9:22). At that moment, she was healed of her condition. Her immense faith in Jesus allowed her to be healed, and it also set an example for the citizens surrounding the scene. It can also set an example for sisters in Christ that we must hold firm in our faith and endure. We are His daughters. He has made a place for each of us in Heaven. Therefore, we must trust in Him. Although I only wrote about three of the women in the Bible, there are many more honorable mentions. Esther, the woman at the well, Joanna, Leah, Rachel, Sarah, Jael, Mary Magdalene, Mary, mother of Jesus, Mary, sister of Lazarus (many Marys!), Martha, Rhoda, etc. I could keep going, but I hope you learned something from this article and that it changed your stereotypes about women in the Bible. The enemy loves to make up lies that women aren’t important in Christianity, but they certainly are. Simply reading Scripture itself proves him to be dead wrong. Comment below on a woman of the Bible that you are inspired by and why! I am curious to hear from each of you! © Sienna Krieg

Maybe you thought faith would fix you, that once you found God, all the cracks in your soul would close, the loneliness would fade, and peace would come easily. You believed that saying yes to Him meant your heart would finally stop aching. But maybe that hasn’t happened. Some mornings, the heaviness still lingers. The prayers feel forced. The peace feels far. You look in the mirror and wonder why healing still feels unfinished. And sometimes that guilt creeps in, because how can you believe in a God who restores, yet still feel undone? The Shame of Still Hurting You’re not alone in that thought. Many people quietly believe that feeling broken means their faith isn’t strong enough. So they try to pray it away, worship it away, or hide it behind smiles and verses. But hiding pain never makes it holy; it only buries it under the weight of shame. Then, somewhere in Scripture, there’s this gentle reminder: “A bruised reed He will not break, and a smoldering wick He will not snuff out.” – Isaiah 42:3 Also, meditate on this: “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” — Psalm 34:18 Let that sink in. God doesn’t throw away what’s bruised; He breathes on what’s barely burning. The God Who Sits With the Broken He’s not waiting for you to be whole before He holds you. He doesn’t turn away from the weak or ashamed. He draws near to the ones barely standing, the ones who whisper prayers between tears. Faith was never about pretending strength. It’s about showing up, trembling but trusting, and believing that He’s still enough. Even when life feels scattered in pieces, He sits right there among them, ever patient, present, and gentle. You’re Broken, But Not Abandoned Feeling broken doesn’t mean your faith has failed. It simply means you’re human, still being shaped, still being loved in process. Maybe that’s where true faith lives: in the raw, unpolished places where grace finally gets to breathe. So stop asking God to erase the cracks, ask Him to fill them with light instead, because every scar you’ve tried to hide can become a space where His love shines through. It’s a quiet proof that healing isn’t about perfection but about presence. And even when you still feel broken, you’re not forgotten. You’re being remade — slowly, softly, and honestly by the One who never stopped calling you His. A Little Note For You This piece is the beginning of a small series I’m creating for anyone who believes but still battles the ache inside. Each continuation will touch another layer of what it means to heal while believing: the waiting involved, the weariness, and also the hope that still rises. If your heart needs space to heal in faith, stay with me. We’ll walk through this, one truth at a time. © Favour

Photo by Dev Asangbam on Unsplash I know you’ve asked yourself that question more times than you’ll ever admit. In the mirror, after a loss, when someone overlooked you again, when you gave your all, and it still wasn’t enough. It’s a question that haunts achievers and dreamers alike…”Am I enough?” Enough to be loved? Enough to be chosen? Enough to be celebrated? We dress it up with confidence, drown it out with distractions, or bury it beneath work, but it keeps resurfacing. Every time we scroll through someone else’s highlight reel, success suddenly seems to be slow, and we begin to feel unseen. The harsh reality is that that question isn’t innocent. It’s a thief!! It steals your joy, your peace, and your ability to see your own worth. It makes you chase validation that was never meant to define you. The Silent Standard That’s Draining You Our world constantly measures worth in terms of followers, beauty, and wins. You could have ten compliments and still obsess over the one person who didn’t clap. You could be doing better than you were last year and still feel like you’re losing. Why? Because comparison doesn’t let you rest,  it keeps saying, “Do more, be more, prove more.” But no matter how much you achieve, it will always shift the finish line, and it’s like running on a treadmill that never stops until you’re breathless, empty, and wondering why joy feels so far away. You Were Never Supposed to Earn Enoughness Somewhere along the way, we learned to treat worth like a reward… If I succeed, I’m enough. If they love me back, I’m enough. If everything goes right, I’m enough. But being enough was never something to achieve; it was something to accept. Scripture says: “I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” – Psalm 139:14 You were designed in divine confidence. You are already God’s masterpiece and not a mistake that needs constant fixing, but a creation that’s unfolding beautifully in time. “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus…” – Ephesians 2:10 You don’t need to prove your value to people who only see fragments of your story. Your worth was settled long before anyone had an opinion. You are enough, not because the world says so, but because you were created with intention. Your existence is proof that you were meant to carry light in this world, even if you’re still learning how to shine it. The Moment You Stop Chasing Freedom begins when you stop chasing “enough” and start embracing who you already are. It’s not about pretending everything’s fine; it’s about deciding that your worth isn’t up for debate. You start to walk differently when you stop performing for approval. You start to breathe again when you realize that you’re not behind, you’re becoming. Growth takes time, healing takes time, too, but when we speak of identity? That’s settled. You are already enough. Not a work in progress, trying to qualify, but a soul unfolding into its fullness. A Reminder for Every Time You Forget When the doubt creeps in, remember this: You are not the sum of your likes, your losses, or your lapses. Those don’t do you for a single second You are a story still being written, and so no single moment defines you. You were never meant to be totally perfect; you just need to be present. So today, I need you to stop asking if you’re enough. Start asking if you’re being true. Because when you live from truth, “enough” stops being a question and starts being who you are. If this spoke to you, take a moment today to pause and breathe. You don’t have to earn your worth. You already are enough. Drop a thought in the comments and tell me one truth you’re choosing to believe about yourself again. Take This With You Stop letting the lie of “not enough” run your life. That’s the devil. Stand up and reclaim your voice. You owe it to yourself and to the One who made you to live like you already are what you’ve been chasing. © Favou r