We spend a lot of time trying to be noticed. And for a moment, it feels like it’s working. But it doesn’t last.

Because being noticed isn’t the same as being seen.

We spend a lot of time and energy trying to meet the needs of our hearts. And for a moment, it feels like it’s working. But it doesn’t last. As quickly as they come, they fade, and we find ourselves going back for more.

We tend to think of formation through the lens of big, defining moments. But your life is shaped more by your daily rhythms than your big moments. The question isn’t whether you’re being formed, but what your daily rhythms are forming you into.

The holidays have a way of magnifying everything; both the joy and the tension. When toxic patterns surface, gatherings that should give us life can leave us feeling drained, anxious, or stuck in cycles we don’t know how to break. But there is a better way.

Here’s the truth: Anxiety is not something I ever wanted. Church hurt is not something I prayed for. And yet, over the past 2 years, I’ve learned more than I expected—lessons I wish I could have learned another way, but that I’m oddly grateful for nonetheless.

What happens when church, once your safe place, becomes your trigger? This is my story of unraveling—and slowly healing—in the arms of a God who never lets go.

Shame doesn’t just tell us we did something wrong—it tells us we are something wrong. From Genesis to today, our instinct is to hide. But what if the cross offers more than forgiveness? What if it restores our honor and invites us back into belonging?

I find myself wanting to master spiritual disciplines and healthy rhythms without putting in the work of getting used to the practice of these. And every time this is my mindset, I am greeted with the reality that this is not how Jesus works. In fact, the opposite is true. Following Jesus isn’t a skill to be perfected, but a lifestyle to be practiced.

If we can’t avoid conflict, what are we supposed to do when we are faced with it? Well, according to Jesus, we are supposed to bring about peace in the midst of conflict.

When we think refugee, we probably do not think about the United States, but the refugee crisis is now here in our backyard. Over 30,000 refugees are currently in the US within their 90 days of services, and are suffering this new injustice.