Beauty from the Ashes

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Isaiah 61:3a — “He will give a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair.”

Lately, I have been catching myself holding Lennox just a little longer before putting him down.

His little chest rises and falls against mine, warm and steady, and I think about how this is my first Mother’s Day as a mom. I should be thrilled, and part of me is.

But the truth? It is complicated.

Because Mother’s Day has been hard for years. My own mom isn’t here anymore. And not a year goes by that I don’t wish I could call her, hear her laugh, or ask her how she handled all the mom-things I am just now beginning to understand.

But this year… there’s something new to celebrate

There’s Lennox.

There’s a sweetness to waking up in the night and knowing I get to be his safe place. And there’s my stepdaughter. We have had our rough patches—God knows blending families is not an easy road—but lately, there has been this trust growing between us. It is not perfect, but it is good.

And that is what I am holding on to.

I could stay in the sadness. I could make room only for what’s missing.

But I won’t.

Because I believe God can do something with all of it. The joy. The sting in my heart. The parts I wish were different. He does not waste a single piece.

You see, grief and joy can live side by side, and your pain is not pointless because the Lord can turn broken things and make them beautiful, even now.

So, if you are standing in the middle ground like me—with joy in one hand and sorrow in the other—just know you are not alone. God is still in it. He is still restoring, still healing, and still showing you the beauty you didn’t know was possible.

And this year? I am choosing to see it.

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Faith Is Meant to Move

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“So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.”

James 2:17

As a baby, talking came easily to me, but I was a bit of a late walker. Believe it or not, I did not start until I was around 15 months old.

Crawling worked just fine for me, so I stuck with it. No amount of motivation from my concerned parents could change that.

That was true until one day I yelled, “Juice, mommy, juice!” My mom hurried into the kitchen as my voice echoed throughout the house. When she turned back, she was shocked to see I had stood up and followed her.

Just like that. No warmups or practicing steps. I just got up and moved.

You see, even at that age, I knew what I wanted, and I was not about to wait around. The truth is, there are some things we should wait for, but there are others we should go after.

I have often heard the advice to “wait on God,” but I have come to realize waiting is more about the posture of my heart than simply sitting still. It is about moving forward with hope and expectancy, trusting that God is guiding me.

Scripture tells us, “Faith without works is dead.” So, as a Christian, I do not want to sit passively and wish upon a star anymore. Instead, I want to actively pursue all God has put in my heart.

So now, when God places something on my heart, I don’t want to overthink it. I don’t want to hesitate. I want to step forward in faith, trusting that He will meet me there.

And I wonder—what about you? What is the thing you have been waiting for? The step you know you need to take? Maybe today is the day you stop waiting and start moving.

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Changed By God’s Presence

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1 Peter 1:3 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” 

We always looked good on Easter Sunday. My mom was all about the details—fresh relaxer, a new shade of Estee Lauder lipstick, and those perfect shoes. My dad and brother weren’t so caught up in fashion, but my mom and I? We loved it.

We always made sure to look the part. Easter was about tradition, family, and looking your best for that Sunday service. But deep down, I knew there was more to Easter than just looking good.

Like crawfish by the lake that afternoon. Like the snowball stand just down the road—my favorite part of the day. I could already picture the wooden table, spicy fingers, and the sound of cousins laughing. That was Easter to me. I knew it was about Jesus, but honestly, I looked forward to the after fun.

We pulled into the church parking lot, and I was surprised. There were cars everywhere—lined down the road, packed in the grass. Inside, it was standing room only.

When the service began, it got loud. The orchestra was extra powerful, voices were raised high, and the worship team and choir didn’t hold back. And the preacher? Well, and my pastor? Well, he must have spent extra time with the Lord that day because He walked on stage with a mission.

That morning, my friends and I sat together, but instead of playing MASH on the back of the bulletin, we were all a little quieter. Something about this service felt important. It wasn’t just the music or my pastor’s words, but something deeper. I felt the power of the Holy Spirit.

As the service came to an end, I watched in awe as people moved toward the altar. Some knelt, some lifted their hands in worship, and some just bowed their heads in prayer. There was a sweet presence in that room, and I remember looking around and thinking, This is different.

Sitting later that day, with the sweet taste of snowball syrup still on my lips and crawfish shells piling up by my side, I couldn’t shake it.

Easter wasn’t about the outfits, or the traditions, or the food. It was about what happens when people experience the hope of Jesus.

So this Easter, when you show up, take a look around. The person next to you might not be waiting for a good sermon. They might be waiting for the kind of hope only Easter can bring.

Let’s not miss that. Because Jesus is here, and His presence still changes everything.

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Unburden Your Heart Today

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“Cast your burden on the Lord, and He will sustain you; He will never permit the righteous to be moved.”

Psalm 55:22

I walked through the front door and immediately regretted it.

Our house wasn’t just messy—no, it was chaos. There were baby items everywhere. My normal “clutter” was nothing compared to this, and I was not sure how to handle it.

I took a deep breath and retreated to my bedroom. I should have known better. Half of the room was filled with newborn gear; the other half was a mess of my own making. And my closet? I was almost afraid to open it.

But I did anyway.

Clothes were packed so tightly I could barely move a hanger. Shoes stacked on top of shoes. Things I had not worn in years, just sitting there, taking up space. I stood there, frozen, staring at the mess. Why had I let it get like this again?

And then, I had a thought. Do I even need all of this?

So, I started with my closet. I reached for a dress I had forgotten about, a sweater that never quite fit, and some shoes that were two sizes too small. One by one, I started a “donate” pile.

Then another thought came. Why am I holding on to so much?

And I was not just talking about clothes.

How much have I been carrying that no longer fits where God is taking me? Worries I do not need, expectations that only weigh me down, or frustrations that serve no purpose other than keeping me stuck.

Jesus did not want me to live overwhelmed. He was inviting me to release the things that do not belong—so why was I still clinging to them?

While I worked, I prayed through those thoughts. As the mess faded, so did the heaviness I did not even realize I was carrying.

I do not know what you are carrying today, but I know this—if it is weighing you down, it is not from Him. It is okay to let go. In fact, it may be the only way forward.

What could God do in your life if you made space for Him today?

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Fearless Faith Starts Today

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“Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”

2 Corinthians 9:7

I love a good personality test. Meyers-Briggs, strengths assessments—I will take them all. So, when I took a spiritual gifts test, I was excited to see what it revealed.

And then I saw it. “Lowest score: Giving.”

I actually blinked a few times, convinced I had read it wrong. That couldn’t be right. I was a giver! But as I sat with it, a quiet question surfaced:

“Are you really?”

I give my time. I give my skills. I give my encouragement. But money? That is where I hesitate.

I had all the right excuses. “I’ll give more when I have more.” “I’m being responsible.” “God knows my heart.” But the truth is? I was afraid. I was scared to let go and to not have enough at the end of the day.

Then I thought back to my time in college. I had barely anything to my name, yet somehow, God always provided. I never went hungry, and my needs were met in ways I couldn’t have planned or imagined. So why, years later, was I still acting like I had to hold onto everything so tightly?

Maybe you get it. Maybe it is not money for you—maybe it’s time, love, effort. Maybe you tell yourself you will give when you have more, when it is easier, or when life settles down.

But here’s what I’m learning: generosity is not about having more. It is about trusting that God is already enough.

So, I will ask you the same question: Where is fear holding you back from trusting Him today?

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Stay Sharp, Embrace Growth

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“Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.”

Proverbs 27:17

The knife glided cleanly through the onion. Slice. Chop. Repeat. At least something in this house was working the way it should.

I, on the other hand, felt anything but sharp.

Lately, my mind felt sluggish and foggy. Simple conversations took more effort. Work felt harder. Even at church, where I usually felt confident, I found myself struggling. I did not feel as clever or creative as I normally am. I knew it was just part of this postpartum season, but it was frustrating all the same.

My husband Chris walked in the kitchen and asked how I was feeling. So I began to share.

Though I was not speaking well about myself or my current situation, he did not dismiss my feelings. In fact, instead he leaned across the counter and reminded me of what the Word of God says. He continued by making sure I knew how important I am to him and to the Lord.

“Look, I know how you are feeling,” he said gently. “But, Bri, your faith and your words have to match! You are still working to where you want to be.”

Something about his words cut straight through the noise in my head. It was a simple statement loaded with so much truth. I wanted to argue, to explain why I felt justified in my discouragement. But deep down, I knew he was right.

Later, as I picked up the knife again, I thought about what it takes to keep a blade like this sharp. It does not happen by accident. It has to be sharpened, honed, and pressed against something that refines it.

I closed my eyes for a moment. “Thank You, Lord, for a husband who sharpens me every time instead of letting me stay stuck.”

Being sharpened is not always comfortable. It takes truth, challenge, and people willing to say the hard things in love. It is easy to resist sharpening because it requires friction. But dullness is not what we were made for. The people who love us enough to challenge us—those are the ones who help us become who God intends us to be.

Do not push them away. Embrace it, and let God give you the edge to be exactly who He has called you to be.

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God’s Mercy in my Mess

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“But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved.”

Ephesians 2:4-5

Those early postpartum days felt like a blur. My baby Lennox was everything I had dreamed of, but somewhere between sleepless nights and diaper changes my house became, well, a nightmare.

Laundry draped over chairs, dishes filled on the edge of the sink, and the floor? Let’s just say I was not winning any cleaning awards. I hated how my house looked—and how I felt living in it. Truth be told, I could not keep up. I did not have the energy, and that only made me feel worse.

One afternoon, a message lit up my phone: “Hey,” my friend wrote, “we know how overwhelming those early baby days can be. We’d like to gift you a professional house cleaning.”

I stared at my phone, mortified. Let strangers into this mess? But before I could decline, another text followed.

“It’s okay,” she assured me. “This is what friends are for.”

When the cleaning team arrived, I felt like hiding. For three hours, they scrubbed, dusted, and tackled every corner. My husband and I apologized repeatedly, but they just smiled. “This is what we do,” they said. “We’re happy to help.”

This whole experience reminded me of God. How many times had I tried to hide my life’s mess from Him, thinking I needed to fix it first? Yet, every time, He steps into the chaos and does what I cannot.

God is the friend who steps into our chaos and says, “Let Me take care of this.” He doesn’t ask us to fix it first. He doesn’t wait until we are presentable. He meets us right in the middle of our mess and lovingly makes us whole again. It is not because we deserve it. It is because He is rich in mercy.

If you are feeling overwhelmed by your life’s mess today, know this: you do not have to face it alone. God’s love can transform anything. So, let Him in. Let Him show you what grace can do.

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Waiting with Faith

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“For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for His name in serving the saints, as you still do.”

Hebrews 6:10

I had always imagined my life unfolding in a certain way—falling in love, getting married, and becoming a mom. But in my early twenties, none of that was happening. Friends were catching bouquets and posting baby pictures, while I was still buried in textbooks and finishing my degree.

I remember asking the Lord for help in my frustration. He placed it on my heart to serve others in the very areas I was longing for. He encouraged me to start celebrating others even when they were getting what I wanted. I did not love the answer at first, but I knew He was right.

So, I started showing up. I went to baby showers, helped throw engagement parties, and celebrated all the beautiful things happening in other’s lives.

I even remember a Valentine’s Day where two dear friends wanted to surprise their fiancés and needed help pulling off the perfect romantic evening. I volunteered to make their vision a reality.

For hours, I set the table, fluffed pillows, and added every thoughtful touch I could think of. At the end of the night, as I packed up the decorations, I prayed one more time: “Lord, next year, I would love to be loved by someone in the same way.”

That night, God reminded me: faith is not always about getting what we want when we want it. It is about trusting His heart, even when the wait feels endless.

But I have got to brag on God a little bit. Just a year later, there I was, not planning the perfect night, but living it. I found myself sitting at a candle lit dinner across from Chris, the man I had prayed for, who would soon become my husband.

This is what I want you to take away: Faith, at its core, works through love.

So, this Valentine’s Day, can I encourage you? It can be hard to celebrate others when things aren’t happening the way we hoped. But sometimes, delay is simply space for you to grow in love—and that will always prepare you for something even better down the road.

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A Lesson from a Lost Dog

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For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

Galatians 5:14

I had been sitting in my car, scrolling through my phone for meal ideas, when I realized I was not alone. I heard the crunching of grass nearby and looked up to see a pair of brown eyes locked on me.

It was a beautiful pit bull who looked clean, well loved, and well fed. This was clearly someone’s pet. My husband Chris and I had no idea whose dog it was, so I decided to ask around.

Knocking on doors, I met neighbors I had only waved at before. One spoke through a Ring camera, another peeked from behind their curtain, and one chatted warmly while their dog barked in the background.

At the last house, Veronica opened the door in her pajamas, her eyes widening as I explained. “That’s my dog!” she said, laughing. We exchanged a few warm words and even phone numbers before I headed back home.

As I walked back to my house, I could not help but think about how easy it is to live in the same neighborhood and not really know each other. We’re all busy, caught in our own routines, but this dog reminded me of something far more important—it reminded me of what it really means to love your neighbor.

Jesus did not teach us to love only when it is convenient or easy. True love, the kind He calls us to, often looks like slowing down when we would rather rush by. You never know who you may meet and how you could be encouraged with just a conversation. Where can you be a light today? Who might need your kindness, your care, or just your presence?

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Overcoming Fear’s Shadows

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“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”

Psalm 23:4

The sound of hurried footsteps echoed through the yard as my mom sprinted to safety, her heart pounding. She was just a child, convinced someone was right behind her.

Her older brother had planted the idea in her mind, telling her that every time she stepped outside, a stranger was waiting to catch her. It was only much later that she discovered the “person” chasing her was nothing more than her own shadow.

That story has stayed with me, and I reflect on it often whenever fear begins to creep into my life. It paints such a vivid picture of how fear works.

It is easy to feel trapped in those moments, but I have learned something about shadows—they only have power when we let them. When my mom finally stopped running, she realized there was nothing to be afraid of. Similarly, when I have chosen to turn toward the light in my life, I have found peace waiting for me.

Maybe you have been running too, trying to escape something that feels overwhelming. What if you stopped, just for a moment, to see what is really behind you? You might find that the fear holding you back is just a shadow, powerless in the presence of God’s light.

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