Thoughts from Lisa Williams to encourage you today.

God Sees Your Tears

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“Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.”

Psalms 103:2-5

I did not expect waiting to feel like this.

From the time I was very young, I dreamed of being a mom.  I would name my dolls and dream of the day I would hold a baby of my own. When I married at eighteen, my husband and I shared that dream—but we decided to wait a couple of years before starting our family.

But life doesn’t always follow the plans we make, does it?

At twenty, I lost my first pregnancy. The pain was unbearable, but I reassured myself, Next time will be different. Except it wasn’t. Year after year, I didn’t get pregnant again. Instead of searching for answers, I buried my grief in busyness, trying to outrun the pain.

But the ache only grew.

I whispered prayers like “God, I trust You,” while my soul screamed in doubt. I begged Him to move. When He didn’t, I pleaded for Him to at least take away the longing. But He didn’t. Instead, He let me carry it.

And that was the hardest part.

I wrestled with that silence. If He was good, why was He withholding this good thing? If He loved me, why did He feel so distant? I did not have answers, only the daily decision to trust Him even when I could not understand Him.

Then, one day…Wow God!

My son JD was born in 2007, and Jesse followed in 2008. The moment I held them, the years of waiting suddenly made sense. Because I was different. The waiting had shaped me, deepened me, changed me. I wasn’t just a mother—I was a mother who had learned to trust in the silence.

I call my boys tender mercy and loving kindness because that’s what they are. God heard me, and He healed me through their love.

In the same way, if today you are struggling with an aching heart and the sting of silence, please know this: God sees every tear, hears every prayer, and is not indifferent to your pain. Hold on, because your story is still unfolding. God still has so much in store for you.

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Love Heals

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“We love because He first loved us.”

1 John 4:19

Love heals.

For most of my adult life, I dreamed of being a mom. I imagined late-night cuddles, tiny fingers wrapped around mine, and whispered “I love you’s” as I rocked my baby to sleep. In retrospect, I think it was because I wanted someone I could love.

And then, after years and years of infertility, I was blessed with my son, JD. Holding him, feeding him, memorizing every tiny feature—it was everything I had hoped for and more. Finally, I had someone to care for with my whole heart, without fear of rejection.

I soaked up every moment of being his mama. Loving him was the most natural thing in the world. But, one day, when JD was three, something happened I never saw coming.

He climbed into my lap, wrapped his little arms around me, and whispered, “Mommy, I love you so much.”

I froze.

Of course, I had said those words to him a thousand times. But hearing them spoken back? It stopped me in my tracks. Not because I didn’t know he loved me, but because I had never really considered what it would feel like to be loved back.

For years, I focused only on giving, pouring out what I had to offer. But in that simple moment, I understood something important: you cannot give what you haven’t allowed yourself to receive.

And I think that is true for a lot of us.

We give. We care. We pour out, hoping that in the giving, we will somehow be made whole. But love was never meant to be a one-way thing.

You were created to be loved, too.

Not just by family, not just by friends, but by the very One who knit you together. And His love? It is the kind of love that sees you, chooses you, and holds you close—no strings attached.

Love was never meant to be a one-way street.

Let love in. Let Him in.

Because love—real love—doesn’t just heal the people you pour into.

It heals you, too.

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A Life that Shines

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“In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”

Matthew 5:16

Rick never sought the spotlight, but his life shone brightly. His was kind and steady. He listened and cared. To those who knew him, it was clear—his love for God was real.

His friends had always admired that about him. He was made to care for people. That was just who he was.

But just two weeks after graduating from nursing school, Rick’s journey ended. A sudden heart attack took him from this world, leaving everyone in shock. But as they gathered in a packed funeral, they realized his story was not over.

One by one, people shared how Rick had made a difference in their lives. As they spoke, the common thread was undeniable. Rick’s faith had shaped his entire life, and in doing so, it had spread like wildfire, igniting others along the way.

Then, something unexpected happened.

As the pastor finished speaking, fifteen people stood. One by one, they made their way to the front. They hadn’t come just to grieve. They came to surrender their lives to the same God Rick had loved.

His friends sat in stunned silence. They had never seen anything like it. But in that moment, they understood—our lives preach a sermon, whether we realize it or not.

Rick didn’t know this moment would come. He was just faithful. And because of that, fifteen people will spend eternity with the same God he loved.

So today, when you wonder if your kindness, your faith, or your small acts of love even matter—remember Rick. Someone is watching. Someone is listening. And one day, friend, you may find out that the way you lived led someone else straight to Jesus.

Because a life lived for Christ never stops making an impact.

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Experience God’s Constant Love

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“How precious is your steadfast love, O God! The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings.”

Psalm 36:7

I love you, I love you, I hate you.

At lunch with a friend, I was describing the confusing relationship I had with my mom. After sharing several stories of painful moments, my friend calmly said, “That’s called ‘I love you, I love you, I hate you.’”

I’d never heard those words put together like that, but they rang true. My friend unpacked it more as we ate lunch, and I realized she was describing my childhood experience.

Later, as I thought about being loved and also very harsh moments throughout my childhood, I realized my marriage had been the same way. Sincere moments of love and care were followed by dishonesty, meanness, and infidelity. The cycle would repeat over and over. I love you, I love you, I hate you.

The more I thought about this, the sadder I became. One Sunday morning while driving, I began to pour out my heart to God. “Father, it doesn’t seem fair that the two most influential relationships of my life have been ‘I love you, I love you, I hate you’.” I repeated myself to God several times, lamenting the pain and confusion of these very close but very difficult relationships.

Then, very clearly, I heard a caring, warm voice say to me:

“I love you, I love you, I love you.”

Tears poured down my face as I pulled my car over. I couldn’t stop crying for over an hour. I knew it was true. He loves us, unconditionally. Hearing this and knowing it was true, I felt healing begin.

Our earthly relationships don’t always reflect the love of God. His love is constant, unwavering, and true. He isn’t reactionary or punishing. He doesn’t withhold His love. His love is lavish, healing, and unwavering.

If you’ve been hurt by a rejecting, confusing “I love you, I love you, I hate you” experience, I’m so sorry. Please know you have a Heavenly Father who is saying to you today:

I love you.
I love you.
I love you.

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Finding Hope in New Places

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“Casting all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you.”

1 Peter 5:7

Mandy lay awake in the middle of the night, staring at the ceiling. The hum of the fan did little to calm her racing thoughts. Her husband’s job relocation had come suddenly, and though she tried to stay positive, she felt so anxious.

They had only been Christians for a short time, and their church was everything to her. The potlucks, the small groups, the pastor who preached with such sincerity. It was where she learned to read her Bible and pray.

Mandy couldn’t imagine losing that. Would they find another church? What if their faith faded without such a strong community?

The first few weeks in their new town only made her fears feel more real. Mandy and her husband visited churches every Sunday, but nothing felt right. The people were nice, but the connection wasn’t there. By the third week, she was ready to give up.

Then one morning, they walked into a little church tucked between a coffee shop and a pharmacy. Mandy was not expecting much, but as soon as they stepped inside, something felt different.

The greeters’ smiles were genuine, the worship authentic, and the teaching rooted in truth. Within weeks, they joined a small group, and for the first time since the move, Mandy felt a glimmer of peace.

Months later, Mandy looked back on those sleepless nights and smiled. God had known what they needed all along. Through their new church, she and her husband laughed harder, prayed more fervently, and studied Scripture with a hunger she never knew she had.

Friend, if you are struggling to trust God with the unknown, remember Mandy’s story. God provided more than she had dared to hope. He sees your heart and knows your needs, too. He isn’t just good—He is better than you can imagine, and His love will meet you right where you are.

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No Regrets: Embracing God’s Love

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“But He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”

2 Corinthians 12:9

Some people call it love; Nancy called it the “no regrets plan.” For over a decade, she poured herself into caring for her husband as Alzheimer’s slowly took pieces of him away.

When he could no longer walk, she adjusted. When he lost his words, she listened with her heart. Together, they faced every challenge head-on.

There were days she felt utterly spent. Lifting his frail body into his wheelchair felt impossible, and the silence of his absent voice broke her heart. It was in those moments that Nancy experienced grace.

Grace was not an abstract idea; it was the unshakable reality of God’s love holding her together when she could not hold herself up. It was the courage to keep going, the provision of friends who showed up unasked, and the deep peace that met her in her darkest moments.

When her husband passed away, Nancy grieved deeply. Yet, she was able to look back and see how God had carried her. His grace didn’t remove her pain, but it gave her the strength to endure it. Grace, she realized, is God’s active love—a love that steps into the hardest places, gives what we need, and reminds us that we are never alone.

Looking back, Nancy has no regrets. Through tears, she can still say with certainty that God’s grace is enough for every trial. And just as He carried her, He will carry you, even when the road feels impossible. His love is steady, friend, and His presence is near.

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Confidence in God’s Word

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“Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!”

Psalm 27:14

The words were still fresh in her mind, sharp and uninvited. The criticisms from others had cut deep, leaving Maddie feeling vulnerable and second-guessing her decisions.

Instead of letting herself spiral, she reached for her Bible. Without much thought, she flipped it open and landed on Psalm 27.

As she read, the verses seemed to leap off the page: wait for the Lord, be strong, and let your heart take courage. It felt as though God was wrapping her in a warm, steady embrace.

When she closed the Bible, something within her had shifted. The earlier comments were still present, but they had lost their sting. Maddie walked away from that time with God holding her head a little higher, confident that His truth mattered far more than anyone else’s opinion.

That encounter stayed with her because it was not just about feeling better—it was about being anchored in what is true. Life will bring its fair share of noise and hurt, but the peace of God remains unshakable and always near.

Her story makes me wonder how often we allow the voices of others to define us when God is offering something infinitely better. Perhaps this is your chance to pause, seek Him, and let His truth settle deeply in your heart.

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Let Jesus Hold and Heal You

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“The eternal God is your dwelling place, and underneath are the everlasting arms.”

Deuteronomy 33:27a

Lauren Daigle’s song “Hold on to Me” played softly in the background. As it did, the melody pulled me into a memory—the hardest season of my life.

I was in so much pain back then and did not know what to do. One day, someone in a support group suggested, “You should try handing your pain to Jesus.”

Desperate for relief, I decided to give it a try. Later that day when I was alone, I closed my eyes, whispered, “Jesus, take this pain from me,” and waited.

But nothing happened. The pain was still there, unchanged and unbearable.

When I shared my frustration with a friend, She offered a perspective that shifted everything. She said, “You don’t hand Jesus your pain. You let Jesus hold you and heal your pain.”

So, the next time I prayed, I asked, “Jesus, will you hold me?”

In that moment, something remarkable happened. My heart was met with a love so kind, so perfect, and so present that I could not help but weep.

Day after day, I returned to Him with the same simple request: “Hold me.” And every time, His peace came like a river. What surprised me most was how tenderly He met me in the places I had hidden, wounds I thought were beyond healing.

His presence became my refuge—a safe place where I could fall apart and start again. It was not instant or easy, but it was real.

Now, when I hear that song, I am reminded of how steady and healing His love is. If your heart feels shattered, please ask Him to hold you. I pray you will find the peace and healing you have been longing for all along.

 

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A Year of Kindness

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“But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him?”

1 John 3:17

Life can throw some hard punches, can’t it? A friend of 88.7 The Cross shared this story about the year her family’s world turned upside down.

You see, her mom was diagnosed with ALS. It was devastating, but even in the chaos, she had one simple request: she asked her husband to take time off work to care for her. He said yes without flinching.

He did not hesitate. He just did it.

But let’s talk about what that “yes” really means. No job means no paycheck—unless you have a boss like his. His employer, a faith-filled family business owner, decided to keep paying his full salary for a year. Let me say that again: a year.

That kind of generosity feels rare these days. It leaves you humbled and hopeful all at the same time.

So here is the question I keep coming back to: where can you step in and show that kind of kindness for someone else? You might not think you can do much, but trust me—whatever you do, it matters.

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Listening to God’s Voice

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“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.”

Psalms 32:8

She was cruising down the highway, windows cracked, radio humming. On the way back from Texas, her plan was simple: follow the semi-trucks.

This was her favorite trick for long road trips—it kept her pace steady and her brain on autopilot. As she drove, a strange thought popped into her head.

“Get over.”

She squinted at the road ahead. “Why? I’m good here.”

But the thought did not let up. It came again, louder: “Get over.”

“Nope.” She gripped the wheel tighter, muttering, “Not happening.”

But the thought was unrelenting, tapping louder and louder until it practically shouted: “GET OVER!” She sighed dramatically and gave in, flicking her blinker and sliding into the next lane.

Not thirty seconds later, a deafening BANG shattered the calm. Her eyes darted to the rearview mirror. The semi’s tire had exploded, and jagged pieces of rubber were spinning straight toward the spot she had just left.

Her hands trembled as the wave of realization washed over her.

“Thank you, Lord,” she whispered through the tears. That push to move over had saved her.

God’s whispers are not always convenient. Sometimes they interrupt, annoy, or feel like they make no sense. But, friend, trust them. Trust Him. His love sees dangers we cannot, and His guidance always leads us to safety—even when we do not understand why at first.

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