Thoughts from Lisa Williams to encourage you today.

No Regrets: Embracing God’s Love

,

“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.

/by

Confidence in God’s Word

,

“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.

/by

Let Jesus Hold and Heal You

, ,

“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.

 

/by

A Year of Kindness

,

“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.

/by

Listening to God’s Voice

,

“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.

/by

Transforming Tragedy into Love

,

“And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.”

Hebrews 13:16

Have your plans ever turned completely upside down in the best way possible? That is exactly what happened to a youth leader I recently talked to.

It started with a simple announcement in the church bulletin: the first fifty students to sign up could attend a Christian concert for $25 each. But two days later, everything changed with one phone call.

“Hi,” said the woman on the other end, “would it be too much trouble if my husband and I paid for all fifty tickets?”

The youth leader’s jaw hit the floor.

“It’s ok. Breathe.” said the woman.

Then, she shared her heart. She and her husband had lost their son in a car accident, but instead of letting the pain define them, they decided to make something good come out of it. They wanted to invest in the faith of teenagers, to give them opportunities to grow in ways her son would have loved. And with that, she wrote a check for $1,250.

Sometimes, love shows up in the most surprising ways—often through people who have walked through unimaginable pain. It leaves me wondering: what could you do today that might spark hope for someone else?

/by

A Fresh Start

,

“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”

Lamentations 3:22-23

Let me just tell you: when one woman’s family brought her situation to their pastor, no one expected his response.

“This may mean she gets arrested,” he said.

That is not exactly the comforting word you hope to hear, but this turned out to be the moment everything started to change. 

Her family had been in the dark, praying and hoping for some sliver of good news. When the arrest happened, for the first time in forever they knew where to find her. They traveled to the area, checked into a hotel, and on a whim asked the receptionist where to find a good meal.

At the restaurant, a big, bold sign greeted them with a message they desperately needed: “God answers prayers.” 

As her dad spoke with the waitress, a simple question about lawyers led to an amazing series of connections—a lawyer, a minister with a heart for women battling addiction, and the program Teen Challenge that would give her a second chance.  

When the recovery ministry was offered, she wanted to refuse. She believed she deserved punishment not mercy. But when the words came out, they were not “No,” but “Yes.” 

Today, she is miles from where she used to be, living a life filled with purpose as a licensed social worker and a mom. Her family’s prayers were not wasted; they were woven into the tapestry of her redemption.  

So, friend, if you are staring at a hopeless situation, do not let go. Even in your lowest moments, God is offering a fresh start. Sometimes the biggest miracles start with a simple “Yes.”

Read more

/by