I’ll never forget the sinking feeling in my stomach years ago when I learned NASA had shifted its mission priorities—and my job wasn’t a priority for them. For years, I’d poured my time, talents, and tenacity into a role I truly believed in—only to be let go. My mind spun with questions about paying bills,... The post Opportunity Overpass: Rebuilding Faith While Job-Hunting and Caregiving appeared first on Family Christian ..read more

“Why does the Bible say trials are beneficial?” he asked in his fatherly tone. Neither he nor I wanted to share the difficult news with our four children, but I sat, trusting that it was wise to share the best and worst as a family. Something about needing to lean on each other vulnerably actually... The post An Invitation to Hope When Sadness and Suffering Overwhelm appeared first on Family Christian ..read more

It happens to all of us. You are in the middle of what you think is a perfectly normal conversation with your teen; then, suddenly, voices get louder, tears fall, and chaos ensues! Or maybe you make a promise with every intention of fulfilling it, only you forget to check your schedule first, or something... The post 3 Important Reasons Why You Should Apologize First to Your Teen appeared first on Family Christian ..read more

Are You God’s Work in Progress? For Christians, we do not need to wonder; the answer is always: yes, we are God’s work in progress! Life’s low points or trials give the Holy Spirit the opportunity to bring about refinement, leading to sanctification and growth. We are not alone in this process as humans. Take... The post The Joy of Being Refined: 3 Ways Trials Make You More Like Christ appeared first on Family Christian ..read more

Surrendering control to God during hard moments is a profound act of faith that can lead to unexpected joy and peace. It often requires us to deny ourselves and surrender our lives through faith, as Jesus describes in Matthew 16:24-25 (NIV); “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross... The post Finding Joy in Surrender: Trusting God in the Hard Moments appeared first on Family Christian ..read more

Take a moment to reflect on how God’s timing is at work in your parenting journey. Parenting is a journey full of hills, valleys, and unexpected turns. There are many dreams and goals we want for our families and children. Often, we are eager to emerge from a hard stage into a season of fruitfulness,... The post 5 Ways to Trust God’s Timing as a Mom appeared first on Family Christian ..read more

Life, per se, has a way of throwing random situations our way, both good and bad. Troubles seem to dog us, and trials are our constant diet. Psalm 90:10 points out that the 70 or 80 years of our life are nothing but trouble and sorrow. Unwise choices, other people’s actions and reactions, economic changes,... The post 5 Ways to Find God’s Purpose in Life’s Trials appeared first on Family Christian ..read more

Life can hit us out of nowhere sometimes! When outward circumstances become rocky and unpredictable, it can test even our strongest relationships. Often, in marriages, we see trials do one of two things: tear a couple apart or draw them closer together. It’s not up to chance which one happens. The latter takes intentionality from... The post 5 Prayers to Pray Together During Difficult Times appeared first on Family Christian ..read more

“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” (James 1:2-4, ESV) It’s a verse I’d rather skip. Maybe you feel the same.... The post All is Gift: A Reluctant Examination of Holding Joy in Hard Places appeared first on Family Christian ..read more

I didn’t grow up practicing Lent. So, my initial experience with the faith tradition involved hearing my friends talk about all the things they were giving up until Easter–fast food, coffee, soda, candy, television. The list of personal sacrifices went on and on. Understandably, when I first tried Lent, I focused on what I had... The post 3 Hidden Joys of Surrender in Lent (and Life) appeared first on Family Christian ..read more