I’ve been struggling with anxiety lately. Although my ever-evolving relationship with Jesus has freed me from a lifetime of anxiety attacks and debilitating fear over the course of the past twenty-five years, I still get afraid. The irony of my latest battle with anxiety is I’ve been experiencing an unusually sweet closeness to the Lord […] The post How God’s Presence Helps with Panic appeared first on Laura Sandretti Ministries ..read more

“If God protected Trump, what about the man who died?” When someone, who’s struggling with their faith, asked me this good and fair question about the passing of Cory Compertore who died at the Trump rally last week, I wasn’t sure what to say. As a Christian, I know and believe that every good and perfect gift comes from the Lord (James 1:17). I know and experience often what Jesus said we would, that in this life we will have trouble (John 16:33). I’ve wrestled with the Lord through a deep crisis of faith years ago that has allowed me to trust deeply that He is good (Psalm 119:68). And I know ..read more

“People don’t have peace because they’re not praying.” I cringed when I heard the well-meaning podcaster’s words. Although she wasn’t theologically incorrect, her blanket statement was devoid of context or explanation. As a Christian and someone who had my first panic attack when I was five, I’m hyper-sensitive to sweeping generalizations about why Christ-followers struggle with fear. And I get even more angsty when someone places the primary responsibility of overcoming my anxiety on what I’m doing or not doing. Of course, praying, loving God, and trusting Him more will help me experience mor ..read more

In the past few weeks, I’ve done almost nothing “spiritual.” When I have, I’ve not gotten much out of reading my Bible, praying, and journaling. Living between two houses, some ongoing relational strife, and other major life transitions for our family have not only impacted my time, but my desire to connect with God. Compounding all of that is an underlying sense of embarrassment knowing full-well that my “problems” could be much worse. Yet I’ve been unable to get out of my faith funk. Ironically, I often remind my friends, children, and the women I teach that God meets us where we are ..read more

In January I applied to be an adjunct professor of biblical studies in a medium security correctional institute. However, a leadership transition at the university that oversees the prison program meant my application was delayed. When we moved, I had lots of time to wonder on my many trips between our two homes… Now what do I do? Moving meant I couldn’t volunteer at the crisis pregnancy center in Milwaukee where I’ve served the last five years. Although I see my surrogate son regularly, I can’t see him weekly now. My personal traveling circus however, though unconventional, does still allow m ..read more

When my husband and I agreed he should take a new job two and a half hours away but keep our home in Milwaukee, too, I kept hearing a repeated Spirit-inspired-whisper: “Do today.” When I caught myself worrying about how I’d manage two houses long term, I’d get overwhelmed. When my mind wandered to how I’d find or keep friends living like a nomadic wanderer or what the holidays would look like, I’d get a pit in my stomach. However, when I just thought about the day I was in, I felt more peace and joy. This morning, I felt that same angsty pressure, however, reading 2 Peter 3:11. “Since everyth ..read more

Lent was a bust this year. I tried giving up sweets, but it didn’t take (see my previous post for details). I tried spending more time with God using the Lectio 365 app but was inconsistent with that, as well. However, while lamenting about how I’d missed Lent this year, I realized something quite the opposite had happened. On Ash Wednesday my husband and I flew to Alabama to visit our friends and my parents. Two days later my husband accepted a new job two and half hours from our home in the Milwaukee area. We returned home from AL February 21st and the next day we drove to Wausau to find a t ..read more

I rolled my eyes after finishing Chapman’s book on anger. He equated ones’ ability to control their anger with their level of spiritual maturity. He also said, “Our anger is at the very heart of who we are. Tell me what you are angry about, and I will tell you what is important to you” (196). Ten minutes after said eye roll, my dog pooped in my office. The extreme cold has made it challenging for Dexter to “go.” I’d spent an inordinate amount of time taking him outside, so when he soiled my carpet, I experienced what Corrie Ten Boom called, murderous rage. Although I knew it wasn’t Dexter’s fa ..read more

“This book on anger is making me angry.” I told my daughter this tongue in cheek, but Gary Chapman’s five step plan on handling anger seemed over-simplified and unrealistic. It insulted my intelligence and countless attempts to manage my rage over the years. So, I put the book away. However, something I’ve felt invited to in the New Year is to finish reading a book every month. Although I’m great at starting books, completing them is a different story. So, after a few days, I found Chapman’s book again and, thankfully, read on. In the next chapter, Chapman distinguished between definitive and ..read more

Becoming an empty nester last year wreaked havoc on my life and marriage. When our kids left, it exposed some emotional insecurities that the busyness of raising children distracted me from. Once those fears and inadequacies began to surface however, I looked to my husband, instead of the Lord, to satisfy my inmost longings. But recently I remembered a verse from I Corinthians 10:13: “No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide an escape, so that you can ..read more