Radiant Hope: Standing Up Against Shame

Radiant Hope!

Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame.

—Psalm 34:5

Shame gives me the shivers. It’s vile, dark, dirty, dishonest, and it has the ability to sap a soul’s strength with just a touch of its presence.

Shame could be described as the painful humiliation associated with one’s own guilt or shortcomings. And while there is wisdom in knowing that all humans will inevitably fall short of God’s holy ways, it’s crucial to remember the incredible God we serve and his mighty power to save us from ourselves.

Shame, even in its most menacing ways, stands no chance against the of power God. This is why the verse above is so beautiful and worth singing once again:

Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame. Psalm 34:5

What would it look like for you to soak in this truth and unburden yourself from the shame that Jesus sacrificed his very life to take from you?

Let’s begin with this gentle reminder: releasing shame doesn’t mean pretending we are faultless, but rather it means embracing the magnitude of who God is and his loving ability to restore brokenness.

  • Where shame sends our hearts the message that we’re irreparably bad, God’s word proclaims that we are wonderfully made, and that God sent his Son as a sacrifice to provide our ultimate redemption. (Psalm 139:14)

  • Where shame says we have screwed up beyond repair, or that we are too far gone, we can cling to the truth that nothing is beyond God’s ability to restore.

  • Where shame cruelly calls us unlovable, we can remember that even in our darkest hour, God loved us and stopped at nothing to win our wayward souls back. (Romans 5:8)

You see, shame is a liar. Shame lies to the children of God. It tells us a false narrative and tries to hide the truth of the gospel that our sin was once-and-for-all atoned for by Jesus, and that we are now living in restored relationship with the God of the Universe.

Clinging to the hope held out in the gospel is shame’s kryptonite. Remembering who God is, and his ability to work in our lives, renders it powerless in its tracks. Proclaiming who we are in light of God’s redemption leaves it cowering in the corner like the weak and defenseless entity that it is!

By the power of the cross, God’s love has been poured into our hearts. Hope speaks to our redemption and restoration. Hope doesn’t put us to shame. Hope reminds us that there is a hero who enters into our desperate story, and tells us over-and-over-again that this paramount hero is after the whole victory. (Romans 5:5)

Hope offers us a hand and lifts up our head.

But you, Lord, are a shield around me,
my glory, the One who lifts my head high. Psalm 3:3

In moments where brokenness, sin, and painful circumstances feel like they’re too much to bear, I hope you are able to find comfort in remembering the love and power of God, and the eternal redemption he offers those lovingly called his.

May we enjoy his radiance, and be radiant. May our faces shine with the extravagant love of Christ, and may that light be an invitation to the world around us.

Love and hope to you!

Your Story for His Glory: Rejoicing in Remembering Whose You Are

Your Story for His Glory

Commit your work to the Lord and your plans will be established.

—Proverbs 16:3


What an awesome and mighty God we have the privilege of serving.

He takes us in our frail humanity and calls us into acts greater than we could ever be capable of. He brings us to moments that expose our own weakness with intent to cover our every failure with his abundant strength.

He is able to be trusted. He is worthy to be adored. He is competent to accomplish his purposes in our lives.

(Can I get an amen?! Just getting hyped in my own house at 7am over here.)

It is a beautiful truth to consider: that God has purposes laid out for us.

Since the beginning of time—I’m talking Adam-and-Eve-era—God has invited mankind to co-labor with him in bringing about his purposes in the world. We see this by Adam’s working of the garden. We see it in Moses bringing forth freedom for the Israelites. We see David conquer Goliath. We hear Paul talk about it in his ministry work in 1 Corinthians 3:9.

You may have heard it said that God doesn’t need us, but he chooses to use us. One could also add that we need him right back—for all the “big things” like salvation, love, and life itself—but also to color our lives with purpose. 

In all of the above examples, we see God rise up a worker for his intentions.

Whether it’s bringing Adam from the dust and establishing him in the garden, or calling forth Moses (who was pretty adamant that he was not qualified for the job), to training up David from a shepherd into a God-fearing warrior, to bringing about in Paul a 180-degree conversion on the Road to Damascus… over-and-over again, we see God take the unqualified, and call them into a role to bring about his purposes and his glory.

Might we consider the truth that God is actually glorified in our weakness! This is the idea we see displayed in 2 Corinthians 12:9-10:

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 about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

2 Corinthians 12:9-10

Maybe the work before you is to step into a role that you feel unqualified for. Maybe you’re in a season where you’re longing for relationship, but you see no prospects. Maybe enduring through illness, hardship, or pain is the work you have to do today… Maybe the work you have before you feels impossible. 

Whatever lies before you, I hope you’re able to see the strength of God at work in it. I hope you can find rest and joy in the providence of God, covering all the things that feel beyond your own abilities.

May we never forget this message, no matter how many times we hear it: his grace is sufficient. His grace (or his favor that covers your life) is sufficient (or enough to satisfy what’s needed). His grace is sufficient for you.

You don’t need to know how you’ll get through tomorrow. You don’t have to worry about the outcome in 10 years. Just focus on faithfully walking alongside your loving God today as you release the outcomes of your work to him. Commit what you do to him, and your plans will be established.

If you’re looking for more study on this, check out Psalm 90, which illustrates the Mighty and Infinite nature of God, and ends with this banger:

May the favor of the Lord rest on us; establish the work of our hands for us—yes, establish the work of our hands. Psalm 90:17

Resting in the nature of God allows us to release our circumstances. As we bring ourselves under submission to his Greatness, we can trust him to establish the work we do.

May you find joy observing your own story being scripted for the Glory of the King. Your story for His glory. 

The Spectacular Light of Jesus: Five Ways Our Lord is like Sunshine

The Spectacular Light of Jesus

In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.

—John 1:4

“Jesus, you are my sunshine.”

As a brand-new, baby Christian, stumbling across John 1, this was the note I recorded in the margin of my fresh Bible. I even doodled a little sunburst alongside it.

I was delighted with the idea of Jesus being a light to the world. I didn’t have the language for it yet, but I think somehow I knew this was exactly what had happened when I invited Jesus into my heart: light started to shine.

Let’s consider the nature of sunlight for a moment: a substance that is not only soul-filling, but crucial for daily life. It produces endorphins—those happy little hormones that bring a smile to your face—while fighting off illness, providing necessary nutrients, and ultimately leading to the flourishing of living things.

And Jesus? He is the light of our life.

I’d love to share five ways Jesus is our sunshine:

  1. He is our source of life, both now and forever. (John 10:10)

  2. He provides joy. (James 1:17, Galatians 5:22-23)

  3. He enlightens us with knowledge. (2 Corinthians 4:6)

  4. In him, we get to shine as our truest selves. (John 1:12)

  5. In him, we experience the purifying act of sanctification. (John 3:21)

To begin, may we never forget that Jesus is our entirely crucial Savior. By his atoning sacrifice on the cross, we are gifted with life, both now and eternal, and are given the beloved title of being God’s children—children of the light.

Not only is he the reason for our eternal hope, but Jesus also provides us with a full life in the here-and-now.

…I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. John 10:10

His gifts are abundant; Jesus was with the Father during the creation of the world, and every single thing we enjoy in this world, that is beneficial for us, is the result of his doing. Every good gift comes from him. Let that strike you! Take a moment and consider some of your favorite things: the flavors, smells, sights, people… those are his creations.

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights… James 1:17

We have the opportunity to soak in the grace of the Lord Jesus, daily. And when we put our faith in his atoning work on the cross, we are able to invite that light into the very depths of ourselves.

For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ. 2 Corinthians 4:6

When we look at Jesus, our hearts are enlightened with knowledge about God; we better understand his glorious nature. Just like sunshine cuts through the clouds on a dim and dreary day, the entering in of Jesus allows for the fog of our hearts and minds to be pierced as we embrace the most life-changing truth: that God is really, truly, so very, very good.

And what a splendid gift that we get to invite Christ himself to dwell in our heartsthrough faith. We are able to have him step into all the dark and dusty places deep inside of us—something might sound too good to be true if it weren’t for the help of the Holy Spirit!

Inviting the work of Jesus into our life means letting his light shine on all of it: the good, the bad, and the ugly.

It means stepping into your identity as God’s beloved child, and trusting that you are his handiwork, with life purposes scripted for you by the Author himself.

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10

Each of us are offered the invitation to bring our truest selves, created by God, into the light. He has gifted and skilled us each so beautifully—and like any good creator, he delights in what he has made.

But whoever did want him, who believed he was who he claimed and would do what he said, He made to be their true selves, their child-of-God selves. John 1:12, The Message

You are his delicately-woven-together masterpiece. Trusting that The Good Creator made you, and that he calls his work good is actually a form of humility. It’s placing yourself under the authority of God—and abiding by what he says is true. (More on that here.)

Trust your creator, and shine your light.

You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:14-16

So, we step into the light, in submission to the truth of God regarding ourselves and his purposes for lives. In this way, we are able to live the light-life we were intended for. And this little light of ours? It shines on the world around us, to the glory of God.

Now, it’s worth mentioning that coming into the light is kind of a two-part deal: we get to watch our truest selves shine, which can be a delightful experience, but it also means bringing the not-so-lovely parts of ourselves out into the open as well.

Coming into the light means allowing everything to be exposed… and that includes the sins, the struggles, the wounds, and the heartaches.

…whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God. John 3:21

Sometimes, bringing our ugliest parts into the light can feel humiliating, dreadful even. But you can rest in the everlasting grace of God that he who called you into the light intends to heal the hurt places. He is faithful.

After all, we can’t heal what we don’t expose. And remember, the beautiful truth is this: you can allow sanctification to occur, resting in the truth that the fruit of the Holy Spirit’s work in us ultimately leads to greater, truer joy.

So, just like the sunlight shines on our bodies and grants us life and health, may the light of Jesus shine on your soul as you embrace him, bringing you to a fullness of living, and addressing the places that need some extra love and care.

Jesus: the giver of life, provider of joy, and our ultimate invitation to true, full living.

May we celebrate his goodness today!

Annalisa

P.S. - Check out this page for a cute little lock screen to remind your heart of these sweet truths. (password: daisy)

John 1:4 | John 1:2 | James 1:7 | 2 Corinthians 4:6 | Psalm 139:13-14 |Matthew 5:16 | Ephesians 2:10 | Isaiah 61:3 | John 3:19-21 | Galatians 5:22-23 | 1 Thessalonians 5:5

Finding Stillness in the Knowledge of God: Five Truths to Rest In

Finding Stillness in the Knowledge of God

Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.

—2 Peter 1:2

At the offset of Second Peter, in a little introductory verse that could easily be glossed over and forgotten, the author sneaks in a monumental, elemental truth: growing in our knowledge of God, and of Jesus, can result in an abundance of grace and peace.

Screeeeeeeeeech. That was me slamming my breaks. Did you just say that learning about God can result in an abundance of grace and peace?! I must know more! After all, who isn’t longing for more peace in our fast-paced world?!

Let’s read 2 Peter 1:2 again, just-in-case you missed it the first time…

Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. 2 Peter 1:2

(Now, just to clear up any confusion: many of us long for more peace, but this isn’t about using God to acquire peace, with peace being the end goal… this is about a stance of honesty and humility, recognizing that if you’re experiencing agitation of the soul, there may be areas God is inviting you to expand your knowledge of who he is.)

So, how exactly does one grow in the knowledge of God?

Practically speaking, I’d begin with prayer. As you recognize your need for an expanded knowledge of God’s character, call on Him to guide each step of the journey. And recall the beautiful truth his Word promises: when we seek Him, we willfind Him.

Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:12-13

There are all kinds of avenues God might use; keep your eyes open for community groups, Bible studies, or even the way creation is tugging at your heart. Crack open your Bible and just read—powerful things happen when we receive God’s word. (Read Isaiah 55:9-12 for more on what his Word accomplishes… it’s incredible…)

And as you grow in your knowledge of God, you will be so pleased with what you find: he is gentle. He is humble in heart.

I love this scripture below describing Jesus:

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30

Isn’t he lovely? Engaging with a person like that brings peace. And true rest is exactly what Jesus desires for us when we come to him.

These sweet aspects of his character (gentleness and humility) are just the tip of the iceberg. There is so much more to dig into.

The more we know about Him, the more we can trust him. And the more we trust him, the more our hearts can rest in his sovereign care.

May you find joy in the journey as you deepen your knowledge of who God is and the love he has for you. It’s the endeavor of a lifetime. Below are a few of my favorite truths to reflect on:

(Another great resource is Lauren Ibach’s The Bible in a Year. Each week she highlights a new attribute of God that correlates with the section of scripture being covered. It’s such a helpful tool for those looking to grow in their knowledge of God.)

I pray that as you seek God, and reflect on the knowledge of who he is, that your souls will find true stillness. I pray that 1 Peter 1:2 will become your story, and that your hearts will find rest in the shadow of God’s protective care.

I’ll end with this portion of Psalm 91:

Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.” Psalm 91:1-2

May we know and trust him, friends! Peace to you!

Free to Run and Play: An Invitation to Joyfully Journey with Jesus

Free to Run and Play

“Because you’ve always stood up for me,
I’m free to run and play.
I hold on to you for dear life,
and you hold me steady as a post.”

—a portion of Psalm 63, The Message Version

Walking hand-in-hand with Jesus can often feel like a leisurely, lovely stroll. (Maybe through a garden like this.) It can feel reminiscent of Psalm 23, where the good shepherd is described as one who leads us beside still waters.

And sometimes… it may be a bit more fast-paced than that.

I wonder—in times that we feel like we have too many plates spinning, where life’s requirements feel numerous, where we aren’t sure what to do with all the callings set before us—if Jesus may be inviting us to take our walk and turn it into a run.

What if the invitation is to trust him a little more and step just a little faster? Now, don’t get me wrong—there is a time and a place for slowness. It can revive our soul. But there is also a really wonderful place for running. For playtime. For fun.

What if some of us are in a season where the invitation is to run and play with Jesus, as we trust him to hold all things together (as Colossians 1:17 tells us he will). Running with Jesus, and trusting Jesus like this, requires faith and humility.

Faith, to know God as a refuge—as one who stands up for us and holds us steady, just as we see in the Psalm above.

Humility, to release our grip on people’s judgements of us, as we fix our eyes firmly on Jesus as our guide.

This brings us to what I would like to consider one of the happiest scriptures in the entire Bible. (PS: You may want to click that link for some additional imagery!)

But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its rays. And you will go out and frolic like well-fed calves. Malachi 4:2

Revering God above man, and trusting him fully, leads to the kind of freedom that has us running and playing our way through life. The imagery of frolicking like a well-fed calf seals the deal for me: that’s the kind of life I’m after.

I want an abundant life spent clinging to the hand of my Savior, seeking him daily, and moving at the pace he sets for me. I’ll end with this passage from Galatians that goes a little further into the idea of letting God set the pace.

This passage comes in chapter five after the apostle Paul has just described the life of one who walks in the Spirit. After listing all the good spiritual fruit that is theirs (love, joy, peace, patience, etc.), he goes on to say one last thing:

Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying one another. Galatians 5:25-26

The idea we see here is that the Spirit has a set pace for each of us. That word, conceited, could also be described as “vain glory”. Or pride. Or being consumed with where you’re at in regards to others… eager for empty glory.

We are advised not to provoke others, or pressure them to be where we are. I think this is especially important in our spiritual lives and personal walks with God.

This scripture adds that we aren’t to envy others, or strive to be doing what they’re doing in their life with God.

We don’t want to hurry others along, or race to be where someone else is. We want to live by the Spirit, in freedom.

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Galatians 5:1

I hope today, that you’re encouraged to enjoy your walk with God. I hope you are able to seek his face, and ask the question: “Jesus, what do you have for me today?”

I hope you enjoy strolls through the hills and valleys that he takes you to, and if he is inviting you into a playful run, I hope you’ll feel courageous to accept the invitation.

Psalm 63 | Psalm 23 | Colossians 1:17 | Malachi 4:2 | John 10:10 | Galatians 5