This quote makes me extremely uncomfortable, because I capital H-A-T-E failure.

As most of you know, I’m a recovering perfectionist, and perfection doesn’t allow for failure (nor does it allow for joy, grace, or authenticity).

Failure is anathema to me for several reasons...

Recently, during a conversation over dinner, I shared with a friend about my struggle to trust the promises God has given me.

She responded with the above title.

We then discussed Abraham’s faith journey in Genesis...

In English, the following is a well-known saying: “Can’t see the forest for the trees.”

In many ways, this is my life’s idiom.

I’m a details person. I love, and thrive off of, the minutiae.

This is both a blessing and a curse. The ability to hone in has tremendous benefits; however, this tunnel vision can also be crippling. I often miss the major point or the overall gist because I’m too preoccupied with the details.

I recently had brunch with a friend during which we chatted about my obstructed vision regarding a recent incident. In response, she shared the following...

In Judges 7, Gideon engages in his first military battle against the Midianites.

At the time of Gideon’s appointment, Israel had been subject to Midian for seven years as a result of their disobedience (Jud. 6.1). Like their ancestors in Egypt, Israel cried out to God to save them from their Midianite oppressors. Though God initially rebuked them for failing to heed his voice, he ultimately promised deliverance by raising up a mighty warrior—Gideon (Jud. 6.7-17).

In so doing, God made it clear that the victory, the act of deliverance, was his. Not Gideon’s, not Israel’s...

Obedience is a learned behavior. It’s not innate. It’s something we practice. It’s a discipline that’s borne over time and circumstance.

Despite these assumptions, I often forget that God places us in situations in which to grow our obedience. I also forget that these situations tend to coincide with temptation, and that these temptations, these enticements to conduct ourselves according to worldly standards, aren’t a one-time item we cross off our spiritual to-do list once we’ve conquered them. They often reappear...