Comments on Growing Is Beautiful: When The Journey Is Hard

@ti...

2011-11-04T15:12:58.814-07:00

@tinuviel: Your words *did* send me a hug :o). You always bring up the perfect scripture and I am so thankful for that. Hebrews 11:1 is my verse for this year--I should have known "pilgrimage" was coming, but God likes to surprise us with the obvious, doesn't He?

I had not heard that about Stephen Curtis Chapman, though I heard a similar story about Matthew West. Their voices are so much more public than mine--I can't imagine how painful and scary that must have been for them. But God, He uses all the broken days (months, years) for His glory and I am confident that if I did lose my voice here, He'd teach me how to glorify Him regardless.

Thank you for your companionship on this pilgrimage. Sending a hug back to you!

@Ra...

2011-11-04T15:05:12.551-07:00

@Rachel Schober: It's good to be back--I've missed it so much. And for seeing Him in me, in my story? Thank you. More than you know. Thank you. Love to you, dearest one.

@Lo...

2011-11-04T15:03:29.905-07:00

@Lover of Christ: There can never be enough reminders that growth comes from our hardest days, so thank you for that. Sometimes the "yes" doesn't feel like enough, but you are right--it's all He asks of us. And I am so thankful for the strength He gives to say that one word. Grateful for your prayers, Friend. Grace to you wherever you are on this pilgrimage.

@chri...

2011-11-04T15:00:01.521-07:00

@chris: Thank you for finding significance in my voice here...it's only because of Him and I am so humbled that He continues to speak through me. And you are right--God would love me just as much even if I never wrote again. I'm the one who'd have to learn to accept myself all over again, and it would be hard and painful but I do know that He'd bring me through and He'd give me a new way to tell His story. And for your prayers? Thank you. Just, thank you.

"It takes every last bit of courage and stren...

2011-11-04T08:01:48.541-07:00

"It takes every last bit of courage and strength I've got to write my soul on a page of the world, let all the cracked and wounded places unveil His glory." I'm with you on that. It's not comfortable, but it's the way God glorifies Himself in our weakness.

I did notice you'd been quiet, but there's nothing wrong with silence. Did you know that the songwriter Stephen Curtis Chapman lost his voice, completely lost his physical voice, for an extended time? His album Speechless arose from that season of losing his work and ministry identity and not knowing whether it would return.

Your thoughts on pilgrimage bring to mind the faith pilgrims of Hebrews 11. Maybe I need to add that to my reading today.

May the Lord make His nearness and friendship known to you as your companion on the way today. I would send you a hug if I knew how. :)

welcome back, dear sister-mirror of the One True G...

2011-11-03T12:52:05.492-07:00

welcome back, dear sister-mirror of the One True God...so glad you wrote down what He was writing through you...proud of you; thankful for Him.

Courtney, All God ever asks of us is to say "...

2011-11-03T08:15:35.084-07:00

Courtney,

All God ever asks of us is to say "Yes" in the hard moments. Lest we forget, our growth comes quickest in the hardest times. I know personally how hard it is to let go of the questions, struggles, and pains and just be in His presence, but I know that God gives us the courage to go there. I'm praying for you my sister-in-Christ. Blessings. Daniel

hi Courtney, yes, your readers do notice if it...

2011-11-03T01:41:10.481-07:00

hi Courtney,

yes, your readers do notice if it's been a while between posts, and yes, your voice does matter to us!! i'm so sorry that responsibility and expectation have been pressing in on you so hard that even breathing is an effort. having to struggle with loneliness and fear of losing your voice, when it feels that your strength has already drained away, must be more difficult than i can imagine. But the Lord would love you every bit as much even if you'd lost your voice forever, and, if we can, we must hold fast to the thought that God works even such things as exhaustion, fear, loneliness, and loss of voice for the good of those who love Him. I'm thankful that your heart is set on pilgrimage, and i'm praying that God will protect you from anxiety and discouragement, redouble your strength, and wrap you up in the peace that the world cannot give--

chris