Hi friends,

After my month-long break, I’m back to writing. I debated whether to call it a “hiatus” to give it more gravitas. But it was just a break. I’m now somewhat refreshed. But as you well know, real life doesn’t quit during breaks or hiatuses (Wouldn’t it be cool if the plural of hiatus was hiati?). I digress. 

I’m still grappling with the emotions of college drop-off, the fatigue of jet lag, and the pressures of daily living.  But I also look forward to serving you with the content that God lays on my heart each week. It boggles my mind that He speaks to us, personally and powerfully, and I’m humbled that I get to pass along His words. 

Thank you for continuing to join me on this little corner of the internet—a place where I hope to “keep it real” and share authentic content that resonates with you and glorifies the Lord.

Many blessings,

Susan

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Two Words for Those Who May Feel Unsteady and Unprepared

I’ve been somewhat reticent about restarting this blog. While it has only been a month since my last post, much like working out, my writing muscles have weakened from lack of use. I’ve been feeling unsure whether my content would truly be helpful to you. 

But God whispered two words in my heart. Two words that gave me the encouragement to take that hesitant step of faith. 

Begin again.

Simple enough. Yet, to me, those two words were life-giving. It wasn’t an “instruction” that put pressure on me to perform; It was an invitation to grace-fuelled, Spirit-enabled obedience. I didn’t have to drum up the nerve. I just needed to trust His work in and through me, despite my limitations. 

I was reminded of a story from the Old Testament.

In the book of Numbers, we meet a youngish man named Caleb (Numbers 13) who was sent on an uber-cool spy mission to Canaan with 11 other guys. 

While ten of his teammates came scurrying back, Caleb and his buddy Joshua were the only two with a positive report for the Israelites: We can take on the Canaanites; Let’s do this thing, they said. (I might have taken some creative liberty with their words.)

God honored Caleb and Joshua for trusting Him rather than fearing the gym-bros in Canaan.

After that incident, we hear much more about Joshua than Caleb. The Bible records that Caleb lived through the wilderness journey, while everyone else in his generation died (Numbers 32). We also read that Caleb was among the leaders responsible for dividing the land of Canaan among the tribes of Israel (Numbers 34).

But much, much later—45 years later to be precise—Caleb resurfaces in the book of Joshua. 

He is no longer a daring 40-year-old spy. He is a daring 85-year-old war hero who is ready to…wait for it…begin again.

Caleb was ready to once again engage the Anakites, the giants he had encountered decades earlier.

He goes up to Joshua and says:

So here I am today, eighty-five years old!  I am still as strong today as the day Moses sent me out; I’m just as vigorous to go out to battle now as I was then. Now give me this hill country that the Lord promised me that day. (Joshua 14:10-12)

Caleb may have been out of practice—but he was not out of sync with God. And in Him, Caleb found the courage to take that bold step of faith. 

I wonder if, at 85 years old, he was slightly unsteady on his feet. (Confession time: I just went back to my Pilates class after two years, and my legs quivered like they were made of Jell-O. Actually, like Jell-O sitting on top of an overzealous dryer)

But Caleb doesn’t worry about his possibly shaky gait. He stood firmly on God’s Word.

He simply says to Joshua:

“the LORD helping me, I will drive them out just as he said.” (Joshua 14:12)

And he did just that. Three tribes of Anakite giants were defeated by an 85-year-old man who had first encountered them 45 years earlier.

He had the God-given courage to begin anew. 

Friend, I don’t know how long of a “hiatus” you’ve been on.

But if God is urging you to begin again, He will strengthen you for your assignment.

Maybe it’s to reignite that business idea.

Maybe it’s to restart that Bible study.

Maybe it’s to begin volunteering again. 

Maybe it’s to call that friend and rekindle that relationship.

You and I may take unsteady steps. But a hesitant step can be a holy step when we long to honor God.

May we draw inspiration from a man who found his strength in God. 

May we learn to stand, however unsteadily, on His unchanging promises. 

May we choose to begin again.

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