Even in the midst of hard things, you are still worthy of rest.You are worthy to enjoy something quiet that brings your heart delight. Jesus whispers, Let my quiet love bring you peace. Today.
In today’s post, I have a podcast, a book giveaway & a devotional I wrote for (in)courage to share with you! I have lots of encouragement for your soul, friend because yep, it’s been a rough week for all of us, hasn’t it?
I have a very special podcast guest, Holley Gerth, author of Cheering You On: 50 Reasons Why Anything is Possible with God on today’s new podcast on Coffee Break For Your Soul: Lifting the Burden of Anxiety & Busyness!
Listen to the new podcast on Coffee Break For Your Soul with my guest Holley and read on for a special giveaway for you!
Listen to Coffee Break For Your Soul Podcast
Listen to Coffee Break For Your Soul PodcastI’m chatting with my friend and bestselling author Holley Gerth, with a book giveaway. We share how words can transform us and empower us in our times of anxiety. “God gets to tell me who I am, not any struggle that I go through in life.”
We experience anxiety because life gets stressful, but we can create space to let God touch us and refill us, so we can feel His peace. Having space for you to be you is important to God and to your wellbeing.
Current show: Lift the Burden of Anxiety & Busy with guest Holley Gerth author of Cheering You On: 50 Reasons Why Anything is Possible with God
Listen now here. Subscribe to Coffee Break for Your Soul on iTunes or Spotify. Tell a friend. Write a review. I’d be so grateful!
I interviewed my good friend and author, Holley, as my podcast guest on Coffee Break For Your Soul and she’s giving away her beautiful new journal!
Book Giveaway! Be Courageous
Book Giveaway: Enter by posting a comment here by Sunday August 2, 2020. U.S. Residents Only. (Update: Giveaway date has been extended.)
Be Courageous: Write in a Way That Scares You a Little by Holley Gerth
Writing Course by Holley Gerth
Writers Resource! Check out Holley’s Writing Course Be a Kick-Butt Writer by Friday (here). Here’s the online writing course Holley mentioned in the podcast to sustain a long term writing success!
Three Loving Promises: Why You Can Rest in God’s Love For You
For weeks, I had tried keeping myself productive. Everything will be fine, I told myself. But deep in my heart, where no one could see, I didn’t feel fine. So much of life has changed in such a short period of time. There are no blueprints for what’s ahead, and everyday there are new uncertainties to shield my children from — as well as trying to process things for myself.
Stress and worries have a way of reappearing on our paths, don’t they? As I hiked up a trail one morning, I doubled up my powers of analysis to solve a dilemma I was stuck in. I figured if I circled around my problems long enough, I’d lasso them into submission and think my way out.
But all it did was fill my mind with more troubling thoughts. As I reached the top of the mountain and turned back to walk down, my heart felt paralyzed and torn, weighing the pros and cons of uncertainty.
Do you ever feel this way too — heart disconnected and longing for rest?
I don’t know what to do. Help me, God, I cried silently.
As I made my way down through tall grass growing unruly, I noticed something I didn’t see on my way up. Specks of orange poppies were blossoming, opening up under the sunlight breaking through the clouds.
How did I miss the poppies walking up?
It turns out poppies close tight as buds when it’s cold and windy. They’re so sensitive to the elements, folding in at night in the dark. Yet, when warmed by the sun in daylight, the petals open, releasing seeds to the wind.
Each of us is like that poppy. Our hearts can close up when we isolate ourselves with our worries, carrying our burdens alone. When we hide our hearts from God, we also end up feeling guilty because we don’t know what to do or how to pray.
But when we cast our cares into the warmth of God’s loving arms, the petals of our hearts open, and we can relax. Even when it might seem as though God is silent, He hears our prayers for help — even when they’re unspoken.
Perhaps you need to hear these truths as much as I do today, so here are three promises from God to help you rest and breathe in His love and peace:
Three Loving Promises: Why You Can Rest in God’s Love For You
1. When you don’t know what to do, God whispers, Cast your cares on Me.
Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
1 Peter 5:7 (NIV)
Just like flowers opening by sunlight in the field, you can release your worries to God — not by ignoring them but by confiding in Him. He longs to help you… to be continued on (in)courage where I’m posting today…
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Whispers of Rest Soul Care Package
I’d love to encourage you daily! For extra resources to refresh your soul and take better care of yourself, I created this powerful DAILY companion resource to Whispers of Rest: 40day Soul Care Guide eBook called “You’re Worth Loving”, 6 teaching videos, 6 prayer podcasts, and Scripture coloring pages! Click here to get the Whispers of Rest Soul Care Resources Package!
love,
27 Comments
Would love to win this book.
Is there anyone on planet earth with no anxiety ? It may look like anger, or denial, or distrust. But we are all just little children reacting to change( and many acting like children). I follow Holley on IG and email. I would love to read her book. Thank you sweet Bonnie for encouraging words that point us to our Lord !
Morning! Thanks for sharing this. Would love to get this resource of Holly’s 🙂 Blessings to all <3
Thank you for this reminder. It has been such a heavy time recently. Thanks for the opportunity to win!
Thank you for sharing this encouragement. I think we could all use these reminders right now with all thats going on in the world.
Thank you for your timely words. I need to use my words better. God bless.
Thanks for your sweet vulnerability, Bonnie. It makes me feel okay to not always “be okay.” I am thankful for your ministry as it has helped me so much. <3 I have read and re-read Whispers of Rest and gifted it to others. BTW I also love Holley Gerth. Her book Strong, Brave, Loved is amazing and I have gifted it many times as well. Glad to see you two together!
This is a perfect time to write and reflect on what is going on in our lives and how God can help us. The pandemic, the political unrest, the racial indignities and protests and the news media highlighting such negativity plays on our hearts and minds and bodies. This book with scripture and then writing our prayers and thoughts would be perfect. Thanks!
Gayle Jones
Love the quote on the front of the book, “Be courageous and write in a way that scares you a little.” It’s certainly a challenge to me to step out of my comfort zone and put my words out there. To the glory of Christ alone! I have been writing since the shelter-in-place order began but it’s been comfort and record keeping writing. Nothing scary. Working on challenging myself but letting the Holy Spirit prompt my writing and determine what I do with the words I’ve written down. All to His glory!
Love the illustration with the poppies. The California Poppy is my absolute favorite flower! Only when I am filled with God’s love, warmth and light can I reflect Christ to those around me. When I am open to what He has for me each day, He blesses and uses me for His kingdom, for His glory. Brighter and more radiant than the glory of the poppy, is His glory. Thank you, Bonnie, for this reminder! 🙂
What an enlightening episode! I suffered through panic attacks years ago, and the church I attended back then (unfortunately) shamed me for having them. I am so glad we have come further in Christianity in showing grace to those of us who suffer through anxiety. And I would love to have Holley’s journal to write in!
Holly Gerth’s writings are such a gentle encouraging balm to the soul. Be great to win
I find that if I sit with my cats and coffee in the morning, and then sit with my journal and my cats in the evening, I feel calmer and more centered.
Thank you for the opportunity to win this book. Every bit of writing or art that I produce scares me to some degree. Is it good enough? Will it bless someone? All of life right now is scary, isn’t it? We need the comfort of God’s presence more than ever, as the freedom to worship Him openly grows more tenuous and misunderstood. How does one live and speak and love in an increasingly pagan world? Thank you for being courageous to put out into the open what God has given you to say.
Thank you Bonnie and Holly for sharing your hearts with words that encourage us and show us truth.
This sounds like such an a thing amazing book! It is so nice to see to listen to the podcast! Thanks Bonnie and Holly for sharing your realness with all of us! It helps to realize we are not alone in our fears and anxieties.
I love Holly and her books. I would love to win!
This book is resonating with me and not sure why!
My daddy passed away Sunday. I feel so disconnected from everyone and everything. I feel just lost.
A very interesting title! I definitely need to read what Holly writes!
Thank you for having this giveaway contest. I would love to win. 🙂 I really liked one of your past blog entries so much that I sent the link to everyone on my email contact list to encourage and minister to them as well.God bless you and be encouraged. 🙂
I”m not sure if my last comment went through or not b/c I did not see it but it said,”Thank you for having this giveaway contest. I would love to win. 🙂 I really liked one of your past blog entries so much that I sent the link to everyone on my email contact list to encourage and minister to them as well.God bless you and be encouraged. 🙂 “
Holley, because God is present n times of anxiety.l, doubt and hesitation, ‘m even more comforted knowing He’s there in the times of hope and celebration and in tje angst in the cycle of human beings & Being! Jehovah is my rick & salvation
Thank you for the post and the giveaway! I love Holley.
Bonnie, you and Holley Gerth are two of my favorite authors and people! So many times you have comforted me during hard times. I would love to read this book because I’ve been wanting to write a book for years and keep putting it off!
Jolley & Nonnie. You noth are do authentic and approachable in the ways you sharebyournlives, struggles & Biblical & scientifically ( easy) encouragements in moving Forward in our respective journeys! GOD’S blessings to both of you!
Would love this amazing resource!