Faith, Mental Health, and Rejoicing: Finding Peace in God’s Presence
How Faith and Mental Health Intersect How do our faith and mental health relate? This is a critical question. As a counselor, I see two base groups that consistently fight the idea of counseling more than any other. These are men and Christians. Our culture tells men that they are to be stoic and strong. Fortunately, the younger generations are seeing less stigma in seeking help for mental health. Christians suffer from thinking that we should be able to handle things because we have God. That’s true, of course. We do have God, but do we always know how to put our reliance on Him into action? Living in Relationship with God If we accept the fact that at the core of our creation is the desire of God to have a relationship with us, do we know how to live in it? What does that even mean? Well, too many Christians listen to an inspiring sermon that maybe even taught us something, but by the time we are driving back home, the very real concerns of the world have taken over our hearts and minds. Living in relationship with God is coming to a place where we know and feel His presence at all times. It’s coming to a place where we can truly lean on Him instead of dealing with the struggles of our lives completely on our own. Faith and Mental Health Alignment It’s clear that good mental health is completely in line with scripture. The word ‘rejoice’ is found in 183 passages in the King James Bible. Understand that we’re not talking about being happy or liking our circumstances. Throughout the Bible, we see the word rejoice as an instruction. It is a deliberate act. It is choosing to focus on Him or something that He has done. Mindfulness and Faith This is very similar to a secular psychologist instructing a patient to be mindful. Where this connects to mental health is that a large number of mental struggles can be directly linked with our thought life. Traumas or difficult childhoods can lead us to believe things about ourselves and the world around us that simply aren’t true. Our lives can lead us to feel that we have to be responsible for every detail. We can come to the point where we feel responsible for others’ feelings. Some people need professional help to break the habits that have plagued them for years. Of course, I am always available to you. But even if you don’t need or don’t want professional help, deliberately rejoicing is not only a Biblical instruction, but it turns our minds and our hearts toward God and positive thinking. I encourage you to join me in rejoicing and pointing our hearts to God. While you do, apply Philippians 4:8 to your thought life.
Finding Purpose and Meaning in Work and Retirement: A Fulfilling Journey
1. Falling into a Career vs. finding meaning in work and retirement Twenty-five years ago, I fell into a career. I had no idea at the time that I would find a niche and become a sought-after expert in a certain aspect of my field. After all, I just went after a position in my company that paid a significantly higher amount of money than my current position. After that, I was both interested in and able to learn the same specialty that launched me into the role of “expert.” So I have come to understand the importance of finding purpose and meaning in work and retirement. 2. The Weight of Discontent The only problem was that I hated every day of my seventeen years in that career. I enjoyed watching machines that I had built or modified. And I loved hearing operators be excited about how much easier their machines were to understand and keep running. But that pleasure was short-lived. As soon as I walked away from the machine or operator and had to take on a new task, the disdain was back. I stayed and deliberately kept moving up both in skill and pay for one simple reason – money. 3. Missing Purpose in Success The point of telling you this is that despite being one of the best in my specific niche, at least in my state, if not the country (and I did travel around the country, helping other factories), I still hated my job. I didn’t feel like I had a purpose. Having a purpose or doing meaningful things is so much more important than we realize. 4. Redefining Retirement When I became disabled, all I could imagine was being stuck sitting on the couch for the rest of my life. It was a very depressing thought! My wife sagely said, “You’re not disabled; you’re retired. You get to choose what you’re going to do with the rest of your life.” Now, I don’t get to choose just anything, as I am disabled. But the beauty of it is that it freed me from living for money to living for purpose. 5. Retirement Statistics: A Wake-Up Call I recently got an email from a coach that I have learned some things from that I plan to implement into new projects soon. He mentioned a couple alarming statistics. First, back in 2001, the Social Security Administration released some research that on average, the sooner you retire, the sooner you die. Another study showed that a full one-third of retirees are clinically depressed. 6. Finding Purpose in Retirement Neither one of these statistics is a surprise to me as a counselor. But they do point to something very important. That is, ‘retirement without purpose’ is bad for you. Added to that, as Christians, we need to realize that retirement per se is not a scriptural concept. In Numbers 8:23–26, we see the only mention of retirement in the entire Bible, New or Old Testament. It says that the Levites shall enter full-time service at the age of 25 and work until the age of 50. At that point, they shall not work any longer. However, it also says, “They may, however, assist their brothers in the tent of meeting, to keep an obligation.” (NASB95) Personally, I find the use of the word obligation to be a tad strange. But, as is often the case, there is no one English word that will truly explain what the Hebrew phrase here means. In essence, they were to quit doing the more laborious tasks, i.e. work. Instead, they were to keep ‘charge’ of the temple. This could include teaching younger Levites or watching to make sure that only those who are clean enter the tent of meeting. The question, then, for you is simple but maybe not easy to answer. What is your purpose? Or what are you doing that’s meaningful? And if you are approaching retirement or already retired, what are you doing or can you do that has purpose and meaning. 7. The Ministry of Retirement The retired years, whether they be from age or disability, give us a fantastic opportunity to minister. The eight years since I became disabled have been the most fulfilling of my adult life, hands down. Of course, as we age or as we become more disabled, we have to adjust what we can do. But there is always some way to have purpose and meaning in our lives. And indeed, I believe that’s what we are called to. Need some help? If by any chance you are struggling with finding purpose or are having any other struggles, feel free to reach out to me here.
Let Go and Let God: Finding Peace Amidst Life’s Chaos
Understanding Christianese Cliches I often talk about what I call ‘Christianese.’ These are Christian colloquialisms. They originated with deep meaning but have become so overused that they have become cliches. We hear them, and probably say them, but may not even truly understand them. Even if we do indeed understand them, do they reach our heart and change our lives? Here are a few examples of what I’m talking about: Examples of Christian Cliches Let go and let God. What would Jesus do? I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. (Also an oft misquoted scripture!) Be in the world but not of the world. This is admittedly a tiny sampling. And I have no intention of addressing in this post the many sayings that we have that are patently false and damaging to an understanding of the Bible and God’s nature. Examining “Let Go and Let God” in Depth The one I want to address today is, “Let go and Let God.” Every time I hear this, two passages of scripture immediately come to mind. First is Philippians 4:4-7. But I also think of Romans 8:26-27. This passage in Romans tells us that sometimes it is difficult to find the words to pray, often because our hearts and our minds are overwhelmed. A Personal Journey with “Let Go and Let God” I recently found myself in one of those situations. A situation arose that tugged on my heart. I had prayed many times about this situation and just found myself at a loss. The natural human inclination to just fix the situation—well, that wasn’t going to work either. I knew full well that there was absolutely nothing I could do. If anything meaningful was going to happen, it needed to be God that handled it. I knew that I was emotionally overloaded by the circumstances and didn’t know how to pray. I was all prayed out. And, despite having prayed extensively, the situation was only getting worse. So, it was time to be vulnerable and allow the Spirit to come in and intercede on my behalf. Imperfection and Teaching Here’s my confession: I struggled to stop thinking. I had to ask God to help me with that too. My head was so busy that there was no way I could hear from Him! I’m sure that of those reading this, the vast majority can relate. I teach people how to lean into the Spirit and how to allow God to be God, and here I was getting in my own way. So what exactly is the point of me sharing this with you? Well, for starters, I’m not perfect. I teach so many different things to help people. When I do, I have to recognize that what I’m teaching may sound simple, but it is often far from easy. I suspect that it often sounds like I have everything down. I think on average, I’m doing pretty well. But I’m still not perfect. Embracing God’s Presence I also wanted to encourage you. I wanted to remind you that we have a God that is bigger than we can imagine and loves you more than you can believe. He is as close as you need Him to be. All you have to do is be vulnerable to Him and allow the Spirit into your heart. It’s a wonderful thing when we apply it. Whatever is troubling you doesn’t have to. Mind you, I AM NOT saying that He will do everything we ask for. But He does care and will help you to find peace in a chaotic and peaceless world. As always, if you need a little extra help, you are welcome to reach out to me here.
Transforming Lives: Upcoming Christian Books and Marriage Coaching Program for a Brighter Future
Introduction: Exciting Upcoming Projects I’m excited to share with you my upcoming Christian Books and Marriage Coaching Program. I have allowed myself to get a little overwhelmed and busy, but it’s all good stuff (at least I think so!). 1. Book Relaunch: “How to be a Christian in Today’s World” First, I’m relaunching “How to be a Christian in Today’s World: Shame or Fear of Failure vs. Living Confidently in God’s Love.” It has a new foreword and back copy, both written by fellow ministers that have read and supported me in my projects. Hopefully, sooner, rather than later, it will be available for sale on my own website. 2. Special Offer for Group Studies Discounts for Church and Bible Study Groups As part of the relaunch, I have decided I will get a discount for any church or Bible study group that wishes to use the book for a group study. It does have a workbook intended to be used over six sessions. 3. New Book Release: “Blessed Brokenness” I’ll also be releasing my second book, “Blessed Brokenness: Seeing God’s Glory in the Ashes of Life.” It is about how God has used the trials that my wife and I have gone through to minister to others and how I went from peace to frustration and then to lasting peace again as related to our struggles. The hope is that it will help readers to find peace in their role in the world and the Kingdom. 4. Audiobooks for Your Convenience In addition, I’ll also be releasing audiobooks of both books, making them more accessible. 5. Upcoming Marriage Coaching Program Lastly, somewhere around the end of the year, I will be launching a 12-week marriage coaching program. A small group of up to five couples will join me for 90 minutes per week to move from fighting and frustration to communicating and love. I am so excited to be doing this! 6. Why I’m Sharing This Why am I telling you all this? Well, I want to make these resources available to you and I’ll be looking for readers willing to leave reviews. And of course, I want to know if you know anyone that would want to be part of this marriage coaching program. Conclusion: Changing Lives for the Better My wife, Kimberly, and I want so much to see lives change and improve. That is the reason behind everything that we do.
Finding Blessings in Blessing Others: A Ministry Journey
1. Ministry as Our Sole Calling Despite being in some sort of ministry for over thirty years, I worked full time to support my family until I suddenly became disabled in 2015. That freed up my wife and myself to dedicate ourselves to the sole focus of ministry. When I say ministry, I’m being very specific in the use of the word ministry. We never set out to make an income, but to minister. I need to be very deliberate here to not sound like I’m bashing ministers that charge for what they do or those that collect a salary. I’m not. I just know what we were called to do. I’m often reminded of the scriptures that say that a laborer is worth his wages. And that holds true today! 2.The Scriptural Foundation of Ministry Luke chapter 9 begins with Jesus giving the twelve authority over demons and the ability to heal diseases. Then he sent them out with strict instructions to take nothing extra. They were to stay with whoever would host them. Then in the beginning of Chapter 10, he sent 70 more out very similarly. He instructs them to stay in one place in each town, eat and drink what they are given for the laborer is worth his wages. The implication in this verse is that those that are being ministered to will voluntarily provide for those that minister. Admittedly, this is a struggle in our culture. The norm is to trade goods or services for money. The Christian culture, including churches, have adopted a very similar mindset. Most pastors have a set salary in exchange for an agreed upon list of obligations. Churches still rely on the parishioners to donate, which has its roots in the Old Testament. Nehemiah outlined the tithe approximately 450 years before Christ. And hopefully, if people feel that they have been ministered to, they will donate, not too dissimilar to the workman deserving his wages. 3. Challenges in Modern Ministry Again, our culture tugs us back to trading money for goods or services. And that’s where I want to touch on the concept of blessing. In the years that we have been focused on ministry, our focus was on blessing people. People have in return chosen to bless us. God promises to provide for our every need and He uses people to do that. He doesn’t need us, but he chooses to use us. More so, He allows us to be used. He allows us to be part of His blessings. 4. Embracing Your Gifts This is where each of us has a role. We all have things to offer. We all have ways to bless others. It’s good to know what your gifts are. What has God made you to be good at? If you don’t know, then maybe taking a Spiritual Gifts assessment would be a good place to start. I said earlier that God allows us to be used. Those that have blessed us in big ways often seemed to get more out of it than we did! So, join me in blessing others.
Choosing Family Beyond Blood and Bonds: Embracing Relationships
Choosing Family Beyond Blood and Bonds I once heard that true family is by choice not blood. Although I strongly believe in the importance of a strong nuclear family, I cannot deny the beauty of choosing family beyond blood and bonds either. Both my wife and I found ourselves in need of foster families at the age of 17. For both of us, those families turned out to be huge blessings. The Importance of a Strong Nuclear Family As I said, I cannot emphasize the importance of the nuclear family. Black conservative commentator, Candace Owens, places the blame for much of the plight of black communities on the breakdown of the nuclear family, especially in inner-city black communities. Studies have shown that children who grow up in single-family homes have a higher rate of being incarcerated and a lower chance of graduating college, whether they were white or black. The Influence of Healthy Mother and Father Figures I believe strongly that both girls and boys need the influence of healthy mother and father figures in their lives. Modeling, or teaching by doing, teaches girls what to look for in men and teaches boys how to treat women. Healthy examples breed healthy adults as a rule, for example. Learning from Positive Examples Through Choosing Family Beyond Blood and Bonds I can’t say that I had healthy examples to learn from at home. When I was in high school, a family that allowed me to be around frequently, even recently telling me that they thought of me as one of their kids, was a wonder to me because I got to see what family looked like. Then, when I was overseas and needed a family to step up and take me in, I spent a year being included as part of a family, and my new parents were often transparent with me, talking about the struggles and opportunities of married life. So, when it came time to act in my own life, I was able to choose which example to follow. Choosing Family Beyond Blood and Bonds: Redefining ‘Family’ Much like the family that had treated me as one of their own when I was in high school, my wife and I have taken in many that we thought of as ‘our kids’ over the years. Some lived with us. In other cases, the parents of these young people knew that when their children needed sanctuary, they were welcome in our home. The young man I proudly call my son once said, “You collect kids like Pokemon!” Cherishing Unique Relationships I still call my “parents” every year on Christmas Eve, and my daughter calls two people who are completely unrelated by blood her Grammy and Grampy. These relationships are incredibly important, as they are the only people that my wife and I have to lean on as parents. And my wife and I thought it was critical that our daughter have grandparents. Unbreakable Bonds The young man that I call my son recently went through some things in his life where he turned to me and said, “You and Mom are all that I have left.” He ends every phone call with, “I love you.” Though we are not related by blood or court documents, and I didn’t meet him until he was 19, he is my son, and I am proud of the man he is becoming. Of course, I still butt in with unsolicited advice whenever I find it warranted. Biblical Perspective on Relationships Colossians 3:1-17 is largely about behavior. It’s easy to miss that verse 1 says, “If you have been raised up with Christ….” In verses 10-11, Paul says that whoever puts on the new self is becoming a new person, no matter their race or creed. Again, in verse 12, he says, “So as those who have been chosen by God, holy and beloved….” Similarly, in Romans 9:25-26, Paul says, “As He says also in Hosea, ‘I will call those who were not My people, ‘My people,’ And her who was not beloved, ‘beloved.’” 26 “And it shall be that in the place where it was said to them, ‘you are not My people,’ There they shall be called sons of the living God.” The Commandment of Honor and Love Yes, God plainly instructed us in the fifth commandment to honor our parents (Exodus 20:12). And we should honor them. That does not mean that we cannot strive for healthy relationships. As a matter of fact, the Bible plainly calls us to learn and grow together, as a church we are supposed to be a family, helping each other along the way. In all cases, the central theme is love. As I mention in my book “How to be a Christian in Today’s World: Shame or Fear of Failure vs. Living Confidently in God’s Love,” it is being loved that helps to enable us to love ourselves.
Nurturing Authentic Supportive Relationships: Finding Godly Companionship, Inspired by Jesus’ Example
Struggling to Find Genuine Support One of the things that I sadly hear from people is the frequent struggle to find the kind of Godly support and friendship that we all require. We don’t understand the concept of nurturing authentic supportive relationships. Importance of Discerning Friendships I think in many cases we might not be as careful or maybe discerning as we could be when looking for that specific friend or two. We might find that we’ve trusted somebody that we shouldn’t have. The Need for Unwavering Love I’m talking about people that love you and won’t change what they think about you or your family, no matter what they learn. To be the best version of myself that I can be, I need that backup. Setting Friend Expectations I also make sure that those friends know the expectations. Not everyone is willing to be that kind of friend. Most people are content to be surface friends. Inspiration from Jesus in the Garden I was inspired to write about this topic for this blog post as I was reading about Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. In Luke 22:42-44, the man Jesus and probably the Spirit Jesus was so grieved over what He was about to endure that it would seem that he had burst capillaries in his face as we’re told, “His sweat became like drops of blood” (NASB95). Desire for Company in Suffering He didn’t want advice, he didn’t want encouragement from His human friends, but He did want them close as we know that He said He was deeply grieved to the point of death (Mark 14:34). He was hurting. The Company of Closest Friends He asked the main group of disciples to wait, then he took Peter, James, and John further into the garden. He wanted them to “keep watch.” He’s asking them to stay awake and alert. He needed the company of His closest friends. Learning from Jesus’ Example Jesus asked for company, yet so often we try to go it alone. We don’t want to admit that we’re struggling. Yet, if the Lord desired companionship, and admitted the significance of His pain, then why should we do differently? Transparency and Vulnerability Admittedly, there is a second lesson here as the “keep watch” is also tied to the use of sleeping as death. He tells them to avoid temptation. But despite this aspect being very clearly present, the beginning of this passage (Mark 14:32-42) shows a Jesus that is transparent and vulnerable. He clearly needed support. Cherishing Genuine Relationships I encourage you to think about your tribe. Think about all the people that you might consider going to in a time of need. Are any of them people that you could truly trust to love you no matter what? Are any of them willing to really hear your heart? All too often, when someone asks, “How are you?” we don’t feel like we can give them the honest answer. We need to know that we can be real and bare our souls to someone. Nurturing Supportive Connections In counseling, I often fill this role for people, but they all understand that the goal is for them to be able to function without me, So, they must learn to develop and foster these relationships.
Finding Peace in a Busy World: Embracing Sabbath Rest and Daily Reflections
Appreciating the Journey Together First, I want to thank you for sticking with me on this journey, and I hope that I am serving you. That is the whole point after all. In that vein, a couple more people have answered the brief survey here. If you haven’t yet, I would love to hear from you. Please know that your responses are anonymous. This is good for your privacy and bad if your response needs to be put in context. Finding Peace in a Busy World Of course, for the few that answer, I suspect that there are many more that have the same concerns. Today, I want to talk about finding peace in a busy world. This is important even for those who don’t realize it. The question was asked by someone who knows they need a slower pace than they get. But others who don’t even realize that they need to slow down are usually plagued by a certain amount of anxiety. Finding Peace in a Busy World by Rediscovering the Sabbath We need to take a Sabbath. In Mark 2:27, Jesus tells the religious leaders that the Sabbath is for man, not man for the Sabbath. The point is not that we should just ignore the Sabbath, not at all. We still need to worship and rest. It’s a day that we set aside for focusing on God and relaxing. How many people know what that means? Finding Peace in a Busy World by Aligning Days of Rest Technically, the Sabbath should be on Saturday. So, most of society already is aligned with Sunday being the day for Sabbath, contrary to scripture. “But I work on Sunday…” When I was pastoring, we had services on Saturday and Sunday. Because I had to get up to an alarm clock and was obligated to be somewhere, that wasn’t much of a Sabbath by my thinking. So, Wednesday became my Sabbath day. And on whatever day the Sabbath lands, I do nothing until I feel like it. I may do work around the house, but only if I come to a point where I want to. The Significance of Daily Personal Time Then there is the subject of taking time each day for yourself. Different people need different amounts. In my counseling, I look at the person’s temperament, which is like personality, but it’s what was put into you during the development process in the womb. I recommend reading and really digging into Psalm 139. But today we’re just going to look at verse 13 as it’s relevant to God putting a temperament in us. Some temperaments need to take time for themselves daily, and rarely do. Others are more prone to do it but need it less. But we all need some quiet time. Finding Peace in a Busy World by Prioritizing Self-Care Amidst Busyness “I don’t have time to take time for myself!” Oh, I hear that so often. The truth is that although it may feel awkward and uncomfortable to take time for yourself, the truth is that when you recharge, you are a better spouse, parent, employee, you name it. I’m not recommending laziness, but deliberateness. Every morning I sit on my deck with a cup of coffee and my Bible. After I’ve done my reading, I look at the mountain across the way and thank God for allowing me to enjoy the view. Then maybe I’ll listen to the birds or watch the wind in the bushes and trees. A Call to Embrace Stillness I don’t care how you do it, but I strongly suggest you take time daily not only for devotions, but to just BE. The busy world will still be there when you come back. Let me know if that works for you. I’d be happy to help you work it out, informally or more formally through counseling.
Embracing Jesus’ Compassionate Ministry: Discovering Divine Insights Through Daily Bible Reading
Approaching Bible Reading with Depth and Embracing Jesus’ Compassionate Ministry I don’t know how you read the Bible. When I’m working on a sermon, a book, or even a blog post, I might dig deep to make sure I understand any cultural or historical implications. But for my daily Bible reading time at the beginning of each day, I have a very specific habit. I will read just one chapter and then write down what God said to me in that passage. Then I will write down my response to Him. This started as something I had to do as part of my schooling for counseling. I’ve kept a spreadsheet with these entries for years. Capturing the Details: A Singular Focus The reason for only reading one chapter and then recording what God said to me is to make sure that I am not missing anything. When we just sit and read, it’s too easy to gloss over and stop catching all the fine details. We usually get the overall gist, but there are beautiful nuggets that are easy to miss. Returning to the New Testament: The Book of Mark I’d been reading the Old Testament for a while. It was time to switch back to the New Testament for a bit, and I picked the Book of Mark. In Mark chapter 5, there are three specific miracles that Jesus performs. One is not even in Israel nor for Israelites. He casts a legion of demons out of a man and into a herd of pigs. It’s easy to forget that He ministered to Gentiles. Journeying with Compassion: Healing the Afflicted After that, He is heading to the home of a synagogue official named Jairus, as the man’s daughter is very ill. On the way there, he feels power flow from Him and looks around, asking who touched Him. A woman who would have been considered unclean due to the nature of her malady comes forward and nervously admits that she touched Him. A Touch of Healing: A Touch of Faith He looked down at the woman who was trembling as she bowed to the ground before Him. He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace and be healed of your affliction.” (Mark 5:34) A Glimpse of Christ’s Compassion I knew all of this. I’m very familiar with the chapter. But using my method of reading the Bible, I was reminded of the incredible compassion of Christ. Discussing the man born blind as told in John 9, Matthew Henry made the point that Jesus saw people. He saw them as they were and cared for them as they were. Henry wrote about how Jesus would see someone through a crowd and go to them. Embracing Jesus’ Compassionate Ministry: A Source of Strength His compassion is amazing. It was amazing two thousand years ago when He emptied Himself to become like sinful flesh (Phil 2:6-7) and is amazing today. I encourage you to feel the amazing compassion of the Lord and bask in it. Accept His compassion and let it wash away self-loathing and all the excuses for feeling worthless. As we do that, we have more ability to share His compassion with a needy world. As always, I’m here if you need help.
Overcoming Feelings of Inadequacy and Embracing God’s Love
Introduction So many individuals in our world grapple with feelings of inadequacy and failure. Whether it’s due to unmet expectations or lacking approval, these emotions can be deeply ingrained. In this blog post, I want to share some wisdom I’ve gained through counseling and my book, “How to be a Christian in Today’s World: Shame or Fear of Failure vs. Living Confidently in God’s Love,” to help address these issues. The Weight of Expectations Growing up with high expectations from my father, I felt the burden of living up to his approval. Unfortunately, he passed away before I could attain it, leaving me with feelings of inadequacy. Many others face similar situations or may never have received approval from their family, resulting in an ongoing struggle with feelings of unworthiness and a sense of being undeserving of love. Finding Strength in God’s Image In Genesis 1:26-27, we are reminded that God created humankind in His image. Just as my daughter bears my likeness, we, too, are made in God’s image, forming a familial connection with Him. Recognizing this truth allows us to accept the value that God places on us and to embrace ourselves as part of His family. Accepting God’s Valuation of Us If God, as our Creator, values us and cherishes us as family, we should learn to accept and appreciate ourselves as well. Romans 12:3 advises us not to think more highly of ourselves than necessary, but rather to have sound judgment as God has given each of us a measure of faith. Understanding our self-worth can be a journey that requires prayer and introspection. Reflecting on God’s Perspective To combat poor self-image, we must seek God’s perspective of ourselves. In counseling, I often encourage my clients to spend time in prayer, making a list of the qualities God sees in them. This process helps shift the focus from actions to inherent traits and reinforces the truth of their worth in God’s eyes. Conclusion If you find yourself struggling with feelings of insecurity and low self-worth, I hope the suggestions shared in this blog post will provide some guidance. Remember, you are uniquely made in God’s image and belong to His family. Embrace His love and understanding of your true worth. If you need further assistance or have questions, feel free to reach out to me. May you find strength and confidence in God’s love for you.
