Blog: Glimmers in the Fog by Kim Stiver

Gratitude, the Great Antidote

11/27/2019

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Gratitude the Great Antidote for the Heart

Glimmers in the Fog will be taking the month of December off in celebration of the holiday season!

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“Thank you.” Two short, simple words. Yet, often so profoundly hard to say from the heart. Even more difficult to utter when we are in the midst of struggle, anger, or frustration. If most of us were really honest with ourselves, we’d admit that saying it doesn’t come naturally. Why else would parents have to so diligently instruct and prompt small children to get in the habit of responding with appreciation? Even now, so many decades later, I can still recall the sound of my mom’s voice. “What do you say,” she would ask after the bank teller handed me a lollipop, or my neighbor would return a toy left in their yard. I would like to think that I would’ve come up with some nice gesture of gratitude on my own, unprompted by a parent. A hug, perhaps? Or at least a smile. But as cute as they are, kids are born with the instinct to look out for number one, and I think I was no different.

As we grow up, most of us become reasonably competent at expressing thanks when anyone shows us special consideration or offers a gift. Of course, some never seem to acknowledge kindness, which spoils the beauty and purity of many kind deeds or gifts. But on the whole, most people learn to respond with at least a nod of appreciation automatically. So, why then, do we struggle so much to offer heartfelt gratitude to God regularly? Is it that we don’t remember Him? Perhaps it’s because we don’t recognize the constant blessings being poured out on us daily. Maybe all the hardships and disappointments obscure His goodness. I guess the list of reasons for our lack of continual thankfulness could be as endless as the flood of blessings themselves.

The Thanksgiving holiday seems to function as an annual parental reminder to pause, acknowledge our blessings, and say thank you to those we cherish and hopefully to God as well. And I’m not saying that’s a bad thing at all. But I am curious what would happen if more followers of Jesus would spend time expressing heartfelt gratitude to God every single day of the year, not just once a day, but throughout the day, for all things. Yes, not just the obviously good things, but also the difficulties and disappointments because every single one of them will work together for the glory of God… at some point. Maybe we won't see it happen any time soon. Or perhaps not ever. But if we say we believe in God, and if we truly trust Him, then that’s what’s required of us. We must believe that He loves us beyond what we can fathom, and while we may not understand what His plan is, we rejoice in the unseen, unknowable blessings that are to come inevitably.

This kind of gratitude is not naturally within us, but it’s what our souls are longing for as new creations in Christ. And the more we get in the habit of soul-deep appreciation, the more automatic it becomes… the more blessings we will recognize around us… and the more joy will overflow from our hearts. Simply put — Gratitude. Changes. Everything. It is an effective weapon against almost every ailment of the heart, including worry, anger, bitterness, frustration, unhappiness, greed, selfishness, and pride, just to name a few. Like an immediate antidote for poisonous thoughts, sincere appreciation lifted in praise to Jesus works quickly to lift our spirits and shift our perspectives. And this amazing heavenly cure can be applied to almost any situation in every area of our lives, from relationships and careers, to finances and parenting.

It’s a prescription that the Apostle Paul applied to almost every kind of emotional or spiritual ailment. And if his life is any indication of hardship and suffering, then he was a great test case. If it weren’t for his incessant practice of praising God in everything, it would’ve been impossible for him to continue championing the Gospel of Jesus around the world, much less exude infectious joy in the process of doing so. He sang in prison. He joyously declared the Gospel in the face of persecution. He rebounded from great injury only to return to his mission without taking a vacation. He patiently listened to opponents in almost every culture. He laughed contentedly in the pit of poverty and hunger. He followed his own advice from 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18: “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

One of Billy Graham’s last written messages, “How to Be Thankful in All Things,” was published for Thanksgiving 2017. He passed away just a few months later. It was no secret that Billy was ready to be with Jesus in eternity. He often talked of seeing his beloved wife Ruth again, and said many times that he was excited about the day of his earthly departure. “I’m looking forward to it — I really am. I’ll be happy the day the Lord says, ‘Come on. I’ve got something better planned.’” And so, I think his words about thanksgiving are particularly poignant and wise for those of us a tad bit younger than his 99 years.

“Nothing turns us into bitter, selfish, dissatisfied people more quickly than an ungrateful heart. And nothing will do more to restore contentment and the joy of our salvation than a true spirit of thankfulness,” he wrote. “I don’t know what trials you may be facing right now, but God does, and He loves you and is with you by His Holy Spirit. Cultivate a spirit of thankfulness even during trials and heartaches.” Billy then goes on to tell stories of both ungrateful and thankful people alike, all of whom he’d met or had received letters from through the years. He comes to the conclusion that those who are richest, most joyful, have the best relationships, and enjoy the most rewarding lives, are those who are thankful in every circumstance and throughout each day.

As we prepare to launch into another holiday season, it’s so easy to get crazy busy and put off any thought of adding anything else to our to-do lists. We want nothing else that will add any measure of effort or thinking to the merry-go-round in our brains. “Ugh,” you might be thinking right now, “I don’t have time to add another spiritual discipline to my day.” If that’s you, I totally get it. But perhaps you are not aware of the surprising power of expressing gratitude to God for anything and everything throughout the day. And if you practice it regularly, in just a few short weeks it will become second nature for you. It has some incredible and almost immediate byproducts that will actually help slow the spinning of your mind and give you a greater sense of calm, primarily through the hectic days ahead. While there are many positive changes people experience when cultivating a thankful heart, here are five things that came to my mind when I contemplated my own walk with Jesus.

A greater sense of security and peace in God - Philippians 4:6-7, James 1:2-4
A more joyful demeanor - Psalm 28:7; Psalm 118:15
A greater level of patience with yourself and others - Galatians 5:22-23, 2 Corinthians 4:14-15
A more generous and contented spirit - 2 Corinthians 9:10-15
A humbler, more gentle heart - Romans 1:21, James 1:14-17

Perhaps you noticed something else about the five effects of cultivating frequent thankfulness and praises to God? All of them will make life better for those around you, as well. And when people feel better about being around you, your relationships will improve, you’ll have more support during times of need, and your reasons to be grateful will increase all the more. If complaining and worry lead to a vicious downward spiral, then being grateful leads to an upward one. You can’t be grouchy, sullen, hopeless, or self-centered when you’re in the habit of being grateful. Taking the first step is always the hardest, of course, because human nature is naturally inclined toward inertia. But if the Holy Spirit is speaking to you right now, don’t pretend you don’t hear Him or think that it’s just your own mind talking. Instead, take the opportunity to praise God for His presence, and then take a leap of faith into His arms with an outburst of gratitude. If you want to radiate the love of Jesus, thanking Him in absolutely everything is a foolproof way to do it. You’ll be glad you did, and so will everyone around you.
Happy Holidays! Glimmers in the Fog will be taking a break throughout December.

Five-Day Devotional Guide For Further Reflection and Daily Spiritual Journaling
These readings from today’s message can be used for a single-day study or your daily quiet time throughout the week. Before you begin reading the passage for each day, spend some time asking God to open your heart to His truth and hearing His voice.
Following each reading, spend time journaling about what you think God might be saying to you through the Scriptures.
Day 1 - When we praise God and give thanks to Him, we will receive a greater sense of security and peace. Read Philippians 4:6-7 and James 1:2-4.
Day 2 - When we praise God and give thanks to Him, we will experience a change in our perspective to have a more joyful demeanor. Read Psalm 28:7 and Psalm 118:15.
Day 3 - When we praise God and give thanks to Him, the Holy Spirit will inhabit our praise and produce spiritual fruit, such as greater patience with yourself and others. Read Galatians 5:22-23 and 2 Corinthians 4:14-15.
Day 4 - When we praise God and give thanks to Him, over time we will find ourselves becoming more generous and content with what we have and the circumstances we are in. Read 2 Corinthians 9:10-15.
Day 5 - When we praise God and give thanks to Him, the Holy Spirit will create in us a humbler and more gentle heart. Read Romans 1:21 and James 1:14-17.

What do you think of today's message? Comment and share your thoughts on this post! And if God brought someone to mind as you read or listened, please encourage them by sharing this post today!

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Harnessing the Power of Habit

11/20/2019

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There’s nothing like a major life event to upend the apple cart of habits. Bad ones seem to get worse, and good ones become harder to keep. And while I’ve written about the power of habit and routines before, like so many other life-altering topics, this is one that God keeps reminding me to pay attention to… and I’m guessing that He always will. No matter how much we mature, the force of habit is something that will always live inside of us. Sometimes we grow out of a bad habit and manage to cultivate a good one. Other times, we grow complacent and let old habits creep back in, even when we thought we’d banished them forever. And in what might be the worst-case scenario, we occasionally discover that what we thought was a good thing to do has actually been causing us harm for a very long time. Good, bad, new, or old, the force of habit is both shocking and powerful in its ability to either prevent change or create it. That’s because habits are rarely, if ever, neutral in their effect. They either entrench a behavior or challenge it.

In his groundbreaking book, The Power of Habit, Charles Duhigg said, “(Habits) shape our lives far more than we realize — they are so strong, in fact, that they cause our brains to cling to them at the exclusion of all else, including common sense.” When hearing that statement, I immediately feel better about myself, and perhaps you do as well. After all, misery loves company, right? But despite knowing that all the emotions we feel about having to change or give up a habit are entirely natural, we are still faced with the challenges associated with changing our routines and behaviors throughout our lifetimes. Things that worked in college, don’t always help us in the work world. What succeeds in one job may be the worst thing we could do in another one. Ways of handling relationships, money, food, our bodies, lifestyle choices, and even our spare time all must evolve if we want to remain on the beneficial side of habits and routines.

For the past two summers in a row, I’ve experienced a renewed sense of awe and some bewilderment at how closely habits are also tied to our sense of place, as much as they are related to our preferences and weaknesses. I originally wrote about the force of habit last year when a deluge of out-of-town house guests over a two-month period caused me to wonder if I was getting too set in my ways. At the time, I thought their disruption of my daily routines and the order of my world was at a minimum noticeable and occasionally uncomfortable, but I now know that their impact was downright mild compared to the challenge my husband and I faced this summer when we uprooted our lives and moved across the country. Everything about our sense of place was altered. Guests weren’t just injecting themselves into our world for a few days or weeks. We left our generally comfortable world behind to inject ourselves into a sea of unfamiliarity. All of my routines went out the window, and many of my bad habits found their way into my new life first, long before the good ones even had a chance to unpack.

Being out of routine in the place where you dwell is naturally unsettling, so our bodies and minds immediately experience dissonance when a familiar environment becomes inhospitable to our habits. This is why changing our bad habits is so hard in the first place. We are conditioned to them, and we naturally return to them, especially in times of weakness, stress, or sadness. According to Duhigg, “Habits, scientists say, emerge because the brain is constantly looking for ways to save effort. Left to its own devices, the brain will try to make almost any routine into a habit, because habits allow our minds to ramp down more often.”
Yet the Word of God tells us that we have a power far greater within us than that of habits.

Hebrews 12 is one of my favorite scripture passages about the importance of keeping good habits and working to change the bad ones. In verse 11, we find incredible encouragement: “For the moment, all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.” This verse hangs on my wall above my computer to remind me that being watchful of our habits and making tough changes to our routines can only be done through critical observation and continuous training.

Paul goes on to say in verse 12: “Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed.” The Holy Spirit will lift us up, empower us, and give us the endurance to make hard changes and then stick with healthy habits of all kinds, no matter whether they are spiritual, physical, or relational in nature. Paul had firsthand experience with replacing bad habits with new ones. Imagine the changes that he had to make when he abandoned his life as a Jewish persecutor of Christians and became a Christ-follower himself. Every habit, schedule, expectation, and routine he possessed needed to change. And when you’re facing a mountain of changes all at once, there’s nothing Satan wants to achieve more than to bring you down and make you feel weak in the knees. That’s when we need to lift our tired and weary hands regardless of our emotions and sing praises to the One who will always strengthen and encourage our hearts.

Sometimes it’s tempting to think that God doesn’t understand the power of habit in our lives, especially when we sense the Holy Spirit prompting us to make very difficult changes. But the One who made us in His very image and knows every thought that pops in our heads or lingers in our hearts, completely understands the ramifications of how He made us. Proverbs 5:21 says, “For God sees everything you do and His eyes are wide open as He observes every single habit you have.” God created the power of habit and He knows firsthand how it can be used for our good or for our detriment. That’s why Psalm 64:10 says to make praise your habit because God is always at work, and Hebrews 10:24-25 encourages us to stick with the habit of gathering together in fellowship, teaching, and worship. “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” The body of Christ thrives when its people join together and spur each other on in habits that glorify God and draw us closer to Him.

The Bible also promises us success when we honor God with our lives as living sacrifices, which is the same thing as turning our daily habits, goals, resources, and time over to Him to direct and manage for His purposes. 2 Timothy 1:7 says, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.” As believers, we have the power inside of us to change any habit and cultivate a life that points to Jesus. I am reminded of this every day before I exercise. I don’t want to exercise. As a matter of fact, I downright dread it. But there’s no room for laziness when committing to a good, but a difficult habit to maintain. If I let just one day go, with the exception of simply being unable to exercise due to something like an illness, then I suddenly find that it’s even easier to let the second day slide, and the third day after that… and before I know it, I’ve fallen off the fitness wagon and onto my couch… with a bag of popcorn. And maybe some Ben & Jerry’s. Not good.

Mental habits are no exception to laziness, either. As a continually recovering worrier, I must exercise the muscles of my mind every day to avoid sliding into anxiety or negative thoughts. Yes, there are days I fail at exercise and at cultivating a peaceful heart (usually on the same day!), but deep-diving into scripture study, singing praise to God, and spending time in prayer are good habits that also act as guardrails to keep me from completely sliding off the cliffs of laziness, complacency, and discouragement.

I’m sure someone out there listening to this or reading this post is feeling discouraged about their habits and wanting to shout at me, “You make it sound so easy. You have no idea what kind of habit I’m dealing with or how many times I’ve failed to make a change.” And that’s one of the reasons that encouraging people in their faith through blogging and podcasting is so very difficult. Real changes… difficult changes… lasting changes are best cemented in community. We may read a book and find newfound motivation, but the impact probably won’t last without accountability from others. We might find incredible inspiration in hearing someone’s testimony in a podcast or maybe during a Sunday sermon, but without creating our own action plan and making it personal, all the inspiration in the world will likely fizzle. Harnessing the power of habit is possible, but it takes incredible effort, a long time, multiple failures, and usually a village to make it happen.

Centuries ago, the Renaissance-era scholar Desiderius Erasmus wisely said, “A nail is driven out by another nail. Habit is overcome by habit.” Any habits we want to change for the better cannot simply be removed. We must replace them with another habit, that offers us more. Only Jesus does that. Only an intensely intimate and deeply personal habit of living in the presence of God stands a chance of holding a candle to the comfort of routine behaviors designed to make us feel better physically or emotionally on a temporary basis. Clearly, Erasmus was well ahead of his time regarding the power of habit and human resistance to change. History tells us that he advocated tirelessly for reformation within the church prior to Martin Luther’s arrival on the scene. He challenged many detrimental practices and encouraged religious leaders to put an end to a number of abuses in the name of faith.

Today, however, we live in an age where a person’s sense of self and identity is commonly wrapped up in their physical characteristics, desires, and actions. Most people are not looking toward faith for the answers pressing on their hearts. Yet Jesus holds out His hand and tells us to crave something more than what our five senses can give us. What He offers is the only thing that will truly satisfy and never be taken from us, yet we so often trade the most fulfilling thing in the world for a moment of habit-driven pleasure, peace, or happiness. Our identity is sadly misaligned through the culmination of our habits and routines. David Mathis, who wrote Habits of Grace, puts it this way: “Your habits are, in fact, one of the most important things about you. Those repeated actions you take over and over, almost mindlessly, reveal your true self over time as much as anything else.”

In the next few minutes, you and I will both do something out of habit. Another cup of coffee, perhaps. A nervous cough when we see someone we don’t want to talk to. Time in front of the TV with our favorite show. While every moment has its purpose, God understands that we need to relax, recharge, and laugh. He knows that there is comfort in routines and familiarity. But He also intends for us to join Him as He works in hearts and minds around us. And sometimes, the comfort of our habits can blind us to extraordinary opportunities popping up all around us. We need to remember that the Holy Spirit can turn anything routine into something life-changing. So instead of looking at everything you do through the lens of effort expended or pleasure rewarded, why not start asking God to invade your habits for His glory and His use?

Being reminded of how powerful my habits are and how important God’s calling should be in my life, has made me realize the very things I don’t usually think about are some of the most critical things to actually spend time thinking about. Harnessing the power of our habits is certainly not easy, but yielding to the Holy Spirit to help us do it gives us a power that’s even greater than the force of the habits themselves.

Five-Day Devotional Guide For Further Reflection and Daily Spiritual Journaling
These readings from today’s message can be used for a single-day study or your daily quiet time throughout the week. Before you begin reading the passage for each day, spend some time asking God to open your heart to His truth and hearing His voice.
Day 1 - Read and meditate upon Proverbs 5:21, Isaiah 55:8-9, and Proverbs 3:5. How does it bring you comfort to know that God sees your every habit? Are you willing to trust His ways and direction more than your own analysis and wisdom? Spend a few minutes asking God to search your heart in the days ahead and commit to being open to His promptings. Write down anything He whispers to your heart.
Day 2 - Begin with prayer and then sit in God’s presence without words for at least five minutes. Spend some time journaling today about your habits. Write without judgment or trying to make decisions. Just focus on making observations. How do you find that your habits change when you find yourself out of your normal routine or place? What do you think that reveals to you? What things do you do every day or every week, no matter what? Which of your habits were taught to you or modeled by someone else, like a parent?
Day 3 - Read Psalm 139:23-24 and then spend some time meditating on it and praying. What habits do you think God is telling you to modify, give up, or replace in some way? What new habits is He leading you to start doing?
Day 4 - Read Hebrews 12:11-12 in at least three different translations of the Bible. Spend some time asking God to reveal any fruits of His Spirit in your life or lessons learned as a result of going through a time of suffering, change, or discipline. Then spend time praising and thanking God for them.
Day 5 - Today, set aside time to make an action plan for change. Don’t try to change more than one habit at a time, but instead, ask God to help you prioritize which one to tackle first. Be sure to include the reasons behind making the changes, because going back and reviewing your “why” will be critical to your success. Once you are ready, pray over your steps and ask God to give you an accountability partner for the journey. You may also want to seek out resources to help you in the process prayerfully.

What do you think of today's message? Comment and share your thoughts on this post! And if God brought someone to mind as you read or listened, please encourage them by sharing this post today!

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Celebrating two Years of Glimmers!

11/13/2019

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Celebrating two years of Glimmers in the Fog with its Top 5 Posts of All Time

After two years, almost 100 posts/episodes, and an average audience of almost 1,000 people per week, it seemed fitting to celebrate by sharing the top five messages of Glimmers in the Fog so far. This list was compiled based on page views and audio plays combined. If you missed any of these, you might want to check them out... or listen to them again. And if one of these is your favorite too, why not share it with someone else? It might be the very thing he or she needs to hear today!
#5 - Why Every Soul Needs Spiritual Sandpaper
#4 - Steadfastness in Times of Change
#3 - The Five Lies of Social Media Part 1 and Part 2
#2 - When God's Love and Our Pain Collide
#1 - The Surprising Truth about Spiritual Laziness
Thank you for being a faithful reader and listener! If there's a topic you want to see addressed on Glimmers, reach out and let me know!

Glimmers Celebrates 2 Years with its Top 5 Posts of All Time

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Broken Made Beautiful

11/6/2019

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Brokenness is Made Beautiful in the Hands of God

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It seemed like the day would never come, but on Friday, I finally unpacked the last moving box. Okay, so there are a few boxes that I’m not ever going to unpack. You know the ones… they’re loaded down with cheesy grammar school photos and homespun mementos of summer camping trips. But when it comes to the boxes that should be unpacked, I’m all done. I even emptied a few that I had marked for “deep storage,” which made me feel especially proud of myself. And just as I was reveling in the thought of being completely settled and patting myself on the back for small victories, it hit me how much I had forgotten by storing away dozens of years of my life in the attic.

Pawing through all the layers of memories, I was amazed at how quickly and easily my mind returned to another time. I could see vivid details of my old neighborhood streets and could almost smell the pungent boughs of a Christmas tree framed in the early morning light. Most of the stories that resurfaced were good ones, but a few made me wish I hadn’t opened a particular box. And it was then that I suddenly felt washed in a blanket of mercy. Thank goodness God allows us — and I think sometimes He makes us — forget certain things or experiences until we’re ready… until He’s prepared us… to unpack them again. In His endless mercy and wisdom, He knows that some stories can’t bear to be retold until the road stretches far enough behind us for wounds to be healed, and our hindsight is clear enough to bring appreciation and understanding.

One of my favorite Bible verses is Ecclesiastes 3:11, which begins with, “He makes everything beautiful in its time.” It’s a surprisingly hopeful statement for a book that is largely a downer comparatively speaking to the rest of Scripture. And although I have this verse written on a chalkboard in my office, I had never really thought to apply it to my past. Instead, I’ve been using it as a reminder to be patient while I wait on the Lord to open doors. The verse reassures me that waiting on God without grumbling or jumping the gun is rewarded because our Father never does anything half-heartedly or at the wrong time.

Yet, as I sat there surrounded by mostly silly junk and some 80s photos with my hair teased high enough to reach a ceiling fan, the Holy Spirit brought this Scripture to me in a fresh way, along with the rest of the verse, which concludes with, “Also, He has put eternity into man's heart, yet so that He cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.” So true to the rest of the theme of Ecclesiastes, one of the most beautiful lines is followed by a frustrating letdown. It makes me smile because it’s like Solomon, the author, is giving the reader this cheeky grin and saying with great sarcasm, “Have faith, cause everything God does is amazing. Even the stuff you think is the most horrible or difficult. He’ll make it all come out in the wash and adorn you in the finest garment you can imagine. You’re going to look fabulous — simply radiant and whole — in His presence. But… before you get too excited… just know that between now and then, you’re not going to have a clue what He’s doing or why He’s doing it.” And for the remainder of that passage, Solomon reminds us that God is going to do what He’s going to do. He then goes on to advise us to accept the Lord’s sovereignty and just move on with life.

And while Solomon’s words ring true as only a pessimistic statement can, we know that God doesn’t leave us comfortless in our seasons of waiting, questioning, hurting, and emptiness. While we may not be able to discern why He is doing something or why He allowed a bad story to be written in the first place, He does pour out new mercies for us each morning of our lives. That means every day of our lives. Not just the days you feel hopeful, happy, or whole. Lamentations 3:22-23 is also one of my favorite passages, and as I pair it up with the verse from Ecclesiastes, the picture of God’s love is complete… extravagant even. Most versions of the Lamentations passage include the phrase, “His mercies are new every morning.” But The Message translation fits with Ecclesiastes 3:11 like two beautiful puzzle pieces, so snugly aligned that it is hard to separate them. It reads, “God’s loyal love couldn’t have run out, His merciful love couldn’t have dried up. They’re created new every morning! How great is your faithfulness! I’m sticking with God (I say it over and over). He’s all I’ve got left.”

So in the two different verses, we hear from people who are at the end of their ropes — Solomon and his father David. They’re miserable. They both endured great hardship, but they also had seasons of great luxury, completely saturated with every pleasure the world has to offer. They both reaffirm their conviction that God is in control of everything, and He loves His people enough to take care of everything in His way and in His time. Both authors assure us that during the “dry” times, it may seem or feel as though He’s left, but His faithfulness will prove itself over and over.

As I traced the outline of faded photos and the edges of old diaries, I recalled how many situations seemed so tragic, so unredeemable at the time. From that vantage point and with only the experiences of a kid or young adult, the roots of my faith were not as strong as they are today. Of course, I’m not planning to decorate our house with tacky childhood artwork and faded trinkets, and I surely don’t want to spend time re-reading those diaries adorned with glitter hearts and pink butterflies. But I have found a new appreciation for the stories I had intentionally banished to the dark corners of our previous home’s attic. That’s because, from where I sit now, I can see God’s hand in almost every one of them. He did use them. He did redeem them. He did make me whole again.

One relic from my childhood is extra special. It has made it to a prominent position in our home and is on permanent display. However, it is not the original item’s significance or even its physical appearance that makes it worthy to come out of deep storage. I cherish it because of its brokenness. Originally it was a simple, average commemorative baby plate with my name and birthday painted on it. But almost 20 years ago, it was accidentally dropped and shattered in about a dozen pieces. The person who broke it had hurt me in so many other ways, that I seemed to transpose much of my disappointment and pain onto those shattered pieces. They were symbolic of my suffering, some of which I had brought on myself after a few years of very bad decisions. Looking at those small blue and white china pieces was almost like looking at my own heart and soul. At that time, I wasn’t walking close to Jesus. Despite all of that, I couldn’t bring myself to throw the broken plate away. There was some pull inside of me… perhaps just poetic romanticism… or maybe something deeper and spiritual in nature… that made me believe it could somehow be fixed. I wanted my life to be fixed, too, but I had no idea how God could ever bring healing at that point.

Fast forward a decade later, and God has made everything beautiful in His time. My husband’s sweet grandmother had a talent for creating mosaics from broken ceramics and old china pieces. Before she passed away, she lovingly made something completely new out of my broken treasure. With her help, it became whole again and far more resilient than ever before. And with true poetic romanticism, it sits in a place of honor it never would’ve had if it hadn’t been broken in the first place. I’m sure you know where this analogy is going, don’t you? Like the plate commemorating my birth into this world, Jesus had also lovingly brought rebirth to my heart and soul. Just as Grandma Ann gave new life and value to a cheap souvenir, God redeemed my life and restored hope to my wounded heart.

Since the plate broke and Grandma turned the meaningless pieces into a new work of art more than 10 years ago, I never realized until this week that such a beautiful story was sitting on my bedroom dresser. I’ve had a lot of readers and listeners ask me how I come up with ideas and stories for Glimmers in the Fog, and I think today’s message is a perfect example to share. So here’s how the idea came to me. For some strange reason, a few days ago, I found myself staring at the plate while putting on my earrings. And I was reminded of what a precious treasure it is because of who put it back together. That thought lingered for the rest of the day, making me smile when other things weren’t going smoothly. And then yesterday at lunchtime, I was outside squeezing in a much-needed power walk and asking God what He wanted me to write about this week. And as I struggled to tune my ears to Him and not my endless to-do list, I suddenly had a thought. Some stories shouldn’t be unpacked too soon. They need time to mature and mellow before they are opened up and experienced again. Just as a fine wine needs many years on a shelf before it can be appreciated, so God sometimes intentionally keeps things obscured from us until we’re prepared to see them properly. We just have to trust Him and not our own logic or assumptions.

Even more amazing, today is the anniversary of Grandma’s passing, which wasn’t even on the forefront of my mind while I marveled at her handiwork. My husband texted me this morning to remind me when I told him what I was writing about. I know that some people would say it’s merely a coincidence, but because I believe God is the source of all things beautiful, all creativity, and He does love a good story, there’s no doubt in my mind that He authored this poetic ending on purpose. It is the same truth expressed in Hebrews 11:1, which says, “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” God loves us more than we can fathom or imagine, no matter what our perceptions and senses tell us. And He does make all things beautiful in His time. What an incredible reminder that no story God authors ever ends in brokenness. And the good news? All of our stories can be turned over to the greatest Editor of all time.

Five-Day Devotional Guide For Further Reflection and Daily Spiritual Journaling
These readings from today’s message can be used for a single-day study or your daily quiet time throughout the week. Before you begin reading the passage for each day, spend some time asking God to open your heart to His truth and hearing His voice.
Day 1 - Read Psalm 147:3 to focus your mind and eliminate your distractions. Ask the Holy Spirit to fill you and open your ears to His whisper. Then spend some time in quiet reflection at the feet of Jesus. Don’t say a word in your head or from your lips for at least five minutes. If it helps, you can listen to soft instrumental hymns. Then ask God this question: Father, what brokenness is within me that I haven’t released to you for healing? Write down the thoughts that come to your mind.
Day 2 - Sometimes, God allows difficulties and hardship to come our way specifically to lead us to a place of brokenness. Read Psalm 51:17 and spend time writing down anything that comes to your mind as a benefit of being broken in some way? What kinds of brokenness have you experienced? Are there any sins, rebellious ways, stubbornness, or pride that needs to be released or has been overcome in your life through brokenness?
Day 3 - It can be very hard to thank God for allowing us to be broken-hearted, rejected, and wounded. Yet the Word makes it clear that we are to thank Him in all things. Read 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 and James 1:2-4.
Day 4 - After we thank God for all things, the Word tells us to give Him praise. Lifting your heart to God when you’re grieving over difficult things, rejection, or losses takes great effort, but when you do, your heart will be lifted, and your soul will experience real joy. Read Psalm 147:1, Zephaniah 3:17 and Psalm 34:1-3, then spend time lifting your voice to Him — yes, out loud — through words of adoration and songs of praise.
Day 5 - No matter what suffering, pain, loss, or rejection comes our way, Jesus promises that He has already overcome. You can live with hope each day and believe that God will be with you. Read Lamentations 3:22-23, Jeremiah 29:11, and John 16:33 Spend a few moments asking God to give you a glimpse of hope, healing, and strength for whatever you are facing now or any “bad” stories you are trying to forget. Allow the Holy Spirit to unearth things in your heart that need His touch and then write down any themes of hope or encouragement that you hear from Him in the Scriptures or in prayer time.

What do you think of today's message? Comment and share your thoughts on this post! And if God brought someone to mind as you read or listened, please encourage them by sharing this post today!

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