Tag: Christ

• How to Deal with Unwanted and Lingering ‘Grief’ this Christmas

  Christmas time can be a time to make and remember sweet memories even as it also triggers grief because of those very memories or lost opportunities.  Typically, this is because of the loss of loved ones either because they died near Christmas long ago or because it’s one of your first Christmases without them. Sometimes […]

  BethSteffaniak

  December 19, 2021

  Acceptance, Anger, Avoidance, Bible Study, Bible Study Tools, Christ-Centered, Depression, Discouragement, Emotions, Faith in God, Grief, Hope, Marriage, Pain, Peace, Perspective, Prayer, Redemption, Self-Reflection, Spiritual Growth, Spiritual Practices, Stress, Trauma, Trials, Trust

  Christ, Christmas, Christmas Vacation, Cousin Eddie, Encouragement, Grief, Healing, Loss, Mourning, Pain, Scripture, Trials

• How to Face Suffering Like Jesus and Why it Helps

  

  This is a golden oldie I’ve pulled from my vault, written years ago. I hope it encourages you in every struggle and trial you face in life or marriage. Anyone who knows me well, knows I’m not much of a crier—at least not someone who usually cries publicly. But put me through a time of […]

  BethSteffaniak

  April 25, 2021

  Acceptance, Avoidance, Bible Study, Bible Study Tools, Choices, Christ-Centered, Discouragement, Encouragement, Faith in God, God’s Redemption, Grief, Jesus’ Sacrifice, Love, Love of God, Marriage, Pain, Perseverance, Positive Focus, Prayer, Purpose, Salvation, Self-sacrifice, Spiritual Growth, Spiritual Practices, Trials, Trust, Vulnerability

  Christ, Obedience, Pain, Perfection, Prayer, Salvation, Suffering, Trials, Troubles

• 10 Inspiring Ways Troubles Can Be Used to Ignite Joy

  

  I remember the moment like it was yesterday—the day I recognized the unbreakable link between troubles and joy. Ironically, that day and moment happened more than 20 years ago. 😉 My husband had just been called to pastor a church. And we were so excited to get started on that new journey. During those first […]

  BethSteffaniak

  April 18, 2021

  Acceptance, Bible Study, Bible Study Tools, Choices, Christ-Centered, Comfort, Contentment, Desires, Discouragement, Emotions, Encouragement, Faith in God, Grief, Jesus’ Sacrifice, Joy, Marriage, Pain, Perseverance, Positive Focus, Prayer, Spiritual Growth, Spiritual Practices, Unity

  Bible, Bible Study, Christ, Conflict, Encouragement, Joy, Suffering, Trials, Troubles, Unity

• How to Find Hope When You Feel Cursed in Marriage

  

  I entered marriage with the mistaken impression that it would always feel much more joyful than painful. Ironically, my parent’s marriage should have proven the opposite of that reality for me! 😉 Don’t misunderstand—it’s not as if my marriage hasn’t had plenty of joyful moments. It’s just that the joys have ALWAYS been mingled and […]

  BethSteffaniak

  September 20, 2020

  Acceptance, Bible Study, Bible Study Tools, Christ-Centered, Discouragement, Encouragement, Hope, Jesus’ Sacrifice, Joy, Marriage, Marriage Battle Strategies, Pain, Perseverance, Perspective, Positive Focus, Realistic Expectations, Redemption, Salvation, Spiritual Growth, Spiritual Warfare, Surrender, Thankfulness, Trials, Trust

  Christ, Conflict, Cross, curse, cursed, enemy, grateful, Hope, Marriage, Rejoice, Satan, Sin, Spiritual Warfare, Temptation

• 5 Verses and Prayers that Will Bless Your Marriage

  

  When Rev and I are enjoying moments of marital bliss, I don’t want to change a thing. But when, on those rare occasions, our conversations have been strained and we’ve had trouble connecting … we needed help.  Whether it has been our job challenges, kid problems, the stresses or busyness of life … whatever was going […]

  BethSteffaniak

  September 22, 2019

  Encouragement, Faith in God, Marriage, Oneness, Prayer, Spiritual Growth, Spiritual Practices

  Bible, Christ, Encouragement, Marriage Prayer, Oneness, Prayer, Praying Scripture, Scripture, Unity

• How to Apply and Integrate Your Identity in Marriage Troubles

  

  Staying in an unrelenting and difficult marriage can really take a toll on your sense of identity, making you feel as if you don’t know who you are apart from what you do.  People often try to fix this problem by doing more or different things—like exercising more so that you feel and look better. […]

  BethSteffaniak

  September 15, 2019

  Christ-Centered, Discouragement, Encouragement, Faith in God, Find Your Identity Series, Identity, Love of God, Marriage, Negative Self-Talk, Pain, Positive Focus, Salvation, Security, Truth

  Bible, Christ, Christ in You, Encouragement, finding your identity, Identity, Identity in Christ, Marriage, Troubles, Verses

• The Unfair Task to Love a Mate Who Won’t Love Back

  I grew up in a family that wasn’t very open with statements of love for each other. So I went into dating and marriage with a larger than average love-hunger. This drove me to expect a larger portion of love than any “love interest” could humanly feed me. As you can imagine, this put tremendous […]

  BethSteffaniak

  April 29, 2018

  Acceptance, Alienation, Avoidance, Christ-Centered, Connection, Discouragement, Encouragement, Expectations, Faith in God, Insecurity, Love, Love of God, Marriage, Pain, Perseverance, Positive Focus, Redemption, Resentments, Self-sacrifice, Unfair Realities in Marriage

  Anger, Christ, Conflict, Faith in God, God’s Love, Love, Rejection, Suffering, Unfair Task