Personal Declaration

In November 2022 I was so blessed to take some extended time off to rest and replenish my soul. I had been serving in ministry for 15+ years and in that time I finished my Bachelors, started a Biblical Counseling ministry from ground zero in our home church, completed my Masters, started my Doctorate, my dad passed away, one year later my mom-in-law passed away, two years after that my mom, who lived with us for 3 years, passed away, and 3 months after that I defended for my Doctorate, and graduated a month later. 

To say I hit a wall is an understatement. The thing I learned about a wall, is that you don’t know it's there until you ram right into it and it knocks you flat. In John Eldredge’s book: Resilient, he tells the story of how camels function. I learned something about camels that I never knew before. He teaches us that camels have a “legendary resilience…” ; camels traverse across the desert for any length of time, at the same height of strength and energy, until they don’t. There is no sign of waning. No warning that they are tired or getting worn…they simply just stop, drop and die. That hit deep in the core of my soul. 

Eldredge goes on to share that we humans also, “…have an astonishing capacity to rally in the face of calamity and duress. We rally and rally, and one day we discover there’s nothing left. Our soul simply says, I’m done; I don’t want to do this anymore, as we collapse into discouragement, depression, or just blankness of soul.”[1]

During my sabbatical, I had the opportunity to participate in a one-on-one, weeklong intensive for leaders. It was absolutely life changing. One of the things my counselor had me do was create a declaration. We had worked through quite a bit of heart issues, and I learned a lot (more on that in other blog posts). Near the end of our time, she asked me to write a declaration that I could return to over and over as a reminder and an anchor to hold me steady when waves come again. I have not done this perfectly, but it is written, and I do return to it, like a North Star for my soul time and time again. 

I want to encourage you to spend some time doing the same thing so that you can remember WHAT GOD SAYS IS TRUE. WHAT GOD ASKS OF YOU, and, HOW YOU WILL FIND THE STRENGTH IN HIM TO GET IT DONE! 

Here is mine...

Daughter, 

Here is what I say is true…

MY LOVE IS ENOUGH. Know and believe that YOUR VALUE WAS SETTLED on the cross through my Son, Jesus and I have prepared a place for you at MY table, so TAKE A SEAT and FIND CONTENTMENT in Me. 

Therefore, this is what I ask of you…

In humble boldness live out your call in my strength and power through counseling, writing, teaching, speaking and leading. 

Stay on the road I called you to drive on, taking no exits unless I have asked you to. 

Remember I have called you to return and strengthen your brothers (Luke 22:31). I designed your purpose to pour yourself out to the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted (Isaiah 58:10) to fulfill your mission in helping people create a genuine faith (1 Peter 1:7).

And this is how you will find the strength in me to get this done…

I will strengthen you; I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand (Isaiah 41:10).

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye on you (Psalm 32:8).

I will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, a spring of water whose waters never fail (Isaiah 58:11).

Be encouraged, 

M

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[1] John Eldridge. Resilient: Restoring Your Weary Soul in These Turbulent Times. (Nashville: Nelson Books, 2022).