About the Author

Anjuli grew up as a missionary kid secretly wondering, “Why does everyone else understand what a relationship with Jesus is, but me?” It wasn’t until she ran into her fears instead of from them, that Anjuli found her voice and the love of God meeting her there. She is a...

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(in)side DaySpring:
things we love
& you will too!
Find more at
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  1. You nailed it! GREAT great great – your writing is beautiful and relateable and touched my heart. Thank you for crafting and sharing!

    • My work is exhausting my energy. I was going through dozens of emails and texts that never seem to end with some resolution.
      I am trying to sell a house and be done before the holidays begin, not!
      I feel like such a failure. I had not been able to spend the quiet part of the morning, reading, praying, listening to God.
      Then there was this reflection.. . . and the words “hard becomes our holy.”
      I so needed that! Thank you for saying that.

      • Yes, Oretha, yes! I too have lost the morning devotion and quiet time that I so desperately need. Thank you, both of you, for this reminder that I’m not alone. I tend to think that the fact that I’m busy must be my fault, because I took on too much and now I’m paying for it. Thank you for reminding me that sometimes the hard is unavoidable, even if the hard isn’t someone else’s problem. I’ll be pr

    • Oretha, thanks for sharing! You certainly do have a lot going on. Bless you! I hope you get a quiet morning to be still and stay in the presence of God’s love for you.

  2. Thank you for this, Anjuli. Such beautiful words, so encouraging, and much needed reminders about how we never walk alone in our hardships. I needed this today!

  3. Whoa! The escalator image is overwhelmingly true, and I have painted myself into a busy corner this fall–all good things, but too many of them all at once. Thank you for encouraging words for riding out this season and doing better in the “no” department next time around. Thanks be to God, there is grace even for this!

  4. Anjuli,
    “Our hard become our offering” and “Our hard becomes our holy.” Amen. My heart really resonated with your post. You hit me exactly where I am….I want to jump off the roller coaster but I’m too high up. I want chronic pain to end. I want life and responsibilities to slow down. I feel like everyone wants a piece of me and there’s nothing left to give….bone dry. I try to grab rest and offer gratitude in the small segments that come, but my heart craves an extended period of rest. I’m not sure where we get this idea that this life should be easy?? The Bible tells us distinctly, “In this world you WILL have trouble, but take heart I have overcome the world.” I am beginning to take on a more eternal perspective. Not that I can’t have some small seasons of rest here on this earth, but it makes my heart homesick for heaven where there will be no more busyness, no heartache, no more strife, strain, trials, and struggle. It is then that we will truly be at rest and peace. Meanwhile, here on this earth I keep clinging to Christ and to God’s word to get me through. I look for snippets of grace and moments of rest and praise Him in those. It makes me appreciate the little things in the now and not long for the big vacation or the expanse of uneventful. Absolutely awesome post….you nailed it!
    Blessings,
    Bev xx

    • Bev-
      Your comments always end up encouraging me! Thank you for your honestly. You love Jesus. It is so clear to me how deeply you love Him. You breathe and seek to honor Him. Praying you can keep clinging to grace. Rest in grace. Always.

  5. When I started reading this, I got half way through and had to look to see who wrote it. I was pleasantly surprised to see this is one of your writings. That first paragraph could have been about how I’ve felt for the past 6 months. Still waiting for that alone time. And yet, I have felt closer to God as He has been my source of constant peace.
    Miss you all!

  6. Dearest Anjuli,

    Thank you for this wonderful message! When the Hard in Our Lives Ushers Us to Christ! It’s so true! Your message was so encouraging, as I can completely connect of being a blessed mother of precious identical twin boys! Life is busy, but yet wonderfully fun an amazing! I am blessed and thankful that my plate is full! But, we all need time ALONE to reflect on Our Amazing Lord and Savior, so that our cup continues to overflow with His Love, Goodness, Mercy and Grace for ourselves and our loved ones! I need that time alone to reflect, rekindle, and connect with my amazing Lord God Almighty! I’m thankful to know that I’m not the only wife, mother, daughter, sister, niece, aunt , friend or Christian who walks in the busy shoes of Life, desperately seeking and needing some Alone time with my wonderful Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ the Lover of my Heart and Soul! It’s time for a “Me Trip” with my “wonderful Lord God Almighty”!

    Love and Blessings,
    Lewana Bell

    • LeWana!

      You have twin boys! Bless you! Twin moms deserve extra crowns in heaven! I hope you find space to breathe and stay with God’s love for you. All the love.

  7. Anjuli,
    I read this first thing this morning:
    Peace. I leave with you, my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
    John 14:27
    And then I read your post. Thank-you so much for expressing so beautifully that no matter what hardship we face, or struggle we endure, God is with us.
    Have a blessed day all,
    Penny

  8. Love your daily articles-would really like to see some on us old people. We are 95 and 84 and fighting shingles and heart problems. Don’t have the rushing schedule we used to have Kids have gone . No more rushing to work . Just loneliness

    • Dear Phyllis,
      I’m so sorry for your loneliness. I’m sorry for your physical suffering as well. Those are such hard things to walk through.

      I’m so grateful that you choose to spend time at the (in)courage table. I pray that even if our daily posts don’t mirror your daily life, the Lord will still use them to encourage your heart in His truth and grace.

      This doesn’t necessarily speak to your particular struggles, but as I read your comment I thought of an article by Patricia Raybon, one of our more “seasoned” sisters and (in)courage contributors. I hope it is a blessing to you as it was to me. https://www.christianitytoday.com/women/2018/may/your-best-years-are-not-behind-you.html

      Much love,
      Becky Keife
      (in)courage Community Manager

    • Phyllis-

      Thank you for sharing your struggle. May God meet you in your places of loneliness. May you find His presence meeting your there.

  9. You wrote my heart and wrote it so well….even the crying and failure part. I know and understand hard and know it’s part of God’s plan but you’re right, I feel like I “should” manage it better. It looks like others do it better and find ways to simplify. My plate is full but there really isn’t anything extraneous to unload. Thank you for a beautiful post that resonated in my spirit – it’s truly a God gift.

  10. Anjuli,

    Such great wisdom. Life is busy, hard & tiring. We all need to try & schedule some Spiritual Whitespace into our lives each week. It can be a few minutes here or there, but time to be alone with God. We were made for Sabbath. God wants us to take a daily Sabbath rest each week. I know that isn’t always easy. We need to learn the art of saying “no” once in a while. I can’t do this or that right now. Everyone needs to find a “quiet” resting place & just be with God for a short while each day. Take time to be with God & hear His still small voice. This world is so noisy, busy & loud. It can make a person’s heart pound like crazy. Even Jesus went away to find solitude & just be with the Father. If He had to do that how much more in this crazy busy world do we need it? Take time for yourself & you will have the energy & patience for others.

    Blessings 🙂

  11. Anjuli,

    I like what you said, “we are never alone. Hard ushers us to Christ.” I’m 63 and raising two grandsons. I learned through joy and tears to keep walking. Now I enjoy life with my fiance, a pastor, who brings me lots of joy for his playful way to carry life. Sometimes the path gets rough. Nothing is too easy. Take time to make yourself happy. Love you. Thanks so much for sharing your heart.

  12. Wow. This really hit home for me. Almost every word of this. I feel like I’ve always run away from the ‘hard’ in my life. Sometimes leaving people that I love in the rumble because I ran. This breaks my heart, and I am hurting. I do feel alone and empty most of the time. Being that I am the one who chooses to run away, relocate, reinvent, redefine. Please pray with me, for me.

  13. Oh wow!! This is home for me right now. Living in the hard, the unsettled,…… My heart and soul……

    Thank you speaking this truth with such vividness!

    Peace and Blessings to you!