Marissa Henley

Encouraging weary women to hope in Christ alone

Healed by His Wounds

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Years ago at my son’s 4-year-old checkup, his pediatrician asked if he had any chores. He replied that he didn’t have any chores, but he had a job and a problem. That got the attention of all of us in the room! He explained that his job was to keep his baby sister awake in the car. His problem was that his grandpa had offered him some pickled beets, and they smelled sour.

In the mind of a 4-year-old boy, stinky vegetables are a serious problem.

Maybe you’ve got problems stinking up your life right now. Difficult relationships. Financial strain. Personal struggles that don’t hit pause just because it’s December. 

But God’s Word tells us our most serious problem is our sin. This problem is universal, and it ranks at the top of the Problem List because our sin separates us from our holy God.

If your greatest problem is your bank account balance or the holiday blues, then your solution is a new credit card or some mind-numbing entertainment. If your greatest problem is your sin, you need a Savior. The prophet Isaiah foretold this reason the Messiah would come—to suffer and die for our sin in order to reconcile us to God.

“But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:5)

And according to 1 Peter, that is exactly what Christ accomplished on the cross. He provided the way for sinners like you and me to be healed of our greatest problem:

“He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.” (1 Peter 2:24)

This is why Christ came. He came to live a perfect life in our place. He came to die so that we might live forever. He came to rise again and show His victory over our greatest problem – the one we could never solve for ourselves. We have hope, joy, and peace even in troubling times, because by His wounds, we have been healed.

No matter what you face this week, by Christ’s wounds you have been healed.

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The Light Shines in the Darkness

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My daughter called out as I started to leave her room: “Don’t forget the closet light, Mom!” When she was younger, this part of her bedtime routine was just as important as the kiss on her forehead. She hated being alone in her room at night, and being alone in the dark would be unbearable.  

As adults, the darkness we fear is different, but no less real. We struggle with doubts, unanswered questions, and anxiety. We lay awake in the middle of the night as frightening scenarios – both real and imagined – run rampant through our brains. We stumble in the dark, feeling along the wall, trying to find a light switch that will chase the fear away. Where can we find answers, comfort, or hope in our dark moments? 

Over the next few weeks, we will look at prophecies from Isaiah that were fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Today we’ll see that Jesus is the light that shines in the darkness. 

“The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone.” (Isaiah 9:2) 

God’s people in the Old Testament walked in darkness for centuries. They awaited the Messiah, a Savior who would rescue them from the darkness of sin and death. They clung to a promise without understanding what it meant or how it would be fulfilled. How could God possibly unravel the mess caused by evil and sin? 

In John 1, we see that Jesus Christ is the answer to life’s darkness:

“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. . . The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.” (John 1:5, 9)

The true light is here, breaking through the darkness. Because God took on flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:14), the world now has the light of Christ. In Him, we have everything we need to battle fear, sin, questions, doubts—even death. The deepest darkness cannot overcome His light. 

Jesus gives His blood-bought forgiveness for our sins, His sustaining strength for our struggles, and His incomparable comfort for our troubled hearts. The light of Christ guarantees that the darkness will never win. 

No matter what you face this week, the light of Christ shines in the darkness. 

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God stays the same

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When I was a new mom, one of the many aspects of motherhood that felt challenging was that it was always changing. As soon as we settled into a routine, a new tooth or a growth spurt or some other new issue would come along and toss everything I thought I’d figured out right into the trash. 

Twenty years later, I still don’t handle change well. My teens are growing up and leaving home, and I feel like I’m grasping these little wisps of family life that vanish so quickly. All these changes can leave me anxious about today and fearful about changes that could come in the future. 

What change are you dealing with today? Maybe changes at your job have thrown your life or your finances into a tailspin. Maybe you’re grieving a changed relationship or loss. Or maybe you’re in a steady season, but you worry about change in the future. 

This month we’re looking at promises of God to cling to when we’re anxious. Today in Psalm 102, we see that through every change, we can take refuge in our unchanging God: 

 “Of old you laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. They will perish, but you will remain; they will all wear out like a garment. You will change them like a robe, and they will pass away, but you are the same, and your years have no end.” (Psalm 102:25-27) 

These verses teach us that God has always been and He will aways be—from before the foundation of the earth until it passes away. And through all those ages; through all the changes of civilizations and kingdoms and nations; through the past, present, and future . . . He is the same. 

If God remains the same, we know His character and His promises remain the same. All those truths about God that we talk about every Monday—His goodness, His faithfulness, His sovereignty, His mercy—they are the same, now and forever. 

We can trust that the same God who has been faithful to us in the past will be steadfastly faithful through all eternity. He is the one constant we can count on through all the changes of life. 

No matter what you face this week, when everything changes, God stays the same. 

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Be Still

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I’ve had some stressful driving experiences, but nothing comes close to the time I was lost in Brooklyn, New York, during rush hour on a Friday afternoon. I took the exit into Brooklyn and needed to cross several lanes in a short distance to make a left turn and stay on my predetermined route. (This was in ancient times, before GPS and phones with map apps!) 

But it was New York, not Arkansas. Not even the driver with a front license plate identifying him as a clergyman would let me pull in front of him. I didn’t make it to the left turn lane, and I was lost. My surroundings terrified me, and I didn’t know how to find my way to safety. All I had was a paper map, panicked tears, and desperate prayers. 

Sometimes life feels similar to those jam-packed streets of Brooklyn. We’re confused and overwhelmed as we struggle to find our way. This month we’re looking at God’s promises that give us peace when we’re anxious, and in Psalm 46, we see that we have a refuge in times of fear: 

“‘Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!’ The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.” (Psalm 46:10-11)

When I hear the words “be still,” I’m reminded of the relief that washed over me as I finally parked in front of my friend’s Brooklyn apartment. Her knowledge of the city protected me from panic and fear as I blissfully followed her around the city for the weekend. 

When life feels chaotic and confusing, we can be still. We know the One who knows all things. He is God—we are not. He is with us, and He is our fortress. He will be exalted as the One who rules and reigns over all things. 

Peace comes when we feel safe and protected. With God as our ever-present fortress, we can stop panicking and be still. He is exalted above any enemy that threatens us. We can rest in His presence, protection, and peace. 

No matter what you face this week, you can be still because God is with you. 

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