Marissa Henley

Encouraging weary women to hope in Christ alone

Remember Who’s In Charge {First 5}

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Today I’m sharing over at Proverbs 31 Ministries’ First 5 app about God’s reign over all. Here’s a preview . . .

Daniel 1:2: “And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with some of the vessels of the house of God. And he brought them to the land of Shinar, to the house of his god, and placed the vessels in the treasury of his god.”

When we think of the book of Daniel, we may remember God’s triumph over a fiery furnace and a den of lions. However, in these opening verses, we find God’s people in a bleak and disheartening situation.

Daniel starts with the bad news of the fierce king of Babylon’s attack on Jerusalem. (Daniel 1:1) Babylon had just dismantled the powerful Assyrian empire, and Nebuchadnezzar won a significant victory over Egypt; then he set his sights on the southern kingdom of Judah in Jerusalem.

Jerusalem didn’t put up much of a fight. Judah’s king, Jehoiakim, is now subservient to Nebuchadnezzar. The Babylonians head home with precious vessels of the house of God and the finest youth of Judah. (Daniel 1:2-4)

Nebuchadnezzar appears to be doing whatever he pleases — besieging, taking, indoctrinating and even changing people’s names. It’s starting to look like God has abandoned His people or lacks the power to stop Nebuchadnezzar. Have God and His people finally met their match in the mighty empire of Babylon?

We find our answer in these four words: “And the Lord gave…” (Daniel 1:2). God gave Judah’s king into the hand of the Babylonian ruler. But Nebuchadnezzar only reigns over that which the Lord has sovereignly and purposefully given to him. In these opening verses and throughout the entire book, Daniel wants us to know that the God of Israel rules over all.

To read the rest of the teaching, head over to First 5. And while you’re there, be sure to download the First 5 app so you can follow along through the rest our study of Daniel with the First 5 team!

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Who Are You Trusting? {First 5 App}

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I’m thrilled to be contributing to the First 5 app of Proverbs 31 Ministries. Today I shared a teaching on Psalm 115. Here’s a sneak peek . . . You can read the rest of it here, or download the app to join in this study of the Psalms!

Psalm 115:11 (ESV) “You who fear the LORD, trust in the LORD! He is their help and their shield.”

On a spring morning during my senior year of college, I wept in my professor’s office as the identity I spent my life building tumbled to the floor. I’d always been a star student, but my senior research project didn’t go as planned. I wouldn’t graduate with honors, and I was crushed.

The pain of that moment remains poignant two decades later because I still struggle with making idols of my reputation, my accomplishments and my gifts. But God’s Word shows us the truth about these shaky foundations. In Psalm 115, we see the danger of trusting what our hands have made rather than trusting the Lord who made us.

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Interview at Crosstalk Radio

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I recently had the privilege of talking with the host of Crosstalk radio for a two-part interview series. We covered many topics from my book, Loving Your Friend through Cancer. To hear the interviews, visit their website to listen to part 1 and part 2 of our discussion.

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Guest post for TGC ~ You Need an Older, Bolder Friend

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I invited Katherine to lunch that day because I knew she’d tell me the truth. I was pressuring my husband into a major financial decision—behavior I knew was wrong but was rationalizing in many ways. I needed someone to lovingly set me straight.

Katherine didn’t disappoint. She is my older, bolder friend.

Over the years, God has provided various older women as teachers and examples. In my 20s, I looked up to the women whose children I babysat. In my 30s, it was the older women who led a summer Bible study for young moms. Now in my 40s, I often turn to Katherine for advice. She and my mom have been friends since before I was born. I know she loves me and wants the best for me—and she knows my best means growth in Christlikeness.

Do you have an older, bolder friend? Here are three reasons to commit to spending time with someone who can offer counsel from a deep well of biblical wisdom and life experience.

Please head over to The Gospel Coalition to read the entire article. I hope it encourages you!

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