Guest posts Archives - Page 2 of 26

God’s Faithfulness in a Winter Season – Part One {Guest post for the enCourage blog}

February 13, 2025 by Marissa Leave a Comment

Recently I shared the first in a three-part series on the enCourage blog, a blog for the women’s ministry of the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA). Here’s a preview . . .

Have you ever found yourself in a winter season of suffering, when your world feels dark and cold? My winter season started 14 years ago when I found a lump in my breast. The lump led to tests, which led to a biopsy, which led to a phone call on the day before my 34^th birthday.

The doctor said the biopsy revealed a rare and aggressive cancer in the lining of my blood vessels called angiosarcoma. A quick internet search informed me that I was statistically unlikely to live to see my three young children reach adolescence.

I started a treatment plan of high doses of chemotherapy, covered by the prayers of thousands of people and supported by the most amazing community of family and friends. After two rounds of chemo, my situation got even worse. My platelets were dangerously low from the chemo, and the only way for me to continue treatment was to start a clinical trial at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, 700 miles from my home in Arkansas.

I thought the angiosarcoma diagnosis was devastating, but this news was even worse. I didn’t know if I’d live long enough for my one-year-old daughter to remember me. I didn’t want to spend time away from my family, receiving treatment in Houston for several weeks. But I didn’t have any other options.

I think this experience is why Habakkuk is one of my favorite books of the Bible. Habakkuk had a similar experience of suffering that kept getting worse. And yet, at the end of this short book, Habakkuk proclaims his trust in the Lord. As we look at Habakkuk’s prayer in chapter 3, we find a beautiful example of how to look for God’s gifts, even in the midst of suffering.

You can read the rest of the article here at enCourage. I hope it encourages you if you’re in a winter season today.

Nothing to Do But Pray {Guest post for enCourage}

January 19, 2025 by Marissa Leave a Comment

Last week I shared an article on the enCourage blog, a blog for the women’s ministry of the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA). Here’s a preview . . .

It was around 4:45 a.m. when I gave up on sleep, got out of bed, and reached for my phone. I saw a notification from our family’s tracking app—my oldest son’s phone was out of battery as of 3 a.m., and I knew what that meant. I could picture my sleep-deprived college student in his apartment, lying across his bed, fully clothed, with all the lights on. He had fallen asleep without meaning to, which meant his phone wasn’t charging and his alarm wouldn’t wake him in time for class.

My brain went into panic mode. It was near the end of the semester, so he could miss an important quiz or test. Within seconds, my anxiety convinced me that his GPA and career goals would be ruined by one morning of oversleeping. And yet, I knew I was powerless to do anything to wake up my son. I was left with a last resort that should have been my first response: I prayed.

Praying for our children is a gift from the Lord, whether our children are babies in our arms or adult children living hundreds of miles away.

You can read the rest of the article here at enCourage. I hope it encourages you as you bring your children and others before the Lord in prayer.

What Should I Pray For? {Guest post for Ligonier Ministries}

April 12, 2023 by Marissa Leave a Comment

Today I have the honor of sharing an article on the Ligonier Ministries website. Here’s a preview . . .

In 2010, my name was placed on many prayer lists as I battled a rare form of cancer. My friends and family, along with complete strangers, interceded on my behalf to ask God for healing; wisdom for my medical team; protection for the hearts and minds of my young children; and God’s comfort, peace, and strength through several months of treatment. As redeemed children of God, we have the privilege of coming to Him in prayer, whether for ourselves or others, amid a crisis like cancer or in the ordinary challenges of life in a fallen world.

The Westminster Larger Catechism defines prayer as “an offering up of our desires unto God, in the name of Christ, by the help of his Spirit; with confession of our sins, and thankful acknowledgement of his mercies” (WLC 178). In this definition, we learn that prayer involves confessing our sins and praising God for His goodness to us. Prayer also provides an opportunity to bring our requests to God, and that is the aspect of prayer we will focus on as we consider the question “What should I pray for?” Scripture guides and shapes our prayers by showing us how to pray for physical provision, spiritual blessings, and fruitfulness in good works for the glory of God.

You can finish reading this article on the Ligonier website. I hope it encourages you!