Marissa Henley

Encouraging weary women to hope in Christ alone

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 priest 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. But Psalm 46 tells us 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 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, I can be still. I know the One who knows all things. He is God—I am not. He is with me, and He is my 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 and because God is with you. 

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No Reason to Fear

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I sat in a Bible study lecture in October 2010, taking notes furiously as our teacher unpacked Isaiah 7. When you’re looking for inspirational, life-changing encouragement in God’s Word, Isaiah probably isn’t the first place you turn. 

But that week, as I sat in the pew with a lump in my breast and a biopsy on the calendar, this verse was exactly what I needed to hear: 

“And say to him, ‘Be careful, be quiet, do not fear, and do not let your heart be faint because of these two smoldering stumps of firebrands, at the fierce anger of Rezin and Syria and the son of Remaliah.’” (Isaiah 7:4)

When God sent Isaiah to talk to King Ahaz, the king had a valid reason to be afraid. He had just learned that two threatening armies had a powerful new ally who could help their attack succeed. And yet, the Lord told Ahaz not to fear these powerful enemies. 

The notes I took that evening became a source of hope and peace for me when the biopsy results came back. I had a rare and aggressive cancer called angiosarcoma. The prognosis was not good, and I faced a lengthy battle for my life. 

I’ll be honest—I was afraid. Cancer is terrifying. But on the cross, Jesus dealt a death blow to my biggest reason to fear: the separation from God my sin deserves. My suffering Savior eliminated the greatest threat against me. 

Because of His sacrifice for my salvation, I have confidence in God’s promises, even in times of suffering. I can face uncertainty with hope and joy, knowing my faithful Heavenly Father is with me. Because I belong to Christ, my future with Him is secure, and I truly have no reason to fear. 

This truth doesn’t eliminate all feelings of fear in my life, and I still struggle with anxiety sometimes. Maybe it’s a struggle for you right now, too. But when we’re afraid, we can remind ourselves of this reality. We stare down those frightening circumstances and know it’s possible to stay calm and not let our hearts become faint—because of Christ, we have nothing to fear. 

No matter what you face this week, those who belong to Christ have no reason to fear. 

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His Glory and Grace

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This is a little embarrassing to admit in my mid-40s, but I’m scared of the dark. I remember as a little girl, I’d sprint down the hallway to my bedroom if the house was dark . . . I didn’t know what might be lurking there, but surely if I was quick, it wouldn’t get me! Even now, if I’m home alone at night, I’ll hear all kind of noises that aren’t usually there, and I sometimes even turn on a light just to make sure there aren’t any monsters hiding in the dark. 

For the past few weeks, we’ve been walking through the chorus of the hymn “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus”: “Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace.” When we’re afraid, turning on the light shows us reality. In a similar way, turning to the Light of the world, Jesus Christ, shows us the reality of His glory and grace in a dark and frightening world. 

“Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.’” (John 8:12) 

As those who follow Jesus, we don’t walk in darkness. When Jesus shines the light of His glory and grace on the darkness of this world, we look beyond the shadows of this fallen world and see the reality of God’s salvation, victory, and deliverance. 

We may feel like a failure, but we can look at Jesus’s cross and see the Savior who died for the forgiveness of our sins. We may feel like our situation is hopeless, but we can look at Jesus’s empty tomb and know He has given us hope by conquering every enemy. We may grieve now in a world that feels filled with darkness, but we can look at the ascended Jesus and know He’s gone to prepare a place for us in our heavenly, eternal home. 

Let the light of Jesus’s glory and grace shine on your circumstances today and see that this is your reality: Forgiveness. Hope. Peace. Eternity in Heaven. 

No matter what you face this week, walk in the light of His glory and grace. 

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Our Earthly Troubles

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When my daughter was younger, she was the flower girl at the wedding of one of her babysitters. She was nervous and excited and taking it all very seriously, but then she got to the point in the aisle where she could see her daddy sitting in the crowd of wedding guests. It was like the rest of the scene vanished when she saw his face. Her eyes widened and her hand shot up in the air to wave ecstatically at the one who mattered most. 

This month we’ve been making our way through the chorus of the hymn “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus.” The chorus says, “Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim . . .” 

If I’m honest, the things of earth are usually in vibrant color right before my eyes, demanding my attention. I need the Lord to give me eyes that see Him and cause the cares of this world to fade away as I focus on the One who matters most. I need eyes that see beyond today into eternity. 

“For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:17-18) 

Sometimes I wish I could argue with the apostle Paul about his word choice in these verses. My troubles don’t feel light or momentary. The past 18 months, for example, have felt like a really heavy year that just won’t end. But I think Paul’s wording here is intentional – one day when we experience the eternal glory of heaven, we will look back on the covid pandemic and see it as a tiny speck of suffering we endured on our way to heaven. 

We don’t have to wait until heaven to have this perspective. When we focus on the unseen—our heavenly Father and the promises He has made—we know that our current struggles are not forever. We can persevere knowing that Jesus has secured our glorious forever home. 

No matter what you face this week, look at Jesus and watch your earthly troubles grow strangely dim. 

For the first two posts in this series, click here and here.

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