Marissa Henley

Encouraging weary women to hope in Christ alone

You are Justified by Faith {No Matter What Monday}

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I’m really showing off my geek badge here, but it’s true: I love editing. I can’t read anything without wanting to pull out a red pen, eliminate the word clutter, fix the grammatical mistakes, and improve the writing in any way I can. I even self-edit text messages before sending them. (Don’t worry, I don’t edit other people’s texts!) 😉 

When I read Galatians 2:16, I want to reach for my red pen. Paul seems to be running around in circles, saying the same thing over and over: 

“Yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.” (Galatians 2:16)

We’re not justified by works but by faith . . . And we have believed, so we are justified . . . Oh, and did I mention that it’s by faith in Christ and not by works? . . . Right, because no one can be justified by the works of the law. Ok, Paul! We get it! 

Why isn’t Paul being more concise? Did he forget to run this letter by his editor? 

I think Paul is being wordy and repetitive on purpose. He knows we will read this and mentally agree with it, but then an hour later we’ll be out there acting like it’s up to us to earn God’s favor. It’s so ingrained in our human nature to think our value depends on our performance. 

This is good news we need to hear over and over and over again: We are justified through faith in Christ and not by works of the law. To be justified means we are declared righteous by God. He looks at Jesus and sees His perfect record of righteousness. Based on His perfection, we are declared righteous. We could never earn this righteousness, but God gives it to us as a free gift of His grace. 

If you didn’t earn it, you can’t lose it. Justification by faith is a certainty we can cling to even when we fall short, mess up, or even fail miserably. 

No matter what you face this week, you are justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law. 

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Your Help Comes from Your Creator {No Matter What Monday}

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My daughter stared up at the snow-covered Rocky Mountains rising above her. Her small voice said what the rest of us were thinking: “Whenever I see the mountains around me, I feel so small.” 

Often the challenges in our lives feel like mountains and make us feel small. What mountains are you facing today? Maybe it’s an assignment at work that goes beyond your expertise. Maybe it’s sleepless nights with an infant followed by exhausting days chasing a toddler. Maybe it’s a relationship that just gets worse no matter how hard you try to reconcile. 

Where do you turn when your problems are like giant mountains you can’t conquer? How do you even begin when because you feel overwhelmed and underprepared?

When the stresses of life are looming, remember these words from Psalm 121:  

“I lift my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth.” (Psalm 121:1-2)

When you look at those mountains and see your smallness, remember the limitless One who created all things. The snow-covered mountains, the depths of the ocean, the infant knitted in his mother’s womb . . . everywhere around us, God is giving us a glimpse of His power, goodness, and might.  

The God who raised those mountains from the ground? He’s planned my future.  

The Lord who holds the ocean depths in the palm of His hand? He loves me with an everlasting love.  

My Father who knit me together in my mother’s womb? Every cell in my body answers to Him.  

When you see the mountain before you and cry out to the Lord for help, you are depending on the One created the universe and upholds it by His will. He has promised to be your Helper and your Deliverer. He can keep all His promises because He rules over all that He has made. Let the wonders of His creation remind you of His power and might at work in your life and in your circumstances.  

No matter what you face this week, your help comes from the Maker of heaven and earth.  

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Approaching the Final Exam of Motherhood {Guest post on Risen Motherhood}

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This fall I watched my little boy grab his backpack full of thick textbooks, his lunchbox, and his trombone and walk into his first day of 9th grade. He’s a thoughtful boy, and he comforts me by wrapping his arms around my shoulders in a hug. (Did I mention he’s taller than me?) I have a high-schooler. And I’m terrified.

He’s been a delightful child and teenager so far. But it feels like the final exam of motherhood looms ahead, and I’ll soon find out if my parenting has been stellar or a disaster. It feels like the stakes are high, and my failures could impact the rest of his life. A verdict is coming on how well I’ve performed my most important task, and I’m hoping for a perfect report card: an A+ child, an A+ reputation, and an A+ motherhood GPA. Nothing less is acceptable to my anxious heart.

But when I look at my son as a final exam to ace rather than a fellow sinner being sanctified, I’ve forgotten the gospel. My fear stems from unbelief.

I shared these thoughts and more in an article at Risen Motherhood this week. How can we apply the gospel to our fears when the final exam of motherhood is looming? I’d love for you to click here and read the article.

While you’re there, I hope you’ll explore the vast resources at Risen Motherhood. They consistently share thoughtful, gospel-centered content via their blog and podcast. I think it will quickly become one of your favorites.

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God Will Use Your Problems for His Purposes {No Matter What Monday}

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Joseph had every right to be angry—to never speak to his brothers again. Their whole family had been a mess from the very beginning. 

Joseph’s father, Jacob, provoked his sons by openly favoring Joseph over the others (Gen. 37:3-4). Joseph’s brothers responded by considering murder and then settling for selling Joseph to some traveling traders who took him to Egypt (Gen. 37:18-28). 

Joseph didn’t find people in Egypt to be much better than his brothers. Potipher’s wife lied and accused him of assaulting her. Joseph spent years in prison for a crime he didn’t commit (Gen. 39:11-20). Then the cupbearer forgot his promise to help Joseph get out, and he was left for two more years of imprisonment (Gen. 40:23). 

But in all of these hardships, Joseph knew the Lord was with him and the Lord was at work. He told his brothers:

“You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.” (Genesis 50:20, NIV)

Joseph was right—God used him to provide for the Egyptians and the surrounding nations when seven years of famine hit the land. God used Joseph to provide for his father and brothers when they came to Egypt to buy food. And God used Joseph to bring his family to Egypt, where centuries later, God would put His power and faithfulness on display by bringing His people out of their oppression and leading them to the Promised Land. 

The fact that God used Joseph’s brothers’ harmful actions doesn’t excuse their behavior. They sinned, just like those whose wrong choices affect you and me. Without taking away from human responsibility, God’s sovereignty over all that touches our lives gives us comfort and hope when we suffer because of the bad decisions or sinful actions of others. 

Has someone ruined your day? Your month? Your year? It’s not okay that they are treating you this way. (And if you are in an abusive relationship, please get help.) But in the midst of your pain, remember this: God can use even the sin of others to accomplish His good plan for our lives. 

No matter what you face this week, God can use your greatest problems to bring about His greatest purposes. 

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