by Elisabeth | Aug 19, 2022 | emotions, faith, healing, pain, redemption
Let’s talk about pain. Think about a time when you’ve had a toothache. It’s the worst, right? I’ve even heard it said that “your toothache is the worst pain in the world” because it’s all you can think about and, frankly, because it’s yours. Physical pain sets...
by Elisabeth | Jul 15, 2022 | abuse, divorce, emotions, healing, pain
The aftereffects of living under abuse are long and complicated. It’s a bit like a brain tumor that has wrapped itself around the brainstem and all throughout your skull. There’s not just one easy way to undo all that’s been done. There’s no off switch. One of my...
by Elisabeth | Jul 1, 2022 | abuse, emotions, healing, pain
Some people have hurt me in my life. Some long ago. Some recent. Some repeated. Some just once. Here’s what I recently wrote in my journal: Holy Spirit, please soften my heart towards — and — and —. I am carrying anger, sadness and fear towards each...
by Elisabeth | Jun 24, 2022 | abuse, emotions, faith, friendship, healing, heart, pain, wholeness
Several years ago, I was walking along the beach with someone I loved deeply. And she said to me, quietly, I have a secret. Okay, I said. I want to tell you but I’m not sure I should, she said. Okay, I said. We were both quiet. Then I said, nothing you tell me can...
by Elisabeth | Jun 10, 2022 | abuse, difficult marriage, faith, pain, wholeness
I have two equally-weighted fears when it comes to my ministry. One is that there is a woman out there who I don’t reach, and she languishes physically or emotionally or spiritually when she doesn’t have to, either in her difficult marriage or in her divorce or as a...
by Elisabeth | Apr 29, 2022 | Church, friendship, pain, redemption
I spoke at a retreat a ways back and though I touched on quite a few points in the two talks I gave, one of the topics I broached was one of my sin stories. I think I have this thing with just telling complete strangers all the details of my life and then letting...
