Lauren Gaskill

A few weeks ago, I walked up our pantry hallway as I wrapped up a late night conversation with my mom. My stomach grumbled, begging me to find something to eat. I reached for the pantry doorknob, but out of the corner of my eye, I noticed something odd. The wooden picture frame for a butterfly art piece we have hanging in the hallway was warped.

“What in the world?” I said.

“What’s going on, Lauren?” My mother replied.

“A picture frame I have downstairs is warped, but I don’t know why. Something isn’t right …”

I took a step back to see a black dot starting to take over part of the picture. Nooooooooo, I thought to myself. I lifted the frame and gasped, completely shocked to see mold spreading over this entire section of the wall.

Suddenly, everything started to make sense. Our family had been sick constantly for four months and most of us were still struggling with respiratory issues. My husband was faring better than the rest of us, but he was in the house for a shorter amount of time than we were. On top of all of this, when I had been praying several months before this, asking the Lord for wisdom as to why we’d been getting sick so often, He had in fact whispered, “mold” to my spirit. But now that the truth had been exposed, I couldn’t believe it.

Time passed and we got our house tested and several remediation companies came out to give us quotes. We started to learn that just because you have insurance doesn’t mean they cover things, even when there is a legitimate reason for damage. Meanwhile, work escalated to higher-than-usual levels of stress. Throw in other random things like me breaking several glasses on accident somehow, my left arm swelling for no apparent reason, and our son deciding he was done with naps, even though he isn’t ready for that yet, and you have a recipe for CHAOS.

If you’re living and breathing, you know what it’s like to experience times of high stress and chaos. It’s part of the territory that comes with living here on earth. Thankfully God Himself is our peace (see Ephesians 2:14), and His Word is full of the truth our hearts need when the world around us is shaking. If you need peace today, here are 7 verses to pray when you desperately need it. Let me know which one blessed your heart the most in the comments!

Friend, before we get to the verses, I want to personally invite you to find peace, rest, joy and healing at the She Found Joy Retreat this year. Come encounter His love among a small group of soon-to-be friends in the mountains of Spruce Pine, North Carolina and apply today.

7 Verses to Pray When You Desperately Need Peace

Psalm 94:16-19

“Who will rise up for me against the evildoers?
Who will stand up for me against the workers of iniquity?
Unless the Lord had been my help,
My soul would soon have settled in silence.
If I say, “My foot slips,”
Your mercy, O Lord, will hold me up.
In the multitude of my anxieties within me,
Your comforts delight my soul.”

Pray the Word: Thank You, Lord, that You rise up for me against my enemies. Thank You that You are my help, and You keep me from stumbling. Thank You that Your mercy upholds me. Thank You that when anxiety is great within me, I can turn to You and be comforted and receive the peace I need.

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It was a Friday night at the end of a long and hard week. I stood over the kitchen sink, trying not to burst into tears or overthink. But no matter how many deep breaths I took, I couldn’t shake the heavy weight. I wanted to scream into a pillow or run until I reached a deserted place.

I closed my eyes and whispered, “Jesus help. Today wasn’t just hard. Today was blisteringly frustrating. Bewildering. Energy sapping. Rage inducing. I am exhausted mentally, physically, emotionally, spiritually and relationally. Please. Help.”

If any of this resonates with you in week or season you’re in right now, or you find yourself having a hard day later down the road, I hope the reminders He gave me will minister to your soul. Here’s what He said.

#1 Sometimes life feels hard. That’s OK.

It’s true, sometimes there is just no sugar coating it. But you can still look for the good in the hard. As I sensed the Lord encouraging me to look for the good, glimpses of beauty came to my remembrance.

Did my child whine all day and did work blow up in my face? Yes. Did several things get broken in my house and did I spend a large portion of the day cleaning up glass and other debris? Yes. Did my husband and I not communicate as lovingly and as well as we usually do? Yes. Did I not have a moment to myself? Yes. But then there was the moment my son ask me to hold him. The moment he gobbled up the soba noodles I made us for dinner with a half smile. The moment my dog nuzzled me with delight as I massaged his ears.

There was beauty and good in the hard. Maybe it didn’t outweigh the number of minutes of what felt really difficult, but it was there. Focusing on those moments and letting the rest fall to the wayside really helped put some things into perspective.

#2 Give yourself grace.

So you didn’t handle everything perfectly 100% of the time. It’s OK to acknowledge where you need to grow and improve, but you don’t need to beat yourself up about those things. Honestly, sometimes as women of faith, we extend more compassion to others than we do to ourselves.

God isn’t sitting on His throne wagging His finger at us saying “Shame on you, you should know better,” when we mess up. Yes, there is a place for correction and repentance, but also, if you’re yielded to and pursuing Jesus, cut yourself some slack. Sometimes, you’re going to mess up even when you’re trying to be the person you know God created you to be. Remember:

There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. -Romans 8:1-2 NKJV

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Can I confess something to you?

Lately, I’ve been tempted to feel insignificant, irrelevant or even overlooked. Have you ever felt that way? For me, a big part of this stems from the struggle to balance motherhood, ministry and work.

To tell you the truth, the last three years it has felt like my ministry has been on life support. Sure, God has been kind to bring me speaking opportunities, and I so enjoy connecting with you all on social media, through the newsletter, or through the She Found Joy Podcast and retreat.

But the world feels increasingly disconnected. The digital experiences that once fostered connection, now oftentimes add to the noise. 

A few weeks ago, upon learning that the publisher I was going to release my second book with is closing its doors, I found myself feeling like Michael W. Smith, once again just trying to find my place in this world (anyone else listen to “Place In This World” on repeat in the 90s?).

What am I doing? Where do I go from here? Where do I belong? Have I made the right choices for this season? The questions hit me like hail falling on a tin roof as the room spun around me like a wild carnival ride. Maybe you can relate or have been asking yourself similar questions in this season.

Trusting God When You Don’t Know the Next Step

Then I heard His voice. “Can you trust me even when you don’t know the next step to take? Even when there are seemingly no open doors to walk through? Even when the roadmap is unclear?” He whispered.

In our faith journeys, there are seasons where doors fling wide open and it feels like God puts neon arrows over certain decisions, relationships, callings, etc. Then there are other seasons, where the path before us feels very unclear. We might have general words from God about the direction of our lives, but the day in and day out of what we are doing, that is where it can get very hazy.

In this season, where I’ve been trying to find my place again in life, I find myself thinking a lot about Mary. She knew she was going to carry and give birth to Jesus. But she didn’t know the 1,000s of steps that were going to come after that.

Despite the unknowns, she stayed close to God’s heart, and loved the ones in front of her. And you know what? She didn’t miss out on God’s purposes for her life.

What a comfort. To know that, as it says in Proverbs 3:6, when we seek His will in all we do, He will show us which path to take. Day by day. Step by step. Breath by breath.

We don’t have to have all of this figured out. Let me say that again but in a different way: God is not asking us or expecting us to figure everything out. That’s why He sent the Helper. Because, oh how we need Him. Every hour we need Him.

Our True Purpose and Place In This World

In all the detours, delays and season changes, He is the author and finisher of our faith. We might not understand the point or reasons behind every season in life, but when everything is stripped away and we have nothing left to lean on, we remember that our true place and purpose in this world is to love and be loved.

For God so loved the world. For God so desperately wanted to restore us to sonship so that we could return to the garden and dwell in intimacy with Him. To once again be close enough to feel His heartbeat and drink in and delight in His love and all He is.

Our job is not necessarily to know where the road is leading, but to stay close to the One who is able to get us where we need to be. More than anything we do, more than any of the titles we wear — mother, daughter, sister, wife, friend — the most wonderful thing is that we’ve been given a place in Christ, the way to the Father, to dwell in eternal love.

If we never achieved anything. If we never checked anything off our dream list. Would it be enough to just be His? My prayer is that for everyone reading this, your answer would be yes. And hey, if you don’t understand the season you are in and are tired of the haze, you can ask Him: “Hey God, what are YOU doing in this season? What are you doing in my heart? Is there anything you’re trying to teach me?” He may or may not give you a ton of detail, but it never hurts to ask.

May His Word and presence be a lamp unto your feet and a light unto your path in this and in every season. You’re not alone in this journey. And if the path continues to remain hazy? Stay close to His heart. Be patient in the waiting. He’s not going to let you miss what He has for you.

P.S. 10 days ago, for KING + COUNTRY just released a remake of “Place In This World” feat. Michael W. Smith, which is wild to me, because I’ve been hearing this song in my spirit for the entire month of January. I do feel like many in the Body of Christ are in a season of great transition, trying to find their place in this world, so I hope my story and encouragement could bless some of your hearts today. Share this post with a friend who needs it!

Love you,

Lauren

As we head into the new month, God has been speaking to me about the power of breathing. Yoga and new age practitioners are notorious for talking about the breath in a worldly or misguided spiritual context, but let it be known the breath was God’s first. There’s nothing woo woo about the breath. The breath is holy. For it’s in Him we live and move and have our being (Acts 17:28), and the breath we breathe is the breath He gave to us.

In Genesis 2:7, God breathed into Adam’s nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. Again in John 20:22, we see Jesus breathe on His disciples and fill them with the Holy Spirit. Without this breath, we cease to have life on this earth. So, if God is the God of life and the enemy of our souls is, as John 8:44 shows us, pro-death — a murderer from the beginning — then being aware of and thankful for the gift of breath, this life, is a powerful thing. 

Perhaps that’s why scientific study after study after study is showing that making space to be conscious of our breathing can change our lives for the better. To quote Duke Health, “The simple act of conscious breathing can yield many benefits for our physical, mental, and emotional well-being. From stress reduction to improved focus, enhanced emotional regulation, and better sleep, scientific research supports the positive impact of breathing exercises. So, the next time you feel overwhelmed or stressed, take a moment to pause, close your eyes, and take a few deep, intentional breaths. Your body and mind will thank you for it.”

What’s most interesting to me is that to experience the benefits of breathing, we first have to make room to quiet and separate ourselves from all of the distractions of this world. To be still and know that He is God and that this very breath we breathe came from Him. This is countercultural from the stressful world we live in that just wants to keep us busy.

You see, the name of the game for the enemy since the beginning was always to distract us from what we already had. Adam and Eve already were like God. They were created in His very image. But he made them think that they were lacking. Similarly, today he distracts us with stress and chaos. The temptation in times of stress is to tense up and for our breathing to become shallow (or for us to hold our breath). I don’t have space to share the detrimental impacts of this in this blog, but suffice to say that it’s not good for us. Being unconscious of our breathing during times to stress can hijack our nervous system, bodily functions, emotions and so much more.

We can begin to think we’re broken or doomed to be an anxious person, but sometimes all we need to do is stop and breathe. Sure, there is a place for other helps, including medication if the Lord leads you to it, but I’m telling you. Take a week to make conscious breathing and becoming aware of Emmanuel, God with us, a priority. Practice conscious breathing the moment you wake up, for several minutes on and off throughout the day, and before you go to bed. For a solid week. As you breathe, imagine Christ in you, the hope of glory, supplying you with every breath — keeping you alive and safe. Know that He loves you and He is your peace. Don’t overanalyze your breathing, just be aware of how nice it is to breathe in His peace, and out the stress, doubt, frustration, or whatever you’ve been holding inside.

There’s power in the blood of Christ that saves us from sin, and there’s power in the breath of God that gives us life.

I’m asking God for one thing, only one thing: To live with him in his house my whole life long. I’ll contemplate his beauty; I’ll study at his feet.
-Psalm 27:4, MSG

But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord. -2 Corinthians 3:18, NKJV

As millions across the world observe Holy Week in their own way, I’m reminded once again of how important it is to turn our eyes upon Jesus.

Many of us know and can sing the old hymn by heart: 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.

I remember as a little girl, my sweet Mama would sing this song over me when I was afraid. In my immaturity and lack of understanding, I remember initially thinking, “What good is looking at Jesus going to do right now? I’m scared. I’m in pain. I need real solutions.”

It wasn’t until I got to know the real Jesus as a person and not just as a symbol that I understood the true power of locking eyes with Him.

C.S. Lewis once said: “I know now, Lord, why you utter no answer. You are yourself the answer. Before your face questions die away. What other answer would suffice?”

He is the answer to every question we have and the provision for every trial we face.

When we turn our eyes upon Jesus — when we gaze upon his birth, life, death and resurrection — we are reminded of the truth. That His love is patient and kind — always rejoicing with the truth, always protecting, always trusting, always hoping and always persevering. That it is already finished. That we have been set free. That we are children of God who have been made worthy to receive a glorious inheritance of love, forgiveness, righteousness, joy, peace, healing and provision through Him who paid our ransom. That He has won the victory for us. That He is interceding and fighting for us always. That He will never forsake or give up on us. That His blood made a better way.

But beyond all of these things, when we gaze into our Savior’s eyes, we are reminded of who He is. He is love. He is beautiful. He is radiant. He is glorious. He is the Prince of Peace. He is Almighty God — God with us. He is full of grace and truth. He is better than we think He is.

One look of seeing Jesus rightly has the power to take our breath away and bring us to our knees. One look of seeing Jesus rightly — not just for who He is for us, but just who He is at the very core of His nature — has the power to transform us completely (see 2 Corinthians 3:18).

My prayer this week is that we would turn away from looking at the chaos of the world or the seemingly impossible circumstances that we are facing in our lives and choose instead to gaze upon His beauty. Stop the scroll, shut off your phone and get alone with Jesus. Remember his birth, life, death and resurrection. Remember who He is and what He has done with a grateful heart. Because He is the same yesterday, today and forever, as you look at Him, you can also give Him thanks for who He will continue to be for you and what He is going to do in your life.

May you be undone by the wonder of all that He is as you turn your eyes upon Jesus this week.

A few months ago, I dreamed that the Father gave me a bracelet. As He held it out in front of me, I took a moment to behold the beauty of this priceless gift. And that’s when I noticed: This was no ordinary bracelet. Not only did one of the chains feature a glistening diamond, but both of the bracelet’s bands were interlocked by a golden connector that said “WORTHY” on it. And so, though the bands were two separate entities, the two became one because of this little connector.

The Father placed the bracelet in my hands and said, “my beloved, it’s yours.” And then I woke up.

Have you ever had a dream, but you’re just not sure how to interpret it? Happens to me all the time. Before I get to the meat of today’s post, here’s what Holy Spirit has taught me over the years about dreams: If I remember a dream when I wake up, but I don’t understand its meaning, I immediately ask God whether or not the dream is something I need to press into. Sometimes, I will have a strong check in my spirit that I need to search a dream’s meaning out. Other times, Holy Spirit tells me to forget it and toss it out like rubbish. Either way, I’ve learned that obedience to these nudges is key to 1) receiving more revelation from the Lord and 2) avoiding going down nonsensical/unfruitful rabbit holes.

When I woke up from the dream about this bracelet, I sensed deep within me that God had something beautiful He wanted to reveal to me. I believe what He shared with me was not only for my personal walk, but also for the Body of Christ, which is why I’m sharing this post with you today.

The morning after this dream, I sat down in my morning reading chair to ask the Lord about what He had shown me. Immediately, the words “worthy to receive” rang like a bell within my spirit.

Is that a Bible verse, Lord? I asked.

“Google it,” He said. (I love how practical our God is!)

My Google search led me to Colossians 1:12, and today, I want to share with you two translations:

Your heart can soar with joyful gratitude when you think of how God made you worthy to receive the glorious inheritance freely given to us by living in the light. (TPT)

Giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light.

Worthy to receive. Qualified to be a partaker.

Worthy means to be suitable, deserving or fit for a specified thing. The word used here in the original Greek, however, is hikanoo, which means to make sufficient, render fit, qualify, specifically to equip one with adequate power to perform the duties of one.

OK, stay with me. Here’s what “perform the duties of one” means in English: serve, wait on, obey, carry out the will and wishes of.

HOLD. IT. RIGHT. THERE.

Do you know what this means? Not only has Jesus made us worthy to receive an inheritance, but He has given us the power we need to receive and partake in it! Therefore, carrying out His will and wishes.

Back to the dream and the interpretation Holy Spirit gave me: Jesus is one bracelet and you and I are the other. We are one. And, we receive all that is His through that connector — His powerful Holy Spirit. Because we’ve been qualified to. We’ve been made worthy to.

Your Inheritance In Christ

Do you know what is included in your inheritance in Christ? A shortlist from my time with the Lord pulled these keys words out: wholeness of body, soul, and spirit, healing, redemption and forgiveness of sins, peace, love, joy, prosperity (yes, it’s true, read 3 John 2), good gifts, freedom, righteousness, the Holy Spirit, a heavenly reward, blessings that overtake us, protection, deliverance, power and authority.

Today, I invite you to spend some time with Holy Spirit and ask Him to tell you more about your inheritance in Christ. What areas are you having trouble receiving? Maybe you’ve felt unworthy to receive in those areas. Ask Him to show you what it looks like to embrace your full inheritance through His power and might. I can’t wait to hear about what He shows you!

By the way — that picture at the top of this post? Later that day, I kid you not it was an ad for a bracelet on my Instagram feed. I definitely didn’t talk about it, so I know it was God! I hope it gives you an even greater image of this beautiful truth.