Grace in Every Season

When Loving Others Comes at a Cost

Have you ever loved someone when loving them wasn’t easy?

Maybe you’ve cared for someone through a serious illness, walked alongside someone who was grieving, sacrificed your own time and comfort, or poured love into someone who didn’t love you back.

Sometimes love requires patience, forgiveness, sacrifice, and perseverance. And sometimes, loving others can leave us feeling physically and emotionally exhausted.

But what does it truly mean to love others as Christ has loved us?

In this episode of Grace in Every Season, Denise explores the beauty and challenges of Christlike love through God’s Word.

Together, we’ll discover:

• Love That Sacrifices — John 15:12–13: Jesus demonstrated the greatest love through His sacrifice on the cross, giving us an example of selfless love.
• Love That Bears Burdens — Galatians 6:2–5: We’re called to support one another through life’s difficulties while recognizing our own responsibilities and limitations.
• Love That Requires Wisdom — Romans 12:18: Forgiveness, compassion, and healthy boundaries can coexist. Loving someone doesn’t mean approving of harmful behavior.
• Love That Depends on God’s Grace — Galatians 5:22–23: We cannot consistently love like Christ through our own strength. We need the transforming work of the Holy Spirit.

Whether you’re caring for someone who is suffering, navigating a difficult relationship, serving others while facing challenges of your own, or struggling to know when to let go, this message offers biblical encouragement and hope.

We are called to love others as Christ has loved us. But we are not called to be anyone’s Savior.

Only Jesus can change a heart.

And only He can provide the wisdom, strength, and grace we need to love faithfully—even when loving comes at a cost.

We love because He first loved us. — 1 John 4:19

Whatever season you’re walking through, remember that God’s grace is sufficient. 💛🌻

The Grace That Sustains Us Through Every Season

God’s grace doesn’t end at salvation.

Last week, we explored the beautiful truth that we are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ—not by our own works.

But what happens after we’re saved?

Are we expected to face every trial, overcome every temptation, endure every hardship, and love those who don’t always love us back—all in our own strength?

Absolutely not!

The same grace that saves us is the grace that continues to sustain us throughout our Christian walk.

In this episode of Grace in Every Season, Denise explores the many ways God’s grace works in our everyday lives.

Through Scripture, we’ll discover:

• Sanctifying Grace — Titus 2:11–12: God’s grace doesn’t leave us unchanged. It teaches us to turn away from sin and grow in Christlikeness.
• Sufficient Grace — 2 Corinthians 12:9: God’s power is made perfect in our weakness, even when He doesn’t remove the difficulties we’re facing.
• Sustaining Grace — Hebrews 4:16: We can confidently approach His throne of grace to receive mercy and find help in our time of need.
• Grace to Love Others — Luke 6:32–36: God’s grace enables us to show mercy, extend forgiveness, and love even when loving isn’t easy.

Sometimes the pain remains.

Sometimes the grief is still there.

Sometimes our physical limitations don’t change, and the circumstances we’re praying about remain unresolved.

But that doesn’t mean God’s grace is absent.

His grace is sufficient—even when our strength is not.

And sometimes that grace gives us the wisdom to rest, accept help, establish healthy boundaries, or simply take the next faithful step.

Whatever season you’re walking through today, this episode is a reminder that you don’t have to rely upon your own strength.

The grace that saved you is the grace that will sustain you.

You didn’t earn it then.

You don’t have to earn it now.

And you don’t have to face tomorrow without it.

His grace is sufficient. 💛🌻

If you were standing before God and He asked you why He should allow you into His Kingdom… what would your answer be?

Would you begin thinking about all the good things you’ve done? How you’ve helped others, attended church, served in ministry, or tried to live a moral life?

Or would your answer be Jesus Christ?

In this episode of Grace in Every Season, Denise opens Ephesians 2:1–10 to explore one of the most beautiful truths at the very heart of the Gospel:

We are saved by grace, through faith in Jesus Christ—not by our own works.

Before Paul tells us how we are saved, he reminds us of our condition apart from Christ: dead in our trespasses and sins.

And then come two of the most powerful words in Scripture…

BUT GOD!

Rich in mercy and great in love, God made us alive together with Christ—even when we were dead in our sins.

Salvation is not something we can earn through good behavior, religious activity, or human effort. It is God’s gift, made possible through the finished work of Jesus Christ—His sinless life, sacrificial death, and resurrection.

But what about good works? Don’t they matter?

Ephesians 2:10 completes the beautiful picture:

We are not saved BY good works. We are created in Christ Jesus FOR good works.

Good works are not the root of our salvation; they are the fruit of the new life God gives us.

Whether you’ve been a believer for years, have struggled with trying to make yourself worthy of God’s love, or have never truly understood the Gospel, this episode is an invitation to examine where your confidence rests.

Your goodness? Your efforts? Your religious activities?

Or Jesus Christ alone?

Grace isn’t something we earn. It’s a gift we receive through faith.

To God alone be the glory. 💛🌻

What do you do when you’ve prayed, prepared, and taken every step you believed God was leading you to take—and then a storm comes?

This episode was born out of a very real moment.

For months, Denise had been preparing for a Faith + Food seminar. The teaching was ready. The fellowship hall was set up. The nourishing food had been prepared. Everything was in place.

And then a Nor’easter arrived.

Suddenly, the circumstances seemed to say, “This isn’t going to work. No one will come. Maybe you should stop.”

But sometimes faith means refusing to let what we see determine whether we’ll obey what God has placed before us.

In this episode of Grace in Every Season, Denise shares what God reminded her through Peter stepping out of the boat and walking toward Jesus: the storm was already there—but Peter began to sink when his focus shifted from Jesus to the wind around him.

Second Corinthians 5:7 tells us, “For we walk by faith, not by sight.”

We don’t always know what the outcome of our obedience will be. We don’t know how many people will show up, how things will turn out, or whether the result will look anything like what we imagined.

But perhaps the better question isn’t, “How will this turn out?”

It’s:

“Will I be faithful with what God has given me to do?”

Sometimes the storm doesn’t mean stop. Sometimes it’s simply making the road harder than you expected.

And sometimes faith isn’t knowing how the story ends.

Sometimes faith is taking the next step while the storm is still raging. 🌻

Have you ever called something wisdom…when really, you were just afraid?

Fear doesn’t always sound like fear. Sometimes it sounds reasonable:

“I’m just being careful.”
“Maybe now isn’t the right time.”
“I need a little more confirmation.”
“I’ll do it when I feel ready.”

And sometimes those things truly are wisdom. But other times, fear can disguise itself as caution and keep us from doing what God has already asked us to do.

In this episode of Grace in Every Season, Denise explores the difference between biblical wisdom and fear-driven decision-making—and why feeling afraid isn’t the same as allowing fear to control you.

Through the story of Nehemiah rebuilding Jerusalem’s wall, we’re given a powerful picture of faith and wisdom working together. When danger came, the people didn’t ignore it—but they didn’t allow it to stop their obedience either.

They prayed. They set a guard. And they kept building.

Sometimes wisdom tells us to slow down, prepare, seek counsel, or take precautions. Other times, fear tells us we can’t move forward until we can guarantee the outcome.

So how can we tell the difference?

By bringing our decisions before God, testing them against His Word, asking Him for wisdom, examining what’s really driving us, and trusting Him enough to take the next faithful step.

Courage isn’t the absence of fear. Biblical courage is choosing obedience even when fear is present.

If you’ve been facing a decision and wondering whether you’re being wise—or simply afraid—this episode will encourage you to ask one important question:

Is wisdom making this decision…or is fear?

Pray. Seek God’s Word. Take wise precautions when they’re needed. And when God makes the path clear…

don’t give fear a vote that belongs to God. 💛🌻

If something is really God’s will, shouldn’t it be easier?

Sometimes we assume that if God is leading us, the doors will open, everything will fall into place, and we’ll feel completely comfortable moving forward. But Scripture shows us that God’s peace and an easy path are not always the same thing.

In this episode of Grace in Every Season, Denise talks about what it means to follow God when obedience is difficult—and why resistance, uncertainty, or discomfort don’t automatically mean we’ve missed His will.

Jesus Himself prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane, “Not my will, but yours, be done.” His surrender to the Father didn’t make the road ahead easy.

Sometimes obedience requires us to wait when we want to move, step forward when we’re afraid, have a difficult conversation, surrender our own plans, or trust God without knowing how everything will work out.

And sometimes what feels like peace may actually be the relief of avoiding obedience.

So how do we know the difference?

Through prayer, God’s Word, wisdom, discernment, and a heart that is genuinely willing to say, “Lord, not my will, but Yours.”

If you’re following God’s leading but wondering why the road feels so difficult, this episode is a reminder:

Don’t mistake difficult for wrong.

God’s peace doesn’t always make the road easy. Sometimes His peace is what gives us the strength to keep walking the road He’s called us to. 💛🌻

What does it really mean to guard your heart?

Proverbs 4:23 tells us, “Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.” But guarding our hearts doesn’t mean becoming cold, shutting people out, or building walls around ourselves.

In this episode of Grace in Every Season, Denise talks about biblical boundaries, discernment, and being intentional about what we allow access to our hearts—from the voices and influences we take in to the hurts, fears, and offenses we allow to remain.

But boundaries aren’t only needed around unhealthy things. Sometimes we need boundaries around good things too—even ministry and serving God.

Through the story of Mary and Martha and the example of Jesus withdrawing from the crowds to pray, we’re reminded that we can become so busy doing things for Jesus that we forget to simply be with Jesus.

Before we do for Jesus, we need to be with Jesus.

If you’ve been stretched thin, struggling to protect your spiritual peace, or wondering where God may be asking you to set healthier boundaries, this episode is an invitation to slow down, seek His wisdom, and make room to sit at His feet.

Guard your heart—but don’t harden it.
Protect your peace. Use wisdom with your time and energy. And above all, make room for Jesus. 💛

Have you ever prayed and prayed about something, only to feel like God is completely silent?

You’ve asked for direction. You’ve waited for an answer. You’ve wondered what God is doing—and still, nothing seems to change.

In this episode of Grace in Every Season, Denise talks about what it means to trust God when you can’t hear Him, see what He’s doing, or understand His timing.

Through Psalm 13, Psalm 119:105, Isaiah 55:8–9, and Hebrews 13:5, we’re reminded that God’s silence does not mean God’s absence. Like David, we can bring our questions honestly before God while continuing to trust His character and His faithfulness.

Sometimes God doesn’t show us the entire road ahead. He simply gives us enough light for the next faithful step.

If you’re in a season of waiting, unanswered prayer, or wondering where God is, this episode is a reminder to stay close, keep praying, keep trusting His Word, and remember:

God may feel quiet, but He is still there. 🌻

Have you ever said, “I’m just tired,” but deep down you knew it was more than physical exhaustion?

Sometimes our bodies simply need rest. But other times, we can sleep, slow down, and still feel depleted because it’s our soul that is weary.

In this episode of Grace in Every Season, Denise shares from a very personal place about recognizing physical exhaustion and spiritual weariness after a season of grief, serving, ministering, and continually pouring into others.

We’ll look at the difference between needing physical rest and needing spiritual renewal—and why sometimes we need both.

Jesus never asked us to run on empty. He invited the weary to come to Him:

“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” — Matthew 11:28

If you’ve been pushing through, showing up, caring for everyone else, or wondering why you still feel exhausted even after resting, this episode is an invitation to stop striving for a moment and allow God to restore what has been poured out.

Sometimes the most faithful thing you can do is rest.

Your body may need rest.
Your soul may need refreshing.
And it’s okay if you need both. 💛

🎙️ Grace in Every Season with Denise Schwabe

What happens when you know God is faithful—but you still feel afraid? When you know He is near—but you feel alone? When you believe He is good—but your heart is hurting?

Having difficult emotions doesn’t mean your faith is weak. Faith doesn’t require us to deny our feelings; it teaches us not to let our feelings determine what is true.

In this episode of Grace in Every Season, Denise talks about what it means to walk by faith when our emotions are heavy. Through Psalm 42:11, Psalm 56:3, 2 Corinthians 5:7, and Mark 9:24, we’ll see that fear and trust can exist at the same time—and so can grief and hope, sorrow and worship, struggle and faith.

You can bring every emotion honestly before God while still choosing to stand on the truth of His Word.

You don’t have to wait until your feelings change to walk by faith. 💛

🎙️ Grace in Every Season with Denise Schwabe