When difficulty comes, it's tempting to assume we're doing something wrong. Better yet, it's tempting to back down from what we know is right or believe and think, “It's not a big deal if I give in a little bit.” How do we continue to live out what we believe while loving the people around us during difficult times? We have to take the window seat.

Society tells us that raising a child should look perfect: perfect vacations, experiences, even perfect interactions. Here's some good news for you: we’re not raising kids, we’re raising adults. Impacting a child's life doesn't require your perfection, but requires that you consistently point them toward a perfect God.

God put certain things into place…there’s an order to it.  There is cause and effect to how God built the world.  And in our lives, things end up a mess when you don’t do them in the right order. Peter shows us there are certain things that need to be done in order, and we can actually have a predictable outcome.

What exactly is the right combination of food and exercise for looking and feeling our best? Is there a right combination for true beauty? We’re talking about where true beauty comes from because it’s not necessarily where we think it would be.

Authority. There are times when we all struggle to submit to authority. And do we really need to? Let's talk about honoring God by honoring the authority that He has authored into our situations.

Mistakes, pain, regret, and shame. We've all felt like we've run too far from God and doubted that He could ever forgive or love us again. Thankfully, He's bigger than our greatest mistake or worst feeling. Let's move past the doubts that come from feeling not good enough. God is ever-present and compassionate.

Sometimes, God just doesn't make sense. The Bible seems like a fairytale and our lives play out in a way where we're left asking, “What is God doing?” While we may not always be able to find the answers, we can certainly trust that God is the answer.

A powerful worship experience or a great story can be impactful to us spiritually. However, serving God and knowing we're loved isn't always full of emotion. How do you move past the doubts when you just don't feel the goosebumps or powerful emotions?

Being a Christ follower is full of ups and downs. We love and serve a God we cannot see but is obviously alive and active. While we may have doubts that God is working and we may lose focus on His great love, we can always find it again.

It's a new year, but do you find your mind filled with the same old struggles, doubts, and mistakes? Let's allow today to be the beginning of something new. Bring the whole family as we talk about what we want to see more of in our lives.