When the Apostle Paul said “Where, O Death, is your victory? Where, O Death, is your sting?” and John Donne said “Death, be not proud,” and the Arcadian Wild said “May you know Death lost already,” and

And Andrew Peterson said, "Where is your sting, O grave? How grave is your defeat."

and C.S. Lewis said "even Death itself will work backwards."

and charles wesley said “once he died our souls to save/where thy victory, o grave?”

And Paul said “The last enemy to be destroyed is death.”

No one has to justify their existence. Not by who they are or what they bring to the table. Every human is made in the image of God, and their value and worth is inherent from conception. End of story.

Jesus wept.

Do you think that was for joy? when his friend had just died? He even knew that he was about to do and he still wept for his friend.

The Bible is full of people who wrestled with God over "things that didn't go their way". Even the ones we consider "great", like David. Have you ever read his Psalms? Heard his distress and pleas for help? Hannah was so distraught that Eli thought she was drunk. Elijah wanted to curl up and die. The list could go on. No where are these things considered bad or negative in any way. To the contrary, God came along side them and lifted them up.

The only times that questioning or wrestling with God was ever considered bad was when the person was angry at God and failing to recognize his sovereignty, and that is NOT the same as simply being upset. You can be upset and still trust that God is working everything for good. Those two things are not in opposition.

I think I do understand what you're going for here, but bestie, reconsider your words. Sentiments like this reinforce toxic positivity mindsets that result in isolation and an inability to ask for help when you need it. It promotes bottling up your feelings for the sake of "being happy" instead of dealing with them in a constructive way (and letting your experiences and the resulting feelings draw you nearer to God). This idea of never allowing yourself to feel upset over anything isn't healthy.

So for anyone who needs to hear it: You don't have to be happy all the time. I promise it's okay to sit on your couch at midnight and sob, or lay facedown on the floor doing the same, or whatever, as long as, at the end of it, you can say that God is still good.

Jesus wept too, after all.

Father Brown S01E03, The Wrong Shape

John 21: Peter recognizes the resurrected Jesus on the shore, already cooking them breakfast.

i feel like this is a topic that needs more than just a tumblr post to fully expand on but. i think that in modern-day christian culture we place WAY too much emphasis on Feeling and Emotion . and i think that this attitude is part of the reason why the most common struggle you hear is "God isn't speaking to me/I can't hear God". feels like the standard set is that you're constantly feeling a Supernatural presence and it's Big and Obvious and it Shows and you can't contain it... when that's just not it. God can be quiet. God can nudge. God's voice is contained in the Bible that you hold between your hands. If you're not "hearing Him" then maybe your expectation of what hearing Him is is flawed.

one thing about biblical womanhood posts that I’ve noticed is that when it’s talked about, they still strive to emphasize the aspects that were remarkable situations— they leave a faint taste of feminism in my mouth because they focus on Deborah, the woman raised up to lead because the men wouldn’t; they focus on Jael, the woman who kills a man with a tent spike; a woman dropping a stone, Rahab smuggling Israelites and defying authorities—

And all of these are raised up and praised as the Biblical woman with just a hint of look!! We’re strong!! We’re in the thick of it!! We’re not submissive doormats!!

In one sense, this is true. These are great, godly women. They are our examples.

But in all our striving to remind people of biblical women’s strength, we cannot forget who else are our examples.

We cannot forget Ruth. Ruth who humbled herself and remains loyal with Naomi, submitting herself to God and trusting in His provision. Ruth who lays herself at Boaz’s feet and who sacrifices possibly being a widow soon again for the sake of Naomi’s care and God’s provision.

Martha— one who serves and who desires to serve

Mary— one who sits at Christ’s feet to learn and desires to hear the words of her Lord

Lydia— who insisted on hosting and serving the Lord’s messengers; who would be possibly sacrificing her wealth being a part of the church in Philippi and serving the church

Mary— Jesus’ mother who submitted herself to God’s will, submitted herself to the scorn of her peers, who trusted the Lord to fulfill His promises and whose soul was pierced with a sword

The strength of godly wives who submit though their flesh and curse is contrary— the strength of women who order their homes, are humble, are helpers, are mothers, are servers, are menders, are teachers, are caregivers, are sellers and makers, are students of our Lord.

Don’t confuse gentleness for weakness; nor tenderness for a lack of strength.

Women are strong.

And it’s not because of tent spikes.

@heathxledger gets it