Courage Archives - Kristin Saatzer

How do I Accept and Adjust in Adversity? Part Two: 12 Keys

November 13, 2017 By Kristin Saatzer 7 Comments

A Brave Adjustment

How do you feel about change? I’m not a huge fan. Although I have come to understand that to live is to change and, change requires courage.

I touched on my journey of acceptance in my last post. See: https://wp.me/p4RztF-Sx

After acceptance comes adjustment. When we experience great loss or change, we may find ourselves at a crossroad. I’ve seen many dear ones in devastating situations and have walked through deep-trials myself. Once the grief subsides and our new situation becomes reality, which road do we choose? The one laden with bitterness or the one filled with intentional adaptation leading to hope and joy.

My heart grieves for my friends who have gone the way of resentment, refusing to let go. The ones who obsess with bitter words and thoughts for years. Never completely healing and living as victims while pain erodes their souls. It is not pretty. While I do not stand in judgment because I have not walked their walk, I recognize a healthier path and wish it for them.

I find inspiration from dear-ones who in time, choose in a genuine and transparent way, the path of adjustment that comes after acceptance. Life will never be the same, yet they bravely trust God and re-build. Friends who embrace the call of Jesus and seek the abundant life (see John 10:10). These are my heroes. I sit in the front row watching my heroes recover from death, divorce, grave mistakes, horrible health diagnosis, financial ruin, and so much more. Beautiful brave and courageous faith.

We rarely choose what is subtracted from our lives, but we can choose how we respond. How we reorganize our lives in order to move forward. Margaret Feinberg

In watching others move forward and moving ahead in my life, I have learned helpful keys in adapting to change. Steps to acclimate to hardships and what was taken away, never to return the same. I jotted down 12 keys to encourage you as you walk in courageous adjustment.Continue Reading

Out-n-In

January 6, 2016 By Kristin Saatzer 10 Comments

My oldest child arrived nine days late. Labor lasted over twenty-four hours until my doctor performed an emergency Caesarean, transporting my baby boy from my womb into my arms.

A comfortable, familiar home was this dark womb; leaving was not what baby Sammy wanted. Yet, leaving was best. My baby had to come out of the darkness. The light waiting for him was bright but wonderful to behold. God meant for Sammy to enter this light, to live in it and thrive because of it.

Remaining in places of comfortable familiarity is not always best for us. Like the womb, these can be spaces of darkness. Oftentimes, we find it easier (or safer), to stay hidden in the dark.

As we begin this shiny New Year, you may feel regret as you reflect on the year we just said good-bye to. Was it less than shiny? Do you need a bright start?

As you read these words, I challenge you to stop and pray. Are there places of darkness in your innermost parts? Places desperately needing God’s Light to penetrate?

In God’s word, Peter tells us:

^“BUT you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.”

1 Peter 2:9 (New International Version)

Out of Darkness

Let’s focus in on the last two points of this verse: God has called us out of darkness, and into His wonderful light.

God called us out. The darkness is not our home, even though it may feel cozy and familiar. In today’s context, I am referring to those of us who claim Jesus as Savior, yet still live in or with shadowed, covered spaces. This can include shame, addictions, depression and many others. Personal, private darkness.

From the outside looking in, others may view us as “having it all together”. We may be leaders in our church and communities. We may have beautiful homes, cute outfits and darling children. However, pain and shadow reside in our souls.

Is the Lord speaking to you today? Maybe victory seems impossible or scary?

Where to begin? Continue Reading

Words of Godlight

September 11, 2015 By Kristin Saatzer 4 Comments

Waking up with pain in my side, I pulled the covers down to investigate; my Bible lay bunched up against my ribs.

Bad news had come the night before as I readied for bed. The tears fell until they couldn’t. As night closed in, so did fingers of darkness around my heart as I grieved. Desperate for comfort and sleep, I brought my beloved Bible into bed with me. Holding it in my arms, I fell asleep as the sun rose through my window.

Psalm 119 was the passage I read that night. It is a passage I often go to. “The Word of God” is the theme of this, the longest Psalm. In it, King David continually tells us how God’s Word is our guide. God’s Word gives us direction and light in our darkness.

To me, the premier verse of this Psalm is 105:

Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.

Firstly, I love the metaphor of The Word of God being a lamp, shining on my feet as I look down. This lamp shows me the way and gives me directed light to my otherwise stumbling steps. Turning this lamp on in the middle of my darkest nights, brings hope and comfort.

Secondly, The Bible is a beam shining on the road ahead. The upcoming path looks scary in the dark, but His light gives me the courage to begin – assuring me The Light of The Lord will be with me, illuminating the way.

What indescribable strength this verse provides me. I stand amazed by the countless times scripture has been my guide- my lamp, my light.

And you? Have words of Godlight been your comfort and guide? How about your current situation? Do you need to open His Word for help and hope in your darkness? Psalm 119 is a great place to start.

As the sun rose on the morning after my world shook, I held my bible close. The precious words of my Savior beamed as a lamp of hope to my hurting heart. God’s Words lit up the frightening path ahead and made me brave as I faced the new day and difficult days ahead.

Looking back, there is no way I could have walked my painful path (and oh so many others) without the Word of God as my light.

My GODLIGHT.

We live as those on a journey home: a home we know will have the light on and the door open and our Father waiting for us when we arrive… ~Unknown

PC: myglimpseofglory.com

Need Fruit?

August 14, 2015 By Kristin Saatzer 2 Comments

May He…supply and multiply the seed you have sown

and increase the fruits of your righteousness.

~2 Corinthians 9:10b

Have you sown and sown to no avail? Have the seeds you’ve planted not produced the smallest bit of growth? Do you feel like a discouraged farmer who sees no increase in his fields after months of working his land?

In 2 Corinthians 9:10, Paul refers to our righteousness. As Christians, we know we are only righteous because of Christ. God views us as righteous through the looking-glass that is Jesus and His death on the cross.

In our righteous relationship with God, He leads us to sow seeds into the lives of others for His name and kingdom. We sow in prayer (salvation of a spouse or prodigal child, healing for emotional brokenness), in giving (to a fledgling ministry or missionary), or by investing in relationships (honoring a difficult mother-in-law, staying in a one-way friendship, serving a prickly neighbor). We hope and expect to see the fruit of our labor. I know I do.Continue Reading