The Mirror of the Word and other works by C.E. White can be purchased on her website, cewhitebooks.com or on Amazon.

“Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though something strange were happening to you.”

—1 Peter 4:12

When things go wrong, we often begin looking for the reason. “What did I do to deserve this?” we ask. “Why is this happening to me?”

We forget that Jesus told us, “In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).

Even he would’ve preferred not to endure the suffering he did: “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will” (Matthew 26:39).

If Jesus himself—perfect and sinless as he is—did not escape the suffering of this fallen world, we should not expect to do so either.

Jesus has overcome the world and the power of death and sin, but we still live in it in these fleshly bodies with all the other fleshly people around us.

While that continues, there will always be a battle. Christ overcame the world in that we no longer must be controlled by its pursuits and desires (Romans 6:5–6), and we no longer need to be terrified of death (1 Corinthians 15:54–57).

We can’t always know the reason we are going through difficulties. Sometimes it’s discipline meant to purify our hearts, keep us from loving this world, and teach us perseverance. Sometimes it’s to bring God glory. Sometimes it’s a consequence of sin, whether our own or that of others.

No matter the cause, we can know Jesus, and we can be certain he gives us what we need to walk through those difficulties until our final redemption out of struggle and into the glory of eternity.

The post December 23-Strength for the Struggle appeared first on C. E. White.

The Mirror of the Word and other works by C.E. White can be purchased on her website, cewhitebooks.com or on Amazon.

“A soothing tongue is a tree of life, but perversion in it crushes the spirit.”

—Proverbs 15:4

We do not live in a time when having a soothing tongue is encouraged. Most of the voices we hear are loud, harsh, and intent on winning at any cost.

We feel like we won’t be heard if we don’t match them, but we’re called to be soothing rather than antagonistic. That word “soothing” is also translated “wholesome” and “healing.” It literally means our words can be curative, like medicine.

That’s a beautiful way to use our words—for healing instead of injuring.

It means we use them without that edge of “perversion,” which is also translated “crooked, slippery” or “viciousness.”

Do we speak only with an aim to heal, or do we also want to poke at faults and tear down? Do we speak truth in love and say what we actually mean, or do we sneak in false words, name–calling, and manipulation?

We can use our words to heal even when disagreeing, or we can use our words to cut others down, belittle, and shame them.

Proverbs 18:21 says, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue.” Every word we say is either giving life to those around us or crushing their spirit.

May we all learn to “bridle our tongues” that our faith may be fruitful (James 1:26), and may all our words give life even when we’re using them in the defense of truth against evil and injustice.

The post December 22-Gentle Words in a Loud World appeared first on C. E. White.

The Mirror of the Word and other works by C.E. White can be purchased on her website, cewhitebooks.com or on Amazon.

“But Mary said to the angel, ‘How will this be, since I am a virgin?’ The angel answered and said to her, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; for that reason also the holy Child will be called the Son of God.’”

—Luke 1:34–35

As Christ was borne in Mary through the Holy Spirit, he is now borne in all believers.

We may ask, as Mary did, “How will this be?”

The answer is the same: by the power of the Holy Spirit. We are simply to obey and respond as she did, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.”

As we love him and submit to his Word, he comes and makes his dwelling place within us (John 14:23); we will see Christ being born in our lives. “Just as we have borne the image of the earthly, we will also bear the image of the heavenly” (1 Corinthians 15:49).

Our old flesh is in opposition to the Spirit (Galatians 5:17; 1 Peter 2:11), but through the Spirit’s power now in us, we put to death the deeds of the flesh (Romans 8:13) and use our bodies for righteousness (Romans 6:19), becoming honorable vessels for him (2 Timothy 2:21–22).

Mary’s life is a picture of how our humble God has chosen to live within each of us. Our bodies are no longer our own, but we have become the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19).

The post December 21-Behold, I Am His appeared first on C. E. White.

The Mirror of the Word and other works by C.E. White can be purchased on her website, cewhitebooks.com or on Amazon.

“Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is comfortable, and my burden is light.”

—Matthew 11:28–30

Just before this in verse 25, Jesus talks about being children of God and how his truth has been revealed to “infants.”

As children, the yoke is easy because it is no longer ours. The small child traveling with a good father isn’t worried about what to pack, how he will carry it, or whether he knows the way. He trusts that his good father will provide everything needed and will not lead him astray.

Our good Father says not to worry about what we will eat, drink, or wear (Matthew 6:25), yet we worry about it nearly every minute of every day.

He says we shouldn’t seek the approval of man (Matthew 6:1; Galatians 1:10; Colossians 3:23), yet we spend half our lives striving to live up to the world’s expectations.

He says not to fear those who can kill the body but only he who can destroy the soul (Matthew 10:28), yet we cower when a worldly Goliath stands ready to destroy us.

He says not to be anxious about tomorrow (Matthew 6:34), yet we spend most of today worrying about the future.

We make our burdens heavy by taking on cares God never intended us to bear. But we can be as infants, leaving all those fears with him. Though the crowds jostle and the noise of the journey distracts and frightens, we can go on carefree as long as we’re holding tightly to the hand of our Father.

The post December 20-Holding My Father’s Hand appeared first on C. E. White.

The Mirror of the Word and other works by C.E. White can be purchased on her website, cewhitebooks.com or on Amazon.

“Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she smiles at the future.”

—Proverbs 31:25

Do we go out into the world wearing strength and dignity? Do we face the unknown with confidence in our God, showing that we know him to be good, trustworthy, and in control?

We don’t have to fear the future when we’re walking with the Lord. Like Esther, we can walk into the Lord’s plan for us saying, “If I perish, I perish” (Esther 4:16).

Hard things may happen, but when our lives are hidden in Christ (Colossians 3:3), our hope is secure in the eternal promise of a God who cannot lie and does not change. Good things may happen too. God often shows up when we least expect it—when it seems like everything is against us—just like he did for Esther and the Israelites. We don’t know what our earthly future holds, but we know God is leading us, and we can walk through it all with strength and dignity because of our trust in him.

The truth is, we can cower at the future, or we can smile at it; it will come with its good and bad all the same. But we know how the story ends, and the Lord gives us what we need along the way.

So let’s step into the unknown, the chaos, and the trials with strength, dignity, and confidence in what he has for us. Our ultimate, infinite eternity will outshine it all, and that is worth smiling at.

The post December 19-Facing Tomorrow Unafraid appeared first on C. E. White.

The Mirror of the Word and other works by C.E. White can be purchased on her website, cewhitebooks.com or on Amazon.

“And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to his purpose.”

—Romans 8:28

This is one of the most comforting verses in Scripture.

It doesn’t say that all things are good; it says that in the lives of believers, God can and will work all things to good purpose even if the things in and of themselves are bad.

Just like he worked Joseph’s slavery and imprisonment to the good of all who would’ve starved from the Egyptian famine.

Just like he used Esther—an orphaned girl who had no choice in becoming one of the king’s many wives—to save all of Israel.

Just like Jesus’s own crucifixion was for the ultimate and eternal salvation of all mankind.

We live in a world broken by our sin. The badness is here, and it will continue until eternity begins and this world passes away.

The beauty of redemption is that God can enter the badness and transform it. We brought the bad into the world, but in his grace, he allows a way to turn even that to good.

And we don’t have to doubt it; the verse says, “we know.” We also don’t have to wonder if he will do it for this particular thing or not. The verse says, “all things.”

When we’re in the middle of a difficulty, trauma, or tragedy, it doesn’t feel possible that any good can come of it, but the Lord promises it will for those who follow him.

Joseph and Esther couldn’t see the end of their stories either, but they were faithful in the middle.

Let’s hold on to the Lord and his promises even when we can’t see the end.

The post December 18-When I Can’t See the End appeared first on C. E. White.

The Mirror of the Word and other works by C.E. White can be purchased on her website, cewhitebooks.com or on Amazon.

“Therefore what benefit were you then deriving from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the outcome of those things is death.”

—Romans 6:21

When we look at the benefits versus the consequences of the things we’re ashamed of, there’s no comparison. Yet somehow, we still find it difficult to say no to those things.

What benefit are we deriving? Quick pleasure that is over nearly the second the action is complete.

This is true of almost every appetite—whether it’s that doughnut we know is one too many, endlessly scrolling social media, the high from online shopping, the porn addiction we keep going back to, or the nightly drinks we “will quit eventually.”

What consequence are we reaping? Slow destruction—emptiness, shame, and spiritual death (often hastening our physical death) along with emotional, relational, financial, and physical problems.

The temptation for those things feels overwhelming. We try to resist, but it seems impossible. We give in because it seems like no one could expend that much willpower forever, and it’s true. No one can—but we don’t have to.

As we exercise the Spirit rather than the flesh, the Spirit becomes stronger, and the flesh weakens. The desire begins to ease, the nagging want calms, and it slowly becomes easier to say no. It’s like walking uphill—it gets harder and harder until you reach the top where the way opens up before you. The walk may not be complete, but it’s no longer strenuous.

This usually comes after we’ve resisted longer than we think we can—long enough for our bodies to overcome their habits, our minds to begin enjoying the freedom from that want, and our hearts to see the Holy Spirit move more clearly as we submit to him through our obedience.

The post December 17-Freedom on the Other Side appeared first on C. E. White.

The Mirror of the Word and other works by C.E. White can be purchased on her website, cewhitebooks.com or on Amazon.

“Why are you in despair, my soul? And why are you restless within me? Wait for God, for I will again praise him for the help of his presence, my God.”

—Psalm 42:11

This is a wonderful example of taking our thoughts captive (2 Corinthians 10:5) by talking back to our own minds and preaching to our own hearts. We know that the Lord is where our hope and help come from and that he is our only firm foundation, but we forget. Our soul despairs over our circumstances or grows restless and dissatisfied.

But those feelings don’t rule us. We might still feel despair and restlessness, but we choose to act on what we know—that our hope in God is sure, he is fully good and wants good for us, he works all circumstances to good for believers, and our eternity with him is sure.

We too often accept our thoughts and feelings, allowing them to control us instead of standing up to them and telling them the truth of who God is and what he’s promised. Philippians 4:8 says to think on the things that are true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent, and worthy of praise. It says that living like this brings peace and puts us in God’s presence (Philippians 4:9).

So when our hearts are despairing or restless, first, we remind them to wait on the Lord, who is our only salvation. Next, we replace those despairing thoughts with things that are true, honorable, and just, etc.

Our emotions do not always lead us in truth. In those times, we focus on what we know, despite what we might feel.

We can always praise him for the help and peace of his presence, because he is always faithful and never leaves us.

The post December 16-Talking to My Soul appeared first on C. E. White.