Growth for Life ~ Page 11 of 17 ~ Jolene Underwood

Keep Showing Up Even When It All Seems Small

Nov 12, 2015 | Growth for Life | 1 comment

Two weekends ago I looked forward to a quiet evening hibernating alone in our closed-in garage while the rest of the world went door to door for Halloween. After all, no one needed to know I was there in the windowless room. I didn’t want to run to the store. Or pay...

Keep Showing Up When Faith is Hard to Do

Nov 9, 2015 | Growth for Life | 6 comments

For several days in a row, and hours on end, I’ve stared at my computer or fiddled at my desk wondering how the words would come & what to put down. I considered a blogging break after Write 31 Days, but I have work to do. Like an overdue newsletter for Rise Up...

Believe Who He Is & Whose You Are

Oct 31, 2015 | Growth for Life | 1 comment

Here we are, at the end of this #Write31Day challenge. Yesterday, I mentioned how my writing took a turn from what I planned. Originally? I thought about pointing to the things of God which we can believe in. Like His character, His goodness, His steadfastness, His...

Believe Better Together

Oct 30, 2015 | Growth for Life | 3 comments

Dear reader, today is the second to last day of Write 31 Days, 31 Days to Believe. If you’ve stuck with me this far, can I just give you a big, hearty thank you? I mean it. You bless me with your presence, your stories, your words of encouragement and how you let me...

Believe in Emotional Authenticity

Oct 29, 2015 | Growth for Life | 12 comments

Maybe it’s hard to hear, tough to read and unpleasant to think about. Those stories of trials which one endures. Like the friend who deals with chronic illness, still. Or the one who deals with anxiety & depression and can’t seem to move past it. And the ones who...

Beloved, Believe Within the Clouds {Guest: Amy Breitmann}

Oct 28, 2015 | Growth for Life | 3 comments

Please join me in welcoming special guest, Amy Breitmann. Don’t forget to check out the ViBella Jewelry giveaway either!.This post is part of the 31 Days to Believe series in October 2015. What we believe impacts how we live. Choose to believe & #livewell....

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When Trying Harder Isn't Helping & You're Tired of Hurting

No matter how hard you try to do the "right" and "good" things, especially as a Christian, sometimes the hard things never end.

It's frustrating and depleting.

You may wonder how to make it through. And why isn't God doing the things you thought he'd do?

Perhaps you're in a season of transition.

You realize you're not the person you thought you'd be. You're not experiencing the "abundant" life you thought you should have by now.

You may look back at your life and wonder, "How did it get this way?" "What happened?" "Why haven't I been able to do (or not do) the things I want to do? Or act the way I want to act with other people?"

You may be feeling exhausted, confused, hurt, and disappointed.

But dealing with all those messy thoughts & feelings seems like too much.

What can you do? Could it ever be different?

It can.

After years of over-serving, people-pleasing, and trying to be a "good" Christian, I bottomed out. In deep pain & utter exhaustion I cried out to God asking for healing, not just for the recent trauma & extreme stress I'd endured, but for the years of fears that held me back from being who I sensed I was designed to be.

It was a scary prayer, so I asked God for courage to face the steps of growth that would be difficult.

Since then, I've experienced a tremendous amount of healing & pursued a lifelong journey of growth.

Today, I feel more fully alive as the person God designed me to be. The journey that began with a prayer in 2013 continues today

If you're ready to dig into a journey of growth & healing too, I'd love to support you through the content I share &/or the groups I lead.

When you subscribe to email updates, you'll receive a couple of messages from me. I'd love it if you replied to say, "HI" and let me know you're ready to experience...

Growth for LIFE.