ARTICLES

“As women, our hormones can end up directing the traffic of our hearts. And they’re really not very good at it. A dip in one chemical messenger or an increase in another leaves us going along just fine one moment—and wrecked the next. Hormonal changes and imbalances leave us more prone than we might otherwise be to irritability, anger, depression, and unpredictable crying spells. But here’s the truth that we need to grapple with: While hormones can help us explain our shifting emotions, they are not an excuse for the sinful behaviors that can often follow.”

“The gospel assures us that we are kept and held and secured in Christ (that is unchanging and forever), but these rhythms of grace help us to press all the more deeply into him—again and again and again. We don’t pursue deeper holiness through the spiritual disciplines in order to achieve or earn anything before God; rather we grow into richer knowledge of him by weaving these rhythms into the fabric of our lives.”

“The Lord does not turn away from his people’s sin and suffering with irritation or disgust. Rather, he draws near the most aching, unattractive parts of us. As we revel in the compassionate love of Christ, we will increasingly reflect him—remembering our own reliance on God’s grace, bearing with others in their pain and weakness, and persisting in love when it’s not easy or convenient. As we lean on the Spirit for help to do this, we might ask ourselves, ‘How can I orient and structure my life in ways that are interruptible and available to the needs of others?’”