hannahmhancock

[hannahmhancock]

Thoughts of an eco-friendly Jesus follower

You may have noticed over the last year that I frequently post things about how to be eco-friendly. I try my best to shy away from sharing political, scary, or pessimistic pieces. At times, I find it valuable to share reality of situations so those who don't know might actually see what is going on in the world around us.

Before I dive in, I want to say a few things: there are MANY rabbit holes I can go down here. I will do my best to stick to the point, but I may add in snip-its so you can truly understand where I am coming from. I am not choosing a political side here. Period. While yes, I notice one party favors policies to protect the environment over others, I am in no way choosing sides. I think that is irrelevant to my thoughts in this particular piece, and I do not believe division is a part of the solution.

So let me get down to it.

I've had many conversations over the last year, with people I would identify as followers of Jesus and those who are not. Among the conversations I've had with my fellow believers I often get asked: why do I care? Does being eco-friendly truly matter? Doesn't it shy away from the Great Commission? To answer, I believe yes, being good stewards of what we've been given matters. No, I don't believe it takes away from the Great Commission. I'm not sitting here writing this piece to argue whether or not climate change (or climate emergency) exists. That's your own prerogative. What I am saying is yes, we should care about taking care of our planet, ESPECIALLY as followers of Christ.  

Why? For many reasons.

First, the Bible talks about being good stewards - in all things.

Genesis 2:15 - The Lord took man and placed him in the garden of Eden to work it and watch over it.

This is our home, where we live, eat, sleep, and breathe. In the same way you take care of your house, your car, or your pet, we should do the same for earth.

Second, I think being good stewards of the earth doesn't go against the Great Commission, but rather coexists with it. Think about it this way: people are dying, losing their homes, or losing access to food and water from earthly changes. As people who are fully capable to help, we have a great opportunity to love others through our actions. By providing shelter, food, water, home restoration, etc. to those affected by these disasters, we have an opportunity to love and act the way Jesus does. We then will have more opportunities to share the gospel. 

Finally, apathy is not a solution, but in my opinion, selfish. Believers, myself included, often step away when our nation or world engages in debate - particularly over controversial topics. By refusing to acknowledge that there is a problem or even taking action, we selfishly fail to believe or recognize that our help and action is needed. I love this quote by Desmond Tutu, "If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor." This is deep. This stings. Yes, this might be "political", but I think there is such deep truth here - especially for believers.

We aren't here to be people pleasers, to make everyone happy, but rather to share truth and follow Jesus. I also want to point out that believers aren't always going to see eye to eye - hence why there are different denominations, why people have theological discussions, etc.  As long as we believe the Word to be true, follow Him, and spread His name, then we are aligned with His will. The Bible warns us against being lukewarm. Not to encourage divisive debates on Facebook, but rather to challenge you to pray about the issues we face today, let God open your heart and speak truth, taking action that is honoring to Him.

Before I wrap up, I want to address a few possible opposing, but valid thoughts: 

Seeking positive change and habits to better serve our home can easily be portrayed as not trusting the Lord that He is in control and that He will provide. In some ways, I wholeheartedly agree. The Lord has NEVER not provided for me, and He IS in control. Always. It is also easy to look at a situation like climate change and the natural disasters occurring around us and be scared or worried about what will happen. I'm not writing this from a place of fear, but rather a place of why we should care and why we should help.

Additionally, the Word discusses how natural disasters (among other things) will occur as a sign of His return. (Matthew 24:7). I'm not encouraging being good stewards of what we've been given to attempt to control, delay, or ignore what the Bible says about these occurrences. Maybe what's going on in our world today is a sign, maybe it isn't. We truly don't know - and that's a good thing. 

I've spent a lot of time in prayer about this, what scripture says about stewardship, how this applies to taking care of our home, and why I should care. Personally, I see people in need from these changes, and how I am capable of taking steps - small and large - to do something about it. I've realized that while yes, prayer is imperative, sometimes we're called to act. Whether it's being a good steward of my resources at home - recycling, reusing, reducing, or donating my time or money to those affected by these disasters, I encourage you to do the same. Take some time and pray about it. Allow the Lord to guide your heart on how you should look at living eco-friendly. While yes He has given us freedom, we cannot be selfish.

I'll end with this: what if you were the one who lost their home, a loved one, or access to food and water due to these changes? What would you want those who are capable to do to help?

[hannahmhancock]

Distracted

Hello, it’s me again.

I can’t remember the last time I sat down at my computer to write. It honestly makes me sad because I often find my voice best in writing, but here I am. My reality is that it’s been awhile, and I hope to change that.

Why has it been months? I don’t know, I’ve made excuses. I’ve been distracted. A combination of the two and probably more.

You probably know how my life is because I share it on social media or I have personal interactions with you. I’m in Knoxville, married, pursuing what God has for us here, trying to live eco-friendly, and ready for college football and fall weather. (I’ve recently learned that since I work during summer and the words “Summer break” mean nothing to me now - I actually hate summer because it’s SO. HOT. And I’m kinda over it.)

I’ve been wracking my brain for weeks now what I would write about when I eventually did sit down to write. And honestly, I’m still not sure. I have so many thoughts, so many words, but I’m going to start with the ideology of being distracted.

I’ve had numerous conversations with people lately about their stage of life, trying to figure things out, what’s next, how they’re going to get through ____ struggle, and so on. For myself, I’ve thought a lot about married life, how Taylor and I can grow and pursue Jesus together, where we need to serve now, what is my role and responsibility as a believer concerning political issues (climate change, immigration, abortion, etc). Truth is, I don’t have an answer to all of these things. And I’m not sitting here today to tell you my personal convictions on these issues, because that’s not my point. Bottom line, I know I should love people the way that Jesus loves me. 

As I’ve asked myself these questions over and over and heard my friends and colleagues ask the same, I’ve realized something: we are all incredibly distracted. We might be distracted by what’s directly in front of us (a relationship, school, job, etc), the future (what’s next, what’s going to happen in the world), or trying to run in someone else’s lane (which is a major DQ in the track world). These distractions might stem from fear, comparison, hurt, etc. And one thing I’ve realized through this is the enemy will do whatever he can to distract you. He KNOWS the great impact you can have for the kingdom, and while he can’t take our salvation, he can distract us, keeping us from running the race set before us. 

Personally, for what I’ve been focusing heavily on has stemmed from fear. It’s something I am CONSTANTLY praying through, seeking wisdom on, and sharing in my community. It’s hard. A daily uphill battle. But when I stop, pause, and take a step back, I remember that God is in control, and that is a GOOD thing. It doesn’t mean my uphill battle will be over, that everything will be sunshine and roses, but it does mean that I know in the end, good wins, and that good is Jesus. 

In my moments of fear or when my brain runs rampant on the “what if’s” (which by the way, I’m a 2 on the enneagram, which has taught me a lot that my personality heavily struggles with this - who knew!), I ask Jesus “what do I need to be praying for? What do I need to be doing to better serve you?”. 

I recently read in Love Lives Here, by Maria Goff, that the things I wonder most about now, probably don’t matter in heaven. And WOW. Did that hit me like a ton of bricks. Talk about convicted. 

After I seek guidance on what I should be doing, right here, right now, I’m often reminded to be ready. Always. To be ready, I have to get ready. (Getting ready probably looks different for different people, but I presume it looks like being in community, in prayer, in the word, etc.) Getting ready is great, but it’s not being ready. Getting ready allows us to have perceived control, letting us take our time. It can distract us from being present, from doing the very thing we’re seeking to do. Being ready is being willing - no matter what. It involves risks, sacrifices, not knowing. You’re either on the bench or in the game - and just a hint for you, God has called you to play in the game! No matter what abilities you have or don’t have - you are equipped. You are called. 

What distractions are causing you to know what God is saying? What things are you chasing that won’t last? What you do can and will have an eternal impact - but don’t let that scare you, let that empower you! 

[hannahmhancock]

And the two shall become one

I’m sure most, or at least many, of you are tired of my constant posts, countdowns, pictures of Taylor and how *READY* I am for our wedding day. I feel like we’ve been engaged for FOREVER, about 330 days when it’s all said and done.

Praise the Lord because we are rounding our final lap and June 8th will be here before we know it! (Or honestly it could drag on like it has felt at times). As I sit in Starbucks, sipping my coffee (I know, I know, the most basic thing ever. White girl, drinking coffee, blogging) I begin contemplating, “what really is the role of a wife”. Since my youth group days, I’ve been told to remember and recognize Proverbs 31. I could cite this chapter, especially verse 30, better than I could the lyrics to Party In The USA. But until almost 11 months ago, that chapter never really meant a whole lot to me. On paper, I could say what the role of a wife is, but when I put that into reality, I honestly don’t know. The one thing I do know, and something I asked from Taylor since day one, is for him to be the leader. And ladies, if you’re anything like me, while I want Taylor to lead us all the time, I DEFINITELY, and quite often, have my moments of being outright stubborn, and ending up calling the shots. And this is something I find myself ACTIVELY working on every day. 

Now don’t get me wrong, I’ve prayed non stop over the years, especially during this engagement season, for guidance, wisdom, and understanding to know what my role as Taylor’s wife looks like. But as I am not yet married; we haven’t fully meshed our lives together, and currently live in different states, I can’t say that I *truly* know that answer. In fact, I would argue that most wives, whether they’ve been married a day (shout out to my cousin Ally!!) or for 50 years, you’re probably all still thinking as you read this “well yes, I know how I am as a wife, ways I can serve my husband/kids/etc, but I don’t have it all figured out either” - and I certainly hope this isn’t true. I hope and pray we all as wives, fiances, girlfriends, or heck, even boyfriends/husbands will continue to pursue growth and better ways to serve in our relationships.

When I first sat down at Starbucks this afternoon, I cracked open this husband prayer journal I bought from Shiloh Collection, and started writing my prayers - for Taylor, for our marriage, for things now, and things long term. While somewhat personal, I wanted to share my current, specific prayers as we cherish and await these last few weeks of singleness. And once you finish reading this post, I would love to know your thoughts, tips, tricks, advice, whatever, on marriage, especially for the wives out there. Wives, what do you struggle with as a wife? What should I prepare for that I might not know in my singleness? 

Unmarried friends, what do you want in marriage? What do you want in dating? Engagement? What do you see your role as in a relationship? 

“Dear Jesus,

Thank you for today. Thank you for the chance to write down my thoughts and prayers - and having the freedom to do so. I pray in these last weeks of engagement,  you help Taylor and I cherish the last moments of singleness, but also that you continue to prepare us for marriage. I pray that we never stop growing, praying, and seeking, and doing all this together. I pray that we never lose the giddy joy of when we first started dating, event 60 years from now. I pray that in the difficult moments, you help us to remember to do everything in love, speaking life and encouragement, and not letting the sun go down on our anger. I pray that we’re not afraid to step out into faith and take courage for wherever you may call us. I pray that we never stop dreaming for what craziness you could ask us to step in to. I pray for Taylor to have the courage to lead, even when it’s hard or when I make it difficult. I pray that we remember the unique roles, gifts, and talents you’ve called us into, and to humbly remind us when we overstep boundaries. I pray on the darkest days - that we continue to glorify You. I pray on the mountain tops, we remember who made it all possible. I pray for our future children, to one day come to know you and share your name to all. I also pray that those blessings don’t happen for quite some time. 

In the short term, I pray that you provide Taylor a job, and for us to be able to make ends meet. I pray for a community in Knoxville, of young adults, married, working, whatever. I pray for people who will challenge us and mentor us. I pray for people we can begin to love on, encourage, or mentor. And finally, I pray for a joyful, life giving marriage, that never loses sight of who we are serving and why we were created. 

Amen.”

[hannahmhancock]

Home Sweet Home To Me

About this time 5 years ago, I received a beautiful letter in the mail: I was accepted to the University of Tennessee. It was a dream come true. I loved Knoxville. I always had. My dad raised me to cheer for the Vols and wear the “gaudy” orange my entire life - no matter if we were winning natty’s or taking L’s.

As you know, the Lord sent me to a place that was a sea of red and black - and I’m so thankful. I love my dawgs, and my heart is for them. Not to mention all the incredible people, life experiences, and ways God moved in me during my time in Athens. Attending a university and being there during the biggest times of adversity or one of the best seasons you’ve ever seen, you can’t help but the team be your #1. I, however, still love my boys in orange (although I’ve never been able to admit that), they just took a second place spot.

Fast forward 3 years. I’m applying to graduate school. Again, I get accepted to Tennessee. And again, as you know, I went to a place, a different place, that was a sea of red and black. (but still Georgia is obviously my number 1). And again, am I so thankful the Lord sent me somewhere other than Knoxville.

I’ve prayed for an opportunity to live in the hills of Tennessee my ENTIRE life. And every chance I got, God prompted my heart and said, “no, not yet.” And every time I was disappointed. But now, with all the excitement in the world, I am proud, humbled, and honored to be moving to God’s country of Knoxville Tennessee (sorry, I like to exaggerate for effect).

About 7-8 months ago, I found out my internship in Louisville was not going to be able to hire me full time. Extremely bummed (because I LOVE my job here), I looked to Taylor and said “what do we do?” So we started praying. Praying for guidance, clarity, opportunities, etc. We prayed that the Lord would make it clear where we are called to be so we can glorify Him most. We had this crazy idea in our heads that maybe, just maybe, Knoxville could be this place. Now for those of you who don’t know both sides of the story, Taylor had also been in my shoes almost his entire life: wanting the opportunity to move to Knoxville and every time he had the chance, he felt the Lord say “no, not yet.”

As we began praying for clarity, I started reading a book called “The Circle Maker” by Mark Batterson, where he challenged readers to circle their prayers around their God given passions, desires, etc. and to fervently, boldly, and expectantly seek the Lord in this circle, all the while of not using the “well, if it’s in your will” as a cop-out. Now, this book and my circling of prayer can be taken extremely out of context if you don’t know what Mark Batterson is trying to convey in its’ entirety, so I encourage you to look further into it if you don’t understand where I’m getting at.

And so, we prayed for Knoxville. For 8 straight months. And you know what? For 7 months and 3 weeks, we heard nothing. This is not to say the Lord didn’t hear our prayers, our cries, our anticipation, but what it does say is that God allowed us to receive “no’s” from places and silence from others so he could ultimately answer this prayer we had circled. 

And let me tell you, the last 8 months have been the hardest 8 months of my life. I’ve applied to probably no joke, over 200 jobs, of which I only heard back from about 4. When we felt like Knoxville was getting us nowhere, we started to look in other areas, and still received silence. I received a heartbreaking no from a job I thought was a guarantee for both Taylor and I. I had times where I grew tired of praying and seeking the Lord and just waited in passivity, without prayer. (Let me tell you - that only makes things worse). I cried. I worried. I grew anxious. I grew frustrated. I took out my frustration on my loved ones. 

And one day, after receiving that heartbreaking no, I gave up my passivity towards the Lord and got on my knees. Taylor and I began to pray more and quite differently than we had been the last several months. In some ways, I think we just thought an opportunity would fall on our lap, but what I didn’t fully understand in my mind is that whatever job I got, was only because of the Lord.

We began to fervently pray, again. We improved our discipline in the word and in prayer. We sought God where we were. We decided to continue to serve and love on others around us, while we still had the chance (in Louisville). And the crazy thing is - the moment we got our priorities straight, opportunities began to open up everywhere. I had two interviews in Chattanooga, one in Waco, Texas, and one in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. As I went through this process, Taylor and I continued to pray for open hearts and minds to wherever the Lord sent us, but we also still prayed that if it was the right time, we could go to Knoxville. As the interviews progressed, we still were unsure. I prayed for only one opportunity so I wouldn’t doubt where God was sending us. But, that’s not what happened. I received a call last week with the opportunity to fly to Waco, Texas for a job. While open to the possibility at the beginning, Taylor and I knew Waco was not it. I was encouraged by many to travel out there anyways for the experience, interview opportunity, and so on. As I went on a 17 mile training run last Thursday, I was riddled with anxiety. While everyone around me encouraged me to go, I could not consciously waste their time, and act, in what I thought, could be disobedient to the Lord by going out there. I stopped at mile 12, called the Waco people, and told them no. 

While I was at such great peace about turning them down, I was still a nervous wreck. I had just taken a huge leap of faith and trusted that the Oak Ridge (or possibly another job) would work out. You see, a few days earlier I had interviewed in Oak Ridge for the event manager position. It was the job I had dreamed of in the place I had dreamed of. But my nerves got to me and I thought I bombed the interview. I prayed so hard to the Lord almost every hour of every day last week for the interviewers to show mercy on me and to hear by Friday at 5:00 if I had gotten the job or not. I had another job possibility in a different town, but didn’t want to pursue it unless I knew Oak Ridge wouldn’t work out.

Guys, last week was tough. I was nervous all week. I hardly slept. I Thought I would be back at ground 0. I pleaded with the Lord many times. I was extremely blunt with Him. I continually humbled myself knowing the only way I would get this job is if it’s His will, not if I’m qualified enough or if it’s what I want.

Friday morning rolled around and I was still just as anxious. Taylor and I hopped in the car to drive to Effingham for the weekend and I began to pray. The Bible App verse of the day was Galatians 6:9, “So we must not get tired of doing good, for we will reap at the proper time if we don’t give up.” Literally the Lord knew I needed that verse. Ironically enough, the Lord has shown me that verse in very similar life instances: applying to undergrad, grad school, summer jobs, etc. 

About an hour into the journey I got a call, and to my surprise, I was offered the job! I was extremely blown away and extremely grateful. Taylor encouraged me to take a moment to pray and be thankful to the Lord before we moved forward. So we pulled off the interstate, took a moment and gave thanks to God.

Now that I’ve written a novel and probably lost your attention, I write all this to say: Don’t. Give. Up. Many days over this season I’ve been so close to throwing in the towel and applying for a job I knew I could get, but would want to pull my hair out. 

Taylor and I fervently praying through this season doesn’t mean that God just gave us what we wanted because we asked for it. I firmly believe God is sending us to Knoxville because we can glorify Him most there. But I also think the Lord knows our hearts, our passions, and our desires (because He gave them to us), and I believe He wants to use that for His glory! 

Through this journey, I got very tired of people saying, “it’ll work out, in His time”, or “it’s not the right time”, or “The right job will happen for you”, etc. And while I knew all this to be true, that God REALLY does have me, I was tired of it. I also knew that once I got to the other side, the previous 8 months would seem to make sense and be worth it - and it is. But through the monotony and continued rejections, we persisted in trusting the Lord. 

Friend, I’m not sure where you’re at. If you’re in the same boat I’ve been, I know your pain; I know your struggle. But please cling to and remember Galatians 6:9. I’m not sure why you’re in the position you’re in, but I know there’s a reason for it - a Perfect, divine reason. Don’t give up, for you’ll reap in the right time. God honors those who faithfully pursue Him - all for His glory. He hears you. He feels you. He loves you. He knows you. He’s got you.

All the times Taylor and I heard, “no, not yet” to move to Knoxville never made sense until now. Had I moved there for undergrad, I never would’ve met some of my very best friends, nor grown the way I needed to like I did in Athens. Had I moved to Knoxville for grad school, I never would’ve met Taylor, met the most amazing friends, or even found out my dream job DOES exist. And now, here I am, 5 years after my initial attempt to move to Knoxville, beyond excited for the next journey, forever grateful for the opportunity.

[hannahmhancock]

Lay it down.

I’m not one to go with the flow. I don’t want to be cliche, the same as everyone else. In fact, I sometimes try to do the exact opposite just to be “unique.” The problem with this thinking: it can sometimes become a pride issue or ignoring a great trend or idea that I may actually need to consider. I don’t think the desire to be unique and my own person is a bad thing, but I have to catch myself sometimes on why I choose to do (Or not to do) a particular thing because the rest of the human population is following.

Why am I bringing this up? Because the start of the new year was just 11 days ago. Gyms are now quadruple in size for the “new year, new me” motto. Salads, fruits, and vegetables are being consumed three times as fast. Books are being purchased, rented, or checked out from a library infinitely more than they were just a few weeks ago.

Okay, so I made these “facts” up, but you get the point.

I think resolutions are great and all, and honestly needed, but I think people can make resolutions 365 days of the year, not just January 1st. In fact, I sometimes wonder if we as people let January 1st be an inhibitor from doing something, ending something, or starting something. It’s almost as if we can’t start this crazy idea we have because it’s November 2nd, and we may as well wait it out until January 1st. 

With that being said, it brings me back to my first point: I don’t like going with the flow, but sometimes I felt Jesus convicting or leading my heart to actually go with the flow because there’s inevitably something that needs to catch my eye. 

So what did I do? Reflect. And this is where I realized the concept of “New Year's resolutions” wasn’t actually a bad idea. You see, for awhile now, I’ve caught myself in some not-so-great habits. Didn’t know why they were happening or how I could fix them. The irony of it all? The New Year actually forced me to think about it, pray about it, and do something about it. I believe I can thank Jesus for this humbling irony. 

What were my “bad habits” you may be wondering? Well to name a few: worrying, excessively. And before you think, “well duh, Hannah. You literally talk about worrying and anxiety in EVERY post, so why wouldn’t this be one of those things? and why haven’t you ‘fixed’ it yet?” But I mean so much more than worrying about getting a job, where the job would be, etc. I mean worrying like a loved one getting in a car accident, how to choose or pray for the right job, what grade I would get on my final to see if I pass the class. Worrying about things that literally don’t even matter and caused me to lose sleep for nothing. 

Another bad habit: not treating my loved ones the way they deserve all the time. You see, when I stress, worry, or am anxious, I tend to take my stresses and throw them, usually verbally, on my loved ones. I don’t mean I am verbally abusive or anything of those sorts, but I find my attitude and tone are not what Jesus would approve of. What I find interesting is why I, and I’m sure others, do this to those we love most? Because they HAVE to love us? Not a good enough excuse.

Finally, the third bad habit I recognized was my lack of time in prayer and the word. This one should be a “well, duh” moment, but as I’ve said before, lack of time with Jesus, is what has previously caused the first two bad habits to occur. Should be an obvious fix, but sometimes when you’re stuck in this constant loop of anxiety, stress, and worry, it’s hard to break. 

*I did have other habits I wanted to fix like actualling training for my April marathon, get in better shape, eat more fruits and veggies, etc., but those “resolutions” are mute for this blogpost.*

The days surrounding the New Year were tough. Taylor and I began to face big decisions. Decisions I didn’t think I’d actually have to make. Decisions I was scared to make. Decisions that would ultimately make a path for us. Decisions I didn’t want to get wrong. I lost sleep these days. I woke up with physical anxiety running through my veins. My thoughts were consumed with fears. I didn’t feel like running. I didn’t eat as much. (which if you know me, and I don’t want to run or eat, you know something’s up). 

Naturally, like I have experienced many times before, I got on my knees and prayed. I cracked open my Bible for only the second or third time during break. And this is what I heard: Lay it down. At the feet of Jesus. 

I’m a firm believer of sometimes taking physical acts to do what Jesus is calling me to. It always looks different depending on the circumstance, but here, I wrote down my fears, my anxieties, and my stresses, prayed over them, and threw them away, to “physically” rid of my fears. I then wrote down my God-given passions, desires, and dreams, and put them somewhere I can see them everyday. I then began to read Genesis (as Im attempting to read the entire Bible this calendar year), and “oddly” enough read several people in the Bible who had the same problems. People who had big fears, big decisions, big insecurities, only to have God respond with big promises. And you know what? He came through. Noah and his family survived the flood, and never again will God flood the earth. Abraham and Sarah bore a son. Jacob was reunited with Esau and was safe. Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt. 

It’s “cliche.” But God ALWAYS follows through. Truthfully, cliche isn’t the right word because it typically has a negative connotation. But my brain is no longer in school mode and I can’t think of another word. 

If Moses can lead the Israelites out of Egypt, if Noah can build an ark, if Abraham can have a son in old age, why can’t the same God heal me of my fears and worries and faithfully fulfill the promises He made me? 

One thing I’ve learned in this process is it’s hard for God to work when we don’t let him. Ed Newton (who’s a bomb pastor) said that we often run AWAY from victory, when we think we are running TOWARD it. In reality, we don’t have to chase after victory. Victory is ours. It’s here. We must simply embrace it and let Jesus do the rest. But we can’t do so unless we are open handedly following Him, trusting Him, and letting Him lead. So that’s what I did (or am trying to do). Jesus gave me this sweet reminder to lay it down (Thank you shiloh collect and Needtobreathe). And guys, while I’ve been through this before, and I may have to several more times in my life, the “fear” of the unknown, is no longer a fear. It’s exciting. 

I think I go through this same thing periodically because there are things that come up in my life I’ve never been through before. Similar situations happened When I was trying to pick grad schools, praying through beginning stages of dating Taylor, and now as we navigate jobs and where we are called to live. But every time I make the decision, and come to the other side, I consistently see how Jesus’ promise stay true. I realize the moment I lay it down at His feet, that my fears are gone. My problems aren’t necessarily solved, but they’re inadequate compared to the God I serve. (and prayers the next time I face something similar, I remember this post and more importantly, Jesus’ promise)

For the first time in my life, I don’t have anything pressing on my calendar. I don’t know what I’ll be doing, or where I’ll be next week. And at first, I hated this. I LOVE having every month, week, and day planned out, and staying busy. But Jesus has given me this sweet gift of the unknown, giving me a more restful season, something I likely won’t have much in life. And I LOVE it. The difference? By laying everything down at the feet of Jesus, I’m able to faithfully walk each day, knowing that wherever Jesus calls Taylor and I next, will be where we can best glorify Him and advance His kingdom.

Maybe New Year’s resolutions aren’t so bad afterall. 

[hannahmhancock]

When Everyone Else Seems to Get Exactly What You Want

Imagine this: You’re sitting on your couch, scrolling through insta. What do you see? Another engagement? Another wedding? Another pregnancy announcement? Another “I got a job!” post? Whatever you see, you and I both know when you hop on Instagram - or any social media for that matter - at some point you scroll and think “ugh, another one.”

Don’t worry, I’m guilty of it too. Prior to getting engaged, I would see 2 or 3, sometimes even 5 or 6 engagements every week, no, everyday. And what did I do? Shrug my shoulders, sigh, and screenshot the pictures to my friends LITERALLY saying “another one.” (shoutout Allison and Sabrina). But what good did this do for me? Reminding myself constantly for months of seeing people in the exact shoes that I wanted to be in did nothing but make me wish my time away, get annoyed, be impatient, and not trust. And honestly guys, I was doing this way before I even knew Taylor existed. So to say this was a short-lived impatient time of my life would be a lie because I’ve been having these thoughts pop in and out of my head the last year or two.

Okay okay. Before you start getting angry and frustrated saying, “well, Hannah. You’re engaged now. To the man of your dreams. What validity do your words have on this now?” I know guys. To some, it may look like my life is perfect. That I have everything I want, need. That I have the man of my dreams, about to finish my master’s, and blah blah blah. Yes, some of this is true. I’m beyond excited I get to marry Taylor (sorry I can’t shut up about it), I am about to finish my master’s, I have a great family, great church, great friends. But my whole point of writing this blog today isn’t to point out the fact that “your dreams come true” when you’re scrolling through insta wanting everyone else’s lives. That if you “just give it time” or “put yourself out there” everything will magically change and you will no longer scroll on social media wishing you had things that others have. 

Because let me be the first one to tell you: THAT. IS. NOT. TRUE.

Honestly, the point of this blog isn’t about social media comparison either. It’s much bigger than that. Guys, while yes, I am engaged, and yes, I no longer look at newly engaged couples on social media the way I did prior to July 4th, I STILL see things on Insta, hear in classrooms, see on tv, and MANY other facets, things that I wish I had that everyone else seems to be getting. And you know what? Every time that ounce of jealousy creeps in, the ounce of “I hope that doesn’t work out for you so we can still be in the same boat” scenario (This is awful, I know, but don’t lie, you do it too), the frustration, anger, confusion of “don’t I deserve this too?”, or whatever else causes myself (and you) to be ungrateful, un-joyful, unloving, I get hit with conviction. I’d be lying if I said I handled every scenario like this properly, but I don’t. 

Here’s my point: I’m 22 years old, about to have my master’s degree with a butt load of experience, but what I can’t seem to wrap my head around is this: how can I be so “qualified”, applied to over 50 jobs, and will still likely graduate without an interview, let alone a job? Doesn’t make sense, right?

Even if it doesn’t, it makes sense to someone: our perfect, all knowing, all powerful Creator. And when I fail to remember that, He strikes my heart with conviction so I do remember. I’ve had my moments of doubt, fear, anxiety, etc, and because I’m human it will still happen, but when I begin to think the power is in the hands of the people, not the creator, then yes, I will always be let down. But when I remember that King Jesus has His will, His plan, and has brought me THIS far and won’t stop now, then my worries more or less, melt away.

So here’s my two solutions: 1. Don’t let your heart, mind, soul reach the point of needing conviction. If scrolling through Insta is making you bitter, then don’t. If talking about your issue (in a gossipy, untrusting, unfaithful manner), then don’t. (By all means be real and vulnerable with people, but you know you’re heart and intentions - if it’s not in the right place - then don’t.) Prevent the problem from even happening. Take the time you would being frustrated,  upset, or confused, and put it towards fruit giving things like spending time in the word, in prayer, or in worship.

Honestly guys, I’ve been a roller coaster this semester in praying for or seeking jobs. When I go days at a time without it, my heart gets anxious, I get worried, and I stop trusting that Jesus will provide. But when the conviction sets it to where I can no longer avoid it, I get on my knees and pray, which is solution two. Stop trying to figure out the solution, but pray about it, let your requests be made known to God, and let Him give you the solution.

I was reading The Circle Maker by Mark Batterson the other day, and there are three takeaways I had that is helping me faithfully pray through this process, and it will help you too in whatever you’re going through:

1. Dream big and circle your prayers around it. Doing the impossible is exciting and terrifying, but only God can do the impossible. 

So my prayer in the job search under this has been: dreaming for an event coordinator job that helps me love and create relationships with people. Having a job in Tennessee or close to family.

2. God has called you to a specific purpose. He doesn’t call the qualified, he qualifies the called.

I know my purpose and passion is event planning and loving on people. I firmly believe God will use and honor those passions for His glory.

3. It’s not a matter if you’re qualified, it’s a matter of where you’re called.

So, Taylor and I have been heavily praying to figure out where we’re called. 

Okay, before you think I’ve gone on some tangent, let me put it into perspective: Whether your frustration is being single, being jobless, being friendless, literally ANYTHING, think about these 3 steps, pray over them, and see how the specific dreams, passions, or calling on your life may not be able to be completed if you had the VERY thing you want when you’re scrolling on Instagram being frustrated.

Example: Taylor and I would love to end up in Knoxville, but as of now, I have no leads. That doesn’t mean God won’t call us there right after marriage or even a few years from now, but what it does mean is God still has a purpose for me here, in Louisville, to love on those around me, and may still have things for me to do here before he calls me (and Taylor) to a specific job or location. If I were to leave tomorrow for Knoxville on my own will, I wouldn’t be able to do the things God needed me to do here. Heck, God could keep me here for a few months because He knows six months away from Taylor would be hard. Not saying we couldn’t do it, but maybe God wants to gift us with that. 

I don’t know the reason, and I’m certainly not going to sit here trying to figure it out, because then I would be doing the very thing I’m trying to encourage you all NOT to do. But I do know this: trust Jesus. Plain and simple. Stop wanting what the world has and you don’t, because you already have everything you need. God hasn’t brought you this far to stop now. Consistently and expectantly pray, and in due time, God will answer those big dream prayers.

[hannahmhancock]

All You Need Is Love

Love is all you need.

Okay, Beatles reference aside, all you need is love. Before you begin to argue with me in your head, let’s think about this: if we loved one another the way are called to do so, this love would overflow into the other needs we have, thus taking care of everything, making love being the sole thing we need.

Before I go off into my tangent, I do think and believe we need encouragement, kindness, faith, joy, peace, etc. But I think these things begin with love. Why? Because God is love, and our greatest commandment as followers of Christ is to love.

A Pharisee once asked Jesus, “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” In which Jesus replied, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments” (Matthew 22:36-40).

We are called to do everything in love. (1 Cor 16:14). 

But how do we do that?

I first want to go over how God loves. Seeing how God loves us is the best way for us to in turn love others. 

To put it simply, let’s look at John 3:16: “For God so LOVED the world, that He gave his one and only son, so whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” Um okay, wow. Would YOU give up your only child to save the rest of the world? Ummm.... probably not. 

Paul points out in Philippians 2 that Jesus was obedient to the point of death, in which I also think it shows us how Jesus LOVED us to the point of death. 

God loves you SO much, that He sent Jesus for you. He loves you so much that He gives you new mercies every morning. He loves you so much that no matter how dirty, filthy, unforgivable you think you are, that He says, “come as you are.” He loves you so much that He promises to prosper you, and that He won’t ever break that promise. He loves you so much that He knows the number of hairs on your head.

I could go on, but I think you get the point. 

So back to my original thought: do everything in love. 

Love is patient. Love is kind. Love doesn’t envy. Love doesn’t keep a record of wrong. Love rejoices in truth Love bears all things; believes in all things, hopes in all things, endures all things. Love never ends. (1 Cor 13)

Love maintains an intense relationship with others as it covers a multitude of sins. (1 Peter 4:8).

Love goes beyond words and talk, it shows itself through action. (1 John 3:18).

Love causes you to love your neighbor as yourself, not taking revenge or bearing a grudge. (Lev 19:18). 

Love causes you to love your enemies, doing what is good, expecting nothing in return. (Luke 6:35). 

Simply, love does.

I hope by now, many of you have heard of or know who Bob Goff is, author of Love Does and Everybody Always. In his first book, Love Does, He simply states over and over in each chapter how God simply loves you, and in Everybody Always, he states how we simply must love others. 

Imagine this: what would happen if we continually, intentionally, without stopping or hesitation, loved unconditionally? 

I think it would look something like this: We would dine with sinners the way Jesus did. We would have real life conversations filled with getting to know people of all faiths, beliefs, ideologies, not trying to convert them by telling them they’re wrong, but planting seeds through love. We would make dinner for people fasting from Ramadan, serve them, and sit down with them when the sun goes down. We wouldn’t run away from what we perceive as “untouchable” people; we would embrace them the way Jesus did with the leper.  We wouldn’t judge someone else's sin worse than our the way some believers do, because in reality we have all fallen short. We would {lovingly} correct our brothers and sisters of their sin, privately, by being honest and not permitting sinful actions (i.e. when your best friend is dating someone not healthy for them and you nod your head saying yes go for it, when you know that’s not a good idea). 

Love does this, and so much more. Taylor once told me, “God wants us to love Him so much that everything else taking the top spot of our lives doesn’t even seem necessary anymore.” IF we loved so much that we didn’t feel the need for anything else, I would think we would love others so much we would want them to experience the same thing.

We are called to simply love others and THROUGH that we plant seeds and make disciples of all nations. The more we love others, the more of Jesus we share. 

[hannahmhancock]

The Race Against Time

Me being the funny, witty, (and humble) person that I am, I thought of way too many ways to start this piece. Wanting it to be perfect, I went through every idea that I had that related to time running up. I thought of Scotty McCreery’s newest hit “5 more minutes”, and relating that to society always wanting, needing, desiring five more minutes. I thought of High School Musical 2 (embarrassing) when everyone is staring at the clock waiting for the last tick, signifying the ending of the year, and the beginning of summer. Naturally, I landed on the concept of the race against time, literally picturing someone running against the clock, kind of the like Amazing Race.

So I guess after this little rant, you know what’s on my mind. My Monday night class, while my favorite, was very difficult. We were told to stand on one side of the room while my professor read out a statement, and if we identified with the statement, we crossed the line, and looked at our classmates. This exercise contained many categories of questions including family, culture, religion, gender, and so on. And let me tell you, my anxiety went through the roof. I knew the moment she got to religion or other potential controversial topics, I was likely to be in the minority. 

Some of the statements were tough. I knew there would be some defining moments that I could purposefully choose to not cross the line, in order to hide and not raise questions. But as I began to think that, Romans 1:16 crossed my mind, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, because it is God’s power for salvation to everyone who believes...” God instantly laid on my heart the opportunity and decision I had to face when deciding to cross the line or not. I knew the amount of discomfort, awkwardness, or anxiety I felt by being the minority would be totally worth it, if it could advance the kingdom even slightly.

The statements which stuck out to me most include: “If your spirituality guides everything you do cross the line”, “If you would date someone of a different religion, cross the line”, “If you have had serious thoughts of leaving U of L, cross the line”, and finally, “if you feel like an imposter in this program, cross the line.” Throughout the entire “crossing the line” exercise, I wanted to explain myself for every “answer” I disclosed. While I know my thoughts, opinions, or beliefs may be different than the majority, all I wanted to say was how I personally view things and ask for thoughts in return.

I was dumbfounded by the amount of people who did or did not cross the line with some of these questions. When I anticipated 2 or 3 people, 20-25 would cross. In these moments, my heart began to break for those who felt they did not belong, for those who wanted so desperately not to be here, and for those who disclosed information that could indicate rough times of life. And all I could think was, “what have i been doing this entire time? What have I done or not done to make people feel loved, included, and important?” 

This exercise helped me realize that time is short. In the grand scheme of things our lives are like smoke that appears for a little while, then vanishes, and we’re not even promised tomorrow (James 4:13-14). 

Recently, I decided I was going to attempt to finish my master’s in the fall rather than next spring to save money in the long run. Since this decision, I’ve realized how much little time I have left in school, with my classmates, with my coworkers, and with people I may walk past on campus. My class yesterday was extremely eye opening, reminding me that every moment counts, and that I need to be making a conscious effort to love people daily. My classmates and I all recognized the disconnect among one another, and now that my time is more pressed than I realized, I want to change that. 

To my cohort, If you’re reading this and feel even remotely similar to how I felt yesterday, let’s make most of the time we have left. College is short, and it’s the last years we have before becoming full fledge adults. Let’s enter this last semester or year of grad school and be adventurous, hang out in coffee shops, and continue to grow as individuals, together.

My challenge to you all is this: don’t waste your life. Don’t waste your time. What are you so focused on or worried about that the enemy is keeping you distracted from furthering the kingdom? What could you be doing now that may eternally impact a person’s life rather than focusing on the minute details that Jesus already has taken care of? We’re in a race against time, not knowing when the return of Jesus is, or when we will be called home, what are you going to do with today?

[hannahmhancock]

Invest

Seventh grade seems like it was just last week. Almost 9, yes NINE years ago (yikes), I went to my first Disciple Now weekend, where I met one of the most incredible ladies, Kaylee (then Pritchett) Ward. Kaylee served as our in home leader that year and faithfully served every year, during summer, and almost any other event the church put on. You could say at times I idolized Kaylee, but want to know what stuck out most to me? Her investment. It didn’t matter what time of day, how busy she was, or what was going on in her life, Kaylee so selflessly was there for each of us girls over the years. Kaylee’s impact on my life STILL touches me to this day. Her example has encouraged me and taught me the power of investing in others, encouraging others, and loving others. 

Fast forward to high school. You guys know how important running is to me and my family, how crazy we are to plan family vacations around marathons, or wake up at 3:30 a.m. for a race in Disney World. As I’ve mentioned in previous posts, I truly believe the Lord has gifted me with the ability to run for His glory. To share His name with others, to encourage others, and for me to personally lean on Him in ALL circumstances. Want to know a BIG reason why I still run and still (or at least try my best) to keep my running focused on the Lord? Because someone took the time to invest in me. Sean McNichols, or as I still say “coach”, began coaching at my high school Sophomore year. From track season of 10th grade until I graduated, Coach invested in me, along with my teammates, not only on a running level, but on a personal level. Coach McNichols wasn’t at practice every day to give us workouts and leave. He was there to individually encourage us and help us improve as athletes and people. On good days and bad, Coach reminded me of my purpose: to glorify God in all that I do. To this day, Coach still encourages me, both in running and in daily life. It’s because of a small investment 6 years ago that I am able to return the same investment into others. 

Each and every one of us has somebody or somebodies in our life who have made a lasting impact on us. I’ve listed only 2 of the numerous people in my life who have made a difference in my life. Take a minute to reflect and list those in your life who have made a difference, what they did that stuck out to you, and how it shaped who you are now. 

So let’s stop and think further.

What would happen if we stopped for five minutes during our day and took time to invest? 

No, I don’t mean the stock market, or in ourselves, but what if we just took a few minutes of our days to invest in others? How much of a difference could we make for the Kingdom if we stopped looking with tunnel vision and opened our spectrum to see those around us? How many more people would be reached if we weren’t so scared to see people beyond the surface? What if we asked people how they were doing, and actually meant it? What would happen if we spent time with people one on one and took time to listen about their life, the good and the bad? How would our prayer life and daily walk be changed if we took time to consistently invest?

I know these are a lot of questions to challenge you with, but my point is this: our lives and the lives of others would be significantly impacted for the greater good if we stopped in our busy days to invest in others. For those of you who don’t know, I spent last summer working for a high school ministry in the greatest city on earth (Cleveland, TN, aka God’s country. Don’t fight me on this I just really love Cleveland). I think the most important lesson I learned over summer is that God was able to use me immeasurably more when I took time out of my days and weeks and spent them with girls in our ministry. And let me tell you, I established some of the best relationships with those girls because of it. Because of a small investment I made here and there, I was able to grow close, be vulnerable, laugh, and have fun with these girls. And if any of you have talked to me about this summer, the girls at FBC are my babies, forever changing my life. I’m not explaining this to talk myself up and say “hey look at this good thing I did, you should too.” I’m sharing this with you because God fully showed me the power of investing in others this summer, and how it not only impacts them but also me. On the flip side, I had an incredible team of people I worked with this summer who took time to invest in me each and every day so I could turn around do the same. 

Numerous times in the New Testament we see Jesus, STOP, and invest in others, and the IMPACT that was made. Check Matthew 20:29- the end of the chapter for just one of the many examples. Honestly, I don’t have any other scripture to share about investing. I’d be lying if I said I read a lot in the Word about investing and decided to blog about it. This is just something the Lord has laid on my heart for awhile and I wanted to share. But, seeing how Jesus continually invested in others should be a solid enough example to make my point.

I know I’m 15 days late into this year, but this year I choose to focus on investing. I hate doing cliche things. I hate going with the flow. I am a stubborn person who wants to do differently from everyone else because I want to be a unique individual, which is fairly prideful of me. However, the end of 2017 and start to the new school year the Lord ROCKED me. He has laid it on my heart to make investing my focus, my “word”, this year. And that’s exactly what I plan to do, whether with my small group at Southeast, my younger friends, my cohort, or just random people I meet. Here’s to a year, a lifetime, of investing in those who are already in my life, and those who will come along, and I absolutely cannot wait.

[hannahmhancock]

When I was little I wanted to be a...

When you were a little kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?

I went through some phases but these are a few ideas I came up with: 1. taste tester. However, I was worried people would try to poison my food if I said it didn’t taste good, wasn’t up to par, or to small of a portion. 2. interior designer: not really an “out there” job, but the kicker is that I wanted to decorate Johnny Depp’s house because why not? He’s the bomb. This idea left when I realized my creativity was minimal. 3. My most recent idea though, was to be the first female general manager of a baseball team, because if anybody could do it, it was gonna be me, right? Granted, this is not a kid created dream, but I thought it would be cool. I love baseball, I love managing, so why not, right? It definitely would be a game changer and a great job in the industry. Unfortunately, I realized that coming with being a general manager you have to be okay with being the bad guy, and honestly, not sure that’s what I want to do.

As we all can see, each of these dreams have something in common: that I came to some type of realization that I was unfit for the job, it was too ridiculous, or wouldn’t make me enough money to survive. But you know what my biggest problem with this is? While these dreams are great, and none of them truly encompass what my passions are, I always found a reason to give up that dream and move on to the next one.

Often I see my colleagues, friends, family, anybody really, have a dream, passion, or idea, and after awhile they find a reason that completely diminishes that dream. So many of us find reasons why our dream job, business idea, or passions aren’t good enough for this world, that they don’t fit and won’t be “successful” enough to fit the “American Dream.” 

But guys, the Lord gives us desires and passions for a reason. Why would he make me, Hannah Marie Hancock, so passionate about encouraging others, running, and event planning, if He weren’t going to lead me down a path the encompasses all of that and MORE for His glory. 

Now this doesn’t mean that God will give you everything you want, or lead you down the path that YOU specifically plan, but what it does mean is this: If you delight yourself in the Lord, He will give you the desires of your heart (Psalm 37:4). When our hearts match the Lord’s you can’t lose. Or as Coach Taylor would say, “clear eyes, full heart, can’t lose,” and when we’re talking about Jesus, I know this is true.

Have a childlike faith. Trust that the Lord has given you passions for a reason. Don’t give up on your dream just because an obstacle comes your way (or because it’s not “adult enough”). Satan wants more than anything for us to settle, to not pursue what truly gives us joy in this world, because he wants to rob us from any delightful, joy giving gift from Above. Don’t give him that power.

With all that being said, I have an exciting announcement to make. I’ve been writing on this blog since the summer before my freshman year of college (just over 3 years now) and it has always crossed my mind, “what if I wrote a book? What if i took all of the words, thoughts, ideas, the Lord has given me to write all my blogs and put it into one book?” I honestly hadn’t seriously considered it until about 6 months ago, but I kept telling myself I wouldn’t have the time, resources, or money to do so. I feared that if I did pursue this idea, I would be unsuccessful, losing a lot of time and money. But then I remembered a blog I once wrote about success according to the Lord verses the American standards. If I wrote this book, solely for the glory and namesake of Christ, not pursuing my own fame and fortune, and if one, just one life, was touched by it, then it would be successful. When I realized all of that, I finally have decided to pursue this dream. As you guys know, I have a passion to write and a passion to encourage others. I fully believe that this idea is a God-inspired idea, and that He will be faithful through the entire process. I honestly have no idea what the book will be about, how it will be published, or when. All I know is that I will prayerfully seek him through this process, asking Him to guide my hand in writing to best encourage those in this world. Brothers and sisters, I ask you to be in prayer with me as I begin this journey, praying for humility, guidance, and the words to write. I am so pumped for this, and I can’t wait to share this journey with you all.

Much love,

Hannah

[hannahmhancock]

Jesus Loves the Little Children

Red and yellow, black and white, they are precious in His sight. 

Jesus loves the little children of the world.

Growing up, this is one of the first songs I ever learned, and I will NEVER forget the words and truth this song holds. 

In light of the recent events with the NFL, President Trump’s statements, and the debacle with Steph Curry and the Warriors visiting the White House, it becomes more prevalent to me every moment of the day how desperately our nation, our world, needs Jesus.  

In my sport policy class last night, we spent the majority of the evening thinking of words that describe how we feel about the issue, discussing the issue, and our opinion on the issue. The “issue” at hand stemmed originally from Colin Kaepnernick sitting, then taking a knee during the National Anthem, and since then many athletes have followed or used their celebrity platform to voice social issues present in our country.

As I sat there, listening to my classmates, I started to think: what REALLY is the issue here? And why, after talking about the issues, for probably the hundredth time, are we not doing anything about it? Why in class did we talk about the issues, our thoughts, and opinions, but not come up with a solution?

Then it dawned on me. The issue isn’t Colin Kaepernick taking a knee. The issue isn’t President Trump saying things he shouldn’t. The issue isn’t Steph Curry not wanting to visit the White House. The issue isn’t Lebron blasting Trump on Twitter. 

The issue is sin. Living in a constant state of mind that our views are right, that the opposing side is wrong. We cannot come up with a solution until we discover the problem.

It’s not so much that my opinion is right, and your opinion is wrong, or vice versa. It’s that we jump to conclusions, create our own opinions based on (sometimes irrational) emotions rather than logic and fact, don’t allow the opposing party a chance to speak, opening our hearts and minds to others, or ever moving past the discussion stage. 

I’m not here to say your opinions and feelings on the subject are invalid, because I firmly believe everyone has a right to the way they feel and it’s probably backed up by things they’ve learned, or from personal experience. I see the issues both sides present, why athletes are protesting, and why people feel the way they do. I’m not here to give my personal deep convictions on the matter but What I am saying is this: the core of the endless debates, arguments, and division, is because sin is in the world. No, sin will not be eradicated on earth until the return of Jesus and the whole process mentioned in revelation happens, but we certainly can control how we as individuals react, and should do so in a manner worthy of the gospel so we can move forward as a united people to allow everyone the freedom, safety, solutions, and the unity we all deserve. 

Talking about issues are important. Sharing our thoughts and emotions are important. Listening is important. But where this all gets out of hand is when we let sin take hold of our words, thoughts, emotions, ears, and so on.

If you asked me my opinion on the matter I would say this: I truly don’t know. I can see both ends of the spectrum. But I wouldn’t say I’m in the middle either, because the middle can (sometimes) easily be swayed. I would say the answer is pursuing Jesus. I would challenge my fellow believers to begin praying, if not already doing so, for our nation. To pray for our nation’s leaders, coaches, and players to seek His guidance on how to biblically handle situations like this. To pray for protection from the enemy because I can see first hand at my school, on tv, and on social media, how the enemy is tempting us to sin in our anger and emotions, to act selfishly, and speak words that are harmful to others. To pray for God’s grace to be shown to ALL, because we ALL have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. To pray for humility. And To pray for God to move and be made known. Because at the end of the day y’all, nothing will fix ANY of these issues but the love, grace, guidance and mercy of Jesus.

The more scandals, arguments, division, natural disasters, etc, I see in this world, and EVERYDAY, the more i realize how important it is for fellow believers to show Christ’s love, to be a light, and share His good name. Because guys, He could come TOMORROW, and we could be so enthralled with things of the world (and I don’t mean the issue of kneeling - I mean literally EVERYTHING: stress, finances, family), that we miss numerous opportunities to plant seeds. Don’t let this be the case. 

To my fellow friends, social media followers, acquaintances: please know I am not invalidating your opinion or telling you these issues don’t matter, because your opinion is valid and these issues are important. What I am saying is it’s time to rally together, to be the UNITED States of America, take appropriate actions on these issues, and continue to move forward as a nation. Remember the root of the problem is sin, and although we will never be perfect human beings, now that we know what the core issue is, we can take leaps forward, together, to find the right solution. God is perfect. He holds the perfect solution. Seek first His kingdom. Extend grace where necessary. Open your ears and not your mouth. Be selfless. Each and everyone of us were made by the same Maker, no matter if you are red, yellow, black, or white. 

[hannahmhancock]

Facing the Giants

When coach asked in the locker room, “what’s the purpose of this team?”, responses were “to win football games.”  Coach quickly responded, “football games are too small of things to live for. We’re not here to work, make money, and die.” He presented the team with a radical philosophy of praising the Lord in the wins and losses. I know you’ve heard this before, or something close to it. So why don’t we act it out? Why don’t we count our losses as victories because we know that God is sovereign?

Well let’s look at a few instances in the Bible.

1 Samuel 17. David and Goliath.

Goliath, also known as “champion” was 9 feet, 9 inches tall. Covered in bronze armor, he calls out, “choose one of your men and have him come down against me. If he wins in a fight against me and kills me, we will be your servants.” After 40 days, David discovers why the Israelites continually lineup against the Philistines. Befuddled, he questions why anyone would go against the army of God and takes on the duty of fighting against Goliath.

We all know how the story ends, David defeats Goliath with the throwing of stones. Sorry if I ruined the end for you.

Goliath fell. The giant of giants, champion, intimidator, fell. And I’m excited to tell you, your Giant must fall.

Nowadays literal giants don’t show up at our doorstep ready to defeat our army. They come in all shapes and sizes: anxiety, fear, rejection, loneliness, anger, comfort, we all have them. 

So often we forget the giant we’re facing is NOT bigger than Jesus. So often we forget all the promises God has already fulfilled. So often we forget we aren’t David in this story.

It’s cheesy but true. Jesus > everything. We often like to tell ourselves, “God wont give us anything more than we can handle.” To a degree, yes, but I think the Lord often does so in order for us to trust and lean into Him more. But in these moments we stretch, we grow, and we remember that He has already won, He has defeated our greatest giant (sin), and He defeated the giant you face today. 

To be fair to the Israelites, they were facing an almost 10 foot giant. I know I’ve never fought a person, let alone even seen a real life giant, so I’m assuming in those moments of fear they forgot the promises God had already fulfilled: Jericho’s walls tumbling down, splitting the sea, and SO many more. But that’s just it. When we face the giants and grow fearful, we HAVE too look back on all the promises God has fulfilled. 

We are not David in the story. We are not set to kill Goliath. As Louie Giglio best put it, think of a pep talk your coach gave you, an inspiring message you heard at a conference, or just something in general that made you feel ready to conquer the world. How did you feel in that moment? Empowered? Like you can do this? Like you could defeat anything? Not that I don’t want you to feel empowered, but we often place this pressure on ourselves to face the giants, to conquer all, to fix everything. What we always later realize is we cannot do this not alone. If we could face our giants and defeat them on our own, we wouldn’t need Jesus. 

In my first several days in Louisville I’ve noticed many present giants: anxiety, loneliness, fear of losing my friends, fear of the future, fear of fitting in. One thing I’ve continually noticed in the last week is how I let these giants tower over me. Because sin is in this world, our giants have the ability to take root in our lives. Instead of facing them, I’ve run from them. It’s hard to realize facing our giants is not something we do alone; it’s something we do with Jesus, and when we realize that our giants, though deadly, are already dead, we need to find victory in that. Our giants, small and large, are defeated because Jesus died and rose again on the third day. 

Fear must fall. Anxiety must fall. Depression must fall. Loneliness must fall. Anger must fall. Comfort must fall. Addiction must fall. Lust must fall. Your goliath, must fall, you just have to give it to Jesus.

Facing the giants is easier knowing Jesus has already won. 

[hannahmhancock]

The Search for Stability

Writing is an outlet for me. An outlet I use to unplug from the world and to plug into the Word. (Haha. see what I did there?) Anywho, I’ve waited all summer for the inspiration to write, for the words to say, and for the minutes to sit. 

It wasn’t until today, August 6th, 2017, just four days shy of my summer internship ending, that I seem to have found the inspiration, devotion, and dedication to put my thoughts down on paper, or in this case a blog. 

And I have to sit here and just ask myself why? 

I could give you a lot of answers here: I’ve been busy; I barely have time to sleep or eat, let alone time to sit and put my thoughts together. I could say I just haven’t felt inspired; that I’ve poured myself out so much so that I didn’t balance that with getting poured into. I could give you a lot more reasons, more like excuses, of why it’s taken me three + months to take 30 minutes to gather my thoughts but it all comes down to one key issue: lack of stability.

For those who know and for those who don’t, a lot has changed in my life lately. My family moved, I graduated, I moved to Tennessee, and am about to move to Louisville. I’ve hopped around a lot the last few months, carrying my boxes of stuff with me, not knowing where my clothes are, and sometimes not knowing where my sanity is. With this rather large transition, I’ve grown weary, frustrated, and honestly sometimes just plain grumpy. I keep telling myself, “well I’ll just figure it out and get settled when I moved to Louisville.” But the biggest problem with this philosophy is it’s caused me to be lazy and complacent in my walk with Christ at moments. 

For the first time in years, I’ve felt at home, right here in Cleveland, Tennessee. I’m tellin ya, it’s God’s country up here. And while I praise God for having a place to feel like I belong, I’ve not allowed myself to stop and rest in that. 

I know I’ve mentioned it in previous posts before, but guys, we have to be where are feet are. We are in the season, the phase of life, whatever you want to call it, because that’s where God has uniquely placed us. This summer has been amazing, in fact, it’s been the best summer of my life. But if there’s anything Satan has attacked me with this summer it’s the fear of the unknown and the anxiety of instability. I’ve struggled on and off all summer knowing if I made the right choice for grad school or not, and I’ve struggled at some points this summer feeling like I can rest. Knowing that another change was coming August 21st, it was hard for me at moments to be present because I feared the transition and change that was to come. All I wanted all summer was to feel stable, to feel settled, and what I was missing until about 3 weeks ago was that my stability is not in my circumstances, but rather Christ, which sounds pretty simple, but it’s way easier said than done.

In the moments of anxiety and fear, I found myself choosing complacency. You know in medical shows where the patient is on life support and when they pass a straight line just runs across the monitor? Well, I guess in my subconscious somewhere I thought if I chose complacency, I could have stability, but this did nothing but cause a stagnant relationship with Christ. And as you may or may not know, crap tends to hit the fan more when you aren’t consistently walking with Him, or at least it can feel that way. 

I keep coming back to this song I heard at Wesley back in my days at UGA (wow do I sound old), and the lyrics literally pierce my heart with conviction: “so let complacency be my enemy of my life.” Boy oh boy, did it home. All this time I was seeking rest, stability, settledness, stressing over the fact that while I felt at home I knew change was coming yet again, when all I need to do was rest and be still in His presence.

If there’s anything I wanted you to take away from this post it’s these three things:

1. God has you where He wants you. Be where your feet are. For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under Heaven. (Ecc 3)  

2. Be still and know. Just. Be. Still. Rest in His presence. (Psalm 46:10) In the moments of being still He will reveal a vast array of things you never knew because honestly you probably never took the time for Him to do so. He will also give you rest, a Holy rest, that is unlike no other, when you sit still and rest in His presence.

3. Complacency is your enemy. Never think you have life figured out, never grow bored of your relationship with Christ. Satan LOVES to attack in the moments where you spiritually aren’t filled. (Revelation 3:15-16, Hebrews 5:11-12)

My goal for you is this: be committed. School is starting back for most of us, whether you’re in high school, college, teaching, or just continuing where you are in life. But what I want you to do is ask yourself: What do you want God to do in your life this year? What do you want to learn from Him? Where do you want to see Him move? What goals do you have for yourself this year? Once you’ve answered these questions, I want you to put them up on your mirror, in your car, your locker, your desk, somewhere you will see them almost every day. And I want you to pray over these things every day, and come May, when we pack up our stuff for another summer break, I want you to look back and see all that He did in the school year. Remember Habakkuk 1:5, ‘Look at the nations and watch and be utterly amazed. For I will do things in your days that you would not believe if you were told.”

God has power to start a revival this year, and He wants you to be a part of it. But it’s incredibly hard to do so if you’re seeking for stability, rest, comfort, peace, or anything else for that matter, in anything but Him. 

Praying for each of you tonight, I hope this message is encouraging, convicting, or whatever you need it to be. 

Peace and blessings.

Love, 

H

[hannahmhancock]

Pause

Stop what you’re doing for just a second. Look around you. Take a deep breath. Inhale and exhale. 

What around you speaks to you? What around you are you thankful for? What around you have you not even noticed?  

Whether you’re a college student, in the workforce, or even retired, how often do you take a moment in your day to just pause. 

There are two types of people in this world: Type A and Type B. If you’re like me, you are type A, or those who are highly ambitious, energized, competitive, and often susceptible to stress, anxiety, etc. If you are type B, you are relaxed, easygoing, basically opposite of type A. I can’t really speak on type B because I really don’t know much about that personality type. Neither type is better than the other, but both types often go through daily life without pausing. 

Midterms are here. I have four this week actually. My Sunday has comprised of Church, lunch, study, homework as a study break, study some more, dinner, study, study, gym, and more study. But anywhere in my day do you see a pause? A moment to just stop, be thankful, pray, or rest for five minutes? No, the answer is no. 

As I sat in Starbucks earlier sipping my PTL (passion tea lemonade - embracing the summer tastebuds), I felt convicted for this very thing. I often plan my days down to the minute. But never do I include time and space in that schedule to pause. I felt convicted because I felt the stress of this week and began thinking of everything that had to get done. But what I should’ve done is this: take a pause in my thinking, give thanks to the Lord, and pray for peace.

Now there’s a difference in quiet time and the pauses I’m talking about. Time with the Lord is essential, but what other supplication do I give myself everyday? Again, usually none. 

Think about it this way: we as humans usually eat three meals per day. (Or like me, I just eat all the time). Why do we eat every few hours? Because we need that sustenance. Because we need food to be energized and fuel our bodies to keep going. But in your daily walk with Jesus, how many times a day do you allow yourself to spiritually be fed? 

We get in these habits of going, going, going, and don’t pause to spiritually feed ourselves. If you’re type A, you probably have a lot on your plate and don’t take time to pause. If you’re type B you probably don’t pause because you go with the flow of traffic and don’t always feel the need to. Yes, I know this is stereotyping people, but admit it, we all are guilty of not pausing in some type of fashion. 

It’s sad that we don’t reach for that sustenance until we get burnt out, or we reach for temporary sustenance (i.e. coffee in real life or texting our friends to complain and seek encouragement from) that doesn’t last us the way spiritual sustenance would. Now I’m not saying coffee or encouragement from friends is bad, because Lord knows I do both, but if you seek friendly encouragement before encouragement from the Lord, there’s a problem. 

How different would our days go if we paused every now and then to thank the Lord, to ask for peace about tests, to ask for guidance, or whatever you could possibly need? How different would we feel? How much more at peace would we be? 

I don’t have any scripture or profound word from the Lord to give you, just my own personal conviction. But friends, I encourage you this week to take time throughout your day to pause. Just for a minute. Pause and look around you. Pause and be thankful.  Up next: dining with sinners

Pic: just me being me drinking coffee from a mug saying “blogging day”

[hannahmhancock]

The Space Between

Frustrated. Waiting. Stagnant. Impatient. Confused. Worried. Anxious. 

If any of these words have ever described you in your lifetime, I encourage you to keep reading. 

Let’s read between the lines for a second. The space between the line of a page to the next is vast and open. Writers often use the space between to open up interpretation for the reader. The space between can cause a confusing, often arguement creating discussion. Some interpret the space between differently than others. Some see the space between as contradicting to the words on each line. Some see the space between as a time of waiting for the next line to give further detail to the story. Some see the space between as a frustrating pause or lack of knowing between lines or paragraphs. All are issues we find by reading the space between the lines, but if we look at the space between as a positive, we can learn to take it in for all its glory.

Yes, I am talking about the pause-filling, waiting-for-an-answer, stagnant time of life. 

Let’s look what phases the space between ensues.

First, you have waiting. Often for an answer, a sign, or just something to happen. In the times of waiting you cry out to the Lord for answers to the problems, answers on what to do, answers on what the future holds. But what does the Bible say about waiting? 

Psalm 27:13-14

13I am certain that I will see the Lord’s goodness, in the land of the living. 14 Wait for the Lord; be strong and courageous. Wait for the Lord.

Must be pretty important if David says not once, but twice to Wait for the Lord.

Again, Psalm 32:8

I will instruct you and show you the way to go; with My eye on you, I will give counsel.

Upon waiting, you probably grow frustrated, anxious, worried, or impatient. Why? Well because you want answers. In today’s society we are pressured to have it all figured out all the time, to constantly know what the next step is, to know where we’re going, to know who we are going to be with, and blah blah blah. This millennial generation in particular, myself included, can’t stand hearing the words “wait”, “be patient”, “no”, or “not now”. So we get mad, frustrated, anxious, that we will never be provided the answers we seek. 

Let’s look at Psalm 32:8

“I will instruct you and show you the way to go; with My eye on you, I will give counsel.”

Pretty plain and simple, right? But I know, this is easier said than done. 

Again we can look at Proverbs 3:5-6

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding; think about Him in all your ways, and He will guide you on the right paths.”

Again, I know this is easier said than done.

Often what happens after a period of frustration, anger, anxiousness, etc, we can grow weary - to the point of being stagnant. We get tired of waiting to the point that we stop waiting. We get tired of the frustration to the point we stop being frustrating. We get tired of being anxious to the point we stop being anxious.

Now, I know you read that and it probably makes no sense. But let me explain myself: In the point of stagnancy, we stop pursuing the Lord. We stop waiting on Him. We stop praying. We stop reading. We take matters into our own hands, making decisions for ourselves, so we won’t have to wait, be frustrated, or be anxious anymore. We think that making this quick decisions for ourselves will stop all the negative feelings and ideas we’ve found by reading the space between. But let me tell you friend, the short term decisions for yourself will only cause a rude awakening down the road.

So, if you are like me, in the space between, what do you do?

First, be persistent in prayer. The power of prayer is far greater than you can humanly imagine. James says, “is anyone among you suffering? He should pray. Is anyone cheerful? He should sing praises. Is anyone sick? He should call for the elders of the church, and they should pray over him after anointing him with olive oil in the name of the Lord. The prayer of faith will save the sick person...”

The point of this passage is to emphasize the importance and power of prayer. 

1 John 5:14-15 say,

“Now this is the confidence we have before Him: Whenever we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears whatever we ask, we know that we have what we have asked Him for.”

I could go on about how important communication with our Father is, but I think you somewhat get the point. 

My next piece of advise is be patient. 

Take a look at 2 Peter 3:9

“The Lord does not delay His promise, as some understand delay, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance.”

As cliche as it is, the Lord’s timing is perfect, not yours. The Lord sometimes has us wait to teach us patience and trust Him. Other times he has us wait because it’s not the right time. Either way, practicing patience will create a lot less frustration during these times. And if you pray for patience, understand the Lord doesn’t necessarily give you patience, but rather opportunities to practice patience. 

My third and final piece of advise is to be steadfast. Basically the opposite effect of being stagnant. Another way to describe steadfast is unwavering. 

1 Corinthians 15:58 describes what a steadfast mindest looks like:

“Therefore, my dear brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the Lord’s work, knowing that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”

So why are these periods of the space between important?

My answer is this: These times generate and foster trust with the Lord, fellow believers, and honestly within yourself. These periods create endurance, fruit, and furthering your testimony for non-believers. 

Take a quick look at James 1:12 and 5:11

“A man who endures trials is blessed, because when he passes the test he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him.”

5:11 “See, we count as blessed those who have endured. You have heard of Job’s endurance and have seen the outcome from the Lord. The Lord is very compassionate and merciful.”

The period of waiting has two sides to it: Jesus vs. Satan. When you allow Jesus to be the center of waiting, you allow yourself to grow spiritually, seeing life in a new light, whatever that may look like. But when you allow Satan to dictate this period of waiting, you lose sight of why you’re here in the first place: to make disciples of all nations. The Lord puts us in these space between the line times for pretty much a different reason every time. But He does so because He is preparing you for something great. Don’t forget that. If you don’t believe me, take a look at Habakkuk 1:5 “Look at the nations and watch - and be utterly amazed! For something is taking place in your days that you will not believe when you hear about it.” I don’t know what answers you are seeking, but I promise you if you take time in your day - everyday - to spend time with the Lord you will find your answer and better understand why you’re in the place you are.  

[hannahmhancock]

History Repeats Itself

Someone famous at some point in time said “history repeats itself.” Or something similar to the nature. Fifty years later, someone somewhere again said “history repeats itself.” And so for the last thousands of years we’ve seen instances in our world where history has repeated itself. One could argue the similarities of the Great Depression of 1929 and the Recession back in 2008. Or the Civil Rights movement in the 60s compared to the Civil Rights movement occurring today. Or perhaps the mass genocides in WWII compared to genocides in Rwanda. These events may or may not have stemmed from the same cause, but they’ve had similar problems and similar outcomes.

Maybe this is all in my head. Or just my 10th grade history teacher, Dr. Pattiz. 

I see it this way: in life we have a tendency to act out of habit, what is comfortable to us, causing us to repeat the same action over and over, good or bad. When looking at history, I notice tendencies of our leaders, past and present, and notice similarities in how they’ve made decisions and created outcomes. 

Let’s even take a look at nature. Look at a baby gazelle and a cheetah. Baby gazelle is born. Travels in herd with family. Cheetah captures and eats baby gazelle. Cheetah eventually dies and decomposes to become part of earth. Gazelle eats grass. Repeat. 

I mean that’s what the life cycle is all about right? More or less history repeating itself.

Okay so maybe my science is a little off, but you get the picture.

My point of it all is as humans, imperfect and sinful in every way, we have a tendency to struggle with the same things. Over and over. Almost as if when we conquer one hill, a mountain of the same magnitude is right after. And when these struggles and dictate our decisions and way of life, we inhibit our growth. Take my life for example. I like to be active, involved, and help others in any way that I can. I have this habit of committing to a million things, that often overlap timewise and find myself overwhelmed and thinking “oh crap. how the heck am I supposed to get everything done now?” I then promise myself to think before i speak and commit to the next thing. Do I ever do it? Nope, not usually. I try my hardest, but usually end up feeling guilty about not helping someone and find a way to make it work anyway.

But what I struggle with may be different from you. And I suppose that’s the beauty of it all. To help each other out with the things that are difficult for us. 

Take my friendship with Emily for example. As I said earlier, y’all know I struggle with worrying and people pleasing. The amount of times she has had to tell me the same thing over and over about these two struggles is uncountable. But for her, I often remind her to let go of her pride. It’s like a balancing act. Lord help us all if we all struggled with the same things. It would be way more difficult to grow and create progress if we did.

I say all this not to feel a sense of defeat, thinking “Yeah i know what you’re talking about (at least i hope so). My struggle is ______ and I don’t know that I’ll ever get over it.” We will always have these things in our way. It’s life. Why does it happen? Well as Emily would bluntly say, “the fall.” And she’s right. Nothing we ever do will change the fact that we face temptation or difficulties. 

But you know what the most awesome thing about it is? Through salvation we have the ability to grow, learn, and prosper with a God by our side who will never let us down, having our best interest at heart. I realize how cheesy that sounds, sorry not sorry because cheesy is cool in my eyes, but it’s also so true. We will always be imperfect. Striving for perfection will only create defeat. Trust me, I know. But if we walk hand in hand with the Lord, letting Him guide us every step or just leaning into Him for decisions, we won’t miss His will. Yeah we will screw up sometimes. But guess what? God already knows everything you’re going to do, good or bad. So while I struggle with worrying (Currently about grad school) and people pleasing, I won’t conform to the patterns of the world, but be transformed by the renewing of my mind. (Romans 12:2 - s/o to TransFit for being a good reminder of this to me lately!) I will strive to make my relationship with the Lord everything that it needs to be, so when I do face difficulties of pleasing people I’ll be stronger and more able to say no to temptation. And when I fall, I know the Lord is right there picking me up on my feet again.

Take heart my friends. While history often repeats itself, it can repeat itself in a positive manner, not a negative one. I encourage you to take time today and think of the things you find yourself regularly struggling with. Maybe you already know, or maybe you don’t. But whatever it is, I encourage you to lean into the Lord, read the word today, and take it a day at a time. The Lord will bless your efforts and help you grow. You too can tackle these difficult things you often face and the Lord can turn it into one of your greatest strengths, not weaknesses. 

Peace and blessings, y’all. And as always, Go Dawgs. (or Cards, or Tarheels, or Vols... ??? @ grad school)

[hannahmhancock]

Choosing Joy and Loving Others Unconditionally

Congratulations, you made it to the weekend. 

With pure joy in my heart, I am so glad it’s Friday and I’m looking forward to the adventures this weekend will bring. 

Looking back on the week, it looks like life was a roller coaster. I often felt I couldn’t catch a break this week, couldn’t take a deep breath, or couldn’t take 5. I’d have highlights of my week and I’d have down points of my week. As I’ve mentioned in previous posts this semester, my life has been rather hectic, and I’ve been experiencing a lot of change. With that change, I’ve experienced some hardship as well. The last two days in particular have felt like a rapid downhill for me. 

As I sit at my kitchen table talking to Allison and writing this, I feel heavily convicted. Our joy should not be contingent on our circumstances. I’ve had my ups and downs this week, and those ups and downs have dictated my mood, my actions, my thoughts, and my words. I’ve let my current state and circumstances dictate how I’ve lived my life this week. And that’s not okay. Rather than living a proactive life, I’ve been living a reactive life. 

It’s okay to not have a smile on my face at all times, but it’s not okay to lose my sense of joy and peace simply because I round the corner and get slapped in the face. The Bible calls us to be joyful in all circumstances, to be patient in affliction, constant in prayer. (See Philippians 4:4, Proverbs 17:22, Romans 12:12, 1 Thess. 5:16-18). It’s when we choose joy, that we become stronger and closer to the Lord in times of hardship. 

I wonder how many times this week I could’ve approached a situation with a joyful, loving heart rather than me basing my approach on how I feel or how my day has been. Imagine how many more lives we could touch if people could see us, in the midst of pure chaos, and be drawn to Jesus because we depict the joy and hope that’s in us. Imagine how many people who would want to know more, to know the reason for the hope that’s in us. (See 1 Peter 3:15). This brings me to my next point. 

I have noticed a pattern within Christian culture, and if I’m being quite honest, it’s an issue that needs to be pointed out. It’s the simple cliche statement that we should not judge people because we don’t know what’s going on in their lives. 

One reason I think non-believers really struggle to see the Lord is because of perceived judgement. Time and time again have I seen, and am honestly guilty of myself, people make a judgement without fully knowing the situation at hand. Even when we make those judgements, it’s typically not our place to do so. 

In today’s world, particularly the Christian world, we like to call people out. Although in some ways this is biblically correct, it’s not always the right thing. When we call people out in the mindset of us being right and them being wrong, that’s not okay. When we do so without knowing the facts, that’s not okay. When we do so to simply give our two cents and tell others what to do, it’s not okay.

If our brothers and sisters are living in constant sin, by all means sit down with them and lovingly and respectfully talk to them. But, when a person makes a conscience decision for themself that you disagree with, think twice. It’s all about your intentions. If we looked at people’s lives and situations and question why they do what they do and think of what they should’ve done, we are always going to have a barrier with them. But, if we look at people’s decisions and think “okay, obviously there’s a reason behind it. They probably need my love and support now more than ever” we’d be able to relate and have much stronger relationships with people. We also have to understand that people aren’t always going to be open with their current state either. And if not, it’s not our place to know, and we should love and support anyways.

We can’t judge by simple observation. Observations only reach the surface. If we approached people in a much more open-minded state, we’d be able to love the way Christ loves us. Think twice next time before you point fingers and make a judgement about a situation. Remember a time you went through something and it was evident to others. Remember how you wish you would’ve been approached in that time. Remember how you wish someone would’ve asked how you’re doing, if you’re okay, how you feel. Remember our first command is to love God and then love others. (Matt 22:36-40)