BY MARY DEMUTH:

What if our act of patience, fueled by the Spirit within us, was not merely so we could endure our adult children’s choices, but for our betterment? What if this is not about our kids at all, but about our relationship with God? 

STORY BY CHRISTINE CRAWFORD: I was in the throes of grief from the unwanted end of my marriage when a friend recommended I go on a silent retreat. So, naively hoping the experience would expedite my healing, I wandered into the desert for three whole days. Completely and utterly alone. In complete and utter silence.

ART + REFLECTION BY SOFIA RECTOR: It takes chosen silence—solitude—to trace the shape of a tree, to follow the movement of its growth

A RECOMMENDED RESOURCE: I've been sitting with silence a lot the last two years—learning to embrace it, to let it teach me, to serve as an invitation from God himself, waiting for us just beyond the noise of our lives. As we close out the Draw Near Dwell Well series, consider these resources as companions on your journey.

FROM DR. ALISON COOK: When stress hits, do you notice yourself defaulting to the scroll, the worry spiral, the mental loops you can't seem to escape?

BY ERIKA TOVI: When I begin my internship, I’m vulnerable, deferential, and insecure. I do almost anything I’m asked because I believe it’s good for my character. People describe me as sweet. So, so sweet.

ART + REFLECTION BY SOFIA RECTOR: You give me a picture that signifies flowers, with bold lines that don't waver, uncompromising angles, controlled geometries, And I point, saying with you, "Flowers."

BY KARYSSA A. ALLEN AND TALITHA SUMMERS: Jesus called the church to represent Him on earth, but Christians too often fall short.

ARTICLE BY CHRISTINE CRAWFORD: Whether you're navigating a painful relationship or supporting someone who is, these seven resources offer helpful insight and healing.

FROM LYSA TERKEURST: Difficult relationships require patience, grace, and hard work, but they don't fundamentally threaten our well-being. Destructive relationships, however, actively damage our emotional health and compromise our safety, wholeness, and sense of self.

BY NATALIE HOFFMAN: A normal marriage never feels like you’re living in the Twilight Zone because a normal, healthy marriage is mutual and reciprocal, not one-sided and bewildering.

REFLECTION BY CHRISTINE CRAWFORD: When you came to understand she was worthy of safety, dignity, and kindness, you would return to her. Because you believed her, and loved her, and celebrated her. Because she was not invisible. And she was not nothin’.

BY CRYSTAL LOGAN: You don’t have to wait for life to calm down to meet your deepest emotional needs. You have access to love, safety, and compassion right now, both internally and from the Lord.

ARTICLE BY CHRISTINE CRAWFORD: July 4th weekend was supposed to be a celebration. In a matter of hours, my quiet Hill Country town became catastrophic front-page news.

REFLECTION BY CHRISTINE CRAWFORD: What if our hurts, questions, and doubts are the very thresholds where we are most tenderly met, deeply known, carefully held, gently stretched, and finally made whole?

FROM SOUL CARE: Soul Care invites you into a quiet moment of connection with God through the ancient practice of Lectio Divina (Latin for “divine reading”), which is a prayerful way of engaging with Scripture, not to study or analyze it, but to let it speak to your heart. Whether your week feels rushed or restful, this is a moment to be still and let God speak.

BY LAURA L. SMITH: God wants goodness for you and me. But someone else’s pace is not necessarily my best pace or yours. As long as you’re tracking with God and his plans for you, you are right on time.

WISDOM FROM PETE SCAZZERO: We live in a world addicted to speed. Everything around us screams, “Move faster. Produce more. Achieve now!” And if we’re honest, that same pressure seeps into our ministries and leadership.

BY DR. SAUNDRA DALTON-SMITH: Emotional exhaustion affects brain function, making it harder to focus, make decisions, and regulate mood. Over time, this can contribute to anxiety, depression, and burnout. If you've been feeling constantly fatigued, irritable, or disconnected, it may not be physical exhaustion you're experiencing—it could be emotional depletion.

BY DR. SAUNDRA DALTON-SMITH: Wouldn’t it be amazing if you could know for sure that you’re getting the type of rest you need to truly thrive?Take this quiz and find out what type of rest you need to live your best life!