Faith | Laurie Coombs

Archive for the ‘Faith’ Category

Overcoming Anxiety and Depression {Part 1}

Posted on: March 26th, 2014 by Laurie Coombs 15 Comments

hope, fear, trusting God, trust, overcome, depression, anxiety, what is anxiety, what is depression, anxiety symptoms, depression symptoms, how to overcome anxiety, how to overcome depression, Jesus, God, faith,

I think last week’s post, When Anxiety and Depression Threaten to Pull You Under, struck a cord. It seems the darkness I had experienced has been experienced––or is currently being experienced––by many. Over the last week, many people have contacted me asking for help, and with each email that I received, I realized just how important it is that I speak out with complete transparency about what I went through and how I got out of it. I originally decided to write these posts on anxiety and depression in response to correspondence I received from a man I sat next to on an airplane a few weeks back. It was one of those encounters that you know God ordained, but you’re not quite sure why you’re telling a complete stranger your entire life’s story until later. Now, I’m accustom to telling strangers about the crazy story of how God redeemed…

Do NOT Give Up

Posted on: March 5th, 2014 by Laurie Coombs 2 Comments

Have you ever had a moment (or many) when you wonder whether or not God will deliver what you believe He’s promised? I sure have. For the last three and a half years, I have heard God tell me, “Do not give up!” Over and over, “Do not give up! Keep moving forward. Keep moving toward your adoption.” But nothing has happened. We’re still waiting. Travis and I began our adoption with nothing but faith, a desire for more children, and confidence in God’s call to adopt. With no money saved and little to devote to such an endeavor, we took the leap, believing God would provide for what He was calling us to do. And He has. Time and time again, provision has come in one form or another usually at the very hour we needed it. This may be too much information to share, but we’re over $20,000…

Trusting God to Fill in the Gap

Posted on: February 25th, 2014 by Laurie Coombs 1 Comment

margin, breathing room, Andy Stanley, work, calling, trust, trusting God, American dream, productivity, maximize productivity, fill in gap, God, Jesus, deadline,

“If we could just get this stuff right,” I said to my husband, “our lives would be amazing.” I had just finished listening to Pastor Andy Stanley’s Breathing Room sermon series, which addresses the importance of the way we spend both our time and money and argues that life is simply better with breathing room. Relationships thrive when there’s breathing room. We experience greater joy and peace when there’s breathing room. And ultimately we have more opportunity to grow in our relationship with God when there’s breathing room. Now, I realize this message may seem like common sense. We know this stuff. It’s nothing new. But I question how many of us still live our lives to the limit. We live in a fast paced world––in a society that makes productivity and “success” top priority. As Americans, we’re called to work hard and achieve the fallacious “American Dream.” But I don’t believe this…

A Note About My Upcoming Book

Posted on: February 20th, 2014 by Laurie Coombs 1 Comment

book release, book contract, grace, faithfulness, God's faithfulness, trusting God, call, calling, following Jesus, obeying God, saying yes to God, trusting God, faith, grace,

I posted this blog on Tuesday but had some technical difficulty, so I’ve decided to share an edited version again today for those of you who missed my exciting news. I believe I have been entrusted with a powerful message to share with the world. A message that I have told only in part on my blog but will tell in its entirety in the book I am writing. It was just over two years ago that I felt God’s call to write a book about the mighty work He has accomplished in my life. And though I’d love to say that I immediately complied with God’s request to write this book, and that I immediately pursued my calling, I didn’t. For several months, I fought it. Like Jonah, I ran from God’s call. But one Sunday morning, as I stood in church singing my heart out to God during worship,…

More like a Hose than a Pitcher

Posted on: February 13th, 2014 by Laurie Coombs 3 Comments

God's strength, Holy Spirit, own strength, strength, receive, receiving, receiving God, God, Jesus, faith, giving, burn out, grace, god's grace, blessing, blessed, strength, depleted, empty,

“I feel depleted,” I told my husband. “I feel like Elijah laying under that broom tree.” Travis looked at me curiously. I didn’t pray to die as Elijah had, of course, but I was spent. Why is my tank so empty? I questioned. What am I doing wrong? I was serving, both my family and church, and was pursuing my calling. All good things, by my estimation––things I believed God was calling me to do, and so I was confused. Why am I so burnt out if I’m doing what I am supposed to be doing? The answer came. I was doing it in my own strength. I needed to learn how to receive God’s strength and to allow His Spirit to empower me for the work I was called to. This was perhaps the first time I had become aware of my need to receive. Learning to receive from God…

Receiving from God

Posted on: February 6th, 2014 by Laurie Coombs 4 Comments

Receiving, Receive, Gift, gifts, gifts from God, faith, by faith, grace, belief, unbelief, striving, will, self will,

Receive healing, God told me. I’ve already given it to you. You simply needed to receive it. “Okay. I receive,” I prayed, trying to will myself to receive. But nothing happened. “I receive your healing,” I prayed with greater passion, “I receive!” Still, nothing. “I don’t get it,” I complained to God. “I’m trying to receive! What am I doing wrong?” For many months, I continued to try to will myself into a position of receiving yet saw no indication that God was moving. I was stumped. I have a hard time receiving, in general. Especially from other people. But I do know how to receive from people. It’s pretty cut and dry. To receive from people, you simply take what’s been given to you. But how do you receive from God? Though I know all we have is ultimately from God, the gifts we are to receive from Him are…

A Little Known Secret About Myself

Posted on: January 30th, 2014 by Laurie Coombs

receive, receiving, receive God, blessing, receive blessing, giving, pride

I’m going to let you in on a little known secret about myself. It’s something that only those closest to me know, and it’s defiantly something God has been working on with me for quite some time. Are you ready? Here it is–– I have a hard time receiving. Small gifts? Not so much. But anything that can be considered extravagant? Oh yes, friends––that fits the bill. Gifts of this magnitude immediately make me cringe and think, “I can’t accept this!” while knowing I also cannot not receive a gift someone has so thoughtfully given to me. And so I am left in an uncomfortable predicament, with my heart screaming “don’t take it!” and my mouth saying, “Thank you! You shouldn’t have done this.” Now, here’s the interesting part. I love to give. I always have. I remember being on family vacations on a lake as a little girl, asking all of my…

An Intense Season of Growth

Posted on: January 28th, 2014 by Laurie Coombs 1 Comment

lessons, learn, spiritual growth, growth, character growth, Jesus, Christ, God, truth, season of growth, refined, refine, surrender, relationship with God, relationship with Jesus, receiving, God's love, love of God, Satan, Spiritual attack, worship, thanksgiving, praise, miracles, fasting, biblical fasting, sabbath, rest, weakness, impossible

God has had me in an intense season of growth over the last month or so. It has been a time of refinement through trial that started the moment I began praying for God to work absolute surrender in me. And though life has been a bit more difficult lately, I have been blessed greatly during this time by the presence of God and by an outpouring of truths He has spoken over me. Last week, I began compiling a list of all God has spoken over me during this season, and as I did, I felt compelled to share the list with you. Some of you may have learned these truths already; others may be learning these truths along with me. But either way, I believe these truths are powerful. So, no matter where you find yourself, I ask that you take these truths in and contemplate them. Pray for God to…

A Lifeboat to Endure the Storms of Life

Posted on: January 23rd, 2014 by Laurie Coombs

lifeboat, God, Jesus, Storms, storms of life, God's love, the love of God, love of God, God loves you, does god love me, God is with you, You are his, receive love, focus, what is your focus, focal point, how to endure storms, how to endure trials, how to endure pain, getting through, peace, how to find peace, get peace, keep yourself in God's love, faith, stay in love of god, remain in love, abide in Jesus, abide in God, occupation, think of God, love,

You are loved. With a love unmatched and unparalleled by anything else. With a love incomprehensible to the human mind. A love so great, so unfathomable that many will never fully comprehend its depth this side of heaven. In the book of Isaiah, God tell of His love for us. God speaks these words over you, over me, as an affectionate Father whispers I love you in the quiet, intimate moments before lying his child to sleep. He says: But now thus says the Lord, He who created you, O Jacob, He who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are Mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the Lord your…

What Do You Have to Offer?

Posted on: January 16th, 2014 by Laurie Coombs 5 Comments

surrender, absolute surrender, God works surrender, offer, offering, be careful what you pray for patience, trial, comfort, comfort idol, idol, righteousness, God, Jesus, humble, submit, draw near to God, Feed 5000, water wine, widow elijah, flour and oil, Luke 18:27

Surrender, I hear over and over. Surrender, my child. I try––time and again, I try––but I fail. Full of frustration and defeat, I cry out with one simple word––how? I will work surrender in you. God whispers. Lay down what you have to offer, and I will work the rest. I pray as I’ve been taught––Lord, I am willing that you make me willing to surrender in absolute surrender––because after all, many of us are willing in concept, but when the realities of surrender encroach upon our self-centered desires, willingness begins to wane. For close to a month now, I have prayed and prayed and prayed for God to work absolute surrender in me with confident assurance that God can and will perform His work in me. And He is. He is working. But anytime we pray audacious prayers such as these, we must be prepared for what’s to come….