Ashlie Miller

By Ashlie Miller

“Do you ever feel lonely?” “Are you wiped out after connecting with people each week?” “Do you have to wear a mask? Do you get to be your authentic self?” “What do you do for the church?” These are some of the questions I’ve received in my role as a pastor/church-planter’s wife. I had many of the same questions (that I never asked) growing up in church and serving in different churches over time. 

Many know about Pastor Appreciation Month in October, and often that extends to his whole family. But I never really knew about a National Pastor’s Spouse Appreciation Day (it just so happens to be this first Sunday of September) or the whole month with them in mind (in March) until the last couple of years. 

These wives are pretty special, and I’m humbled and honored to serve in this way as well. I cannot speak for all of them. Just as each pastor is unique, so are their wives. There’s not one personality or qualification that is cookie-cutter. Here are some ways we may differ and other things we have in common:

She may have dreamed all her life of being a wife to one in ministry. 

She may have never imagined that she could or would be the wife of one in ministry. 

If her husband takes the pastorate of an established congregation, she may be welcome to serve in a way she feels called. Or she may be serving a congregation that presumes that she is a second, unpaid employee who will also fulfill various roles, such as leading a group or ministry or playing the organ. My husband has said he never married a pastor’s wife. That was not and is not my identity. He also never has had a specific expectation of my role in serving the church, which frees me to serve in the only way that is unique to me alone – to provide solace for our family. That benefits our entire church community.

She may be extroverted and thrive on social interactions, and be able to talk to anyone, but is working on the sanctification process of not being a people-pleaser. She may be introverted and able to go deep in spiritual and emotional discussions, but is working through her own sanctification process of being comfortable around large groups or initiating small talk. 

She is often at her best when she is discerning, able to listen to others and give counsel, flexible in her schedule due to demands of ministry, but also able to be a gatekeeper appropriately when needed, and embracing of hospitality.

She is human. 

She has her own struggles, obstacles, temptations, needs, and process of sanctification. She may feel lonely at times as she sees the distance brought by others who view her as more than something she is. She may trust in God but struggle to trust her cares and concerns to others. Her circle of acquaintances may be broad, but of friends, small. You likely think more of her than she deserves. You likely think less of her than she deserves. And I’ve been guilty of both.

The pastor’s wife you are thinking about may be many of these things or very different. The one common thing – these sisters all need prayers and encouragement from loving members of the congregation. And that you can do any day or month of the year.

Ashlie Miller is wife to Pastor Chad Miller of Mission Bible Church in the University City area. You may email her at mrs.ashliemiller@gmail.com.

By Ashlie Miller

Last week, many headed to their favorite coffee spot for a PSL (pumpkin-spiced latte). Pumpkins are already beginning to adorn steps, doorways, and windows, creating scenes straight out of a Gilmore Girls episode. Pumpkins may be the fruit of the season. Not so fast! For me, the fruit of the season is the fig. It is still late summer, after all. I have had an affinity for figs since childhood. Summers at my grandparents were crowned with their fig bushes bursting with bounty. I love the crunchy, seedy texture. As a child, I ate them straight off the bush. Now, with my more refined taste, they adorn toast garnished with goat cheese and honey. Ok, maybe not that refined. Last week’s “toast” was leftover hotdog buns, but in my mind, they were French baguettes. 

Fig trees were a topic of discussion between my daughter and me last week as we were reading through the New Testament. “Mom, what is this about the fig tree that Jesus cursed?” she asked. Well, let’s go to the beginning – Genesis, to be exact. 

After the Fall of humanity – when Adam and Eve both ate the forbidden fruit – they realized their nakedness and were filled with shame. Consequently, they covered themselves with fig leaves that they had sewn together, but it was not enough. God had to make them garments of skin, meaning something had to die to clothe them. Manmade efforts were inadequate; God had to intervene through a sacrifice. 

Throughout the Old Testament, fig trees symbolize prosperity, peace, fruitfulness, and even Israel. In the New Testament, Jesus confronts opposing Jews, sometimes through direct encounters, while at other times it would be through parables. Occasionally, though, He would use an object lesson. In the Parable of the Fig Tree (Luke 13:6-9), Jesus tells a story of a fig tree that is barren for three years. The vinedresser says it should be dug up or cut down if irrigation and fertilizer do not help. 

Later, Jesus curses a fig tree that only has leaves. Although it was not the season yet for ripened figs, this early-blooming leafy tree should have already been filling out with figs. He curses this tree so that it never bears fruit again. A day later, Peter sees it and is amazed that it is already withered. 

What gives? The initial observation is that God values fruitfulness. We are to bear fruit as Christians. In fact, the evidence of the Holy Spirit in our lives is called “fruit.” Professing Christians can too often be merely consumers and not contributors to the Kingdom of God. We can look impressive and religious but have no evidence of the Holy Spirit. 

The fig tree can also represent the Law (commandments) given by God, and that Israel was meant to be a conduit for God’s love reaching the world. But over time (and not a long time at that), they failed. A focus on what one could do to inherit eternal life (see the rich young ruler) took precedence over a relationship with God. Self-made efforts and keeping laws to cover sin and look religious were found to be inadequate. Jesus’ earthly ministry of three years was to first present the gospel to Israel. They refused. They wanted more miracles and signs (but not on the Sabbath!), more rules, and more to consume. But Jesus came with a better, complete plan. He fulfilled the Law and provided the only way to inherit eternal life – for all people. The unfruitful fig tree, the channel that stopped short, was no longer necessary or useful. 

My figs and honey remind me of the sweetness of the Law – showing us where we are imperfect and need a Savior.  They also let me know that fall is just around the corner.

By Ashlie Miller

Recently, dear friends allowed me and my youngest two children to use their place at the beach for several days. It was to be a refresher for us, while my husband was on a mission trip with two of our teenage children. It can be difficult for little ones when a parent is away for several days. Tears can flow when they begin to miss Daddy. A good distraction is always a welcome thing, and can anything be more welcome than a trip to the beach?

Though it was only three of us, it looked as if we had packed for 7! Back seats down, the trunk of the Odyssey was filled with floats, crafts, games, books, and our luggage. Usually, we have to be very minimalistic in our packing. Not this time! I had a crafty little plan to take advantage of the days there with field trips and what we call “funschooling.” Little did they know, the crafts we would make, the books on the ocean and sea shells we would read, the stories we would hear, the podcasts on nature we would tune into would all help us begin our homeschool year. 

It worked like a charm! Instead of loathing the activities and the learning, the children actually asked to stay inside most days during that especially hot, humid, and often stormy last week of July at Holden Beach. We opted to enjoy the sand and surf in the evenings.

Embracing school days, though cloaked in the guise of fun, was not the only difference I took note of during our stay. I notice that when we stay at someone else’s home, cleaning seems like less of a chore and more like a gift. At home, completing the same tasks that week would feel laborious and tedious, with no end in sight. Then, there is rage-cleaning, which you may have heard about – the cleaning many moms (and dads) do when they are sick and tired of the mess, making sure everyone hears about it as they clean. “I have to do EVERYTHING around here. I guess no one else can see this?! I suppose it must be nice to rest and relax while watching me work.” (Anyone ever guilty of this one? I’m a recovering rage-cleaner.) 

Although no cleaning list was posted or expected as part of the gift of staying at a friend’s place, the desire to express gratitude through an act of service was tangible and longed to be expressed. The children picked up sticks fallen from storms in the backyard while I swept, mopped, and even dusted. As the children realized the great gift given, they, too, asked how they could help. When cleaning and chores are an expression of gratitude rather than a list of expectations, the heart and energy that goes into them are different. One may argue that the cleaning is more thorough when done from a place of gratitude. 

That provoked me to think, “What would happen if I carried that same gratitude to my home?” Thanking God for the many dirty dishes means that many good meals are enjoyed at the family table. Conquering Mount Never-rest (my name for our laundry pile) means we were busy working, playing, or doing, and have plenty to change into. Helping pick up toys implies that someone has been making memories rather than being sucked into entertainment onscreen. More than a temporary place at the beach, the Heavenly Father has blessed and entrusted me with an earthly dwelling. Surely, there are more profound lessons than that, but for now, I’ll try to be more expressively grateful and less complaining when I clean. (And, no, let’s be honest. The children didn’t bring that same lesson home with them from the beach.)

By Ashlie Miller

It’s 4:00 a.m. After unsuccessfully wrestling myself back to sleep, then spending time praying or listening to the YouVersion Bible app, I open up the Facebook app, and it is evident – I am not the only one awake this early. For some, it is part of the unexpected joys of hitting midlife, for others, it is anxiety over life’s issues, or it may be a bizarre question that needs answering at 2:30 a.m. 

I find myself in the company of several others lately who commiserate with me. We lean into each other with advice: “What is your sleep hygiene routine?” We offer encouragement: “It is amazing how God continues to give us strength to make it on a given day with so little sleep.” We wonder at what we would have accomplished on 4-5 hours of sleep a couple of decades ago, when we had more strength and vitality. We joke: “Well, I’ll just text you when I wake up at 3:00 a.m., because you’ll probably be awake, too.” 

How often do you consider that God never sleeps or slumbers and can meet us amid the storm, even in the latest hours of the night (or would that be the earliest hours of the day)? In Matthew 14, Jesus and the disciples have experienced grief from the brutal murder of a dear friend (John the Baptist), followed by a full day of miraculous ministry (feeding the five thousand with five loaves and two fish). Surely, they need a moment to get away, to grieve, to recover from even the emotional high of the day. Jesus goes away from the crowd and His disciples to pray, but not before sending the disciples into a boat to go ahead of Him to the other side of the lake, where He will do ministry the next day. The ship is far from land, tossed and turned in the wind and waves, and suddenly, they see – is it – a ghost?! The disciples were often blind to what was true and what Christ was saying to them. Even after a miracle and being around Jesus all day, they do not recognize Him and believe the worst spiritual thing they can imagine. But, here is Jesus in the 4th watch of the night (that’s 3:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m.), inviting Peter to walk on water, rescuing him when he begins to drown, and then entering the boat with him as He simultaneously calms the wind and the sea. 

While familiar with this real-life illustration of Jesus’ presence in the midst of our storms, this small detail regarding the time of the encounter – the 4th watch of the night – has been an added comfort to me lately. There is never a bad time to be with Jesus, even if it’s an invitation to test your faith, rescue you from drowning, and then calm the raging waters around you. He gets in the boat with us. The storms may still threaten to capsize us. He is no less mighty. He is still there. Maybe you are blessed with solid sleep. When are those inconvenient times that He meets you and invites you? His omnipresence is a blessing for those in a relationship with Jesus Christ. Do you know how to have peace even when sleep is fleeting? 

Ashlie Miller averages a couple sleep-interrupted nights per week in Concord, NC. Email her sometime around 3:00 a.m. at mrs.ashliemiller@gmail.com.

By Ashlie Miller

If you’re a Christian, you know you carry the Hope of eternity with the gospel for a world that needs to hear it, but how does one initiate opportunities for such conversations? I have friends who are bold and courageous, getting straight to it while in line at a quick service counter, “Hey, we just came from church and are eating together here. Do you go to church? You don’t?! You should come to ours!” Sometimes, we let our server know when we are about to pray that we would be happy to pray for them if they feel comfortable sharing something. Many times, they have a specific need.

But one of my recent go-to questions for engaging people in the marketplace is looking for a person wearing a cross pendant around their neck. Believe it or not, on most errand days, I will usually connect with at least one. “Tell me about why you wear your cross or what it means to you?” I may be met with a bright smile and a ready answer to share the gospel with me! That has been refreshing and even surprising at times. I realized I had previously asked one young man at my local Harris Teeter this question when I recalled him giving a similar answer before. He began responding with the scripture on the back of the cross that helps him keep his focus when tempted to sin. I was amazed at his readiness to share something genuine and personal. I wondered aloud if he was often asked this question. He replied, “No, actually, I think you are one of the only people to ask.” 

One young lady at my favorite coffee spot thanked me for recognizing her cross and engaging her. She was wearing three, actually, and commented that no one had ever asked her before why she wears them, which she thought was odd given the number of crosses she wore. She was excited to tell me about her relationship with the Lord in the church that she attends. The young lady further commented, “You know, it is strange that people wear it as a fashion statement, because why would people wear this for any other reason than a relationship with Jesus? Do people really know what this cross means? A yarmulke is also a piece of religious symbolism, but no one wears it as a fashion statement.” I smiled at her wisdom.

At other times, the answer is nostalgic: “My grandmother always wore one.” I will ask, “OK, but does that have any personal significance for you?” Since I cannot have a whole conversation in a 30-second interaction, I follow this up by urging them to seek out the meaning behind the cross and its significance. My hope and prayer is that as they think back over their day or evening, they revisit that interaction. 

At other times, I have found people who wear it as a charm of sorts or only as a cultural identifier. The young Walmart cashier told me his thick black cross was a relative’s urn, which he wears for good luck. Another young man at the car wash wears one because he and his family attend church. When I asked him, “OK, but what about for you? Does that have any personal significance?” He was at least honest, saying, “Not really.” Again, I encouraged him to seek that out. 

Linguistic theft (words no longer meaning what they once meant) and the hijacking of Christian symbolism mean that we can not make assumptions by what someone is wearing or plastering on their vehicles to determine what they believe. These can be great conversation starters to either find a common belief or question a belief with thought-provoking questions.

What are the ways you are using to connect with others deeply in one-minute or less interactions? 

Ashlie Miller’s favorite cafes are Holy Grind and Press & Porter. You may contact her at mrs.ashliemiller@gmail.com.

By Ashlie Miller

Was I ready for this moment? A 19-year-old was strapping in my 7-year-old for his first zipline experience. How watchful would you have been in a moment like that? Maybe you have been in a moment like that. Normally, I would have been extremely cautious and questioning. 

This wasn’t just any older teen, though; this was my firstborn preparing and checking his littlest brother. There is a 13-year difference in their ages. My oldest has been interning at Snowbird Wilderness Outfitters (SWO), a Christian retreat and camp center in Andrews, NC, for the last year. He has been well-trained to work various outdoor recreation activities, but this summer, the zipline is his expertise. Watching him work in his element put my parenting into perspective. 

Like any cautious mother, I watched closely to see if my baby boy was being properly harnessed. But, I was able to put those cautions aside because I knew the one in whom we were entrusting care – a brother who cared and loved and would protect his baby brother better than anyone else. After being double-checked by another activity assistant, my 7-year-old made his way up the trail to the high tree for his adrenaline-filled rush. And what a rush! His squeal of terror turned to delight as much of the camp could hear him. “Must be Chase’s brother,” I heard other recreation leaders remark. Yes, for big brother also vocalizes excitement with explosions of yells and yawps. 

My husband and I have also watched our oldest learn to exercise what he has learned in other ways. No longer under the shelter and care of his home and family, he has to work out his own salvation and faith journey. His father and I, along with other spiritual influences, did our best to spread a buffet, equipping him for walking by faith. The last year has provided many opportunities for him to make his faith his own, drawing him to seek answers in the Bible and to ask questions of those who have a heart leaning into the Savior and Creator. In turn, he has been able to share his personal struggles, his knowledge of God’s Word, and the encouragement and comfort God has given him with other interns and campers alike. 

I can still remember my oldest needing me to help make sure he was safe and being smart as he dared to attempt his own adrenaline rush activities. Now, he is doing much of the same for others – his little brother, yes, but also to those he interacts with from week to week. I may not have been ready for this, but he was, and God has met him there. Much of Christian parenting is learning to let go of that harness and believing that God is faithful to be the Father and the Holy Spirit in their lives. But if God has truly begun a good work in them, we know He will complete it (see Philippians 1:6). 

Ashlie Miller and her husband raise their children in Concord, NC. She will be saving this piece to reread and remind herself of these truths later.

By Ashlie Miller

For those of us who lived close enough to spend a week or two with grandparents during the summer, the season is a time for being spoiled. But I wonder if you were spoiled the same way I was.

I remember very hot summers at my grandparents’ house on Sam Wilson Road in west Charlotte. The Price Is Right would be our morning TV time. Then, Grandmother would prepare lunch while her soaps or WBTV news was on the screen. Afterwards, my younger brother and I would find something to occupy ourselves with. Oddly, that rarely involved toys. We might venture off to the screened-in porch to hide under a table during a summer thunderstorm. I can smell that Southern summer rain scent even now. You know, the kind that comes after one of our hot, dry spells?

Evenings meant a good, straight-from-the-garden meal with Grandmother’s signature thin biscuits, which I still have not perfectly replicated. Tomatoes and cucumbers from the garden would make an appearance, and usually some good fried okra. If we were fortunate, a bird’s nest of mashed potatoes and peas would grace our plate. But chicken and dumplings were the real star of the show for me.

Speaking of the garden, there was always time to snap peas or shuck corn. I do not recall complaining about how hot it was when we did these things. Maybe because soon after, there would be a refreshing watermelon (spitting those black seeds or scraping them out with a dull knife was an art form) or some of their homemade ice cream. I am still not sure if I liked the peach or the strawberry best. Or maybe it was banana? 

Sometimes, Granddaddy or Uncle Bill would bring the biggest bag of buttered popcorn we had ever seen. Would we be able to finish it before we went back home?

At some point in the day, Granddaddy (or even Grandmother!) would pitch a ball to a little tomboy or her brother to smack into the yard. Sometimes we would play rolly bat – a game that I only remember playing with my grandparents and cousins. It was my Granddaddy who taught me to ride my bicycle a summer after my father died. Other entertainment would include rides in an oversized wheelbarrow. My brother and I always thought that was the best ride anyone could dream up. Did any other kids have such adventures?

My grandparents spoiled us, not by taking us to places that centered around us, nor buying things to occupy our time, or even in letting us choose what shows to watch. They spoiled us for anything else matching or exceeding those memories. The best we can do now is try to recreate something as special as that. Excuse me, I’m off to help my daughter make dumplings for lunch.

Ashlie Miller spent many early summers in Charlotte, NC. She and her husband raised their family in Rowan County and currently Cabarrus County. You may email her at mrs.ashliemiller@gmail.com.

By Ashlie Miller

When it comes to watching movies or reading books, there are generally two types of people: those who rewatch or reread, and (so, I’ve heard) those who don’t. I wonder if the latter group is also the sort who won’t eat leftovers – but I’ll save that for another day. 

As you may have guessed, I am in the first camp. A glance at my Prime account would reveal that I am most willing to rewatch something, particularly shows from before this century. If a show or movie pops up in my “rewatch” section, I will probably choose that rather than any original programming from a streaming platform. 

I like comfort, but more than that, I enjoy revisiting and rediscovering characters and plots. Last week, on a particularly hot afternoon, we rewatched a movie that felt like summer:  Because of Winn-Dixie. 

While I am familiar with the movie – we own a copy –  I was not prepared for the emotions it stirred in me. How many years had passed since I last saw it? Four, five, maybe more. A lot of life has happened. I connect differently with the story. Had I not been watching with my two youngest children, I could easily have released the dam of emotions waiting to flood my eyeballs. But, had I surrendered even a trickle, I doubt I would have quickly recovered. 

Isn’t it funny how something you already know can hit differently later on? I have heard Christian songwriters share that songs they wrote 30 years ago minister to them in fresh ways now. You likely have songs like that too – part of the soundtrack of your life.

There is another familiar friend who continues to meet me where I am, time after time, revealing new things about me and about Himself. It is through the written Word of God. I am blessed to have been brought up in a culture that fostered a love for reading Scripture. My childhood pastor would challenge the congregation to read it personally. I wonder if he knew children like me were listening too. 

Each time I return to a familiar passage, the words in those pages meet me where I am. Some words that regularly minister continue to be like a familiar comfort meal. Other words, I barely noticed before, meet me fresh and anew. 

While I have other pieces of literature that I love to reread every few years, there are no other Inspired words that can offer me the love and compassion of a great Friend, Father, Creator, and Savior.

Yes, I like to rewatch and reread (and I also love good leftovers). In some cases, it is about revisiting and rediscovery, but when it comes to the Bible, it is a relationship that draws me back, time after time. 

By Ashlie Miller

I remember the excitement of sharing school yearbooks at the end of the school year. More often than not, someone would write, “Have a great summer! See you next year!” We were at the mercy of our working parents’ schedules, so we often wouldn’t see many of those friends until the next school year. But, when we did get to connect over the summer, what a great joy that was!

One does not have to be a student or a teacher (homeschool or brick-and-mortar) to relish summertime. From Memorial Day to Labor Day, the summer season offers a nice break in routines. There is a season for everything, as Ecclesiastes states. Summer is a wonderful time of year to have friends and neighbors over. The idea of sharing a summer meal together with outdoor entertainment – whether it be the pool, corn hole, frisbee, or a late-night outdoor movie on the sheet spread across a couple of trees – is too good to pass up. 

My husband and I have delighted in opening our home each week this summer to members/regular attendees of our church-plant congregation. We usually invite a couple of households to come share a meal, sit around the table, let the kids run all over the yard and cul-de-sac, and share our life stories along with our hopes and dreams. We ask questions like: tell us about your journey to Jesus, what special gifts has God given you to build His Kingdom, what are you excited about being able to do for others as you share the hope we have? The answers have been riveting at times. As one older gentleman shared a gripping testimony of repentance and forgiveness, my youngest son (7) proclaimed quietly to me as he grabbed a seat on the bench beside me, “Oh, I’m here for this!”

It reminds me of sitting around summer campfires with other families in my youth, listening to them not only share the hilarity of stories we had all heard before, but also conveying the goodness of our great God in their lives as they recounted special church services or making it through difficult times together. 

Summer is also a time to have cousins over for special adventures. Laughing at inside jokes or sharing a little harmless mischief. It’s also the season to invite friends to the pool for a play date, meet up with that long-time companion you always mean to catch up with, and pick the brain of an acquaintance with some experience or insight into something you are exploring. 

Our church visits parks after church on some Sunday evenings in the summer. We play and share together, but we also invite others from the community to join our fun. Sometimes it ends in a gospel conversation, and other times it is simply sharing a good time. 

Monthly Sunday potlucks continue in the summer, but people linger a little longer as the sun prolongs our days. It can sometimes be as leisurely as seeing Andy Taylor, Barney, and Aunt Bee sitting on the porch on a Sunday afternoon.

Yes, the reality of Acts 2:46 looks a particular kind of way in the summertime – “And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts.” Don’t we love it?

Maybe for your family, friends, and community connections, it looks like family reunions, big family vacations, attending parades, festivals, and fairs, camping trips (mountains or beach), participating in summer sports leagues, block parties, volunteer opportunities, or enjoying outdoor movie nights. It could be planned weeks ahead or spontaneously thrown together. 

The calendar is a little different. There is a respite if we do not overschedule, but there is also ample time to prioritize those friends and neighbors whom we get too busy to see at other times of the year. 

Don’t wait to see if your friends had a great summer. Spend some time together to make it a great summer.

Ashlie Miller is wife to Chad Miller, pastor of Mission Bible Church in the University City area of Charlotte. They raise their family in Concord, NC.

By Ashlie Miller

Along with many teens eligible for their driver’s license, my niece joined the queue the last week of June at the local DMV, which meant sitting in the sun for most of the day waiting for her scheduled turn. Why were so many teens (or their parents) eager to get their license before July 1? New NC insurance laws just expanded the inexperienced drivers’ surcharge from three years to eight years. 

At our home, as we celebrated our niece and cousin, we also discussed why we thought the stipulations had changed. What could studies have discovered as the potential cause for longer liability? My ten-year-old piped up – “Drivers are more distracted.” Nodding our heads in agreement, I asked, “What do you think is causing that more now than before?” “Phones!” she exclaimed. Indeed. Most family drives include teachable moments as we watch drivers regularly run red lights, cut off other cars, or seem oblivious to the presence of other drivers. More often than not, we can clearly see distracted drivers looking down at their smartphones.

Distractions are common today. But is this anything new? The Bible reveals many whom Satan attacked with weapons of mass distraction. He distracted Eve with questions about what is true. He helped her own imagination create false, destructive narratives. Today, we see many allowing their questions to take them not to a door of enlightenment but through an exit from the faith. Who do we take our questions to?

Satan knew that temptations could take the strong, mighty, and wise off course – Samson, King David, and King Solomon, for example. If the enemy knows where we are vulnerable, we must recognize our weaknesses and guard against temptation.

Martha was scolded by Jesus for being distracted by duty – serving Him, in fact – instead of worshiping Him. This weapon works covertly, almost like a double agent. We become busy or fail to say “no” to a good thing, all the while this weapon prevents us from engaging in the better thing – fully knowing and worshiping God. We can deflect this by making time to fellowship with God regularly. 

Even Peter began to drown in the waves that Christ had invited him to walk upon once he took his eyes off of Him to look at the circumstances surrounding him. This tactic pulls down many of us. The moment we take our eyes off Jesus, we are deafened by the noise and wind of our circumstances and become engulfed by it. We can safeguard against this by being thankful in all circumstances and trusting that God is good.

Nehemiah was different, however. While rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem, the opposition, Sanballat and Tobiah, unsuccessfully tried to distract Nehemiah with multiple taunts and plots. He was undeterred – he knew they were lying because he knew what was true, prayed to God, and created safeguards. We can wall against taunts and plots by regularly feasting on God’s Word (His truth rather than our truth), praying for protection, and practically setting safeguards. 

Warfare is raging. Weapons are flying. I am not immune, and neither are you. But we can be on guard.