Category: spiritual growth

Discovering True Joy Beyond Comparison

On By Famia GreenIn Choosing Joy, Christian encouragement, Comparison, Faith and Trust, spiritual growthLeave a comment

The world teaches us that worth is something we must earn. So we strive, compete, and chase validation. Scripture tells a different story. Our value was never meant to be measured against anyone else. We are each created on purpose for a purpose.

Psalm 139:14 says, “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” Ephesians 2:10 tells us we are God’s masterpiece, created in Christ Jesus to do the good works He prepared in advance for us. Our worth does not come from what we achieve. It comes from the fact that God formed us with intention, with purpose woven into who we are.

When we focus on what we lack and what others seem to have, comparison begins to rob us. Comparison pulls our joy away when our eyes stay fixed on someone else’s life instead of the path God has given us.

Comparison works the same way it often does at Christmas. A child opens a gift and feels thankful and excited. Moments later, a sibling opens theirs. The joy fades. The gift has not changed, but the focus has. What once felt like enough now feels small because someone else received something different. This is what comparison does. It turns gratitude into dissatisfaction by shifting our eyes from what we have been given to what someone else received.

Joy begins with perspective. When we lift our eyes from comparison and fix them on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith, our hearts lift from the weight of comparison. The weight of the world does not disappear, it loses its power to crush us.

This kind of joy does not depend on circumstances going our way. It runs deep because it stands on truth. Truth like this: God is for us. He is with us. He is working, even when we cannot see it.

That is the kind of joy that sustains us. That is the kind of joy that cannot be stolen.

Sometimes joy is already present, yet we miss it because of the pace we keep. Hurry pulls our attention toward what comes next instead of where we are. Slowing our pace helps us notice what God has already placed around us. When we stop rushing, our eyes open to small gifts we would have passed by. Joy does not always arrive as something new. At times, it reveals what has been there all along.

Psalm 16:11 says, “You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” God does not promise a life without difficulty, but He does promise His presence. He shows us the path step by step, and joy flows from walking with Him. Being at His right hand means staying close, living beside Him, and allowing His presence to shape how we move through each day.

Christmas reminds us why joy is even possible. Jesus came to bring it. Not a shallow joy tied to circumstances, but a joy rooted in His presence. In John 15:11, Jesus says, “I have told you these things so that you may have the same joy I have, and so that your joy will be complete.”

This Christmas, my prayer is that His joy would fill your heart to the point of overflow. May it shape how you walk, guide your days, and pour into the lives of those around you.

Merry Christmas.

P.S. Did you see the gifts? Did you notice the gifts placed along the path? Take another look at the image above. Joy is often present, but it requires attention. As you move through this season, ask God to show you what He has already placed before you.

How Gratitude Changes the Way You See Your Life

On By Famia GreenIn Christian encouragement, Faith and Trust, spiritual growth, UncategorizedLeave a comment


“The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light.” Matthew 6:22

Jesus used the eye as a metaphor for our inner focus. What we choose to look at shapes how we see everything around us. When our attention rests on God’s goodness and the blessings around us, our outlook begins to change. The shift of focus gives birth to gratitude. Gratitude becomes more than a feeling; it becomes the lens through which we see life.

What Are You Looking At?

When life feels heavy or progress seems slow, I often hear God ask me a familiar question: “Famia, what are you looking at?”

I remember one time when I answered Him honestly. I told Him about all the things I was seeing, every worry, every problem my children were facing, every situation that seemed impossible. I listed them all, one by one, until my heart felt heavier just from speaking them.

Then the Lord spoke to my spirit and said, “Your eyes are on the wrong thing. If you look up to Me and trust Me with those burdens, you will not feel so weighed down. I never meant for you to carry this alone. Let me take the weight you have been trying to bear on your own.  I am your Shepherd, and I will lead you on the path to peace. You only need to follow me.

That moment changed my focus. I realized that which fills my vision shapes the condition of my heart. Gratitude did not come easily. I had to learn it. I had to make a choice each day to look for reasons to thank God. Overtime, that intentional focus began to reshape how I saw my life.  Gratitude is what helped me shift my focus toward His faithfulness. I started to notice blessings I had overlooked.  It turned my attention from what was missing to trusting that God was working even when I could not see it.

Gratitude and the Mind

Science continues to confirm what Scripture has long taught. Gratitude can literally rewire the brain. When we practice thankfulness, the mind releases dopamine and serotonin, chemicals that create a sense of peace and joy. Over time, these pathways grow stronger, helping us notice what is good instead of what is lacking.

Studies have shown that when people think about something they are grateful for, their minds shift away from pain. Gratitude redirects attention from what hurts to what helps. It activates areas of the brain connected to comfort and healing, allowing peace to settle where tension once lived.

Romans 12:2 reminds us to be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Gratitude is one way that renewal happens. Each time we choose to thank God, we strengthen a pattern of trust and hope. Gratitude does not remove pain, but it brings peace into it. It calms  the mind and anchors the heart in truth that God is still working, still providing, and still faithful.

When We Lose Focus

An ungrateful heart often stares at what is lacking. We see other people’s blessings and forget our own. That kind of vision breeds envy, resentment, and comparison. It clouds our perspective like a darkened room.

When I began writing down small blessings, a sunrise, a kind word, an unexpected moment of laughter, I noticed joy returning. What I looked at changed what I felt. Gratitude taught me that peace grows when I pay attention to God’s presence, not my problems.

Gratitude as Spiritual Light

Gratitude changes how we walk through life. It turns our attention to God’s presence in every moment. Gratitude fills the heart with peace and brings the mind to rest in truth. When we look for His goodness, joy begins to rise. God remains with us through every struggle, and gratitude keeps our focus on Him and fills the heart with peace. We notice Him everywhere. During the fall season in western North Carolina, the Blue Ridge Mountains are covered in God’s glory. People travel from all over just to stand awe of it. Yesterday, while walking to my car, I noticed a tree glowing in the most vivid orange I have ever seen. In that moment, I felt joy and gratitude for simply being allowed to witness it. I was amazed at all the people that walked right by and didn’t give it a second glance.

Jesus knew that where we fix our eyes shapes the light we carry. When our focus rests on Him, our hearts stay full, our perspective clear, and joy grows within us. Gratitude does not deny difficulty it helps us see through the light of his faithfulness. When our eyes stay fixed on Him.

A Prayer for Perspective

“Lord, help me see the world through grateful eyes.

When my thoughts drift toward what is missing, draw me back to Your goodness.

Fill my heart with light so that I can reflect Your joy to others. Amen.”

Joy Spark

✨ List three moments today where you saw God’s light, even in the smallest details. Notice how your perspective shifts when you give thanks.

Finding Joy in Loneliness

On By Famia GreenIn Choosing Joy, Christian encouragement, Faith and Trust, Joyful Living, Loneliness, spiritual growthLeave a comment

Discovering joy and God’s presence in a quiet season of transition

I said goodbye to Florida and everything it held for me. I left my children, my friends, my church, and the home I last shared with my husband. I stepped away from the familiar and entered a new season in Georgia, drawn by the cooler weather and four seasons. For the first time in 40 years, I faced life alone.

            Approaching Atlanta felt surreal, the packed highways were empty. Signs warned travelers to stay home, limit contact and go out only when necessary. Covid had taken over. It didn’t seem like such a big deal in Florida.  Another story altogether here in Georgia. The entire state went into lockdown when I arrived.

            In the weeks that followed, I found isolation, empty streets, masked faces, and silence. I didn’t know anyone and there was very little opportunity to meet anyone. I had no way of knowing how long this season would last. A fresh start quickly became a time of sitting in my living room, day after day, wondering if I had made the wrong decision. I tried to make the most of it. I went on long walks in the park, stayed busy with creative projects in the house.  Eventually, even those things stopped feeling like enough. Being an extrovert, a lack of connection wore on me.  I spent a lot of time talking to the Lord, asking for wisdom and I cried many tears during those months, asking God why He had brought me here. It felt like my life was on hold.  

            One day I couldn’t take it anymore. I just needed to get out of the house, so I decided to run an errand. I had something to return at a store, and that felt like reason enough to leave. As I pulled into the parking lot and walked toward the store, something stirred in me. I felt it so clearly, go to Hobby Lobby. I must have heard wrong because I didn’t need anything from Hobby Lobby.  So, I continued on toward the store where I needed to make my return, I heard it again, go to Hobby Lobby. Why I asked? Just go.  So, finally I went.

            I went in and wondered what I was doing there. Maybe meet a new friend?  I wandered around the store, walking up and down aisles, and the whole time I kept asking, why am I here? I didn’t need anything and yet I felt compelled to keep looking, aisle after aisle.

            At one point, I came to the end of an aisle, I saw it and knew why God brought me there. There on the wall was a floral scripture print with the words, “I am with you always.” The moment I saw it, I knew. God had brought me into this store to find this one simple reminder. God reminded me I wasn’t alone. He had seen me sitting in my living room crying. He knew the tears I had cried wondering if I had made a mistake moving here. He knew the loneliness. He knew the ache of leaving my children behind, my friends, and the life I had built. He knew how hard this new beginning had been, even though it was supposed to bring joy.

            I bought the picture and took it home. I hung it right by the door so I would see it coming in and going out. A reminder every single day that no matter how I felt, God’s promise hadn’t changed. He was with me.

            The words on that picture weren’t random. They came straight from Scripture, from Matthew 28:20. It’s the very last thing Jesus said to His disciples before He returned to heaven. He told them, “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Those words weren’t just meant for the disciples standing there at the time. They are meant for all of us who follow Him. In those lonely months, when I felt forgotten, invisible, and unsure of what my future would look like, this verse reminded me of a truth I needed to hold onto, I was not alone, and I would never be alone. Not in a pandemic. Not in a new state. Not even in my own tears. His words carried a promise to me, just as much as they did to them.

            I began to see that joy isn’t always found in new friendships or busy calendars. Sometimes joy looks like a simple picture hanging by the door, reminding me that God’s presence is always with me. I started paying attention to the small ways joy was already around me. On my walks through the parks, I noticed flowers I hadn’t seen before, vines climbing where I didn’t expect, and little details in nature that seemed forgotten. Creation itself reminded me of God’s beauty and care. During those lonely times, I sensed Him telling me “I’m here. If you look for me, you will find me.” So, I started looking. And when I looked, I found Him, not just in big moments, but in small one, everywhere I turned.

            If you’re in a season where joy feels hard to find, I want to remind you, you are not alone. God’s presence is with you, right where you are. Sometimes the smallest moments hold the greatest reminders. Keep looking. Keep expecting. You’ll find Him there.

“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:13)

My Refuge

On By Famia GreenIn Christian encouragement, Faith and Trust, Fear and Worry, God is my refuge, spiritual growth, Uncategorized3 Comments

We live in unpredictable times.

Lately, we’ve seen massive floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, and war. It makes us stop and give pause. It makes us think about the things we value, the people we care about, the lives we lead.

With so much turmoil going on in the world, our job is to spread a lot of Jesus everywhere—especially in our own homes. Our job is to be an example of showing others that we have a peace that passes all understanding. It is incredibly important for us to stay focused and keep our eyes fixed on Jesus during this time.

Hebrews 12:2 says, “Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.”

When we see a verse like this, it reminds us to prioritize spiritual things over worldly ones—even when everything around us looks terrible. It helps us walk through life’s difficulties with faith and perseverance.

Last year in North Carolina, we went through a devastating hurricane—Hurricane Helene. It caused so much destruction that nine months later, there were still piles of rubble. But I also saw people with faith come together and help in incredible ways. And right after that, we were hit with forest fires. The air was filled with smoke. Every day we were getting alerts about possible evacuations. We had to pack a go-bag and be ready.

I wasn’t really scared during the hurricane. But during the fires, I’ll be honest—I started to worry. I remember thinking, What am I going to take? Does this stuff even matter? What if my house is gone?

The fires were only fifteen minutes away from me, and the stress started to build. But I got to a point where I couldn’t live like that anymore. I couldn’t live in constant fear of what might happen next.

So I said, “Lord, I know You’re protecting us, and I have to trust You in this.”

And that gave me peace. I stopped worrying about the fires.

The Bible gives us a perfect example of someone overwhelmed by fear.

David had served King Saul faithfully, but Saul became jealous and wanted him dead. So David ran. He fled to Gath—the hometown of Goliath, the giant he had killed. Imagine how desperate he must have been to hide in enemy territory.

When the people of Gath recognized him, David panicked. He was so afraid that he pretended to be insane. He let saliva run down his beard, scratched at the doors, and acted like he’d lost his mind. The king of Gath wanted nothing to do with him and threw him out of the city.

At that point, David had escaped death more than once. He was running for his life, surrounded by enemies, unsure of where to go next. He had every reason to be anxious and afraid.

But instead of giving in to fear, David wrote a Psalm.

“I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.”

—Psalm 34:1 (NKJV)

Worship helped him refocus. His situation hadn’t changed, but his perspective did. The danger was still real, but so was God. God didn’t remove him from the hard place, but He stayed with him through it.

David didn’t just survive that moment. He wrote about it. He gave us a window into what it looks like to run to God instead of running from fear.

“I sought the Lord, and He answered me; He delivered me from all my fears.”

—Psalm 34:4 (NIV)

This verse highlights the power of prayer and the comfort we can find in Him when we turn our focus away from fear and worry and onto trusting God that He will come through for us. For me. For you. And in whatever form that looks like. Sometimes it’s not even the way we think He should, but God will do it again.

God was the one who rescued David.

God was the one who protected, provided, and made a way—again and again.

And if He did it before, He can do it again.

The same God who showed up for David is still working today.

He still hears the cries of His people. He’s still present in pain. He’s still moving in uncertain times. And He’s still powerful—even when we feel powerless.

When nothing in life makes sense, you can still run to Him and find refuge.

Take a moment and think back.

Where has God been faithful to you?

Where has He protected you, provided for you, strengthened you, or encouraged you?

If you’re having a hard time seeing it right now, that’s okay. If praise doesn’t come easy today, open up Psalm 34 and let those words become your prayer.

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Share it with someone who you think would like to read it—or needs to read it.