ABOUT THIS BLOG

It’s easy to get discouraged when we view life from our own limited perspective. Whether wearied by the monotony of daily routine or weighed down by the burden of circumstances, it’s a challenge to find joy when we can’t see the greater purpose behind it all. In those rare moments when we look beyond ourselves to the needs of our neighbors and the injustices of this world, it’s tempting to get overwhelmed to the point of despair.

There was a time in my own life when depression threatened to take hold—its shadow looming dark and low over me. My own life was spiraling beyond my control, and the world’s problems seemed too pressing to overcome. I believed I had no reason to live yet I was afraid to die.

That’s when I heard that still small voice calling me to look beyond. The God who created the heavens and the earth breathes life and purpose into everything, from the mundane yet necessary tasks of everyday life to the crushing trials that come like insurmountable storms. We’ll see his hand in everything if only we learn to look beyond. In him there is hope for this life, and for eternity.

The Bible says, “whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” When we begin to think on these things, we find, beauty instead of ashes, joy instead of mourning, praise instead of despair. This blog was birthed with that intent.

As you read glimpses of my own life, I pray you gain hope for your own. I pray you discover God’s purpose for what now seems meaningless. I pray that in searching to find all you’ve lost, you discover something of far greater value.

And I pray you find inspiration for this life…and beyond.

“So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:18)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

When I was a kid I asked my dad to build me an airplane. Every day I woke up fully anticipating my bright orange, red-striped 747 would be waiting for me in the small field outside our house. You can imagine my disappointment when my dad came home with an armload of boxes, certain he’d appease my childhood dreams with a cardboard, duct-taped jet.

My mom sought to console me with other options, eventually suggesting my imagination would be better suited for authorship than aviation. So I started writing stories, poems, songs, and inspirational articles, and I haven’t stopped since.

I’m older now and, I hope, wiser. Years of working in the inner-city tempered my imagination with a hefty dose of reality. Marriage, parenting, and teaching have given me an overflow of inspiration. And an endless stream of trials and disappointments have added fuel to my writing fire.

Above all, my greatest source of motivation comes from knowing God has given me life and breath, and that he’s loved me and saved me for a purpose greater than my own.

“For it is by GRACE you have been saved, through FAITH—and this is not from yourselves, it is the GIFT of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do GOOD works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Eph 2:8-10)

All posts on this blog are written by j.e. fernandez unless otherwise noted.