Kate Motaung

Are you struggling to know how to find hope in a difficult situation? Consider these scenarios: Nancy is a twenty-something who grew up in a home where her parents always struggled. Their power and gas were cut off frequently, sometimes dinners consisted of stale bread and a dollop of off-brand peanut butter, and she was often made fun of for her raggedy clothes and stained shoes. Tom is a career firefighter who commits his life and safety to the well-being of others. He comforts rape victims, runs into burning buildings, responds to life-changing incidents, and sees people take their last breath as a “normal” day at the office. Tanya is a social worker who does home visits for children in foster care and is part of the process of removing children from harmful and heartbreaking home situations. She has seen children dropped off and discarded like they are garbage (even from wealthy homes), which has resulted in her constantly looking over her shoulder and wondering if people are who they say they are. Dan is a war veteran who served overseas on many tours. He saved many, many lives and served with every inch of his heart. While he was serving his country, his wife asked for a divorce via text, and when he returned, their home was empty, and she avoided contact with him. He was left feeling hopeless and alone and wondering what he could have done to prevent it. Perhaps you have dealt with a heartbreaking situation like one of the above scenarios and are currently wondering how to find hope amidst turmoil. Perhaps you are trying to count your blessings but are having trouble pointing them out. When people struggle, they often wonder where God is. When people struggle, people often doubt (or want to [...]

Ecclesiastes informs us that God has set eternity in the heart of humanity (Ecclesiastes 3:11). For all of our quests for understanding, significance, and self-esteem beyond the routines of daily life, we will never unravel it apart from the Everlasting Father. Yet, God reserves some eternal mysteries for Himself such that what we seek can only be found in our Creator. There is a certain fulfillment that He reveals as we delve deeper into the unique purpose He’s assigned to us. He is the Beginning and End, who created, chose, and called us for Himself. (Revelation 1:8) It may present no alarm to us that the same enemy who sought to sabotage Adam and Eve opposes us. He persuaded them that they lacked what they had already possessed, causing them to view themselves as less than what God had already settled. They didn’t need to consume fruit from a forbidden tree to be like God as the serpent suggested (Genesis 3:5). They already were, as God had created them in His Image and likeness (Genesis 1:26). Sin’s effects have continued to filter through humanity, infecting us with the same distorted view. We contend against demonic forces that pit themselves against our God-given identity (Ephesians 6:11). They have influenced our fallen world, releasing the enemy’s schemes to intercept our ability to see ourselves as God does. Although the war waged against our minds and emotions is not a flesh-and-blood fight, it is still very real.  God has equipped us with all that’s needed to stand against the devil’s wiles and experience the settled victory in Christ (Ephesians 6:12). By choosing to agree with and activate what His Word says about our true identity, we can esteem our path into purpose and partner with God to be and do greater than [...]