Anchored in Hope - April 2026 Edition

From Control to Surrender: Meeting Jesus in Life’s Changes

Apr 30, 2026

It is so good to be back!

I took a 30-day break from Substack and didn’t publish a March newsletter, so it’s so good to be back writing a newsletter for April.

Today I want to talk about change. Not only are the seasons changing, but I feel like there are so many of us going through change right now. For me, that change is new home health services. Some of you may know from a note that I shared on the Substack platform that I struggle with 15 physical chronic illnesses, not including mental illnesses. The main illnesses I struggle with are Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS), Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), Fibromyalgia, Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome (CVS), Chronic Migraine, and Functional Neurological Disorder (FND), which also includes Functional Seizures, Functional Weakness, and Functional Vomiting. All of these illnesses affect me greatly, but the one that affects me the most right now is the (ME/CFS).

Because of these illnesses, I’ve come to need daily help with things like bathing, hygiene, cleaning, laundry, and things of that nature, as I’m unable to do them safely on my own or without causing a prolonged crash. A few weeks ago, I met with an aide who has been over every day for a couple of hours to help me with these things. The meeting went well and the first few days with the aide went well, but after the initial meeting, I had a bit of a mental breakdown because I realized how real things are and how I’m having to give up control to let someone else care for me and my things. That’s incredibly hard for me because control is something I value and white-knuckle like no other. This is a major change, and I’m learning how to deal with it.

Honestly, I know white-knuckling things does me no good and that the only thing that will bring me true lasting peace is Jesus. He knew I would experience these emotions with these changes, and He is there waiting for me to lean into Him for comfort during this difficult time. He is more than happy to comfort me.

The same is true for you. If you’re going through a change in your own life and need comfort, hope, peace, or anything else, you can find it in Jesus, God, and the Holy Spirit, every single time, without fail.

Here are some of my favorite comforting verses in the Bible. I hope that no matter what change you find yourself in today, these verses can be a comfort and an encouragement to you.

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” - Hebrews 13:8

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?” - Matthew 6:25
“For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.” - Isaiah 43:19
“Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor abandon you.” - Deuteronomy 31:8
“For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! ” 1 Peter 1:6-7

A Prayer for the one going through change

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank you for the one on the other side of the screen. Thank you for their desire to seek you during this newfound time of change in their lives. Lord, this time seems so uncertain. We are unable to see beyond the present moment, and the future is forever in your glorious hands. Help us to trust you with that future, knowing we are in the best hands possible. Grant us peace, hope, joy, and anything else we could ever need to make it through this season of change with your grace. We love because you first loved us.

Amen.

Faith Favorites

Here are some of my favorites this month! These may change month to month, or they may stay the same, depending on how my preferences change each month, but I’ll change them for you from time to time.

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But before you go… Have you heard the good news?

At the end of every newsletter from now on I want to share just a paragraph or two on what the Gospel is in easy terms so that if you haven’t heard the Good News, you can and if you haven’t been given the opportunity to give your life to Jesus, you’re able to.

Essentially, in the beginning, God created a perfect world and made humans to live in it according to His good design. But when Satan deceived the first humans, sin entered the world and has affected every person ever since. Because of this, we all fall short of God’s perfect will for our lives. That’s why God sent Jesus—fully God and fully man—who lived a perfect, sinless life. Out of His great love for us, God gave His Son to take the punishment we could never pay ourselves. Now, anyone who turns from sin and trusts in Jesus is forgiven, made right with God, and promised eternal life with Him. This isn’t something we can earn by being “good enough”—it’s a gift of grace that God freely offers to everyone.

If you’d like to receive the good news today and receive Jesus into your heart, repent of your sins (this means to turn away from your sins), believe that Jesus is the Son of God and that He died for your sins and rose again, and then invite Him into your life as your Lord and Savior, often through a personal prayer, to become a new creation in Christ. This act of faith and surrender is a personal decision and commitment between you and God.

An example of a prayer you could pray to invite Jesus into your life is as follows, but I invite you to make it personal:

“Dear Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner, and I ask for Your forgiveness. I believe You died for my sins and rose from the dead. I turn from my sins and invite You to come into my heart and life. I want to trust and follow You as my Lord and Savior. Amen

Discussion about this post

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