t started with a simple conversation.

My daughter was preparing a short talk for a teen ladies retreat. Another young lady had been assigned strength, and my daughter had endurance.

At first, I thought they were so closely connected that separating them might be difficult.

The more we talked, the more I realized I had spent most of my life putting them in the same category.

Be strong.

Stay strong.

Find your strength.

We hear those words all the time.

But I am starting to understand that strength and endurance are not the same thing.

There are two words in Scripture that I've been thinking about lately.

But God.

The more I sit with them, the more I realize they may be two of the most hope-filled words in the entire Bible.

Every time I read them, something changes.

The sentence changes.

The direction changes.

The outcome changes.

It almost always starts with heartbreak.

Someone failed.

Someone sinned.

Someone was betrayed.

Someone was afraid.

Someone had reached the end of what they could do.

Then...

But God.

God Speaks Our Language

On a recent Sunday morning at church, we were graced with the presence of a missionary who shared a powerful and moving story. His talk was filled with inspiring accounts of the amazing work being done and the incredible things happening around the world. Yet, amidst all these wonderful stories, one particular moment stood out to me profoundly: the realization of a woman who said, “God speaks our language.”

Imagine living your life feeling as though the divine is distant, unable to fully understand your unique voice, culture, and heart. And then, in a moment of