Tag: comfort

Circle of Hope Counseling Services, Faith Journey

You Are Capable

Brandi C

You Are Capable

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You are capable of doing all things when Jesus is by your side. People often tell me that they do not know who they are anymore due to the amount of trauma that has occurred in their lives. It is my pleasure to tell them that they are not only capable of doing all the things they dream of, they were created to do these amazing things because the King of Kings has gifted them with amazing talents. God will take all the tests (trauma) of your life and allow it to be a TESTimony for Him.

This makes you capable of handling any and everything as long as He is on your side because it isn’t you doing the heavy lifting. You are being obedient and He is carrying the burden for you. Matthew 11:28-30: Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”

💛 If you’re navigating life’s hard places and need a safe space to heal, grow, or just breathe—Circle of Hope Counseling Services is here for you.

We offer trauma-informed, faith-filled therapy for individuals, couples, and families.

📞 Reach out today to schedule your first session (KY residents only) or learn more: Circle of Hope Counseling Services.

You don’t have to walk this journey alone. Hope starts here.

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What Does Comfortable Mean

Brandi C

What Does Comfortable Mean

What Does “Comfortable” Mean?

What does “comfortable” mean to you? According to Webster’s Dictionary, it means affording or enjoying contentment and security. So, what does “contentment” mean? It means feeling or showing satisfaction with one’s possessions, status, or situation.

This is the world’s definition of comfort. According to society, I need security—home, money, job. I need to feel satisfied with my home, finances, and career, to have the possessions I “deserve.” The ideal life is wrapped up neatly with a pretty bow: a nice job, a good income, toys, bigger houses, 2.5 kids, a dog, a cat, and a fish, a manicured yard, well-educated kids, and peace wherever I go.

Is that the answer to a good life? A life full of wealth and material possessions?

If this is the life you desire, then stop reading, and good luck on your journey. But if you’re looking for something more—something money can’t buy—keep reading.

God Does Not Want Us to Be Comfortable!

God doesn’t call us to a life of ease or comfort. He calls us to move, to act, and to follow Him. We need to pray earnestly, asking God to lead us where He’s working, and when the time comes, all we need to do is GO. God doesn’t call the equipped; He equips those whom He calls!

Through the years, I’ve walked through difficult seasons. I married young, had children young, and faced challenges in my marriage. My husband wasn’t walking with the Lord, and I struggled to walk with him. But, over time, God worked in him. Though the growth seemed slow, it was real, and it was in God’s timing—not mine. I quickly learned I wasn’t my husband’s personal Holy Spirit.

We’ve gone through tough times, and there were many moments when bitterness crept in, making it hard to forgive those who hurt us. But forgiveness isn’t about giving permission for hurtful actions; it’s about healing ourselves. Though it’s difficult, forgiving others is a step toward peace and freedom.

We’ve Gotten Older

As we’ve aged, we’ve learned to lean on God’s wisdom, not our own. We’ve faced many trials, and we’re still walking through difficult moments. At times, we shake our heads, wondering what God is doing, but we continue to stand strong in His Word. God is refining us, and though it’s painful, we’ve grown closer as a family, a couple, and most importantly, to God.

I have constantly strived for peace, but life has taken me from comfort to chaos and back to comfort again, only for the cycle to repeat. It feels like we’re standing in the middle of a field, facing tough challenges, but we hold on to God’s truths and promises. We’re not trying to walk this life alone, but instead, we’re clinging to God as He leads us through the challenges.

Comfortable, on My Terms

To me, comfortable means having an unmanicured yard with weeds and dead plants. It means leaving behind a place I thought I’d never leave and sending my kids to public school. It means returning to work and stepping into the unknown. We’re no longer focused on the details; we’re simply trying to follow where God leads us.

Salvation Is Simple

If you don’t know the Lord as your Savior, please consider these next steps and pray from a genuine heart.

We all deserve death because of our sin. But Jesus came to save us from our sins by being the ultimate sacrifice on the cross. God’s grace is undeserved, yet it’s freely given.

Salvation is simple:

  1. Admit you are lost.

  2. Believe that Jesus Christ came to earth, fully God and fully human, to die on the cross for your sins.

  3. Confess that you are a sinner, separated from God, and repent—turn away from your sins.

  4. Ask God to come into your heart, and you will be saved.

Baptism follows as an act of obedience and a public profession of your faith, but it does not save you.

Please, don’t wait for tomorrow. Our days are numbered, and God knows the number of our days. Today is the day to ask Christ into your heart. Secure your place in heaven and reduce the number of those who will spend eternity in hell.

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In the Still of the Night The Monster Comes to Play

Brandi C

In the Still of the Night The Monster Comes to Play

In the Still of the Night, The Monster Comes to Play

The Monster in the Silence

I love the time of day when I can go upstairs and just be. For the day, I am done. I am done with work, cooking, cleaning, putting out fires, phone calls, texts, and all the other things that demand my attention. My stuff, a bottle of water, and my Coke come upstairs with me. I turn on all the fans, dim the lights, wash my face, and pile up in bed. Yet, in the still of the night, the monster comes to play. For a while, I am okay, but then my mind begins to wander. A wandering mind is never a good thing for me.

The Silence

My life is SO loud. My son is a chatterbox, people at work, the lights, traffic—just all the things. I stopped listening to music in the house (or car); the television is rarely on. Even chewing can grind my gears. Everything is loud. At night, though, aside from the fans, it’s silent, except for the thoughts in my head.

These thoughts aren’t good. In the past, I would watch the Detail Geek (the car detailing guy from Canada) and talk to a sweet friend. We’d chat through his details, laugh, and catch up on life. We’d talk about our issues, the issues with our children, and all the things. It was good to have that voice in my ear, even when we sat in silence. This became a nightly ritual that I came to enjoy.

Since she passed away, I stopped watching him. I get so emotional when I do. Then, I go to pick up the phone and realize she isn’t there. There’s that realization that most of the people I held dear to my heart have passed. I still have people I can call, but we are all in the thick of life. Without that calm, consistent voice, the unresolved trauma of life and loss floods me with grief because now I’m left with just myself and my thoughts.

Reality

When my friend’s daughter died (we were good friends before her mom and I became friends), I didn’t process her death for a year. Her death was so hard on me. I loved LA from the moment I met her until the moment we buried her. Donna and I were always close, but after LA’s passing, our bond became unbreakable.

There’s one night that stands out, and I still remember it vividly. I called Donna because my thoughts were so loud, and I was finally processing LA’s death. Here I am, crying so hard that I couldn’t breathe, and Donna, who had lost her daughter, comforted me. She couldn’t understand me through my sobs, but finally, she told me to stop crying and tell her two things that made me laugh when I thought of LA.

Bats. Hair dye.
Instantly, I stopped crying. I replayed that story over and over in my head. The darkness began to have a bit of light, and the monster retreated for a moment. But now, Donna is gone, and so is LA. I don’t have anyone to tell that story to. So, once again, the monster comes out to play in the stillness of the night. When I am alone with my own thoughts, the depression begins to overwhelm me.

Bats. Hair dye.
Bats. Hair dye.
Monsters go away because I do not want to play. LA’s birthday is coming up soon, and I often think of her children. I’m still in communication with them, but if it’s this hard for me, I can’t imagine what it’s like for them. Their pain is so deep, with so much loss at such a young age.

Cancer, Suicide, and Depression

Cancer is cruel, and it took Donna way too quickly. From diagnosis to her death was only nine days. You know what’s worse? Suicide. Please know that you are enough, you are worthy, you are loved, and life is better with you in it! Please reach out to a friend, pastor, counselor, therapist, or call 911 or 988, the National Suicide Hotline number.

Whereas Donna passed quickly from cancer, LA struggled with mental illness and made a choice that forever impacted all those who loved her. She has been on my mind a lot lately, especially with her birthday on the 14th and her death day on June 17th.

There are things that can help—counseling, fresh air, prayer, talking to someone, eating protein, drinking water, practicing self-care, reading, and many more. These things can help take your mind off of your current circumstances and focus on more positive things.

Please, reach out! You are loved.

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