Hi Love,
It’s been such a lovely, joy-filled time with my family during our reunion. We spent the whole morning at the park, and now we are all resting before we head to the beach this afternoon. I snuck in a little quiet time to write. And oh my goodness, God has been flooding me with ideas these past few days! I’ve got a whole list going in my notes, and I seriously can’t wait to share everything with you soon.
My parents’ house sits right on the ocean, and the view from their deck is just breathtaking. It’s so peaceful to step outside, take it all in, and just listen to the waves, whisper and the wind. It’s like a little slice of heaven, especially with everything that has happened this past year.
I was reminded of a moment from late last summer when it felt like I was drowning under the weight of so many attacks. I remember crying out to God, just asking for a glimpse of hope and some kind of direction. And He led me to this teaching by Jeremiah Johnson that spoke right to what I was going through. I highly encourage you to listen to the whole message, but one part that really stood out was when he talked about how in life we’re often faced with a choice between perpetual chaos or perpetual comfort. And how perpetual chaos is often tied to either unforgiveness or unhealed trauma. That wisdom was so incredibly helpful and encouraging to me at the time. It helped me understand what I was walking through, and it gave me the strength I needed to keep going. It reminded me to keep following Jesus, the Prince of Peace, even in the middle of intense resistance. God really is so faithful.
It’s funny because during that season, the song Hakuna Matata would randomly pop into my head all the time, and I’d catch myself singing it without even realizing. I kept thinking about how it means no worries for the rest of your days. And it felt like God was gently reminding me that everything was going to be okay. I just needed to keep trusting Him and following where He leads, and He would take care of the rest. I’ve been learning to stay open to all the ways God speaks, and music has definitely been one of them. It’s been so fun (and freeing) to realize how creative He is in the way He communicates with us.
Thinking about the ocean reminded me of a dream (or maybe even a vision) I had during that time. I was putting our youngest down for a nap when I suddenly had this intense and honestly kind of frightening experience. In the dream, the boys and I were in a bathroom when out of nowhere, water started rushing in. It filled the room so quickly, and before I knew it the water was up to my knees. But in that moment, I had this strong sense that I had the authority to stop it. So I said, “on the count of three, this will stop,” and I started counting (3, 2, 1…) and then snapped my fingers and said, “Stop.” And just like that, the water began to drain.
When I woke up, I felt the presence of the Holy Spirit so strongly. I was reminded of Jesus calming the storm...and then Peter walking on water. I sensed God whispering to my heart: you are only limited by your faith. That thought stayed with me. Because the only reason Peter began to sink was fear. But when he believed, he walked on water — just like Jesus. And the same is open to us too. When we let go of fear and hold onto faith, the impossible becomes possible.
Jesus was fully God, yet He chose to live on Earth as a man completely led by the Spirit. He showed us what it looks like to walk in full surrender to the Father (fully obedient, fully dependent). And what’s even more incredible is that in John 14:12, He said that anyone who believes in Him would do the same works He did...and even greater through the power of the Holy Spirit. We’re not God, but because His Spirit lives in us, we’ve been invited to live, love, and walk in the same power Jesus did.
This afternoon a group of orcas swam by while I was putting my youngest down for a nap. I’m so sad I missed it! But thankfully all phones were pulled out by those nearby trying to catch the moment. Later I felt led to read more about them, and wow the more I learn, the more captivated I am. Apparently orcas move with this quiet, commanding strength. They’re fearless, but never frantic. They’re also known to hunt with incredible precision, stay close to their families, and thrive even in the harshest waters. They’re actually quite wise, strategic, and it seems very loyal.
What’s also interesting is how misunderstood they are. They’re called killer whales, but they’re actually dolphins. They are social and incredibly intelligent creatures. Yes, they’re strong predators and at the top of the marine food chain…but they’re actually super curious and have even been known to interact playfully with humans. It just made me think about how the world often mislabels what it doesn’t understand. But obviously orcas don’t hold back or try to prove anything. They just keep moving, doing their thing.
Reflecting on that made me think about how sometimes the truest strength isn’t loud or showy. It’s steady. It doesn’t argue or explain. It just is. In the same way, we’re called to walk in the authority God’s given us, even if others don’t recognize it right away. Like the orcas, we can move forward with quiet confidence, knowing who we are and who we belong to.
This song came up in conversation today, and it made me smile because it instantly reminded me of spiritual warfare. No matter what the enemy tries to throw at us, with God we can rise above it. Because of Jesus’s sacrifice, we don’t fight for victory — we fight from victory. The enemy is already defeated, and we’re walking as overcomers. Praise God for that truth!
I know it can sometimes feel like we’re going through the motions and nobody knows our struggles. But never forget that you are beloved. And when oceans rise and the storm rages on, we still row on, together and toward the light. Don’t let me down. I know God is with us, and I have this hope. I keep reminding myself of who I am and to have faith in God. Eventually, we’ll watch all the giants fall.
Also reminding myself that only God has the power to rewrite the stars. He can shift the story, realign what’s been broken, and create something more beautiful than we imagined. His timing is always perfect, and His ways are always higher and better. Even when the unknown feels hard and a little scary, I’m trying my best to wait with hope. And trusting that His plan is unfolding with purpose, and every moment of the wait is worth it.
Know that in the meantime I’m holding you close in prayer and asking God to continually surround you with His peace. I pray He guides your steps and reminds you how deeply loved you are.
I love you.
Jeanie
P.S. Above is a photo I took from my parents’ deck just before dinner. It is such a peaceful view :) And just below is an incredible shot of an orca that one of their neighbors captured at a different time and kindly shared!
