Rachel Fisher

I watch Wheel of Fortune every night. This is not an exaggeration…I record it and play it back. Every. Single. Night.

What I love about Wheel of Fortune is that the game is not so much guessing the correct letters but playing with strategy.

For example, if the category is, “What Are You Doing?” you can bet on an “n” or a “g” being a lucrative choice. And yet, so many contestants get caught up in the immediate, the flashy, low-hanging fruit versus pursuing the long game.

Proverbs 14:29 says, “Whoever is patient has great understanding, but one who is quick-tempered displays folly.” Look, I don’t pretend for one second to think King Solomon was considering game shows when he wrote this piece of wisdom…but if I’m going to invest all this time and energy into Wheel of Fortune, I’ll be dammed if I don’t find some nugget of a lesson…

How swift I am to judge those making mistakes on television when I, myself, so frequently attempt to justify foolishness with practically. Making excuses, I rationalize rash reactions in the name of opportunity.

The Bible doesn’t directly say, “Good things come to those who wait,” but it does repeatedly proclaim having faith in God’s guiding presence. We cannot seek standstill solutions, yet we have to ascertain some discretion. For even our best intentions can be blinded by our need for instant fulfillment.

The rewards of forbearance are always richer than we foresee: whether a new car…or something even grander.

Food for thought: When have things turned out better than you expected?

Do you ever just throw your hands up and ask God, “What the hell?” I’ve been teaching a class on Job, and let me tell ya, his whole “never cursing God” business is really remarkable…sometimes I don’t know if I have the strength to resist.

I look at the war in Ukraine, oppression of LGBTQ in Florida (and Texas, *sigh*), global warming causing tornadoes in the Midwest… it’s all TOO MUCH.

And then I cry to myself about my own, personal strife: the regrets, the missed opportunities, the plans I thought were so perfect that didn’t work out. And I question why God is putting me through this.

Feeling ashamed for being upset, I take a deep breath and remember what the actual message of Job is: to have a faithful relationship with God.

Job 2:10 says, “Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?” God does not want us to be perfect, nor does he want us to react perfectly at all times. He gave us a full range of emotions—including disappointment, heartbreak, and frustration, to name a few—because he wants us to be authentic with him. Even so much of Jesus’ ministry is him expressing negative emotions!

But through it all, we have the gift—nay, the responsibility—to zoom out the lens and trust that God is working through every situation. Holiness is leaning on God no matter the present predicament…even when we have to ask, “Why?”

Food for thought: When have your best laid plans been inferior to what actually transpired?

Happy International Women’s Day!

My instagram algorithm suggested Jo March’s monologue from Greta Gerwig’s 2019 masterpiece, Little Women. Having loved this book growing up, the adaptation was…without an ounce of exaggeration…life-changing. Here’s why:

I have such tension in my life between ambition and gratitude. On one hand, I want so much. My dreams have always been grand, and frankly, I love that about myself. And I am a damn good hard worker. I am bold and courageous and curious and imaginative and embrace it all.

BUT.

I am fiercely loyal. To the point where I cannot fathom a world in which I didn’t constantly pour into those around me. (I know this feels like a vanity trip, but please, hear me out.) The reason for this intense investment in my present circumstances is that God had blessed me tremendously. Loved ones, opportunities, freedom, security…I live with an immense amount of privilege, and I never want to take it for granted (nor render it useless and not use it to further the voices of those without).

So how do I reconcile wanting more while staying humble and thankful?

James 1:17 says, “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”

So, my deliberation is simple: is what I’m pursuing good and godly…or selfish and sinful? Or rather, am I pointing myself toward God, creator of every blessing and faithful steward of my life? Or sinking into the opposite…my own, fruitless dive into hubris?

Seeking satisfaction is not unholy if the power one places is not on the success but rather the presence of God, regardless the outcome.

God didn’t place these desires on my heart as twisted texts of humility; he uses my personality—all our personalities—to encourage relationships with him. After all, if Christ is with us, our glory is unchanging because he lived and died for us…and thus we are filled with the Holy Spirit.

Food for thought: How have the women you’ve admired paved the way for you?

It is 9:42 p.m., but comically the clock on my computer reads 1:02 a.m. Honestly, it took me a second to realize it’s incorrect. I had meant to write this post at lunchtime, but work had other plans. Actually, I had hoped to post on a proper schedule, writing and publishing in a timely, organized manner.

Ha.

It is literally Day Five, and I am already shaming myself for “getting behind.” Why am I like this? In my first post, I declared that I wanted this to be, and I quote, “No fancy frills, no real structure, just a desire to reset.”

Ha.

But even in shaming myself for shaming myself, I cannot help but applaud myself for at least recognizing my pitfalls. And no, I do not mean the fact that I haven’t lived up to my expectations. I’m talking about seeing beyond the present pressure I put on myself. For so much of my adult life (I didn’t used to be this way, you know…), I sink into bouts of self-loathing that relentlessly feed on my own criticism. It’s a vicious cycle that only I can break myself out of…and I’m usually in way too deep before I realize what torment I’m subjecting myself to.

Change rarely happens in leaps and bounds; usually, it’s small steps in the right (or wrong) direction. Day by day, hour by hour, minute by minute. Being kinder to myself doesn’t always come naturally, but I am grateful for this evening…err, night, where I can examine and appreciate the grace I’ve extended to myself…and grow.

1 John 4:7-8 says, “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.” Pretty sure this means loving ourselves, too.

Food for thought: In what areas can you cut yourself some slack?

Last night I couldn’t sleep because I was thinking about all the things I needed to do in the next couple of days. I know everyone can relate: not enough hours in the day to accomplish everything. The problem is, my stress caused me to stay awake, which caused me stress that I wasn’t falling asleep, which caused me to be restless instead of resting, which has made me so sleepy today, which caused me to be more stressed that I’m not being more productive… Can I get off this merry-go-round of a run-on sentence, please?

I think it’s so easy for us to say, “Just relax, it’ll all work out!” But why is this calm mentality so difficult to actually enact? Particularly when the anxiety of the present moment directly pushes against movement in the right direction?

I wish there was some all-encompassing solution to every problem, but I know first and foremost, I need to get some sleep tonight. Which means I need to prioritize what I can do in the remaining time I have this evening. Which means I have to be realistic and say, “No,” when I probably would prefer to say, “Yes.” Which is a word I hate…. Here I go again with these run-on sentences!

Unfortunately, the reality is that my grammar is not the only thing that suffers when I am too overwhelmed to devote the necessary attention to the things that matter. Tasks go awry, peoples’ feelings get hurt, and I become a short-tempered, overly-sensitive agitator. Suddenly, rest’s vital role shifts from not only providing me with energy…but with purpose.

Matthew 6:26-27 says, “²⁶ Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? ²⁷ Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?”

I cannot add another hour to my day; something else has got to give. Unimportant to-do items? Yes. Distractions? Goodbye. And worry? An absolute requirement. The presence of faith does not mean a lack of stress but rather the acceptance that it cannot be given anymore power over circumstances…or ourselves.

Prayers for sweet dreams, friends. And even sweeter daylight, no matter the situation.

Food for thought: What is a sign you are allowing stress to control your decisions and demeanor? What are ways you can find peace?

I’m reporting live from an arcade with my younger siblings, ranch water in hand, punching out this devotional in the notes of my phone. As I pause to reflect on what I want to say today, the only message I can convey is gratitude.

It’s been a hard few months for my family, yet we still come back to one another relentlessly and unconditionally. And not just for support or comfort…we also have a hell of a good time together!

I think so often we get wrapped up in the grandeur of relationships: will this person fulfill my needs, my desires, my expectations (what a toxic word this can be). But what about the mediocre? The spontaneous? The normal?

Don’t discount the people in your orbit. Your mom, your coworker, the Starbucks employee you pay a visit to more frequently than you care to admit…

Proverbs 27:17 says, “Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.” Invest in those with whom God has placed you. The rewards of deep, genuine relationship are unlike anything else on this earth.

Food for thought: What has been the most impactful relationship of your life? Your year? Your day?

Once a week, I take a class at the gym called “Body Combat.” Our instructor leads us in exercises that include high-intensity training, cardio, and martial arts. It is my favorite workout because, as you can imagine, my adrenaline is pumping and I am exhausted by the end.

Our class ends at 9:25 a.m., however at 9:30, the “Body Pump” crew begins. Because their routines include equipment, this group has been…ahem, eager….to enter the room immediately when our time concludes. Week by week, these weightlifting enthusiasts have encroached on our space closer and closer to 9:25…until last week, when they flooded inside while we were still stretching…at 9:24.

My instructor reached her breaking point, asking everyone who had just barged in to please leave because they were being rude. She was polite, yet firm, remaining professional while holding her ground.

Here’s the irony: in our class—which, in case you haven’t caught on, is VERY aggression-driven—we are encouraged to tap into our anger and frustrations. One of my favorite motivational phrases this instructor uses (as we are on the last track, about to keel over, mind you), is, “You have all week to be nice. But not here.”

So how does this apply to our overly zealous gym members?

Nice isn’t always an option, but kind is.

Being nice is wonderful, but sometimes, we have to be assertive. Kickboxing is not a “nice” activity, but that doesn’t mean the people doing it can’t also be kind.

Matthew 5:43-48 says:
⁴³ “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ ⁴⁴ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, ⁴⁵ so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. ⁴⁶ For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? ⁴⁷ And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? ⁴⁸ You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

In the real world, we can meet situations appropriately while never losing our humanity. We can stand up for ourselves and still offer words of encouragement to the opposing party. We can be upset by someone’s reaction and forgive without retaliation. We can watch horrors unfold around the world and pray for the souls of every, single human being.  

So kindness isn’t just an option, it is our only choice.

Food for thought: To whom can show love, even though it’s hard?

Did anyone else forget Lent was beginning this week? Just me?

What a nuts year 2022 has already been. With everything going on in the world, calendar items have seemed distant…even when they’re only a couple of days away in actuality.

Lent has arrived whether I’m ready or not, and I feel…raw. Honestly, I’m a mess right now, but part of me is quite excited by the idea of a time to focus, to cleanse, to prepare.

Which brings me here, dear readers. For the next 40 days, I am going to do what I do best: write.

No fancy frills, no real structure, just a desire to reset. Christ journeyed to the cross knowing the promise of resurrection would be fulfilled. Yet he also knew of the pain and torment and anguish awaiting him.

Because of Jesus, I am not destined to suffer. However, I do feel “in the weeds,” scouring for the bursts of light that inevitably breakthrough the darkest of circumstances. Ash Wednesday feels pitch black.

In John 9:5, Jesus says, “I am the light of the world.” Well folks, this is me stepping into the light.

I hope you’ll journey with me this Lenten season, whether you, yourself, are working toward Easter or just seeking a relatable voice in this hour of night. May we all emerge…lighter.

God bless you friends,

Rachel