One of my earliest memories of Lent is asking my mom why people had black on their foreheads. Another one is my Sunday School teachers asking, "What are you giving up?"

While dress shopping with my daughter, a child’s temper tantrum prompted me to share that I was stomping my feet at God.   “I am frustrated with God. He keeps pushing me to write more, but He won’t give me places to speak. I love talking about the names of God, His faithfulness, Advent, or about the spiritual disciplines.”

"Unsettled times" is a nice way to say what is happening right now. The government shutdown, protests, riots, National Guard troops in cities, and wars around the world all cause us to worry and fear. We fear the future, going outside, meeting new people, and so much more.