A Very Long Trip - Michelle Sherlin

"For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind." 2 Timothy 1:7 (NIV)

Eight and a half minutes and 3.2 miles round trip. That’s how far it is to our local Dunkin’ Donuts and how long I left my eleven and a half year-old home with her seven-year-old brother.

I set the trip counter on my dashboard just so I could tell you! My kids wanted donuts and my youngest didn't want to leave home, so my middle son and I went by ourselves. Believe me when I say it was a mental exercise, requiring me to chant over and over in my head from 2 Timothy, For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. I drove under the speed limit, very far to the right shoulder and warily passed every other driver on the way. I had to work hard and continuously to block thoughts out of my head that were unhealthy. Thoughts like, “if I die or get hurt on the way, no one will know my other two children are home alone.”

The negative thoughts that slip into my head are my biggest and most persistent enemy. How would the Lord prefer me to think? I know He prefers that I dwell in His presence and dwell on Him. In Him there is no fear. His scriptures say Perfect Love casts out fear. He is perfect love.

When I got home, all was well. Perplexed because all the shades were down when I returned, the kids told me the local Police Safety Officer had told them to lower all the shades when they were home alone. I guess that beats the only other time I left them alone for 5 minutes and they made my youngest hide behind the couch until I got back.

God doesn’t want us to be afraid. He wants us to trust that He is all sufficient. Even when it’s hard to release the worry into His care, that’s what He desires for us.

Lord, thank you for giving us a sound mind. Please help me to remember that you have not given me a spirit of fear. May I live today in the fullness of your joy and your peace. Amen.


Michelle is a Registered Nurse and Educator developing health career awareness programs and conducting workshops and conferences for high school students. She is a writer and speaker and is a leader in the women’s ministry at her church where she serves as the missions liaison. She lives in Massachusetts with her husband and three young children.

Read Michelle's devotions.

You Had Me at “Love Handles” - Michelle Sherlin

“I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” Psalm 139: 14 NIV

My children went to Vacation Bible School all last week. They came home the very first day reciting one of my favorite scriptures, Psalm 139:14: “I will praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” Oh how wondrous it is when young children believe that is true! I, on a “feelin’ good, just got my hair colored and my toes are pretty” type of day, can believe that is true about myself, too. But do I always? No.

My sweet baby boy made me laugh yesterday. He was on the floor building with Legos in front of the television. A commercial came on about an exercise machine that tones your abdomen. The middle-aged actress exclaimed; “I got rid of my love handles, lost seventy pounds and now I am one hot mama!” My son immediately dropped his Lego structure, looked up at me and announced “you NEED that!” I broke into laughter and said, “why?!” (As I thought to myself, what got him – the love handles, the hot mama or the seventy pounds?) He replied, “You said you needed to lose seventy pounds, she lost seventy pounds!” How sweet, really, innocently sweet. Unfortunately it would take a lot more than that little machine.

It did make me stop and think. Am I lovely? Am I beautiful? Why is it so hard to stay in that “feelin’ good” place? If you ever doubt your loveliness, read Psalm 139. It is beautiful poetry about the splendor of you, and your relationship to your Creator. It’s something to meditate upon; let it soak deep into your very being.

Did you know God is actually enthralled by you? “The king is enthralled by your beauty; honor him, for He is your Lord.” Enthralled is defined as; spellbound or captivated. There are no weight or shape requirements and you don’t have to buy a thing. He is simply captivated by YOU, just the way you are, now, today, this very moment. YOU captivate your Savior. You are absolutely beautiful to Him, love-handles or not!

Thank you, Lord, for reminding me today that I am a beautiful and magnificent creation. Please help me to find the loveliness that you see in me. Amen.


Michelle is a Registered Nurse and Educator developing health career awareness programs and conducting workshops and conferences for high school students. She is a writer and speaker and is a leader in the women’s ministry at her church where she serves as the missions liaison. She lives in Massachusetts with her husband and three young children.