Bible Archives - Joy Margetts

Bible, Book Review, Books, Christian faith, Christian publishing, Christian Writer, Faith, Kingdom books

BOOK REVIEW: IT’S ALL ABOUT THE LIGHT

May 29, 2026May 20, 2026 joymargetts

IT’S ALL ABOUT THE LIGHT : How to Find God in Tough Times

Author: Joanna Watson (Foreword by J.John)

Published by: Malcom Down , 29th May 2026

ISBN: 978-1917455572755 (Paperback)

RRP: £10.99/£11.99

THE BLURB (extract)

You know what it’s like: the unexpected phone call, the unwelcome diagnosis, the relationship at breaking point, or finances under strain. Life is full of challenges. When you face tough times, God longs to dispel your darkness. But will you invite him to break in? Will you make wise choices?
In It’s All About the Light, Joanna draws on learning from the modern-day miracle stories contained in her first book, Light Through the Cracks, to guide you through six life-changing choices for finding God when we face tough times.

MY REVIEW

Anyone who has lived through hard times, or who has watched a loved one suffer, will find help, comfort and guidance in the pages of this wonderful book.

It’s all about the Light: how to find God in tough times is a meaty, truth-filled, deep-dive into scripture on the subject of inviting God into our places of suffering. God wants to meet us in those times, to be the Light in our darkness. Sometimes He has a miracle for us, or a redemptive ending. Always He has strength, comfort and peace on offer.

Joanna has sub-tiled her book, ‘Six life-changing choices’. This book isn’t a formula for miracles, more an instruction manual to help us navigate our tough times. It contains truths that can bring hope, build faith for the impossible, and provide a blueprint for victorious Kingdom living. Each chapter in the book focuses on one of these six themes– Listen (for God’s voice), Lean in (on others), Let go (of spiritual hindrances), Solidify (be aware of the spiritual battle), Glorify (God, no matter what), Testify (of what God has done). Each point is carefully explained and backed up with stories from the Gospels, beautifully retold in a really relatable way.

Joanna has taken inspiration from the true-life stories recorded in her first book, Light Through the Cracks, and used extracts from these stories to illustrate each point. It is not necessary to read the first book to benefit from the message of this one, but I would recommend it if possible. It is an incredible account of ten true stories, each a completely different situation, where God broke in in incredible ways.

It’s All About the Light is an immensely practical book, with places to pause and reflect, answer probing questions, and respond to the truth with action. It has been designed thoughtfully to be ideal for both individual and group use. I can highly recommend it as a treasure trove of godly wisdom, a place of refuge, and a call to be ready to stand in faith.

It’s All About the Light will be published by Malcolm Down on 29^th May, 2026. It is available in both paperback and kindle edition.

Signed copies are available now direct from the author’s website, and after publication where all good books are sold.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Joanna Watson is an inspirational Christian author and speaker, with a passion to see ordinary people encountering God in extraordinary ways. In a world filled with darkness, she seeks to share stories and reflections that show how God’s light, hope and miraculous power break in through the cracks.

Find out more here www.joannawatson.co.uk

Joy Margetts is a published author and blogger. Her books are works of Christian Historical fiction. Set in medieval Wales against the backdrop of Cistercian abbey life, they tell stories of faith, hope and God’s redemptive power. She has also written two non-fiction devotionals. More information on Joy, and her books can be found here

Bible, Christian faith, Christian Writer, Devotional thought, Faith, Lessons from life, The Word of God

WHEN BEING TIRED IS NOT AN EXCUSE

May 21, 2026May 29, 2026 joymargetts

Is being tired an excuse?

We regularly have our grandchildren over. One day a week we pick them up from school, keep them through dinner time, bath them, and then take them back to be put to bed at home. We love it, however exhausting it can be. They seem to enjoy spending that time at our house, with us, too.

Last week they (aged 5 and 3 years) weren’t playing together very nicely. Both of them, at some point, were less than well behaved. There were tears. In exasperation I asked, ‘Why are you both being so naughty today?’

The reply, from the 5-year-old, was swift.

‘Because we are both tired.’

Inwardly I smiled, as I thought about how quickly children pick up on what adults say about them, or to them. He wasn’t wrong. They were both tired after a day of school. We know that when they are tired, they are less able to regulate their emotions, or their behaviour.

My reply, however, has stayed with me since.

‘Well, Nanna is tired, and she isn’t being naughty!’

Image shows two small children sitting in an old aircraft cabin, smiling at photo taker.

When I am tired…

Later, having had time to think about it, I realised that in fact I too can be less than well behaved when I am tired. It is when I am tired that I don’t react well, say things that are unthinking, or just plain unkind. Usually to the ones I love most. When I am tired, I am more likely to look for comfort in things that don’t actually do me any good. I might watch something on the TV, or read something online, that is escapist, but not helpful. When I am tired, I forget how much I have to be grateful for, and focus on the negatives in my life. When I am tired… I make excuses for myself.

I was talking to God about this because I don’t like it. I don’t like letting myself down, or letting Him down, or letting others down, even when I am tired. I am not a perfect person by any means, but I do know the difference between right and wrong, and usually I can make good choices. I also know that He is doing a sanctifying work in me. He is good at pointing out things that need to change in my character and giving me the grace to repent and do better. I want to be the person He is making me to be, even when I am tired!

An explanation but not an excuse…

What He showed me is that being tired is not actually an acceptable excuse for saying or doing things that hurt others or myself. It wasn’t an excuse for my grandchildren. It was an explanation. The two things are different. Being tired might explain why behaviour is not optimal, but it isn’t an excuse. At least it shouldn’t be.

My grandchildren also know the difference between right and wrong. They are perceptive enough to know when their behaviour is not great. Usually, they are good at doing and saying the right things, but they are still young. They still have much to learn about what can be excused, due to tiredness or any other stressors, and what cannot be. We can make allowances for their immaturity.

I am a lot more mature than they. In years anyway! I have had a lifetime of walking with Jesus, and He has done some beautiful work in refining my character over the years. I know what His standards are, as set out in His Word, and I try to live by them, with His help. Yet still I can slip up, particularly when overtired or stressed.

There is still work to be done…

I heard Him whisper to my soul.

Beloved, I know your struggles and your disappointment with yourself. I know how tiredness can affect you, and I understand. I just ask you to be aware of this, of how you can slip back into unhealthy ways, when you are tired. Not to use tiredness as an excuse, but see it for what it is, a weakening of your defences, an opening for the flesh or the enemy to creep in.

I love you, just as you still love your grandchildren, even when they don’t behave as well as you know they can. You can see their bad behaviour and understand the reasons for it. You see them as needing to grow and develop in their awareness of what is and isn’t acceptable. I am not done with you, my child. When tiredness causes you to slip up, that is revealing the areas of your heart where there is still some refining work to be done. Don’t become disheartened, just bring those things to Me and we can work on them together.

Image shows a white cloud in the shape of a heart, on a blue sky background. Text reads 'Above all else. guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. Proverbs 4: 23

Bible, Christian blog, Christian Writer, Devotional thought, Faith, Lessons from life, The Word of God

WHAT ARE YOU SAYING? (the power of words)

April 21, 2026May 20, 2026 joymargetts

What are you saying?

Do you ever get the feeling God is trying to tell you something? Perhaps you only really get it when He uses several different sources to say the same thing? I guess when He does speak this way, then you really need to take notice, and respond appropriately.

My grandson’s ‘naughty’ words

My grandson is almost 5, and being at school every day he has picked up some unwelcome habits. One of these is to take great pleasure in using ‘naughty’ words. Now I am not talking expletives here, more ‘toilet humour’ – a fascination with certain body parts and functions. Funny more than shocking, to him particularly. And generally used for effect – most noticeably to get our attention, or wind us up.

Sitting at the dinner table last week he suddenly started saying such words, on repeat. I admonished him gently, as did his grandfather – we know his parents are trying to discourage the behaviour. He persisted – so I went into bargaining mode. If he wanted an icecream after he had eaten his pasta, he needed to stop using words that weren’t nice. He reacted to that by placing his hands over his mouth, his eyes grinning.

‘It’s hard not to say it,’ he said, through his fingers

‘Why not try saying something nice instead? I replied. ‘Like ‘thank you for my dinner, Nana’, or ‘I love you Nana’’?

He proceeded to say both, really sweetly and genuinely. It was a precious moment – especially when he continued to tell his grandad that he loved him too, and his sister – a bit more reluctantly. Hearing those words from his lips was just lovely.

Photo of a young boy exploring a full size model of an aeroplane

Be careful what you say

A few days before this, we were visited by some dear friends, both of whom hear God and love to share what He is saying. Whilst praying with us before they left, one of them looked at me pointedly and said, ‘I think that God is telling you to be careful what you say over yourself.’

I pondered on this. I do have a tendency to speak negatively about myself, especially because I live with a long-term debilitating health condition. It is all too easy to label myself; ‘I am always tired’. Or to complain about my limitations; ‘I hate that I can’t…’ Unfortunately, I do also have a tendency to talk about my circumstances in a negative way, or even about other people who have made my life difficult.

I knew God had a point. I resolved to do better.

God takes what we say seriously

And then today I read from Matthew’s gospel, chapter 12 v 33 -37. Jesus’ words struck me again – what we say is really important – what we let come out of our mouths comes from the overflow of what is in our hearts. That is a sobering thought.

‘For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks’ v 34

‘A good man, out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things’ v35

Jesus also warns about idle, careless, fruitless words in these verses. He takes what we say very seriously.

What we say reflects what is in our heart. So, when I label myself, complain or moan – is that how I really feel? Does that reflect a lack of faith in God’s ability to heal and help me, to provide for me, to give good things? Is that the position of my heart or am I just not thinking about what I am saying in the moment? Worth thinking about.

What we say has power

‘Death and life are in the power of the tongue’ Prov 18:21 tells us.

I know that our words have power.

God’s word spoke creation into being. His Living Word (Jesus) brought salvation into the world. With a word Jesus could still a storm, heal, bring the dead back to life. We are made in His image, and temples of His Spirit, and what we say can change things – for good or bad.

Image shows a woman holding both hands over her mouth

What am I saying?

God repeating His message to me has reminded me that what I say can affect things. It can affect my own faith, it can affect the faith of others, it can even invite the enemy in.

‘Why not say something nice?’

What a difference it would make if I chose to always speak life over myself and my circumstances. Or speak encouragement, truth, love into the lives of others.

Perhaps there are times when I just need to stop speaking, put my hands over my mouth, and whisper through my fingers, ‘It is hard, God.’

I think He knows.

Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth;
Keep watch over the door of my lips. Psalm 141:3

Bible, Christian blog, Christian faith, Christian Writer, Devotional thought, Faith, Lessons from life, The Word of God

GOD CAN HANDLE OUR QUESTIONS WHY

March 22, 2026March 21, 2026 joymargetts

My eldest grandson comes to play at Nanna’s house with his younger sister at least once a week. They love coming. They love the toys, the snacks, our garden, and our company. This last week they came as usual, but things were a bit different. Having injured my back and being still in recovery mode, I was not as active as I usually am. I couldn’t get down on the floor to play or join in kicking the ball in the garden. I was cautious and careful and less present. Our boy must have picked up on this. As the time came for last cuddles before we took them home, he came bounding over, and as he usually does, proceeded to try and climb up onto my lap. That was too much for my poor aching body, and I gently repositioned him to sit beside me on the sofa instead.

‘Oh Nana,’ he said with exasperation. ‘Why do you have to be so old?’

Frustration

Now I could have taken offense. I am in fact the youngest of all four of his grandparents – by some way! But in that moment, I did actually feel old. The pain in my back and legs has left me hobbling and exhausted, acting older. He wasn’t wrong.

I could have been angry at his disrespect. I dare say if his parents had been there a rebuke would have followed. But instead, I smiled, laughing to myself. He wasn’t being rude; he was just as frustrated as I was that we couldn’t have our usual cuddle and voiced it in a way that made sense to him.

I don’t think he was expecting me to answer either.

As I drew him closer and tucked a cosy blanket around him, he leaned into me as we watched a favourite video together. I knew he wasn’t really upset with me, just with the circumstances. He still loved me and knew that I loved him.

Photo of two small children sitting on a rug in the garden with a grandparent

Asking God ‘why?’

As I have been mulling over this little incident, God has been speaking.

How many times have I asked God ‘why?’. How many times have accusations against Him popped into my mind? When things happen that I don’t like, or don’t understand. When He doesn’t seem to be answering my prayers, or responding in the way I want Him to? Even in the last few weeks where the back pain has limited what I can do, made me feel really low, gone on longer than I hoped. When people have been praying for my healing, and it hasn’t seemed to have made any difference. There have been times when the temptation to blurt out my exasperation at God has found voice.

Psalm 22

I love the Psalms, because the Psalmist is so human. So many times we hear him ask questions of God and be honest about his feelings. This last week I read Psalm 22 again. It is well known to be the Psalm that foretells much of Christ’s suffering on the cross. Jesus quoted from it as He hung in agony,

My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?
Why are You so far from helping Me,
And from the words of My groaning?

The Psalm talks of intense human pain, but it is not all negative. In fact, the verses describing suffering are interspersed with ‘buts’ as the Psalmist reminds us, and himself, of the character and faithfulness of God.

But You are holy,
Enthroned in the praises of Israel.
Our fathers trusted in You;

But You are He who took Me out of the womb;

From My mother’s womb
You have been My God.

And it ends with a celebration of answered prayer,

For He has not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted;
Nor has He hidden His face from Him;
But when He cried to Him, He heard.

Image of a Bible open to the book of Psalms

God can handle it

Now I would not dare to compare my back pain to the suffering that Christ endured, but I do take comfort from His Word. I have endured tougher times than this before and I have questioned God. But my testimony has been that He is faithful, He does answer prayer, He does deliver and heal, He can be trusted.

So, if in a moment of exasperation, I want to cry out ‘Why, God?’, it is OK. God can handle it. He won’t take offense. He might gently chide me but not in anger. He won’t punish me by pulling away. Instead, He pulls me closer and holds me tighter. He whispers words of understanding and love. He reminds me of His goodness, His faithfulness, the hope I have in His promises. He asks me again to trust Him, and I find my peace restored when I make the choice to do so. When I put down having to know the reasons why, and just lean into His love.

She has also written two non-fiction devotionals. More information on Joy, and her books can be found here

Bible, Christian blog, Christian faith, Christian Writer, Devotional thought, Faith, Grief, Healing, Jesus, Lessons from life

EXPLORING INDEPENDENCE

March 7, 2026March 6, 2026 joymargetts

As regular readers will have gathered my grandchildren are an endless source of inspiration when it comes to this blog! So often God speaks to me through them, and usually it is a really timely word. Today is no different.

A spirit of independence

Our eldest grandson is almost 5. He is at school full time and growing up quick. One of the signs that he is growing up is that he is definitely developing a very strong will. A spirit of independence is emerging – a demand to have things his way. Sometimes what he asks for is reasonable and we can accommodate his wishes. Other times his demands are far less reasonable, and even non-sensical to our adult understanding. We can’t magic up a replacement when he refuses to wear the jumper his mum has packed into his bag. It may not be the jumper he wants to wear – but until we take him home, it is what he must wear. Or get cold.

His frustration sometimes shows itself outwardly. There are loud tears and even a bit of thrashing about. He can’t, or won’t, hear what we are saying when we try to explain why he can’t have exactly what he wants when he wants it. Does it mean that we don’t love him? Of course not. Does it mean that we don’t want him to be happy? No. It just means that he has to accept that not everything is going to go his way.

Image shows a small boy wearing overalls and a woolly hat. He is grinning.

Things don’t always go the way we want

Life is like that. As we grow older, more and more we have to accept that things don’t always go the way we want them too. We have our own desires, our free will, our independence, our ability to make choices for ourselves. But still we don’t always get what we think we want, even when those are good things.

We have a Father in heaven who loves us intimately, and cares deeply for us. He loves to bless us and give us good things. He also created us with free will, the ability to make independent choices and decisions. Sometimes we get it wrong. We take the wrong path or ask for the wrong things. Sometimes difficult things happen to us, or we have to experience going without the things that we think will make us content.

There are times when I have cried loudly, thrashed about a bit, railed at God. Usually, it is when I just don’t understand. Like my grandson, my understanding is limited. I struggle to see why I must endure unpleasant things. Why suffering must come to me or those I love. I know God knows why, that He sees the bigger picture, that His ways are higher than mine. And I have had to learn to trust Him, even when there are no answers.

Tantrums only hurt me

I have just navigated a season of loss with God. It has been tough, and healing is still in progress. During this time, I haven’t screamed and cried much at God, even when it really hurt. Through previous life experience I have learnt that reacting that way doesn’t actually do me any good. Just as my grandson’s tantrums only really hurt him. I am the one who suffers more if I don’t deal well with disappointment. If I do have a moment of anger or frustration, I know that God will be patient with me. He looks on in love and waits for me to work it out. If I sit in the negativity, I sacrifice the peace He is offering me. My self-pity steals my joy and can lead to hopelessness and despair.

Trusting God to know what is best

Our loving Father in heaven knows that we can’t always have all that we want. He knows that we are going to have to endure hard things, have our independence curtailed. He knows and He cares. I love my grandson, and I want him to give him everything that he asks for. I also know that it wouldn’t be healthy for him if I did. Isn’t it good that we can trust a perfect Father to know what is for our best and what is not?

After the storm has passed there is a quiet resolution. A cuddle and a few soft words and everything is settled. Our boy knows that us loving him doesn’t mean that we will always give in to him. He remembers all the love (and the things) that we have lavished him with already. He loves us and still wants to be with us.

I don’t want to be independent

I would love life to always be pain-free. Just this week we have had some more sad news. Grief has resurfaced, and the questions threaten. I have decided not to scream and rant at God, I need His peace too much. I need His loving presence close by to help me, and those I love, navigate this storm. I need to hear His soft words of comfort. He knows that I don’t like it, that I wish it could have been different. But I don’t want to be independent at the moment. I want to be fully dependent on Him, and that means using my independence, my free-will to choose to trust Him with it all.

Trust in Him at all times, you people; Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us. Selah.

Psalm 62:8

She has also written two non-fiction devotionals. More information on Joy, and her books can be found here

Bible, Book Review, Books, Christian blog, Christian publishing, Christian Writer, Faith, Kingdom books

BOOK REVIEW: BLESS THE WORK OF OUR HANDS

February 26, 2026April 3, 2026 joymargetts

BLESS THE WORK OF OUR HANDS Prayers and Reflections for Creatives

Author: Jane Walters

Published by: BRF ISBN 978-1800394186 RRP £9.99 – £12.99 144pp

Image of the front cover of the book, with the title and sub-title in gold on a dark green background, surrounded by gold leaves

BLURB

Pausing to think, pray and yield to God at every stage is a natural, vital element of the creative process. Bless the Work of Our Hands offers prayers, reflections, and biblical character studies to encourage Christian creatives to commit themselves and their projects to God. Written for hobbyists and paid professionals alike, playing and working in every genre, it encourages an honest, open-handed and open-hearted approach, in order that all we produce and all that we become from our creative toil may bring glory to God.

MY REVIEW

My first impression as I unwrapped my copy of Bless the Work of Our Hands was just how lovely the cover was, and what a handy size the book came in! I was excited to look inside and was not disappointed. This truly is a beautiful little book!

I am a creative, as are all of us, in some way or other. That is no surprise, as we are made in the image of a creator God (Genesis 1:27). The drive to create and produce things of beauty and worth is there inside of us, but its outworking comes in many different ways. I love to write creatively, but I also crochet, and bake, and occasionally make things out of paper. My husband takes photos, does DIY, and designs his garden. What I love about Jane’s resource is that is for everyone – however you express your creativity, and whether you do it as a paid job, or as a pastime.

Bless the Work of Our Hands comprises of a series of beautiful prayers and reflections, underpinned by relevant scriptures and the occasional biblical character study. It addresses all of the issues we might come across as we approach a creative project – from getting started, through the messy middle and to the end, with additional thoughts on helpful topics such as; yielding to the Maker, purity of motives and dealing with failure and loneliness. Whatever stage you are at in your creative journey there is encouragement for you here, an invitation to work in partnership with God, even a challenge in places.

Several of the prayers spoke to me very personally. They are written by someone who understands, who has experience, and whose heart is to bless others. One of the overriding themes of the book, which I found useful to remember, is that our creative work mirrors the work of God in our own lives. As we strive to create something of beauty, so He is at works in us – we are His masterpieces ( Ephesians 2:10).

Here is an image of one of many prayers that blessed me…

I love this book – and I can see me using it over and over again. It is just the right size to slip into my craft bag or laptop case! It offers a place to pause, mid project, to re-centre ourselves and remember that God wants to work with us, and through us, to His glory. Perhaps you know a creative who would love this book as a gift? Perhaps that creative is you! I highly recommend you get yourself a copy! It is a real treasure trove.

Image of the author holding a copy of the book

Available from Amazon, Eden, Waterstones, Aslan and direct from the Publisher

Jane Walters is chair of the Association of Christian Writers and enjoys supporting emerging talent through leading workshops and retreats. Her twin loves are being creative as a musician, skilled textile craftworker, and qualified interior designer, and drawing on her love and understanding of scripture, communicating it honestly and accessibly. You can find out more about her here www.janewyattwalters.com

She has also written two non-fiction devotionals. More information on Joy, and her books can be found here

Bible, Christian faith, Christian Writer, Devotional thought, Faith, Lessons from life, The Word of God

THE ONE WHO COMFORTS BEST

February 20, 2026February 19, 2026 joymargetts

Our grandchildren are amazing, and being able to spend time caring for them is a real honour. My littlest grandchild is only 8 months old and only very recently has his mum started leaving him with us. He is an easy-going little chap, and we are loving getting to know him and his foibles. He is eating solids now, and loves his food – often, if tears threaten, giving him something to ‘gum’ on will rapidly divert him. He does nap too – especially in the pram. He can be quite content with us for an hour or two, especially if his big sister and brother are around. But when mummy walks back into the room, everything changes. He sees her and his little face crumples. He wants to be held by her and nothing and no -one else will do.

Like a weaned child

I was meditating on this. While we could care for our grandson’s needs, bring him a measure of comfort, keep him entertained, we could never replace the love and trust that exists between him and his mother. The one who he has looked to, to meet his needs for all of his short life. The one who nurtured him in her womb and has carried and protected him since.

It made me think of that verse in the psalms,

‘Surely I have calmed and quieted my soul, Like a weaned child with his mother; Like a weaned child is my soul within me.’ Psalm 131:2 NKJV

The picture is of a small child who has been well cared for. Fed and provided for by one who loves them unconditionally. In the context, the Psalmist is talking about trusting God and not being worried about things too troubling or profound for us.

Image shows a young woman holding a small child

Finding comfort

I hope it is OK to imagine myself as a child being held by God. Sitting in the lap of a Heavenly Father who loves me and knows me better than anyone else does. Knowing that when I am with Him, I am safe, protected and all my needs are met.

When we are going through difficult times, we look for comfort. During a recent bout of illness, I found comfort in watching Netflix, snuggled under a blanket on my sofa! We can find comfort in food, in hobbies, in nature. Sometimes we reach out to a loved one, or friend, and they prove to be kind and loving, wise and comforting. God has surrounded us with things that bless us, good things many of them.

The One who comforts best

I have come to lean, through all the tough things that I have gone through, that however good those comforting things or people are, there comes a point when only one place of comfort will do. There will come a moment where I will be driven back to the greatest place of comfort and security. I go back to God, back to my Father, and I lean into His embrace and I listen for His words of reassurance. I know I can trust Him fully to know just the right things to say and do to bring me back to a place of peace and contentment. To comfort and quieten my soul.

I wonder is His the face you long to see above all others? His the embrace you want to lose yourself in? His the voice that will quieten all your cries? I hope that you have found Him to be the God of all comfort. He has loved you and known you since before you were born. He has lavished you with good things, fed you and protected you. He is the place of safety, and will prove Himself faithful.

She has also written two non-fiction devotionals. More information on Joy, and her books can be found here

Bible, Christian faith, Christian Writer, Devotional thought, Faith

THESE STAIRS ARE HEAVY, GOD

January 25, 2026January 24, 2026 joymargetts

My granddaughter is almost 3. She is a chatty little soul, and prone to burst out into song at any given moment, and we think she is amazing! We love how she has her own special way of putting things into words. While staying away in a holiday cottage with her family recently, she very seriously told a complete stranger that they were living in a new house now, because they couldn’t find their old one.

photo of a young girl standing in a doorway to a castle room

These stairs are heavy

One day last week we picked her up from nursery and took her home to her mum and dad. They live in a flat up a set of quite steep stairs. As I followed my granddaughter up the stairs, her little legs seemed to be struggling with the climb.

‘These stairs are heavy!’ she muttered to herself.

Feeling the ache in my own tired bones, I could not help but agree with her. The stairs were indeed ‘heavy’.

Now I know that the description of the stairs was not grammatically correct, but it absolutely encapsulated what we were both feeling at that moment (I think it is a phrase that I am going to remember and use often!).

You know, God

It got me thinking about how we are with God. There are many times when we can’t accurately put things into words. When speaking to God doesn’t come out in neat, grammatical sentences. When it is hard to explain what we are feeling.

I have definitely known this struggle in the season I have been walking through recently, and still do to be honest. I try and tell God what I want Him to understand, but more often than not I fall back on, ‘You know, God.’

The amazingly comforting thing is that He does know. The One who knows us intimately, who knows our thoughts, who knows the words we are going to say before we even do (Psalm 139). He knows. Even when we can’t find the words, He still wants us to cry out to Him. Because that is what relationship with Him means. We speak to Him, and He speaks to us. We cry out, He hears and responds.

Calling upon the Lord

David knew the truth of this. I am sure in all that he went through; hiding in caves and mountains, constantly fearing for his life, having his friends and own sons conspiring against him. In all that he endured, He knew that God would hear Him when he cried out. He knew God as his place of refuge, his defender, his provider.

In my distress I called upon the Lord,
And cried out to my God;
He heard my voice from His temple,
And my cry came before Him, even to His ears. Psalm 18: 6

He sent from above, He took me;
He drew me out of many waters. Psalm 18:16

For who is God, except the Lord?
And who is a rock, except our God?

It is God who arms me with strength,
And makes my way perfect. Psalm 18:31-32

Photo of wooden steps ascending through a woodland

God, this is heavy

Jesus talked about us having a childlike faith (Matt 18:3). I wonder if part of that is being comfortable with not knowing the right words to pray. To be willing to just express ourselves in a way that might not make sense to anyone else, but that will make complete sense to the Father who loves us tenderly and knows us completely.

‘These stairs are heavy. This, that I am dealing with today, God, this is heavy.’

‘I know my beloved, but I am right here with you. Behind you, beside you, all around you. And we will do this climb together.’

She has also written two non-fiction devotionals. More information on Joy, and her books can be found here

Bible, Christian Writer, Faith, Seasons of life, Thankfulness, The Word of God

RECLAIMING EBENEZER

January 3, 2026January 2, 2026 joymargetts

For Christmas this year I received a lovely homemade present from my daughter. She is a gifted artist, and it was done on commission. I wanted a sign to hang in the entrance way to our home, and I wanted it to bear the word ‘Ebenezer’.

Ebenezer? Not just for Christmas!

Why does Mum want a reference to Scrooge up on her wall? That was my son’s horrified response. Of course, the name Ebenezer is forever associated with the miserly ‘bah humbug’ character from Charles Dickiens classic, A Christmas Carol. But that is a shame, because it really is a beautiful name. You may have noticed it engraved on the facades of old chapels – I have seen it more than once, here in the UK.

Coloured line drawing of Ebenezer Scrooge meeting the ghost of Marley

A tough year

If you have been reading my blogs recently you will know that 2025 was a difficult year for us. It was a year marked with grief and loss. For many months of 2025 I became the chief care giver for my parents. It was a privilege to be put in that position, and I embraced the role. It was my way of honouring parents that I loved dearly and owed so much to. However, to say it was hard was an understatement. It became, in many ways, a test of endurance. Very many times I felt close to failing, falling, collapsing under the weight of it all, as I watched one, and then the other live out the last days of their lives on earth. To watch a loved one suffer is heart-breaking, even when you are doing all that you can to ease their pain, even when you know that they are going to be with Jesus soon. There were moments of joy and laughter, and an overriding peace in it all. And we were surrounded by amazing family, friends and health care professionals, who helped us more than we can say. But it was really tough.

Almost overwhelmed

As 2025 drew to a close, I was grateful. Grateful that a new year might bring less pain, more healing, new beginnings. But I was also grateful to God for being with us through what has been the hardest year of my life. So, so grateful.

Psalm 124 declares, ‘If it had not been the Lord who was on our side… Then the waters would have overwhelmed us, The stream would have gone over our soul’. This is my testimony. I look back and know, with 100% certainty, that without God with us, we would have been completely overwhelmed by our circumstances. By the pain, loss, grief and relentlessness of it all.

So, my homemade sign will soon hang proudly in my entrance hall. And it will hang there as a declaration for all to see. A memorial stone if you like, which is where the name comes from.

Wooden sign with the word 'Ebenezer' painted on it with a mountain outline, and the reference I Samuel 7 v 12

Here I raise my Ebenezer*

In I Samuel 7 we read how Israel is facing attack from the Philistines. They have already suffered defeat, and they cry out to God, through His prophet Samuel, to help them. God responds and their enemies are crushed. Samuel chooses to do something so that the people will remember what God has done for them for years to come.

Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen, and called its name Ebenezer, saying, “Thus far the Lord has helped us.” v12

‘Ebenezer’ literally means ‘Stone of Help’. The word ’Ezer’ or help is found many times in the Old Testament, and it almost always refers to God. It is the word God uses to describe the woman in Genesis 2:18, the ‘helper’ or ‘help meet’ that the man needs. It does not mean someone lesser, a servant, or an aid ( why God uses it of the woman is the subject for another time!). To state that God is our helper means to declare than the almighty, all powerful One has deigned to step down and stand beside us, surround us, support us and provide for all that we need. He has helped us, like no other can. Because He is faithful and good, because He is strong, powerful, wise and kind, because He is far greater than we are. Because He loves us.

Our eternal Ezer

It was important for me to make a similar declaration to the one that Samuel made as I stepped from one year into the next. As my family moves on into a new season. As we continue to heal from what has passed and look with quiet hope to the future. I wanted to mark this moment.

Thus far the Lord has helped us. We could not have done it without Him. And we will never have to endure anything else, whatever might come, without His help. He is our eternal EZER.

And as for Ebenezer Scrooge? Well, I read A Christmas Carol again this year, and do you know, by the end, he is a completely transformed man! A really loving, kind and generous soul. So perhaps Ebenezer isn’t such a bad name after all!

*From the hymn ‘Come thou fount of every blessing’

She has also written two non-fiction devotionals. More information on Joy, and her books can be found here

Bible, Christian blog, Christian faith, Christian Writer, Devotional thought, Jesus, The Word of God

BECOMING AS A CHILD

November 22, 2025November 21, 2025 joymargetts

My granddaughter is 2 and a half years old. She is growing up quickly and is developing her own little character. Sweet, gentle, caring, curious, and feisty at times. She is a delight to spend time with, a real joy – and I don’t think I am biased! She is so grown up that she has recently started to come to Nana’s house on her own, without her big brother who is now at school every day.

Play with me

What that does mean is that when she comes, everything else I was hoping to do that day will have to be put aside. ‘Play with me’ she will demand, and boldly walk away to where the toys are, expecting me to follow. It doesn’t enter her head that I might refuse to play with her. Of course I won’t! She knows that. I want to enjoy her company and if that means getting down to her level I will.

Lowering myself

And it might mean literally getting down to her level. Lowering my aging stiff body onto the carpeted floor, laying down and propping myself on an elbow, or sitting with my legs bent awkwardly beneath me. Getting low enough to engage with the lego, or the jigsaw, or the play cars, or the plastic food. I have to lower my expectations too, put aside my level of maturity and understanding, to be present with her in her imaginative games.

What use would it be to suggest a 1000-piece jigsaw, when she can only manage a 24 piece? What nonsense to suggest a complicated board game, when she can only just about play animal dominos? Those might be the things that I would prefer to do, but they are too adult for her. Becoming as a child means just that. I have to put aside my adult experience, knowledge and understanding, lower myself to be able to play her games and enjoy her company. I can teach her things as we play, but only things that are appropriate for her level of understanding.

Jesus blesses the children

I was thinking about this as I read Luke 18 : 15-17 recently. It is the passage where mothers bring their children to Jesus to be blessed and are turned away by the disciples. But Jesus won’t have it – He wants the children to come to Him. He wants to bless them and be in their company. We don’t know what He said, whether He laughed with them, played with them even. In Mark’s gospel we are told He took them in His arms and held them. (Mark 10:13-16) What a beautiful picture that is! I am sure He lowered Himself to their level somehow.

But it is what He said that resonated with me,

‘Let the little children come to Me and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. Assuredly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.’ Luke 18:16 -17 NKJV

In Matthew’s account He adds this,

‘Therefore, whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.’ Matt 18:4 NKJV

Becoming as a child

When I think about how I have to adjust myself in order to get down to my granddaughter’s level, what Jesus said about being a part of His kingdom makes a lot of sense to me. He doesn’t want me to be childish, that is not what ‘becoming as a child’ means. He just wants me to follow His example. He who lowered Himself from heaven’s splendour to walk our sorry world. He who was willing to come down to our level, so that He could be in our company – for eternity.

Nothing compared to Him

When it comes to His kingdom, all that I think I know, however learned I am, is nothing compared to what He knows and wants to reveal to me. He wants to spend time with me, show me more of the things that are important for me to understand. That requires me to be willing to humble myself, to lower myself, to not rely on, or be proud of my own abilities and knowledge. To even put aside all the things I think I can do for Him. He wants me to have a child- like trust, that He knows better than I do, and that I am safe with Him. He might even want to change the way I think, alter the things I thought I knew. He has much to teach me.

Do I want to be ‘great in the kingdom of heaven’? I am not sure I even know what that looks like. But I do want to be pleasing to the King. I do want to spend quality time in His company. I do want to learn His ways above my own. If that means becoming as a child for that to happen, that seems a small price to pay.

She has also written two non-fiction devotionals. More information on Joy, and her books can be found here