Now and Forever

One of the challenges of aging is the increasing frequency of funerals to attend. I’ve been to two funerals in two days—one for my cousin at a Baptist church, and one for a church member at my Advent Christian church. It’s always interesting to hear the different perspectives on the intermediate state: conscious presence with God vs. sleep of the dead. I was reminded of my grandmother’s funeral, where pastors from different denominations had her in and out of heaven multiple times.

While I grew up Advent Christian and generally hold to their distinctives, I think there is room for a wide variety of perspectives because Scripture is not 100% clear on some issues. I had thought that my particular view might be unique, but I learned that some of my cousins have come to a similar conclusion (though we admit to being a peculiar people!), which is this:

Because God is outside of time and is the Creator of time, our life with Him after death is not time-bound either. Therefore, when someone dies, they may seem from human perspective to be sleeping until the resurrection, but in God’s reality are transported immediately to the “time” of Jesus’ return and the Day of Judgment. So sleep and immediate resurrection are both true at the same moment.

Think of it this way, for fans of Tolkien’s writings, is Gandalf alive or dead? Well, it depends what part of the series you are in. For Tolkien (or any other author), the characters are in some sense always alive, even though they may be dead in some part of the story. God has written our story from beginning to end (Psalm 139:16), and though we die here, we are resurrected to a new dimension that is outside of time.

Malcolm Guite articulated a similar perspective in Lifting the Veil, regarding his poem on the Transfiguration:

“I wondered if their appearance in the presence of Christ on this mountain top was not a repetition of that first experience or a re-visiting of this World by these Old Testament figures, who represent between them the Law and the Prophets, but rather that the disciples were witnessing the truth that in the light of heaven, in heaven’s time as it were, those three separate moments: Moses’ on his mountain in his time, Elijah in his, and Christ in this Gospel moment were all one moment! If Moses and Elijah saw the face of God in a mystery then it could be none other than the face of Christ.”

Obviously, I cannot point to any particular Scripture to justify my perspective, though it seems to make sense of the somewhat conflicting ideas throughout the Bible:

“Today you will be with Me in paradise” (Luke 23:43), but did Jesus go straight to heaven or was He in the grave for three days?

“…God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep… we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep” (1 Thess. 4:14-15).

Whatever the case may be, for Christians who die, our next moment of awareness will be in the presence of our Lord and Savior. In that we can have great hope and peace, for that is what we’ve been awaiting since the moment of our salvation. I read somewhere recently (but forget where) that death is not the period at the end of a sentence, but it is a comma between the preface and the eternal reality to come. J. Warner Wallace says that life is not a brief line segment, but an arrow that extends into eternity. Regardless of how short this life may be, it is nothing compared to the glory that is to be revealed to us (Rom. 8:18).

“Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the Man of heaven… Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed” (1 Cor. 15:49, 51).

© 2026 Dawn Rutan. Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture are ESV and all images copyright free from pixabay.com. The opinions stated do not necessarily reflect the views of my church or employer.

The Right Fit

“If your friends all jumped off a cliff, would you jump too?” We’ve probably all heard it, and maybe even said it, as a reason to resist peer pressure. We tend to assume that peer pressure ends with adolescence, but it doesn’t. I think the truth is that we eventually find a niche where we feel comfortable with people who are similar to us, but that may take years of searching, job-hopping, or church-hopping. And even then, we may still hide certain traits or beliefs that we think others in our circles may deem unacceptable. No one really likes to stick out too much.

I was thinking back on my high school years and remembered various ways I intentionally set myself apart from other students. While I’d like to say it was for faith-based reasons (and maybe some of it was), it was largely because I thought most of my classmates were idiots. Their habits, words, and preferences were illogical to me, so I ignored them and then faced the bullying that my choices invited. (These days I readily admit to being neurodivergent.)

A psychology website describes “othering” as attributing positive traits to people who are like you and negative traits to people who are different from you; feeling distrustful of a group without knowing its members; refusing to interact with people because they are different. It’s easy to think of examples where prejudice has caused great harm and therefore assume that all such distinctions are wrong.

The challenge for Christians is that we are called to be set apart from the culture around us. That’s exactly what it means to be holy.

“As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, ‘You shall be holy, for I am holy’” (1 Pet. 1:14-16).

We should look different from the world. We should be distinguishable from non-Christians. That doesn’t mean we need to isolate ourselves from the world (though monasteries and convents look appealing at times!), or that it’s our job to condemn everyone else. (Judgment is God’s job.) We are called to love even our enemies and those who persecute us (Matt. 5:44). But fitting in with the world and its standards is a futile and potentially deadly proposition when the world wants us to jump off the cliff into unholiness.

Within the universal Church the goal should not be uniformity of behavior or appearance, or even unanimity on secondary doctrines. And within a local church there should be grace extended in the grey areas of Scripture. There is room for a great deal of diversity, provided we agree on the essentials of Christian faith (e.g. The Five Solas).

The question we each need to ask is, “Am I more concerned with pleasing God than with pleasing people?” If the answer is yes, we’re on the right path. As much as we’d like to fit in, be accepted, and be praised by people, that is never guaranteed in this life. That’s true even within the church, because we are all sinners in need of grace. 

But there is coming a day when we will experience the perfect love and acceptance of our Father and of His whole elect family, when all sin and imperfection has been removed, and we are exactly who He created us to be. In the meantime, perhaps we can be a little more gracious to those who reflect God’s image and His creativity in ways that are perhaps unfamiliar to us.

“I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word, that they may all be one, just as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You have sent Me” (John 17:20-21).

© 2026 Dawn Rutan. Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture are ESV and all images copyright free from pixabay.com. The opinions stated do not necessarily reflect the views of my church or employer.

One and Done

I recently read the book Single Together: Stewarding Singleness in the Family of God, by Lisa LaGeorge. While it seems more geared toward singles who desire marriage (like the author), it is a beneficial book for all singles, as well as for church leaders who want to better minister to, and with, a large segment of the church population. One of the helpful parts of the book is that each chapter ends with questions for the church and questions for personal reflection or discussion.

A difficulty that many of us wrestle with is that singleness has so many different faces that can’t be lumped into one stereotype. There are those who do not desire marriage, those who want to marry but haven’t found the right person, those who are single again after divorce or the death of a spouse, those who are single parents, those who struggle with same-sex attraction, those who have always lived with their parents, those who are caring for aging parents, and many other variables.

Thinking about my own history, as a small child I assumed I would get married (to the only boy my age in that particular church). But then as adulthood and independence emerged, I discovered that I didn’t really want to go down that road. There are a lot of reasons, both good and bad, that influenced my choices, but I have no regrets about that now in middle age. I love having my own space and the ability to use my free time and money in whatever way God may lead.

For many singles, the challenge comes in finding a church where we can fit in, find supportive relationships, and serve in the ways we are gifted. Unfortunately, some church leaders may be shocked to learn that single women don’t always want to serve in the nursery or teach little kids, nor do we all like to cook. We may not want to attend a singles’ group either. As a young adult I once (and only once) attended a singles’ group at a large church nearby, only to discover that if you didn’t already know people there you might as well forget it. LaGeorge notes:

Rather than separating classes and small groups by life situations, ensure that singles have the opportunity to join multigenerational fellowship groups. Segregation can make some singles feel like they don’t fit in anywhere, especially if they are over thirty years old.

And just because we’re single doesn’t mean we always have lots of free time to devote to serving others. Most of us have jobs to go to, bills to pay, homes to upkeep, and we need to rest too. Oftentimes our participation in different activities has far more to do with our personalities than our marital status. I’ve found the same to be true of friendships, where common interests and shared faith bind us together in such a way that marriage and singleness become secondary. I appreciate this quote from Danielle Treweek that is shared early in the book,

At the time of their conversion or profession of faith, a Christian’s primary familial loyalties transfer from their family of origin to their family of adoption—that is, the church of God’s people.

I think sometimes the church loses sight of that truth, particularly in regions where multiple generations of families live within a few miles of each other. Those biological ties tend to outweigh the ties of faith when it comes to prioritizing time and relationships. That makes it even harder for singles to connect with others, since we’re more likely to be the ones who don’t have family nearby.

With a post like this, I fear that I’m preaching to the singles’ choir, because most married folks don’t give much thought to the experience of their unmarried friends. But as I’m often reminded, we all started out as singles, more than half of married couples will be single again one day, and none of us will be married in the eternal kingdom except as the Bride of Christ. How might we better reflect that reality in our life here and now?

“Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him [or her], and to which God has called [them]. This is my rule in all the churches” (1 Cor. 7:17).

© 2026 Dawn Rutan. Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture are ESV and all images copyright free from pixabay.com. The opinions stated do not necessarily reflect the views of my church or employer.

Burnout

Barna recently published the results of a study on pastoral burnout. Some of the findings are encouraging, but others are not. They note “Pastoral exhaustion is down. Confidence in one’s calling has largely rebounded from its pandemic low. What has not recovered is deeper vocational satisfaction.” But what came to my mind was that these findings aren’t entirely unique to pastoral ministry. There are similarities in other forms of Christian ministry as well as in secular employment.

Another article from earlier this year states, “Workplace burnout has reached a six-year high in the United States, and the employee burnout statistics behind it paint a much bigger picture than most employers realize,” with Gen Z experiencing burnout faster than older generations. Interestingly, they found that remote or hybrid workers struggle with burnout more than others. A recent video clip from a professor at Bethel University notes that younger workers actually do not prefer remote work, in part because they grew up during COVID and understand the perils of isolation.

I think all these studies point to things we probably know but often fail to implement in our lives: Working harder and longer hours is not the source of satisfaction. Earning more money isn’t always worth the cost to our mental and physical health. Being tied to our screens and feeding on “social” media does not necessarily give us the relational support we really need. Scripture tells us:

• “I have seen everything that is done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind” (Eccl. 1:14).
• “Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? (Is. 55:2a).
• “The righteous has enough to satisfy his appetite, but the belly of the wicked suffers want” (Prov. 13:25).

Often what we really need is to slow down, rest (imagine that!), and connect with those in the Body of Christ who can support, counsel, and encourage us in our daily walk.

As I write this, my denomination is in the midst of preparing for our Triennial Convention in a few weeks, with all kinds of details to arrange, questions to answer, and some debates to moderate. It can be tiresome and even irksome at times. But next week I get to enjoy time with friends at our regional Family Camp in the Blue Ridge Mountains, and I know it will be uplifting for my weary soul. Without that break, I don’t know how I would make it through the next month. I know I’ll need some additional rejuvenation when the dust settles, so I’m getting things on the calendar as motivation to endure.

I’m grateful that my identity is not in my ability to do a job, though I have to remind myself of that frequently. It actually comes from being united with Christ and a member of His Body. It does include work, but only at the direction of the Head, not my own unreasonable expectations and endeavors. At the end of the day, and the end of life, what matters is resting in what He has done, not what I have done.

“Satisfy us in the morning with Your steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days” (Ps. 90:14).

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© 2026 Dawn Rutan. Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture are ESV and all images copyright free from pixabay.com. The opinions stated do not necessarily reflect the views of my church or employer.

God-Confidence

This year I’ve been reading Paul Tripp’s devotional book New Morning Mercies, and the entry for June 25 was about Deuteronomy 1, where the Israelites were reminded of their history of looking into the Promised Land but being too fearful to enter it.

Moses had told the Israelites, “’The Lord your God who goes before you will Himself fight for you, just as He did for you in Egypt before your eyes, and in the wilderness, where you have seen how the Lord your God carried you, as a man carries his son, all the way that you went until you came to this place.’ Yet in spite of this word you did not believe the Lord your God” (Deut. 1:30-32). Then after Moses died, God spoke to Joshua and commanded him three times, “Be strong and courageous” (Josh. 1:6, 7, 9).

I can think of times when people have tried to tell me, “Be strong! Be courageous! Don’t worry! It will be fine!” Whether it was during childhood or as an adult, statements like that have never helped me one bit. It feels dismissive and condescending, and makes me want to say, “You have no idea what I'm going through, so don’t tell me how to feel!”

But it changes the whole picture (or at least it should) when God is the One encouraging us to be strong and courageous. He is the only One who knows our thoughts and feelings better than we do. He knows what we desire and what we fear (whether true or false). He also knows the real dangers and He has the authority to defeat every enemy. He will never leave or forsake us. Only One who is omniscient, omnipotent, and omnipresent can truly be trusted in each and every situation we face.

That doesn’t mean it is easy to be strong and courageous. We don’t know exactly what God is going to do or what struggles He may allow us to go through. There will be plenty of things that get our heartrate up or make us wonder where the exit is. There may even be times when we say, “No thanks, God, I can’t face that right now.” But God isn’t exasperated with our timidity or anxiety. He knows why we react the way we do and all the life experiences that have shaped our nervous system and personality. And He keeps saying “I love you with all your faults and fears.” Then on those occasions when we do step into the unknown in spite of our fears, God says, “I’m proud of you, My child.” That’s a reminder I need frequently, as perhaps we all do.

Society tells us we need self-esteem and self-confidence, but that’s not what God was saying to Moses and Joshua. He wasn’t trying to convince them they had what it took to lead the people, but that He did. He doesn’t need people who are self-confident and independent. He uses people who know they are weak and needy, who will rely on Him for each small step, holding tightly to His hand. As Tripp notes,

“Don’t be discouraged. God has you exactly where he wants you. He knows just how he will use what makes you afraid in order to build your faith. He is not surprised by the troubles you face, and he surely has no intention of leaving you to face those things on your won. He stands with you in power, glory, goodness, wisdom, and grace. He can defeat what you can’t, and he intends these troubles to be not enemies that finish you but tools of grace that transform you.”

So when the path ahead looks too hard, may we learn to pray, “God, I can’t do this, but You can. Will You carry me?” and then trust that the answer is always “Yes!”

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go” (Josh. 1:9).

**This picture is one I drew many years ago that seemed appropriate for this post. 

Text and image © 2026 Dawn Rutan. Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture are ESV. The opinions stated do not necessarily reflect the views of my church or employer.

The Smile of God

In his book, Now I Become Myself, Ken Shigematsu shares something a friend wrote to him:

“The image that came to me for you was one of God celebrating over you, in the sense not only that God loves you, but that he also LIKES you. He likes your walk, the way you talk, your sense of humor—even the things you feel are just odd or quirky—maybe even something you are wishing you could change about yourself, God likes” (ch. 4).

Later in the book he comments that when we notice something beautiful, “remember this is a small glimpse of what God feels when he sees you” (ch. 9), and “God is the author of pleasure, and so God delights in our delight” (ch. 10).

The idea of God’s delight has captured my attention this week. I can often take myself (and everyone else) too seriously. I sometimes struggle to laugh with others (perhaps because I don’t understand their humor). So then to think of God enjoying His children challenges my perspective.

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change” (James 1:17). He has given us many good things to enjoy, so why wouldn’t He be glad, and indeed glorified, when we do in fact enjoy them? But He’s not just an artist who is glad to be recognized, He’s also our Father. Having never had children of my own, I don’t know this for sure, but it seems to me that there’s not much better than a laughing baby or child. There is abundant evidence on social media that we enjoy their enjoyment.

I’ve been looking for ways to apply this in my own life, primarily by thinking about the things I enjoy and remembering that God notices and smiles along with me. In my case that includes things like trying to name the colors in a sunset; seeing where my prisms create rainbows on the walls; talking to the critters I find in my yard (from beetles to box turtles and black snakes); and even learning curious word derivations.

As a side note, I’m trying to relearn biblical Greek by reading an interlinear Bible, and a few times I’ve laughed at words Matthew chose for his gospel. I don’t recall ever laughing at Scripture before, and I think God laughs along. I was just reminded of the story Mike Yaconelli wrote in Dangerous Wonder about Jesus joining in a mud fight with His disciples. I’m sure he would agree that Christians can sometimes be too serious and “proper” about their faith.

If the father of the prodigal son in Luke 15 did everything improper—running to meet him, embracing and clothing him, and throwing a party to welcome the rebel back—what does that tell us about our heavenly Father? He gladly welcomes not just repentant sinners, but each of His distracted, depressed, and downtrodden children. He lifts our chins, reminds us to look at all the good things He has provided, and invites us to join in the party He is hosting for us.

Ironically (and providentially), I started reading Now I Become Myself not long after I had been thinking about the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23 and pondering why joy seems harder to manifest than the other descriptors (but keeping in mind that none of it is the fruit of human effort). And although I’ve often tried to parse out the difference between joy and happiness, I wonder if perhaps the main difference is whether it points us to God. Shigematsu notes,

“Any practice that makes us come alive over time, even if it is not overtly religious, is a spiritual practice. Whenever we experience the pleasure of play, we are given a window into God’s abounding pleasure in us. If you feel joyful pleasure in a frivolous and unnecessary luxury, remember that joy is God’s invention and intention for us. God calls us to a life of joy” (ch. 10).

I believe God gives us many glimpses of joy through His creation, His people, and His Word. If we will take the time to look up from our screens, to notice God’s goodness and give thanks, it will help to brighten each day.

“You make known to me the path of life; in Your presence there is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore” (Psalm 16:11).

© 2026 Dawn Rutan. Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture are ESV and all images copyright free from pixabay.com. The opinions stated do not necessarily reflect the views of my church or employer.

Safe Spaces

I just finished reading Mental Health and the Church, by Stephen Grcevich. I wish all church leaders would read it, if for no other reason than to realize that every person experiences church activities somewhat differently, and those with mental health challenges may struggle with things that the average church member takes for granted. The author notes:

“The hidden nature of most mental health-related disabilities often leads to situations at church in which volunteers and church staff with good intentions inadvertently cause embarrassment or discomfort.”

For example, those with social anxiety may be very uncomfortable with greeting times or socializing after the service. Unfamiliar situations may create overwhelming anxiety for children and adults. Those who struggle with depression may tend to isolate themselves because they don’t have the energy to engage. Some people may be very reluctant to read or pray aloud if they have verbal processing difficulties. Many mental health diagnoses include sensory processing differences. Those with ADHD may enjoy loud music, bright lights, and lots of movement, but those with autism may be overwhelmed by that level of stimulation.

“There is no single church for everyone… Your church will never be able to create a culture that will be perfect for every child or every adult with every conceivable disability. But every church can do something to welcome more families impacted by disability—including mental illness.”

Although some of the suggestions in the book are not practical for small churches, a good starting point for every church leader is to question your assumptions:

• “We don’t have that problem here.” -Mental health challenges and diagnoses are far more common than many people realize. There are likely to be some in your congregation (unless you only have 5 members).
• “Our people are all very comfortable here.” -Have you actually asked them? Do you ever get complaints about the music, pews, or décor? That might be a hint that there is something going on under the surface.
• “We are very welcoming to newcomers.” -How many of those newcomers keep coming back? If that person has rarely been to church before, what are you expecting them to know before they come in the door? What can they find out from your website or social media in order to relieve a little stress?

Think too about the perspectives of those who do have hidden challenges:

• Are children expected to be separated from parents or trusted friends? Do you expect all kids to behave a certain way and be able to perform age-specific tasks?
• What activities or spaces might be challenging for a person with severe anxiety? Hypersensitivity? ADHD? Autism?

I consider myself to be a highly sensitive person, in addition to dealing with varying degrees of anxiety and depression. I’m easily startled by unexpected touch or loud sounds, so I look for ways to protect myself by constantly scanning my environment. In new surroundings, I like to sit with my back near a wall so that I can see what’s coming. But I’ve also figured out that in the sanctuary I need to sit near the front so that I am not constantly distracted by everything around me. And even though I’ve been at my church nearly three decades and generally know what to expect, there are still times when I struggle with the motivation to attend because I know how much energy it will take to get through the morning. I can only imagine how hard it would be for someone with more severe sensitivities.

The book also addresses the topic of stigma, which I won’t get into here, except to say that I would never attend a church that says psychiatric diagnoses aren’t real or that medications should be avoided. There is no biblical basis for that position, and people are suffering because of it. Let’s not add to the burdens people are already carrying.

“A bruised reed He will not break, and a faintly burning wick He will not quench; He will faithfully bring forth justice” (Isaiah 42:3 and Matt. 12:20).

© 2026 Dawn Rutan. Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture are ESV and all images copyright free from pixabay.com. The opinions stated do not necessarily reflect the views of my church or employer.