Should I prioritize family over work? My quality of work suffers, but my spouse and kids rely on me. I understand the tension here. I’ve felt it myself. In fact, about 10 years ago, I got tired of the tension and finally landed on what I was certain would honor God the most: God first, family second, and work third. (These were even listed on our ministry website when we first launched.) And while I wouldn’t say I disagree with that order now, here’s what I’ve learned: whenever I try to seek the Lord and anything else (family included!), chaos follows—and quickly. If you try to prioritize loving God, being a good spouse and present parent, and finding fulfillment in your career, you’ll quickly find anxiety and discontentment. My colleague Somer Phoebus and I shared what happens next in She Works His Way: A Practical Guide for Doing What Matters Most in a Get-Things-Done World: “To escape those feelings, you’ll try to work harder, do more, and be better in all the ways the world tells you to because that is the promise culture makes us: More self-care, self-study, ambition, and all the good vibes you can muster up [...]

“I promise to love you when it’s easy and when it’s an effort,” I said, beaming at my soon-to-be husband. As I repeated part of our wedding vows, a chuckle echoed from our family and friends. I’d heard my whole life that marriage takes work. At that moment, though, I couldn’t imagine loving James would ever require that much effort. After all, God said it was “not good that the man should be alone” (Gen. 2:18), so he made Eve for Adam. Marriage was God’s good gift to his image-bearers. Fifteen years later, I know two things are true. Sin’s curse didn’t change God’s purpose for marriage. Marriage is still God’s gift to us. But also, two sinners living one life for God’s glory won’t happen unintentionally. It takes work. Your Portion and Your Toil Recently as I was studying Ecclesiastes, I noticed Solomon acknowledged both these truths in one sentence: “Enjoy life with the wife whom you love, all the days of your vain life that he has given you under the sun, because that is your portion in life and in your toil at which you toil under the sun” (Eccles. 9:9). Your spouse is part of [...]

At the beginning of this year, some of the women in our network began meeting with me (Michelle) and Liz Patton because they felt called to have the same gospel-centered conversations we have inside SWHW with the women in their communities and churches. It has been INCREDIBLE to see how God has moved as women simply got together to hear from Him through His Word and stir each other up. And now - the same curriculum we've been using is available for YOU! Today is big, because we are announcing a new resource series that will have 1-2 new volumes each year: Conversational Commentary by She Works His Way! This world is not lacking in good -- yes, even gospel-centered -- information. We also have more distribution channels to provide the information to more people in ways that are quick, cost-efficient, and convenient to access. I'm grateful for these outlets - any place the gospel can be proclaimed is reason to rejoice. But the good information and great distribution are not enough on their own. As believers, we're all called to be disciples who make disciples -- and that cannot be automated and distributed, delegated to some, or [...]