#103: Living in hope when you feel like you’re not meeting your own standards with Kristina Ward

If you’ve ever felt like “lowering your standards” was a four-letter word, you simply could not fail, or if you’ve felt resentful when your parenting/work/marriage isn’t progressing as you planned, listen in to writer Kristina Ward point you back to Christ.

Writer Kristina Ward tackles the frustration we feel when we aren’t meeting our own standards. Because of the truth, love, grace, and wisdom Kristina offers, this episode is perfect for those of us who think making one minor slip is equal to a total disaster.

This episode is the second installment in our Skill Set series, one in which we’ll take God’s wisdom and overlay it onto our real-life struggles so we can know what practical tools are at our disposal to help us overcome our struggles with God’s truth and grace.

Key Quotes

“How I have gained Christ and how He has met me, I wouldn’t trade for life going smoothly or perfectly.” – Writer Kristina Ward
“I’m changing every single day and Christ meets me right where I need and how I need it.” – Writer Kristina Ward
“Where are we putting our hope?” – Writer Kristina Ward
“God is bigger than it all.” – Writer Kristina Ward
“Our desires are meant to be satisfied in Christ and not in our outcomes.” – Writer Kristina Ward
“Dying to yourself is putting aside our understanding of what we think God wants for our lives and what He’s doing and just trusting what He’s doing.” – Writer Kristina Ward
“We don’t need to be ashamed at the foot of the cross.” – Writer Kristina Ward
“Can I trust God? Yes, I can. Is He faithful? Yes, He is.” – Writer Kristina Ward
“I can tell myself all of the right answers all day long, but it’s not going to do me any good unless I’m actually going to the Lord in my whole being, not just my mind, not just telling myself the answers, but actually physically turning to the Lord, mentally turning to the Lord, my heart turning to the Lord, and seeking Him first.” – Writer Kristina Ward
“It’s not my job to produce a certain outcome. That’s God’s work. My work is to worship Him above all else. To be faithful with what He’s given me.” – Writer Kristina Ward
“We don’t have to understand what He’s doing, but we can expect His sufficiency.” – Writer Kristina Ward

Mentioned in the Podcast

The FCC requires that I tell you that I’m an Amazon Affiliate, which means I earn a bit of commission on each sale. But don’t worry there’s no added cost to you!

About Kristina Ward

Kristina M. Ward is a pastor’s wife, mother of six, writer, and recovering idealist who believes that pain and blessing coexist. As someone who loves counseling and discipling women, Kristina is passionate about nurturing weary hearts to find rest in Christ, and she helps others embrace the tension of being made new.

You’ll find her always taking pictures of the sky where she makes her home in Northern Minnesota with her husband of 18 years and their six children. She loves a good story, honest conversation, and exploring the shores of Lake Superior.