Refuge of Grace

Refuge of Grace

writing from within the storm, resting underneath His rock of refuge, breathing in His sunset of grace

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  • Five Truths For Our Weary Souls

    Five Truths For Our Weary Souls

    Two weeks ago, during a string of rough days, intrusive thoughts blared across my mind, leaving in their wake, a tear-stricken face and warped mind. I’m not sure what your hard season looks like—job loss, heavy-hearted loneliness, a difficult diagnosis, grief from losing a loved one, a broken relationship, anxious and depressive thoughts, an eating…

    kristenrupp525

    May 3, 2023
    Uncategorized
    anxiety, Christians struggling with depression and anxiety, depression, hope, hope in Jesus, mental health, moms and mental health, new identity in Christ, writing to heal and encourage
  • Because of His Death: “the old has gone, the new is here!”

    Because of His Death: “the old has gone, the new is here!”

    Have you ever felt like spring’s beginning is just plain yucky? As we squelch through muddy backyards, wipe filthy dog paws, or dig in dirt to plant hopeful seeds, it is easy to focus on the dirt caked upon our shoes or underneath our fingernails. In doing so, we often forget the new creations breaking…

    kristenrupp525

    April 7, 2023
    Uncategorized
    anxiety, Christians struggling with depression and anxiety, depression, hope, mental health, new identity in Christ, writing to heal and encourage, you are not alone
  • Is God Near When I Pray?

    Is God Near When I Pray?

    Do you ever struggle to pray in difficult seasons because you feel God is far away, so you don’t cry out to Him? God’s nearness is something I struggle to believe and feel, especially in difficult seasons. In His kindness, the Lord illustrates His nearness as I watch my daughter at the playground. I invite…

    kristenrupp525

    March 31, 2023
    Uncategorized
    anxiety, beauty in motherhood, Christians struggling with depression and anxiety, depression, God’s nearness, hope, moms and mental health, you are not alone
  • The Dawn of Spring: the Shepherd’s hope in our weariness

    The Dawn of Spring: the Shepherd’s hope in our weariness

    My gray and green shoes pound the sidewalk pavement, while my hand loosely holds the ridged black leash. Following this long leash to its end, you will find my white faced, golden haired miniature golden doodle. Anxiety is all-consuming today– pulsing between my shoulder and scapula, palpitating tension throughout my body. I cannot seem to…

    kristenrupp525

    March 24, 2023
    Uncategorized
    anxiety, Christians struggling with depression and anxiety, depression, God’s provision, hope, inspiration, inspired by God’s creation, light in the darkness, mental health, moms and mental health, psalm 23, you are not alone
  • Off the Bench: come to Jesus and find rest

    Off the Bench: come to Jesus and find rest

    My heart pounds in my chest like a pep band bass drum, setting a tempo too rapid for this occasion—sharing dinner with family and friends. In this moment, my body occupies a seat on the bench. The bench is a challenging place. I watch the game blur in front of me, wanting to join in,…

    kristenrupp525

    March 17, 2023
    Uncategorized
    anxiety, Christians struggling with depression and anxiety, come to Jesus, depression, God’s provision, hope, hope in Jesus, inspiration, mental health, moms and mental health, new identity in Christ, writing to heal and encourage, you are not alone
  • Hagar’s Story is Ours: Sought and Seen

    Hagar’s Story is Ours: Sought and Seen

    The anxiety twinges, slowly, spreading painful heat and prickling across my shoulder. Our room is dark; my husband soundly sleeping next to me. It seems that the enemy knows in this moment I am all alone, and the sadness, shame, and unworthiness begin to creep up from my insides. This life is so hard. Fighting…

    kristenrupp525

    March 10, 2023
    Uncategorized
    anxiety, Christians struggling with depression and anxiety, depression, light in the darkness, mental health, moms and mental health, writing to heal and encourage
  • My View From Counseling

    My View From Counseling

    I know I need to go and I also really don’t want to—these thoughts hang simultaneously in the air. Does anyone want to voluntarily sign up to work through hard things with someone they don’t know very well? Definitely not me. I text a friend, please check in with me to make sure I schedule…

    kristenrupp525

    March 3, 2023
    Uncategorized
    anxiety, Christians struggling with depression and anxiety, counseling helps in the healing process, depression, God’s provision, hope, mental health, moms and mental health, writing to heal and encourage, you are not alone
  • Like Velcro: trusting another with my dark thoughts

    Like Velcro: trusting another with my dark thoughts

    From thousands of feet in the air, I found myself looking down at the Indiana countryside, wind rushing past my face through an open airplane door. My palms wet with sweat, heart thumping, and legs trembling, I braced myself for what came next. “Okay, you have to jump!” the skydive instructor, who I was securely…

    kristenrupp525

    February 24, 2023
    Uncategorized
    anxiety, Christians struggling with depression and anxiety, depression, God’s provision, hope, marriage, mental health, moms and mental health, support of another in mental health, writing to heal and encourage, you are not alone
  • What’s on the Menu: When God’s Provision Comes in a Pill

    What’s on the Menu: When God’s Provision Comes in a Pill

    Before I share my story, I know it is important to recognize that there are varying opinions about taking medication to relieve anxiety and depression. I encourage you to talk to a physician, psychiatrist, or counselor to figure out what is best for you. I am sharing my story because I want you to know…

    kristenrupp525

    February 17, 2023
    Uncategorized
    anxiety, Christians struggling with depression and anxiety, depression, God’s provision, mental health, moms and mental health, writing to heal and encourage
  • Buoyant Beauty

    Buoyant Beauty

    What do you think of when you think of the word, beauty? Do you picture a model, a perfectly decorated home, or an influencer wearing the latest styles? Or maybe an ornately plated gourmet meal? Or a watercolor painting of a sunset? Beauty captivates, enthralls, mesmerizes, and inspires. I find that when I mindlessly scroll…

    kristenrupp525

    February 10, 2023
    Uncategorized
    anxiety, beauty in motherhood, beauty in the ordinary, depression, God’s provision, inspired by God’s creation, moms and mental health, seeing beauty in the mess of life, writing to heal and encourage
  • Where is Jesus in My Darkest Moments?

    Where is Jesus in My Darkest Moments?

    Do you struggle with day upon day of slate gray, dull, wintery days? You know, the ones where darkness creeps in before 5 PM? Me too. Honestly, I am deeply afraid of this season. The darkness of night often breeds opaqueness within my soul, where depression and anxiety lurk in the shadows, ready to pounce.…

    kristenrupp525

    February 3, 2023
    Uncategorized
    anxiety, Christians struggling with depression and anxiety, depression, hope, hope in Jesus, light in the darkness, mental health, moms and mental health, writing to heal and encourage, you are not alone
  • Snowflakes of Grace

    Snowflakes of Grace

    Slow day, snow day, surprise snowball in my eye day. Play day, reading day, it’s okay to take a break day. Cozy up, lay down, may we remember we are not lost, but found. Oh, how my heart needed the sweet serenade of these powdery flakes. Dancing lightly, falling softly, draping the lifeless wintry land…

    kristenrupp525

    January 27, 2023
    Uncategorized
    anxiety, depression, inspiration, inspired by God’s creation, new identity in Christ, snow day, writing to heal and encourage
  • How He Sees You

    How He Sees You

    Do you ever feel alone, like no one truly sees you? Like you have no value or nothing to offer those around you? I have been there many times; in fact, I am experiencing one of those moments as I write these words in the school pick up line waiting to scoop up my daughter…

    kristenrupp525

    January 20, 2023
    Uncategorized
    anxiety, child of God, depression, inspiration, moms and mental health, writing to heal and encourage
  • The Shepherd of Our Dark Valleys

    The Shepherd of Our Dark Valleys

    Written in March of 2022 Feelings whirl within me, so forceful I might implode, broken and left for dead. Questions circle my mind like vultures, What now? How do I move forward? How do I live with this pain? How do I make sense of this and use my story? I slowly feel the familiar…

    kristenrupp525

    July 20, 2022
    Uncategorized
    anxiety, depression, moms and mental health, writing to heal and encourage
  • Refuge of Grace

    Refuge of Grace

    The “why” behind my blog, Refuge of Grace. I desire to share about my journey of resting in God’s refuge of grace in the middle of the storm of depression and anxiety.

    kristenrupp525

    March 20, 2022
    Uncategorized
    anxiety, depression, moms and mental health, writing to heal and encourage
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