Lynne Baab • Tuesday July 8 2025
We recently had house guests from New Zealand, including a darling four-year-old girl. At one meal, she told us about a fall that required a trip to urgent care. “My chin split open!” she said cheerfully. “There was blood everywhere!”
Her facial expression and tone of voice contrasted with her words, so I said, “That sounds scary. Were you scared?”
She replied in the same tone of voice, “Mummy was with me.”
Sadly, we have far too many moments of fear in our everyday lives. I’m sure you can remember moments when your awareness of God’s presence with you gave you some measure of...
Read full article »Lynne Baab • Tuesday April 1 2025
On Valentine’s Day, 1994, I got the flu. Two days later, I couldn’t breathe. A long diagnostic process followed. At some point, the lung specialist described to me the possible diagnoses, one of which was fatal. He had put me on a cute little oxygen tank, but my brain still wasn’t getting enough oxygen to think clearly. I misunderstood him. I thought he said the fatal lung disease was by far the most likely diagnosis.
It was a week before my next appointment with him, so I spent a week thinking I was going to die. It was an illuminating week as...
Read full article »Lynne Baab • Thursday October 1 2020
I’m going to give you a series of words and phrases. Think about the ways these words resonate for you.
Battered by the waves . . . the wind was against them . . . terrified . . . cried out in fear . . . noticed the strong wind . . . became frightened . . . beginning to sink.
You may have guessed that those words come from the story of Jesus walking on the Sea of Galilee on a windy morning. After the feeding of the five thousand, which had to be intense and exhausting, Jesus sends the disciples across...
Read full article »Lynne Baab • Thursday May 7 2020
In January, 2015, my husband Dave had a bout of bronchitis that he never really recovered from. By June, he had seen a lung specialist and gotten a diagnosis. By September, he had a different diagnosis and a horrific drug that he endured for three months. Afterwards, his energy was still low, his lungs still hurt, and he just plain didn’t feel well.
In early 2016, my spiritual director referred me to a therapist to help me cope with the roiling emotions and thoughts I was dealing with. I had lost the energetic, caring husband I’d known for almost 40 years. I...
Read full article »Lynne Baab • Wednesday January 22 2025
By Lynne M. Baab, author of Two Hands: Grief and Gratitude in the Christian LifeLynne Baab • Friday August 11 2023
By Lynne M. BaabLynne Baab • Saturday October 9 2021
By Lynne M. Baab. Originally published in Christianity Today, July 8, 2021
Lynne M. Baab, Ph.D., is an author and adjunct professor. She has written numerous books, Bible study guides, and articles for magazines and journals. Lynne is passionate about prayer and other ways to draw near to God, and her writing conveys encouragement for readers to be their authentic selves before God. She encourages experimentation and lightness in Christian spiritual practices. Read more »
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