Hello! I hope you’re all doing well.
I want to share something a little different in this update. Over the past few months, God has been stirring fresh inspiration in me to write about topics that truly matter—many of which I know are close to your hearts. After sharing some of these pieces with my editor, Lori, our conversations naturally turned toward the possibility of another book.
Before stepping into that, she encouraged me to begin by sharing my weekly writing on a platform called Substack for the next year. Some of you have already found your way there and left such meaningful feedback—thank you for that. If you haven’t visited yet, you can find my page at wcthompson.substack.com. It’s simple to access and easy to read on any device.
Subscribing is completely free. For those who feel led to support Judi and me in this work, there is also a paid option available at $10 per month or $120 per year.
I share a new piece every Wednesday, and since launching, we’ve also made these writings available in four additional languages: German, French, Spanish, and Afrikaans.
I would genuinely love to hear your thoughts as this new chapter unfolds. Thank you, as always, for your encouragement, your prayers, and your continued support.
We’re excited to share that a new RW Support Group will begin on September 22 and continue through February 2027. We would truly value your prayers for this group, especially as we welcome women again for the first time since before COVID. As costs have increased, we’ve had to raise the course fee, so we’re also looking for individuals who might feel led to sponsor a participant. Thank you for prayerfully considering being part of what God is doing here.
Here is my offer for this Newsletter…
When Surrender Becomes Freedom
James 4:7–10 – 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you men of double mind. 9 Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to dejection. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord and he will exalt you.
James 4:7–10 presents a powerful invitation into both surrender and restoration. The passage begins with a clear command: “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” Submission is not weakness—it is alignment. It is the intentional yielding of our will, our pride, and our self-reliance to the authority and goodness of God. In a world that celebrates independence at all costs, this kind of surrender feels countercultural. Yet Scripture reveals that true strength is found not in self-exaltation, but in drawing near to the One who is greater.
As we submit, we are also called to resist. This resistance is not passive; it requires awareness, discernment, and spiritual engagement. The enemy often works through subtle distortions—shame, pride, fear, and deception. James connects this resistance with purification: “Wash your hands… purify your hearts.” This speaks to both outward actions and inward motives. God’s desire is not merely behavioral change but deep transformation. When we draw near to Him with honesty and humility, He meets us with grace, not condemnation.
The passage closes with a paradox that defines the Kingdom of God: “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.” True elevation comes through humility. This humility is not self-rejection but right positioning before God—acknowledging our need, confessing our brokenness, and trusting His mercy. In seasons of repentance and return, there may be grief over sin, but it is a grief that leads to healing, not despair. God does not crush the humble; He restores them. And in His timing, He lifts them into renewed identity, purpose, and peace.