Oh my friends. Do I have some tea for you today. 

Over here at my house, we’ve been dealing with a bit of drama.

And–since you know I love some drama, I have chosen to present this piece of my life in the form of a letter to my eldest (biological) child.

Have a brief peep into our life.  

And laugh at my pain alongside me.

Because if I don’t laugh? I will cry.

Without further adieu, here is the letter I have written to my beloved son:

Dear Child Who Thought “I Got This,”

So… you cut your own hair.

I just want you to know, first of all, we admire the confidence. Truly. The courage. The willingness to look in the mirror and say, “Yeah, I’m qualified for this.”

That said… we do have some observations.

On the bright side:

-You didn’t have to wait for an appointment. Yes!

-You saved money. Big win.

-You showed impressive independence. Amazing, kiddo.

-And you really leaned into creativity… like, really leaned in…so that’s cool.

On the other hand:

-Your hair currently looks like a dalmatian. Not a well-groomed one either… more like one that lost a fight with a lawn mower.

-There are bald spots in places I didn’t know were even options. Eek.

-Every time you turn around, it’s a brand new surprise….and not the good kind.

-Hats are about to become a major part of your identity.

-And your dad and I are doing our absolute best to be supportive while also not laughing every 3 seconds. (We are failing at this, btw.)

But honestly… this whole situation feels familiar.

Because this is kind of what we do with life sometimes.

We decide, “I’ve got this. I don’t need help. How hard can it be?”

And to be fair—we can do it ourselves. Just like you can cut your own hair.

But then things get a little uneven.

We miss spots we can’t see.

We make choices that seemed like a good idea at the time… and then suddenly we’re standing there wondering how it got so patchy.

It’s not because we’re incapable.

It’s just because we weren’t meant to figure everything out on our own.

God alone sees the whole picture—the front, the back, and the parts we don’t even realize we missed.

 Meanwhile, we’re over here thinking, “Yeah, this looks fine,” while there’s a giant bald spot waving at everyone behind us!

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Samson is one of those people in Scripture who had real gifts from God—strength, purpose, calling. Even his conception was miraculous, as he was born to a woman who was initially barren! (Judges 13:1-3) 

But God had called him to a very specific purpose: deliver the Israelites from the hands of their enemies, the Philistines. (Judges 13:5) Thus, He had Samson lead the Israelites for 20 years.

But his story also shows something very human: having gifts doesn’t automatically mean we handle them wisely.

Over time, Samson began to rely more on impulse than instruction. 

Not all at once—just gradually. Small decisions. Small compromises. Moments where “I’ve got this” slowly replaced “God, lead me.”

And then comes one of the most sobering lines in Book of Judges 16:20:“But he did not know that the Lord had left him.”

That sentence shocks me every time. Because it reveals something unsettling: it’s possible to keep moving, keep deciding, keep assuming everything is fine… while quietly becoming less aware of God’s presence and guidance.

That’s where Scripture gently but firmly steps in with wisdom like this:“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.”Proverbs 3:5–6

It doesn’t say our understanding is useless…it says it’s limited. It has blind spots. Just like cutting the back of your own head and confidently declaring, “Perfect.”

And Scripture names that deeper reality too:“The heart is deceitful above all things…” Jeremiah 17:9

Not as an insult, but as an honest diagnosis. 

We are not always as self-aware as we think we are.

Which is why dependence on God isn’t a restriction—it’s protection.

Now, Samson’s story doesn’t end as a simple moral lesson or a clean warning label. It’s more complex than that.

In his final moment, Samson turns back to God, and God still hears him. 

There is strength given again. There is mercy shown. 

But there are also consequences that remain. His life doesn’t rewind; it resolves in tension.

That feels kinda gross, I know. 

But I think it’s also really honest. 

Because Scripture doesn’t pretend our choices are weightless. But it also doesn’t pretend we are abandoned when we’ve made them poorly.

Even in the complexity of Book of Judges, we see this quiet thread: God is still present, still listening, still working—even when the story is messy.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

That’s the part I don’t want you to miss. 

This isn’t just a lesson about “don’t mess up.” It’s a reminder that independence sounds strong… until you realize how much you can’t actually see.

And yet, even when things are uneven…

even when there are gaps…

even when you’re mid–dalmatian phase…

God is not done with the story. 

We serve a God of the impossible. When we turn to Him, He shifts the story. 

He takes burnt-to-a-crisp, toasted ashes and makes something beautiful with them. (Is. 61:3) 

He takes dead things and says, “Not on my watch,” and breathes them back to life. (Jn. 11:25-26) 

He makes things vibrant and flourishing, even in the desert place. (Is. 43:19)

Which means even if you’ve messed up, you’ve never messed up beyond what God can repair and restore. 

What a mighty God we serve!

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

We love you a lot, kiddo. Your hair will grow back (thankfully).

But next time, maybe consider asking for a little help—

both with the scissors… and with life.

Love,

The People Who Now Have Blackmail Photos Forever

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

And to you, my beloved reader, I hope you know you can come to God with everything, too. He wants to offer you His wisdom and might. He loves you, even if you’ve messed up. It’s never too late to come home. Your Father awaits…

Til Next Time, 

Liz

P.S.S. Samson’s story shows what happens when we don’t bring our weaknesses under God’s leadership. Paul reminds us in Book of Galatians 5:24 that those who belong to Christ “have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” If you want to memorize it in 3 min with me, go here:https://open.spotify.com/episode/7BBOXK4rD8ekJ2RUwGjz1F?si=Nf5wyLfySNiU0gB2Ys_6ww

P.S.S.S.  If you have an upcoming event at your own church where you want a biblically-based message, just reach out to me here. I would love to encourage your people: www.lizhouse.net/speaking
P.S.S.S.S.  If you are new here from the event at Hazelwood Christian Church, welcome, ladies! I am so thankful we can continue the connections we made. I have started to work my way through your one-word prayer requests- just know that I am praying for each one of you by name!  Also, I mentioned that if you didn’t win the giveaway, I would still have a free prize for you. Here it is.  It is a free e-book that helps you reframe your weaknesses. Grab yours here: https://chipper-composer-3656.kit.com/weakness (Anyone here not from Hazelwood is welcome to grab it, too!)