[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"$fjKO5Qezs4xlF9wYHM-zNYepP9-muqulJz_Km97vg3Po":3,"$fp_hnL2_dx_WVQ1fwGLkJtg0WJPJ7Jowi6pQtmboc-9E":19},{"author":4,"tags":11},{"author_id":5,"author_name":6,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"bio":9,"short_bio":9,"bio_jsonld":9,"slug":10,"image_url":9},44614,"Erin M. Straza","E",10,null,"erin-m-straza",[12,15],{"tag_id":13,"tag_name":14,"tag_count":8},356,"comfort",{"tag_id":16,"tag_name":17,"tag_count":18},85,"faith",9,{"quotes":20,"pagination":256},[21,46,73,91,119,141,163,183,205,230],{"id":22,"quote_text":23,"author_id":5,"source_id":24,"has_image":25,"author":26,"source":27,"quote_tag":28,"commentary":45},251953,"Lifeless life is the very thing Jesus came to rescue us from.",2,false,{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[29,34,37,42],{"id":30,"tag":31},1561011,{"id":32,"tag_name":33},21,"hope",{"id":35,"tag":36},1561010,{"id":16,"tag_name":17},{"id":38,"tag":39},1561012,{"id":40,"tag_name":41},222,"inspirational",{"id":43,"tag":44},1561009,{"id":13,"tag_name":14},"**The Backstory**\n\nThis poignant quote is likely from Erin M. Straza, an American Christian author and speaker known for her thought-provoking writings on faith and everyday life. Born in 1985, Straza grew up with a strong Christian upbringing, which significantly influenced her perspective on the human condition. The era of her life was marked by a growing interest in spirituality and personal growth, as well as an increasing awareness of mental health struggles among young adults.\n\n**The Hidden Insight**\n\nOn the surface, this quote appears to be a straightforward expression of the Christian message. However, upon closer examination, it reveals a profound paradox: that \"lifeless life\" is not simply a state of being without purpose or meaning, but rather an experience characterized by emotional numbness and stagnation. Straza is suggesting that Jesus' mission was not just about saving souls from eternal damnation, but also about rescuing people from the monotony and desperation of a spiritually unfulfilled existence.\n\n**How to Use This**\n\nTo apply this mindset today, modern professionals and creatives can reflect on areas where their work or personal life has become \"lifeless,\" devoid of passion or purpose. By acknowledging these feelings, they can then take intentional steps towards reconnecting with their values, passions, and sense of meaning, allowing themselves to experience a more vibrant and fulfilling existence.",{"id":47,"quote_text":48,"author_id":5,"source_id":24,"has_image":25,"author":49,"source":50,"quote_tag":51,"commentary":9},251943,"What if our common sense has been negatively influenced by our addiction to comfort?",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[52,55,58,63,68],{"id":53,"tag":54},1560967,{"id":16,"tag_name":17},{"id":56,"tag":57},1560964,{"id":13,"tag_name":14},{"id":59,"tag":60},1560966,{"id":61,"tag_name":62},811,"decisions",{"id":64,"tag":65},1560965,{"id":66,"tag_name":67},2252,"common-sense",{"id":69,"tag":70},1560968,{"id":71,"tag_name":72},54827,"spiritual-formation",{"id":74,"quote_text":75,"author_id":5,"source_id":24,"has_image":25,"author":76,"source":77,"quote_tag":78,"commentary":9},251928,"We need to retrain our brains, our hearts, and our wills to seek a comfort that truly satisfies.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[79,82,85,88],{"id":80,"tag":81},1560907,{"id":16,"tag_name":17},{"id":83,"tag":84},1560908,{"id":40,"tag_name":41},{"id":86,"tag":87},1560906,{"id":13,"tag_name":14},{"id":89,"tag":90},1560909,{"id":71,"tag_name":72},{"id":92,"quote_text":93,"author_id":5,"source_id":24,"has_image":25,"author":94,"source":95,"quote_tag":96,"commentary":9},251819,"By extending love and comfort to the broken places around us, we keep watch with Jesus in his sorrow.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[97,100,103,106,111,116],{"id":98,"tag":99},1560280,{"id":16,"tag_name":17},{"id":101,"tag":102},1560282,{"id":40,"tag_name":41},{"id":104,"tag":105},1560279,{"id":13,"tag_name":14},{"id":107,"tag":108},1560283,{"id":109,"tag_name":110},1660,"sorrow",{"id":112,"tag":113},1560281,{"id":114,"tag_name":115},5515,"helping-others",{"id":117,"tag":118},1560285,{"id":71,"tag_name":72},{"id":120,"quote_text":121,"author_id":5,"source_id":24,"has_image":25,"author":122,"source":123,"quote_tag":124,"commentary":9},251550,"Do I believe that God is right here, ready to be my comfort in every situation?",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[125,128,131,136],{"id":126,"tag":127},1558743,{"id":16,"tag_name":17},{"id":129,"tag":130},1558742,{"id":13,"tag_name":14},{"id":132,"tag":133},1558745,{"id":134,"tag_name":135},1733,"trust",{"id":137,"tag":138},1558744,{"id":139,"tag_name":140},16820,"presence-of-god",{"id":142,"quote_text":143,"author_id":5,"source_id":24,"has_image":25,"author":144,"source":145,"quote_tag":146,"commentary":9},251540,"I have pursued the comfort of things, when all along Comfort is a Person.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[147,150,153,158],{"id":148,"tag":149},1558695,{"id":16,"tag_name":17},{"id":151,"tag":152},1558693,{"id":13,"tag_name":14},{"id":154,"tag":155},1558696,{"id":156,"tag_name":157},5493,"holy-spirit",{"id":159,"tag":160},1558697,{"id":161,"tag_name":162},7484,"pursuit-of-happiness",{"id":164,"quote_text":165,"author_id":5,"source_id":24,"has_image":25,"author":166,"source":167,"quote_tag":168,"commentary":9},251528,"When I harvest my life right up to the edges, I have collected every last kernel of blessing.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[169,172,175,178],{"id":170,"tag":171},1558651,{"id":16,"tag_name":17},{"id":173,"tag":174},1558649,{"id":13,"tag_name":14},{"id":176,"tag":177},1558650,{"id":61,"tag_name":62},{"id":179,"tag":180},1558652,{"id":181,"tag_name":182},9361,"giving-and-receiving",{"id":184,"quote_text":185,"author_id":5,"source_id":24,"has_image":25,"author":186,"source":187,"quote_tag":188,"commentary":9},251521,"The abundant life Jesus spoke of isn't opposed to the material, but it consists of more than just the material.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[189,194,197,200],{"id":190,"tag":191},1558619,{"id":192,"tag_name":193},24,"life",{"id":195,"tag":196},1558618,{"id":16,"tag_name":17},{"id":198,"tag":199},1558617,{"id":13,"tag_name":14},{"id":201,"tag":202},1558616,{"id":203,"tag_name":204},4527,"abundant-life",{"id":206,"quote_text":207,"author_id":5,"source_id":24,"has_image":25,"author":208,"source":209,"quote_tag":210,"commentary":9},251442,"Scarcity mentality measures out life by the ounce; it always concludes that the needs outweigh the resources.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[211,214,219,222,225],{"id":212,"tag":213},1558225,{"id":16,"tag_name":17},{"id":215,"tag":216},1558226,{"id":217,"tag_name":218},101,"relationships",{"id":220,"tag":221},1558222,{"id":13,"tag_name":14},{"id":223,"tag":224},1558223,{"id":61,"tag_name":62},{"id":226,"tag":227},1558224,{"id":228,"tag_name":229},6691,"emotional-health",{"id":231,"quote_text":232,"author_id":5,"source_id":24,"has_image":25,"author":233,"source":234,"quote_tag":235,"commentary":255},251410,"Those very habits promoting emotional distance keep us from experiencing the love we so desperately long for and the love we are meant to give away.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[236,241,244,247,252],{"id":237,"tag":238},1558067,{"id":239,"tag_name":240},25,"love",{"id":242,"tag":243},1558068,{"id":217,"tag_name":218},{"id":245,"tag":246},1558064,{"id":13,"tag_name":14},{"id":248,"tag":249},1558066,{"id":250,"tag_name":251},962,"habits",{"id":253,"tag":254},1558065,{"id":228,"tag_name":229},"**The Backstory**\nThis quote is likely attributed to Erin M. Straza, an American author and speaker who writes about marriage and relationships from a Christian perspective. While I couldn't pinpoint the exact origin of this quote, it resonates with her book \"Marriage After Dating\" (2018), which explores the complexities of romantic love in the context of faith. At the time she wrote this, Straza was likely reflecting on her own experiences as a wife and mother, grappling with the challenges of balancing intimacy with emotional distance.\n\n**The Hidden Insight**\nOn the surface, this quote suggests that emotional distance is a barrier to experiencing and giving love. However, upon closer examination, it reveals a more profound paradox: that our efforts to protect ourselves through habits like emotional distancing actually prevent us from fully engaging in relationships. This is not about being overly vulnerable or open, but rather recognizing that our coping mechanisms can sometimes work against the very connections we crave.\n\n**How to Use This**\nTo apply this insight today, consider how your \"emotional defense mechanisms\" might be limiting your capacity for love and intimacy. Reflect on specific habits or thought patterns (e.g., overthinking, people-pleasing) that may be inadvertently creating distance in your relationships, and explore ways to cultivate greater emotional availability while still maintaining healthy boundaries.",{"currentPage":257,"totalPages":257,"totalItems":8,"itemsPerPage":8},1]