Setting the crooked places straight…
by Jennifer Greene-Sullivan
For the past three weeks, I’ve been fasting Facebook at the Lord’s request. I’ve been distracted—and He has so much to show me. While I still post when He lays something on my heart, I sign out shortly after. I’ve even put the blog and the writing aside for now because I need to LIVE out the very word God breaths out.
Sometimes, living a life of liberation and of new creation is tough.
This is my second school year without a school, and it’s been a hard season. For two decades, I measured my worth by my career, my classroom, and the MANY letters after my name. Since my first year at Middle Georgia College at eighteen, I’ve defined my success through academic achievement and my role inside an educational institution.
But now—this is my second year as just Jennifer.
No titles. No accolades. No degrees to hide behind.
Just Jennifer—the daughter of God.
After I resigned, I cringed when I said my full name because “Greene-Sullivan” once carried the weight of worldly identity. Fortunately, God stripped it all away, and in the emptiness, I found fullness. I found who I was all along.
A New Identity
I am Liam’s mother—and his champion. That means I fight his battles when he cannot, especially his spiritual battles. Every day, we pray together. We memorize scripture because he needs his sword sharpened and ready.
This morning, I started supper at 7 a.m., an hour after cooking the lunch he takes to school. He’s been gluten-free for two months now—celiac disease runs through the Greene family faster than a linebacker on game day. I dote on my son because I don’t want him to miss out on what others take for granted.
He and I are funny and weird and love history. We both have perfect pitch, athletic hearts, and wild hair. But more than that—we are saved by grace through Jesus Christ. We are blessed and highly favored, and we take football and prayer very seriously.
Fighting the Right Battles
As I reflect on all these changes, I’m grateful. God has cleared away the junk—the striving, the comparison, the exhaustion. I spent twenty years fighting for other people’s kids; now, I fight for mine. The enemy is real, and he seeks to devour (1 Peter 5:8).
Your calling, people of God, is simple:
Hold the line until Jesus comes.
Lay down the striving.
Let go of success that doesn’t align with God’s will.
Look around at what He’s already given you and allow His Word—breathed out by the Almighty—to consume and train you for good works (2 Timothy 3:16–17).
Pick Up Your Mantle
So I’ll ask you this:
What do you need to put down so that you can pick up your mantle—the very one God created you to bear?
If He tells you to move, then move.
Stop the excuses. Stop the “but what ifs.”
Because if you won’t listen and obey, He will call someone who will.
I’d rather be a pauper in this world than disobey my Father or grieve the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 4:30) .
A Word to My Sisters
To the mama who feels that business, career, or offense should come before the Word of God, your children, or your husband—back your truck up, sister. Put that phone down. Close those blasphemous lips.
You can party like a rockstar now and burn for eternity later—the choice is yours. But remember: when your children choose the enemy over God because you didn’t equip them, you will be judged for that.
Jesus warned that it would be better to have a millstone tied around your neck than to lead a child astray (Matthew 18:6). Playing with witchcraft, dabbling in the occult—those things count as leading your children astray.
Woe be unto you, Jezebel.
The Call to Return
But hear me—there is hope for the lukewarm heart.
In Revelation 3:14–22, Jesus speaks to the church of Laodicea, calling them “lukewarm, neither hot nor cold.” He says they are “wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked,” yet He offers a way back:
“Buy from Me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.” (Revelation 3:18, NIV)
Sister, you can overcome a lukewarm, spiritually blind faith.
How?
Seek Jesus — and you will find Him (Jeremiah 29:13).
Surrender all the works-based striving.
Lay down the image the world told you to chase.
Let Him refine you like gold in the fire so He can restore your sight and reignite your flame. The Refiner’s fire isn’t meant to destroy you—it’s meant to reveal the purity that was already within you, placed there by His hand.
Reflection
If you feel conviction stirring in your heart, don’t let shame silence it. Conviction is not condemnation—it’s an invitation.
Jesus is standing at the door and knocking (Revelation 3:20).
He’s not asking for your perfection—He’s asking for your surrender.
He’s not demanding your performance—He’s offering His presence.
Come home.
The Father is waiting.
Closing Prayer
Father,
Thank You for loving us enough to strip away the titles, distractions, and false identities that keep us from seeing You clearly. Forgive us for the times we’ve been lukewarm—satisfied with the world while starving for Your Word.
Refine us, Lord. Burn away the pride, the performance, and the excuses. Restore our sight so we can see You for who You are—the Author, the Refiner, the Redeemer of our souls.
Help us to teach our children truth, to guard our homes, and to walk in bold obedience.
May our lives burn brightly for You, until the day You return for Your Church.
In Jesus’ mighty name,
Amen.
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