Happy June!

It is hard to believe we are approaching summertime. As the days warm and the sunlight stretches into the evening hours, I thank God for the gift of living a life in service of Him.

Even on the hard days, He is there waiting for us to consult Him. He has plans for us. They may not be what we expected, but they are good.

“For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope.”

- Jeremiah 29:11, NRSV-CE

The month of May was a busy one

The garden was planted!

As spring goes, after planting I proceeded to “tuck the garden in” many cold nights under a frost cover (and had a little regret planting the vulnerable seeds and starts so early! I was excited…).

Nurturing a garden takes so much time, yet its so rewarding.

For my gardening friends: I am in zone 6b. If you have any tips for zone 6b gardening, please send them my way! This is my 4th year gardening in this zone, and every year is different.

I attended my first in-person writers conference in Chicago.

After one tiny flight from my small regional airport, to my state’s main airport, then to Chicago O’Hare, I got to experience big city life (a bit overwhelming, but fun for a short time)!

At the writers conference, I connected with so many other wonderful people in the publishing world who also love Jesus.

I learned a lot and left the conference feeling excited for the future and for writing for the Lord.

Fellowship is so important.

Thanks for being here!

Thank you for subscribing to The Persistent Christian.

Your reading, supportive comments, and sharing of the blog means so much. I am grateful to be able to share my writing and love for Jesus.

As a subscriber, you can expect approximately 3-4 emails a month. New posts come out every other Thursday, and you will receive one monthly newsletter at the beginning of each month.

Every other Thursday - New devotion. My regular topics are seasonal reflections, chronic illness, grief, and Catholic faith. However, I always look to the Lord for help about what to write, so each devotion that comes out is unique to the time it’s being posted.

Monthly - Newsletter about what’s going on with The Persistent Christian. Receive an update with links to last month’s posts, a little blurb about the latest, and an opportunity to submit prayer requests.

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What’s new?

There were two new posts in the month of May. Click below to read them.

1. A personal reflection on my battle with anxiety.

This post is near to my heart. I have struggled with anxiety since I was young, and this is a reflection on how social media affects mental health.

2. Thoughts on growing where you are planted

Growing where you are planted takes time. In gratitude for those who came and went before me, this is a reflection on how roots can take generations to form.

Prayer Requests

If you would like to submit a prayer request directly to me, please click the button below to send me a message. I will write your prayer in my journal and offer it up to the Lord.

If you would like to submit a prayer that other subscribers can see and pray for as well, join The Persistent Christian subscriber chat. A new thread went out this morning in the chat that subscribers can reply to with prayer requests.

Your Feedback is Requested…

In Closing…

Thank you for being here! It is a blessing to be able to share my writing, and I am grateful for your reading.

May the Lord shine His face upon you as we approach the summer season.

In Christ,

Lauren

The flowers are blooming (*cue sneezing*), the sun has been out, there have been rain showers, and the home projects continue. In the month of April, I traveled across the country from Oregon to Florida, did some home painting, and prepared my garden space for planting.

It is amazing to look back at a month and consider how much did (or didn’t happen). There are some months where it feels like a lot was accomplished and other months where time seemingly inched by.

Whatever season you find yourself in, please know of my prayers for you. God is present in every season, in every high and low, and in each sunrise and sunset.

Some days are long.

Some days fly by.

But, it is a treasure to spend them in the company of the Creator.

The One who knows each and every one of us best.

Each day is a gift.

May is Lyme Disease Awareness Month

It has been almost 3 years since I was diagnosed with chronic Lyme disease and bartonellosis, and May is Lyme disease awareness month.

Lyme is often an invisible battle.

Lyme disease has been nicknamed “The Great Imitator”. It can be misdiagnosed as something else, and that is exactly what happened to me. It is unclear how many years I went misdiagnosed, but it is clear that the true cause of my health issues was missed for quite some time. I am grateful I finally received the correct diagnosis, and I have been continuing on the long road of recovery.

To all those battling a chronic illness: you are strong and the Lord is with you.

To read more about my journey with Lyme:

Hey you, thanks for being here!

As a subscriber, you can expect approximately 3-4 emails a month. New posts come out every other Thursday, and you will receive one monthly newsletter at the beginning of each month.

Every other Thursday - New devotion. My regular topics are seasonal reflections, chronic illness, grief, and Catholic faith. However, I always look to the Lord for help about what to write, so each devotion that comes out is unique to the time it’s being posted.

Monthly - Newsletter about what’s going on with The Persistent Christian. Receive an update with links to last month’s posts, a little blurb about the latest, and an opportunity to submit prayer requests.

What’s new?

There were two new posts in the month of April. Click below to read them!

1. A reflection on the difficult work of painting a closet:

2. A West Coaster’s first time walking on an Atlantic Ocean coastline:

Prayer Requests

If you would like to submit a prayer request directly to me, please click the button below to send me a message. I will write your prayer in my journal and offer it up to the Lord.

If you would like to submit a prayer that other subscribers can see and pray for as well, join The Persistent Christian subscriber chat. A new thread went out this morning in the chat that subscribers can reply to with prayer requests.

Your Feedback is Requested…

In Closing…

Thank you for being here! It is a blessing to be able to share my writing, and I am grateful for your reading.

May the Lord shine His face upon you as we continue through spring.

In Christ,

Lauren

If you like The Persistent Christian, click the button below to share it with a friend!

Share The Persistent Christian

First of all, WELCOME if you are new here! My name is Lauren Seymour, and I started The Persistent Christian as a place to share devotions from my walk with the Lord. I am grateful to have this space to share, and I just transitioned The Persistent Christian over to Substack from another platform in December 2025.

On my previous platform, I sent out monthly updates to subscribers. It took me some time to get settled in on Substack, and I finally have created a separate section to my blog where monthly newsletters will reside.

You are automatically opted into these monthly newsletters as a subscriber. If you would like to update your email preferences, you can head over to your settings page by clicking here. Simply click on “The Persistent Christian” to manage your email notifications.

What to expect…

As a subscriber, you can expect approximately 3-4 emails a month. New posts come out every other Thursday, and you will receive one monthly newsletter at the beginning of each month.

Every other Thursday - New devotion. My regular topics are seasonal reflections, chronic illness, grief, and Catholic faith. However, I always look to the Lord for help about what to write, so each devotion that comes out is unique to the time it’s being posted.

Monthly - Newsletter about what’s going on with The Persistent Christian. Receive an update with links to last month’s posts, a little blurb about the latest, and an opportunity to submit prayer requests.

What’s new?

In the month of March, I posted two new devotions. The devotion “Grief Tells a Story” is particularly near to my heart, as it is a reflection on three things I have learned in the first 18 months of my grief journey since my twin brother passed away.

Follow the links below to read March’s posts.

Prayer Requests

If you would like to submit a prayer request directly to me, please click the button below to send me a message. I will write your prayer down in my journal and offer up your prayers to the Lord.

If you would like to submit a prayer that other subscribers can see and pray for as well, join The Persistent Christian subscriber chat. A new thread went out this morning in the chat that subscribers can reply to with prayer requests.

Your Feedback is Requested…

In Closing…

Thank you for being here! It is a blessing to be able to share my writing, and I am grateful for your reading.

May the Lord shine His face upon you as we approach the Easter season!

In Christ,

Lauren

If you like The Persistent Christian, click the button below to share it with a friend!

Share The Persistent Christian