Discernment: Learning to Listen

Most of us were taught how to make decisions.
Very few of us were taught how to discern.

Deciding is often fast and external.
What makes sense? What’s practical? What will keep others happy?

Discernment is slower and deeper.
It asks: What is true for me? What is being invited? What aligns with who I am becoming?

Decision-making is about options.
Discernment is about alignment.

A decision asks, “What should I do?”
Discernment asks, “Who am I becoming — and what choice is faithful to that?”

For those of us in seasons of transition—burnout, grief, change, or quiet longing—or those who are wired to care, serve, and show up for others, discernment can feel unfamiliar. We’re often trained to respond to needs, expectations, and urgency rather than to our own inner knowing. Over time, this pulls us out of ourselves.

Discernment is how we learn to listen again. It is the gentle, courageous practice of coming back home.

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March Newsletter

SHANNON’S CORNER Connect. Nurture. Grow. An unexpected and unplanned trip led me to see God’s marvelous and wonderful work at the Assist Pregnancy Center. I learned from the staff that this pregnancy center is unique and different in that the population they serve are women who come already with an 85-90% decision made of aborting their babies. The medical staff who are in the rooms with the women during their ultrasounds share Jesus with them and are compassionate witnesses to each baby as they are seen, valued, and loved. If the mother decides to have the baby the center walks alongside with the mother and family. I had the precious privilege to facilitate a training with all the staff of the pregnancy center to talk about the Wounds from the Work. Listening to their stories of how the Lord called them to work at this pregnancy center and what the cost has been to them, and their families was sacred ground. Creating a safe place for them to be seen and heard in thei...

February Newsletter

SHANNON’S CORNER Why I do what I do? Loneliness and the lack of support and connection is often the lived experience that ministry workers encounter, and it grieves my heart because this has been my lived experience as well, my story of burnout . My mission? Connect. Nurture. Grow. The TCK Connect Chai Chat is where students talk about specific issues they face. This month students talked about loneliness. It is a part of their lives as they are always on the outside, seen as a foreigner no matter if in the host country or here in the U.S.A. The students describe loneliness as a lack of a peer group, disconnected, and being unknown. Withdrawing even more than usual is their way of coping with loneliness. What helps with their loneliness is joining the TCK Connect calls, talking with friends if they are available and listening to music. It is beautiful to see how God is using TCK Connect in the st...

October Newsletter

SHANNON’S CORNER The Saga Continues… The trip to Malaysia consisted of a two-day spiritual retreat with the theme of ‘Come Away With Me’ and a six-day conference with about 230 missionaries who serve in some aspect of translating the Scriptures. One of the many people who I met was a missionary who served in Cameroon for many years and now is in a new role. As he was sharing, most his words were very negative and depressive. I encouraged him to sign up for a time of prayer and care. At the end of the retreat, this missionary shared with me that he did have a session and I could see that his whole countenance changed, and he was hopeful. His new word he used to describe where he was now is ‘delightful.’ Our time there was creating a safe space for these missionaries to have a place to share what they are struggling with and to connect with Jesus. One missionary is at a crossroads in her life. Another finds himself in the midst of betrayal. A missionary is in a new role as a caregi...

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