What If God Doesn’t Come Through?

You came near when I called you, and you said, “Do not fear…..(La 3:57)

Yesterday the Lord provided something that I should have immediately praised Him for, but instead my heart and mind were flooded with fearful thoughts about all the things that could now go wrong. I realize now that this happened because I wasn’t telling myself great things about Him throughout the process of dealing with this issue. Although I knew He would come through for me and my family I also questioned whether or not He would do it.

You’d think after watching Him work time and time again in my life I’d stop doubting, but I still do. It’s especially hard when things have been challenging for awhile or when you’ve been walking a season of some drought to think that God will actually come through for you.

I quickly repented of my foolish thoughts this morning as I sat in reflection over my fear. After all, I know God wants to fill my life with good things, but what if He doesn’t? That’s what I tell myself from time to time.

Yet, I have to remember that since He is a good Father, He loves to lavish good gifts on His children. God is not waiting for the other shoe to drop- like we do sometimes. He’s waiting to bless us; to come through for us in the wilderness.

Friend, don’t you see, the wilderness IS the place of your blessing. Believe that. He’ll grow you there and provide for you if you’re willing to believe against all odds that He is a good and mighty God who comes through for His children without question. Therefore, today I’m living in the promise, not the blessing. There’s a difference. We might not yet have the blessing, but we always have the promise and for that we can rejoice because those who hold fast to the promise will certainly receive a blessing.

Lord, thank you. You always take care of me. Why would I ever question you? Forgive me for my doubt. Today I hold fast to your promises, they are good, in Jesus name, Amen.

Do You Need Their Validation?

The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe…(Proverbs 29:25)

I find myself doing this a lot as a mom and minister. I’ll ask myself, “I wonder what people thought of what I just did? Do they think I’m a good mom, speaker, teacher, etc.?”

Whenever I go there with my thoughts I have to stop, reflect and pause because those are telling signs that I’m starting to find my identity in things outside of Christ. I’m placing some sort of worth and value in these roles I have. That’s really hard to do when so much of your life is spent doing those things. It’s so easy to the many roles we have and start to find a sense and value and worth in them.

What I have to start asking myself instead is the simple question of, “Is how I’m carrying myself in these roles honoring God? Does it put Him on display?” Then truly, that is enough.

You’re always going to have someone who disagrees with the way you parent or lead. Someone will always feel differently about something you do. Others might even oppose you for the work you’re doing for the gospel. You can always count on that. But if we’re being sure to keep our eyes set on the Lord and not the opinions of others we’ll keep moving forward in faith as parents who love like Christ and people who minister in love and without fear. I’m still on that journey, won’t you join me?

Lord, we trust you. You are so very good. I pray that my identity would first be found in you and out of that I could lead and love well in these roles you have given me, for your great glory, in Jesus name, Amen.

Don’t Rush In

Like one who grabs a stray dog by the ears is someone who rushes into a quarrel not their own….(Proverbs 26:16)

Sometimes things go awry with our friends, spouses, or children. Don’t rush in and try to fix all of that. Whenever I do that I just simply contribute to their chaos instead of becoming the support that they need.

My husband has a very, very, different personalty from me. He often speaks in hyperbole. I used to let that scare me. The things he would say about different things he would do. I would rush in and try to tell him, “We can’t do that!” Now, I’ve learned that what my husband actually needs is just the space to process what he’s thinking and feeling. He needs to express his big thoughts somewhere. Even if they seem totally irrational to me.

When I used to rush in, as you can imagine, my husband felt shut down, unheard and controlled. That all makes a recipe for disaster in relationships. Other times when things have gone bad with some decision that’s been made in our marriage I’ll try to become my husbands hammer, fixing the situation for him instead of waiting patiently for God to do that work. Oh my, that is so hard to do and a lesson that I am still learning to do gracefully.

The truth of the matter is, the less we rush in to fix all the problems around us, the more space we create for God to do the work He’s been trying to do without our help. So if you feel the need to rush in to fix your child’s situation, your friends bad choices, or your spouses actions that brought you pain- just don’t. Unless of course someone’s being harmed in the process, then insert yourself, but most of the time, we need to take giant step back to let God work things out because when we do He doesn’t just work in them but in us too.

Lord, I know that sometimes I rush in too quickly. Help me now to operate in your grace. To grow in your likeness and to become more like you in the things I say and do. I can’t fix things, but I can watch you work. Help me to do that in all areas of my life, in Jesus name, Amen.

If God Has Called You…Don’t Give Up!

But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength…(2 Ti 4:17).

The devil would love to take you down with discouragement. It is one of his greatest weapons against you. If you’re listening too much to his voice, you’ll certainly give in and let his voice become louder than the small encouragements God has sent you along the way.

During those moments, when the devil comes in with discouragement, I have to remind myself to participate in what God is doing for me. Although it might be small, those tiny moments of His encouragement keep me going to keep fighting the good fight. After all, God doesn’t call giants to big tasks and make it easy for them. No, He calls people of little repute to be faithful.

So friend, if you feel like giving up and what you’re doing is furthering the Kingdom and honoring His word, then don’t. Keep believing in faith that God will see you through it and hold fast to His little moments of encouragement despite all the moments that have been hard.

Lord, I want to be found faithful. Forgive me when I feel like giving up. Make me strong through you, each day, I pray, in Jesus name, Amen.