Things didn’t work out. They went south. They broke down.
Isn’t it funny how when things break,
what also breaks in our mind
is how God views us –
and how we view God?
We tend to think like this:
1. God is punishing me.
2. God is showing me how wrong I handled this.
3. God is taking this away because I don’t deserve it.
4. God is angry at me.
5. God doesn’t really want me to be happy.
6. God doesn’t hear me.
7. God doesn’t care about my feelings.
8. God isn’t tapped into what I need right now.
9. God’s plans don’t work well for people.
10. God forgot about me. He has many more to worry about.
*Bonus: I stink – and God knows it.
What we think about God, tends to define how we feel through life.
What do you tend to think about God?
A heart becomes unsettled when,
rather than seeing problems as windows, letting in the air of new faith,
we see them as things God uses to slam us.
I do it all the time. Somehow I figure God has gone moody again and is well-done-and-over with my shenanigans. With this mindset, the swirling winds of conflict, complications or conditions unfavorable are bound to erase feelings of peace and comfort.
Does this happen to you too?
Do you tend to lose the image of a good God?
God is good (Ps. 136:1). Whether I believe it or not, God still stays exactly the same.
6 Ways God is Good:
1. He works alongside those who wait for him.
No eye has seen a God besides you, who works for those who wait for him.” Is. 64:4
2. Like a daddy caring for a sick child, he doesn’t sleep, but watches non-stop.
He will not allow your foot to slip; He who keeps you will not slumber. Ps. 121:3
3. He needs nothing, but can give everything.
God is not served by human hands as though he needed anything, but he himself gives life and breath and everything. Acts 17:25
4. He shows himself strong for those who persevere in trust.
The eyes of the LORD run through the earth, to show himself strong for those who trust him. 2 Chron. 16:9
5. He delivers us so we can glorify him.
If I were hungry, I wouldn’t tell you. Call on me, I will deliver you. You will glorify me. Ps. 50:15
6. He meets our needs according to his stockpiles of overflowing treasure.
And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus. Phil. 4:19
What I am coming to terms with is – the alarm of sinking feelings sounds in order to awaken us to the reality of faith-stampeding lies. Finding the lie means finding truth. Finding truth means we can look at it and decide if we’ll continue to hold it or decide to stomp it down.
Will we believe that God is for us, not against us?
Not in words, but via our heart and in action?
The difference is tangible.
The results are palpable.
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Tomorrow, we will venture through the little notecards of truths that you can pull out of your pocket when your mind goes haywire. Hope you can join me!
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[…] linking up with Holly Barrett’s Testimony Tuesday, Kelly Balarie’s #RaRaLinkup, Tuesday Talk with Ruthie Gray, Jennifer Dukes Lee’s #TellHisStory, Holley Gerth’s […]
This may be one of your bests posts yet, Kelly! So clear and pointing to the truth! Yes, those lies you mention are common. (I see them in ministry overseas even, in a different culture!) And how sweet and powerful is God’s truth: He’s good. He loves us.
[…] Linking up this week with Kelly Balarie at Purposeful Faith, Jennifer Dukes Lee at #TellHisStory, Lyli Dunbar at #ThoughtProvokingThursday, Holley Gerth […]
It’s easy for my mind to immediately go to a place of questioning or even distrust when life is not going the way it should. That is my human defense mechanism-find the nearest source to blame it on. God should never be that source because of the love He has for us. Instead, we should be thanking Him as well as calling to Him when life gets derailed. He is there ready to help every time.
[…] Today I’m linking up with Holly Barrett and #RaRaLinkup. […]
Kelly,
Thank you for his humbling and encouraging reminder of who God is! I don’t believe I will ever completely understand God until I reach heaven and then I may still not comprehend. God does not ask us to understand He wants us to trust Him completely in spite of the unexpected or unwanted circumstance. We must remember the good things He’s done and do away with the negative thoughts you mentioned. It’s my desire to trust Him in every situation. God bless.
God is for us, not against us! Sometimes those dreaded doubts and discouraging thoughts lead us to feel things contrary to this truth. Great reminder today that we can stand on God’s Word and not fall victim to how we feel. Blessings!
Stand-out point for me: He needs nothing but can give everything.
This is so often overlooked in our rush to “serve” Him, and then our exhaustion from over-extending ourselves.
Blessings, Kelly!
So much truth in this statement, my friend: “What we think about God, tends to define how we feel through life.” I grew up not trusting Him, feeling like He was just this scary judge who I could never please. How different I’m able to see Him today and it has truly changed my life. I’m always encouraged here in your space, Kelly. Thank you :).
Thanks Kelly, for reminding us of our Good God!
[…] It’s a blessing to link arms and posts with my Tuesday buddies: Holly for #TestimonyTuesday, Crystal for #IntentionalTuesday, and Kelly for #RaRaLinkup. […]
Love this, Kelly! Especially the 6 ways God is good! Beautiful! #RaRaLinkup
Kelly, This is AWESOME today! #truth
I’m doing a study on the names of God right now, and it is having this exact effect on me…the more I learn about who He is, the more I feel my joy coming alive within! I loved this! And loved the graphic!
Happy Tuesday!!!!
Megs
love your list, kellie! i would add a few more myself: I haven’t done enough to please Him. I’m not worthy to tell others about God. Uh, I could lose a few lbs – oh, that one’s not about God, but I probably could fit it in somehow.
Great post!
Your post reminded me of the scripture: Be careful what you think because your thoughts run your life. Proverbs 4:23 (NCV) Filtering our thoughts through the truth of God’s word is powerful! Thanks for writing and hosting the link-up 🙂 You are such an encouragement!
Kelly, great lists. I’ve definitely fallen into believing the lies in your first list. God has been unwrapping those lies I’ve believed and replacing them with His truth, as I’m willing to let Him. 🙂
And this? “Finding the lie means finding truth. Finding truth means we can look at it and decide if we’ll continue to hold it or decide to stomp it down.” Yes and amen! So true. When we know the lies we’re believing, then God can open our eyes to them, and He can erase them and rewrite His truth upon the walls of our minds. 🙂
Great post!
I’ve been in that same place. Yesterday, I wondered if all Christians have these same waves of feelings as they walk out their faith or if it’s more of those that are emotionally driven. I think given what we see of those in the Bible, that it’s pretty universal. Thank you for your good word today!
[…] to be linking with Purposeful Faith, Intentional […]
Kelly,
Thanks for a great word of wisdom. It’s why it is so important we renew our minds, Romans 12:2…May God bless you richly as you continue to speak truth with grace 🙂
Kelly, one of our pastors likes to call those negative trains of thought : Stinkin’ thinkin’
It’s so easy to let your mind drift into discouragement. I am thankful that His promises are written down for us to help us to grab hold and stand on level ground when the world seems to be sinking.
I think it is easy to lose sight of that when our humanity shines bright in those broken moments. It takes a lot more faith to trust that we are worth loving when we are acting a little less than lovely, at least I find that for myself. Great scriptures to remind us to replace that stinkin thinkin with truth.
Blessings,
Dawn
I absolutely feel like this sometimes. Thank you for the encouragement and for hosting! Hope you have an amazing week 🙂
[…] at RaRaLinkup, Intentional Tuesday, Tell His Story, Coffee for Your […]
Great words of encouragement, my friend. Always a joy to visit you and link posts. Keep up the great work of glorifying Him! Much love.