Purposeful Faith

Category - hope

Are You Waiting on God?

The text read: “When you get off the plane there will be a cheering committee waiting for you!”

Wow, now that’s a thought, and quite a picture, for that matter. I wish there was a cheering committee everywhere I went. Wouldn’t that be fun?

I knew, though, this was a unique time. I was the last one to arrive to a specific city amongst a group of other women who got there earlier. They were waiting for me. My plane arrived an hour or so later. When I got there, we would all jet off in a rental car. It was kind of them to wait for me. They didn’t have to. I could have ridden solo.

But they did. Their waiting honored me. It valued me. It showed me they trusted that my plane would arrive and that we would all absolutely make our way, together.

Waiting, in large part, is trusting. It is faith that says: this person is coming. And I trust them to do that.

When we wait on God, we trust Him. When we say He will show up even though His timing feels a day past due, we honor Him. When we say, absolutely He will arrive, we value His character of faithfulness.

There is only one thing God can be: faithful.

He may show up in a different way than we think. Just as I may show up and look different than these new friends expected – or I may have to make them wait a little more at the luggage carousel – sometimes God shows up differently.

He is the Maker of Heaven and Earth; He has every right to do this.

Either way, we can bank on this: His plan is the absolute best for us!

What would it look like for us to wait with joy? With anticipation? With thankfulness?

Indeed, God is coming! Always, Jesus shows up! Victory can’t be taken from Him!

“Those who wait on the Lord will renew their strength.” (Isa 40:31)

This verse is true because while waiting feels excruciating, the joy of His coming is exhilarating.

“Take heart! Christ has overcome the world!” (Jo 16:33) He not only has the whole world in His hands, but also what you are waiting for!

Prayer: Father, you have a good plan for me. Your timing is perfect. I ask you to give me the strength to wait and to trust you. I ask that I can wait in a way where I am full of joy, praise and hope. I want to honor you with all my heart, mind, and soul. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

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What Makes All the Difference

“Shh…” is what my insides wanted to yell to the kids upstairs. The last thing I wanted was for them to mess up my friend’s husband’s Zoom call. He needed quiet.

So, we shuttled the kids downstairs.

Before long, the hour passed and the man — done with his video that was conducted one flight above the absolute ball the kids were having downstairs — said he was leaving the house.

Oh no. Did we wreck his call? Were we too loud?

“Bye,” my friend atold him as he headed out the door, adding something like, “I’m glad your Zoom call is done.”

He laughed an odd laugh.

And at this point, I was sure we’d ruined his call. Ugh. That they would never want to have us over again. That he was upset.

Looking at my friend, I asked, “Is he upset?”

“No, he is not upset at all. He just laughs about doing these calls at home.”

I was completely misguided in my interpretation of his laugh. But she understood him because she knew him.

Knowing someone makes all the difference in understanding them. It also gives context as to what the person is doing. Whereas I thought my friend’s husband was leaving because he was upset; he was fine. Without the intimacy of relationship, the moves another makes can be misinterpreted.

How often do we misinterpret God’s intent? How often do we figure God is out to harm us when He is really out to help us?

There is power in regularly praying this prayer over ourselves:

“. . . And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” (Eph. 3:17-19 NIV)

When we know God’s ways intimately, we better understand God’s heart. When we know God’s love, we understand how He is leading us into a fullness in this world, rather than destitute barrenness. When we know God cares, suddenly we don’t feel so alone.

Ask to know God more, because to know God deeply, is to trust Him all the more.

Let’s pray:
Father God, I pray that we, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and that we will know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” (Eph. 3:17-19 NIV) For you are Love. Help us to know you as love, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

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Three Ways to Keep our Eyes on God

good father

Yesterday, my husband and I were in the depths of great discussion about what God was doing. God was revealing some things we needed godly perspective on. He was giving us answers. He was moving. Yet, my eye kept wandering.

Why?

There was a bug on the wall.

It must be a stinkbug, I thought. I considered getting a paper towel to do what I always do, which is to grab it and to relocate it outside.

My husband continued to talk. Everything he was saying was important and life-giving for our family, but at the soonest pause in conversation, I hopped up. Instead of continuing to stay in the flow of what God was doing, I was distracted by a bug on the wall.

Completely losing track of what God was doing, I reached out with the paper towel to grab the bug, but…. ICK! It was not a stinkbug; it was a COCKROACH!!!

My skin started to crawl.
My heart started to race.
How many are in here?
How long have these things been in the house?
Why are the kids leaving popcorn crumbs on the floor?

Fear started to settle in. Leaving my bible on the table, I ran off to Amazon to buy traps. I returned back to inspect the walls. I threw blankets out of my way.

My husband grabbed the vacuum. Furniture was moved.

But, all of a sudden he switched off the hum of the cleaner and in silence he proclaimed, “Kelly, this is exactly how the devil works; he distracts us!”

And, wasn’t my husband right?

Deep devotion is easily stolen by random distraction.

How often are we in the heart of God and a phone rings. Or, we are in a mountain-moving prayer and a to-do list item comes to mind. Or, we are making real strides in journaling and our text messages ding and get the better of us? A doctor gives us a bad report and we lose all peaceful connection to God’s heart.

It’s one of the greatest ploys of the enemy. Distraction detours us and deters us from connection with God.

So, how do we combat it? Here are three ways:

1. Keep a journal close: Keep it next to you so you can write “things to do later” there. Instead of getting up and doing something else, emailing a person, buying something online — make a note so you can address it after you are done.

2. Bounce: When your mind starts to go off in a direction, don’t get angry at yourself, bounce your thoughts back to God and what He is saying.

3. Go higher: If you feel fear, worry or stress start to come on you, say to Satan, “Get behind me.” Then, go higher than the problem. Remember that God is bigger, higher, and stronger than any earthly worry that is hitting you.

“Set your mind and keep focused habitually on the things above [the heavenly things], not on things that are on the earth [which have only temporal value].” (Col. 3:2)

Prayer: Father, give me a mind to stay with you. Keep me from evil and temptations that draw me away from your love and heart. I want you more than anything else in life. In Jesus’ name. Amen

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When You are Waiting on God

Riding in the car, flustered, I called out to God, “Why, God, why? Why does it seem there is a hold back to my life? Why are the dreams of my heart not yet happening? Why have I asked but not received? Why don’t you give me what I need? You own everything!”

I launched out some prayerful questions and let them hang in the air, and then mindlessly continued to drive. My mind trailed off…

Soon, I was thinking of my kids… Frankly, when they ask for anything my first instinct is to give it to them! You want ice cream? Of course. You love that new toy? I’ll get it for you. You want to go somewhere today? I’ll take you there.

My first instinct is to give everything.

Then it hit me — God’s first instinct is to give me everything. He wants to give. He loves to give even more than I do!

“If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children,
how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!” (Mt. 7:11)

Yet, there are only two reasons I hold back from my kids:

1. Because I have something better for them later than what they want now.
For instance: I may not buy them a pack of candy at the store, because I baked them a whole key lime pie, with whipped cream on the top, for them to enjoy later.

2. Because my “no” now paves a way for them to receive a million better yeses later.
For example: I may take away tv or video games until they learn the attitude of gratitude, because I know it is that very attitude that will open job opportunities, friendships, connections, doorways and blessings that will far surpass a momentary game.

God wants to give to us not just what is best for our “now”, but rather, what is best for the million little opportunities he has set up on the road called “life”. God, in all-knowing power, is willing to sacrifice short-term happiness for long-term, sustained gain. Why? Because: 1. He loves us that much. 2. He wants us to partake in a full-fledged buffet, more than a measly snack 3. He is developing character that can carry what He wants to give.

Waiting is preparing us to walk in His greater glory, His greater gifts, with the right attitude, in a way that He gets all the glory. God’s timing is perfect.

Prayer: Father, I admit to you, sometimes I don’t understand. Sometimes I can’t comprehend why things happen as they do, however I trust you. I trust your timing. I trust your teaching. I trust your leading. I trust your power at work in my waiting. I ask you to help me to lean on you in the gap of what I want and what I have not yet seen. You are working there. You are not done yet. I ask you to come and complete the good work that you have begun in me. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

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When Communication Goes Wrong

we all want

My daughter said something that I couldn’t entirely make out from the front seat of the car. Still, I knew where she was going with this whole line of thinking. She’d talked like this 100 times, so I instinctively blurted out, “Don’t even think about doing that!”

Suddenly, there was silence. And more silence. I glanced in the rearview mirror to see what was going on. It was then, when I saw her destroyed face, that I knew I did something horribly wrong…

“Mom, did you even hear what I said?” she asked.

“Umm…” I muttered.

My heart sank. An assumption in my mind effectively trampled the goodness flowing out of her heart. She didn’t say something wrong; she was saying something good.

I’m horrible.

I’m learning that when assumption or presumption direct my conversation, it usually leads to contention. I have been guilty of this with my husband, too.

Especially, when I say things like:

You always…
You never…
I know he will…

Negative declarations over my husband, set me up to walk in presumption and assumption. Rather than giving my husband the benefit of the doubt and space to do a new thing, I put faith in an expected outcome, and offer him no space to try out a new thing. All this furthers offense and solidifies negative patterns.

We butt heads. Old cycles continue, on repeat. We both are on edge.

Ever been there? Maybe your husband does that to you. I know it hurts.

In the bible, the Pharisees were fast assumption-makers about Jesus when he cast out a demon.

“. . . they said . . . “it is only by Beelzebub, the prince of demons, that this fellow drives out demons.” But Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand.” (Mt. 12:24-25)

To assume and presume is to fill the supernatural gap where God wants to move with our own naturally-minded nonsense. It’s like bridging a gap with icky gum, rather than allowing God to construct his bridge of solid rock, so we can effectively cross over into a new way of being and going.

Carnally-minded, non-grace giving words, tear down not only things of the Lord and passages to new ways of going, but also, our very own houses.

“A wise woman builds her home, but a foolish woman tears it down with her own hands.” (Prov. 14:1)

God shows us another way to breakthrough:
“Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.” (Eph. 4:29)

What would it look like for you to extend grace before the recipient even deserves it? How might that change the face of your relationship?

If you want more wisdom, strength and practical help for your marriage, join the “Help My Marriage Workshop” this Thursday (tomorrow), December 14th live or via recording.

Gain strength for your marriage, as well as:
1. Practical strategies to believe God when everything looks dark and dim.
2. Breakthrough testimonies and stories to help you persevere.
3. Prayer strategy that defeats the devil’s schemes.
4. Ways to set up boundaries that safeguard your heart and your children.
5. Prayer and encouragement.

Sign up today.

Prayer: Father, I repent of believing lies. Help me to see those around me through your eyes of love. Let me believe the best, instead of rashly thinking the worst. Give me grace to have hope in every relationship. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

5 Ways We Hinder our Prayers

Have you ever had a stopped-up shower? Ick! Or, even worse, have you ever had a stopped-up toilet? It is the absolute worst. The other day, my husband had to go out and buy a plunger because our toilet was about to explode with stuff you don’t want me to describe. The pipe was clogged, and — let me just tell you, to put it nicely, things needed to flow (somewhere else)!

Just as things could not flow where they needed to because they were hindered by toilet paper, did you know that our prayers can be hindered too? Stopped up? Thwarted?

When this happens, it can create a horrible stop-up in our life. The painful things that need to clear out, just don’t. What we want to be over and done with, sticks around. What stinks, stays.

Might your prayers be hindered or blocked?

There are 5 things that can block or stop our prayers. The 5 hindrances are:

1. We turn away from doing what is right and, instead, do what is evil, without confessing our sins.

If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened. (Ps. 66:18)
*Iniquity means: wickedness or sin

If one turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer is an abomination. (Prov. 28:9)

For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.” (1 Pet. 3:12)

2. We do not extend compassion and grace to others.

In the same way you married men should live considerately with [your wives], with an intelligent recognition [of the marriage relation], honoring the woman as [physically] the weaker, but [realizing that you] are joint heirs of the grace (God’s unmerited favor) of life, in order that your prayers may not be hindered … (1 Pet. 3:7)

While I know this verse is directed towards husbands, women are equally called to remember we are joint-heirs of grace and to extend that grace accordingly. To be angry and bitter, I believe, impacts a lot in our spiritual life.

3. We ask with selfish ambition or from soulish self-centered motives.

You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. (Ja. 4:3)
And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. (1 Jo. 5:14)

4. We ask without confidence in Him and without faith that He will do what we asked Him to do.

If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. (Jo. 15:7)

And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.” (Mt. 21:22)

“And Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God. Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” (Mk. 11:22-24)

5. We do not forgive others.

“And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.” (Mk. 11:25)

What might be blocking you? Friends, the first place to start is repentance. Tell God, you are sorry. By doing this, you will find the flow is opened up once again. You will unblock the pipe. You will permit God to do what He so desires to do: help you!

Absolutely, the grace of God is enough to cover our mistakes, but if we willfully want to go our own way, God doesn’t pin us to the ground and force us to go His way. He is kind, patient and slow to anger.

In the past, I have thought the issue was God. I’d ask, “Where is He? Why hasn’t He shown up?”

Later, would come a day when I’d fall on my knees and realize the pride of me, kept me from the love of Him. I had inadvertently blocked His help. I had stopped His miraculous help!

If you are in this sort of place, where nothing is happening, may I encourage you? Turn towards your Father and clear out any hinderances. He loves you. He has good gifts for you. He wants to help you. He wants to give to you. Just as I want to give amazing Christmas gifts to my kids, He wants to give to you, too!

Unblock the flow!

Prayer: Father, give us clean hands and a pure heart. Show us if there is any wrong way within us. Forgive us for anything we may have done against you. Lead us to you — to the Good Shepherd, to our Defender and to our Provider. Hear our prayer and give us your peace. Hear the cry of our heart and answer us today. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

P.S. The “Help My Marriage Workshop” is next Thursday, December 14. You can also access it by recording. Register here.

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Thanks Welcomes More of God

“Thank you, mommy.”

Oh my goodness, my friends, every time my kids say these three simple words, it blesses me wildly. Usually in a case like this, I find myself in the middle of a parking lot, holding a load of grocery bags, but everything in me wants to drop everything to hug the living daylights out of them.

Always, my heart cries out something like:

God, thank you!!! My kids see my heart for them. They know my love. They recognize how much I want to give them the very best. They appreciate my heart to provide them simple pleasures. They have moved my heart.

And, I can’t help but think, today… just as their thanks moved my heart, my thanks moves God’s heart.

Just as I want to do a little happy-dance due to my kids’ thankful heart, I wonder if God feels the same way? Just as my children appreciate sacrifice and it moves me to embrace them in love, does my thanks move God to want to embrace me, too? Just as I overflow with the desire to give my kids even more after they give thanks, does God want to pour out more on me, also?

This could be! Scripture says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 4:6-7)

We pray away harm, while we thank God for who He is and guess what happens? He gives peace. We petition for God’s protection and we end up with a God-embrace that guards our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

Friends, “thanks” is not only a nice thing we do and say, but it is a weapon of spiritual warfare. Thanks is not only a spiritual weapon, but it is protection. It mounts guard over our heart and mind. Thanks is not only something God asks us to do, but it is an important component of prayer that works. Thanks gives us power to move forward with peace that causes us to think straight, that empowers wise decisions, and that yields wise reactions.

This Thanksgiving, don’t let thanks end after Thursday. Let it reign in your heart. Thank God for who He is, what He has done and what He will do, thanks to His faithfulness. Thank Him for all He has saved you from. Thank Him for His son. Thank Him for the ways He has helped your families.

Thank Him for saving your life.

Prayer: Father, you have given me so many good gifts in my life. I thank you always take care of me. I thank you that you know every detail of what you are doing with my life. I see a string that doesn’t always make sense, but you know exactly how you are weaving that tapestry into something beautiful. I trust you. I thank you, Father, that who you are is worthy of all my trust. I give that to you today. I thank you for saving me and for loving me. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

P.S. It’s not too late to get a copy of the “Faith Workshop” recording. If you need faith now or you want to trust God more, sign up to get the recorded version. Those who attended found it “inspiring”, “freeing” and “encouraging.” Stand firm in faith and peace. Discover why we go through hard times. Receive encouragement and hope. To watch the recording, click here.

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Know, God Won’t Fail You

Driving, I found myself amazed at the weirdest thing!

I know it sounds odd, friends, but isn’t it incredible that highway overpasses actually work? Think of it…three cars can drive directly above us, and yet, the overhead structures never collapse. They don’t buckle under the pressure. Even more, we have no fear of driving under them. We never think twice about their collapse. We know these overhead bridges are sturdy.

But, do we know God’s love is sturdy? Do we know His faithfulness is sturdy? Or, do we trust a bridge to be more faithful than our God?

“He will cover you with his feathers.
He will shelter you with his wings.
His faithful promises are your armor and protection.” (Ps. 91:4 NLT)

God’s promises keep and protect us; they are far more sturdy than any natural thing we rely on to keep safe.

Do we really trust God? Some of us are traveling down roads, yet we are turning back in fear, in doubt and in double-mindedness thinking that God’s way, God’s road, and God’s promises won’t work for us.

If that is you, this Thursday evening is an event you must attend!

I am having a 1-night workshop called, “Stand Strong in Faith — in the Gap of Not-Yet-Answered Prayers & Extremely Hard Times”.

During this workshop, we will:
1. Find practical tips and encouragement to stand strong in faith.
2. Ditch debilitating fear, doubt and worry; learn 3 practical ways to stand strong.
3. Regain trust in a God who is always-faithful.
4. Gain support and empathy from sisters who understand.
5. Pray for one another, as we trust the God who hears us.

Join me for a night of refreshment, encouragement and grace-giving empowerment.

Register here: “Stand Strong in Faith” Workshop
November 16, 2023 at 6:00 ET via Zoom.
*Recording available.
$25.00

Lately, I have been in awe of God. God IS answering so many prayers. Children are finding joy again. Job provision is coming in. Healing is showing up for people. I want to pray for you. I believe God will move powerfully on releasing fresh hope and that He will also show up on our prayers for one another during this call, too. I’m excited!

Let’s join hands together and find refreshment in the Lord!

Testimonials:

“Kelly is a great encourager! Her greatest desire is that you should know who the Lord created you to be and who you are as a daughter.” – M.R.

“Kelly brought light into my very dark world by demonstrating what the true love of Jesus looks like!” – D.P.

“Kelly’s “realness”, no matter the cost has helped liberate me from all the masks I carried. Christ uses her to powerfully deliver freedom in every conversation.” – S.A.

Register today: “Stand Strong in Faith” Workshop

Even better, gift a friend in need with this session. It will change their life.

*Subscribe for all Purposeful Faith blog posts by email – click here.

 

When Fear Seems Overwhelming

I awoke. It was the middle of the night. Fear was tangible. Sweat nearly broke out on my brow…The weight of the world pressed on my chest.

Would everything work out? Will I be okay? Will my kids come out of this alright? Will God really come through? What have I done? Can I really trust Him now?

Laying there, with no voice but my own, I acknowledged how my mental trek was soon to become an unstoppable train wreck, leaving me in emotional ruin. I’d been here before. I know how mental agitation gives way to endless ruminations that speak louder than the consolation of the Holy Spirit. Undoubtedly, I was about to lose all semblance of control, as well as peace and sleep.

I was at a crossroad…which way would I go? Would I give in to more thinking, pondering, circling, rehashing, ruminating and figuring — or would I tell that demonic spirit of fear to leave me, putting these unruly thoughts to bed once and for all?

Maybe you’ve been there…Maybe you are there today. Maybe fear is gripping you, and your mind feels out of control with figuring things out. Maybe you have a child who has gone astray. A daughter who is on drugs. A husband who won’t stop drinking. A job that feels tormenting. A dream that seems impossible. A financial bank account that is in ruins.

Maybe the devil is knocking on the door of your mind saying, “God, won’t really do it. He won’t really help you. He won’t really come in time.” Maybe you are losing faith and hope that things can be different?

Is that you?

You know what I decided to do the night I almost mentally train wrecked? I put a stake in the ground. I said, “Satan, get out of here; I don’t want to hear you anymore.”

I shut his trap right on up! And, I went back to sleep. In the morning, I wasn’t bothered.

Dear friends, for some of you, the enemy has been talking your ear off. And, you’ve been listening. No wonder you’re agitated and not at rest. No wonder you feel full of fear and not faith.

But, no longer, sisters!!! The time is now to put a stake in the ground and tell the enemy you will not cower in fear, because you are going to stand in faith.

I want to share with you my battle-practiced, time-tested breakthrough strategies to stand in faith, when the world is crumbling on you. They work, because I’ve lived them, honed them, leaned on them, cried through them, and trusted God with them.

I’ve lived them through sickness, weakness, injury, hopelessness, difficulty, abuse, torment, and marital troubles. God has kept me going.

I am having a 1-night workshop called, “Stand Strong in Faith — in the Gap of Not-Yet-Answered Prayers & Extremely Hard Times”.

During this workshop, we will:
1. Learn 5 ways to stand strong in faith.
2. Pray in a way that disarms fear.
3. Know and rely on God in a way that gives you peace.
4. Gain support and empathy from sisters who understand.
5. Pray for one another, as we trust the God who hears us.

Join me for a night of refreshment, encouragement, and grace-giving empowerment.
Register here: “Stand Strong in Faith” Workshop
November 16, 2023 at 6:00 ET via Zoom.
*Recording available.

Jesus said, “Do not let your hearts be troubled (distressed, agitated). You believe in and adhere to and trust in and rely on God; believe in and adhere to and trust in and rely also on Me.” (Jo. 14:1)

We do not need to live troubled; we have a Savior, Redeemer, Restorer, and Power far greater than anything we see with our natural eye.

Testimonials:
“Kelly is a great encourager! Her greatest desire is that you should know who the Lord created you to be and who you are as a daughter.” – M.R.

“Kelly brought light into my very dark world by demonstrating what the true love of Jesus looks like!” – D.P.

“Kelly’s “realness”, no matter the cost has helped liberate me from all the masks I carried. Christ uses her to powerfully deliver freedom in every conversation.” – S.A.

Register today, click here: “Stand Strong in Faith” Workshop

Even better, gift a friend in need with this session. It will change their life.

*Subscribe for all Purposeful Faith blog posts by email – click here.

P.S. I have an amazing email editor. Frankly, I’m horrible at grammar. She’s talented. If you need someone to help you with proofreading or editing, please consider Proofed by Pearl. For more information, visit: https://blinq.me/N95Try18DzzY

 

Seeing Through Eyes of Faith

I sat on my friend’s floor, coiling a long telephone cord around my stubby index finger.

A high school boy had not called her back after she had tried calling him multiple times. I was interested to see how another person, rejected like me, would handle things. It felt good, in that moment to know that I was not alone. She was hurting too now. Misery loves company.

But, she didn’t indulge me how I wanted…her response threw me off. Rather than saying, like I would, “There must be something wrong with me,” she said, “Oh, he’s probably busy and will call me later.”

That surprised me. It wasn’t all her fault.

She didn’t believe the worst about herself…
She didn’t blame herself…
She didn’t think she was flawed…

Instead, she gave the guy the benefit of the doubt. She hoped the best and believed the best for him and herself.

And because of that, she side-stepped all the self-blame, self-hatred, and burdening personalization that I so shamefully and easily walked in.

How was it so easy for her to escape all that?

As she saw it, there was nothing wrong with her, but for me? It was all — ALL my fault.

I wonder if any of you are like me? How often do we personalize what likely has nothing to do with us, thereby heaping pain and self-blame on ourselves?

How often do we decide our kids’ walk is our fault? Our marriage is our fault? Our situation is our fault? People’s responses are our fault?

“Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything [without weakening].” (1 Cor 13:7)

We are to love ourselves. Do you doubt that?

God tells us to “love others as we love ourselves”, therefore, we are to:

1. Believe the best about ourselves
2. Hope there is a good future for ourselves
3. Endure up under ourselves with belief even in the face of our flaws.

“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” (Heb. 11:1)

Faith is all about what we hope for.

If we have no hope, we have no faith. If we have no faith, we turn off the faucet flow of the greater things God can and will do for us.

My friend had hope; I had none.

It’s no wonder I got an eating disorder and was ready to die. Without hope, all life dies. Faith can generate nothing new and life-giving.

But, in us, my friends, we have Jesus, the hope of glory! Which means there is always hope! There is always resurrection life power. There is always a new way!

A weekend ago, I spoke at a church, where Jesus came with radical power to heal people of sickness, mental illness, and pain. I have never seen anything like it. The women’s faith believed in the hand of a Saving God! And He came!

If He did it for them, He will do it for you! Have faith that what God has for others could also be for the likes of you, too!

Prayer: Father, you are great. You are mighty. You are able. You are maker. You have good things in store for those who love you. I cast off me for the receiving of you. I let go of what I am not, for the faith that you are bigger than me and my mistakes. I trust you. Life is not about me, but it is for the glory of you! So, today I lean on you and trust in you! You make all things new. You have things in store for me. You have good for me. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

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