Trusting God Even If

This topic is one that the Lord has put heavy on my heart: Trusting ain’t easy! It can be easier to say, “That’s just our luck,” and have this lackluster or “pity me” attitude about what is happening in your life. Even worse, blindly trusting that only good things will happen in your life and you will reap from the rewards that you have not earned. Trust is something that is earned and requires to be worked on continuously. As Christians, often times our prayers can be for immediate healing or for landing a new job offer that will financially benefit your family and then some. That if we rub this lamp, God will grant our wishes and our heart’s desires! In that skewed view of Godly trust, we have this misunderstanding that we trust God to only do the things that would benefit us, solve all of our problems, or what we want to happen for others according to our plan. If God answered our prayers according to our will’s, could you imagine what the world would be like?

We should trust the Lord not for an outcome, but regardless of an outcome.

When we truly put our trust in God, we are praying in faith that He is powerful and strong enough to answer our prayers according to His will regardless of the outcome. We need to trust that even if He doesn’t do that or even brings a good thing to an end, His plans are greater and He has a greater purpose for us. Isaiah 55:9 says that His ways and thoughts are higher than our own. We can’t comprehend His ways and thoughts. God can do anything. Proverbs 3:5 says when we lean away from our own understanding and lean into God’s word, we are leaning away from a worldly perspective and leaning into a spiritual perspective, thus building trust. He is going to use that justification to sanctify you and grow you in His-likeness. He will use it to grow you in your faith and in your walk with the Lord. Romans 8:28 says not that all things will be good, but all things will work together for good. This is not an earthly good, it’s a spiritual good. Yes, sometimes there are worldly, good things that happen, but His plans and outcomes are always focused on spiritual good. He is greater. His thoughts and plans are higher. God must become higher and we must become lesser (John 3:30 NLT).

One thing I’ve learned (and it’s a hot one) is that the closer you are to God, the more you seek God, and the more you live like God, the more that the enemy and the world will attack. If you feel like you’ve won, then you have more than likely blindly accepted worldly desires, fleshly desires, sin, and the devil into your life. Put on the armor of God and fill yourself with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 6:10-12 NLT).

What do you do when God doesn’t answer your prayers according to your plans? See my blog post about ‘God’s Planned Delays” about seeking God in seasons of waiting.

Be a light + stay salty!

Talk soon!

Other Bible verses to soak in:

Isaiah 55:9 (NLT) says, “For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts are higher than your thoughts.”

Romans 8:28 (NLT) says, “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.”

Proverbs 3:5-6 (NLT) says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take.”

Ephesians 6:10-12 (NLT) says, “A final word: be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.”

John 3:30 (NLT) says, “He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less.”

Songs to praise Him in:

“Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)” by Hillsong UNITED

Ordained Moments from God

On my Facebook memories today, popped up a post from four years ago when Ada turned one week old with the exact photograph below on the right. I’m still in disbelief that she was born four years ago. In this Facebook post, I talked about things Ada loved, milestones she was accomplishing, how well she was sleeping, how well she was nursing, how great of a father Jesse had become, and how much we were in love with her. Behind the scenes that most people didn’t see, were the family and friends that were being beacons of light in that new, utterly blissful, sometimes dark season of our lives. Ada was born in 2020, just a few months before the pandemic and everything shut down. I stayed home for 6 months after she was born. I remember feeling robbed of our freedom and a lot of firsts as a new family. I remember thinking with a pit in my stomach, “I just brought my babygirl into this crazy and lost world.” Family and friends selflessly and willingly offered to bring us meals, listen to our newborn babygirl cry, and change her poopy diapers. Selflessly and willingly, guys-if that isn’t love. But I witnessed first-hand how one tiny human being brought so much tender, loving care into that crazy and lost world. Then I flashback to the mom I was four years ago in the left photograph below. I had an minuscule idea of the mental and physical toll labor and delivery can have on a woman’s body plus postpartum depression. Throw in a pandemic-it was hard. I’ll confess, I wish so hard that I had leaned more on Jesus and given myself more grace during that time rather than just pushing through and convincing myself it was normal to feel that way everyday. I was so hard on myself to be enough for her. I was so anxious. I was terrified of SIDS so I didn’t get any sleep. I was terrified to put her in her infant carrier-I constantly checked the rear view mirror. When I was out in public, I was terrified that someone would try to take her. I didn’t sleep while she slept until she was much older. All of these seemed like valid worries at the time. If you are feeling you are having symptoms of postpartum depression, seek professional help right away. We are so extremely grateful for our village of family and close friends that helped us four years ago and still do now, some were new parents themselves.

Matthew 5:14 (NLT) says just this, “you are the light of the world-like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden.” Sometimes God puts people on our hearts or on our minds for what seems like no reason. They are ordained moments from God that just can’t be explain any other way. It’s cliche, but you don’t know what challenge(s) someone is facing. It could be a financial challenge, grief, infertility, chronic pain, marital challenges, etc. Pray that God will use you today and everyday to be a blessing to a friend, a family member, a coworker, or someone in your life group. There’s a greater purpose to why God put them on your heart, or put you on someone else’s heart. Be intentional to let the light of the gospel shine through your day. God may use you one way today and another tomorrow. It can be as simple as delivering a meal to someone, picking up their drive-up order, posting a Bible verse on your social media, sending a quick text message letting them know they’re in your thoughts, or just lending a listening ear. I’ve learned that talking about your challenge(s) with loved ones is sometimes the best therapy. Give all your worry and burdens to God because he WANTS to take them all and carry them for all of us. He WANTS all the hard, grimy, sad, anxious, painful stuff. I pray that whatever challenge(s) you are going through, you lean on and turn to Jesus, and see him as your one true source of healing and peace. In Matthew 11: 28-30, Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”

Be a light + stay salty!

Talk soon!

Other bible verses to soak in:

Philippians 2:4 (NLT) says, “Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.”

Hebrews 6:10 (NLT) says, “For God is not unjust. He will not forget how hard you have worked for him and how you have shown your love to him by caring for other believers, as you still do.”