I saw this inspiring quote on Social Media: “Be bold enough to use your voice, brave enough to listen to your heart, and strong enough to live the life you’ve always imagined.“ Initially, I thought, “Wow, that’s good.” But the more I thought about it, the more I realized this is instructing us to put our hope in ourselves. And I thought, “Nope, that’s not where I want to put my hope. I want to put my hope in God.”
Have you ever read something that made you stop in your tracks? Recently, I read this phrase on a social media meme: “You’re not failing; you’re learning.” It hit me so hard I began to cry because I knew God was speaking to my heart. The omnipotent (all-powerful) and omniscient (all-knowing) God showed up in my ordinary scrolling.
I have a fear problem.
A couple of years ago, I was in a terrible car accident on a rainy day. I totaled my car and broke my back.
And now I have an unbelievable fear of driving, especially in the rain.
My biggest question was, “Why God?” But my biggest mistake was allowing my questioning heart, hurt, and anger to distance me from the only One who could direct my steps in dealing with this difficulty.
Our expectations often lead to disappointment. We expect our life to follow a particular trajectory, but it doesn’t. We expect life to be easy. But it is anything but. So we pray and expect God to answer our prayers the way we think He should, to give us our dreams, and to fulfill our expectations. But He has another plan.
Are your fears holding you back? Perhaps they are holding you back from:
Speaking up for yourself
Meeting that person
Applying for a job
Going for the promotion
Taking a trip or adventure
Writing a book
Sharing your faith
Have you ever said, “Wow, what a coincidence?”
Yesterday, I read a Christian book and learned about walking with God. He takes us in the direction He knows is best. As we walk, we deepen our relationship with God by sharing our hearts, submitting our fears, and even the areas where we lack faith and trust in Him. (paraphrased from Relaxed, by Megan Fate Marshman)
As I read this, I thought,” Hmm, submit to God and build your relationship. Seems like everywhere I turn lately, I see the words submit, surrender, let go, and give it to God. This can’t be a coincidence.”
As believers of Christ, we can combine all 3 of these techniques and get the best benefit. Why? Because God’s breath has power. After all, God formed man from the dust in the ground and breathed the breath of life into him. (Genesis 2:7) Additionally, today’s key verse teaches us, “But it is the spirit in a person, the breath of the Almighty, that gives them understanding.” (Job 32:8, NIV) Since God’s Holy Spirit dwells in us, His breath can fill us with understanding and ease our anxiety.
I was convinced I had missed a step when I became a Christian because I didn’t act like a Christian. I was too angry. My temper was too short. And no matter how many times I asked my children nicely to do something, I always ended up yelling at them. Perhaps I wasn’t good enough to be a Christian. After all, even though I’d heard this verse a thousand times, I didn’t feel like a new creation: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”. (2 Corinthians 5:17, ESV)
When I was growing up, my mom frequently reminded me, “Patience is a virtue.” I am pretty sure she told me this so often because, well…I am not very patient. Maybe you can relate?
I read a funny social media post that said, “Most husbands know that when their wives ask them to do something when they get time, they may as well get up because she means ‘do it right now.’” Yeah, I am that impatient wife. Once, I asked my husband to sell his old car. He knew I would be impatient and immediately looked up the value online. But much to my annoyance, it sat in the driveway for the next 3 months. Finally, when my patience ran thin, I demanded he get it out of our driveway. So, he took to the dealer. However, when he came home, he had a big, satisfied grin on his face. He held up the check and said, ‘I guess it pays to be patient. The value went up $3,000 over the last few months. “
