You know those days when everything seems to go wrong, and I’m
talking about small stuff here, and you just want to throw your hands up and
cry? I just had one of those days. It was more like a 36-hour period. Charlotte
just had her first real accident (a busted lip from crawling too fast and
falling on her face…my poor baby…of course I was gone to dinner with a friend
when it happened, so when the hubs sent me a picture of what happened, I almost
flew home), she’s transitioning from two naps to one (she’s a joy to be around
come 6:30 p.m.), I just got rejected for a gig I had applied for, an ATT tech
had to come to our house to fix our internet and cable and there were still
issues once he left, Charlotte deleted my Total Baby app from my phone which
held a diary of all her milestones (because I have failed to transfer that
info to her baby book, because I’m still working on that procrastination thing…thankfully,
I restored most of the data because sweet baby Jesus loves me), I still haven’t
found a straw sippy cup that doesn’t leak so I continue my plight with the
dishrag, my iPhone 4 stopped taking pictures, about a million fruit flies have
found a home in my kitchen, I had to (err…chose to) cheat on my Paleo diet
because I was alone with Charlotte for dinner and Jimmy John’s delivery just
sounded like it was the best option, and then this morning I locked myself out
of the house because we just got a new lock system on our back door leaving me to go around the house in my nightgown (barefoot no less) with Charlotte and Chapman in tow to get in through the
garage. Whine, whine, whine. Stop the insanity!
talking about small stuff here, and you just want to throw your hands up and
cry? I just had one of those days. It was more like a 36-hour period. Charlotte
just had her first real accident (a busted lip from crawling too fast and
falling on her face…my poor baby…of course I was gone to dinner with a friend
when it happened, so when the hubs sent me a picture of what happened, I almost
flew home), she’s transitioning from two naps to one (she’s a joy to be around
come 6:30 p.m.), I just got rejected for a gig I had applied for, an ATT tech
had to come to our house to fix our internet and cable and there were still
issues once he left, Charlotte deleted my Total Baby app from my phone which
held a diary of all her milestones (because I have failed to transfer that
info to her baby book, because I’m still working on that procrastination thing…thankfully,
I restored most of the data because sweet baby Jesus loves me), I still haven’t
found a straw sippy cup that doesn’t leak so I continue my plight with the
dishrag, my iPhone 4 stopped taking pictures, about a million fruit flies have
found a home in my kitchen, I had to (err…chose to) cheat on my Paleo diet
because I was alone with Charlotte for dinner and Jimmy John’s delivery just
sounded like it was the best option, and then this morning I locked myself out
of the house because we just got a new lock system on our back door leaving me to go around the house in my nightgown (barefoot no less) with Charlotte and Chapman in tow to get in through the
garage. Whine, whine, whine. Stop the insanity!
You know what all of that is? It’s me doubting God’s goodness. It’s
me doubting that I’m capable of getting through all the pesky, trivial nuances
in my day. I don’t know about you, but every now and then I find myself filled
with self-doubt. Clearly. During trials and tests of faith, no matter how big
or small, I sometimes don’t feel adequate enough. “I’m not skinny enough. I’m
not smart enough. I’m not outgoing enough. My attitude isn’t positive enough.
I’m not good enough.” Why do we do this to ourselves? Doubt is a funny little
thing. When we let doubt creep in and let all of those feelings of inadequacy invade
our thoughts, that is the devil trying to steal our peace. Here’s a thought:
When in doubt, let it out, and let Jesus step in. You see what I did there? I
let it all out, and I’m letting Jesus step in. I feel better already. Of course
we’re going to experience trials, and of course we’re going to want to whine
about it, but the key to getting through it is to not allow doubt to keep you
stuck in a place of misery.
me doubting that I’m capable of getting through all the pesky, trivial nuances
in my day. I don’t know about you, but every now and then I find myself filled
with self-doubt. Clearly. During trials and tests of faith, no matter how big
or small, I sometimes don’t feel adequate enough. “I’m not skinny enough. I’m
not smart enough. I’m not outgoing enough. My attitude isn’t positive enough.
I’m not good enough.” Why do we do this to ourselves? Doubt is a funny little
thing. When we let doubt creep in and let all of those feelings of inadequacy invade
our thoughts, that is the devil trying to steal our peace. Here’s a thought:
When in doubt, let it out, and let Jesus step in. You see what I did there? I
let it all out, and I’m letting Jesus step in. I feel better already. Of course
we’re going to experience trials, and of course we’re going to want to whine
about it, but the key to getting through it is to not allow doubt to keep you
stuck in a place of misery.
Just listen to this goodness:
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,
whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of
your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you
may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom,
you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will
be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the
one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. For
that person must not suppose tht he will receive anything from the Lord; he is
a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. (James 1:2-7 NIV)
whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of
your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you
may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom,
you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will
be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the
one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. For
that person must not suppose tht he will receive anything from the Lord; he is
a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. (James 1:2-7 NIV)
Oh, how I love those words in the book of James! Consider it pure
joy? I’ll try and give that attitude a go next time I’m feeling like Negative
Nancy. Because when we face trials of many kinds, we are made perfect and
complete, lacking absolutely nothing. Well, okay then. I can definitely live
with that.
joy? I’ll try and give that attitude a go next time I’m feeling like Negative
Nancy. Because when we face trials of many kinds, we are made perfect and
complete, lacking absolutely nothing. Well, okay then. I can definitely live
with that.
Can the fix really be that easy? Why, yes. Yes, it can. While it’s
great to always want to better ourselves and wish things were always easy, try
not to let your idea of how you should be mess with the idea of being comfortable
with who you are. Because you know what? God loves you anyway. None of us are
as we should be, but because of the Grave, God showed us His Grace. “My grace
is sufficient for you for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians
12:9). He loves us just as we are, in our weakness and all. Because when we are
weak, that is when His power is made perfect. He has equipped us with all that
we need to do His will, and whatever we’re lacking, He will fill. Because when
you ask for that wisdom to get through it all, you’ll need to ask without doubt
and He will give generously. You just have to be willing and ready for all
that He has to offer. Ain’t nobody got time for a doubtful Negative Nancy.
great to always want to better ourselves and wish things were always easy, try
not to let your idea of how you should be mess with the idea of being comfortable
with who you are. Because you know what? God loves you anyway. None of us are
as we should be, but because of the Grave, God showed us His Grace. “My grace
is sufficient for you for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians
12:9). He loves us just as we are, in our weakness and all. Because when we are
weak, that is when His power is made perfect. He has equipped us with all that
we need to do His will, and whatever we’re lacking, He will fill. Because when
you ask for that wisdom to get through it all, you’ll need to ask without doubt
and He will give generously. You just have to be willing and ready for all
that He has to offer. Ain’t nobody got time for a doubtful Negative Nancy.
God has equipped you with all the talents
necessary to propel you to be your best yet. Don’t doubt Him. You are made in
His likeness. When you let that sink in, you are going to be the strongest,
most successful person yet. The devil knows how strong you are and just how
wonderful the gifts are that God has given you, and he wants to take that away
from you. He wants you to doubt. He wants you to give up when things get uncomfortable.
Don’t let him win. God is going to use you for great things. Just trust in Him
to guide you. It would be easy to throw in the towel when things get tough or
when your prayers seem to go unanswered, but don’t lose hope. Settling or
moving to mediocrity is not in His path for you. Let go of the doubt, and allow
Him to keep refining you, making you perfect and complete. We are like the jars
of clay, ‘afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to
despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed’ (2 Cor
4:8-9), and ‘so we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away,
our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction
is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we
look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the
things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal’
(2 Cor 4: 16-18). And we keep pressing on, one trial at a time, persevering until the end.
necessary to propel you to be your best yet. Don’t doubt Him. You are made in
His likeness. When you let that sink in, you are going to be the strongest,
most successful person yet. The devil knows how strong you are and just how
wonderful the gifts are that God has given you, and he wants to take that away
from you. He wants you to doubt. He wants you to give up when things get uncomfortable.
Don’t let him win. God is going to use you for great things. Just trust in Him
to guide you. It would be easy to throw in the towel when things get tough or
when your prayers seem to go unanswered, but don’t lose hope. Settling or
moving to mediocrity is not in His path for you. Let go of the doubt, and allow
Him to keep refining you, making you perfect and complete. We are like the jars
of clay, ‘afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to
despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed’ (2 Cor
4:8-9), and ‘so we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away,
our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction
is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we
look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the
things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal’
(2 Cor 4: 16-18). And we keep pressing on, one trial at a time, persevering until the end.
I don’t think it’s a coincidence that this song (called Oceans by Hillsong UNITED) has been on repeat for me the past couple of weeks. Chills every time. It fills me up with peace and lets all my doubt run to the hills. My
prayer for you (and for me) is that these lyrics become a reality in your life
and in mine.
prayer for you (and for me) is that these lyrics become a reality in your life
and in mine.
Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders
Let me walk upon the waters
Wherever You would call me
Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander
And my faith will be made stronger
In the presence of my Savior
Amen.
I agree. God has given us everything that we need. If we only just use it.
Exactly, Betty. :) Thanks for reading!