It’s funny when you make a blog post about something you are really passionate about and truly desire to act on and then Satan takes your words and turns them against you. He takes the God given desires and uplifting life-changing mindsets and convinces you that you could never live out those words, that you’re a hypocrite and that you’re “all talk.” I was challenged this week to live out my “Thank you Jesus” blog in a new way and WOW. Let’s just say things are a lot easier said than done. My desires were right on, but my execution, not so much. I truly desired to live joyfully despite my circumstances. I really wanted to encourage the people around me despite my feelings. I actually recognized my negative attitude and told myself that God is good and His plan is higher no matter the situation. But saying this to myself, and actually believing and living it, are two very different things.

So I experienced some growing pains.

Living loved, even when you feel far from it, is hard. Living joyfully in an impossible situation is hard. Living on fire for Christ in the midst of a challenge is hard. But it’s also where we grow.

But you know why it is so hard? Because if you’re anything like me, you try to accomplish these things on your own: your own terms, your own way, and through your own abilities. And if you have not figured it out yet, that is an impossible expectation of yourself! But we attempt it anyways because we forget who is for us (Romans 8:31)! You have our Father in Heaven to run to, in the good times and the bad times, in the blessings and the blind-sides, but you have forgotten. So here come the growing pains.

This whole week I have been trying to make and reach godly standards for myself. That  sounds awesome right?? Well, one problem. I did not prayerfully ask God for help and wisdom in the situations I was in. I wanted to have a heart change, without asking God to change my heart. I tried to solve my problems in a “godly” way, without God. (I know right, I can’t believe I attempted it either, but it really does not work and it’s as silly as it sounds.)

But seriously, how often do you go through life thinking you are trusting God, but still trying to fix things yourself along the way? Probably a lot! Because as human beings in an individualist society, we like to be autonomous and in control. Even when we KNOW things are out of our control, we try to find something to grab a hold of and fix, when in reality, the only thing we should be grabbing hold of is God.

Trusting in God means FULLY releasing control and giving the situation to Him. And, I know for me, that sounds SO IMPOSSIBLE.

So how do we find a way to release control?

1. Know who you are giving control to. If I know the characteristics of God, I can believe that he will care for me in a far better way than I ever could.

• He goes with you to fight against your enemies (Deuteronomy 20:4)
• He is your refuge (Deuteronomy 33:27)
• He pours out His love to us (Romans 5:5)
• He is faithful (1 Corinthians 1:9)
• He is a God of peace (1 Corinthians 14:33)
• He is light (1 John 1:5)
• the list goes on and on

2.  Trust that He is who He says he is. (Again, easier said than done, but the more time you spend in prayer and in His Word, the easier it becomes! PSA: It is always harder to trust someone you do not know or spend time with)

 

Anywho, I wanted to share my growth on here because, y’all, I am FAR from perfect. And I feel like the older I get, the more evident this becomes in my life. But the cool thing about that is His power is made perfect in our weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9). He shines brightest and is most evident in the growing pains, and the growing pains have helped me think less of myself and more of Him (John 3:30). They have taught me to rely on Him and not on myself and that His Grace is SO ABUNDANT and SO necessary.

So Thank You Jesus!!! For showing me that I need you ALL the time, and forgive me for not recognizing it sooner.

-Megan