“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
– Jeremiah 29:11
Tag Archives: hope
How we get strength
“He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted;but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength;they shall mount up with wings like eagles;they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” . – Isaiah 40:29-3
A story about an Angel, a sheep, and renewed strength
God wants us to hold on to His promises even when it looks like they will never come true and that He has abandoned us.
Below author and speaker Shelia Walsh talks about holding on and trusting God, even when it feels as if we have been abandoned by Him.
She discusses what it was like to go from Christian TV host in the morning and Physic Ward patient in the evening, She talks about how, even though she “felt” abandoned, God let her know that He was with her.
I think it’s interesting that so often the promises of God become most real when you find yourself in a place that’s almost the antithesis of the promise. … Romans 8 is one of my favorite chapters of the Bible. It begins with, “No condemnation,” and ends with, “No separation.” And I used to cling onto that, that nothing can separate us from the love of God. But in that place where I felt like I’d been abandoned, I discovered that God knew exactly — in fact, I had an encounter with an angel, the only one I’ve ever been aware of, before or since — about 3:00 in the morning… I heard someone come into my room and I didn’t even look up, but they walked right up to me and stood in front of me and I saw a man’s feet, so I looked up. Looked to me just like a hospital worker going off duty, but he put something in my hands, and it was a little -it was a lamb, like a stuffed toy, and he turned and went to the door, and when he got to the door, he stopped and he turned around and he said, “Sheila, the Shepherd knows where to find you.” And at the darkest moment in my life, when I felt as if anything that gave me any value as a human being, I heard the greatest news of my life, that no matter how lost you feel, the Shepherd knows where to find you.I heard her tell that story years ago during a Women of Faith conference and it always stuck with me because it shows that it does not matter how we “feel,” we as Christians need to daily walk in the truth that we are never alone!
If God has promised you something, hold on to that promise, and hold on to God because He is holding on to you!
You are not alone!!!
Story: http://www.turningpointzone.com/sheila-walsh
Photo: © nik0s – Fotolia.com
The letter, the word it said, and God
What do you do when you believe that God has lead you to not only a dead end but what could be the start of what might just be your own end?
I was to come to face to face with that question, like so many of His followers have before.
I was so sure of it all this time. I was so sure that the job that appeared on my screen was exactly what God had for me.
Looking at the facts I knew that
- The job “appeared” out of nowhere just as my school website had.
- The job stirred my spirit and was at a church that I felt an instant sense of belonging.
- The job was in a Country where I clearly felt called to.
- The job also seemed a perfect fit for not only my gifting’s but for my son as well.
Talking with my pastor I discussed how very sure I was that the job application would finally lead for the first time to something that has dodged me all my life, success.
That I would finally be “picked” for something.
I, like so many others, have struggled in the past with a low sense of self worth, not feeling as if I would ever amount to much, because I wasn’t as good as others.
While God has healed most of that, a small part remains. A part that is the kid on the playground waiting to be picked for a team, and hoping that this time it will finally be different. That this time she won’t be picked last. This time she will have been chosen, she will have tasted what it means to have a small measure of success.
Looking back over my life I can say that there was really rarely ever a time where I have felt chosen. Where I have truly ever felt wanted.
And Yet God!!!
God chose me!!! He has not only chosen me but He has loved and lead me so well that when this job appeared, and my spirit was stirred felt as if it was a shoe in. I believed that God would not have lead me to believe that I would finally see success only to once again for the millionth time have my hopes dashed.
And yet a few days ago it came.
A letter all the way from that country I felt called to, all the way from that part of the country I felt connected to.
I was already tired (my kryptonite) after working all day so the thought that maybe I would finally taste success, that was almost too much to handle.
My hope were high as I tore open the envelope and pulled out the letter.
And unfortunately they were again dashed.
Inside the envelope I was formally told that I was “unsuccessful” they actually used that dreaded word. I could feel Satan laughing at me, jeering me saying, “Haha you actually thought that you would have success, that you would be picked! It is never going to happen.”
I was hurt and went for a walk.
God walked with me and reminded me of some things that my daughter echoed when I returned.
God picked me and that was enough.
- I was lead here by God, just as the Israelites were led to the edge of the Red Sea. I should be expectantly waiting for Gods goodness, just as they should have been. Why? Because we have seen His working in our lives before, we have seen His loving kindness as He has lead us here. We know that He is faithful, so why believe that we are doomed?
- If you want a testimony you have to be tested!
So I am still at the edge of the sea, waiting on God.
Yet even though I have no idea why God lead me all this way, I have to believe that it was not for nothing.
I have seen His love and caring for me and my children far too many times to doubt that His intentions…no that His plan for my life, is anything but the best,
So it doesn’t matter that it looks like there is no job for me in England, it does not matter that I have been called unsuccessful in the past!
I am know that God will come through, that He hears my prayers for guidance and that He will make a way to where He wants me to be.
Don’t let the little things, or the big things stop you!!!
If you believe that He has lead you to a place where you need a miracle to happen, then expect to see the miracle. Trust God!!!!
In the end He will get you to where you and I need to be.
Photo© Konstiantyn – Fotolia.com
How to live an exciting life
Sometimes when God shows us the big picture of what He is calling us to, it seems over whelming, or even undo-able. Yet when we take things step by step, keeping our eyes firmly focused on him, life gets fairly easy to manage.
Take for instance this blog, when God told me to start it, I did so in obedience to Him, and yet had my doubts on how long it would last, as my blog track record was something like 0 and 4. I started them in my own power and about five posts in they died a horrible blog death (whatever that is).
However this blog is different. God not only started it, He sustains it by putting on my heart what next to write about.
I cannot tell you how strongly I know that God wants you to
Expect His Goodness!!!
This is an area that we as Christians need to come up in, as most of us have various reasons for not expecting any good thing from God.
I know in my spirit that this is a topic that I will be writing more and more about in the future, but for this post let me just say that
if you are reading this God wants you to know that His Goodness has nothing to do who you are or what you deserve.
It has to do with who He is.
A.W. Pink states that…..
The goodness of God is the life of the believer’s trust. It is this excellency in God which most appeals to our hearts. Because His goodness endureth forever, we ought never to be discouraged.
How can we trust God to move in our lives in a great way unless we trust Him to be good to us!
If you struggle in this area ask him to show you why?
He is faithful to do so.
God wants us to be excited about what He is going to do in our lives!!!
He wants to watch and wait for His goodness.
Just like the photo above shows, it is our choice about how we are to live.
Are we to live a bored life, always focused on self (and what we can or cannot do in our own strength)?
Or are we going to be determined to live an exciting life expecting the Goodness of God around every turn.
Knowing that He longs to be good to us!!!
God Loves you and has great thing in store for you!!! May your faith be strengthened to trust Him!
Photo © Stuart Miles – Fotolia.com
I Am Trusting God 