I came across this collection of stories on Facebook. I thought I’d share the stories today to encourage you.
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Tag: trust
The Season of Waiting
Waiting…
It’s not fun.
In our American “get it NOW” society, we tend to want our desires to manifest immediately. We don’t like waiting.
But the old saying “good things come to those who wait,” still rings true. Sometimes an incubation period is needed for in order for us to see the desired end result. Seeds don’t produce immediately after they are planted. Farmers and gardeners have to wait. It takes time before the seed produces the first sprout which forces its way through the soil to bask in the sunlight and continue to grow.
Even God waits. He planted many “Word seeds” through His prophets who predicted a Savior/Messiah would come. But He waited through many generations. He desired for Jesus to come to the earth and save mankind but it took hundreds of years before Jesus was born. Sending Jesus was indeed the BEST thing that God has done for mankind but God patiently waited for the right time!
You may be waiting on a desired result that seems impossible to come through, only because it’s taking so long to manifest. But hang in there! The seed is about to sprout. There is HOPE! You’ll find it in Hebrews 10:35, 36:
“So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you! Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised.”
I pray that you’ll endure this season of waiting with hope, peace and joy!
Focus Friday
Focus on the following scripture throughout the day. It’s God’s Word and it’s what He desires us to believe. Believe it is true for you because God’s Word is Truth. Speak this Word to yourself throughout the day.
Personalize it by putting your name in it and expect God to do what He has said!
“When I am afraid, I will trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me?”~~Psalm 56:3,4 [NIV]
Infertility Sucks!
Yesterday, while talking with a friend about my experience with infertility, I was reminded of some of the emotions that surfaced during that struggle:
- Shock
- Devastation
- Demoralization
- Aloneness
- Jealousy
- Confusion
- Stress
- Shame
I felt inadequate as a woman because I couldn’t do the one thing that women can do that men can’t— give birth. There are additional depressing feelings that were brought on by infertility but the point I want to make to you is that I OVERCAME them. Thankfully, I had understanding friends who pointed me to God. They encouraged me to learn about the women in the Bible who experienced infertility and overcame it. That was a turning point for me!
If you’re struggling through the emotions of infertility (and I do mean through–don’t get stuck there), you know where I’m coming from–infertility sucks! Please know that you are not alone. Trust in the Word of God. Trust in His love for you.
Have confidence that God’s promises of fertility are true for YOU. Find and anchor your hope in them.
An Affirmation
From an old hymn of the church, comes a wonderful affirmation to not only sing but to whisper to ourselves throughout the day. It reminds me of John 15:5 when Jesus said, “I am the vine, you [are] the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.”
This song was written by Annie S. Hawes and Robert Lowry:
I need Thee,
O I need Thee.
Every hour I need Thee;
O bless me now my Savior.
I come to Thee.
A Penny For Your Thoughts
I’ve been thinking about the issue of trust. Nowadays, how do you know who’s trustworthy?
Look closely at this penny. It’s a great reminder about Who to trust!
Trust in Jesus’ finished work on your behalf.
Trust in the unshakable, true promises of God.
Hold tightly to your dream. Don’t let circumstances break you loose from it.
Make a decision to believe in and stand on the Word of God as the absolute Truth in life. The Truth will shake up your circumstances in a positive way!
What do you use as a reminder to trust God in your circumstances? I’d love to know!
Life’s Road Map
Circumstances in life can sometimes take us off course. They become distractions that take our eyes off of our desired destination and deceive us to head in a direction that was not planned. But just as you may have a GPS system in your car or on your phone that talks to you and gives new directions, as a believer in Jesus, you have a GPS system in your heart–the Holy Spirit. He will be the One who compassionately corrects your life path with small turns here and there to get you back on course to the destiny that God has planned for you.
So when you’re feeling like you don’t know the next step to take in life (I’ve been there, done that, and bought MANY t-shirts), consult the One who does know. Ask Him for wisdom and He will not fail to give it to you.
As a matter of fact, He will give wisdom liberally to those trust Him to do so.
“If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.” James 1:5 [NIV]
Keep Hope Alive!
Hope= the confident expectation that GOOD things will happen.
Sometimes, we can run low on how much hope we have about ever having a baby. Here’s a “booster shot” for increasing your personal level of hope:
Jeremiah 29:11 says, “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.”
Be encouraged…keep your hope alive!
Think about what you’re thinking about…
When faced with a thought filled with doom and gloom, and it repeatedly comes to mind, it’s hard to maintain a hope-filled focus. That’s exactly when we must remind ourselves that we can choose what we think about. We can dwell on the thought that brings us down and continue to ride that wave of despair, OR, we can switch gears and begin to think about the Truth.
Truth always prevails. It is unshakable. It is unchangeable. It is the foundation upon which we can build a thought-life that brings waves of joy and not sorrow, hope and not despair.
The only Truth I know is the Word of God. It is filled with hope and love. It is food for good thoughts!
“And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.” ~~Philippians 4:8 NLT
Announcing…’A Seed of Hope’ Devotional
Finally, an encouraging devotional for those suffering with infertility! My new ebook, “A Seed of Hope—God’s Promises of Fertility,” is from my perspective of having overcome infertility. It uplifts and brings hope to the reader through daily readings with the premise that nothing is too hard for God, not even infertility.
You’ll be encouraged along your journey to get through this season of childlessness by relying on, speaking, and trusting in the Word of God and His love for you. Please let me know what you think after you take a look inside “A Seed of Hope” .
Devotional Readings that encourage you in the struggle of infertility!
