My Not-So-Great Start to the Year

The Ending to our Holidays

So it’s a new year, and ours is off to a crazy start! We spent the holidays in Illinois with family and drove back to Pennsylvania a few days after the start of the new year. Well, my husband Matt (who has a severe wheat allergy), got wheat somewhere on our trip and spent the entire night in the bathroom at our hotel throwing up. From there, we drove home, stopping every little bit for him to use a bathroom on the way. We finally got home, began the long process of unloading the van and unpacking the suitcases and fell into bed in the early morning hours.

The Disaster at Home

The next morning, we awoke to a disaster in our kitchen. We have had a mice problem this winter and have been repeatedly setting traps. Well, apparently they decided to throw a party while we were out-of-town. They got into everything in our pantry! We had to throw out every single item in our pantry. Frustrated doesn’t even begin to describe how I felt! Matt went out and bought more traps, we called an exterminator, and spent the next few days cleaning out every closet, every shelf, every storage bin in our house, and more. It was quite an undertaking.

In the midst of all this chaos, I took an afternoon to read a little bit to try to take my mind off all the craziness. I went upstairs to read while my kids played in the playroom. A few minutes later, I looked up from my book to see my three-year-old Maggie standing on top of the Lego table trying to jump rope! Seriously?! I told her immediately to get down. What happened next was a disaster. I watched as if in slow motion as she tried to jump down from the table. She went one way and the table went the other way. The momentum shoved her off-balance and into a corner wall where she hit her head and split it open.

A Visit to Urgent Care

So my quiet afternoon was interrupted by screaming, lots of blood, and a visit to urgent care. We spent the night in the urgent care getting four staples into Maggie’s head. That was not a fun process, and not one I am looking to repeat anytime in the near future.

Maggie all wrapped up and ready to go home.

That night was followed by a flu bug that hit our house. My six-year-old Madison threw up all the next day. Soon after that, Malachi got the bug and spent his day throwing up. With all the craziness, we didn’t do any homeschooling for the entire week.

So that is why I find myself halfway through January and just now getting a post out. Our start to 2018 has been a train wreck! I’m a little scared to see what the rest of the year is going to bring!

Success in God’s Eyes

I was so looking forward to a new year and a fresh start. This is not how I was planning on my year starting out. I can get all worked up and crazy about it, or I can choose to just accept it for what it is. I am reminded of a message Matt preached a few weeks ago.

In a message Matt was preaching before Christmas, He talked about success and what success looks like. One of the phrases he said really caught my attention.

Success isn’t achievement; it’s obedience to God.

He followed up with a few questions to ask ourselves to see if we are truly being successful.

Did I do what God said?
Am I doing what He created me to do?
Am I doing the best I can with the abilities, resources, and opportunities I have been given?
Have I followed through?

I think my picture of success probably looks so different from God’s picture. My picture of success looks like starting out 2018 with a bang. Exercising every day, eating right and losing weight, getting my entire house cleaned and organized, homeschooling each day like a pro, writing a couple of blog posts a week, working on my book, and on and on the list goes. I wonder instead if God’s list looks something like this.

Spend time with Me today.

Love your littles and take care of them today.

Encourage and love your husband today.

Notice the people who I put into your path today. Love them for Me.

Do your best to keep your home and home school running smoothly but don’t stress about it.

Rest in Me, and let Me control your life. I can do a much better job anyway.

This year, I want my definition of success to be simple obedience to God each and every day by stepping into what He has for me that day. ~Faithfully Stepping~

Photo credit: Ben White

Offering Grace When I Want to Offer Shame

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Shaming Others

Shame is so prevalent in our culture today– especially in church, which is where I have spent my entire life. Now, nobody walks up to you and says, “Shame on you. You shouldn’t have…” fill in the blank. Nobody actually says that, but it’s implied. So we walk around with feelings of shame for the things we have done wrong. We get so discouraged with ourselves, our mistakes, our failures, and our shortcomings because people keep reminding us of them.

Why is that? We are Christians. We are supposed to be walking around full of grace and extending grace to others. Isn’t that what Jesus does for us? Jesus forgives us day after day for the same things over and over and over again.

Choosing to Extend Grace

You know what’s really hard? To extend grace to someone who has hurt us. Being a pastor’s wife, I am no stranger to hurt. People say things about my husband, about me, and about our ministry. Matt continually tells me, “We have to develop tough skin but keep a tender heart.” Let me tell you– I am bad at both of those things! I am not good at taking criticism from people. People can be mean. It’s especially hard to take criticism when the criticism isn’t even true.

When I am criticized, there are two things that I am really trying to work on. Number one, I am trying to learn not to defend myself. Number two, I am trying to learn not to shame those who are criticizing me, but extend grace to them, even when they have hurt me.

Choosing to Look Past the Hurt

There is a very familiar saying that says, “Hurting people hurt people.” Whatever is going on in their own personal life is directly impacting why they are lashing out at me. I have to ask God to help me extend grace to them instead of shame. I want to tell everybody around me how they hurt me, how untrue their words are, how unspiritual they are, and so much more. Instead, I have to choose to not talk about it with other people. That is hard! I want to shame them and put them in their place, but I have to choose to offer grace instead. Grace offers them dignity by not talking to others about it. Grace is hard! But grace is what I keep asking Jesus to give to me, so how can I not extend it to others!

Don’t Let this Thanksgiving Pass You By + Free Printables

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The Busyness of the Holiday

Thanksgiving comes each year, and with it comes the crazy busyness of the holiday. The grocery shopping and last-minute runs to the store for all the things we forgot, the cooking and baking, the decorating, the entertaining, and all the special things that make Thanksgiving the holiday it is. We get so busy that often the day passes by without us ever getting a chance to thank the One who has made it all possible. It’s hard to take the time to make that happen.

Making the Time

I get it. I really do. I am hosting two separate Thanksgivings this year. One on Wednesday night and another one on Thanksgiving day, and we are heading to a third one on Thanksgiving night. It’s crazy! But somewhere in the midst of all that, I have to set aside time to thank God for my blessings. So Thursday morning, before the parade starts, before I start cooking for the day, before my kids get out of bed excited and energized for the day, I am going to make a cup of coffee, light a candle, and grab my Bible and journal and spend some quiet time thanking God for the incredible life He has given me.

I will sing unto the Lord, because He hath dealt bountifully with me. Psalm 13:6

I was thinking this morning- what if this was my last Thanksgiving? How would I spend it? What would I change? I think I would take the time gather my littles close to me and hug and kiss them and tell them how much I love them and am grateful for them. I would take the time to let my husband know how very much he means to me. I would do more laughing and celebrating with friends and family and less complaining and getting frustrated. We are not guaranteed next year. Life is so short and unpredictable. We have to choose to make this Thanksgiving count.

Choose to Make the Time

Choose to take the time to thank God for His many blessings in your life. Be fully present this Thanksgiving with your family and friends. Don’t be so busy making Thanksgiving perfect that you forget what it is all about- spending time with those you love and thanking the One who gave you this beautiful life to live.

Free Thanksgiving Printables

Just for fun, I created the Thanksgiving printables below. The first two you can print off and put in frames for your Thanksgiving table. The third one I created is for writing down how God has blessed you. It would be a fun project for kids to work on too! I hope you enjoy them. Sign up at the bottom of the page to get the three free printables.

Happy Thanksgiving from my family to yours!!

Free Thanksgiving Printable

Free Thanksgiving Printable

Free Gratitude Printable

Hit the Brakes: I Need to Stop Trying to Fix Life

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Being a Fixer

How many times do we take matters into our own hands when things aren’t going well in our lives? I am a fixer by nature. I naturally want to help fix people and their problems. It’s kind of my Achilles heel. So when my life feels out of control, or when things aren’t going well, I tend to jump in and start trying to fix things. The problem is that sometimes there is nothing I can do to fix it. Sometimes the struggles I am facing cannot be fixed. Only God stepping in and working in my life can fix the problem- whether it’s financial struggles, an illness, a frustration, a hurt, or an offense. Sometimes I step in and make a bigger mess of things, instead of fixing them.

Taking a Break

Last week, we were dealing with some hardships and discouragements in our church ministry. Some things had taken place and the pressures were taking their toll on us. I actually broke down and started crying at church! We decided after that, it was time for a break.

We spontaneously decided to take a trip to Illinois to visit our family. We had a few days free and felt that we could use the break and the encouragement. So we packed up, loaded the kids into the van, and started the thirteen hour trip to the Midwest. While we were there, Matt and I had a chance to talk through the pressures and difficulties but couldn’t come up with any solutions. Early one morning, God got my attention through my Bible reading.

Our kids having fun at Grandma’s house

I have been reading in the book of Genesis about Joseph. Joseph is an Old Testament Bible character that teaches us how to endure hardships. The story of Joseph starts with his brothers hating him, ganging up on him, and selling him into slavery. Thirteen years later, through a series of circumstances, he becomes second in command in all of Egypt. It is during this time that his brothers show up again in his life. The brothers are fearful that Joseph will take revenge on them now that he is a powerful ruler. I love Joseph’s response to his brothers.

And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am in the place of God?

But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive. Genesis 50:19,20

Stop Trying to Fix Things

I love these verses and have read them many times before. But that day, they stopped me in my tracks. I felt like God was speaking directly to me.

Amanda, are you God? Are you in the place of Me to decide what is good and right? Stop trying to play My role in your life. Everything I am doing in your life is for a reason. I am orchestrating all the events in your life to shape you into the woman I have created you to be. Stop fighting Me and allow Me to mold you and change you. I can do such a better job of running your life than you can if you would just let Me.

God brought me such a peace that morning as I prayed and once again surrendered to His working in my life. I get so focused on trying to do what’s right and trying to fix myself and everybody around me, that when things don’t go as planned, it can totally rock my world. But God reminded me that I am not Him. I don’t have all the answers, but I can trust that when God is working in me, He’s doing it for His glory and for my good.

lady throwing leaves in the air

3 Quick Tips for a Successful Morning Time

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I am an introvert by nature and need alone time every morning to have a successful and profitable day. I use this time to read my Bible, pray, journal, and prepare myself for the day. If I don’t get that quiet time early in the morning, I am a hot mess the rest of the day. I have done this for several years and have 3 habits that help me to be consistent in my morning time every day.

3 Quick Tips

1. Get up at least thirty minutes before my kids get up.

This tip is the most important. Once my kids get up, I can pretty much just forget any peace and quiet. As hard as it is to get up early some mornings, especially after a late night, my day goes a thousand times better when I get up before my kids. Once my kids are awake and our day has officially started, it will take me forever to get my Bible reading, prayer time, and journaling done!

2. Light a candle.

My favorite candles are the three-wick candles from Bath and Body Works. I especially love the fall scents like sweet cinnamon pumpkin, apple and pumpkin, and caramel pumpkin swirl. The first thing I do after getting up in the morning is to light a candle. The scent of the candle helps to wake me up and get me moving. It also helps to create a mood of peace and calm.

My Caramel Pumpkin Swirl candle

3. Make a cup of coffee.

The next thing I do after lighting my candle is to head into the kitchen to make a cup of coffee or tea, whichever I am in the mood for. My favorite is coffee with french vanilla creamer. Once I make my coffee, I use my hand-held frother to give it the perfect touch. Once I have my coffee or tea in hand, I head back into the living room to get started.

My favorite mug for coffee

These quick easy steps help to wake me up and put me in a right frame of mind to start my morning time with God. I want my morning time to be something I enjoy and look forward to, and following these tips help to accomplish that.

The Hidden Pain- A Peek into the Book I’m Writing

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In the writing process

Being Hurt By God

What do you do when something bad happens that is out of your control? How do you respond? I know we like to throw Romans 8:28 around a lot as Christians.

Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

Don’t get me wrong. I love this verse, and this verse has comforted my heart on many occasions. But sometimes I hear it tossed around too much. Sometimes something happens that hurts us so deeply, and then somebody comes along and says, “It’s ok. It’s all going to work out for good, sweetie. Just hang in there.” And then you feel like punching them. Well, maybe I’m the only one that feels that way. Sometimes, though, life just hits you, and you can’t see how in the world it’s all going to work out. There are no words that help to comfort you.

What makes the problem an even bigger problem is when you feel the hurt is directly from God Himself. Have you ever been there? Maybe it was something you prayed for that didn’t happen. Maybe something happened in your life that you feel God could have stopped, but didn’t.

A Peek Inside My Book

We all deal with tests and trials in our lives, but I think the hardest ones are the ones when we feel like God is against us. It’s the hidden pain we carry– those trials that are too painful and too personal to share with anyone else. For the last six years, I have felt this way. So much so, that I am writing a book about it entitled The Hidden Pain. Here’s a quick peek from one of the chapters.

Boom! I sat up straight in my bed, my heart thudding in my chest. I didn’t know what had woken me up, but I knew some kind of explosion had. I didn’t know what time it was, but it was some time in the middle of the night. I couldn’t find my voice because of the fear coursing through my body. Before I could wake Matt, I heard banging on the front door. This startled me into action. “Matt, wake up. Something’s wrong. Someone’s banging on the front door.”

Matt was out of bed faster than I. He quickly walked out the door of our bedroom and into the hallway leading to the kids’ room. I pushed aside my covers and crawled out of bed behind him. As I entered the kids’ room, my eyes were drawn to the eerie glow coming from the kids’ window.

Just as noticed it, Matt said, “Bob and Debbie’s house is on fire!” (our neighbors.) A second later, he looked out the window and said, “No, it’s our van. Our van is on fire!”

Those few words pulled me out of the daze I was in and propelled me into action.

“Malachi and Madison, get out of bed now! There’s a fire!” Malachi and Madison woke up and jumped out of bed and started down the stairs towards the front door. I grabbed our little girl out of her crib and flew down the stairs behind Malachi and Madison. Matt had dressed lightning fast and was following us down the stairs to the front door where someone was still banging.

I opened the front door and instantly saw the police officer who had been banging on our door. Beyond him was a confusing mass of neighbors all yelling and shouting advice at the same time. The blast of heat hit me the second I stepped out of the house onto the front porch. Stunned for just a second, I glanced over at our van. Our van was completely engulfed in flames. Flames were shooting high into the sky. “Is everybody out of the house?” the officer asked. “Yes,” I weakly managed. Without looking back at the van, I sped down the steps with the kids and followed one of our neighbors to the safety of her home. Another of our neighbors took Maggie from my arms and carried her for me. He told Matt to stay and he would see to it that the kids and I would be safe.

As I walked away from our home and our burning van in my pajamas, I was in shock. I kept asking God to help the firefighters to get there fast. I begged Him to help the van not to explode. I prayed for him to keep my husband, the police officer, and our other neighbors safe. I understood the gravity of the situation. I knew that the fire was too close to our house, and that it was just a mere few feet from our electrical box.

I walked into the neighbor’s house. The lady brought us over to the couch to sit down. With a promise to keep me updated, the man turned and left to go back and see if he could do anything to help. The sweet neighbor lady put on cartoons for my kids to watch. Nobody said a word. My kids didn’t ask any questions. I was glad because I didn’t have any answers for them. I put a hand on my pregnant belly to reassure myself that our baby girl was ok. I kept listening, but still didn’t hear sirens. I couldn’t look out the window because of the fear I felt…

And an excerpt from later in the book…

This is painful. I feel so broken. I feel that God just keeps hammering away at me. But I choose to believe He has a plan. I know He’s trying to get rid of that anger that so often rears itself in this Mama, He is trying to eradicate the pride that stands out so strongly in my life, He is trying to build a boldness for Him in this introverted person, He is working to toughen me up a little bit—so that I am not so sensitive to every little thing people say or do. He has so much work to do in me! Sometimes it’s so discouraging. The only consolation I have is this—because the tests and trials keep coming, He hasn’t given up on me. He believes I am valuable to Him and to His work; He just needs to develop me more. So I wait and allow God to keep working. To keep changing me. To keep testing and trying me. To keep transforming me. Because He values the trying of my faith more valuable than gold.

I Peter 1:7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

I am excited about this book and can’t wait to finish it and share it with you!

Have You Ever Tried a Sabbath Day?

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photo credit: Luca Bravo

Why Did We Start Having a Sabbath Day?

Our Sabbath day is my most favorite day of the week! Well, maybe it is tied with Sunday– because I do love an awesome day at church, followed by a yummy meal and good company to share it with. Anyway, about a year ago, our schedule was so crazy and Matt and I were constantly worn out and frustrated with each other and with the kids. We decided to start making Monday a Sabbath day for us, just for a few weeks to see if we liked it. Well, we loved it! So we have kept it ever since.

What is a Sabbath Day?

Our Sabbath day is simply a day of rest, and it is based on a principle from the Bible. God, the Creator, Who never is weary, took the seventh day of Creation to model rest to us. He must have really thought it was important!

A day of rest is different for everybody. There are so many ways to incorporate it. A lot of people do a day of rest on Sunday, but our Sundays are too full. Because Matt is a pastor, our Sundays are busy from the Sunday morning service, the fellowship afterwards, and the company and lunch at our house in the afternoon. Sundays are awesome, but not restful. So we do a rest day on Monday. We keep it pretty simple. Here is what it looks like for us:

The kids have the day off. I home school, so we have this flexibility. They do school on Saturday instead of Monday. So on Mondays, they are allowed to play all day, play games on a tablet, or watch something.
Matt doesn’t do any church work. He has extra time to read, watch something, take a nap, etc.
I can’t take the day totally off because I need to cook and keep the house running. But I try to do minimal housework and cooking if possible. I try to read, take a nap, and just relax. Sometimes I do extra cooking, but simply for enjoyment.

Mondays have become a favorite day for our family, but we have to work at it. We try not to schedule anything on Mondays. We have to be intentional to force ourselves to take the time to rest, read, and rejuvenate.

What are the Benefits of a Sabbath Day?

Having a Sabbath day on Monday totally transforms our week. Matt and I actually get more accomplished in our week when we totally take off Monday. It sounds so counterproductive, but it really works. We also are so much more at peace. And on the weeks that are really busy, and we are just trying to push through, we encourage ourselves with the fact that Monday is coming! We can push today, because we can rest on Monday.

There are so many benefits to a Sabbath day.

It slows you down. It’s a break from the rush of every other day.
It’s a chance for extra rest.
You get a chance to spend time doing whatever hobby you choose, without feeling gulity.
It brings peace to the rest of the week.

What Does a Sabbath Day Look Like?

Here is what a recent Sabbath day looked like for us. Matt and I both slept in. When the kids got up, they just grabbed a tablet quietly. We got up refreshed and relaxed, lit our favorite apple pumpkin candle, opened all the windows to let the fresh fall breeze in, and grabbed our Bibles (and I grabbed my journal), and we sat and read our Bibles and prayed quietly at the dining room table.

After we finished, we moved into the kitchen to do some food prep for the week. Matt came in and helped, and we worked together and just talked. We cut and peeled apples for homemade applesauce from the apples we picked at a farm. I put some pork in the crock pot for dinner, and made a brunch of banana bread, kielbasa, and eggs for everybody. After everybody ate and cleaned up, the kids went back to playing. I grabbed a book and read for a while. Then it was naptime for everybody.

After a good nap, I got up, prepped dinner, and made some paleo brownies for dessert. Everybody got up from their naps, helped get ready for dinner, and then sat down to eat. After dinner and clean up, I had time to read again for a little bit. Soon it was time for bed for the kiddos. We got all four kids in jammies, teeth brushed, and in bed and read to them for a little while. After that, I worked on my lesson plans for school for the week, and made my meal plan and grocery list for the week. I finished off the night with a little bit more reading time.

I told Matt that night, it had been the perfect fall Sabbath day. Now every Monday is not that perfect, but we are trying.

What Could a Sabbath Day Look Like for You?

So many people do their day of rest differently. Here a few ideas to get you thinking.

Maybe Sunday works best for you. You go to church, grab lunch out (so you don’t have to cook), come home, get a nap, and read. Sunday evening is church, or small group, or family time at home.
Some ladies do a half day one day and a half day the next day. For example, maybe Friday afternoon into Saturday morning is your Sabbath day. Friday afternoons are a time of rest and free time. Dinner is pizza delivery so you don’t have to cook. You watch a family movie together and get to bed at a good time. Saturday morning is a chance for more free time and an easy brunch, or everybody takes care of their own food. Then once noon hits, the schedule picks back up; but you don’t schedule anything on Friday nights or Saturday mornings.
Or maybe your Sabbath day is during the week. Maybe it’s Tuesdays. After you get the kids off to school, you take the remaining hours until school is done to rest, and do something that rejuvenates you. Maybe you grab a cup of coffee and do your Bible reading and prayer for the day. You fit in a nap and a chance to watch that movie you have been wanting to. When the kids come home, you are rested and relaxed and ready to jump back into “Mom” mode.
Note: Don’t underestimate the need for a Sabbath even if you don’t have kids or are single. You still need scheduled time for rest, doing something that you enjoy, and a break from your crazy schedule.

Is it Worth It?

It takes time and creativity to make a day of rest work with your schedule, but the payoff is so worth it. Start small. If you can’t take a whole day off, pick an afternoon or an evening. Try it for just three weeks and see if you don’t notice a huge difference, like we did!

Letting Jesus Carry Me Through Today

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My Attitude Stinks

Yesterday, my attitude stank. I was cranky, despondent, discouraged, and frustrated. I was frustrated with some circumstances in my life, I didn’t feel like eating right, I didn’t feel like being nice to my kids, I felt like I deserved a break.

Matt talked to me and tried to encourage me, but I was in a foul mood. It was just a bad day. I decided to go to bed early and get some good sleep. Amazingly this morning, I woke up encouraged, filled with hope, and ready to face the day.

What Was the Difference between Yesterday and Today?

So what was the difference between yesterday and today? Both days I spent time with God in prayer and Bible reading. None of my circumstances changed from yesterday to today. The only thing that changed was my attitude and a good night’s sleep. I woke up this morning to a fresh new day. I was reminded of one of my favorite Bible verses.

Lamentations 3:22-23 says, “It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is they faithfulness.”

I often hear people misquote this verse. They say that the Lord’s faithfulness is new every morning. While it is true that God is always faithful, that is not exactly what the verse is saying. This verse says that God’s compassions are new every morning.

Webster’s 1828 dictionary defines compassion as “a suffering with another; pity; commiseration; a mixed passion compounded of love and sorrow.” If we put this definition back into the verse, it says that God suffers through our day with us in pity and commiseration mixed with love. Why does God do this? Because He knows and understands we live in a sinful world full of grief, heartache, problems, and pain. He simply chooses to walk with us through the pain each and every day.

So if you feel like you can’t make it through today, remember that Jesus is hurting with you. Lean on Him and let Him carry you through today. Tomorrow will come, and just as sure as the sun will rise, Jesus will be there again to walk beside you.

I Have Nothing To Prove

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Trying to Prove My Worth

I just finished reading the book Nothing to Prove: Why We Can Stop Trying So Hard by Jennie Allen. It was such a great book! The title alone says it all!

I have spent so many years of my life trying to prove my worth, trying to measure up to the next person, trying to find my value in what I do. After years of trying and failing, I have finally come to realize– It’s not going to happen. I am never going to measure up to somebody else because I am not them. I am me, and I am learning to be okay with that.

There is so much peace to be found when we finally realize and live like we have nothing to prove. In her book, Jennie says,

So many of our problems come when imperfect people try to act as if they have it all together…We hide behind images we create of happy, clean, impressive lives. We are exhausted. Because if you create an image to hide behind, you’ll have to spend all your energy holding it up.

It is the simple things that will change the world… You do the simple work of loving God and loving people. It is messy, hard, not too glamorous. And that sounds like Jesus.

If you are tired of trying to measure up and live up to everybody else’s standards, then I highly recommend this book. It’s an invitation to look at life from a completely new point of view– one that realizes you can stop trying so hard because you have absolutely nothing to prove!

When You Can’t See God Working in Your Life

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When You Can’t See God

Behold, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive him:

On the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold him: he hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him: (Job 23:8-9)

These verses written by Job thousands of years ago, accurately describe many people’s lives today. Have you ever felt like Job– that no matter which way you turn, you can’t see God working in your life? I have. Sometimes life gets so complicated. We try our best to do all the “right” things. We go to church, we read our Bible, we love our family and care for them, we are kind to others… we do everything we are supposed to do. Yet, we don’t feel His presence, we can’t see Him working in our life, and we sense that His hand of blessing and favor is not on us.

What do you do when you hit a dry spell like this?

God Sees Me

Job was facing deep discouragement when he wrote these verses. He had just lost all of his wealth and possessions and his children. During this time of tragedy, he looked for God but couldn’t find Him anywhere. He knew God’s hand of blessing had been taken off his life, but he didn’t know why. Job questions God’s presence during this difficult time, but he moves on rather quickly in the next verse.

But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold. (Job 23:10)

During this season of life when he couldn’t see God, Job chose to believe that God was still actively involved in His life. He trusted that God was watching over him and taking notice of what Job was doing.

It is during times of discouragement and uncertainty that I have to choose to believe that God is actively present and watching over me. Questioning God during this time doesn’t help. I have to trust that He sees me, even though I may not be able to see Him right now.

Photo credit: Geran de Klerk