We just wrapped up a massive youth conference that my husband, Tyler, and I were a part of. On Wednesday morning, I preached a message about fear; how we need to close the gap on fear and go to faith. Fear will always creep its way in our lives but God is in control and we should lean onto Him in times that we feel fearful. I’m a very fearful person so if you’re like me, this should help.
Comparison is no friend of mine. It wants to be but I have to deny the phone calls, the instagram photos, and the reminders that seem to lurk. Comparison is the fastest way to make you feel like trash. The enemy tries to flash all these “things” in our face that makes us question ourselves or have our image altered. Comparison is definitely something I struggle with. Social media is such a curse and blessing in my life – a blessing to be able to connect with people worldwide but a curse in the fact that you never seem good enough. Do you know what I mean?
I recently went away to the mountains with some friends and it was so nice to recharge & refocus. I always say I’m going to do that on vacation but this time I actually did it. Usually when I am on vacation I am too busy connecting with old friends, shopping, sleeping, and eating out that I forget to actually recharge spiritually and emotionally. But this particular weekend was different. I spent time praying, reflecting, and worshiping God and praying that God would turn my weaknesses to my strengths. It’s not an easy prayer to pray but there is no greater feeling then allowing God to speak. Sometimes the things God wants to say, we don’t take the time to just listen. At least that is how I feel. But while I was praying, I felt God say, “Be inspired by others, not intimidated.” Easier said than done but if we (really talking to me here), can really live by that just think how things would be different. You wouldn’t worry about being “cool,” you could be you. The “you” God wanted before you were even formed. That would sure take the pressure off ourselves & allow us to step into our calling from God.
So today, be you! Don’t be stuck in the trap of comparing yourself to others. You matter. Your story matters. People are waiting to meet YOU, you don’t have to wait to meet others.
So today, be you! Don’t be stuck in the trap of comparing yourself to other. You matter. Your story matters. People are waiting to meet YOU, not someone you wish you were.
“My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.”
2 Corinthians 12:9
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About a month ago I visited Passion City Church, lead by Louie Giglio. During his message Ps Louie said something that was so powerful & has been resonating with me for weeks now. It was 6 simple words that totally shook me, those words were “Life is short, God is big.”
Prior to hearing his message, I received saddening news that my cousin had been diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer. These thoughts raced into my head: She is only 33, she’s healthy and has 2 beautiful young kids. How does that happen?! She shouldn’t have cancer!! Now I want to rewind to 3 months ago when a close family friend died of pancreatitis cancer (who strongly battled it for 4 months). The phone call from my mom telling me the news was heartbreaking, and it brought flashbacks to receiving the call that our family friend died and it hit very close to home for me. Seeing the men in my family crying throughout these terrible circumstances was very hard, especially since I was used to seeing them being strong hearted my whole life. When the word cancer comes out of someones mouth & someone that you love has it, it rocks your world. Growing up in a family were God wasn’t the focal point, makes it hard to get them to go straight to faith. The diagnoses can cloud your thinking making it almost impossible to see what is right in front of you. But thats why through your faith, you see the things unseen. You take a deep breath and believe that God is bigger & know he is above the circumstance. Because let’s be real, it’s really easy to let the facts set the tone of your life, instead of letting Jesus be the answer.
And I was dealing with that. I actually said to my boyfriend, “What if she doesn’t beat this?” But, thankfully my guy has a strong relationship with God. Without even skipping a beat he said, “But she will. God is bigger.” It was those simple words that I needed to hear. After taking a step back I knew God was bigger from the beginning, but when your in the situation, its hard to see out of it. It’s important to surround yourself around good people (I will save that for another blog post!!).
Fast forward to 5 days later. Here I was sitting in church and hearing “Life is short, God is big.” Talk about perfect timing. I needed to hear that. God always seems to deliver the perfect message at the perfect time! Can I get an Amen?!
Ps. Louie’s message that night was focused on overcoming the giant of being comfortable and settling for complacency. Faith is surrounded by a place of discomfort and following Jesus is stepping out of a place of comfort and into a place of discomfort. Finding out my cousin had cancer, rocked me & took me into a place of discomfort and uncertainty. But in the places of discomfort, there Jesus always is to comfort us. Life is brief and storms are going to come, but don’t fall into that place where you get comfortable with what is right in front of you. Overcome the obstacle (or diagnoses) and remember, life is short,God is big.
Whatever you are facing, you got this. You were made for this at this time. Hold on, and know God is bigger!
Do you ever think to yourself, “This isn’t the life I ordered? This is not the life I dreamed of when I was a kid?” The life when you lose track of time dreaming and fantasizing over. Do you know what I am talking about? Maybe for you that dream was to own your own business, but you’re still stuck in a corporate dead end job with long, draining hours. Or to get married at age 26, yet you are single or to see your family saved and in church but they simply aren’t. Whatever ____ is, you just know that it’s just not happening.
But hold on! I know, its easier said then done. Trust me, I feel like I have been in those seasons… actually it has been on my heart a lot lately. I’ve found myself, eyes closed and hands lifted to Heaven praying for God to give me direction or better yet, a plan. What I love about God is at the right moment, God gives us exactly what we need. For me, it was the story in Mark 5 about when Jesus heals Jairus’s daughter.
In Mark 5, we read about a little girl who was dead & Jesus ends up healing her! Amazing, right?! What I love about this story is that God always has a different perspective then we do. The story starts midway through the chapter and Jesus was on the sea-shore surrounded by tons of people, a man named Jairus came up to him proclaiming, “My little daughter is almost dead. Come and put Your hand on her so that she may be healed and live.” Jesus went with him but as He was walking, a women with a blood disease stopped Him & derailed Jesus from going straight to Jairus’s daughter. How often does this happen to us? We think Jesus is right there with us and then someone else comes up (Good news is He never leaves the scene). While Jesus was healing others, news got to Jairus that his daughter did in fact die & that there was no need to tell Jesus to come to the house. Jesus overheard this and simply said, “Do not be afraid, just believe.” Jesus went to the house and when He got there everyone was crying & mourning the lost of the little girl. This is the part I really love –> “They went into the room where the girl was. He took the girl by the hand and said, “Little girl, I say to you, get up!” At once the girl got up and walked. (verse 41)”
How many times do we think something (a dream, job, relationship, etc) is dead and when reality it is just asleep?
The dreams, desires and vision you have for your life weren’t placed there by accident. If the things that stir you up in the inside are aligned with God and His Word, they stir Him up as well.
Don’t be discouraged, just hold on.
Keep pressing in to God. Look at whats right in front of you & count those as blessings. So often we get caught up in what we don’t have, we miss whats right in front of us.
Everything could suck for you right now (I wish I knew everyone’s story, but I am believing with you on whatever you are facing) but remember that Jesus is always enough.
Even if you don’t get that job you have always dreamed about….Jesus is enough.
If you never find a spouse and get married….Jesus is enough.
If you write a book and it doesn’t do as well as you thought…Jesus is enough.
If people around you get promoted but you don’t….Jesus is enough.
Jesus is enough. Really though, He is.
When you start to look at things that way, and you actually BELIEVE that miracles and abundant blessings happen in your world, you can’t do anything except shift from ourselves and point it back up to Jesus.
