by Elizabeth Trichel | Dec 7, 2023 | Life Advice, Wisdom
“I have learned to hold all things loosely, so God will not have to pry them out of my hands.” – Corrie Ten Boom
Materialism. Something I would argue to be one of my biggest sin struggles. What is it about this sin in particular that takes my eyes off Jesus so easily? I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the root of this struggle and I think I’ve come to somewhat of a conclusion. We live in a world where everyone has material things which is normal, of course. I’ve got plenty of my own. But where my struggle comes in is when I begin feeling like I need to play catch-up with everyone else. “Wait that looks SO cute on her, I want that!” “Oh, this is what’s trending, I’ve got to get it!” “If I can just get this one thing, I’ll be satisfied!”
And in today’s society, when so many people are fixated on the same worldly things, it’s easy to feel like whatever we’re doing is okay, good or bad. Like we’re safe to continue doing what we’re doing because other people around us claim to be believers and are doing the same things. But the danger in this is that when it turns into a chain reaction and everyone starts feeling like it’s all “okay”, there’s no-one around to correct with Truth. And steadily, sin (of any kind) creeps in and becomes normalized. Now, more than ever, is the time for us to point back to Scripture in every decision we make and truly ask ourselves the cliché but insightful question, “what would Jesus do?”
Don’t get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with owning things. But when our main focus shifts from what satisfies Jesus to what satisfies us, our lives begin to reflect self-indulging culture, and our idea of our purpose on Earth gets skewed.
I often think about this scenario: What if there was no-one else on Earth except me and God? If there was no-one to impress or compete with. If there were no distractions from my sole purpose in life: glorifying Him. While I do know God intended for us to be in community and there is no likelihood for this scenario to ever occur, I find myself with the desire to live with this mentality. Pure joy. Obedient to whatever He asks of me. Not worrying about whatever “cool” thing the person next to me is doing or chasing after. No comparison and no insecurities. No distractions. And I have this urge to carry that joy, love, peace, patience, all the fruits to everyone around me.
When I think about this scenario, I picture a specific place in my mind. It’s the place I’ve gone for years to just be with God. Something about this place brings about feelings of peace and serenity. When I’m there, it feels as if God is holding my hand and walking alongside me as I talk with Him. Let me be clear, God is omnipresent. He is in your car, your house, your workplace. Anywhere you go, He is with you. And we have access to Him wherever we go! But there’s something about seeking out a place that’s special to just you and Him. For me, it was a game changer. There’s nothing else I associate my special place with other than God. I encourage you to do the same! Seek out a spot of your own to meet with Jesus, whether it’s a room in your house or a spot in your backyard!
James 5 has been on my heart recently and I can’t seem to get it out of my head.
“Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming on you. Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days. Look! … You have lived on Earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourself in the day of slaughter.” (James 5:1-3,5)
It might sound a bit harsh, but sometimes I, personally, think I need harsh correction to snap me out of the disillusionment that worldly possessions are our source of fulfillment.
But when I sit in the silence with Jesus, and everything else fades away, I’m reminded that nothing in this world rivals the beauty and glory of our Savior.
My pastor and his wife spent this past Sunday’s sermon discussing the little details of the Christmas story that are often overlooked. A baby, our Savior, entered this world, not in a fancy or ornate way. But in a manger. And He did it so personally. Because He’s such a personal God. He came to Earth knowing every flaw and every imperfection, every sin and every mistake we’d ever make. And He still chose love. He still chose the cross. He still chose you.
He loves us in spite of our mistakes, even when we do fall short and take more delight in the things of this world than the things of Him. But when we fall, we get up, and run back to Him, because He’s waiting with open arms.
I’m challenging myself to recognize the sin at the forefront of temptation. For instance, when I feel the urge to make an unnecessary purchase or indulge in the material things, I’m learning to think about how I could use that same money or resources to contribute to God’s Kingdom.
I’m reminded of the scripture: “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal; but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal.” (Matthew 6:19-21)
Materialistic things may seem temporarily fulfilling, but the satisfaction of Jesus is eternal.
It can be a dangerous game when you find yourself debating if you “can” pay your tithes or not from a paycheck because there are other things you want to buy instead. I have found myself in that mindset more than I’d like to admit. But when I go back to what I know to be Truth, that everything I “own” has been God’s since before He ever loaned it to me, that He loves me beyond the worth of anything I could ever offer Him, there’s a shift in not just my actions, but my intentions and perspective. God wants us to give back to Him because we love Him. And when our minds stray to the wrong place, there are hearts will stray as well. But in the same way, when our minds shift to the right place, there our hearts will shift as well.
“Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” (2 Corinthians 9:7)
What is it that when you sit in the silence with God with no distractions, you feel Him urging you to shift in your life? Ask God to show you through His Word or however He chooses, and then follow those convictions. We are a team running the same race toward Jesus. And one day, when we reach the finish line, we’ll see why the things of this world’s value were incomparable to what Jesus has for our eternity.
I love you, friends! And I encourage you to keep running the race with endurance!
Elizabeth is a member of Team LO and is passionate about Jesus & writing! She enjoys spending time with her husband, Chaz, having coffee with friends, and helping lead worship at her church.
Keep up with Elizabeth on Instagram @elizabethmtrichel
by Ciara Laine Myers | Dec 5, 2023 | Life Advice, Wisdom
Fear and discouragement inevitably knock on the door to my dreams. When I answer now, I politely welcome them in, acknowledge their presence, and then escort them out before they invade my refrigerator and linger on my couch. I tell them I’m too busy this time, that I have God’s business to attend to, and that they don’t have any business tending to me. I can make up a lot of reasons why I can’t, or shouldn’t, or don’t deserve it; that dreaming is reserved for other people, people who aren’t like me. But here’s something I often remind myself of: I technically don’t have to believe in myself. Instead, I can lean entirely on God’s abilities, which are perfect and never-ending.
To prevent crippling fear from creeping in sometimes, I do an exercise called “Fear Setting.” It’s been so effective in my life throughout the years that my husband started recommending it to his clients in therapy. Here’s the exercise in case you want to try too:
- Write down one goal that you are afraid of (in question form).
- Now, make a list of every fear you can think of as it relates to this goal. These can be realistic, highly irrational, or dramatic. Write down any and every little thing you can think of that could go wrong. This is not a time to be judgmental toward yourself or your fears. The more you write down, the better.
- Then make a list of ways that you can prevent these fears from occurring. This is a great place to work on your brainstorming abilities and problem-solving skills.
- Finally, if some of your fears do come true, list ways you can repair your life and recover from them.
Even with this soothing exercise in reach, there are some days when fear can be so paralyzing that moving forward feels more like navigating the forceful hands of quicksand. On days like those, I refer to the basics: What does God say about fear? I’ll thumb through the concordance and choose one word that I need to focus on that day. Sometimes it’s “fear” itself or “anxiety” or “worry.” Then I’ll look up each recommended scripture, reading them aloud to myself, pacing around the room, desperate for peace. Eventually, I’ll be so consumed with the Holy Spirit that putting in the work becomes an expression of my excitement rather than something to dread.
This is what I read today: “I came to you in weakness with great fear and trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power” (1 Corinthians 2:3–5).
Graduating from a fear-based mindset to a faith-based one has been the most liberating and useful thing I’ve done these days. Maybe “graduating” isn’t the best word to use because it’s more like studying. It’s an ongoing process, not some place I’ve arrived. But it’s influencing everything—how I listen to God in my prayer life, who I call for help, and how authentically I try to parent and live and work. I don’t know anyone who lives without fear, not truly. But the skill I’m trying to master lately—I’m calling it a skill because it takes practice—is to welcome that fear, sit with it, pray through it, and then do the thing anyway. This skill has the power to change the course of my life if I let it. It’s entirely challenging, but I’m building childlike faith in the process. Even though caving into the fear, and the ice cream, is a much more natural solution, I’m gaining spiritual muscle by spending time reading my study Bible and praying every day when I’d rather put it off. I’m letting God know that I’m eager to be used and that my character is forming. He can trust me with a specific assignment, big or small or in between.
Fear might stop by to say, “Hello,” from time to time, but it no longer stays the night. Faith is the sink-or-swim moment in all our stories, and maintaining trust in God and His voice is essential, like clean water. Fear is its counterpart, entirely dirty, dark, and toxic to the insides.
I know it seems daunting to step out in full faith, like being the first one in a relationship to confess those “three little words.” The fear of not being loved in return is terrible and haunting and sickening all at once. Yet somehow, you clear your throat, look the other person in the eye, and muster the courage to say, “I love you.” Why? Because there’s a slight chance that person might say, “I love you too,” making that leap of faith worth any future rejection. So as fearful as I might be today, I have a choice: I can believe God, or I can ignore His calls, continually sending them to voice mail. I hope I choose faith. That hour after hour, I look to God as intensely as my husband and I looked for his wedding ring in the middle of the electric-blue Caribbean waters. We never found the wedding ring, but we always find God when we keep searching for Him. “Come near to God and he will come near to you” (James 4:8).
I hope with this newfound perspective—this shift from fear to faith—that my mindset grows stronger with experience and repetition. That the more I do it, the more confident I become in the process. Because when God trusts me with something, He never reveals all of the steps to take. Not for me not asking him 24/7 though. I’ve pleaded with Him many times for clarification, requesting details and fretting over the what-ifs. But still, He does not unveil anything else until He wants to, and it’s usually never when I’d like Him to. I know, I know. Faith wouldn’t be required if I knew all the answers ahead of time. It’s okay. I’m starting to appreciate that, or at the very least, I’ve become more used to it. Now when God speaks, I jump with what appears to be a hard landing and no net. Then, like clockwork, like Superman, He catches me at the very last second, easing my anxious mind and glorifying Himself in the process.
Taken from Glasses Off: Seeing God When Your Vision Is Gone by Ciara Laine Myers (Westbow).
Ciara Laine Myers the author of Glasses Off: Seeing God When Your Vision Is Gone. She loves her family and friends, and she loves to read. Like you, she’s not just one thing. She’s a mother and an award-winning business owner. You can find her in the pages of this book and in Prosper, Texas, where she lives with her husband Paul, her daughters Audri and Averi, and her dog Zoey.
Keep up with Ciara on Instagram at @ciaralainemyers
by Mya Ramirez | Nov 30, 2023 | Life Advice, Wisdom
If you are anything like me, it’s easy to worry about anything and everything! Sometimes it can be the simplest things in life, like worrying if I said the right thing to someone in a conversation. But other times, it feels like the weight of the problem is so big that all I can do is worry about the outcome or solution. In those moments, it’s easy to feel so hopeless and scared. You start thinking, “what if this happens” or “what if that happens” and from there, you can spiral at all the negative possibilities. If you’ve found yourself in a similar situation, you are not alone. Actually, you are in the right place. I can’t wait to share with you the power of “Even if” and how my faith in God has been forever changed.
5 days after turning 19 years old, I had one of the scariest surgeries I’ve ever had. At the time, I was a collegiate long distance runner and had been running my whole life. In 2017, I started having back pain that was preventing me from running and even doing simple life tasks. After months of doctor appointments, physical therapy, and injections…I still had pain and no answers. I remember feeling like no one believed my pain. I remember feeling alone. I remember begging the Lord to heal me and take away the pain as I knew he could. But in this season of my life, the Lord didn’t do that. Once I finally got answers, I learned that I have Degenerative Disc Disease and because of this, I was going to need a 360 back fusion. This is a surgery where they go through the stomach and put in a cage with stem cells and then they flip you over and go through your back and add rods and screws. As you can understand, I was terrified! I started worrying about everything. “What if i can never run again, what if relearning how to walk is so hard i can’t do it, what if my surgery has complications, and what if i don’t get to go back to school next semester?” I gave power to the worry in my life and those questions started to consume me. Thank goodness for wise, loving moms. It was before my surgery that my mom told me this verse, “So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s troubles are enough for today. Matthew 6:34” This verse is a hard concept to understand, especially for those who worry and fret about the future we can not see. We shouldn’t worry about things we can’t control. At the end of the day, we are not the maker of the universe or the one in control of our own lives. However, the good news is our God is! He already has tomorrow planned for us. He will take care of us day-by-day and moment-by-moment. During this season of my life, I really learned what it looks like to trust God even when I didn’t know what the outcome would look like.
Have you ever wondered what would happen if we just trust God in everything we do? I mean like REALLY trust him. It’s easy to trust God when life is going your way, but what about when you’re held to the flame? Where does your faith go then? When we are lacking in faith, we start to stand in the power of “what if” statements.
- What if I’m not pretty enough?
- What if I’m not good enough?
- What if I never get to be a mother?
- What if my friends judge me for following Jesus?
- What if I disappoint the Lord?
- What if my marriage won’t last?
- What if I never get married?
According to the dictionary, “What if”, is used when something is RARELY done or just IMAGINED. Every time we use a “what if” statement, this is just the worry talking about something that may not even happen or an idea that our imagination came up with. Our emotions control these “what if” statements…and let me tell you, sometimes your emotions lie. “What if” statements only take emotions, but “Even if” statements only take faith. The word “Even if” is used to say that if something is the case or not, the result is the SAME. Is this as mind blowing to you as it is to me? Whether this happens to you or not, the result is the same! This is who Jesus is! He is good, no matter what happens, no matter if he answers your prayer or not, he will always be good. If we stand in the power of “what if”, then we will never get to experience the faith of “even if”. There is even a story in the Bible that proves this.
My all time favorite Bible Story is about 3 young men and the faith they had in the one true God. In Daniel 3, we learn about King Nebuchadnezzar and a huge golden idol he made. He told everyone that when they hear the musical instrument, they must bow down to worship the gold statue. Anyone who refused to obey would immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace. When it came time to bow down to the idol, 3 jewish men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, would not do it. The King told them that they would be thrown into the furnace if they didn’t…and this was their response:
“If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty. But even if he doesn’t, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.” (Daniel 3:17 -18)
The 3 men were thrown into a furnace that was seven times hotter than usual. Then the King saw a 4th man standing in the fire with them. He called for them to come out and saw that they had not been burned. King Nebuchadnezzar then praised the Lord and told everyone to follow the one true God.
We see in verses 17-18 that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego had faith that God could save them. They trusted God enough to say that even if he doesn’t save them, THE RESULT IS STILL THE SAME. Whether they turned to ashes or they were saved…God is still good & God is still King. God may work a miracle in your life or he may not…but that can not change how you respond to a test of your faith. It’s easy to let pain and sorrow lead your life, but look at the 3 jewish men. They still had to go through the fire and experience the flames…but the Lord was WITH them through it all. God is with you in the moments you feel alone, he is with you when you feel hopeless, he is with you when you don’t know what’s going to happen next, and he is with you when the weight of worry comes crashing down. I encourage you to change your “what if’s” to “even if’s” and stop giving power to worry. Today you can be set free from worry, but you have to declare your faith to the Lord. Not 10%, not 50%, not even 98%…you have to give 100% of your worries to the Lord. When you do, just like King Nebuchadnezzar, people around you will see your faith and will be encouraged to follow after the one who truly knows the plans for our future.
After having major back surgery, the Lord answered my prayers. I relearned how to walk, I went back to college the next semester, and I even finished out my college career as a long distance runner for my school. And let me tell you…Jesus got all the credit. In that season of my life, the Lord chose to heal me, but I had to have faith. I’m not saying that having faith is easy or after you give up worry, you won’t ever struggle again. The truth is your faith will always be tested in life, but if the Lord has done it before, I know He will do it again. But even if he doesn’t, I know He is still good and the plan he has for my life is better than I could ever imagine. My faith forever changed the moment I started changing my “what if’s” to “even if’s”.
Mya is a member of Team LO and enjoys spending time with her husband, Isaac, and their dog Bevo! Keep up with Mya on Instagram @mya.d.ramirez!
by Maddie Fischer | Nov 28, 2023 | Life Advice
Have you ever doubted or questioned the calling, purpose, or instruction God has given you? Have you ever felt crippled by insecurity, uncertainty, or fear? If so, you’re not alone.
I recently started reading the book of Jeremiah. It’s one of my favorite books in the Old Testament. His life and story provides an amazing example of what we should do when we face these doubts and feel hindered in stepping forward into our God-given purpose. To the one who feels held back by insecurity when it comes to doing what God has called or instructed you to do, these words are for you. I pray that through them, you are encouraged and challenged to step forward in obedience into all that He has for you. As a result, I believe you will see Him do what only He can do in and through you.
The book of Jeremiah begins with an interaction between Jeremiah and the Lord,
“The Lord gave me this message: “I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations.” “O Sovereign Lord,” I said, “I can’t speak for you! I’m too young!” The Lord replied, “Don’t say, ‘I’m too young,’ for you must go wherever I send you and say whatever I tell you. And don’t be afraid of the people, for I will be with you and will protect you. I, the Lord, have spoken!” Then the Lord reached out and touched my mouth and said, “Look, I have put my words in your mouth! Today I appoint you to stand up against nations and kingdoms. Some you must uproot and tear down, destroy and overthrow. Others you must build up and plant.” Jeremiah 1:4-9
As God shares the purpose for which He created Jeremiah and set him apart, Jeremiah doesn’t respond to this calling with confidence, assurance, and excitement. He responds with doubt, hesitation, and insecurity in his own ability to fulfill the purpose for which he has been created and set apart. Jeremiah believes that God is unable to speak through him because of his young age.
Instead of agreeing with Jeremiah’s insecurity, the Lord tells him not to be hindered or identified by it. Jeremiah’s doubt in himself didn’t change God’s mind about the assignment He had given him. He simply goes on to guide him in how to overcome the doubts he is facing and step into his calling. God meets Jeremiah’s hesitant response with two commands and two promises.
God commands Jeremiah:
(1) To go where He tells him to go (2) To say what He has called Him to say.
God’s promises to Jeremiah are:
(1) That He will be with Him and (2) That He will protect him.
He also reminds Jeremiah that He Himself is watching over His word to perform it and that it’s simply Jeremiah’s job to speak it. If you continue reading through this book, you will ultimately find that Jeremiah decided to do what God had called him to do even in the face of his insecurity. He chose to put his trust in God’s ability even though he felt unqualified. As a result, God used him in a mighty way – to speak and stand for truth in a culture that was consumed by sin and had turned from God (sound familiar?). Jeremiah faced many challenges, but He held fast to God’s Word; and as a result, God performed His Word as He promised through Jeremiah’s life.
As I read this interaction, I couldn’t help but feel that some of you, like Jeremiah, are living hindered, stuck, and frustrated by lack of confidence in your ability to do what God has called you to do. Whether it’s your age, your past, lack of experience, lack of resources, uncertainty about how to begin, fear of failure, or something else, I believe there is so much to be learned through Jeremiah’s life. I want to remind you that you aren’t alone and also encourage you to take God at His word despite how you currently feel and the obstacles you are faced with.
Just like Jeremiah, your Creator knit you together in your mom’s womb for the purpose of knowing Him and His glory being revealed in and through your life. Your specific calling may be different from his, but you have been called and set apart for Kingdom purpose at this moment in time. You may feel uncertain of this reality, but the One who created it is not. He loves you and has an intentional, abundant plan for you.
Your doubt doesn’t change God’s mind about the purpose for which He has created you. Instead of being identified by your insecurity, He is calling you to move forward in confidence in His ability to perform His Word if you will live in obedience to His instruction. Remember that the pressure of the outcome doesn’t fall on you, but you are responsible for your obedience to His voice. Put your focus on obedience, put the rest in His hands.
He doesn’t command you to go where He has called you to go and do what He has called you to without the promise that He is with you and for you. As you say “yes” to your purpose, remember these things from the life of Jeremiah:
ONE – your insecurity doesn’t change God’s mind about the plan and purpose He has for your life. Embrace what He has called you or instructed you to do instead of trying to talk Him (or yourself) out of it.
TWO – it’s less about your own ability, or lack of, and more about our trust in His ability. Put your trust in His ability over your insecurity when it comes to your purpose. Nothing is too hard for God.
THREE – go where He calls. Trust His leadership even when you don’t understand. He knows where He is leading and what He is doing.
FOUR – speak what He has called you to speak. Share His Word and live it out even if it’s unpopular and no matter how it is received by those around you.
FIVE – remember that He is with you and for you. This is all you really need to know to continue to move forward in faith.
Lastly, remember that you are not called to fulfill God’s Word, that’s His job. You are called to share His word and live it out. Don’t live hindered by insecurity, live in confidence in God’s ability to perform His Word and keep His promise as he uses you as a vessel. You are no exception to God’s ability to use imperfect and unlikely people to carry out His plan.
Trust Him, and with every step, let your confidence be in His faithfulness.
“But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence. They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit.” Jeremiah 17:7-8
Application challenge – read the rest of the book of Jeremiah! Identify something that God has called or instructed you to do and an insecurity that is hindering you from stepping forward in obedience. Ask Him to help you trust His ability over your insecurity and to guide you in what step to take. Set a goal to take a step!
Maddie is a wife, worship leader, and writer. Her passion is pointing people to Jesus, following wherever He leads, and encouraging others to do the same. A few of her favorite fun things are rainy days, road trips, coffee shops, flower trucks & gold confetti.
Keep up with Maddie on Instagram @maddiee_joy!
by Lacie Berry | Nov 22, 2023 | Life Advice, Motherhood
Note from Team LO: We are SO excited to bring you this month’s post from our LO sister member, Lacie Berry! If you want to be a part of this incredible community, you can join HERE today!
Now, enjoy today’s post from Lacie 🙂
Clicks on Instagram.
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New Mom working out every day of the week.
I haven’t worked out in months….
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New Mom is balancing a work-from-home dream job and is able to watch her child simultaneously.
I feel the furthest from “balanced.” I am barely keeping my head above water trying to maintain work and being a mom.
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New mom posting professionally made pictures taken at the hospital post giving birth.
I had a baby in NICU, bawled my eyes out, and didn’t get to have pictures of us taking him home until 11 days later.
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New mom having herself and her kids in the cutest outfits.
I haven’t washed my hair in three days, have spit up on my shirt, and my baby just peed all over his onesie.
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New mom having an aesthetically pleasing Bible time in the morning.
My quiet time with the Lord was not post worthy at all—prayed while doing dishes and read the Bible while feeding. No pastel highlighters included.
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New mom on a date night with her husband.
My husband and I haven’t been on a date since we had our baby. And I am struggling giving him the attention he needs and taking care of our child.
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New mom having a clean house with no dust or laundry piles in sight.
My floors haven’t been mopped in weeks, we have laundry piles in the living room, and mounds of dirty clothes that need to be washed.
Clicks off Instagram.
That’s when it hit me hard. The feeling of inadequacy, the feeling of not being a good wife, the feeling of not being a good mom, the feeling of just being a failure.
Tears start rolling.
Thank goodness our feelings are not who we are.
God met me right there in those tears with love and replaced my feelings with truth. He showed me that I had gone down a spiral of comparison and how toxic the thoughts were.
He showed me that I was focused on:
- Man’s perspective
- Worldly matters
- My own strength
When I should focus on:
- His perspective
- His love and grace
- His strength
Him! Period!
The world tells us we need to look like we have it all together. We need to meet the standards set on social media.
If you don’t have a Stanley or a Doona stroller are you even a good mom?
Yes, of course you are.
I am not saying that having a Stanley or Doona or working out or looking nice or having a cute Bible time is inherently bad! No! I love all of these things, and I am happy for others when they do so!
But it is bad when you base your worth on if you have the things of the world or if you meet the world’s standards.
Our worth comes from Christ Jesus and Him alone.
1 John 4:4 NLV:
“You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.”
The world says to be strong and have it all together, but Jesus says that He is our strength.
We should boast in our weakness because that means we need Him!!
His grace is sufficient!!
His power is made perfect in our weaknesses!!
2 Corinthians 12:9 NLV
“But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”
He didn’t say His power is made perfect in your strength—nope! He said in our weakness.
So maybe instead of celebrating or showing off our own strength, let’s show off the strength of Jesus shining through us! Let’s show off that we are weak, but He is strong!
2 Corinthians 12:10 NLV
“That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
Y’all, His spirit lives within us, so we have His power! And we only receive this Spirit—His power by admitting that we are sinners in need of grace—in need of Him!
So let’s get loud!! Let’s stand up and shout our weaknesses and the Good News on the mountain tops!
The news that Jesus Christ is here to save and to be our strength—even in our weaknesses.
Matthew 5:14-16 NLV:
“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
Your own strength, you meeting worldly standards, you worrying about how other people think of you, that will not save you. Only Jesus can.
John 3:16 NLV:
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
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by Scarlet Stearns | Nov 16, 2023 | Life Advice
If we were sitting together right now, you would see me admiring the cheap Christmas decorations I just bought from 5 Below to decorate my apartment for my first post-grad Christmas. If we were together I probably would’ve made some hot chocolate and cookies but since it’s just me, it’s my girl dinner that consists of cheese, crackers and popcorn. I really wish we were together so that I could have the first choice! Holiday season has begun and the social calendar has started to pick up. I feel like everyone has had a birthday, engagement, or festive get together recently. Like they say “It’s the most wonderful time of the year!” As I sit to write this blog I can’t help but to think about the girl that just doesn’t quite feel the warm and fuzzy feelings this season can bring. You may feel included, maybe you are the hosting queen! Or maybe you feel excluded or a little less important than the typical social butterfly.
If you got left out of the plans, recently weren’t invited to something, this is for you. First I want to say I’m sorry, it’s never fun. Never good timing to be left out of the group chat, not invited to the birthday party, forgotten in the head count. It leaves a feeling of insignificance, a feeling of loneliness, and oftentimes those feelings make a home in your heart that take a little too long to leave. It is interesting how the lack of an invite can create the kind of bruise it does in our hearts. How the scroll on instagram, that reveals how they hung out without you, can create a sort of bitterness that pushes apart a relationship that was once so special. Can I share a little bit of my heart with you today? It won’t be anything that fixes the sting but it may comfort it.
There is a story in the bible where Mary and Martha felt forgotten by God. If you flip to John 11 you will read the story of Lazarus and how he became ill and Jesus “didn’t show up.” Because Jesus didn’t show up when Mary and Martha thought that he should, they felt unseen, lonely, and like they had missed an opportunity for a miracle. Verse 5 shares that “Jesus loved Mary and Martha so when he heard Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was at for two more days.” As I read this I thought how interesting that Jesus loved them but didn’t come to them when they expected. But we see in verse 15 that Jesus says, “For your sake I am glad I was not there so that you may believe.” The moment they felt forgotten led to a moment where they experienced Jesus in a new way. Lazarus had been dead for 4 days when God raised him to life and exceeded the expectation of Mary and Martha. When Martha told Jesus “If you had been here, Lazarus would not have died” Jesus said I had a plan all along to use this experience as a way for you to grow closer to me. As a way for Mary and Martha to know God in a way they had never experienced before. Know him as Father. Know him as a healer. And know him as their closest friend on a day that couldn’t feel more lonely. God is not just using their season of loneliness for his glory but he is using yours too.
The amount of invites you get does not determine the amount of value inside of you. I know that doesn’t seem accurate today, it doesn’t feel true today, but how powerful it is to choose to believe it. It can feel like the invite number equals the number on the value scale but thank goodness it doesn’t. Could you imagine? If our worth was built on an invite, I think we would all be lacking, because we have all been left out. I’m so grateful that the number of invites you have received doesn’t correlate with the amount of value you withhold because even if you do get a lot of invites what happens the moment one doesn’t come? Our value would come crashing down. Our value is not based on who you are, what you do, or where you come from. Better said, your value is not based on what they called you, the things you do with them, or the things they didn’t do for you. Your value is based on the one who instilled value inside of you, Jesus.
Maybe they didn’t call you friend or really they didn’t act like a friend. Thankfully you have the biggest friend, the best friend, and his name is Jesus. He doesn’t just play the role of friend but he also comes as a Father. A protector, a healer, a source of peace. This means when they swing, he protects. When they hurt, he heals. When they fill your heart with so much anxiousness you can’t stand to be near them, he fills your heart with peace to walk confidently not just in their room but in every room. Having Him on your team means that you never walk without a friend but always have one right beside you. Every moment, every hour, he is a friend to you.
Just because they didn’t send the text doesn’t mean they don’t like you. Just because you weren’t invited doesn’t mean you were supposed to be there. What the world tells us is earthly “rejection” is often heavenly protection. There have been many “invites” I was too busy to make, that have guarded my heart for the roads I am walking now. The missed event wasn’t accidental because God doesn’t create accidents in people or actions. He creates purpose. Pain is on purpose, because there is not one thing wasted for the one who is a child of God. The timing of Jesus’ arrival as Mary and Martha prayed for Lazarus’ healing was on purpose because of the glory God would receive in the end. The nights you spend alone in your room are purposeful for the realization of who God wants to be to you.
At the beginning of our conversation I shared about the hosting queen, social butterfly, maybe it’s you? It is me! The one who loves to be around people, go to dinner with girlfriends, host the friendsgiving. God created a role for us in the invitation too. Jesus lived a life that impacted more people than we read stories about. Jesus also lived a life not waiting to be invited but inviting people in and we get to do that too. Recently I was asked what advice I would give to someone looking for community. I shared with her to never wait to be invited but be the one who invites. If you are looking for a community and feeling like you’re at the bottom of the invite list then invite girls into your life. One of the biggest ways the enemy likes to isolate is by telling us “they already have their friend group.” I have met a lot of girls who looked like they had their dream friend group when in reality their hangouts were full of gossip, shallow conversations, and relationships that left them feeling lonely.
Is it not fun to be the one not invited, we know that, so why would we not invite. Let’s be the “inviters” (is that even a word?? I’m not sure but I want to be one!) High school girls, invite a new friend over to your house for girls night. College girls invite a friend from class to go on a walk with you before your class tomorrow. Young adult girls, invite a friend over to chat and fold laundry with. Mommas, invite a neighbor over for dinner. Let people in on the joy of your life, even when you don’t get invited into theirs.
It’s the holiday season, the most wonderful time of the year and as much as it feels like there is a weekly event to not get invited to, there is a weekly opportunity to be the “inviter.” Being left out hurts. Felling unseen and unwanted hurts. If we know how it feels to be that girl then let’s be the girl we always needed. I challenge you this week to love the people around you, walk with Jesus as your Father and Friend, and invite people into the joy of this season.
XX Scarlet
