I find myself making that statement so often.
To myself out loud, in my head throughout my day, and voicing it to others on the daily. Just that simple statement.
To myself out loud, in my head throughout my day, and voicing it to others on the daily. Just that simple statement.
I find when I voice it to others, they agree smiling and shaking their head, but I can see it's not hitting them with the intensity that I mean it.
And although it's a simple statement made up of 4 words, the feeling, the thoughts, the emotion and belief behind that simple statement is so, so, SO much more to me.
Over these past 5-6 years (no exaggeration), there has been situation, after situation where things have fallen apart.
Things I thought were solid, people I thought were there to stay, and so on, have come down crumbling in a mess.
Things I thought were solid, people I thought were there to stay, and so on, have come down crumbling in a mess.
When trying to fix these things, they only got worse.
I had to learn over time that all I could do was try to address things in the most biblical way, and let God do the rest.
Most of the time I tried fixing things even with "Christian" people, the situations got worse.
I saw that sadly even within the church, that conviction is lacking to leave things on good terms with people.
I saw that sadly even within the church, that conviction is lacking to leave things on good terms with people.
I had to learn to have total faith and trust God to defend me and fight for me.
After time I realized that maybe God at the time had to close things right in my face and let situations get messy so I would let them go.
I realize now that by me being a loyal person who will do everything in my power to work something out, God had really no other option but to slam these doors and lock them in my face long enough so I would walk away from them.
God has always over time shown me why it was best He did that, and that alone blows my mind.
And has even been so good to mend the broken pieces with people that I learned to leave in His hands.
God owes me nothing.
He doesn't have to show me why He does or allows things to happen to me, but He always has.
And has even been so good to mend the broken pieces with people that I learned to leave in His hands.
God owes me nothing.
He doesn't have to show me why He does or allows things to happen to me, but He always has.
That is love right there.
I'd like to say I've learned a bit since then, and now know when to walk away a lot sooner, but it doesn't mean it's always "easy" to do.
Sometimes there are things I've really wanted, and frankly, things that just don't make sense to me in the flesh, that I've had to submit to God and say,
"I see you're closing this, I don't get it, but you can have it. I give it to you."
"I see you're closing this, I don't get it, but you can have it. I give it to you."
One thing I wish every person could understand that I believe with my entire heart, is that God will NEVER take anything from you, or allow anything to happen to you unless it's for your own good, or He has better in store.
And I think the problem is that we lack a relationship with God, where we know Him on such an intimate level, where we truly understand just how much God loves and cares for us. Would you ever intentionally hurt someone you love? Or let them go through pain just because? No. Would you get pleasure out of seeing them suffer? Not at all.
It has taken situation after situation, for me to understand this to its fullest degree.
There's been relationships, friendships, people I've wanted to keep in my life, and I just could NOT understand why they couldn't stay or how things could go from perfect to terrible in a moment like a switch had been hit.
But in time God has always shown me it was for my best.
Am I saying they are terrible people? Not at all. But I can say with a pure heart, I see it now... I get why on either end this was for the best.
But in time God has always shown me it was for my best.
Am I saying they are terrible people? Not at all. But I can say with a pure heart, I see it now... I get why on either end this was for the best.
It really doesn't matter what area in life you are talking about; relationships, jobs, ministry, opportunities, etc...
There are going to be some things that hit you, that just knock the wind out of you for a minute, that you didn't see coming.
There are going to be some things that hit you, that just knock the wind out of you for a minute, that you didn't see coming.
It's in those moments, that you have to make up your mind - do you truly trust that God is allowing this to happen because He has your best interest at heart?
We understand that God doesn't allow anything to happen to us before it passes through His hands, right? (Job 1:12)
So if something is coming to you, or leaving you, do you trust God enough to know He is allowing this for your best?
AND if we believe that, how then will we respond next?
Do we walk around throwing a pity party, and spend our days thinking about how life just isn't fair and how you didn't deserve this?
Do you cry and cry until you have no more tears left, until you are eventually "over it"?
That's definitely an option.
It's an option for you to allow life and your emotions to run it's course until you have depleted yourself emotionally, spiritually, and physically over a situation until you can't take it anymore and you just no longer care.
Or there's a plan B.
And that plan is to make up in your mind, that you trust God, with your whole heart.
With every detail of your life.
To make up in your mind, that when you start feeling your heart getting heavy, or thoughts come into your mind that you know will do no good for you - you will take an attitude against those spirits and what is bringing you down, and say, "Not today Satan!" (2 Corinthians 10:5)
With every detail of your life.
To make up in your mind, that when you start feeling your heart getting heavy, or thoughts come into your mind that you know will do no good for you - you will take an attitude against those spirits and what is bringing you down, and say, "Not today Satan!" (2 Corinthians 10:5)
I know the God that I serve.I know that He loves me. (John 3:16/Romans 5:8/Galatians 2:20)
I know this situation is not in vain. (2 Corinthians 1:4-6)
I know that if I'm going through this, that my pain is for a greater purpose. (1 Corinthians 10:31)I know that this loss is occurring because God wants to replace it with something better for me. (1 Corinthians 2:9)
I know that you have no power over my life, and that this is happening only because God has allowed it to.
And I know that God will turn everything for my good! (Romans 8:28)
And I know that God will turn everything for my good! (Romans 8:28)
It's those "flesh checks" that you have to make to prove not just yourself, or to the devil, but to GOD - that you DO trust Him.
How much would you believe someone if they said, yes I know you love me and I trust you, but every opportunity they get they are trying to find out if you're hiding things from them or are constantly insecure if you even care about them? After awhile that would get old.
Yet why do we do that with God?
God delivers us, protects us, and if you open your eyes you will see that He has spared you from situations and people that would have been no good for you. Yet, every time a new situation occurs, you want to throw yourself on the ground and say, "Why me?"
There comes a point in your walk with God where you stop letting things effect you.
There comes a point where you no longer let situations that would have broken you before, put you into another state of depression.
Because it's at that moment you look back at EVERY situation and battle God has fought for you and you say,
"It's okay, I'm okay... God's got my back. Just like every time before."
Shoot, you can even have a little attitude with the devil and laugh in his face - because this method no longer works on you!
There comes a moment where like David, you encourage yourself in the Lord. (1 Samuel 30:6)
You look back at every moment God was faithful to you in the past, and you let that push you forward into a future filled of peace, hope, and excitement - because if God did it for you before, He FOR SURE will do it for you again!
That's something to be excited about!
That's something that should make you fall in love with Him over and over again!
I want to encourage and talk straight to someone today.
It's time you stop letting every blow knock you down.
It's time you show God, that you realize He has been faithful to you, and this time, you're going to pick your head up, and you're going to walk forward in faith that He has got you.
That you're not going to sit around crying and let the enemy get the best of your mind, because it's a waste of time when you know the God you serve.
So when I say, "God's Faithfulness Trumps All", what I mean is that we have to let it trump all.
No matter what the situation is, or how we want to feel about it, we have to let God's history in our life of being the ONE we could ALWAYS count on actually mean something to us.
He is faithful y'all! It's time to act like we believe that!
In every season, mountain top, valley low, God is faithful!
Blessings,
Miriam <3
