We Miss This Sometimes
You are so loved, did you know that?
People make God out to be this Controlling Overseer judging our every move, constantly disappointed, badgering us with shame & guilt like we can never be enough….
But those images & perceptions of Him are entirely & completely false… Couldn’t be further from the truth, actually.
When our mistakes, our wrong choices, & our sin disappoint Him, it is not expressed to us through a sense of shame in us, but rather in knowing that every single command He gives is to protect us from the harm we don’t understand we’re causing ourselves & others. He cares too much about us not to warn us about things He knows will hurt us.
Imagine with me dodging to swat your kid’s hand away from the burning pot on the stove. Do you do that to shame your kid about their choices, to embarrass them? NO! You do it because you KNOW how much that would hurt them & you would much rather risk hurting their feelings in the moment by telling them “no” in order to protect them… than to stand by & watch them burn.
Everything He says “no” to is to protect us.
Like small children, who usually don’t know better–especially on their first attempt… they THINK they know, don’t they?
God will do anything to keep you from unknowingly hurting yourself. But we have to be willing to listen to His loving commands, through obedience to His Word, the Bible. It will not prevent all hurt in our lives, but it will prevent us from unnecessarily hurting ourselves or others around us who end up reaping the consequences of your actions.
He Sees You. He Cares About You. He Wants to Protect You from Yourself.
Imagine an All-Knowing, ETERNAL God–compared to us, whose lives are as a vapor comparatively… & us thinking we see clearer than He does. How ridiculous, right!?
Just like that tottering toddler believes YOU may not know what YOU’RE talking about. The audacity, right?
God knew you were gonna screw it up. He knew you would fail so many times. He knew you wouldn’t always get it, wouldn’t always believe Him over yourself… wouldn’t always listen & obey….
He made you anyway. He knew His grace, through Jesus Christ dying on the cross for our sin would be big enough to cover it no matter what your screwups included.
God knew you couldn’t make yourself, so He knit you together in your mother’s womb. He wanted you to exist. He wanted you here… so He MADE you.
God knew you could never hope to pay for your wrongs against Him & so the wrath of God would fall on you, a burden that would swallow you whole & lead to eternal suffering & pain…. So, He sent Jesus to pay your price on the cross—If you trust in that free, unbelievably generous gift of His sacrifice on your behalf, He covers your sin free of charge, He takes God’s wrath on Himself instead!
We NEED to Obey Him, Because Not Only Does He Deserve It–It Is ALSO for Our GOOD!!
God knew this life would often feel too heavy to manage. He warned against mankind fighting to have the knowledge of good & evil in the Garden of Eden, to instead let Him shoulder it & handle it, but mankind chose self (as each of us do so often!) & that trait was passed down throughout all generations, & so now we often mistake being aware of good & evil as a need to try to fix it all & to try & carry the burden of it all on ourselves versus leaning into Him for His lead & His wisdom & His strength as He offers us freely.
His love for us in so unreal. His love for you.
He is not coming to condemn & point fingers & shame you.
He came to die on your behalf. Jesus died to take on God’s wrath reserved for you, so that you could be set free from the sin & guilt you shoulder yourself… from the eternal punishment you deserve.
All because He loves you.
He Cleans Us Up from the Inside Out… He Never Leaves Us Where We Are
He takes you as you are, but He doesn’t leave you there… He cleans you up. He loves you too much to leave you as is. He works in & through your life for GOOD.
What a gracious gift!! For YOU!!
No, God isn’t snickering at you failing & flailing through life… He nudges at your heart to come home to Him & let Him love you & clean you up.
He isn’t rolling His eyes, talking about you behind your back, as if “what a loser, what a failure, what a disappointment.” But beckons you to slump into His arms of refuge & forgiveness & the beginning of a clean slate.
He offers you His grace through Jesus. He offers you mercy in exchange for your wrongs. He gently, patiently cleans you up versus guilting you to do it yourself to be “good enough” for Him. He walks with you through this life, versus letting you figure it out yourself.
GOD. LOVES. YOU.
Come to Him. Bow to Him. Trust in Jesus. Watch Him make you clean from the inside out, giving you a fresh start, a clean slate, & a changed heart… a new life in Him.
Do You Feel Loved? What Does Love Mean to You?
He is the best decision I have EVER made & WILL ever make… & I trusted in Jesus’ saving grace at just 5. And I won’t ever top it. Any age you are is the perfect time to watch Him change your life.
“Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’” (Isaiah 41:10)
“For God did not send His Son [Jesus] into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” (John 3:17)
“… For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God….” (Romans 3:23)
“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)
“For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Romans 10:13)
“… if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)
For God SO Loved YOU… God IS Love!
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)
“In His presence is fullness of JOY.” (Psalm 16:11)
“He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.” (1 John 4:8)
And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body [a]to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.
“Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Love never fails.” (1 Corinthians 13:3-8)
“Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31)
***He is waiting for you… will you come?:***
***(Romans 3:23; Romans 5:8-10; Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 10:9-10; John 14:6)***
Watch This Week’s Episode on YouTube:
(*TUNE IN to watch this week’s LIVE STREAM (Episode 28) on my YouTube Channel!! @: https://www.youtube.com/@MichelleHydeOnline (*Tuesdays @6pm EST/Wednesdays @8am GUAM*) OR come back here to watch it once it has been uploaded!)
Coming Next Week
Join me every Monday morning, EST, for more encouragement right here on my blog/website @ www.MichelleHydeOnline.com.
Share with friends & family… & SUBSCRIBE by “Joining My Tribe,” so you never miss a week!
As God grows me, may it encourage you to seek Him & know Him & love Him more every day.
A Note from Michelle:
(***Check out my FREE Journal Printable Resources: “Accountability Partner Guide + Question Prompts” & “Bible Study Question Prompts ,” as well as “Prayers of Surrender” prayer guides!***)
This blog/website has been running for EIGHT years now! THANK YOU for your continued support & encouragement. <3
If you would like to learn more of my story, check out the “About Me” tab. And if you would like to hear how I found my lasting source of HOPE, read the “Hope Is Found” tab, on this site. I hope they are an encouragement to you! <3
Also, make sure to “Join My Tribe” by adding your email to the top bar & clicking “Join My Tribe”. This gains you access to an extra weekly dose of encouragement from me in your inbox (make sure to check your other inbox folders), along with the link to each week’s new post! I can’t wait to do this journey together!!
Fashion as a Force for GOOD:
Each week, I feature an item that is changing lives for women around the world. These hand-crafted pieces are offering job creation opportunities for women artisans in impoverished nations all around the world! Consider these pieces when shopping for friends, family, or yourself. Check out this week’s featured beauty!!
Capri Coast Earrings–Handcrafted in & Creating Jobs for Women in India!
These beautiful, hand-beaded Capri Coast Earrings create dignified jobs for women in India who are able to earn fair wages for their work in a safe environment. Each strand of beads attaches to a gold-tone semi-circle. Handcrafted in a workshop in India committed to fighting child marriage and helping women become financially independent as fair-trade Artisans, these fair-trade statement earrings are perfect for summer!
***SHOP Here, OR, Email me at michellehyde.tradesofhope@gmail.com with any questions, & I will message you personally with more information!! Thank you for inspiring HOPE around the world, Lovely!***
How Can You Help Artisans around the World AND Help Support MichelleHydeOnline.com?
#1 is PRAY. Financial help is great & helps pay my website fees & helps support these women artisans… but God’s help is always needed most… both for encouragement & for spiritual hope, through Jesus, for the women we support through our ethical fashion purchases. Always PRAY first.
Your purchases not only help these women, but my commissions help me in continuing this website/blog, encouraging women all around the world with the HOPE we have in Jesus. Win-win-win!
Have a wonderful week living for His glory in all that you do!
