Even Your Greatest Views of God Still Results in Putting God in a Box

How often do you consider the reality of God’s sovereignty? The implications of it?

That there is absolutely nothing you can do to “mess up” God’s plan?

If I were to claim to have control over a situation, my supposed control would be completely reliant on things working exactly the way I assume them to, with nothing going awry.

For God, though, His control doesn’t at all depend on any outside factors. We could mess things up in incompetence, in ignorance, in rebellion, or any other way you can imagine messing up, & God would still have full, absolute control over the situation & will still have everything to work out exactly as He had planned. He is SO MUCH greater than we could even begin to comprehend.

We cannot thwart God, in our lacking or in our rebellion or in our failures. God’s plan absolutely cannot be thwarted.

Amazing, isn’t it? I think so.

Nothing Can Stop God’s Plans

This means that evil will not & CANNOT prevail. God cannot be thwarted.

This means your mistakes & flaws & inadequacies will not & CANNOT get in the way of God’s plan. God cannot be thwarted.

This means that your rejection of Him will not & cannot stop Him. God cannot be thwarted.

He. Will. Prevail. (Proverbs 16:9)

How comforting this truth is! How assuring! How wonderful!

“I’m Not Ready” or “They’re Not Ready”… But HE IS

I don’t have to live paralyzed when God calls me to something I feel ill-equipped for.

Do you think Moses seemed ready when God called him? He sure seemed to think God could call someone better. (Exodus 4:11-13)

Do you think David was the perfect representation of God to include in the Bible, knowing he committed adultery & murder? Surely God could have called someone better. (2 Samuel 11)

Do you think Gideon was the best person for God to call to action, with all of his trembling fear? God surely could have called someone better. (Judges 7:10-11)

Do we vet people for God, based on our perception of them? Or do we pray for God’s placement, despite more obvious picks? (1 Samuel 16:1-13)

God doesn’t call the ready, capable, strong, best choice.

He calls the willing… because He knows He already is all the rest they would need.

The Interview That Forever Reset My Perception of Qualifications

I will forever be impacted by my interview with the pastoral team of the church I used to work with back beginning Fall 2010. (Fun Fact: where I met my husband.)

Almost every question in my interview had absolutely nothing to do with administrative skills or secretarial experience, but rather questions about my faith, my testimony, & how I live for Jesus.

The explanation? Everything else can be learned, but what was most important to them was having someone with a heart for God’s glory, the gospel, & loving others. What a novel idea that seemed to me! How inspiring & humbling!

They cared more about God’s opinion/leading than their own evaluations/opinions of me.

His Sovereignty Is Sufficient in ALL THINGS

God calls the WILLING. And HE equips them.

This is how God can place someone who seems ill-equipped & unprepared to lead a Bible Study group.

This is how God can have someone who seems weak to lead others.

This is how God can take an emotional, “too-talkative”, insecure girl to write a blog she feels inadequate for & sustain her through it for over 6.5 years now!

David Saw Beyond What He Brought to the Table… He Saw GOD

Think of young David against Goliath. I think, if I had been a witness that day, & I had heard THAT agreement (1 fighter against 1 fighter to determine the fate of their entire people) & I saw puny DAVID heading out on the field as our chosen fighter, (not even big enough to fill out/wear armor or carry a sword for that matter!) that I would be like, “no, noooo, no, no, no, hold up… he’s kidding! We can find someone better! Give us a minute to talk about this! Time OUT!”

But David saw beyond himself. He saw what Sovereign GOD could do that which he could NOT on his own. (1Samuel 17)

I Didn’t Have a Clue… But I Didn’t Need To

I will tell you that in my now 6.5 years of writing this blog, I never thought I could do this. Ever.

I didn’t know how to design/create/launch a website.

I didn’t know how to be consistent on something I sometimes lose interest in.

I didn’t know how to show up for God when sometimes all I want to do is be selfish or lazy or my bad attitude wants to shove it all away.

I didn’t feel like a good enough writer with good enough content.

I didn’t feel up to the task.

But I was willing. And I would say now that God has used that willingness mightily.

Pray through Your Roadblocks & Limitations… & Trust God CAN Where You Can’t

I said, “God, really? Me? I don’t think so. Have You really thought this through? How would I even start? How would I even know how to do it? I don’t know where to even BEGIN with a project like that. If You want me to do this, I need you to be my supply in it, so please guide my steps & show me how to begin.”

As I prayed this, along with praying over every website-launching question or concern that ever came across my mind in what I would need to know in order to begin, I soon crossed paths with a course on how to do every one of the things I had specifically prayed about—in my budget, too! And I followed His lead & took it.

And then, I told God, “But I am inconsistent. I lose interest. I get bored. I have bad attitudes. How am I supposed to not quit at this, too? How am I supposed to be consistent & represent You when I am not always a good example?”

But again, God prompted my heart that it wasn’t about me “looking like a good Christian,” but about me showing up, even on bad attitude days, even on my worst days, & showing that even when I am weak, He is strong. Showing that HE is the GOOD One, not me. Him getting the glory–not me. Even when I don’t deserve it, He is faithful. Even when I fail, He will not. Even when I fall short, He is sufficient. Pointing to HIM in my lack.

That it’s not about me being perfect, but about showing Him to be perfect.

And guess what? I may not be the best choice. I may not be the best writer or the most faithful in my attitude response.

But God is Sovereign. I can’t mess up His plan. He will prevail despite me. I cannot thwart Him. His Word will not return void. Even if I get it ALL wrong.

God Multiplies What We Offer, Even If What We Have to Offer Seems Worthless

I can trust that He can take my meager offering & somehow multiply it far beyond what I feel I have to offer. He made the world “Ex Nihilo” (out of nothing), so even if your meager offer feels like nothing, God can still use it.

I just have to be willing to lay down my weaknesses, failures, sometimes unwillingness, pain, bad attitudes, or whatever else at His feet & say, “God, I know it’s not much, but it’s all I have to give to You today. Will You please use it for Your glory?”

Even if I look a fool. Even if I am looked down on. Even if I am judged. Even if I get an eye roll. Even if I am misunderstood. (And sometimes I have to remind myself of this, because the pull to be liked & accepted & believed in by others is SO strong at times for me.)

If my obvious lacking can bring Him glory, I offer it to be used by Him.

Because He is Sovereign, I can have full confidence in showing up with the very little I sometimes feel I have to give Him, knowing He is fully capable of multiplying much from my very little.

God’s Sovereignty–We Can’t Ruin Anything

As author Watchman Nee so eloquently puts it, in his book: “Sit, Walk, Stand,” in everything we do, we begin with God’s “done-ness.” He is seated on His throne, He is sufficient for the task. He brings everything needed to the table…. (You can find the link to this book in the books section of the recommendations tab on my website: “Recommended by Michelle.”)

… I just have to show up & be willing to be used by Him, the Sovereign GOD.

With God’s Sovereignty, we can’t ruin anything. He cannot & will not be thwarted. Take courage in that!

Shine HOPE by being willing to look a fool, to be that scrawny David getting mocked for how ill-equipped he appeared, ready to trust God to be Sovereign in whatever lies ahead… even if just through being WILLING.

Coming Next Week

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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 6.5 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

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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!!

Ebony Suede Clutch (INDIA)

Create fair-paying jobs for women in India to earn a dignified income with this on-trend suede clutch. Enjoy the functionality of this classic Ebony Suede Clutch, featuring antique gold accents, interior zipper pocket, and 18 card slots. This chic clutch has a toggle closure. 

***Purchase this handcrafted suede clutch using the “Shop Here” link below to empower women in India out of poverty!***

How You Can Help Artisans around the World AND Help Support My Website:

#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.

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!

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Love ya lots! Have a wonderful week living for His glory in all that you do!