POST #400!!!
I just want to take a minute before we get started to acknowledge how big a thing this is! Me, the girl who starts & quits a million craft projects, who struggles tons with self-motivation & insecurities, wrestles with dark seasons of depression at times… ME… + FOUR HUNDRED POSTS!
What a faithful God Who helps me even in my hard seasons to remain faithful with this little corner of the internet, however small it may be. What a testimony to our blog topic for this week!
When God began to lead me down this path, in 2018, I was SO nervous… mainly because of all the reasons I listed above. I don’t want to be fake with people either, pretending I have my life together to “be a good testimony.” I really struggled with that. But God reminded me ever so gently, that this space is not about showing how worthy & capable I am… but how worthy & capable HE is.
It’s not about me having all the answers, but knowing Who to turn to for those answers. Not about me being strong, but showing Him as my strength. Not me as the best writer, but Him as worth writing about. Not me as the most faithful, but about Him as worth showing up for, even on days I feel I have very little left to give.
So, here’s to post #400! Praise to God!
He can use our little to do great things, because all the power belongs to HIM.
“The Exceeding Greatness of His Power Toward Us Who Believe…”
“Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.” (Ephesians 1:15-21) (emphasis mine)
When did we stop believing all that God is capable of to those who believe on Him?
How often we underestimate Him & in how many countless ways!
Oh, What God Can Do in & through Us… If Only We Believe!
How much of what God calls us to do we think is up to us to fill in for Him or do FOR Him?
Do we not remember that He walked on water, calmed the stormy seas, freed Israel through miraculous signs, whittled down an army so that even the small could defeat the great in His power? He led David to victory against all odds, shut the hungry lions’ mouths, kept even the SMELL of smoke from Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He created the WORLD… from NOTHING… knit us together in our mother’s womb.
The whole Bible SCREAMS at us the power of our great GOD. Do we listen? Do we BELIEVE?
We Need to Get in the Habit of Believing Him Enough to Ask for the Impossible
If you, for one second, think you need to prove your faith by doing it without asking Him for His infinite supply—STOP. Isn’t that just the OPPOSITE of faith? When did we get that twisted? God doesn’t need us to prove WE can… because HE can.
ALL work in our homes, at work, in church, in the world (grocery store even) ought to flow out of time spend before Almighty God & His infinite supply.
If you feel ineffective or like your life is not really being lived all for His glory, but you feel there’s nothing you know to do about it… don’t stop at what YOU know or what YOU can manage. Ask HIM.
Let me tell you something. God is so much more infinitely capable than we could ever even BEGIN to wrap our minds around. So infinite. So limitless. So powerful.
“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” (Ephesians 3:20-21)
It’s Been a Hard Couple Weeks
Last week, well… the last couple weeks… have been hard. For one, my cat of 12 years is fading & has stopped eating real food. The vet is out of ideas. Options are out. We’re on our last attempt. We may have to say goodbye soon. It’s been hard watching him become less & less himself. Weaker. Thinner. It’s tough.
But that’s not all.
Work has been infinite for my husband recently. I had strep. Meds are now making me super tired & drowsy. And there’s other stuff I won’t get into for the sake of others’ privacy.
It’s just been one of those months where I feel like I am being slapped back & forth in the face. I’m weary. I’m wounded. And on some nights… I feel I can barely stand under the weight of all that I can’t control or stop or make better.
Even His Little Is Infinitely Great
And I had one of those nights recently. If you follow me on social media, then you saw my posts about it. But it’s worth bringing attention to it again… in case you missed it or forgot.
In the depth of that hurt I felt I was paralyzed… I had no answers, no profound prayer to pray, no strength. Just hurt.
So all I could manage was I whimpered to God: “help.”
That’s all I had. Just a little whimpered, pathetic “help.”
I faceplanted on my bed, & just felt as if I was being directed to one simple thing & then another… pulled over my phone, turned on the music app, set it to my worship playlist, & the first song that played was one I didn’t even remember owning: “Turn to Jesus,” by Katy Nichole (highly recommend).
It’s like God knew & summed up all the whirling pain & overwhelm & just washed His comfort over my heart when I didn’t think comfort was possible. In just the simplest of ways… a song with the words I so desperately needed to hear.
Do Not Forget How Great Is Our God
He doesn’t need my input or my particular profound words to hear my heart & know my need.
He doesn’t need to calm the storm to calm my heart.
He doesn’t need to show up to make Himself shown to me.
He carries the weight. He doesn’t need my help. He can.
I’m the one who needs Him… not the other way around.
And yet, even in my greatest, most weak moments, He doesn’t tell me to get it together… He tells me to come to Him.
Ask Yourself
Where are you selling Him short in your life?
In where/when you’re willing to serve?
In your hurts/traumas?
In your day-to-day task list items?
Where do you leave Him out?
Are you believing in God as the God Who made the WORLD?
As one of the ladies on my hall in college once wisely taught us, “when you write on a piece of paper the most amazing, mind-blowing thing you can think of about God… & you put that piece of paper in a box… just remember that whatever it is that you wrote on that piece of paper… you are still putting God in a box.”
Shine HOPE by believing God is as He reveals Himself to be in the Bible, taking Him at His Word, believing He can work the impossible, willing to say, “Send me, Lord,” knowing this is true about Him. That He CAN where you most certainly cannot. To God be the glory! How great is our God!
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 7 years now (BLOG POST #400 TODAY!!!!)! 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!!
November 2025 “Hope Mail”
FOR A LIMITED TIME – Only available during the month of November! Enjoy free shipping and 10% off your Hope Mail package when you subscribe every month!
The Merry & Bright Mini Pouch is a hand-beaded pouch is handcrafted by women in India in a workshop committed to fighting child marriage and creating dignified jobs for women. Every stitch and bead showcases the incredible skill and artistry of our Artisan Partners. 4.5 in x 6 in. Beaded on the front with a cream satin backing.
Your purchase of the November Hope Mail provides one day of school for a girl in an area of extreme poverty, giving her a chance to learn, dream, and thrive.
Each pouch is beautifully unique, with small variations that make it charmingly artisan-made!
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 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.
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!
