Not How I Pictured It
As you may or may not know by now, it has been 8 years since my husband, Jamie, & I decided we wanted to grow our family & have children.
It has also been 8+ years of childlessness.
This has been a challenge I have wrestled with in different ways over the years. There were times of peace & times of tears… there was anger & bitterness… there were times I felt I was being punished by God for the sins of my past.
A while ago, I shared more about this journey in “To the Barren Woman” & “When God Says ‘No” & How to Respond to Others.”
God Always Has a Plan
It has not been an easy road, but on this journey, God has given me the wonderful gift of new perspective. In working through a study by Beth Moore, called “Breaking Free”, God showed me that He always has a plan through 2 verses she highlighted in the study:
- Luke 1:5-7, calling Elizabeth a righteous woman who followed God blamelessly… but also pointing out her barrenness… erasing the shame-led belief that I was just not good enough to be a mother… &
- Galatians 4:27, calling barren women to rejoice because they are able to bear more fruit… (spiritual fruit).
You see, my heart had been crying to leave a legacy of grace & hope to this hurting world full of so much of Satan’s craftiness & devious destruction.
And not having children felt like a dagger. But God reminded me that He always has a plan.
Satan Screams Lies… God Whispers Truth
I felt like God was saying I wasn’t worthy (I mean, really, none of us are—but by God’s grace & help!), but my heart yearned to raise children to learn God’s Truth, His HOPE, His LOVE, His GRACE… & to share it with & shine it in the world around them.
And when I went through that study, God showed me that He was giving me that very desire, but on a scale far beyond my hopes & in a way I had never before considered.
What a good & loving & perfect God we serve!
Leaving a Legacy
And so, my heart cry is to lift up you, as the reader, to be emboldened with the Truth & to share the hope & love & grace of God, through the gift of Jesus.
Life can wear us down… we can get covered in routines & habits & distractions & just LIFE, but I want to remain a beacon to remind you (& myself!) that there is a higher calling… a calling that will leave lasting joy & hope for the generations to come.
We can live a surrendered life to God Almighty, proclaiming the Good News of Jesus in & throughout all we do, with the help & wisdom of God guiding the way.
This isn’t just a “when it’s convenient” lifestyle, but a lifestyle that submits to His perfect, loving will in all of the mundane routines & habits of daily life, leaving a legacy of HOPE.
God’s Good & Perfect Will
“The Gospel Changes Everything,” by Meredith Andrews, is playing right now & so eloquently expresses why this moment-by-moment decision to submit to His will & His help is so life-changing.
In my prayers this morning, I felt convicted to ask God to help me better serve others because it’s not a strong spot for me… & in my prayers, He brought these words to my heart as I wrote my prayer, “God, you tell me to serve & love others, not to my expense & detriment, but because you know it is what will really fulfill me. I was designed for it! Help me trust Your design & Your good & always perfect will.”
That’s the same for obedience to His law & His will… we were designed for it & it’s where we will find that perfect unmovable peace. It’s for our good to obey Him! We can trust His judgements fully every time & in every circumstance!
Always on Your Lips
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart & with all your soul & with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home & when you walk along the road, when you lie down & when you get up.” (Deuteronomy 6:5-7)
And so, let that perfect, Good law always be on our lips… in our sitting & standing & lying down.
Let us leave a legacy of submission to Him in everything.
Always defer to His judgement.
Always let Him be the lead.
Always trust His Truth.
LIVE for HIM.
Shine HOPE by allowing others to see where our hope comes from. Our hope is in the LORD!
“I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven & earth.” (Psalm 121:1-2)
Psalm 92
“It is good to praise the Lord
& make music to Your name, O Most High,
proclaiming Your love in the morning
& Your faithfulness at night,
to the music of the ten-stringed lyre
& the melody of the harp.
For You make me glad by Your deeds, Lord;
I sing for joy at what Your hands have done.
How great are Your works, Lord,
how profound Your thoughts!
Senseless people do not know,
fools do not understand,
that though the wicked spring up like grass
& all evildoers flourish,
they will be destroyed forever.
But You, Lord, are forever exalted.
For surely Your enemies, Lord,
surely Your enemies will perish;
all evildoers will be scattered.
You have exalted my horn like that of a wild ox;
fine oils have been poured on me.
My eyes have seen the defeat of my adversaries;
my ears have heard the rout of my wicked foes.
The righteous will flourish like a palm tree,
they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon;
planted in the house of the Lord,
they will flourish in the courts of our God.
They will still bear fruit in old age,
they will stay fresh & green,
proclaiming, “The Lord is upright;
He is my Rock, & there is no wickedness in Him.”
For another encouraging song reminding us how a life lived for Him is worth it all, check out another one of Meredith Andrew’s songs, “Worth It All.”
Coming Next Week
Join me every Monday morning, EST, for more encouragement.
As God grows me, may it encourage you to seek Him & know Him & love Him more every day.
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A Note from Michelle:
This blog/website has been running for almost THREE 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! Check out this week’s featured beauty!!
Zoya Earrings
Zoya means “shining, life” in Hindi. These stylishly stunning gold-toned earrings are handcrafted in India, featuring genuine freshwater pearls on a delicate linked-chain design.
Every purchase of these beautiful earrings provides fair-trade jobs in areas of extreme poverty in India. In India, poverty often leads to exploitation of vulnerable Artisans in sweatshops. Every purchase provides these Artisans with fair wages, access to healthcare, education for their children, & care for elderly family members.
Purchase these earrings & empower an Artisan in India!
How You Can Help:
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!
Your purchases not only help these women, but my commissions help me to continue supporting them as well as continuing this website/blog, encouraging women all around the world with the HOPE we have in Jesus. Win win!
