I had an interesting conversation with an old friend on my latest visit to the states.
As we were talking & catching up after the church service, he mentioned that he was going to a new church.
Nothing really seemed too odd about that to me because I know plenty of people who have switched churches from where they once attended for whatever reason.
For him, I gathered that, in praying about it, God had directed him to this other church… not because they offered more, but because they seemed to be struggling as a church.
At first, this seemed sort of strange to me, but as he talked about it, it made so much sense.
He felt that God wanted him to be part of the help that the church needed. He wasn’t going there because of all it offered him, but because he wanted to offer his service to that church in need.
I Have Stressed Over Finding a New Church When We Move
I will also add that I have been stressing about finding a new church in Orlando, when we move, because I will not go to a church & be okay if they compromise the Word of God (the Bible) in any way, shape or form…& that sort of biblical foundation can be hard to find in a lot of places these days, unfortunately.
I also really wanted to go to a church that had many ways to get involved & make friends.
But after talking to my friend, I realized I have very little reason to worry.
It’s easy to want a church with good music, good aesthetics, good programs, good ministries, ample Sunday school classes to learn & grow together… Bible studies even.
But what if God wants to send us to a church with very little of all that? What if God sends us there to help start some of that going there? To be part of the solution & growth?
Maybe He doesn’t want to send us to a ready-made church, but rather one which is a work in progress like me?
Church Isn’t Meant to be a Christian Country Club… But a House of Worship
I think it can be easy to subconsciously consider church to be a Christian country club where we go to be fed the Word & be encouraged by others to help fuel us each week.
But church is meant to be a body of worshippers, where all parts big or small, “important” or “insignificant” come together, all parts working toward the health & well-being of the whole… all there to bring God glory because of what Jesus has given for us with His life, death, & resurrection.
Do you serve in your church?
Do you get involved? Do you feel like you don’t know where to step in?
Do you feel you don’t have much to offer—time, resources, skill, confidence, ability, spiritual maturity?
The cool thing about the body, is that it needs even small things to run well. So, even if you feel your contribution can only be small… well, there you go… it’s still needed.
And as we work alongside each other, we share in the blessings of what God will choose to do with it… to multiply our efforts & use it to change the communities around us with HOPE.
Do You Go to Church to be Served… Or to Serve?
So, start by praying about it. Ask God where you can help where you’re at in life right now.Ask Him how you can contribute & be a part of the body of Jesus Christ in the church.
Don’t just come & take… come to give. God will help you if you’re willing to ask Him.
Never in a million years did I think I’d be doing all I do now, but I started small & God grew me as I continued to obey His lead in it. Now I am blessed to have been a part of so many wonderful ministries here on Guam—children’s ministry (teaching K4 & K5 what the gospel means & how God cares for them & paid for their sins)… choir & now praise team (that was so super scary for me, yet here I am!)… prayer team after service… & women’s prison ministry! PLUS this website, my blog, & YouTube channel! Never EVER in a million years!
God multiplies what we have when we offer what we have to Him!
Start small if you have to… & watch Him multiply it over time. It will amaze you.
Pray over it & obey as He leads.
Shine HOPE by serving in your local church, being a participating part of the body of Christ in serving others & working to give God all the glory!
“Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”(1 Corinthians 10:31)
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 myFREE 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 since Summer 2018!! 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!!
Convertible Wrap Necklace, Handcrafted in & Empowering Women Out of Poverty in India!
(Shown: Convertible Wrap Necklace (also available in silver), handcrafted in & empowering women in India out of extreme areas of poverty with every purchase, partnering with the artisans!)
This elegant, gold-tone necklace from India will give you a custom jewelry piece your versatile wardrobe needs! This Convertible Wrap Necklace is beautifully crafted with a detailed gold-tone chain featuring a toggle closure and gold charm. The toggle feature allows you to wrap the necklace around for a more layered, shorter look or wear it long to elevate any piece of clothing!
Every purchase provides safe jobs with fair wages in areas of extreme poverty where vulnerable women are often exploited by sweatshops.
***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!
In certain seasons of my life, I have sought to have lunch or coffee with different ladies at work or at church that God has placed on my heart. I would do this sometimes once or twice a month.
The purpose of these get togethers was to be more intentional in meeting new people, making new friends, & encouraging the women I met.
I struggle with large groups. I get overwhelmed & sort of zone out when I’m surrounded by people. Having a plate of food or a drink in my hand are typically my security blankets that allow me to use the excuse that, “oh, what? No, totally not at all socially awkward here… just, ya know… I’m eating these snacks/enjoying my drink.” Haha, but I know the truth. Those were my security blankets so I wouldn’t seem as awkward & out of place as I felt.
But one-on-ones are fine for me. I love getting to know new people, especially fellow Christian women, because I can hear testimonies of how God is showing up for them in their lives or working through them. It encourages me so much in my own faith, being reminded repeatedly as to why He’s the One to Whom we look as our help through life.
What Types of Conversations Do You Want to Have?
I love getting to hear that I am indeed NOT the only one with struggles & weaknesses, getting to pray for them & encourage them, while also feeling encouraged myself. Swapping stories of God’s faithfulness in our lives.
Before these get-togethers with different ladies, I began praying something very specific before each one: “Lord, help us to honor You in our conversations. Help us in having “3E” conversations… that I help edify her (build her up), encourage her (lift her up), & exhort her (urge her forward in living life for You).”
That was my purpose & my hope in these conversations, whether it turned out that way every time or not… that was my hope going into each one.
It’s then, in the past year or so, that I coined that term of a “3E” friendship/conversation. It helped me remember why I was there.
That’s what I am really longing for & praying for in this move to Orlando, Florida.
I REALLY want to find women who are this for me, too, there.
I Want More “3E” Friendships–to Edify, Encourage, & Exhort One Another
My truest longing in a friendship is someone where, somehow the conversation always leads back to talking about how God is showing up for us,how we’re seeking Him when things get hard, how we need to pray together as we seek to live for Him in everything, even when it’s easy to forget Him.
I want to be built up in my faith,challenged graciously to grow in Him.
I want to be lifted up in life, reminded of all He is & can do for us—all He has already done.
I want to be urged forward in my life,someone who will help push me to live my life more fully for the Lord, even when distractions & busyness abound.
So, please pray for me to this end.That God prepare some beautiful 3E friendships with ladies there& some men for my husband to befriend as well.
I Have Been Blessed with Some Beautiful 3E Friendships Already in My Life
During my time on Guam, I have been blessed with friendships like these who have encouraged me, challenged me, & urged me forward. I have been so incredibly blessed by my life crossing paths with theirs. (Same in Japan.)
And that is one of the biggest prayers I have for this move,that God send me some imperfect ladies who love the Lord, who are also interested in 3E friendships.
It’s what I strive to be… long to be… in my friendships.
I’m not always perfect at it. I don’t always get it right. But deep in my heart, it’s what I always long to provide to those I hang out with…because I know how easily I can be distracted from God or start leaning more on His blessings rather than on Him as my Blessings-Giver.
I NEED reminding! I NEED to be talking about it!
I Need Reminders Always to Look to Him & Live for Him Vs. Looking to Myself or Living for Myself
If you see me wearing “Christian-y” t-shirts, it is NOT AT ALL because I am trying to be self-righteous like, “yeah, everyone, be like this… aka be like ME.” Or as if I think that wearing it somehow makes me more “Christian-y.”
NO. It’s me saying, “I am struggling to remember this today… so I thought I should wear this shirt as an extra little reminder to my heart to NOT forget it!”I am basically screaming my weakness for that day to the world on my shirt… but also showing where I know my help will come from as I seek Him.
But I need these types of friendships for that exact same reason. I forget. I numb. I get distracted. I get selfish. I get prideful. I get discouraged. I NEED truth. I NEED reminders of Him as my LORD.
I want more “3E” friendships–to edify, encourage, & exhort one another.
So I want to BE that kind of friend, because I know it’s truly the kind of friend I NEED, too.
Do You Long for These Types of Friendships & Conversations, Too?
In what ways do you live this out in your own friendships & conversations with others?
Do you have certain friends in your life that are this kind of friend to you?
I am still a work in progress on this, but for me, I pray beforehand over the conversations we will have when we get together & I try to remember to ask them how I can pray for them & take a moment to sit & pray with them. God usually does the rest in bringing things to mind & steering conversations toward remembering Him in them.
And it becomes more natural the more you work on it, too… so don’t give up if you’re not great at it right away… it’s a learning process & God will help you grow in it as you seek Him to help you in it.
So, join me. Learn & grow in having 3E friendships. That’s the kind of friend I long to be.
Shine HOPE by seeking to not just get together to chat mindlessly, but by being intentional in building up your friends, lifting up their spirits with encouragement, & by urging them on to live their life more fully for Jesus. It’s what this life is all about, after all.
“Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”(1 Corinthians 10:31)
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 myFREE 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 since Summer 2018! 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!!
Embroidered Foliage Coin Purse, Handcrafted & Empowering Women in India Out of Poverty with Every Sale!
(Shown: Embroidered Foliage Coin Purse–Every purchase empowers women in India out of extreme areas of poverty.)
Create fair-paying jobs for women in India when you purchase the Embroidered Foliage Coin Purse, handmade in India! Each velvet mini zipper pouch has an adorable design featuring a floral design that has been hand embroidered with love and care.
Every purchase of the Embroidered Foliage Coin Purse creates safe jobs with fair wages for women in areas of extreme poverty in India where vulnerable women are often exploited by sweatshops and human traffickers.
***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!
This week is another adaptation of my lesson prep for prison ministry.
I just felt that, although not prison, we all can have seasons where we feel stuck or trapped… especially like my seasons where I am struggling with depression…. And I have learned that even in those really hard, difficult times… sometimes those are the most prime times to be able to give God the glory because onlookers can more clearly see that it’s not at all because of me.
We’ve all had times in our lives when we feel stuck. Maybe it’s a season of grief or maybe an illness or injury… maybe it’s depression… maybe it’s prison.
When we’re in these seasons, where everything just seems hard & the hard doesn’t seem to ever want to stop… when you have no control… it can all be very discouraging. It can feel disheartening & like life is just beating you up.
And in those moments, we can possibly feel like, when our world feels so dark & grim—how are we supposed to give God glory?
But here I am to tell you that it is oftentimes in these moments where we have the MOST opportunity to give God the glory.
It’s Not about How Great You Look
I always say that when you’re doing something for God, its success does not hinge on everything going perfectly, but often in how you respond when nothing goes right.
You see, it shows more clearly where you end & where He begins. It shows where you humble your weakness to Him & trade it for His help.
Alternatively, when you are strong & everything in your world is going pretty smoothly, & everything seems to just be going according to plan… when you seem strong & capable… who are people going to praise? Who is going to get the glory in that? Oftentimes… you.
But, when everything is seeming to fall apart & you clearly don’t have a backup plan, but you stop & pray over it & see it all work out… who are they going to praise in that situation? More likely Him.
When someone looks at your life, do they see a strong, capable woman?Or do they see a woman who leans upon her Lord?
We’ll Always be a Work in Progress
I am definitely not always a pro at this—although the more times that I realize my need, that I need to stop, admit my limitations, & cry out to God for help in prayer, the more easily that response comes to me in the future.
Now, I’m also not saying to purposely act like a hot mess or drop the ball on every task to show that you trust God is in control—that would be irresponsible stewardship of the task God has put before you & show it doesn’t actually matter much to you at all.
Trust & reliance on GOD is not the same as inaction on your part.
But I am saying that when you do your best & it still all crumbles apart, don’t be scared of the failure… show others Who you turn to when you don’t have all the answers. Show them Who is your strength when you feel you have none.
Who knows, maybe that is the whole reason God granted you the stewardship over that… knowing it would fall apart… SO THAT people could have opportunity to firsthand witness you turning it over to God for help when it starts to fail. Maybe that was the point all along.
Yeah, I Am Weak… I Admit It
That is why I can be so open with struggling with depression pretty badly in some seasons of my life. Does it make me look good? No, not at all. People often judge me & say I am “just being dramatic.”
But does it show others my very real human weaknesses so that they can more clearly that where I succeed must not have been all me? Yes. In many cases, yes.
I want others to know where I fail & fall short. I want people to see where I screwed it up & felt I had no hope left. I want people to see where I end & where He begins…. I want HIM to get the glory in my life, not me.
I want others to see & know that any good from my life is not because I am a success or a strong woman, but because I know from where my help & strength come from–& it’s not of myself, that’s for sure.
And that is why it is entirely possible to give God the glory when you just feel stuck in your life.
What Is Your “Stuck”?
Chronic illness? Bad diagnosis? Injury? Grief? Depression? Prison? What is pushing you down? What is your “stuck”?
Use whatever it is as your opportunity to lean into God as your help & your strength & your wisdom & your comfort. As your platform to show the world where you end & He begins… be a beacon of hope.
Let His help be shown through your stuck.
God sees you. He hasn’t forgotten about you. He will not waste a single ounce of “stuck” in your life, because they are prime opportunities to teach you (& others through you) that He can when ‘can’ feels super impossible.
That He can use even someone like you, even someone with your “stuck.”
Praise Him in the Storm
Think of the followers of Jesus (Paul & Silas) in prison. They understood the assignment. Most were imprisoned wrongly, simply for sharing the gospel, rather than breaking any laws. But did they scream their rights? Did they grumble & complain to everyone around them?
“But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.” (Acts 16:25)
No, they sang praises to their God. They lived as a testimony EVEN in prison.
They understood that God was still with them, even in that cell & that God cared just as much for each prisoner they sat beside & every prison guard who watched over them. That Jesus died for them, too.
God Doesn’t Do Anything Without a Purpose
And what about Paul. Did you know his friends kept warning him? “Don’t go there, are you crazy?! They want to KILL you!!!”
But how did Paul respond?
“Now when we heard these things, both we and those from that place pleaded with him not to go up to Jerusalem. Then Paul answered, “What do you mean by weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” (Acts 21:12-13)
He also understood the assignment. He knew that no matter who God put him in front of, even if they had the power to kill him, that the Gospel of Jesus Christ was worth dying for & that those people who fight against it so hard are also ones for whom Jesus died. He was willing to die to get the chance for an audience with those in charge to hear the hope of Jesus.
Sometimes I Just Feel SO Stuck in Life!
In my seasons of dark depression, life is really hard. It feels hopeless, like my mind is under constant oppression & attack. Like I cannot get free no matter how hard I try. Like I am fighting every day just to keep my head above water, so to speak.
I feel weak & pathetic. I feel useless. I feel embarrassed. I feel like I make God look bad.
But on the contrary. I cannot tell you how many times God has used even my darkest days to show me & even others that He can where I very obviously could not.
There’s this little phrase in a verse that I love so much… He lifted my head.
“But You, O Lord, are a shield for me, My glory and the One who lifts up my head.” (Psalm 3:3)
I don’t know, something about this picture just really shows His gentleness when all seems lost. Like this picture of being so completely limp & weak with nothing to offer, so lacking that even lifting your head off the floor feels too much of a strain, one you can’t bear… & yet… God. His gentle, loving, sovereignly powerful care… & He lifts your head.
I don’t know if you’ve ever felt that low before, but I have. It’s like only the solid, firm floor feels sturdy enough because I feel so limp & frail that the bed or couch cushions don’t feel secure or sturdy enough to hold me steady. I just lay flat on the floor to feel that sturdiness underneath me & I can feel so limp & weak that I can’t even get myself to lift my head. And then this picture of our great, majestic All-powerful God kneeling down beside me to lift my head for me… I don’t know why, but I just get choked up thinking about it because that really is the type of gentle, loving, sees-me care He shows me in my every weakest point in life.
My Weaknesses for His Glory
My weaknesses are not something I am ashamed of anymore, because they have become the canvas on which God shows Himself all the more wonderful & spectacular than I could ever have imagined Him to be.
Every crack in me only serves as crevices for His love & power & faithfulness & grace to shine through even brighter to the world around me.
I used to pray about my depression to the tune of: “but, if You actually loved me, why, oh WHY, would You let me suffer SO MUCH for NO REASON—ie no cause of loss or betrayal or physical pain or ANYTHING to at least justify to others my suffering, but NO, I have to be in such complete, constant pain in some particular seasons, with absolutely nothing to help people be understanding to me IN IT. Why?!”
I didn’t understand how God could simultaneously love me AND let me suffer so much.
But you know what, there came a day when that answer to those prayers finally came: “Michelle, you look around & see lukewarm Christians everywhere who seem to think just going to church or praying before they eat is all I am to them & it grieves your heart. They have an ignorance of Me that keeps them from drawing nearer. But you haven’t had that “luxury.” No, you HAVE suffered… & because you have suffered so much… you have not had the “luxury” of believing the lie that you don’t need Me… no, you have been forced through that suffering to come to Me over & over & over again, learning that I am where your hope is found… learning to rely on Me. It is indeed the greatest blessing, My child… not a curse.”
Wow was I put in my place that day. The humbling realization washed over me & poured out of me as pure gratefulness. What I had always seen as my greatest curse instantly turned into my greatest blessing & benefit.
All of those years where I have suffered so much pushed me ever into His arms as my help & I have seen Him come through for me over & over & over & over & over & OVER again because of those many seasons!
And because of that… on TOP of that… I can share that same exact hope I have personally seen as FACT, through my own suffering, as a display of hope to absolutely everyone who will hear me.
I can be a beacon, a lighthouse that draws others around me to the One Who gives me hope in the most hopeless of places.
Shining As a Beacon of Hope… RIGHT Where You Are
So, no, we are never truly “stuck.” Not really.
God has a purpose in it.God has a plan. God will not ever waste a single ounce of our struggles or suffering or seasons of “stuck.” He knows what He is doing.
We can trust Him.We can proclaim Him. We can point others to where OUR own hope comes from—Jesus Christ our LORD!
So, sing His praises! Of His greatness & power & majesty! His love & grace & faithfulness! His sovereignty, His deity, His longsuffering favor toward us who are even least deserving! That Jesus died so that we may LIVE! PRAISE Him!
Read the Bible & dwell on its words & truth.
Pray & spend time pouring out your struggles & anxieties to Him, asking for His help & thanking Him for being One Who cares for you no matter what you may feel you do or don’t deserve.
Remember your salvation undeserved… & SHARE IT. Be a BEACON for HOPE.
He Is at Work
Are you feeling stuck in life right now because of your current circumstances? What does your “stuck” look like? How does it make you feel right now? Is God too small to help you or to shine through you in this?(No.)
Can you flip the script on it & instead see it as an opportunity to lean into Him, see Him show up for you in it, & live as a beacon to a hurting world?
Ask Him & watch Him shift your heart & renew your mind.
He is working.
Shine HOPE by leaning on Him & living for Him, even on your absolute worst days… & see the wonderful ways that God shows up & makes Himself known to you & to those you allow to look in on your pain… let them see Him in it.
“Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”(1 Corinthians 10:31)
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 myFREE 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 since the Summer of 2018!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!!
Pearl Seashell Brooch, Handcrafted in & Empowering Women Out of Poverty in India!
(Shown: Pearl Seashell Brooch, handcrafted in & offering brighter futures for women in India!
When you purchase the Pearl Seashell Brooch you create safe jobs with fair wages in areas of extreme poverty where vulnerable women are often exploited by sweatshops.
This adorable pin shows off the craftsmanship of our talented artisan partners in India! Each bead is hand-sewn onto the pin to create this seashell image. This is the perfect addition to any blazer, coat, or canvas bag to instantly give you a unique look!
***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!
I am feeling pretty okay right now. God is really helping remind me when I start putting too much of the future on my own shoulders vs. trusting He sees, He knows, & I don’t have to figure it all out on my own… & that it will not, in fact, be the end of the world if everything doesn’t work out exactly the way I think it’s supposed to.
But, because this is a season–in our moving from Guam back stateside to Florida–that has much room for anxiety to come in & take over, I thought it would be great timing to make some reminders to myself, as well as share them with you who are reading this.
This blog post today is taken from my notes that I typed up for Prison Ministry this Thursday. I will be teaching the lesson this week & next, so prayers are much appreciated! God’s wisdom, challenge, & encouragement for them is my goal—all to His glory!
With all the preparations & planning & leaving my home & selling my home & moving & goodbyes & being displaced while we home-search & then home-searching in general… well, there are opportunities galore for anxiety galore.
Whenever I do feel that anxiety creeping in, God has been gracious in reminding me with a little gentle nudge on my heart: “This is showing an area of which you don’t quite trust Me all the way.”
So, let’s talk through some practical ways that we can remind our hearts to stay calm, draw in peace, & look to Him versus feeling the spiral take control.
God’s Word, the Bible, is not just a collection of “wise words” or just a “life instruction manual.” God’s Word is living & active. It interacts with us. It is God-breathed. It is nourishment that our strained, restless souls are often MUCH more starved of than we realize.(2 Timothy 3:16-17; 1 Peter 2:2)
Aside from that, reading the Bible allows us to get to know God. He wants us to know Him. Why does that help you? Because it teaches you, word by word, how small you are & how incredibly great & awesome & infinite & eternal & powerful & gracious & kind HE IS.
And the more you know your God, the more you begin to settle into Him & put less pressure on yourself… not to be lazy, but to be at peace in this life. Seeing Him more fully puts all of life in clearer perspective, where it isn’t all up to you, but Him.
You NEED it.
Memorize it, too. You will begin to be surprised when you pray & a verse you memorized years ago floats across your heart as the exact thing you needed to hear or be reminded of right specifically in that moment. It is AMAZING when that happens! (John 14:26)
But you can’t just READ it, deceiving yourself… you must DO it. (James 1:22)Like having an instruction manual for a complicated piece of furniture… just reading the steps doesn’t do anything… you have to actually do what the steps tell you to do.
Examples of Doing Vs. Just Reading/Hearing God’s Word
Ie. Don’t just say, “Praise God!” but take some time to ACTUALLY praise Him—“God, You are so wise, so wonderful. You are in control, You are seated on Your throne. You gave Your all for me through Jesus on that tree! Thank You, God for loving me so much! Thank You that I can rely on You in ANY storm! You are wonderful & so greatly to be praised!” PRAISE HIM!
“Cast all your cares on Him, for He cares for you.” Do you actually take a moment to take stock of what is stressing you out & pray over each one? “God, You are better equipped for this than me. Help me to trust You with this. Please give me the wisdom that I need. Provide me with Your peace. Guide me through. AMEN.” CAST YOUR CARES ON HIM! (1 Peter 5:6-7)
AND, with reading your Bible consistently, you begin to see a pattern.All of these “heroes of the faith” are not heroes because they always knew what to do & did it, never failing… but because through each season, they came back to God for help, let Him lead, trusted His power, & came back to Him when they screwed it all up. God is the Hero in their stories, not them. He is the Hero in our stories as well! Take heart!
If you are determining to live for His Kingdom & His glory, you can trust Him to come through for you. If you are not, it’s as simple as humbling yourself, apologizing for wrong motivations/focus… & asking Him to shift that in you… to live for Him & not for you.
In Everything, PRAY
“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God….” (Philippians 4:6)
This verse is not written to shame you for feeling overwhelmed.It is an invitation. There is actually hope, is what it’s saying. It’s a reminder that you indeed are not in control, but there is One Who is.
Take the burden off yourself to solve or fix or come up with a path forward… & ask the One Who already knows how & can help you. Praise Him & thank Him for Who He is… & ask for His help.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)
“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing,in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)
He wants you to learn the practice of resting in His Godhead… letting Him be God. I heard a quote recently that said, “if God brought you to something, He doesn’t expect you to become God to do it… trust HIM.” Wow & yes & AMEN. PRAY ABOUT IT. Cast those cares on Him!
Sing Praises to our LORD!
“Sing praises to God, sing praises! Sing praises to our King, sing praises!” (Psalm 47:6)
What will you take time to praise Him for right now?
When we take the time, right in the middle of our chaos & whirlwind, to sing praises to Him, you would be surprised how you can go from feeling like everything is hopeless & falling apart, to remembering Who is seated on His throne right now.
He doesn’t let one little single thing slip through His fingers. Yes, He allows hard, but He doesn’t make us go through it alone or be the one to figure it all out & make it right… He asks us to trust HIM in all of that.
He wants us to learn, without a shadow of a doubt, that He CAN when can feels incredibly impossible.Give Him a chance to show His glory in the midst of your hardest circumstances.
And praise Him in expectation for that glory & that help.
“Praise the Lord! Praise God in His sanctuary; Praise Him in His mighty firmament! Praise Him for His mighty acts; Praise Him according to His excellent greatness!” (Psalm 150:1-2)
“Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!” (Psalm 150:6)
“O Lord, You are my God. I will exalt You, I will praise Your name, For You have done wonderful things; Your counsels of old are faithfulness and truth.” (Isaiah 25:1)
Remember All That the Lord Has Done
There are several instances in the Bible where God encourages the people to set up spaces or memorials that remind them of what God has done for them, & even as a testimony to others who come after them.
When the anxiety seems to swallow you whole, as you pray to & praise God for all He is, take some time to praise Him for all He has done for you in the past… all the ways & times that He has come through for you or has used your hardships faced for your good. He knows what He is doing & we can trust Him… so take some time to remember all that the Lord has done. (Joshua 4:6; 1 Samual 12:24)
Going along with this topic of remembering, God has given me a useful tool that is tangible & helps ground me when I feel unexplainable restlessness or unsettledness… when I just feel ick that I can’t escape because I just feel anxiety enveloping me….
Taking a hot bath or a hot shower is fantastic. No phone, dim the lights, let the warm water soothe your tension away. And in that space, pour your whole heart out to Him, even if you don’t know how to say it or know how to pretty it up, start there: “God, I don’t know why I can’t feel okay. I feel so unsettled & restless & anxious like my mind is going everywhere & I don’t know how to stop it. Please help me!”
Speak Truth over Your Anxieties
And for me, especially having glass on our shower wall, I will write it out in cursive, my concerns or worries or fears & then I will write as if God’s truth is speaking in response to it.
“I don’t know what to do….”“I do know.”
“I can’t do this….”“I can.”
“I feel so alone….”“I am always with you.”
“I can’t figure this out…”“You were never meant to.”
“I am too weak for this….”“I will be your strength.”
“I’m scared of the unknown….”“I am already there.”
“I don’t want to face this….”“I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
Do you see where I am going with this? Taking time to speak His truth back at my hurting & worrying & weakness & fear. Reminding myself of His presence. Grounding myself in His presence. It works wonders & just letting the water running over me wash over me like a soothing blanket, as if He is holding me steady & comforting me when I feel like I’m falling apart.
My Worst-Case Scenario Notebook Is Not What You Think
“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….” (Ephesians 3:20)
Sometimes all my mind can see is everything going horribly wrong…sometimes it’s because I have seen it go horribly wrong already & the trauma is rooted in very real memory. And because of this, sometimes I cannot seem to get my mind to see hope.
So, God encouraged me to start a Worst-Case Scenario journal. I treat it like how I see many Psalms, where there is no holding back, no sugar-coating, no trying to sound more okay with it than I am… no faking it to try to sound better than I am in that moment… God already knows.
I pour out every bit of it that scares me or worries me sort of in a chart.
First column is what scares meor what is happening that causes me anxiety.
Second columnis the absolute worst that could come of it if everything really did blow up in my face & fall apart. (This could be: loss of a loved one, loss of a job, being betrayed by a loved one, divorce, rumors turning into a ruined reputation or loss of friendships, etc.)
Third columnis “But, God” to the tune of, “if that really did happen as the worst it could possibly be, is that beyond the scope of what God can turn beautiful or work through for my good? Is that too much for Him? Is He not capable of walking me through that successfully & sustaining me through it?”
And once I walk through that last column, the reality of Who God is begins to wash away the fears–sort of putting them in their place. Like, ‘right… so why AM I so worried about that?‘ God’s got me & He is not letting go… He is greater & more powerful than anything that can try to knock me down. He’s got me. He sees me. I will be okay. (Proverbs 16:9; Psalm 139:16; Romans 8:28; Jeremiah 29:11)
“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….” (Ephesians 3:20)
Dealing with Anxiety–Practical Ways to Live Biblical Truths When Anxiety Hits /Hard
Are you dealing with anxiety as I often do? Do you fear it doesn’t honor God, so you try to stuff it, cover it up, pretend it isn’t there, or sugar coat what you’re actually going through because you don’t want to offend Him? God sees it. He already knows. He offers you a way out of it–His presence.
Basically, what it all boils down to is this… in God’s presence is fullness of joy. If you want to get out of your anxiety chaotic whirlwind, you need to step into His presence. Read your Bible, pray/talk to Him, sing praises to Him, remember all He has done for you & in eternity past when all hope seemed gone—He always made a way.
“You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” (Psalm 16:11)
What are you struggling with right now? What is helping you? What ways has God taught you to help you remember to look to Him & to step into His presence through His Word, prayer, praise, & remembering?
He’s got you. He’s got me. And because of that, come what may, even in the hard… we’re going to be okay. God will turn into something beautiful & He will not waste a single bit of it. What a wonderful God we serve!
Shine HOPE by drawing close to Him when the world seems to scream threats in your face that everything is going to crumble down around you. He will never leave you nor forsake you. He’s got you! (Hebrews 13:5)
“Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”(1 Corinthians 10:31)
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 myFREE 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!!
Mosaic Jewelry Set-Golden-Handmade in India!
(Shown: Mosaic Jewelry Set-Golden, handcrafted in India!)
The stunning, Mosaic Necklace & Bracelet handcrafted in India will give you the fun, colorful look your summer wardrobe needs! These pieces are beautifully beaded with multicolored dyed quartz beads, featuring gold accent beads. Wear alone or style with other necklaces & bracelets for a layered look!
Create dignified jobs for women in India when you shop the Wave Hoops in gold, a modern pair of statement hoops. Each hoop has a minimalist look and are perfect for everyday wear or can be dressed up to fit any occasion, featuring a hinge closure. Every purchase provides safe jobs with fair wages in areas of extreme poverty where vulnerable women are often exploited by sweatshops.
***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!
Do You Have Something That Holds You Back? If So, What Is It?
If you grew up in church, like me, then you know that it’s important to read your Bible… now, whether or not you actually do it is another thing.
I didn’t really read my Bible as if a necessity growing up. Yes, I would go through spurts where I would read it regularly… but then that would sort of feign away. I think because I had always been told different “read through the Bible in a year” plans as the way to do it, but because it wasn’t yet a habit… every time I fell behind by forgetting or having an off day, my number of chapters became so unreasonable that I would just give up.
Then came the trend of “I really just feel like I am turning ‘reading my Bible every day’ into a checklist item versus something from the heart, & I just don’t like feeling like that as my motivation—it feels icky, so I just didn’t read it today.”
Looking back, I can see very clearly in hindsight that those were 2 very effective ways Satan has kept me & many other well-meaning Christians from making Bible-reading as major a part of their lives as it should be.
After reading Andrew Murray’s compilation on Prayer book, it changed my whole worldview on Bible reading. (*You can find the link to this book & others that I personally recommend on my website–I do not receive any compensation for promoting this book: Recommended by Michelle | Michelle Hyde Online)
You see, I didn’t really get why it was as big a deal as it actually is.
God Interacts with Our Lives Way More Than We Credit Him
I also didn’t really believe or understand how interactive God really wants to be with our lives. I thought it was ONLY: “I sinned–I wronged God–Jesus paid my debt–I trusted Jesus’ payment for my sin—I get to go to heaven, not because of my goodness, but because Jesus paid my debt on the cross & rose again in 3 days to conquer sin & death. PERIOD.” (Basically, I thought the Gospel + trying to be a “good person” for God was all there was to being a Christian.)
And after that, well, my view was, for a long time—try not to screw up because you’ll make God mad, so try very hard to be a good person at all times so He doesn’t get mad at you… but it all falls on you to make that happen & to be good enough for Him—not for salvation, but because you’re supposed to… so do better. That’s how I thought.
How incomplete & skewed that thinking was.
God doesn’t exist with this squinted, dissatisfied grimace on His face, scowling down at us, constantly pointing fingers, crossing His arms, & slowly shaking His head back & forth as if to say, “well, she screwed that up again.”
And guess what… I have screwed up A LOT.
Do you know what I have learned from all of those screwups, mistakes & failures?How gentle He is. How kind He is. How always ready to welcome me back He is. How forgiving. How faithful. How loving. How wonderfully longsuffering He is in His love toward me.
His Grace Still Amazes Me
That does not serve as an excuse to disgrace or disobey Him… not one little bit. But His love for me goes so much deeper than whether or not I’m doing a good enough job at it today or not.
He knows I am but human. He knows I am going to fall into trusting myself again, get it all wrong, trip & fall & make a huge mess of everything & then come back to Him for help eventually. And He is kind every single time it happens. It blows me away every single time.
His grace still amazes me is a line in a song that I sing with tears in my eyes every single time–because it’s the truth.
He is not my scowling overlord, but my loving heavenly Father... even when I absolutely least deserve it.
Read Your Bible!
And God is very present in my life, beyond what I could have ever believed to be true as a young Christian. He is very interactive. And the more I get to know Him through talking to Him (prayer about all things big or small) & reading His Word (the Bible, regularly), the more I see Him interacting with me & my life… the more I see Him.
Reading the Bible is so much more important than we make it out to be! PLEASE hear me on that! PLEASE!!
It is NOT just words on a page. It is NOT just a life instruction manual.It is NOT just a “collection of wise words.”
IT IS THE WORD OF GOD.
It is living. It is active. It is sharper than a two-edged sword.
You can read it a billion times & not ever reach its depth, while you can simultaneously read it once & have its truth change your life forever.
It is GOD-BREATHED.
This is not something to play around with. Listen to me, why do you think there are always infinite obstacles at the ready to keep you from reading it regularly???
Satan Will Do WHATEVER He Has to in Order to Discourage You from Reading God’s Word Regularly–Will You Let Him?
Distractions, headaches, tiredness, busyness, boredom, zoning out, feeling it’s just a checklist item… Satan will use EVERY tool he can to keep you AWAY from God’s Word… because even HE knows its power!
You NEED to be reading it. I cannot stress that enough. No amount of capital letters or exclamation points could ever be enough.
You have to read it.
Yes, maybe you go to church, maybe you go to Bible study, maybe you do a daily devotional… but HOW will you know whether any of it is truth if you yourself are not studying it & reading it?
And even if they are leading you rightly, the Bible says to crave it like newborns crave milk… is that a once-a-day thing for them? NO, they crave it repeatedly every single day. They act like they DEPEND on it… because they DO.
Do we treat the Word of God like that?
I don’t CARE if it’s like a checklist item only for you… READ IT ANYWAY. CHECK IT OFF. Let it get in your head & change your heart from the inside out. You may not be like me & crave food all the time, but you still need to feed your body, don’t you? Same with your soul! How malnourished is it right now?
Pray & Trust That God Can Get You Past What You Can’t Yourself
I didn’t get where I am without reading my Bible every day & I need MORE of it… I am a work in progress with you.
Even if you have to pray, “God, You know I’m bored & I check out… but I know You say to do it, so I know it honors You… so help me to focus anyway as I read right now. AMEN.” And then READ & watch Him fight for you.
You won’t be consistent right away maybe, but building a habit takes time.
You don’t stop eating nutritional food forever moving forward because you ate really bad on one day, do you? NO. Your body still appreciates the good you DID give to it… the same with your soul. Miss a day? Come back tomorrow where you left off… every bit matters…. Let it renew you.
Reading the Bible Is SO Much More Important Than We Make It out to Be
God never prescribes “reading through the Bible in a year” plans. That’s man-made. Just start somewhere. Start small, see it change you & make you crave more every year that passes. Watch it change you as you let it.
Just a checklist item for you? GOOD—READ anyway.
Distractions galore for you? GOOD—God is BIGGER… PRAY & READ anyway.
Too boring for you? GOOD—READ anyway.
No letting Satan keep you away anymore, okay? God is on your side on this. He WANTS you to know Him… to hear His voice… to see His care for you….
But you need to open your Bible… & you need to read it.
Stop letting Satan win this part of your life & your heart & your future of seeing & obeying God better.
Shine HOPE by reading your Bible like it’s the best thing you could do for yourself–because it is. God says to read it for a reason… so listen to Him.
“Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”(1 Corinthians 10:31)
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 myFREE 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!!
Blue Sage Jewelry Set (w/ Necklace), Handcrafted & Empowering Women in Extreme Areas of Poverty
(Shown: Blue Sage Jewelry Set, handcrafted by & empowering women in extreme areas of poverty in India)
This jewelry set includes 3 handmade bracelets, a pair of earrings, and a genuine stone necklace that are all handcrafted in workshops in India that’s committed to fighting child marriage and helping women become financially independent as fair-trade Artisans. The Blue Sage Bracelet Stack is crafted using up-cycled bone to create a beautiful look, perfect for daily wear or gifting. Each bracelet is accented with one gold-tone bead and the set features a blue, green, and tan bracelet. The ethically made, gorgeous Blue Sage Earrings features layered shapes crafted out of up-cycled bone. Each earring has a tan circle stud connecting to an olive green rounded bar and a powder blue open arch pendant suspended below. The stunning Blue Sage Quartz Necklace features dyed quartz on a gold-tone adjuster chain and is perfect for everyday wear.
***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!
Every week that I come on here to write my blog, I am familiar with the countdown it signifies… every blog post means another week closer to our move to Florida from the other side of the world, on Guam.
I don’t like it.
Yes, I feel like God is keeping me steady in the day-to-day as of now. I am recognizing when I need to end the spiral by stepping out of the chaos that is sometimes my world & taking time to pour it all out to God & ask for help.
I am working on the step-by-step process. Trying to stay present with friends & ministries here, while also planning for my future there.
It is a hard balance… but God is helping me walk it.
There Are a Lot of Not-So-Funs about Moving
When I tell you that I dislike house-hunting, I am putting it lightly. I hate it.
I hate living out of a suitcase, living in the in-between, knowing wherever you are isn’t really your home–just where you are at that current moment… no settling in. No homey vibes of comfort.
Then the house-hunting itself is so disheartening. It requires repeatedly falling in love with homes, only to have them snatched away last minute. Letting yourself visualize that space as your home, then starting the search over again.
Or maybe just not even finding anything that matches the feel of what you would like, wondering about compromise… & how much compromise… from your dream home.
The negotiations, the high hopes, the snatched away hopes, the waiting, the not knowing when it will end.
House-hunting is not for the faint of heart–& I am faint of heart.I still have trauma from doing it all here. It was the worst.
It’s painful, to be honest. Call me weak if you want…. But I just don’t like it.
Revealing an Area to Pray About
So that’s obviously where I need to be praying most right now, because it’s the thing giving me the most anxiety right now.
I need to rest in the fact that God already sees where we ought to live for reasons only He can see. It could possibly not look like what I wanted or prayed for after all, but it will be what I needed. I have to trust that. I have to trust He knows better than me, come what may–because He does.
Giving up the dream I have in my head of what I want it to look like or be like… fearing the potential need for giving that up… is what’s the hardest for me right now.I don’t want to give up on it.
But God sees what I don’t. He knows… I only think I do.I need to let Him take the lead,whatever that ends up looking like. I need to be willing to let go. I need to be willing to trust Him to do what I need more than what I think I want.
Surrender.
I hate that word sometimes, don’t you?
I Can Trust Him to Know Better Than I Do
But God knows better than me. God, You know better than me—please help me to remember that every time I try to cling to my dream… every time fear threatens to chokehold me.
You’ve got me covered, God… I can bank on that… no matter what my fears may tell me at any given moment. I can trust that at least… even when I may not be able to see it at all.
So, God, please help me. Guide our steps. Calm my heart. Help me to trust You over what I think I know. You know better. You’ve got me. You see it already. You know without having to guess. Help me trust You more with my fears here… with my hurts that are coming in feeling displaced without a home for however long that takes. You will care for me, even if I’m hurting. I know You see me. You care. Help me to remember that every minute so the fears & hurts don’t have power over me. In Jesus’ name, AMEN.
It’s okay to be afraid—we’re human & we don’t see all that God sees…but that fear isn’t from Him—because He already knows & He wants you to trust that fact when you can’t see it yourself. So, remember that fact when the fears come a knockin’. Because, in a life where we can’t see it all—fears will come… but He is still on His throne… He still cares for you.
So, trust Him. (I’m saying all this to myself right now, too, you best believe it.)
Where Is the Fast-Forward Button in Life?
The anticipation is killing me sometimes. I want to know NOW. I want to put the fears to rest by SEEING the RESULTS. Where is the fast-forward button in life? Can God please CC me?
Do you ever feel that way, too? Worried that maybe what you dream is ahead will all come crashing down? That everything you’ve worked so hard towards will just not come through the way you hoped?
But God is on His throne. He knows better than us. Even if it seems we got “jipped,” we can trust that God did it for an excellent big picture reason that we maybe can’t even see. He has a bigger & broader view of the situation than we could ever hope to have. Maybe we move in a less-than-ideal neighborhood because someone there needs Jesus… or because a future very best friend is waiting there.
I don’t know… but I know that He knows.
Shine HOPE by recognizing to fear is human… but it’s not from God… so take that fear to Him… lay it down… & trust He can do far above what you can do with your circumstances & your future. He’s got you. Always. 100%.
“Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”(1 Corinthians 10:31)
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 myFREE 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!!
Magnolia Pouch–Handcrafted by & Empowering Women in India out of Areas of Extreme Poverty
(Shown: Magnolia Pouch)
Every purchase of the Magnolia Pouch supports women with fair jobs, helps educate girls, fights child marriage, and empowers families leaving slums in India. This stunning green velvet, versatile pouch is handcrafted by women rising above the grip of poverty in India. Each Magnolia Pouch features beautifully embroidered florals to create an adorable look with a convenient zipper closure.
***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!
Who else has a major life change coming up? Or maybe you just went through one?
As you may have heard, my husband & I are closing the final chapter to our 14-year adventure abroad & moving back stateside to Orlando, FL.
With all we need to accomplish between now & then… the temptation to be swirled into a whirlwind of anxiety is out of this world.
I also feel like I am living a double life right now. Part of me is already there, already making preparations & plans for the home we will be building in that area… the other half of me is very aware that I still have a life HERE… ministries, my job, & my FRIENDS.
Oh, & don’t forget the home projects, setting up contractors for bigger projects, & working toward selling our first home. There’s a lot to do & a lot of new here!
But then we just breathe. Take a breath… take a moment… & just breathe.
Learning to pray our way through every obstacle, through every I-don’t-know-how. Learning to ask God to illuminate each step I should take, just putting one foot in front of the other... because God already sees… God already know… thank GOD.
What to Do & What to Forget About
It is unlikely that everything on our list will get done in 8 weeks… that’s just facts… so knowing where to start & what to prioritize is quite daunting in some moments.
And I don’t know about you, but when I get overwhelmed, it is quite literally paralyzing. Like my mind just shuts down as I stare blankly at the wall… as if my brain just hit reboot & is working on starting back up again. Anyone else? Just me?
So I have to be really careful not to get to that point. I have to take my whole list to God & say, “God, I don’t know what to prioritize here, but I know You do. I don’t know what to do with half of this list (or more), but I know that You do. Please help show the way. Please give me wisdom. Please help me take each step one step at a time. In Jesus’ name, AMEN.”
If I don’t do this every time the tide starts getting a little threateningly high… I run the risk of more shutdowns where I get nothing done until my brain “reboots.”
We could really use your prayers during this season of our life. The next 8 weeks are going to go by so quickly & we have so many things yet to do & so many unpaved paths to walk where we don’t really know yet what to do.
One step at a time. One prayer at a time.
We Ask You to Please Pray
So, here, I am going to share my prayer request master list with you one more time… & I am praying very specifically because God can for sure handle the details better than I can. And sometimes He doesn’t answer the exact way I ask, but even better to the heart of what I am asking. He sees how it will all fit together much better than we do, even when we may miss it.
Please pray with us:
The right buyers for our home, with a healthy return on our investment into this house
Contractors to do the work who charge fair prices & do good work
Wisdom on what to focus on & what to let go of in prepping our house to sell
Searching for a new home (well-kept, clean/safe neighborhood with sidewalks for walking a dog, good parking, open floorplan for entertaining/hosting space, a well-lit office for me & 1 for Jamie, enclosed pool, modern-looking interior, good storage, in our price range, near Jamie’s work & near our church)
Bible-preaching church with good community near our new home
Friends who are both edifying & encouraging—pointing us more to Jesus
New ministry opportunities
New pets (2 kittens & a puppy made for us, with sweet & fun demeanors with pretty coloring—I really want a kitten that is gray or light brown with cream/white)
Jamie’s new job(& my new job?)
PEACE through the process in taking every new day one step at a time, praying our way through it, trusting God can where we can’t& that He has far better wisdom than we do & can help us as we seek Him for it.
Thank you if you decide to pray with/for us. I cannot wait to see in what ways God answers our prayers!
Praying through Major Life Changes
It is so hard not to get swallowed up by all the anxieties of the unknowns & yet-to-comes, & that is why it is SO important to remember that God sees what you can’t… His wisdom far surpasses your own… His knowledge of the situation & of your future are unmatched… He can do immeasurably more than you could ever ask or even imagine… so ASK HIM.
Don’t stress–PRAY!
Shine HOPE by going to Him with every detail, big or small, knowing He cares for you! When you’re tempted to stress—PRAY!
“Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”(1 Corinthians 10:31)
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 myFREE 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!!
Santorini Jewelry Set-Handcrafted in & Providing Jobs for Women in India!
(Shown: Santorini Jewelry Set)
This stunning, blue necklace and bracelet set from India will give you the sweet, seasonal look your summer wardrobe needs! The Santorini Necklace and Sky Bracelet is beautifully beaded with aqua-colored glass beads. Wear alone or style with other necklaces and bracelets for a layered look! Every purchase provides safe jobs with fair wages in areas of extreme poverty where vulnerable women are often exploited by sweatshops.
***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!
I’m going to be honest with you… this week’s blog post is going to lean as a tad selfish of me, but I have some pretty big news to announce & some pretty big needs for your prayer.
If you follow me on social media, you already know what’s coming & have already heard the exciting news that the Hyde adventure is now continuing on from the sunny island of Guam to the also sunny state of Florida.
This has been a longtime dream of ours that has always seemed just out of reach, always on the horizon.A dream that seemed to get further away the closer we got to it.
We have been praying for our whole marriage about where God wants us at any given time & we have striven to be faithful in where those prayers lead us... even if not everyone understood or agreed with those decisions… & no matter how much that may have hurt to hear.
Where Our Adventure Began…
After getting married in May, 2012, we left the only place I remember living–in Northern Virginia, where I had lived since I was 5 years old… where I met Jesus, in fact.
I had a hunger for a small taste of adventure, for seeing other places… anywhere other than Northern VA, the only place I really remembered…. Little did I know that that little adventure to Guam for “2” years would turn into 14 years being international.
It’s been quite the adventure we have had.
Guam Was Not a Happy Memory for Me Back Then…
Most know by now that my first stint on Guam was not filled with many happy memories. I was very much alone, struggled to make friends, struggled to find a job, to be allowed to serve in ministry because I was not staff, struggled to find my place anywhere, with a husband who was always at work, trying to provide & support us. I was very much alone despite grasping efforts to create community.No smart phone either, by the way. Limited international calling plan was it.
I was hurt very much during my time here all those years ago. I felt so isolated.
But I did make a couple wonderful friends near the end who went leaps beyond to pull me in & include me & I love them for it.
And the island was (is) one of the most beautiful places I had ever seen. Literally living on a tropical island. Beauty unmatched.
Hokkaido Felt Even More Isolating…
When job potential dried up on Guam & hit a dead end, we moved to Hokkaido, Japan, the northernmost island of Japan, where little to no English is found, seen, spoken, or heard.
The isolation understandably intensified more than I ever could have predicted & it was so scary feeling so alone. I didn’t handle it well. I began to crumble to the point that I didn’t even recognize myself anymore.
I described it as having a “rage monster” trapped in my head. I was “at capacity” at all times. I was deteriorating from the mental strain required in having even the most simple, straightforward situations be a translating game where people panicked & ran the other way when they saw a foreigner & they were too intimidated to try to help me. I relied on bare basics of most things just to not face those situations when it wasn’t necessary.
But again, I had some really dear friends who cared about me & helped pull me in when life was so hard & I will forever love them for it.
And the beauty of Hokkaido is a whole different kind of beauty. The untouched mountain backdrops, the blue lake, the flower fields that rolled & rolled as far as the eyes could see. Like getting to get away from the city & step inside a postcard. Just gorgeous.
I Needed Help & I Admitted it & Then We Moved Again… to Misawa, Japan…
But that place broke me in ways I didn’t know I could be broken.
I admittedly told my husband that I either needed professional help to help me navigate & manage the mental strain of living in a foreign country area where I can’t read or listen to or talk to hardly anyone…. or we needed to leave. The mental strain was really really hard & I needed help setting mental boundaries & navigating tips & tricks on how to manage that strain on my brain’s processing of information it hardly ever could make any sense of.
My husband chose to pray over a move. And then we were on to Misawa, Japan, near a base with English. Near a church in English. Near shopping in English. Near friends in English.
There wasn’t much to Misawa & as far as sights go, it was pretty meh, to be honest, compared to the beauty of Guam & Hokkaido, but that mattered not a single ounce to me, because I found family there in our church.
A church where we did everything as a church. We served together for the good of the church & the community, we hosted meals together, we went sight-seeing together, had game nights, cookouts, Bible studies, & the ladies would get together & we would update & share & be vulnerable together & just be real & raw & not ashamed of our weaknesses or our struggles… & we would pray together for each other. We were family to each other. I treasure them so much. I will never forget them. They healed me in so many ways they never knew because they turned to God with me & for me.
And Then Back Again… to Guam… AGAIN…
And the talks of Florida became more consistent. “2 more years, then Florida, then we’re done with the international.”
But a few months later, our path turned back to where it all began… to Guam.
It felt like an unraveling of all the progress. It felt like I had just spent a frustrating amount of time trying to beat an excruciatingly difficult level in a video game, finally nailing it… only to have the game shut off & upon rebooting, made you start right back at the beginning. (That’s the kind of thing that can tempt you to throw your controller across the room.)
I was not a willing participant in that move. I fought it so hard. I BEGGED God not to make me come back here. I BEGGED. But I also obeyed & didn’t fight my husband on it. I saw God opening the doors I didn’t want opened. And so obeyed even though I hated the very thought of what was to come.
And What Have I Learned in All of My Adventures… in the Hard & the Good?
And you know what I have learned in these now 14 years? To include now 4 years being back on Guam after all this time?
It’s worth it to follow God.
Even when it hurts. Even when you don’t get it. Even when it’s really, really hard. Even when it breaks you down. Even when you feel alone. Even when you beg God for a different outcome & He doesn’t provide it & you don’t know why.
It’s worth it to follow God.
The perspective He has given me. The gracious kindness He has shown me when I have VERY clearly least deserved it… when I gave up hope in Him even. The lessons I have learned. The compassion it has taught me. The bubbles of untruths it has burst. The understanding it has granted me. Even the wisdom to see His hand in all of it, big & small, happy & hard… all of it.
It’s worth it to follow God.
That He shows up. He provides. He makes a way where there is no way.He is working when I cannot see it. He knows what I need better than I do. He sees what I cannot see. He is always doing everything He does with me in mind… my good AND His glory… EVERY step of it. He comforts me. He IS the strength when I have none. He IS the sustainer when I bring nothing of worth to the table. HE provides. HE sustains. HE comforts. He knows what He is doing. ALWAYS. Every time. Every season. Every doubt. ALL OF IT.
He is worth it. Every time.Even when I don’t get it & even when it feels harder than I could ever hope to handle. He is still worth it. He is still in control.
I MUST obey Him. I MUST follow Him. I MUST.Because it’s the best option… the only real, true option of any real, true lasting value.
Our Adventure Continues… Stateside This Time… to Florida…
And it’s time to move again & now I actually love Guam.I am going to miss my friends here so much. I am going to miss my home, & as silly as it may seem to you, it is also where we found my little kitty Cisco when he was just a little baby kitty back in 2013, who has come on all of these adventures with us… it’s where he came up to us begging for help & it is where he has died. It’s like a full circle forever goodbye to him, too.
It’s going to be really hard to say goodbye this time.I’m really grateful for that… but it also really feels awful at the same time, ya know?
I don’t like starting over. All the unknowns. All the displacement of not having a home for however long that lasts. Making new friends while fighting severe imposter syndrome. Struggling to find where I fit in the new place. Not having a church home or family yet to lean on.
Not to mention that we’ve never owned a home so now we have to work the steps of prepping ours to sell & then selling it. The stress & unknowns that come with that as first-timers.
No set timeline yet, so it’s hard to know how to plan even or when.
So much up in the air.
But God has done some pretty unbelievable crazy stuff to get us each step of this plan of His so far.And I know He will not abandon us now.
It’s Worth It to Follow Him…
I don’t know His plans…which I don’t enjoy…but I know He knows them.He’s already there. He already sees how it all pans out. He has a purpose in it that I don’t see… just as He always had every step of this long 14-year international adventure.
The good. The bad. The ugly. God worked in it all… & He will continue to do so.
So, the selfish part of this week’s post, you ask? Well, aside from letting me dump on & reminisce to you as the reader, I ask you to pray for us. This is not going to be easy. It’s going to be really hard, actually… & we will need God’s help through your prayers every step of it.
My 14-Year Adventure Abroad… & My Selfish Request… We Need Your Prayers…
Please pray for us, for all of it… because God is that great…we ought to rely on Him & turn to Him & trust Him in all decisions & details big & small:
-Prepping our house to pack out/sell (we have movers, but will need to make a lot of small preparations before they come)
-Home projects that need to be completed before selling (right contractors, fair price, good work)
-Peace
-Selling our house & cars quickly & for fair prices
-That God would help us in the details & the how-tos & the who-to-go-to-fors
-Saying goodbyes & working through that grief while working on moving
-Did I mention peace?
-The international move itself will be long–strength & calm & help
-Being displaced
-House-hunting/Finding a home with good parking & space to host/entertain, an office with good lighting for me, & a covered pool, in good shape & well-kept (no terribly huge surprises this time, please–our house now was enough of that for a lifetime, whew!)
-A safe & friendly neighborhood near my husband’s job with sidewalks to walk a dog
-And ESPECIALLY a Bible-preaching church with great community
-New friends
-New job
-New ministry opportunities
-Starting over
-PEACE
-Even down to the temperament & personalities & even coloring of the right pets for us when we get there (God cares about it ALL because God cares about US. So, I will not stop asking for His help & wisdom in ALL of it… big OR small.)
THANK YOU if you choose to pray for us in ANY of this at ANY time. We need it. So much change… so much new… but God is still working & God will make a way & God has a plan. Come what may, at least I know that.
Shine HOPE by trusting that it is worth it obeying & following where God leads you, even into the great unknown of your next big adventure… & by turning to Him in prayer every little ounce of it, every little step of the way.
“Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31)
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!!
Blue Sage Jewelry Set–Handcrafted in & Providing Jobs for Women in India!
(Shown: Blue Sage Jewelry Set)
This jewelry set includes 3 handmade bracelets and a pair of earrings that are handcrafted in a workshop in India that’s committed to fighting child marriage and helping women become financially independent as fair-trade Artisans. The Blue Sage Bracelet Stack is crafted using up-cycled bone to create a beautiful look, perfect for daily wear or gifting. Each bracelet is accented with one gold-tone bead and the set features a blue, green, and tan bracelet. The ethically made, gorgeous Blue Sage Earrings features layered shapes crafted out of up-cycled bone. Each earring has a tan circle stud connecting to an olive green rounded bar and a powder blue open arch pendant suspended below.
***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!
Why is it SO easy to get distracted from what really matters in life?
I have talked before about how I relate so much to the Israelites in the Bible. I am them.
Yes, I know when the dust settles that only because of Jesus do I get to go to heaven, & yes I get to see just how patient & long-suffering the love of God, through the loving sacrifice of His Son Jesus really is.
But distractions are EVERYWHERE.
It’s not an excuse, but it is a reality.
Satan Doesn’t Really Have to Try So Hard If He Can Get Us to Just Feel Comfortable & to Rely on Ourselves
I have mentioned this before, but in other countries, spiritual warfare is often much more obvious & often terrifying.Demon possessions happened in the Bible & they still happen today.Satan is not sleeping with this world anymore today than he was in Bible times.
But, in America, I think he has found, in his thousands of years of studying human behavior, that all Americans need really is a false sense of control… complacency… something seemingly so subtle that it can be so easily excused away as “not that bad.”
We dismiss the danger,& so we fail to protect ourselves from him.
God Warns Us… And We Ought to Heed Him
Verses telling us to be alert, vigilant, suit up in the armor of God seem more like cute little verses about trusting God through hardship versus any real NEED to ACTUALLY stand firm against any real threat.
But Satan is still roaming. He is still seeking to kill, to destroy, to deceive. He still wants to destroy your life & your testimony.
And he’s quite frankly doing an excellent job. Let us destroy ourselves because we are lulled into thinking the threat isn’t even a threat worth caring about… believing the lie that we’ve got our life pretty well handled without being on our knees in prayer every day, gleaning from God’s Word every day for the sustenance to survive.
It’s like we forget or majorly downplay all the warnings God so carefully made sure to make us aware of over & over in His Word.
Not just a passive, “we have God, we’re good,” but a, “if we’re not daily leaning into God moment-by-moment every day, we are just as susceptible to falling for Satan’s wiles as Adam & Ever were. We NEED to take the threat seriously as God has repeatedly urged us to do in His Word, the Bible, & live IN an ABIDING in Jesus Christ, not just an acknowledging of Him.”
SO Easily Forgotten
Sometimes, I shock myself at how quickly I turn. I can be all on fire with, “I will do ANYTHING for You! God, You are worth my ALL!” to later that week, being so engrossed in mindless activities that I don’t WANT to look up from it, for anything or anyOne—even for God.
I am drawn SO EASILY toward COMFORT.
It goes straight from, “God, thank You for this moment of rest & peace!” to, “who? God? No, I would rather do this right now.” Shame. Shame on me. Why am I like this??
It is like a constant turnaround from, “I’m ALL IN!” to “I’d rather do this” to “God, I did it again, I am so sorry. Help me focus on what matters—YOU” & then back again.
Why am I like this? Soooo stupid. It really just is so stupid.So why do I keep falling for it?
It’s so subtle too. I don’t even see it happening until I am neck deep in comfort & haven’t thought to ask His opinion all day.
The Good Shepherd’s Hook–The Tough Love Our Wandering Hearts Really Need
That’s what makes me think of the shepherd’s hook, how Jesus is described as the Good Shepherd… how we are described as the dumb sheep who are so prone to wander.
I am sure it doesn’t feel good to get whacked with the shepherd’s hook or have it yank around your neck when you’re about to mindlessly walk off a cliff.
But the shepherd will do it because he knows that the alternative is so much terribly WORSE–that the sheep need rescuing no matter how uncomfortable it may be… it’s far better than the alternative.
I need His tough love sometimes… to be yanked back to reality… to have my perspective righted over & over again.
What Will Ru(i)n Your Life?
What really matters?
What will matter of your life after you are gone?
What will God say of how you used your time when you are standing before Him face-to-face?
What will have been worth it?
What opinion will you have of your life when you are laying on your death bed, no longer able to do anything about it?
How will you live now for the glory of God?
Shine HOPE by being willing to “about face” as many times as needed to turn back to what matters—living for the glory of God—keeping in mind the infiniteness of God’s long-suffering, patient love for you. Turn back—over & over & over again, as many times as it takes. He’ll be there waiting & He is beyond worth it–All for the glory of God.
“Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31)
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!!
Mosaic Necklace-Empowering Women in India out of Sweatshops
(Shown: Mosaic Necklace–Purchase this necklace to empower women in India out of sweatshops!)
This stunning, Mosaic Necklace handcrafted in India will give you the fun, colorful look your summer wardrobe needs! This necklace is beautifully beaded with multicolored dyed quartz beads, featuring gold accent beads. Wear alone or style with other necklaces for a layered look!
Purchase this beautiful necklace to provide safe jobs with fair wages in areas of extreme poverty where vulnerable women are often exploited by sweatshops.
***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!
It’s Sunday afternoon right now as I’m writing this & I just need to brag on God a little bit.
You see, today was my first day back teaching the K4/K5 Sunday School class after a few month summer break of traveling & hosting my parents here on Guam.
I am not one who gravitates toward working with children,but you would never know it because I literally work with kids all the time. I taught K5 years ago (was not my plan), I help with K4/K5 children’s church now, & I also aide for 2nd grade (previously 1st grade for a few years). So, saying it isn’t something I would eagerly gravitate toward sounds pretty understandably unbelievable.
I feel like those actresses who play the same genre several times & then get pigeonholed there… they may WANT to branch out, but people automatically envision them playing those types of roles & so those are the ones they tend to be able to book. (Do I need to just not mention anything about my past of working with kids & see where I get placed in the future as a blank slate? Haha, maybe.)
But, I did pray & ask God to show me where He wanted me to serve, versus just shooting straight for what my preferences would be: ie. Discipleship, women’s ministry, maybe even young adults/teens. And God answered by just putting this I-can’t-ignore-it nudge on my heart to serve where I’m serving. And here I am.
It’s Healthy Sometimes Not Doing What Feels Most Comfortable
Anyway, because this isn’t exactly the ministry area I would have picked, sometimes I feel so out of my element & so out of my comfort zone, that I need to weekly take a deep breath & pray for a good attitude, the energy to get through it, & the words & wisdom to share with the kids so my teaching isn’t wasted.
I pray every Saturday night this way: “Lord, please help me to have a good attitude about getting up earlier tomorrow & help me have the right words to say to help them understand what I teach from Your Word. Give me the words & wisdom & please help me get through it. Give me a right attitude about it, too. In Jesus’ name, amen.”
Years ago, back when we first lived on Guam, right after my hubs & I got married, there used to be adult Sunday school at our church & we were in the marriage & family class.
Our teacher had so many nuggets of wisdom to help us as a newly married couple hoping & fully expecting to have kids someday.
But one thing in particular that he taught stands out to me in regards to ministry. He would always say, “Don’t just volunteer where you feel comfortable & in something you feel already confident in… because what happens when you do that? You’re trusting in yourself, your know-how, your abilities… no. Instead, volunteer outside of your comfort zone, where you don’t feel you can do it… because then you’re not relying on yourself—you’re relying on HIM through each day of it. And when you rely on Him, you are letting Him work through you, in His strength, His wisdom, His guidance… & that is where true work can be done because you’re letting Him take the lead instead of yourself.”
What wise words!
Praying My Way Through It
And that’s my life these past few years—praying my way through every day of it because it is NOT what I would have chosen for myself.And honestly, it’s been WAY more rewarding getting to see HIM work through what I KNOW cannot come from ME.
And today was no different. It’s the start of a new school year, kids that are barely past THREE are now joining my class. Most of those who would have been my now K5ers (who know the rules & routines of our class & can help set the tone for the rest of the class) have moved or are just not back on island yet from summer travels… so hardly any of them know the rules & routines. Starting FRESH here.
That’s hard enough, but I had FIFTEEN kids today. FIFTEEN! I normally have no more than 8, maybe?
Then I had several kids who knew no boundaries or self-control.They were loud, all-over-the-place chaotic.(2 got in a fist fight!) Multiply that & pretty quickly the whole class can dissolve into chaos. It’s a LOT.
I’m Glad I Can Count on Him When I Can’t Count on Myself
But I went to God with it all last night in preparation for it.I prayed through it today.And the unnatural calm I felt today in the midst of all THAT was all Him.
It didn’t get to me. I took a deep breath, prayed silently, then handled each situation with calm, demonstrating how they are to handle each situation.
Not joining the chaos or trying to fight above it… but bringing them down to my calm instead.
And for the most part, it worked. I showed them respect & stayed calm. They mirrored & began to get how we do things in our class.
It was truly miraculous. I can’t believe how well I handled that because that is not my natural response to chaos (cue panic & frustration & get-me-out-of-here thoughts of desperation).
God had me.God helped me. God kept me centered & grounded.
Because I relied on Him & not me in it.
I’m SO glad I can count on Him when I can’t count on myself.
Don’t Fear Serving Him Where You Don’t Feel You’re Made for It
So, don’t fear being outside your comfort zone. Don’t fear what you’re not good at. Don’t just serve where it makes you feel comfortable.
Pray about it. Ask God to lead. Ask God to decide.
And trust Him to take the lead through it. His wisdom. His words. His guidance.His work through you.
He’s got you even when you don’t got you.
Trust Him! He’s got it.
Shine HOPE by turning to Him through the hard, when you’re completely out of your comfort zone & have no clue what you’re doing. He already knows. He’s got it. He will help as you call out to Him for it.
“Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31)
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!!
August 2026 “Hope Mail”
(Shown: August 2026 “Hope Mail” made by women escaping poverty in India.)
In India, poverty often leads to exploitation of vulnerable women in sweatshops. Every purchase provides these Artisans with fair wages, access to health care, education for their children, and care for elderly family members. Purchase this month’s Hope Mail and empower women in India!
FOR A LIMITED TIME – Only available during the month of August! Enjoy free shipping and 10% off your Hope Mail package when you subscribe every month!
Your purchase of August Hope Mail provides one day of school for a girl in an area of extreme poverty.
August Hope Mail includes the stunning Blue Sage Quartz Necklace, handcrafted by women in India earning a fair wage for their work. Featuring dyed quartz on a gold-tone adjuster chain, this necklace is perfect for everyday wear.
Every purchase of this month’s Hope Mail creates safe jobs for women to earn a dignified wage and send their children to school.
***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!
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
