Trying to Love Better Than God Does

This is one I think we can all be guilty of at times, even with the best of intentions.

Sometimes God’s laws can seem harsh, or exaggerated… & we can be tempted to tone them down or sugarcoat them “for Him.”

But what we fail to recognize when that happens, is that we cannot out-love God. God loves us more than anyone ever could… & every single one of God’s laws were made for our good… not our harm.

I know there are certain things that we can deem safe that God calls sin. There are certain desires we may have that we cannot fathom how they could possibly harm us… so when God says “NO,” we can be tempted to think we know better than the One Who made us.

Well, we don’t. Not once. Not ever.

God Sees It All, Knows It All, Hears It All, & Understands It ALL

God knows literally everything there is to know. Imagine the vastness of space—He sees it all at once. Imagine all the thoughts in the minds of all the people all over the world—He hears them clearly, individually all at once. Imagine knowing every consequence, every ripple effect throughout all of time—He knows them all.

Imagine that ick feeling you have in the back of your mind or heart… that pit in your stomach that you keep trying to convince yourselves & others isn’t there… that you blame on others for not accepting you “as-is.“

God knows where that comes from better than you do. He warns us against the very things that cause it….

That is why obedience to God is not only the very thing He deserves in us… but is also designed to be for our very best interests.

That Doesn’t Define You…

You may think you need to cling to something that you feel defines you, only to give it up to trust God’s ways & realize that the inner confidence He replaces that with is far superior to what you had been clinging to all that time.

That your identity is actually in His design… not in what you do or feel about yourself.

We need to stop affirming the sins of people whom God loves & whom He sent His Son to die for… the sins Jesus died for.

Affirming sins only makes comfortable the prison in which they reside.

The truth will set them free. (John 8:32) It is the only thing that will set them free. Jesus is the truth. The way… The truth… The life…. (John 14:6)

No one comes to the Father God except through Jesus. (John 14:6)

Because not a single one of us deserves it. Only by the grace of God, through Jesus Christ.

What Is Considered More Loving to You?

Imagine a little child who has never before noticed a stovetop. While you’re cooking, it begins glowing a beautiful, bright red color. The child is fascinated by this & reaches out to touch it. A mere moment from their fingers touching the burning surface, you notice the impending peril… do you risk seeming harsh & lunge toward them to swat their hand out of the way? Or do you stand by them & affirm their right to decide?

Which would you consider more loving?

Do you risk coming off as harsh in order to protect them? Or try to seem nice by affirming their rights & their choices, letting them get burned?

Which is more loving?

When God is harsh, it is ONLY because He knows on an intimate, all-knowing level how much damage it will cause you… not because He’s mean… but because He loves you enough to tell you the truth… even if that truth hurts…

… even if that truth is not what you want to hear.

Sin Eats Away at Us Like Leprocy… Even When We Don’t See the Marring Damage Right Away

Sin is often compared to leprosy. Slowly eating away at us, disfiguring us… destroying us. And for good reason.

We may not see it. We may think our choices are our choices… but while God lets us make those choices… we cannot choose the results of those choices.

Sin destroys everything it touches… which is why God forbids & punishes it so harshly.

Teaching the Gospel to Kids

One thing I go over with the kids I teach the gospel to, is “Who gets to make the rules for what is considered sin & what is not? Shouldn’t I get to decide what is right for me if it’s my life?”

Their answer is always a resounding “noooo.” I ask “why not… why does God get to decide what I do with MY life?”

“Because He made the world!” “Because He has all the power!” “Because He is the King!” “Because He made me!” “Because He knows EVERYTHING!”

I say, “That’s right! Did I make the world? Do I have all power? Am I in charge of the world? Did I make myself? Do I know everything? Do YOU?”

Their answer to each is “No!!!”

And I follow it up with, “you’re right… I didn’t do any of that… I CAN’T do any of that… & neither can you… & neither can any other person… that’s why ONLY God gets to make the rules.”

“What Does John 3:16 Tell Us?”

I say, “but with all these rules… we keep messing up, don’t we? We make wrong choices sometimes… we say bad things sometimes… sometimes, we have bad thoughts—like me when I am grumpy in the mornings & I just want to go to bed & not do anything, but then I say sorry to God for my bad attitude & ask for His help. We ALL mess up, don’t we?”

When they all agree with me, I say, “But did God say, ‘well, that’s YOUR fault, isn’t it? Now GO TO HELL!!” They yell, “NO!”

“What did God do instead?” Them–“He sent Jesus!” Me–“What does John 3:16 tell us??” (They all know this verse by heart because I work at a Christian school.)

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

“Who Does God Love?”

“For God so WHAT?” “Loved!” “Loved only me? Loved only our pastor? Loved only Americans?”

“NO!! The WORLD!!”

“He so loved us that He WHAT??”

“Gave His only Son!”

“Who is that?”

“JESUS!”

“And what did Jesus do for us?”

“He died on the cross for our sins!”

“So that we could go to Heaven & not have to go to Hell!”

That’s right. In all of our filth. In all of our unworthiness… Jesus gave it all & all to Him I owe!

God Gets to Make the Rules… Not Me… & Thank GOD for That!!

I don’t know everything there is to know. I haven’t existed since before time began. I didn’t make myself or this world. I am not all powerful.

God makes the rules because He made us… because He alone is GOD… I am not.

God didn’t make rules to be a HARSH or limiting God, for the sake of testing us or forcing us into obedience or subservience.

God made them because He loves us TOO MUCH to KEEP SILENT about what will give us life versus what will DESTROY US FROM THE INSIDE OUT.

God Made a Way Even! We CanNOT Out-Love God!

But He did not leave it at just telling us the TRUTH.

He sent is Son JESUS to DIE for OUR sin for when we screw it all up anyway!

PRAISE GOD!

So, do not… DO NOT… think that you can ever out-love God by keeping silent about God’s law… His truth… His rules. Do NOT think that sugar coating them is loving… that affirming sinful lifestyle is loving.

SLAP THAT HAND AWAY FROM THE STOVE & DETERMINE ABOVE ALL ELSE TO PROTECT THE ONES YOU LOVE WITH THE TRUTH OF GOD’S WORD.

And make sure you let them know that it is God’s LOVE FOR THEM that compels Him to tell us the truth so directly, seemingly so harshly. Because He does not want to add pain to their life… only goodness.

And that goodness can only come from Him. His Truth = LOVE. True love.

(Twu wuv.)

You Cannot Out-Love God–So Stop Trying

So do not ever be tempted to water down the Word of God or skip over ANYTHING that may seem harsh. Jesus paid too high a price for it to be watered down, ignored or justified as “okay.” Jesus demonstrated His love for us by dying for that. (Romans 5:8) So, don’t you dare downplay it.

But don’t you dare leave out the love of God for anyone who may want to cling to what He warns against. He doesn’t stop loving them. EVER. Even if they reject Him ’til their dying breath. They won’t get to taste the grace of God in Heaven if they reject it (He never forces Himself on us.) But He will love them through their every breath, calling them home, pleading with their souls.

You cannot out-love God–so stop trying. Pray for boldness & the compassion for others that leads you to tell them the truth.

Speak Truth, in Love

Share that Jesus died for them, too. Because “God so loved the world” includes them too.

Speak the truth. In love. (Ephesians 4:13-15)

And SHINE HOPE by telling people the truth, in LOVE… because God loved them enough to send Jesus to die for their sins–for grace–for a clean slate in Him.

“Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31)

***He is waiting for you… will you come?:***

***(Romans 3:23; Romans 5:8-10; Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 10:9-10; John 14:6)***

NEW!! Watch This Week’s Episode on YouTube:

(*TUNE IN to watch this week’s LIVE STREAM (Episode 12) on my NEW YouTube Channel!! @: https://www.youtube.com/@MichelleHydeOnline (*Tuesdays @6pm EST/Wednesdays @8am GUAM*) OR come back here to watch it once it has been uploaded!)

Coming Next Week

Join me every Monday morning, EST, for more encouragement right here on my blog/website @ www.MichelleHydeOnline.com.

Share with friends & family… & SUBSCRIBE by “Joining My Tribe,” so you never miss a week!

As God grows me, may it encourage you to seek Him & know Him & love Him more every day.

A Note from Michelle:

(***Check out my FREE Journal Printable Resources: “Accountability Partner Guide + Question Prompts” & “Bible Study Question Prompts ,” as well as “Prayers of Surrender” prayer guides!***)

This blog/website has been running for 7.5 years now! THANK YOU for your continued support & encouragement. <3

If you would like to learn more of my story, check out the “About Me” tab. And if you would like to hear how I found my lasting source of HOPE, read the “Hope Is Found” tab, on this site. I hope they are an encouragement to you! <3

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!!

Unity Necklace-Silver, Handcrafted in India!

Create fair-paying, dignified jobs for women in India when you shop the Unity Necklace. This silver-tone interlocking chain necklace is stunning to style alone or layer with other necklaces. This necklace is a symbol of the unified force we create each day when we work together to create dignified jobs for women around the globe.

Every purchase supports families in areas of extreme poverty in India. 

***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!

Has Persecution Become So Subtle That We Don’t Fight Back Anymore?

The Gospel is costly. People may not understand. They may roll their eyes, talk about you behind your back… hate you even.

Is it still worth it to you? Is what Jesus did for you worth it?

What are you willing to lose for hope? The truth? Jesus?

Honestly, the persecution we face in America can seem so subtle that we can be fooled into believing it doesn’t exist. We can be fooled into thinking it is not something we’re giving in to.

I think when persecution is outright obvious, it can feel easier to see the line, to stand for truth or fall away in fear… but when it’s subtle, we make excuses for giving in to it.

Fearing Loss of Life or Loss of a Job…? Both Are Costly Consequences

We don’t pray openly in schools because we’re told not to, while Daniel risked being shredded by lions to keep praying. (Daniel 6) And the king praised God when Daniel was found alive the next morning! What a testimony!

We don’t talk about the gospel or the Bible at work because it isn’t allowed, while Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego risked being burned alive in a furnace to avoid bowing to a statue with everyone else. (Daniel 3) AGAIN the king praised God when the 3 men were found alive afterwards! What a testimony!

You may not have a threat against your life… but against your livelihood. Are you willing to lose your job or receive formal reprimand in order to be the same testimony to the witnesses God has placed around you?

What are you willing to lose for Hope? For the Truth? For JESUS?

Why Do We Comply? Why Do We Stay Silent?

We justify our silence because it’s the rules… because it’s the norm… because we have bills to pay… because we have a family to provide for.

Maybe we justify it because everyone else complies… maybe because we believe we’ll have more opportunities to reach more people if we stay quiet.

But what a statement it would make if we refused to stay silent. If people saw that to us, losing ANYTHING is worth it for the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Would it make life harder? Yes. Bring more uncertainty & instability? Also yes.

Is it worth it? Is He worth it? (Yes.)

Trust Me, Going Against the Grain Scares Me Sometimes, Too

I’m not bringing this up because I’m the brave one or because I entirely feel confident saying, “of course He is worth it!” even though I know of course He is.

I’m asking myself this same question, too… because it’s something I think we need to confront in ourselves… in our western Christian culture.

What is He worth to us?

A Sunday morning church visit? Bible study once or more a week? Serving in a ministry?

Losing our job? Being ostracized? Receiving official reprimand? Losing job security? Loss of financial stability for your family? At what cost is it too much to you? Where do you draw the line?

Where are you already drawing the line right now?

God Protected Them… God Protected Him… God Will Protect Us… & Even if Not…

Do we trust He will provide as we walk in trust with Him? To keep our clothes unscorched (even free from smoke smell?) (Daniel 3:27) To keep the mouths of the hungry lions shut? (Daniel 6:22)

Do we trust Him to provide for us as we obey? Are we willing to obey even if He doesn’t?

“If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.” (Daniel 3:17-18) (emphasis mine)

I’d like to think I would do it… but I must admit that the norm is so engrained in me to not stir the pot, to follow the status quo on this… to not risk my job or financial stability… to not hurt my family.

But shame on me for that. I must pray for boldness for when it counts.

I Made a Mistake

When talking about this with someone recently, I made the mistake of saying that one should at least PRAY about this in their own situation… which is not wrong, but while implying simultaneously that we don’t already know the answer without prayer.

The prayer ought to be for the courage to speak boldly about Christ no matter the consequences… not whether or not to do it at all.

God may shield us, have leaders turn a blind eye. God may allow us to lose our job.

But either way, God will provide when we are faithful… when we live as faithful witnesses of the Gospel.

What are you willing to lose for Hope… for the Truth… for Jesus?

What Are You Willing to Lose for Hope, for the Truth… for Jesus?

May we be bold in our prayers, & bold in our willingness to speak the truth in love, shining a light we are unwilling to let stay hidden under a bushel… shining HOPE… no matter what we may lose… trusting God to provide along the way.

Shine HOPE. Shine the TRUTH. Shine JESUS.

“Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31)

***He is waiting for you… will you come?:***

***(Romans 3:23; Romans 5:8-10; Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 10:9-10; John 14:6)***

NEW!! Watch This Week’s Episode on YouTube:

(*TUNE IN to watch this week’s LIVE STREAM (Episode 11) on my NEW YouTube Channel!! @: https://www.youtube.com/@MichelleHydeOnline (*Tuesdays @6pm EST/Wednesdays @8am GUAM*)

Coming Next Week

Join me every Monday morning, EST, for more encouragement right here on my blog/website @ www.MichelleHydeOnline.com.

Share with friends & family… & SUBSCRIBE by “Joining My Tribe,” so you never miss a week!

As God grows me, may it encourage you to seek Him & know Him & love Him more every day.

A Note from Michelle:

(***Check out my FREE Journal Printable Resources: “Accountability Partner Guide + Question Prompts” & “Bible Study Question Prompts ,” as well as “Prayers of Surrender” prayer guides!***)

This blog/website has been running for 7.5 years now! THANK YOU for your continued support & encouragement. <3

If you would like to learn more of my story, check out the “About Me” tab. And if you would like to hear how I found my lasting source of HOPE, read the “Hope Is Found” tab, on this site. I hope they are an encouragement to you! <3

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!!

Dear Darling Pouch, Handcrafted in INDIA

Create dignified jobs for women in India that allow families to leave the slums when you carry this darling hand-embroidered pouch! This adorable, beaded Dear Darling Pouch is handcrafted by women earning a fair and dignified wage for her work in India. No detail is left out with this embroidered and hand beaded pouch that showcases the amazing craftsmanship of our Artisan Partners. Crafted to look like a letter with postage, the Dear Darling Pouch is perfect for those with a wanderlust spirit.

***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!

People Judged Her Harshly, for She Was Indeed a Sinner… But When She Came Humbly to Jesus… Everything Changed

If you’re unfamiliar with this story, I encourage you to check it out straight from the Bible itself, in case I leave anything out (& because God’s Words are more powerful than anything I have to say). (Luke 7:36-50)

But basically, this Pharisee has Jesus over for a meal & while there, a woman of questionable occupation comes in. “This Man, if He were a prophet, would know who and what manner of woman this is who is touching Him, for she is a sinner.” (Luke 7:39b) She was looked down upon.

And yet, when she met Jesus, He changed her… she saw the healing in His hands. She felt led to repent… to change her ways… to ask forgiveness, & turn to Him for HOPE.

And even though she didn’t speak the words out loud (at least not that is recorded here), Jesus knew her heart.

She Came Unashamed to the Feet of Jesus

She got mocked, probably got talked badly about in public… & yet she came & knelt at Jesus’ feet, weeping. And as her tears dripped over Jesus’ feet, she began to clean His feet with her hair.

If I had sinned in a way where everyone knew & I was ashamed to show my face & everyone talked openly about my shame, not letting me put it behind me… letting it define me in their hearts… I would be wanting to live in the shadows.

But she came to THE Light. She came to where true hope is found. And she humbled herself openly at His feet, in front of the whole world.

Once Upon a Time… I Worshiped Unashamed, Too

Tangent here, but I remember back when I attended Liberty University for my bachelors in Business Marketing, & while I can’t speak to the spiritual climate of the school today (I graduated in 2010), when I attended, everything in my life pointed back to Jesus. Everything in my life was about living for Him, surrendering more to Him, shining for Him, knowing Him, sharing Him, teaching others about Him.

And back then, worship was the air I breathed. My whole life literally revolved around Jesus.

I still remember one worship service where I knew I had been holding back, not wanting to look a fool, or have people roll their eyes or judge me… & I was trying to maintain composure with an acceptable “okay” amount of worshipful expression.

But that night… as I sang praises to God during the service… I felt the nudge on my heart, “Are you more concerned with how others think of you? Or in giving your all to Me, as I deserve?”

So, crying from the realization of that truth, I ignored all perceivable responses to my actions & I turned, knelt in front of my chair, bowed my head, & I lifted my heart in full surrender to Him as worthy of my all.

It’s not always seen as “acceptable” in every place though. People will judge. People will think you’re being dramatic for show. People will think you feel self-righteous, as if you think you’re somehow better than everyone. It’s embarrassing. People will think what people will think.

But Am I Willing to Move Past What People Think of Me… to Worship God in a Way That He Deserves?

Then I come to stories like this. A woman who was already being openly judged, her identity being tied to her poor life choices.

And yet she came unashamed, boldly… humbly… to the feet of Jesus… because she knew He deserved it…. & she knew that she needed Him. (2 Samuel 6:14-22)

I want to be again like the woman who washed Jesus’ feet with her hair… because I too know that He deserves it… He deserves my everything… no matter what anyone else has to say about it.

What Do You Praise More Excitedly Than the One Who Made You & Sent His Son to Die for You?

Another example is David, returning home, dancing wildly in abandoned praise before the Lord, his wife watching, judging him, annoyed with him for it. But David scolds her for trying to make him feel ashamed for giving his all to God in praise, not holding anything back. (2 Samuel 6:14-22)

What sets your heart in awe? What grasps your sense of wonder? What leaves you in stunned silence?

Do you ever think about or praise the God Who made it possible?

A huge up-close waterfall? A singer that leaves you with goosebumps? A 10-foot manta ray swimming just above your head? Seeing your baby for the first time? Seeing a sunset? Being at a concert even?

What pumps you up? What leaves you breathless? What do you jump up & down for? Is it ever Jesus & what He did for you?

Live Your Praise Out Loud

Do you allow that same amount of unrestrained praise come out for the God Who made you & gave everything for you? The Lord of Heaven & Earth? The God Who is the great I AM?

Do you worship Him unashamed? Or do you hold something back? Are you willing to pray about it?

SHINE HOPE by not being ashamed to be public with your worship & praise of God. Live your love for Him out loud. Let people judge. Let them.

“Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31)

***He is waiting for you… will you come?:***

***(Romans 3:23; Romans 5:8-10; Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 10:9-10; John 14:6)***

NEW!! Watch This Week’s Episode on YouTube:

(*TUNE IN to watch this week’s LIVE STREAM (Episode 10) on my NEW YouTube Channel!! @: https://www.youtube.com/@MichelleHydeOnline (*Tuesdays @6pm EST/Wednesdays @8am GUAM*)

Coming Next Week

Join me every Monday morning, EST, for more encouragement right here on my blog/website @ www.MichelleHydeOnline.com.

Share with friends & family… & SUBSCRIBE by “Joining My Tribe,” so you never miss a week!

As God grows me, may it encourage you to seek Him & know Him & love Him more every day.

A Note from Michelle:

(***Check out my FREE Journal Printable Resources: “Accountability Partner Guide + Question Prompts” & “Bible Study Question Prompts ,” as well as “Prayers of Surrender” prayer guides!***)

This blog/website has been running for 7.5 years now! THANK YOU for your continued support & encouragement. <3

If you would like to learn more of my story, check out the “About Me” tab. And if you would like to hear how I found my lasting source of HOPE, read the “Hope Is Found” tab, on this site. I hope they are an encouragement to you! <3

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!!

Refuge Bracelet–Handmade in the Dominican Republic!

Create safe jobs for women rescued from human trafficking in the Dominican Republic when you shop the Refuge Bracelet. Each bracelet features African turquoise beads varying in shade with gold-tone and pink moonstone beads blocked throughout the design.

—Purchase the Refuge Bracelet to help fund a safe house for young girls in the Dominican Republic to experience real love and freedom.—

***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!

Even in the Even If…

Well, today’s been rough. It’s been a weird day. Not a bad day, necessarily, but not great.

You see, I’ve been sick the past few days & like with most colds, have struggled to sleep at night.

In desperation to get some rest, I prayed & asked God to please show me what I could do to help me sleep last night. The ideas I got were to take a hot shower & take some sleepy cold medicine (which sometimes doesn’t actually make me sleep, but rather feel groggy, miserable, & still awake).

So, I took the cold medicine, got my shower, & then fell asleep pretty quickly once I got in bed. (Thank You, LORD!)

… Until I woke up 3 hours before my alarm.

Well, I Got My Wish…

Groggy, discouraged, & consistently seesawing between coughing up mucus & blowing my nose seemingly endlessly, I reluctantly resigned to the fact that this may not be the night that I catch up on the rest I so desperately wanted in order to work towards moving past this cold of mine.

But God blessed me in that I at some point fell back asleep anyway.

… Only to wake up FIVE HOURS LATER… totally missing my alarm going off for TWO WHOLE HOURS, unbeknownst to me.

What does that mean for me? It means I sure got that rest I asked Him for… it means I didn’t get anything other than breakfast & prepping for work accomplished this morning… but it ALSO means I went through most of the afternoon feeling disoriented & feeling like I had just woken up from one of those naps where you intend to sleep for 30-60 minutes, only to wake up hours later completely dazed & confused… one of those “Where am I? What’s happening? What’s going on?” type of wakeups.

And that dazed & confused state quickly morphed into a migraine, which I have been wrestling with the entire rest of my day.

I’m not feeling so great.

Well, I Had a Hard Day… & God Saw Me Through

I’m sure my body appreciated all that extra rest to help it heal & to fight this cold off, but boy am I not feeling so great.

Cooling compression mask, headache meds, & an ACTUAL quick nap later… & I feel somewhat coherent, but still if I move my head too quickly, the jackhammer currently residing inside my head makes me want to vomit.

Why am I telling you this, though? What’s my point?

Life doesn’t always feel great. It doesn’t always work out the way we would wish it to. Some people deal with significant pain every single day even.

I think of Job right now because that’s what we’re reading through right now.

The boils on his body were oozing & painful… I think it even mentions worms somewhere in there. Giant EW.

It can be tempting in these moments to wonder where God is in all of it… why He doesn’t show up & fix everything back to easy & comfortable.

But God shows me He cares for me in that He doesn’t always fix it all for me… God lets me see that even when my world is painful & hard & I feel weak & hurt… He is sufficient in it.

God Is God, Even When I Have Nothing to Contribute

God isn’t just God over the times when you feel strong & capable, working “together,” but even when you have nothing to give Him.

I think that’s a reason why God emphasizes rest so often in the Bible because true faith doesn’t say, “because I have faith, I will do all the things,” but rather, “because I have faith, I can trust God even when I can’t/don’t do all the things.”

Not to be lazy, but to be rested fully in Him.

He is the Provider, Sustainer of all things.

He does not need me.

Praise God.

Even when I am weak, I am strong.

Because I have faith… in HIM.

I Sure Got That Rest I Prayed for… & Then God Took Care of the Rest

And you know what? I got that rest I prayed so desperately for. I didn’t get a lick of anything else done this morning… but I got that rest… & there’s always tomorrow. The world won’t fall apart because I didn’t get my chores done. Today… today I needed physical rest so my body could heal.

And you know what else? I got a call to sub today vs my normal job as an aide for the second grade team at the school I work at. A sub for high school… which meant I didn’t have to move about the classroom, walk to & from recess, hear loud children’s excited voices, or handle noisy carline at the end of the day. I got to sit & REST.

I introduced myself, took roll, played a video for them, & they worked quietly. I didn’t have to move around, think, or handle loud noises. I got to REST.

God knew my day was going to be hard because of all that extra rest… & God provided anyway in that hard.

Is Your True Rest in HIM?

The jackhammer is quieting. I am writing. And I am thanking God for sustaining me through my day without needing my contributions.

Is your true rest in Him? Or yourself? Where do you rely?

Do you trust Him as more than able when your contribution ability is taken out of the picture? Are you able to rest when He gives you no other options?

Do you have faith… in Him?

I would have loved to have slept through the night, waking up refreshed & done with my cold, ready to ably face my day head on… but it didn’t quite work out that way… & yet, God handled it… God provided… God saw me through it.

Even when things don’t work out quite right, I can always count on Him through it all. Even in the hard.

Do you trust God to do the same for you?

Shine HOPE by leaning into Him & trusting Him to give you rest, & to be your all, even when you have none to offer Him.

“Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31)

***He is waiting for you… will you come?:***

***(Romans 3:23; Romans 5:8-10; Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 10:9-10; John 14:6)***

NEW!! Watch This Week’s Episode on YouTube:

(*TUNE IN to watch this week’s LIVE STREAM (Episode 9) on my NEW YouTube Channel!! @: https://www.youtube.com/@MichelleHydeOnline (*Tuesdays @5pm EST/Wednesdays @8am GUAM*)

Coming Next Week

Join me every Monday morning, EST, for more encouragement right here on my blog/website @ www.MichelleHydeOnline.com.

Share with friends & family… & SUBSCRIBE by “Joining My Tribe,” so you never miss a week!

As God grows me, may it encourage you to seek Him & know Him & love Him more every day.

A Note from Michelle:

(***Check out my FREE Journal Printable Resources: “Accountability Partner Guide + Question Prompts” & “Bible Study Question Prompts ,” as well as “Prayers of Surrender” prayer guides!***)

This blog/website has been running for 7.5 years now! THANK YOU for your continued support & encouragement. <3

If you would like to learn more of my story, check out the “About Me” tab. And if you would like to hear how I found my lasting source of HOPE, read the “Hope Is Found” tab, on this site. I hope they are an encouragement to you! <3

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!!

Archway Necklace, Handcrafted in INDIA

The Archway Necklace creates fair-paying, dignified jobs for women in India. This gold-tone pendant necklace features a beautiful arch pendant with a sunrise scene on it, symbolizing the new beginnings each day brings.

Every purchase supports families in areas of extreme poverty in India. 

***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!

Don’t Underestimate the Value of God’s Word

While the Bible is a great guidebook to life, as it is written (inspired) by God Himself Who knows all things… we shouldn’t look at or come to the Bible just as that… but rather to come to it to know the One Who wrote it.

You see, God isn’t looking to create just moral people… He wants people to know & love Him, to live for His glory above all else.

But how can we do that without knowing His Word?

Instead of Do’s & Don’ts… Come to KNOW HIM

A very helpful trick I’ve learned when I read my Bible is to look at every verse from the perspective of: “What does this teach me about Who God is?”

You cannot imagine the richness this can bring to even the hardest text to get through (Leviticus anyone?) because it goes from learning infinite measurement details to now seeing that God is extremely detail oriented. He doesn’t just leave it up to us to figure out. He is specific & knows all of the specifics. We can count on Him to help with the details.

It really helps make even the most seemingly mundane passages come to life, because it can teach you more about Who God is. It can help you to see His eternal character, His pursuit of us, & the great lengths He is willing to go to to forgive & restore us to Himself, no matter the cost.

How He never hangs our wrongs over our heads… just crying out to Him, admitting our need for Him… & all is instantly forgiven. What a gracious, compassionate, patient, kind God we serve! That despite the utter wretchedness of our sin against Him, He sent His Son, Jesus, to pay that debt for us who believe on Him for it!

He is far worth getting to know. He deserves our all because He gives His all & holds all authority on Heaven & earth. Praise God!

Look for Hints of Who He Is… Seek to KNOW Him

Look for hints on how God feels about our sin—like in Numbers 16, as well as the fact that they are so despicable that Jesus had to die a gruesome death in order to pay for them on our behalf. (Romans 6:23; Romans 5:8; 1 Peter 3:18; Isaiah 53; John 3:16-17)

Look for how God responds to certain prayers & petitions. Notice God’s promises so you know you can have confidence in your prayers.

Look for the compassion God shows through fears & hurts.

Look for the repeated calls to repentance, even from Jesus with His constant responses of “Go & sin no more.”

Look for how God supplies & provides.

Look for how quick He is to forgive when we cry out to Him as our HOPE after getting ourselves in a really big mess we can’t get ourselves out of. (Like Psalm 107 or Luke 15:11-31)

And KEEP Looking!

Look for how He expects us to steward His provisions, our bodies, the church, & lives all around us… our time & resources.

Look for how He asks us to love, whether it’s enemies or strangers or anyone really.

Look for how He feels about you… His thoughts about you… what you mean to Him… what He gave up for you.

Look for hints of His character.

Look for what pleases Him.

Look for what He offers to you as you lean into Him.

Look for the life He created for us & intended for us pre-Fall.

Learn about His love that He expressed for you by sending Jesus to die on the cross & rise again for your sins.

Learn about His Kingship & authority.

His eternal nature… His hand in all of creation… in knitting you together in your mother’s womb… His plan that spans all eternity…

Get to Know It, Get to Know HIM–Read Your Bible

Don’t just read the words to read the words. Don’t do it to check off some imaginary “Christian” checklist.

Don’t do it to “be a good person.” Or because it’s “what God expects from you.” Don’t do it thinking it earns you more favor from God as earning your own way to heaven.

Don’t get caught up in how many chapters you “ought” to read or in “having to read through it in a year.”

Just READ it! THINK on it! LIVE it!

Do it to get to know the God Who wrote it.

Do it to fall more in love with the God Who loves you more than anyone else… more than you could ever BEGIN to comprehend.

Do it because He wants you to. He wants you to know Him. He KNOWS you NEED it, even if it just feels optional to you. He made a point to have it inspired into text that has been passed down, translated, printed, & in your hands for a REASON.

Do it to know the God Who made you.

“But by Every Word That Proceeds Out of the Mouth of GOD.”

Do it because we don’t live by bread alone, but by every word from the mouth of God. Food nourishes our bodies (or can/should)… the Bible nourishes our SOUL.

“But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’ ” (Matthew 4:4)

It is literal SUSTENANCE for your soul. I saw a quote on social media that said something like, “If you only ate on Sundays, you wouldn’t live very long.” Read that again.

Feeling restless? Antsy? Burdened? Overwhelmed? Over-encumbered by life? Angsty? Drowning? Unsettled? Alone? Hurting? Read the Words of God & nourish your soul with the Words of GOD.

I know it seems like it’s just more reading… but it’s NOT JUST MORE READING. God’s Word has POWER!

Get to know IT…. Get to know HIM.

Let Him nourish your soul through the power of His Word.

Shine HOPE by getting to know the God Who gives it… by getting to know His Word (the Bible).

“Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31)

***He is waiting for you… will you come?:***

***(Romans 3:23; Romans 5:8-10; Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 10:9-10; John 14:6)***

NEW!! Watch This Week’s Episode on YouTube:

(*TUNE IN to watch this week’s LIVE STREAM (Episode 8) on my NEW YouTube Channel!! @: https://www.youtube.com/@MichelleHydeOnline (*Tuesdays @5pm EST/Wednesdays @8am GUAM*)

Coming Next Week

Join me every Monday morning, EST, for more encouragement right here on my blog/website @ www.MichelleHydeOnline.com.

Share with friends & family… & SUBSCRIBE by “Joining My Tribe,” so you never miss a week!

As God grows me, may it encourage you to seek Him & know Him & love Him more every day.

A Note from Michelle:

(***Check out my FREE Journal Printable Resources: “Accountability Partner Guide + Question Prompts” & “Bible Study Question Prompts ,” as well as “Prayers of Surrender” prayer guides!***)

This blog/website has been running for 7.5 years now! THANK YOU for your continued support & encouragement. <3

If you would like to learn more of my story, check out the “About Me” tab. And if you would like to hear how I found my lasting source of HOPE, read the “Hope Is Found” tab, on this site. I hope they are an encouragement to you! <3

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!!

March 2026 “Hope Mail”

Your purchase of March Hope Mail provides one day of school for a girl in an area of extreme poverty.   

Enjoy the subtle, sophisticated style of the Blush Fan Earrings when you shop Hope Mail this month! These gorgeous Blush Fan Earrings are handcrafted in a workshop in India that’s committed to fighting child marriage and helping women become financially independent as fair-trade Artisans. Featuring blush pink glass set in a gold-tone frame with a creamy white fan dangle charm, these earrings are not only beautiful but create necessary jobs for women in areas of extreme poverty in India.  

Every purchase of this month’s Hope Mail 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!

Sometimes We Can Forget to Pray about It

This topic has been in my queue for a while, & today seems to be the day.

Recently, I have started meeting with a friend of mine to pray weekly together, to serve as sort of my prayer accountability. It’s been so good & so encouraging to me.

While I do pray regularly, all throughout my day talking to God about stuff as it comes up or thanking Him as I see His hand in something… when something hurts me, angers me, or upsets me significantly… avoidance of the resulting feelings becomes my go-to gut response… not good.

You see, something has trickled into my heart. Something that has been trickling into my heart for the past 15 years… something I talked about in a blog post a few years ago, with: “My ‘Anti-Word’ for 2024–‘VICTIM.’”

I have allowed people’s opinions (judgments) of me make me feel smaller & smaller over the years.

When I Should Have Prayed… I Shrank

I SHOULD have prayed over them, trusting God to help me parse through between facts & opinions, but instead, I took them all as hits to my character & my identity. And I became smaller & smaller as a result.

Looking back, I can see how Satan saw a threat & he was smarter than me in knowing how to convince me to just keep my mouth shut & to shrink vs taking a stand for truth & being bold in my faith & obedience to God, even if it rubbed some people the wrong way.

God still allowed it to be a growing season for me in many different ways, as He never wastes our struggles or mistakes… but boy was it a rough ride when it didn’t really need to be.

I could have surrendered all of it to God for review. Instead, I got hurt & I shrank.

And, all these years later after recognizing this… I am still working to rebuild back to the bolder living-for-Jesus girl I once was.

All because I didn’t pray about it whenever it happened.

I Have Built Hurtful Habits… That I Desperately Need to Re-Write

And now, when someone says something hurtful or misunderstands me & judges me based on that misunderstanding or just plain doesn’t like me for whatever reason, I find myself shutting down all over again… it’s now my built-in, practiced, go-to gut response to it. I take it personally. I get hurt.

Not only do I get hurt, but I shut down when I get hurt.

I think about death a lot, to be honest.

Not suicidal as I have been 20 years ago, but definitely praying God would just let me skip the rest & straight shot it to heaven so I don’t ever have to feel that hurt ever again. I don’t like it one bit.

So, God encouraged me to reach out to a friend He placed on my heart so we can start retraining my brain’s reflexes to pray vs quit… pray vs avoid… pray vs shut down… pray for help vs praying for heaven.

No longer allowing the hurt to run the narrative. No longer allowing the hurt to trump who I am in Christ & the life He calls me to live for Him.

He Defines Me… His Opinion Matters Most

I am not perfect by any means. I am fully aware of my imperfections, temptation areas, mistakes, failures, wanderings, shortcomings….

But I am His. He made me. He had my days written before a single one came to be. He is bigger than me. He can fill in my gaps. It’s not about me being enough, but about Him being enough. It’s not about everyone liking me, but about me living to please Him. It’s not about everyone agreeing with me or liking what I say, it’s about being faithful to God’s leading, & about speaking truth (in love), even when it is very much unpopular. And when it comes to either people-pleasing vs God-pleasing, I should never choose other people OVER God.

Even when it causes other Christians to feel uncomfortable with it.

I am accountable to God alone, first & foremost. And as long as I live as His servant, speaking His truth in love, seeking to honor, love, obey, & please Him… then nothing else nor anybody else’s opinions really ought to matter to me.

Having My Focus Fixed on Him

Bowing all the dislikes, the hurtful words, the judgments, the slander, the misunderstandings… all of satan’s attacks… to God as the One deserving of my all despite all of that.

Not quitting, but praying.

Not shutting down, but praying.

Not staying silent, but praying.

Not growing bitter, but praying.

Not taking my eyes off my mission to live for Christ, despite all opinions of me, but praying.

Which Do You Let Rule Your Life? Anxiety or Prayer?

I have the habit of running far away from the uncomfortable, as far away as I can get. I drown it in comfort-seeking activities, like my favorite video games, social media scrolling, snacking, or binging tv.

Avoid. Avoid. Avoid.

But what I ought to be doing is taking it all, every single bit of it… to Him in prayer. To allow Him to fix my focus, to settle my heart, to grant me courage to carry on, to not allow any other’s opinions of me to define me.

I ought to pray.

I heard a quote once & I don’t know who said it, but boy did it land. He said something to the affect of: “Why is it hardest to pray when life is at its hardest? Because when we pray, we’re forced to think on & acknowledge the hard… but that’s when we need to be praying the most, because God is our hope in it.”

Where Do You Turn When Life Hits You HARD? What Is Your Go-To Gut Response? Do You Need a Re-Focus?

We need wisdom only He can give. We need perspective only He can supply.

We need courage only He can bolster. We need comfort when the world withholds it.

We need strength only His endless power can provide.

We need to pray.

Which do you let rule your life? Anxiety or prayer?

Let’s rewrite those habits. Anxie…. PRAY. Fea….. PRAY. DON’T LET THEM IN. Pray!

Shine HOPE by learning to take every hurt, every anxiety, every fear, every worry, every misunderstanding, every other person’s judgment… to HIM in prayer. Let HIM rule your life instead of any of THAT.

“Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31)

***He is waiting for you… will you come?:***

***(Romans 3:23; Romans 5:8-10; Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 10:9-10; John 14:6)***

NEW!! Watch This Week’s Episode on YouTube:

(*TUNE IN to watch this week’s LIVE STREAM (Episode 7) on my NEW YouTube Channel!! @: https://www.youtube.com/@MichelleHydeOnline (*Tuesdays @5pm EST/Wednesdays @8am GUAM*)

Coming Next Week

Join me every Monday morning, EST, for more encouragement right here on my blog/website @ www.MichelleHydeOnline.com.

Share with friends & family… & SUBSCRIBE by “Joining My Tribe,” so you never miss a week!

As God grows me, may it encourage you to seek Him & know Him & love Him more every day.

A Note from Michelle:

(***Check out my FREE Journal Printable Resources: “Accountability Partner Guide + Question Prompts” & “Bible Study Question Prompts ,” as well as “Prayers of Surrender” prayer guides!***)

This blog/website has been running for 7.5 years now! THANK YOU for your continued support & encouragement. <3

If you would like to learn more of my story, check out the “About Me” tab. And if you would like to hear how I found my lasting source of HOPE, read the “Hope Is Found” tab, on this site. I hope they are an encouragement to you! <3

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!!

Gingko Leaf Earrings (Silver)–Handcrafted in India!

When you shop the Ginkgo Earrings, you are creating safe jobs for women in areas of extreme poverty in India. These stunning, sculpted earrings are the perfect fair-trade fashion statement! Each silver-tone Ginkgo Earring features two connected ginkgo-shapes to create the beautiful dangle earring! These earrings are also available in a gold-tone finish.  

***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!

Have You Ever Stopped to Think about It?

I am going to ruffle some feathers this week, I just know it… & honestly, I’m okay with that. Truth is truth & truth is what will actually bring us true blessing… so, it is absolutely worth it.

I have talked about this before, & like a lot of things I repeat blogs on, it’s worth talking about again… mostly because it is so easy to slip into worship that isn’t actually worship..

How is your worship? Have you ever thought about that?

I know, for most of my life, I honestly never really gave it a second thought.

I sang the songs in church, I prayed before meals, I went to church. OF COURSE I was worshipping… but was I?

You see, there is an important distinction between real worship & well, not real worship.

Just Repeating Words on a Page & Never Really Letting It Reach Your Heart

The first easy mistake is regurgitated worship. I talk about this type of thing when I mention prayer with vain repetitions.

It’s basically when you maybe know all the words to a song or the little prayer poem & you just regurgitate it without ever stopping to think about what you’re singing/saying.

You know the words. You sing/say the words. But your heart just isn’t really in it.

And I don’t mean to say you need to FEEL it… I mean to say–are you actually directing those words TO Him? As if praying them to Him? Telling Him how grateful you are, praising Him? Or just saying the words without actually considering Him listening to you at all?

Is it just regurgitated? Or is it true worship?

Do You Really Have to FEEL It in Order to Feel Like You Can Worship?

The next type of worship I mentioned is emotions-based worship. Now, this is NOT saying that it is wrong to be super emotional when you worship, just that your worship should not be centered around or dependent upon how much you’re “feeling” it. This sort of goes along with my recent post: “True Rejoicing Does Not Have to FEEL Happy.”

I remember I saw a video online recently, where a worship leader mentioned how he often gets asked how he can lead worship on days where he is just not feeling it at all & having a rough day or a bad attitude.

His answer was surprising, but so real. He said that those are actually his favorite days to lead worship, because it forces his perspective to shift in those moments. He goes from feeling grumpy or discouraged to bowing his head & saying, “God, You are worthy & deserving despite however I’m feeling right now.” AMEN.

If you don’t feel pumped up… if you don’t feel joyous… if you don’t feel like it at all… are you willing to stop yourself & pray that same thing? “Lord, You are worthy & deserving no matter how I may be feeling right now”? Are you willing to worship anyway because He deserves your worship?

True Worship Takes HEART

But TRUE worship takes heart. It’s a heart posture that makes it worship… not the words you say, not the songs you sing, but a heart that bows to the King of kings, Lord of lords, no matter your circumstances or feelings.

I remember through many a difficult dark season of my life, coming to these moments where I realized that even though my life wasn’t working out so well, or at least how I would crave it to be… that He is GOD & I am not… that He has a plan… that He knows what He’s doing… that He is always working… that He will never waste my struggles… that He made me… that He sees me… that He alone is worthy to be praised… & that no matter what I was going through or what I was feeling could ever change that about Him… even if I didn’t “get” it.

Is your worship like that?

Do you say the words without ever letting it touch your heart?

Do you withhold it if you’re not in the mood?

Or do you worship Him because He alone is worthy of it, come what may, no matter the circumstances? Bowing your heart to Him & lifting Him up in praise?

Not JUST in word… not just in song… but in all of your LIFE?

How Is Your Worship? Regurgitated, Emotions-Based, or True?

Does your life, your daily moment-by-moment reflect a heart of worship to the One True God, Maker of Heaven & Earth?

He is worthy to be praised! Even on your worst day!

How is your worship? Regurgitated… emotions-based… or TRUE?

Next time you find yourself praising & worshipping Him in song, word, or deed… take a second to think about it… to assess where your heart’s at… to see whether you need to readjust how you approach worship before an Almighty, all-deserving God.

Shine HOPE by thinking about your words & actions of worship, directing them to Him in your heart, not just regurgitating… not just when the feelings feel right… but all the time, everywhere, every day, because it is truly what He deserves.

“Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31)

***He is waiting for you… will you come?:***

***(Romans 3:23; Romans 5:8-10; Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 10:9-10; John 14:6)***

NEW!! Watch This Week’s Episode on YouTube:

(*TUNE IN to watch this week’s LIVE STREAM (Episode 6) on my NEW YouTube Channel!! @: https://www.youtube.com/@MichelleHydeOnline (*Tuesdays @5pm EST/Wednesdays @8am GUAM*)

Coming Next Week

Join me every Monday morning, EST, for more encouragement right here on my blog/website @ www.MichelleHydeOnline.com.

Share with friends & family… & SUBSCRIBE by “Joining My Tribe,” so you never miss a week!

As God grows me, may it encourage you to seek Him & know Him & love Him more every day.

A Note from Michelle:

(***Check out my FREE Journal Printable Resources: “Accountability Partner Guide + Question Prompts” & “Bible Study Question Prompts ,” as well as “Prayers of Surrender” prayer guides!***)

This blog/website has been running for 7.5 years now! THANK YOU for your continued support & encouragement. <3

If you would like to learn more of my story, check out the “About Me” tab. And if you would like to hear how I found my lasting source of HOPE, read the “Hope Is Found” tab, on this site. I hope they are an encouragement to you! <3

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!!

Moonlit Moss Scarf, Handcrafted in India!

Create safe, fair-paying jobs for women in India when you shop the Moonlit Moss Scarf. This cozy Moonlit Moss Scarf from India has grey-blue hue with shimmering thread woven throughout the design. Each Artisan-made scarf is handcrafted using a soft viscose material.

***Purchase this scarf to help create safe jobs and fair wages for women in areas of extreme poverty in India.***

***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!

What Gives Prayer Power?

Something I have realized recently is a deeper take on something I have talked about before: Vain repetition vs continued reliance.

(You can read these 3 previous posts on this topic: “What Even Is Prayer?”; “Pray Continually-What Does Prayer Actually Accomplish?”; “Why Do You Pray? Vain Repetitions VS Continued Reliance.”.)

The Bible says to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17) & also emphasizes the need to continue asking for something with urgency (Luke 18:1-8). BUT, it also warns against “vain repetitions” (Matthew 6:7-8)—”as if God doesn’t already know” or…

… as if the power of prayer comes in the HOW it’s prayed vs the WHO it’s prayed TO.

Sometimes You Entrust It & Walk Away… Other times You Pray Repeatedly as If Your Very Life Depends on It… What’s the Difference?

When praying, there are certain things we need only ask once for, that God would provide something specific, leaving the how in God’s hands, trusting Him to provide in His timing.

But some things are daily. The grace to get through the day, for example. Mindfulness for outreach & evangelism opportunities, peace, gratefulness for daily provisions, wisdom, strength, the way forward, etc. A continuous reliance upon Him vs self.

Maybe you’d really love something but you’re not sure it’s what’s best. You can pray & say, “God, You know I would really love this. If it pleases You, can You make it happen someday? If not, I trust Your lead.”

But this same scenario can fit both types of prayer, depending on the circumstances.

Say you are still worried about it… pray AGAIN. Say you feel confident that God will work it in His timing & will & leave it with Him—then you really just need to ask Him once to work in His timing & will on it.

The Idea & Prayer Came Long Before This Website Was Birthed

For example, I had the desire for a website/blog back in the early 2000’s, but I had no idea how or what to do, so I had no room to move forward. So, I prayed about it & let it go.

A decade or so later, after my lonely, rage-monster-trapped-in-my-head hard time in Hokkaido, God brought back my long-forgotten request with a felt urgency of “now is the time.”

I still had no idea HOW, so I prayed over any concerns or lack of know-how that popped up at the consideration & entrusted the way forward to Him. Praying regularly over each new concern or lack of know-how as it came up... adding each to my list of concerns that I brought to Him.

Then, I see a course pop up on social media teaching the steps to design, develop, & launch a website… & every single thing I had been praying over was addressed. I knew that was the way forward because I had been taking my new/unsolved concerns to Him on a regular basis as they arose.

Are You Trying to Convince God? Or Are You Entrusting to God?

We need to be careful that our regular prayer does not become a spewed off list, meaningless repetitions, but rather humbled petition brought boldly before an all-capable, all-knowing, all-powerful God… One Who gave His very Son to save us from our sins against Him… in other words, a God Who loves us inexplicably.

Do we pray every night for it because we feel our repeated petitions grant it power? Do we do it thinking if you don’t pray “hard enough” He will not care enough to answer? Or do we do it as a sign of continuous reliance upon Him in the unknowns & requests of life, KNOWING that if there is a place of hope, a way forward, it can ONLY be found in HIM?

Can you think of any good examples of either praying once & trusting God to provide in His own wisdom & timing? OR, needing to daily rely on Him for something, going to Him regularly & consistently, placing your trust repeatedly in Him over yourself?

Shine HOPE by knowing to Whom you pray… & praying accordingly… boldly, humbly, trusting.

“Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31)

***He is waiting for you… will you come?:***

***(Romans 3:23; Romans 5:8-10; Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 10:9-10; John 14:6)***

NEW!! Watch This Week’s Episode on YouTube:

(*TUNE IN to watch this week’s LIVE STREAM on my NEW YouTube Channel!! @: https://www.youtube.com/@MichelleHydeOnline (*Tuesdays @5pm EST/Wednesdays @8am GUAM*)

Coming Next Week

Join me every Monday morning, EST, for more encouragement right here on my blog/website @ www.MichelleHydeOnline.com.

Share with friends & family… & SUBSCRIBE by “Joining My Tribe,” so you never miss a week!

As God grows me, may it encourage you to seek Him & know Him & love Him more every day.

A Note from Michelle:

(***Check out my FREE Journal Printable Resources: “Accountability Partner Guide + Question Prompts” & “Bible Study Question Prompts ,” as well as “Prayers of Surrender” prayer guides!***)

This blog/website has been running for 7.5 years now! THANK YOU for your continued support & encouragement. <3

If you would like to learn more of my story, check out the “About Me” tab. And if you would like to hear how I found my lasting source of HOPE, read the “Hope Is Found” tab, on this site. I hope they are an encouragement to you! <3

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!!

Ellie Bag Charm–Handcrafted in India!

Meet our newest Elephant friend, the Ellie Bag Charm! This adorable charm is created in a workshop committed to fighting child marriage in India by creating fair paying job and shows of the craftmanship of our talented artisan partners in India! Each bead is handsewn onto the charm to create this Elephant image.

–>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!

Rejoicing in the Midst of Trials

Something that I misunderstood most of my life was the idea of rejoicing in the midst of trials.

To me, it felt like it implied that I must feel happy while also dealing with intense struggling, & that, if I couldn’t get myself to be (or pretend) to be happy, then I was living as a bad testimony for God… that I wasn’t trusting in Him enough…. That I wasn’t a good enough Christian.

Well, imagine how much shame that has brought on me over the years as a now grown woman who has struggled through seasons of depression for most all of her life. When I am going through an intensely dark season of my life, I feel no happy... I barely feel anything at all….

Constantly feeling like a failure to God, as if I just couldn’t be good enough to fake it or feel it well enough to “prove” I trusted God “enough” through those darkest of seasons was a hugely heavy burden to carry, on top of already feeling like my consistently downcast mental state alone was a hugely heavy burden for everyone else in my life to carry.

But, thankfully, God has taught me a little something about rejoicing in Him through trials over the years.

It Does Not Mean Pretending to be Happy

You see, what a wonderfully freeing thing it is to realize that rejoicing in trials does not mean pretending to be happy at all times in those trials.

But rather, something much sweeter, richer, & more real than that.

God sees me at my worst. I don’t have to ever pretend for Him, because He already sees it all anyway. He knows the real, deep-down ME.

I never have to be fake with God. He can handle my heavy burdens just fine for the both of us.

And implying the supposed falsehood that to be a good testimony for Him, I have to come off as perfect at all times is implying that the focus ought to be on my own perfection in order to somehow prove His sufficiency.

Rather, in those moments of complete & utter weakness, I have found something beautiful.

As I am feeling frail, hurting, barely holding myself together… the rejoicing comes in the form of remembering.

Taking Time to REMEMBER… & to Praise Him for WHO He Is… Despite How I’m Feeling

Sometimes even as I cry, I sit & remember all He has done for me… all He has sustained me through… & I thank Him… I praise Him that He always shows to have a plan, even when I can’t see it at the time… that He never wastes a single hurt, even when I don’t see how He ever could use it… & that He 100% ALWAYS works everything out for BOTH His glory AND my GOOD.

He holds me together when I feel like I’m falling apart.

He infuses peace in my heart when all the pieces fall around me.

He carries me when I can’t carry myself.

He protects me when I feel too weak to stand.

He cares for me when it feels like no one else does or could.

He has compassion for me no matter how little I may deserve it.

He is my strong tower when the winds of life rage around me.

He wraps His arms of love around me, even when I feel too unlovable.

He gives me HOPE in the midst of the most hopeless.

And in all those things, EVEN WHEN the pain doesn’t quit… I can rejoice through my pain. I can praise Him through my hurts.

True Rejoicing Does Not Have to FEEL Happy

I can trust Him.

I can rejoice in Him, even in & through the pain.

I don’t have to pretty up my pain or get over it in order to rejoice genuinely, but rather, I can display even better His glory by rejoicing in Him even in the even if.

I am allowed to both grieve the effects of sin & therefore, brokenness, in this world, while also simultaneously recognizing & rejoicing that God is still on His throne, He cannot & will not ever be thwarted. He will have the final say. He will be magnified. He will get the glory He deserves.

I can feel hurt & sad while also recognizing & rejoicing in the HOPE I have because of what Jesus did for me on the cross for my sins.

What Matters Is How You Choose to Respond to Your Pain… Not That You Pretend You Don’t Feel Pain…

I think where the confusion comes from is instead what we choose to do with the pain & hurts that we feel that scares people into being scared of admitting they are feeling negative feelings.

If you are dwelling only on the pain & intently choosing NOT to rejoice UNLESS it’s all fixed & prettied up… there’s a problem.

If you are allowing your pain to help you justify a root of bitterness springing up within your heart… there’s a problem.

If you are using your hurt as an excuse to slander someone else’s reputation, or to gossip about them behind their back… there’s a problem.

If your hurt tempts you into believing you need to seek elsewhere for hope… & you begin to listen to & obey that little temptation… there’s a problem.

If you refuse to have gratitude because of your hurt… there’s a problem.

If you rebel against God & obedience to Him because of your hurt… there’s a problem.

But the feeling hurt is not the problem… it is a result of the pain brought on by living in a broken world, of grieving things not being the ideal that God originally intended when He created the world… before we allowed sin to enter the picture.

And sometimes, it’s just the consequence of our own sin… a call to come back to the forgiving, gracious, loving arms of Jesus. Not a place to STAY, but a force to push you back to the only place where you will ever find true HOPE.

Let the pain draw you back to Him.

Let the Pain Draw You Ever into the Arms of Jesus

You know, I used to be so frustrated & confused & hurt at how God could allow someone (AKA me) to endure intense seasons of pain that felt source-less & meaningless… pain that sometimes felt like it would never ever end.

But, after years of praying over it, through my many seasons of great darkness… crying while crying out to God for help… I have seen things more clearly….

That because of those many seasons of darkness, where I couldn’t even see a source of it sometimes… only senseless pain… I learned the most unimaginably beautiful truth.

That, because of those many seasons of intensely dark pain, I had been repeatedly & constantly thrown ever into the arms of Jesus. My desperation demanded it. My heart needed it like air to breath. Suicidal thoughts were a regular companion of mine in some dark seasons, but God’s compassionate arms pulled me in over & over & over & over & over again, even when I couldn’t get myself to pick myself back up again.

In ALL Things… In EVERY Season… God Is SUFFICIENT… & in That… I CAN REJOICE!!

I learned that I can count on Him at my absolute worst. I learned that even when I have absolutely NOTHING to contribute… He is sufficient. I learned that I can count on Him EVEN IF nothing ever got better. I learned that I can count on the fact that He never EVER wastes even a single OUNCE of my pain, but ALWAYS uses it for BOTH His glory & my good. I learned that He is consistently sufficient in my every personal lack of sufficiency.

I learned that He is ENOUGH. And that His grace will carry me through even the worst hurts imaginable… even when it feels there is no & could never be any hope… I find that Hope in Him.

And in that… even when I don’t feel happy… I can rejoice.

Shine HOPE by turning every hurt & heartache into an opportunity to seek your sufficiency, your fulfillment, & your HOPE in HIM ALONE… & REJOICE in Him through every bit of it!!

“Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31)

***He is waiting for you… will you come?:***

***(Romans 3:23; Romans 5:8-10; Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 10:9-10; John 14:6)***

NEW!! Watch This Week’s Episode on YouTube:

Coming Next Week

Join me every Monday morning, EST, for more encouragement right here on my blog/website @ www.MichelleHydeOnline.com.

Share with friends & family… & SUBSCRIBE by “Joining My Tribe,” so you never miss a week!

As God grows me, may it encourage you to seek Him & know Him & love Him more every day.

A Note from Michelle:

(***Check out my FREE Journal Printable Resources: “Accountability Partner Guide + Question Prompts” & “Bible Study Question Prompts ,” as well as “Prayers of Surrender” prayer guides!***)

This blog/website has been running for 7.5 years now! THANK YOU for your continued support & encouragement. <3

If you would like to learn more of my story, check out the “About Me” tab. And if you would like to hear how I found my lasting source of HOPE, read the “Hope Is Found” tab, on this site. I hope they are an encouragement to you! <3

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!!

February 2026 Monthly “Hope Mail” (Made by Artisan Women in INDIA)

FOR A LIMITED TIME – Only available during the month of February! Enjoy free shipping and 10% off your Hope Mail package when you subscribe every month!  

Your purchase of February Hope Mail provides one day of school for a girl in an area of extreme poverty.    

Featured in this month’s Hope Mail is the Carnation Sunset Earrings. These detailed, hand beaded earrings are handcrafted by women in a workshop committed to fighting child marriage and creating dignified jobs for women in India. Each drop earring uses traditional embroidery and hand beading details to show off our Artisan Partners craftmanship and create this stunning carnation design in a gold-tone frame.

Every purchase of this month’s Hope Mail 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 You Can Help Artisans around the World AND Help Support My Website:

#1 is PRAY. Financial help is great & helps pay my website fees & helps support these women artisans… but God’s help is always needed most… both for encouragement & for spiritual hope, through Jesus, for the women we support through our ethical fashion purchases. Always PRAY first.

Your purchases not only help these women, but my commissions help me in continuing this website/blog, encouraging women all around the world with the HOPE we have in Jesus. Win-win-win!

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

Always a Work-in-Progress

I am going to be a little vulnerable with you today in admitting something that I am embarrassed to admit.

In all my many years of trusting on Jesus to pay my debt before God… since I was 5… I have struggled with something that, for a long time, I didn’t even realize was anything to worry about at all.

But recently, as I read my Bible, God has been slowly revealing to me something that I feel a lot of people are actually missing: ministry isn’t ONLY supposed to be something pre-arranged or pre-planned.

What do I mean by that? I mean that ministry is meant to be an all day, every day type of thing. It is not just “I serve in children’s church on Sunday, every other month,” or, “I help with the ladies’ prison ministry once a week,” or, “I run my own website & a weekly blog.”

And while, yes, it does honor God for me to be doing those things… it shouldn’t be where my ministry stops.

AS You Go… Not Just on Sundays

When I read the Bible, I see a lot more examples of what the Bible says: “Go & make disciples…” verse (Matthew 28:19-20) that is really saying, “AS you go… make disciples.” It is not once a destination is reached, but an “on the way” type of command.

I see that sort of ministry demonstrated far more than any organized, pre-arranged type of ministry happening.

Yes, it is good to set regular times, carving out designated time to do ministry consistently throughout the week, but it ought not stop there.

Do I live like that? No, not really.

Look Up… & See PEOPLE

I was taught by life to keep my head down, mind my own business, go in/get out with errand-running, don’t talk to strangers, don’t bother other people, “stranger danger.” It is pretty engrained in me to not engage with strangers, in other words.

And, as one example, in looking at the “Good Samaritan” story, in Luke 10:25-37, it is so easy to be judgy toward those religious leaders who just snub a bloodied, beaten-up dude on the side of the road, dying from his injuries & them just self-righteously refusing to lift a finger to help….

But isn’t that me every single day?

There are broken people all around me. I don’t seek to help a single one.

What Would Jesus Do? What Should WE Do?

If I were to see that man, I would walk as FAR an arc around him as possible. Maybe he got beat up because HE was the perpetrator. Maybe he is dangerous. Maybe the guys who did it are still close by.

I don’t want to risk my life. My safety.

And being a WOMAN on top of all the potential dangers involved? Makes me even MORE vulnerable to attack.

Nuh-uh, no thanks, “I have to be smart about it” is what I tell myself.

“Don’t be stupid.” “God gave us common sense for a reason.” “Don’t put yourself in harms way, you have to protect yourself & stay SAFE…” is what I tell myself.

As if God doesn’t know how to care for me. As if I can’t trust His judgment if He nudges me toward someone in need. As if my safety is more important than someone else’s. As if I wouldn’t be crying & despairing for someone to help ME if that were me in that situation.

What Would You Have Done?

I watched a video the other day of a woman sharing her story. She was in major pageants & was leaving or arriving at some swanky event when she was approached by 5 armed men who tried to abduct her. I don’t remember how she got away, but when she did, she was sure she’d get shot in the back as she fled through BUSY WITH PEOPLE streets. Running up to cars, begging for help… they closed their windows & drove off. No one would dare help this crazed woman who was really running for her LIFE. Until one brave young lady, with a little one in the backseat, opened her door & said, “GET IN.”

Would I have been that brave? I don’t think I would. Especially if I hadn’t seen the abduction attempt & thought maybe she was on drugs or something.

I wouldn’t have helped her.

I would have protected myself first.

I wouldn’t have helped that beaten, bloodied, left-for-dead man, either.

I would have protected myself first.

Seek the Lost, Love the Broken… As Jesus Did for You

Even in less life-threatening examples, I assume the worst could be true, & I turn/look the other way.

And in completely HARMLESS situations, I don’t DARE bother someone but keep my head down & eyes on the task. Blurring everyone around me out of view/thought.

Shame. On. Me.

“They’re busy… they don’t want to be bothered.” “I don’t want to seem annoying.” “What if I sound like a crazy person?” “What if I make someone uncomfortable?” “What if they don’t want my help?”

But God KNOWS their heart, doesn’t He? He doesn’t need to guess.

So, why do I question Him then…?

Organic Ministry–Do You Put Ministry in a Box?

I want to LIVE ministry. I want to keep my eyes on the lookout for every opportunity.

I want my errands to be treated as opportunities. I want to pray for God to help me see people as PEOPLE vs just blurs in my peripheral.

I want to make eye contact smile at people as they pass by. I want people to know they are seen & not forgotten/alone. I want to live as a testimony even to strangers. I want to be kind when kindness is unexpected. I want to be willing to step in to help when I see a struggle. I want to be gentle & gracious when someone is frustrated & rushed. I want to be willing to say “hello.” I want to be willing to speak up when God prompts me to say more.

I want to learn to love more costly… sacrificially… not just when it seems easy or convenient to me.

God Gives Grace in Our Growing

But, I know… God gives me grace in my growing… God knows how imperfect I am… God doesn’t NEED me… God gives grace upon grace upon grace… God can grow me where I lack… I am never too little for Him, because He is great enough for the both of us… God can shape me… God never gives up on me…. God can where I CAN’T.

God knows I would be crushed utterly under the weight of all my imperfections, my faults & failures, my flesh & its forever-temptation to wander & seek SELF above all else.

THANK GOD for His long-suffering patience & grace & sovereignty in the face of ALL my LACK. PRAISE GOD!!!

A Prayer for Growing in Organic Ministry… An “Every Day, Everywhere” Type of Ministry

How grateful I am to Him that I can bring this to Him & say, “God, wow how much I lack. It’s like every day you reveal more & more how much I need You to prune my life & make me more like Jesus. How much I fall short! And yet, Your grace meets me right there. Thank You for NEVER giving up on me. Grow me in this. Teach me how to SEE people. Teach me to follow & trust Your nudges. Help me to put myself on a limb to rescue others. Help me to be bold with Your grace for others. Help me to love other people as You see & love them. Help me to count their salvation & life more valuable than my own life, even. Grow me to be & do ministry more like Jesus. In Jesus’ name, AMEN.”

What about You?

Do you struggle with this, too? Am I alone in this?

In what ways do you see yourself needing to grow in this area? Are you willing to take it to God & ask Him to grow & shape you to be equipped to do ministry more as an everyday, everywhere type of ministry? Are you courageous enough to ask Him? If not, start there & pray for the courage to ask Him for help.

Has God grown you some in this already? Teach me. Give me tips on where to start, on how to change my perspective & my habits. Teach me to love strangers like Jesus would.

And pray for me in this… & pray for you, too.

Let your ministry be in your home… parenting… how you treat & support your spouse… your jobsite… people you see at the grocery store…. Where else can you think of that can be your ministry field?

Shine HOPE by doing ministry wherever you are, not just on Sunday mornings, Wednesday nights, or some other church-orchestrated event. Make your life your ministry field.

“Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31)

***He is waiting for you… will you come?:***

***(Romans 3:23; Romans 5:8-10; Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 10:9-10; John 14:6)***

NEW!! Watch This Week’s Episode on YouTube:

Coming Next Week

Join me every Monday morning, EST, for more encouragement right here on my blog/website @ www.MichelleHydeOnline.com.

Share with friends & family… & SUBSCRIBE by “Joining My Tribe,” so you never miss a week!

As God grows me, may it encourage you to seek Him & know Him & love Him more every day.

A Note from Michelle:

(***Check out my FREE Journal Printable Resources: “Accountability Partner Guide + Question Prompts” & “Bible Study Question Prompts ,” as well as “Prayers of Surrender” prayer guides!***)

This blog/website has been running for 7.5 years now! THANK YOU for your continued support & encouragement. <3

If you would like to learn more of my story, check out the “About Me” tab. And if you would like to hear how I found my lasting source of HOPE, read the “Hope Is Found” tab, on this site. I hope they are an encouragement to you! <3

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!!

Love Candy Heart Pouch (Handcrafted in India)

Create dignified jobs for women in India that allow families to leave the slums when you buy this adorable Love Candy Heart Pouch! This adorable, beaded pouch is handcrafted by women earning a fair and dignified wage for her work in India. No detail is left out with this embroidered and hand beaded pouch that showcases the amazing craftsmanship of our Artisan Partners. Featuring “LOVE” spelled out in block letters, every purchase supports families in areas of extreme poverty in India. 

***SHOP Here, OR, Email me at michellehyde.tradesofhope@gmail.com with any questions, & I will message you personally with more information!! Thank you for inspiring HOPE around the world, Lovely!***

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

#1 is PRAY. Financial help is great & helps pay my website fees & helps support these women artisans… but God’s help is always needed most… both for encouragement & for spiritual hope, through Jesus, for the women we support through our ethical fashion purchases. Always PRAY first.

Your purchases not only help these women, but my commissions help me in continuing this website/blog, encouraging women all around the world with the HOPE we have in Jesus. Win-win-win!

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