Anyone Else Wrestle with Regular Plaguing Doubts?

“Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24)

From an early age, I struggled with doubts. I grew up trusting in Jesus, but the obviousness of it didn’t seem to click with so many people I respected & cared for, so it didn’t make sense to me why that was.

Honestly, I think another part of the doubting was the good ‘ol sin nature we are all born with. My inclination was to self-seek, & with a “take up your cross & follow Me” mandate in the Bible… well, the two don’t exactly mesh well.

As I was reminded in my devotional time this morning, working through one of my longtime favorite studies—“Lies Women Believe, & the Truth That Sets Them Free,” by Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth, Romans 7 tells us Paul had the exact same type of struggle: spirit vs flesh, wanting to obey God, but tempted toward wrong.

(***You can find the link to the “Lies Women Believe” book/study on my Resources & Recommendations page, under “Bible Studies,” located: here.***)

But, regardless of its source, the doubts were strong in me. I wanted proof, evidence, if you will, about what was true.

Muddied by the World’s Worldly Perspective

I really do think that not all of my doubts were born out of a desire to prove them wrong so I could live the way I wanted without guilt… Some were genuinely just confusion born out of the overt confidence of the alternative from people I loved & respected. I was being influenced.

“For thus says the Lord,
Who created the heavens,
Who is God,
Who formed the earth and made it,
Who has established it,
Who did not create it in vain,
Who formed it to be inhabited:
“I am the Lord, and there is no other.” (Isaiah 45:18)

And, seeing as how only one side could actually BE correct: Only One TRUE God (Isaiah 45:18; John 14:6) vs “many ways to heaven,” & seeing as how both sides were believed by & preached by humans… coupled with the fun little phrase of “to err is human,” well, I wasn’t quite sure how to prove one over the other… even to myself.

I mean, deep down, I knew I was set free from my sin because of Jesus, but then I let the satan lure me into doubting God just as satan did with Eve in the Garden of Eden. (Genesis 3:1-6)

“I am afraid, however, that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may be led astray from your simple and pure devotion to Christ.” (2 Corinthians 11:3)

The Dizzying Loop of Doubting

And most all of my life, as soon as I read something in the Bible that made ABSOLUTELY NO SENSE with how I understood the world, or it went COMPLETELY against what I “knew” to be true about life… well, that threw me for a dizzying loop every single time. It was EXHAUSTING.

I used to pray SO OFTEN that God would clear me of & free me from my plaguing doubts, the poison that kept finding its way back into my heart, muddling the simple faith I had over & over again.

***Well, spoiler alert: He DID answer that prayer & in a MAJOR way. You can read all about that in my previous blog posts: “…Trusting Like a Child… Until the Doubts Began,“ “…The Dungeon of Depression-A Journey to Truth,” as well as my most recent retelling: “…The Doubts I Let Take Over,” & “…Losing My Battle with Depression.” ***

One of My Favorite Verses-“Lord, I Believe… Help My Unbelief”

But honestly, in the frailty of my faith, one little verse was like a beacon of hope to me. It was one I repeated more often than I can count. One that kept comforting the whirlwind of confusion & doubts in my heart: “Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief.” (Mark 9:24)

WOW. What a powerful prayer!

To me, this summed up the entirety of my inner struggle!

Deep down, I KNEW that God was it & that Jesus saved me as I had so easily accepted at 5 years old. I GREW UP knowing that in my heart.

But the hurts & cares of the world, the differing beliefs from others, & satan’s craftiness was working to tear the ground out from under me at every turn.

And so, I kept coming back to this prayer: “Lord, I BELIEVE. Help my unbelief!”

I Knew & Yet I Doubted

I KNEW & yet I DOUBTED. I didn’t know how to reconcile those two things. But I knew God was the One to help me get it sorted. & boy, did He ever.

“You will seek Me and find Me, when you seek Me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:13)

He wants to be found. He wants to be known. He wants you to be SURE, STEADY, & CONFIDENT in HIM.

I love a little chart I see pop up from time to time. On one side, it lists things that satan does: rushes you, confuses you, shames you, lies to you, hurts you, worries you….

And on the other side of the chart, it contrasts all those things with how God interacts with us: He calms us, He steadies us, He forgives us, He convicts our hearts to come back to Him vs away from Him, He tells us the truth, He settles us, He heals us, He gives His peace to us, He protects us, He leads us.

If you have already accepted Jesus’ sacrifice as covering for your sin, God doesn’t even need to guilt you, because He knows your wrongs are already covered by the blood of Jesus—THANK GOD! But He beckons us always to come back to Him when we have done wrong, to seek His help to lead us better than we lead ourselves.

God’s Way Is Always Perfection… Even When We Don’t Get It

Do you have little nagging doubts? Or big ones maybe?

Do you maybe read something in the Bible that just rubs you the wrong way & you don’t know how to reconcile that?

I still remember reading all the passed judgments (aka VIOLENCE) from God in the Old Testament, even against sins we consider as so small—like COMPLAINING, & thinking, “God, from a PR standpoint, WHAT WERE YOU THINKING INCLUDING THIS IN THE BIBLE!?!? It makes you look cruel & violent & short-tempered! Couldn’t You have left that out? You look so CRUEL. I don’t understand.”

But then, when I continued praying over the unrest that I felt reading about this cruelty over even “little sins,” I felt God whisper an answer over my heart that I both didn’t expect & that convicted my heart in how easily I justify my “little” sins, “I needed to show how wicked sin really is, the severity of it, & why Jesus needed to die for it.”

It’s not that God is this tyrannical God. It’s that we all too often WAY underestimate the wretchedness of our own sin! PRAISE GOD FOR JESUS’ LOVING SACRIFICE!

“There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 8:1)

God Sees You, God Is Near You, & God Cares for You

Do you feel He has forgotten you or is up in heaven laughing, or for whatever reason, worry you maybe can’t trust Him?

I began to believe this one as well. I thought maybe He was real, but not present. I doubted His presence & care for me personally in my life.

But God cleared this one up for me real good, as seen in the extra blog posts I tagged for you previously.

If we seek Him with all of our heart, we WILL find Him. (Deuteronomy 4:29)

That’s why variations of this little quote God put on my heart has been ringing beautifully in my heart for years now, as a reminder, “Everything God does, everything God commands, everything God allows, is ALWAYS, 100% for BOTH His glory AND my good. ALWAYS, even when I can’t yet see it, even when things stay hard, even when I don’t understand. ALWAYS.”

Don’t Let Satan Fool or Lure You Away from the ONLY Place You Will Find Lasting, REAL Hope

But maybe you’re not there yet. Maybe you can’t see it yet. Maybe the cares/hurts of this world, the “problematic” Bible verse, the opinions of others you love & respect, the lies of satan, or even your own sinful nature/drive have driven doubts about God into your heart & you just don’t know how to ever get rid of them.

Ask… it will be given. Seek… you will find. Knock… the door will be opened to you. (Luke 11:9-13; Matthew 7:7-11)

“But from there you will seek the Lord your God, and you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul.” (Deuteronomy 4:29)

“The thief [Satan] does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I [Jesus] have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. “I am the good Shepherd. The good Shepherd gives His life for the sheep.” (John 10:10-11)

The Beautiful Wrecking Ball

God may wreck your world, as He did mine. But it will be the most beautiful wrecking you could never imagine, like renovating a building by first taking a wrecking ball into it. Painful, messy, not the slightest bit enjoyable… but when it’s done, & the dust settles, & the renovation is complete… chills will cover you, awe will fill your heart, & humble, repentant PEACE will fill your every inch.

He knows what He’s doing. He knows what needs to be done, & He loves you enough to do it… like how resetting a bone may hurt, but is necessary & much better than leaving you as is.

But sometimes it starts just with a meager, uncertain, simple, whispered prayer: “LORD, I believe. Help my unbelief.”

If you’re living the whirlwind torment of doubts plaguing your life… maybe you are holding onto faith by a thread or maybe you have already walked away. God will show you the way back… if you’re willing to trust Him for the way, the truth, & the life… through Jesus Christ alone.

Shine HOPE by taking every doubt to the God Who already knows them anyway, being honest with Him about them, & by asking for His peace to know how to trust Him still, even in the doubts brought on by satan’s lies, our sinful flesh, opinions of others we care for & respect, & the hurts/cares of this world… by saying with me in those moments, “LORD, I believe. Help my unbelief.”

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 6.5 years now! THANK YOU for your continued support & encouragement. <3

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

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!!

Ardent Earrings-Golden (INDIA)

Create dignified jobs for women leaving the slums of India when you shop these elegant Ardent Earrings. Featuring a gold-tone ellipse oval shape with a freshwater pearl dangling, these lightweight earrings are classic and timeless. Perfect for everyday wear, the Ardent Earrings create lasting change for families in India.

***Purchase the beautiful golden Ardent Earrings, using the “Shop Here” link below, to help empower women in INDIA out of poverty!***

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

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

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

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!

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

Are You Living It or Just Rehearsing It?

A trend I have noticed over the past decade has brought me to an interesting topic I’d like us to discuss this week: that quoting Scripture is not the same as living Scripture.

Maybe you’re pretty good at trying to memorize God’s Word, the Bible, tucking His truth away in your heart on a regular basis—that is amazing!

We need God’s Word. In fact, the Bible says we ought to crave it as newborn babies crave milk. (If you’ve had kids, you know the desperation.) (1 Peter 2:2)

We also ought to consider God’s Word to be necessary nourishment for our soul. (Jeremiah 15:16; Matthew 4:4) Like, we will be malnourished followers of Jesus without it. I have seen this, too, because I used to think I was “just fine” without it (other than the occasional applicable, quotable verse or passage), but boy did I realize how much I had been missing when I did eventually make it a daily habit. I hadn’t even realized how spiritually malnourished I had been most of my life before that habit was installed into my daily routine.

(*Oh, & just to get this out of the way first thing, all added emphasis in verse quotes are mine.*)

Not Just Hearers, But Doers… Is Not JUST What You Think It Means…

But, in James, there is an interesting little verse there that warns us not to be just hearers (or readers) of the Bible, but also DOERS. (James 1:22)

Now, most of my life, I thought that just merely meant the general idea of obedience or loving/serving others type thing… but how often is the reality of this necessitated command also so much more subtle than that? As in, not just the “big” things, but ALL things. Let’s consider that a moment.

Do We Actually “Cast Our Cares”? Or Just Remind Ourselves We Ought To?

How often do we quote: “Cast all your cares on Him, for He cares for you,” (1 Peter 5:7) for example? That’s a GREAT verse! But, when you are struggling with many “cares,” do you simply rehearse this verse in your heart until you feel better, reminding yourself of His care for you… or do you actually DO what this verse is TELLING YOU TO DO—CASTING those cares ON HIM?

Do you rehearse the verse FIRST & THEN take a moment to prayer dump all of your cares at His feet, asking Him to help you trust He can take care of them better than you can & asking for His help in them? Do you indeed cast those cares on Him or just rehearse the verse-truth that you OUGHT to do that?

Do You Actually “Acknowledge Him in All Things”? Or Just Remind Yourself That You Ought To?

Or, here is another one I am guilty of, for sure. “Lean not on your own understanding… but in all your ways, acknowledge Him & He shall direct your steps.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)

Nice truth to quote, for sure. We need this reminder every day, don’t we? I do.

But do we take it from rehearsing the verse to LIVING this verse? Reminding yourself through it that you ought to take all you think you know to Him & say, “God, You are God. I am not. Please guide me. Give me wisdom here. Not my way, but Yours. Not my will, but Yours. In Jesus’ name, AMEN.”

Do We Lean into Him for Strength? Or Just Recite How We Ought To?

Then, the often-lacking-context verse of: “I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me,” (Philippians 4:13) which is MEANT to say that whether you have plenty or lack or whatever situation God allows you to face, He can be your strength through it. (NOT that whatever YOU want out of life YOU will get WITH His help… if you trust Jesus to give you strength—no—He is not your wish-granter. He is GOD.)

When God brings you through tough circumstances, whether it be poverty or the temptation to trust yourself in wealth, or sickness or anything, do you really trust Him to BE your strength when you have none on your own?

He Is Your Refuge & Strength & Very Present Help in Time of Need… Do You Quote It or Live It?

The Bible also says He IS our refuge & our strength, a very present help in time of need. (Psalm 46:1)

Do you quote that or live that? Do you slump into Him when you are weary & beaten… when sickness or injury has taken you down… to trust Him AS your strength, *even if* He doesn’t allow YOURS to return to you?

I struggle always wanting to pray AWAY the struggles, but sometimes the struggles remain. And I really believe that oftentimes, it’s because God wants me to remember again that He is enough even when I see I am not. Even if things DON’T get better.

Will I trust Him to truly be my refuge? To be my strength? To be my very present help in time of need? To move forward through it asking God to be my strength, knowing as I pray that He will?

Or do I just rehearse the verses that say so, in place of actively leaning into Him in it, as if it is the Truth that it actually is?

Give Thanks to God in All Circumstances… the Call to Worship… the Call to Praise… Quoted or Completed?

Or what about all the many verses that remind us of the importance of giving thanks to God? Of worshipping & praising Him? Do we recite those over & over? Or actually DO AS IT SAYS? Do we recite the verse AND THEN list out what we know we can thank Him for? Recite it & THEN actually take some time to lift Him up in worship & in praise?

“Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good;
    for His steadfast love endures forever!” (1 Chronicles 16:34)

“I will praise the Lord according to His righteousness,
And will sing praise to the name of the Lord Most High.” (Psalm 7:17)

“… in everything give thanks [to God]; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18)

“Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.” (Hebrews 13:15)

Are we actually taking time TO thank Him? TO praise Him? TO worship & adore? Quoting Scripture is not the same thing as living Scripture.

The Bible Isn’t Just Any Book

Now, if you don’t know enough verses to be able to rehearse them to yourself as the Holy Spirit brings back to mind what you have learned when you need it… that is definitely a first step. You NEED His Word—it’s a non-negotiable to prevent malnourishment.

Tuck that truth in your heart so when Satan, in all of his subtle, crafty deception tries to come at you with whacks of discouragement, betrayal, hurt, temptation, etc., that the Holy Spirit can pop in one of those verses you have studied & you can stand FIRM on the TRUTH.

It’s way too easy to be deceived for us to not be equipping ourselves with God’s Word in our heart. I know from personal experience. Jesus-believer/follower for 35 years & I STILL find myself falling for it. BE PREPARED.

God’s Word Is MORE

But don’t leave it there. Don’t stop at the knowing. Don’t even stop at obeying God on the “big” things through His Word… God’s Word is not just encouraging advice, guys. It is TRUTH.

So don’t just be content quoting it, reminding yourself of what God can do as encouragement during tough times. DO WHAT THE VERSE SAYS TO DO.

Can you think of any other examples of this? Of being quick to repeatedly rehearse a verse while never actually doing what the verse says we ought to do?

Quoting Scripture Is Not the Same Thing as Living Scripture

CAST those cares.

ACKNOWLEDGE Him.

ASK for His strength to follow Him.

TRUST Him to BE your strength when you have none.

THANK Him.

PRAISE Him.

WORSHIP Him.

Don’t just TALK about it, reminding yourself of what the Bible says to do. Actually DO what the Bible says to do.

Shine HOPE by LIVING the Word of God, even in the simple verses that are so easy & encouraging to quote that we sometimes forget to move beyond quoting it to actually LIVING it.

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 6.5 years now! THANK YOU for your continued support & encouragement. <3

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

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!!

Kairo (Lava Bead) Bracelet (DOMINICAN REPUBLIC)

Each stretch-to-fit Kairo Bracelet features a striking combination of grounding black lava beads, warm brown wooden beads, and a dainty gold accent bead at its center. The natural textures and earthy tones make it a versatile piece for any style. Pair it with the Katie Bracelet for a complete fair-trade look — both meaningful and timeless!

***Purchase this beautiful bracelet, using the “Shop Here” link below, to support a safe house in the Dominican Republic, providing education, legal services, safe housing, and trauma counseling for survivors of human trafficking. Empower women on their journey to healing and restoration!***

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

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

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

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!

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

Modern Conveniences Lead to Us Being Able to Do MORE

I sometimes think about the modern conveniences we’re so often accustomed to in the western world.

Imagine washing clothes by hand or even having to go collect water in order to wash your clothes because of no running water. Same for dishes. Or bathing. Literally everything would take so much more effort & time, even to do the simplest things.

And yet, the convenience of modern appliances, while it has made those tasks quicker & simpler, has also freed us up to take on more & do more.

In other words, our lives have continually sped up with each new convenience. Our lives haven’t gotten any less busy, just busy in a different way than before.

There Are Pros & There Are Cons…

Honestly, I think this quick-paced life has its downsides. The more technology advances, the more it seems we’re disconnected from the world going on right around us.

Yes, we have video & video-calling, which are amazing. We can text or DM someone miles away, to stay connected with loved ones far away. What a blessing! Especially for someone who has lived so far from her family for almost 13 years.

But, in all of our technology-available connections, I feel like, at least for me, it has gotten more difficult for face-to-face connections to happen.

Yonder Years

I am at the age where I remember growing up knowing all the neighbors surrounding your house. Bringing Christmas cookies to them during Christmastime & baking muffins to bring over & borrowing a cup of sugar… because, why not, we’re neighbors after all.

We spent more time outside of our house than in it. We interacted more constantly with the world going on right around us.

And I can feel the social differences nowadays. I can feel the disconnect.

How Can We Intentionally Get Back to Getting to Know Those Around Us?

I can also feel the rush around me. As if people put on their blinders, do what they set out to do, then go home. I can feel the hurry.

And the distractions are endless. The to-do lists seem endless. When do we have or make time to just sit with people? To know them?

I wouldn’t be at all surprised if this lifestyle of rush & hurry, of lacking in-person communication, is part of what drives so much anxiety & depression in society. This lack of connection with others most likely takes its toll.

We’re not as used to it, so it feels more awkward maybe.

Our Life Is on Hyperdrive… So How Can We Make Space for the Interruptions God Sends Our Way?

And then there’s the making space for one another in our lives. Are we so busy that we can’t make space for other people?

I remember in college, I was part of the student leadership team my senior year & there were plenty of times where I was behind on studying, prepping for a test or presentation, & a young lady would knock on my dorm door, asking for someone to be a shoulder for her & to pray with her.

How inconvenient with midnight fast approaching & my need to finish my work!

Where Are God’s Priorities?

But a gentle nudge got my attention, so I prayed about it in that split second of panic that had washed over me: “God, I don’t have time for this, but I want to listen to You. What do You want me to do? Honor my responsibilities & class requirements for tomorrow? Or drop it for her? What should I do, Lord?”

And every time, I got this soft, gentle whisper over my heart, as if to say, “What do you think matters more to Me? You getting a better grade? Or this hurting young woman standing in front of you?” The answer was obvious then.

Do we allow space for God to interrupt us? And I don’t mean rushing through it to fake your way through caring while you’re really tapping your foot in impatience, thinking about what you might end up missing because of this interaction… I mean, being willing to pray something similar & trust that a person hurting is more valuable to God than your to-do list?

What do you think God would say is more important to Him, if you were to ask Him?

What Can God Do?

Would you trust Him to fill in whatever you miss because of it?

Would you be willing to surrender what you think is more important for whom God deems as more important?

How is your compassion with others? What if they’re a “repeat offender” in the interruptions? How is your compassion with them then?

Do you make space for others?

Do Unto Others…

Honestly, you would think I would have been more quick to jump up & help out the young ladies who came to my door so often that year, because I am one who has experienced seasons of being even more needy than they.

I have felt the lack of space in others’ lives when I have felt great need.

I am my own object lesson & I failed to see it so often.

Is it inconvenient & sometimes uncomfortable when someone has an emotional need we may not feel we understand? Or may feel is unwarranted? Or may feel they’re too much of a repeat offender in this & should have “learned by now”? Is that uncomfortable sometimes? Yes.

Does God still care about them just the same, no matter how inconvenient or uncomfortable it is or how unwarranted it may see to you? Yes.

God Cares When No One Else Seems to Care

God cares when no one else seems to care. God cares when it’s inconvenient. God cares even when they seem to have needed to “get over it by now” & just can’t seem to be able to. God cares even when it’s uncomfortable.

We are never “too much” for God. He just keeps on caring. Long-suffering caring, if you will. Kind caring. Gentle caring. Patient caring. (1 Corinthians 13:4-7)

It’s no wonder this beautiful little verse exists in the Bible: “… for God is love.” (1 John 4:8)

He IS love. It is Who He IS.

Making Space for Others–Are We Too Disconnected?

Do we love like Him? Do we willingly take our hesitations, impatience, discomfort, schedule, & rush to Him & say, “God, I don’t have time for this. You KNOW my schedule. But what should I do?”

Because I can pretty much guarantee what He will do, IF you are WILLING to pray that way….

“What do you think I care about more? Your to-do list? Or this person?”

Are you making space for others in your life? Are we too disconnected to notice them? To take time for them? To allow them to inconvenience us in order to love them the way that God loves them, through Jesus?

How would you respond to that question? Would you be willing to pray that prayer?

Shine HOPE by seeking to really SEE the people around you every day… to connect… to make space in your rush for others who may come as an interruption… to love as God first loved us.

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 6.5 years now! THANK YOU for your continued support & encouragement. <3

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

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!!

Katie Bracelet (DOMINICAN REPUBLIC)

Each stretch-to-fit Katie Bracelet features striking black lava beads, elegant gold accent beads, and a single luminous freshwater pearl at the center. Lava beads, formed from volcanic rock, are known for their natural, earthy texture, while the freshwater pearl adds a timeless, delicate touch. Create a matching “his and hers” moment with the Kairo Bracelet — or simply pair them together for a complete fair-trade look!

***Purchase this beautifully handcrafted Katie Bracelet, using the “Shop Here” link below, to support a safe house in the Dominican Republic, providing education, legal services, safe housing, and trauma counseling for survivors of human trafficking. Empower women on their journey to healing and restoration!***

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

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

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

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!

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

God Is Deserving of My Surrender

I talk about this little intimidating word: “surrender” a lot, but it really is such a vital piece in our learning to give God the honor & glory He deserves, & in seeing that His ways really are best, even when it doesn’t feel like it or make any sense at all to us.

Okay, so God holds ultimate authority, right? Ultimate right to have a say-so. Ultimate power. Made the world & everything in it. Made you & me. Knows everything. Sees everything. Understands everything… & ALSO has perfect wisdom to know how best to fit every piece together.

I cannot claim a single one of those things for myself personally. And yet, how often do I act like I do with the way I hesitate or offer pushback to God?

Sometimes, I’m not so good at surrender.

I Want to Win…

You see, surrender implies a giving up. Surrender implies a wrestling between what you really want & giving that up.

Imagine a battle. Who surrenders? The losers… the ones who see it’s either that or complete destruction. It’s defeat.

Surrender doesn’t feel good. By its very nature, it is uncomfortable.

And it doesn’t help that we live in a culture that tells you to be the main character of your life. That’s nothing new. That IS human nature at its core. We want what WE want.

Living in a Me-First Culture

In America, we REALLY seem to sell it. Everything is about living your best life, YOLO, whatever feels right, whatever makes you look good, whatever makes you feel good, whatever gives you “main character vibes.”

Even commercials aim to capitalize on making sure you have whatever you want at your fingertips & ensuring you really want what they have to offer.

So, self-denial feels SO uncomfortable, doesn’t it? So unnatural.

And yet, it’s how we’re called to live.

God Earns Our Surrender by His Very Nature

Taking up OUR cross & following Jesus. Denying ourselves. Doing everything, whether we eat or drink even, to the glory of God…. That is what we were made for.

Because He absolutely deserves it. It is literally what we were MADE for. (1 Corinthians 10:31; Isaiah 43:7; Psalm 139:13-16; Matthew 16:24-26)

And it’s not His arrogance that demands it. It is His very nature to deserve it.

It’s like someone winning GOLD in the Olympics & them getting a medal & press coverage & ad deals, etc., & you questioning, “Why should I praise THEM versus MYSELF in this sport???” Um, because they EARNED the right to that prestige. It’s not arrogance to receive honor that is deserved.

God is not puffed up, demanding allegiance superficially. He DESERVES it. He alone EARNED it by His very nature as Almighty GOD, Ruler & Creator of Heaven & Earth.

He Is the Potter, We Are the Clay

He is the Potter. We are the clay. Who is the clay to tell the Potter how He ought to form them or use them? (Isaiah 64:8; Romans 9:20)

You can dislike it. You can scream that you don’t believe it (in your heart of hearts, you know you do, because out of His grace, He has written His law on all our hearts so that we’re without excuse). (Romans 1:20)

But it is what it is, indeed.

And despite all that, surrender is still hard for me.

I Wrestled, Even Though I Knew God Ought to Win

When we moved back to Guam, I did NOT want to come. I had a very hard & negative experience last time we lived here (not everyone or every day or in all things, but a lot of HARD happened those few years) & I thought I was PAST it. And now God was taking me BACK there. I did not want to go.

But, even then, in my wrestling with & begging of God to change His plans, I knew… I KNEW He ought to win. I just didn’t want Him to.

I would pray something like, “PLEASE don’t make me go back there! I know You ought to win with this, because You have a perfect plan & know all & are leading this… but I just don’t WANT You to win here. Please help me even WANT You to change my mind, because I can’t even pray that right now because I DON’T WANT TO GO.”

But, even there, I knew I wanted His plan over my own. Sometimes I don’t even respond THAT well—if you can really see that as responding well at all.

All My Friends Were Getting Married…

And then there’s the fact that I was single for a long time & was a romantic straight out of the womb, I believe, so THAT was hard as well. I know hindsight bias says, “Well, you can’t really complain because I am still single & you’re NOT!” But… I had no clue that it would EVER happen back THEN. I was almost THIRTY when I got married & although I know some of you are single & older than that but just hold on for this next bit….

You see, I really, really, REALLY wanted to get married. I saw my younger friends AND younger SISTER get married before I was even in a serious relationship. It was crushing.

But I had to get to a point where I was willing to lay even that down. To be willing to say, “You know what, God. Even if. Even if. Even if You never see fit to lead me to marriage, help me to trust & honor You first. Not my will, but Thine. Help me trust You over myself. Forgive me for idolizing something You are withholding. Forgive me for doubting You. Forgive me for thinking I know better than You. Forgive me for doubting You care about me because of this. Please help me to surrender this to You.”

Surrender in Sleeplessness

Then, my 2 months of sleeplessness back whenever that was. Getting TOPS about 20 hours of sleep a WEEK—for TWO MONTHS. For perspective, 7 hours a night for one week is 49 hours of sleep a week. I was dead tired ALL THE TIME. (***You can read more about that in the blog post I wrote about it: “Growing Up a Christian: A Grace-Filled Life, Chapter 23: God Is My Strength.”***)

Some nights I just prayed & accepted that God could have me sleep if He chose, so since He chose to withhold it, I knew He could help me the next day, so I just rested in that fact, even though I was getting sometimes 0 hours of rest on a given night.

Some nights, though, I took my pillow, pressed my face into it, & silent-screamed my frustration into it. I was SO TIRED & yet, I COULD NOT sleep. I knew it was a spiritual attack, because it would be the weirdest things. An itch here, a need to blow my nose there, then a dog barks right out our window, then a crick in my shoulder, then my cat starts meowing, then my arm falls asleep, then I sneeze, then my hip feels achy, then my husband starts kicking his leg in his sleep (he does this sometimes). A million & one things slapping me out of sleep, but only just as I was starting to drift off. It was maddening!

And some nights, I would leave my room, defeated, sit at the kitchen table, put my face in my hands, & just cry for like 30 minutes until I went numb & just stared into the abyss. Blank. Defeated. Exhausted. Disparaged. WEAK.

God Would Supply, If Only I Was Willing to Surrender My NEED for Control to Return to Me… & Trust HIM As My Supply Instead of Myself

And I had to come to the point where I was willing to say, “Even if, Lord, even if. BE my strength.”

You see, I learned that I held a lot of faith in feeling capable in & of myself, & through that season, I wasn’t at all. I had to rely on God alone being capable FOR me when I had nothing left in me.

And that is HARD. (If you live this every day with chronic illness or pains, I am so sorry. God is sufficient, but it doesn’t mean it won’t be challenging as all get out surrendering that pain to Him each & every day. Fall into Him.)

Surrender is a tough pill to swallow sometimes, & sometimes I’m not so good at it.

But with it comes so much blessing.

Surrender Brings SO MUCH Blessing

God encouraged me to find 3 things, just THREE things to be thankful for about Guam every day back then. That is how simply He had me begin in even WANTING to ask Him to change my mind. (So gentle, so kind, & so gracious He is!) My 3 things were the same 3 things for MONTHS: palm trees, ocean views, & cool ocean breezes. But those 3 things helped shift to finding reasons to PRAISE Him versus FEAR His plans.

God encouraged me with PEACE in my singleness that I thought a complete & just plain IMPOSSIBLE thing to EVER feel about it, through time with my aunt one long car ride. (I wanted to be married SO BADLY.)

God WAS my strength in my sleeplessness. EVERY day. In my good attitudes & my very not so great ones. Every day that I eventually surrendered to asking for His help in my lack, He SUPPLIED. He WAS my strength, even when I had none of my own. He taught me that I could trust Him to be my supply in that way, never needing to worry if I ever lost my physical strength. Even in the hard, He would be my enough.

Surrender is hard, but when it comes to God, it is 100% always worth it.

For Our Good & For His Glory–100% of the Time, ALWAYS

EVERYTHING He does or determines is ALWAYS for OUR good AND His glory. Every time. (Even when it doesn’t feel like it at all in the moment.) We can trust Him to know & see & understand what we can only presume to know.

What are you wrestling to surrender to Him right now?

What are you clinging to, determined not to let go?

What do you struggle trusting Him to take over?

Sometimes I’m Not So Good at Surrender

Will you be willing to pray for God to change your mind? Or, maybe start as I have to sometimes, with something like, “I don’t want to pray for You to change my mind, because I don’t want to change my mind… but help me to be willing to pray THAT at least. I know You ought to win, because You know better than me… I just don’t want You to win. Help me change that. Please forgive me & thank You that You always know better than me, even when I cannot see it one bit. Amen.”

***I have a section in the Resources & Recommendations tab on my website for “Prayers of Surrender.” If you are wrestling a certain area of life, please feel free to download one (or more) for free to print off (no strings attached, I promise) & help you to put into words the hurt you are feeling in your resistance to Surrender.***

Shine HOPE by letting God change your mind, letting Him have His way… even when you really want yours… trusting God is GOD & you are not & that everything He does or determines is ALWAYS for your good AND for His glory—Never one without the other.

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 6.5 years now! THANK YOU for your continued support & encouragement. <3

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

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!!

Mini Stud Set (INDIA)

DAYS OF HOPE – Limited Edition! Create safe jobs with fair wages for women in areas of extreme poverty where vulnerable women are often exploited by sweatshops, when you purchase the Mini Stud Set. This dainty stud set from India includes the Knot Studs – a pair of studs that represent a knot, and the Crystal Studs – a pair of small, faceted crystal studs set in gold-tone prongs. These studs are perfect for everyday wear or multiple piercings. These classic studs create lasting change for families in India.

***Purchase this beautiful Mini Stud Set, using the “Shop Here” link below to empower women in India out of poverty!***

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

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

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

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!

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

Running Away from What Unsettles Me

I don’t remember where I heard it recently, but someone said something like, “why do you think it’s so easy to fill our time with distractions? … Because there are things in our life that we can’t explain or fix or solve & so it unsettles us… & that unsettling is uncomfortable… so it feels easier to cover that up with comforting distractions, so we’re not left alone with those thoughts that don’t make us feel great.”

It’s true, isn’t it? At least for me.

Trusting One Minute… Forgetting the Next

Deviating for a second, it reminds me of the Israelites in Exodus 15. They go from singing a song of praise, worshipping & thanking God for His unbelievable, miraculous victory in their great rescue-against-all-odds from the Egyptians, to, in the end of the very same chapter… complaining & whining that God brought them out there to die because they hadn’t found drinkable water.

Like, I’m sorry, what? You literally just listed out all these amazing, impossible-for-human deeds that God accomplished… & instead of trusting that same God & turning to Him to ask for help finding water… they inwardly worry & grumble until it’s not so inwardly & then they’re BLAMING Moses for helping lead them to their freedom.

But don’t I do that exact same shift in my shying away from the unsettling things of my heart? When I self-soothe, numb, avoid, distract… instead of recognizing that He is the SAME God Who has done such miraculous work in my life & then saying, “Oh yeah, God, I need to be bringing this to YOU & trusting that YOU can do more with it than I know what to do with it.”

Praising God & then forgetting all He is & all He can do just a moment later.

What am I Holding That He Can More Than Handle?

What heaviness looms over me or follows me each day just simply because I’ve been trying to avoid how uncomfortable it makes me feel just thinking about it instead of going to God for help with it?

What anxiety makes me uncomfortable around every turn & keeps me walking on eggshells in life simply because I haven’t prayed about it & trusted that God has an answer & His strength to carry me through it?

What nervousness needs to be laid at His feet to trust He can fill where I can’t possibly?

What Is It for You?

Maybe it’s a failure I feel stuck in.

Maybe it’s the opinions of others I feel stuck in.

Maybe it’s a scary decision I feel paralyzed by.

Maybe it’s a step forward that makes me really super uncomfortable.

What is it for you? What do you fight to avoid? What hovers over your head no matter how hard you fight to ignore it? What festers underneath the surface? What hides behind your smile?

Why haven’t you yet handed that over to Him?

Failing Forward… Trusting Him as Enough

It doesn’t mean you’ll automatically be perfect & get it right, but it does certainly mean that you trust to leave it up to Him… to leave it in His capable hands… in His capable timing.

He made us free to be free indeed. (John 8:34-36) Don’t live as if He didn’t set you free & as if He can’t do immeasurably more than you ask or think. (Ephesians 3:14-21) We will face troubles in this world, but we can have confidence knowing He has overcome this world. (John 16:33) Jesus sacrificed much for us, not so we could live imprisoned in our own minds, but that we may see abundant life, knowing He died to show His love for us. (John 10:9-10) And if He died for us, how much more can we entrust everything else to Him? (Romans 8:31-39; Matthew 6:26, 33)

To REST in Him & trusting He has it all just fine.

Made to Crave… HIM

I have been going through the Made to Crave devotional by Lysa TerKeurst, & she says how she began praying something to upset her status quo, to challenge the fear, anxiety, & worry that kept her from stepping out of her chains & into a life that trusted God to give victory as she sought His face.

The prayer was, “God, unsettle me.”

And then, in church yesterday, our pastor talked about how we ought to seek God’s kingdom first, trusting God can handle all the things that worry us.

We don’t need to hide from God. Jesus paid it all already.

We don’t need to hide from our problems. God is fully capable.

We need to be seeking after Him & trusting Him to be fully capable of filling in the rest.

“God, Unsettle Me…”

“God, please unsettle me. Shake me out of the nooks & crannies of my life where I have chosen to hide from things that feel uncomfortable. Help me to step out & into them, knowing You go before me. I don’t need to hide because You are already there. You see. You have a plan. You can do what I cannot. You have it all figured out. You rescuing the Israelites from slavery in Egypt didn’t even depend on the Pharaoh making it easy & caving right away, but even in Your hardening of His heart, making it seem impossible & hopeless… You showed nothing is beyond Your reach or Your ability. I can trust You to rescue me out of the much smaller things I fear & avoid. You are the same God yesterday, today, & tomorrow. I can count on You. Thank You that You never give up on me. Thank You that You are so gentle & patient & kind with me, even when I hide things or avoid them rather than trusting You with them. You know better & yet You wait patiently for me to come to You. You beckon, but You never force. You forgive, but You never shame. Thank You for being so much better than me. Thank You for always being ready when I come. Thank You that I can count on You for what feels far beyond me. I love You. In Jesus’ name, AMEN.”

From Numbing Distractions to Finding Freedom

Where does God need to unsettle you?

What are you avoiding because it feels too uncomfortable to think about?

Where in your life do you need the reminder to turn from numbing distractions to finding freedom in the God Who goes before you… the God who CAN where you can’t… the God Who cares enough that sparing His Son was not an option for Him.

He gave His all so you could know Him.

So you could be forgiven of it ALL.

So you could find hope where hope was unavailable.

So you could see He loves you more than you will ever be able to wrap your head around.

What great lengths. What great love.

We can trust Him in anything that unsettles us….

So, let us all say together, “God, unsettle me,” & let us trust Him to supply.

Shine HOPE by running from those distractions into His loving arms… from numbing distractions to finding freedom.

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 6.5 years now! THANK YOU for your continued support & encouragement. <3

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

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!!

Peace Bracelet (EAST ASIA)

Help women escape brothels in East Asia when you purchase the Peace Bracelet! This blue-toned phoenix stone and hematite beaded bracelet includes the word “PEACE” for a fun, fair-trade look! Easy to dress up or down for daily wear, the Peace Bracelet is the perfect bracelet to add to your bracelet stack.

***Purchase this handcrafted bracelet, using the “Shop Here” link below to help create jobs to support sex-trafficking survivors in East Asia with safe housing, health care, trauma counseling, job skills training, and a dignified, sustainable income. ***

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

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

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

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!

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

2025 Here We Come!

Happy almost New Year! It is SO hard to believe that I am starting yet another year with you guys on this website. How am I halfway through my SIXTH year doing this? 7 come Summer! So crazy.

Well, it’s a couple days before 2025 begins & my hubs & I have spent the last week sick. What a way to end 2024, am I right? But, actually, it’s been a little bit of a blessing in disguise because it has forced me to lay low & just rest & reset instead of trying to cram my break full of activities & projects as per usual.

God has a way of knowing just what I need, even though I don’t always see it in the moment & can feel frustrated by it. In the end, I can usually look back & think, “wow, okay, God did something good through that… who knew?”

I find that a lot of things that were unpleasant & undesirable have ended up being a blessing in disguise as well.

God Can Do What Seems Impossible to Me–Bringing Good Things Out of Hard or Undesirable Situations

Even looking back to getting grounded as a kid—yes, I got in trouble sometimes—having tv restrictions ended up being a huge blessing because it prompted me to find more creative ways to stay entertained, like learning a new hobby, doing a craft, or exploring outside & getting fresh air & sunshine. Who knew!

And I think to more recently, how, when we first moved back to Guam, our temporary apartment had no hot water—cold showers in the morning anyone? For weeks? But surprisingly, the girl who ONLY did hot showers, (once I got past the initial WHOO shock of the cold), found it to actually be quite invigorating & refreshing! Now, I actually end showers by INTENTIONALLY setting it colder & colder to get that chill ON PURPOSE because I grew to love it so much. I NEVER would have tried it had I had a choice. Who knew!

Or, when the power went out for the hundredth time after our super typhoon last year & discouragement was just sort of smacking me around because it felt like returning to normal kept repeatedly slipping out of grasp with those frequent power outages, & so, I went to take a shower in the dark, using my phone flashlight as my “candle” & it made reflections of the water droplets light up all over the bathroom like a kaleidoscope. It was beautiful! And I never would have tried it otherwise. Something unexpectedly beautiful in the aftermath of destruction. Who knew!

And even in my not realizing that my current job would be requiring daily bathroom cleaning (my least favorite chore), only to have the unexpected benefit of me getting into such a rhythm with it that now home-cleaning our bathrooms really seems like no big deal. How nice! Who knew!

Or how super hard seasons can really make you soak in & really appreciate blessings & people, when you may have otherwise grown to take them for granted….

In the Hard, We Get the Chance to See the Love of Others Lived Out

And back when I had COVID in the thick of COVID times & was forced to move into isolation apart from my husband, in a room encrusted with dried vomit & dog urine in the carpet, no tv, no food or dishes, no drinking water, rooms mostly completely bare because they were condemned for eventual tear down or remodel but then became the COVID isolation towers… on my BIRTHDAY… AND Thanksgiving… for the entire MONTH of November. We had to rely completely on the generosity of others for food or dishes or toilet paper even for a MONTH—most of it separated & only the last 5 days or so together with my husband (over Thanksgiving). And we got to see our church family aka friends come to our rescue every single day, sacrificing on our behalf… with groceries, clean water, dishes, pots, pans, baking dishes & supplies… bringing me breakfast, lunch, & dinner from favorite spots for my birthday… bringing me presents of coloring books, bath bombs, puzzles, & games for my birthday… & on Thanksgiving, they all pitched in 2 meals’ worth of a full Thanksgiving FEAST, complete with a turkey table decoration. I never would have experienced such generous LOVE from my friends without going through such a miserable experience. Who knew.

God. God Knew.

God’s ways are higher than our ways (Isaiah 55:9). God knew. God sees what I don’t… what I can’t. He can DO what I can’t possibly do with the hard… in the hard… through the hard. God knows. We can trust Him to bring good things even in the undesirable & the uncomfortable & the unplanned misfortunes of life.

His goodness is not at all dependent on life “being good.” Thank God for that!

It’s so amazing how God can take the hard in our life & still show us something so beautiful despite of it or even because of it.

It can give you new perspective, new appreciation, & even a newfound sense of compassion toward others.

God really knows what He’s doing. Even in the hard.

What If There Is Something Better?

I know it’s really easy to pray the hard away. To pray for comfort & healing & to take all the struggles away. It’s easy for ME anyway! But what if there’s something better?

A video came across my feed on social media recently & it just really illuminated this point for me… what if God doesn’t answer to take the pain away right away nor replace it with comfort instead when you ask? What if there is something better?

That sometimes He may not answer the way you think you want because He knows that what you truly need is Him.

Even in the Hard

If you feel strength-less & weak… can you choose to trust Him as your strength?

If you feel tortured in your restlessness… can you choose to trust Him as your rest?

If you feel you have nothing left to give… can you choose to trust Him as your sufficiency?

If your life doesn’t “get better”… can you choose to trust Him as Good?

Can you trust that He can bring blessings… even IN the hard?

Can you trust beyond what you can see or feel to know Him as GOOD?

This new year of 2025 does not come with a promise of improvement… or “better”… or of ease, comfort, & “happiness.”

But, if you have trusted that Jesus has died for YOUR sins to make you right before God & you have repented of that sin you could never yourself pay, trusting Jesus as LORD over your life… you can count on this new year of 2025 coming with HIM… even in the hard. (Romans 3:23; Romans 5:8-10; Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 10:9-10; John 14:6)

Jesus Is the Only Way to Light in the Darkness

With peace… His peace. Peace that can exist IN the storms.

With love… His love. Love that doesn’t depend on you being lovable.

With hope… His hope. Hope that doesn’t require your efforts to make it so.

With strength… His strength. Strength that doesn’t require yours.

With rest… His rest. Rest that is born through assurance that He is GOD & you are not.

With wisdom… His wisdom. Wisdom that goes beyond your understanding.

What beautiful assurances we have going into 2025. That even in the hard, we have a God Who is GOOD!

Shine HOPE in 2025!

Shine HOPE by sharing the love we have because Jesus was born as God-in-flesh to die for the sins of man, rising again victorious over sin & death. AMEN!

“The next day, John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29) (emphasis mine)

“God sent His son, they called Him, Jesus;
He came to love, heal and forgive;
He lived and died to buy my pardon,
An empty grave is there to prove my Savior lives!

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow,
Because He lives, all fear is gone;
Because I know He holds the future,
And life is worth the living,
Just because He lives!” (lyrics from “Because He Lives” by Bill & Gloria Gaither)

“These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

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 6.5 years now! THANK YOU for your continued support & encouragement. <3

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

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!!

Rescued Heart Necklace-Golden (INDIA & DOMINICAN REPUBLIC)

DAYS OF HOPE – Limited Edition! Create hope for young girls rescued from human trafficking in the Dominican Republic when you purchase the Rescued Heart Necklace. The United Nations ranks the DR as having the third-fastest growing human trafficking industry in the world. Every purchase of the Rescued Heart Necklace not only supports the artisans through the sales of their pieces, but ALSO gives $5 to Batey Rehab Project in the DR, an organization dedicated to rescuing and providing holistic care to each survivor in their care. 

*****Purchase this handcrafted necklace, using the “Shop Here” link below, to help provide safe jobs with fair wages in areas of extreme poverty where vulnerable women are often exploited by sweatshops.*****

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

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

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

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!

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

How Rude

People can be so rude sometimes, can’t they? And it can really be so annoying.

Sometimes they even do it on PURPOSE because they want to “stir up stuff” & “make things interesting.” (And sometimes I feel like throat-punching those people for it when I see them enjoying the pain they cause.) Doesn’t happen often, but when it does… oof… LORD help me.

Sometimes people are reckless, careless, thoughtless, distracted, oblivious, rude, unkind, uncaring, etc.

And sometimes I don’t feel very loving in return, when those scenarios present themselves to me.

But, God calls us to something impossible…. To love them. To pray for them. To SERVE them. To not retaliate, (even when our comeback is so good it is SURE to slap them back into their place). (Matthew 5:44; Luke 6:27-36; 1 Peter 3:9; Romans 12:19)

And This Is REALLY Good News

The good news is, He doesn’t expect that to come naturally to us. He doesn’t expect us to just jump up & say, “time to love them!” He knows more than anyone how hard it is for us to love someone like that, in our humanly fleshly-ness. And we can KNOW we don’t need to try on our own because there’s absolutely nothing we can add to what Jesus gave.

The good news is… He will HELP us to respond rightly—IF we’re willing to submit to His help versus, “Let me handle this, God!”

I don’t know about you, but the “Let me handle this, God!” feeling comes pretty easily for me & I have to be careful to bow that down & instead say, “Okay, You handle this… because if I do it, I know I won’t handle it in a way that You’d like. Lord, please help me.”

So, first step is knowing He can/will help if we submit our way bowed for His help in its place….

Care More About the Person Than the Hurt

Second is something so hard to do sometimes—caring more about the person than the hurt they may have caused you… in other words—loving them the way that Jesus loved us when He silently, willingly condescended Himself on the cross for OUR sins. (Isaiah 53–it is SO hard for me to read this chapter without crying & the prison ministry ladies got to witness this firsthand in my recent lesson about God’s JUSTICE.)

He had full right to leave us to our deserved destination—Hell.

He had full right to say, “well, that’s on them… I told them not to eat of the tree, they did it anyway… I told them right from wrong, they did wrong anyway… I told them how to get clean through sacrificial offerings, they did wrong anyway. That is on them.”

But He didn’t do that, did He? He didn’t say that, did He?

NO—He sent His only Son, Jesus Christ, to die in our place. To SUFFER & die in our place. So that if we trust on HIS sacrifice on OUR behalf, we have the right to Heaven—not even based on our own merit or deserving, but HIS! (John 1:12; Isaiah 53; Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 3:23; Romans 5:8; John 3:16-17)

Don’t ever try to justify or minimize your wrongs. Don’t try to act like you didn’t need much, just a little push. You were WRETCHED in your sin. HOPELESS. Helpless. You could never pay your debt, or even HOPE to.

So HE paid it.

FOR you.

Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow

He left HIS throne in Heaven.

Left HIS impenetrable body for an earthly, fleshy one.

Left HIS Kingdom for a world that despised & rejected Him & did not treat Him with the reverence & humble respect He deserved as the One Who MADE us & this WORLD.

For YOU.

You know, a funny thing happens the longer you’re a Christian (aka Christ-follower)—you become even more humbled by a greater perspective of how undeserving you really are of what Jesus gave for you.

It’s like, early on, it’s easier to sort of justify or sugarcoat with your “good or innocent” intentions. But the longer you follow & submit to Him, the more it becomes visible how completely despicable you really actually are.

I think because you see Him show up for you & remain faithful to you over & over & over again, while you simultaneously see yourself mess it all up over & over & over again.

And yet, the reality of the grace of the cross becomes richer & sweeter & more appreciated each time.

It’s truly so incredibly humbling. The love you feel from Him becomes more obvious & so much more real to you the longer you live submitted to Him.

That Is How We Are to Love Other People in Their Undeserving

I don’t deserve… He gave Himself anyway.

And that is the way we are to love other people. To care more about the person than the hurt.

To realize Jesus paid for them, too. And it was wretched & it was truly awful what they did—but Jesus paid for it, too.

This doesn’t mean you plaster on a fake smile, stuff down your wrath, & PRETEND.

This means admitting ALL the hurt to God, just dumping it all out on Him (He can more than handle whatever you’ve got), cry, bang your fists on the wall, in private, if you need to (just make sure to direct the fists AWAY from the person’s face). But lay it down to Him & say to God something like:

“God, why did they DO that?!? I want to hurt them back! I want them to feel what I feel! I want them to feel sorry & apologize & right their wrong! It hurt so BAD & I am SO angry!!!! But God, please keep me from dishonoring You with my response. Help me to trust You over myself with this because I just want to take care of it how I feel is best, but I know I can’t trust myself to do that without sinning against You in the process, so please give me the grace beyond myself to love them the way that You do, to be an extension of the love You have for them. Empower me to love them on Your behalf & to represent Your grace through Jesus Christ to them—to care more about the person than the hurt. In Jesus’ name, AMEN.”

Let GOD Love Them through You

Loving like Jesus is impossible—because we’re not God-in-flesh.

But the good news is that the Holy Spirit in us, for those who have trusted on Jesus for their sin before God, abides in us & will give us the inner strength, the words, & the grace to respond in a way that honors & pleases God versus satisfying our rightful wrath—IF we’re willing to submit to that help.

The offender may indeed, for sure deserve our wrath… but God calls us to trust the wrath to God & to let Him love them through us, with His help.

It’s not natural & it sure is not easy.

But don’t worry—God doesn’t expect it to come naturally for us—that’s why HE is our supply—if we let Him be in that moment.

So, shine HOPE by learning to care more about the person than the hurt, by submitting your hurts to God for His help in your response, & by thus loving others in the same way that God demonstrated His own love toward us, through JESUS CHRIST His Son.

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 6.5 years now! THANK YOU for your continued support & encouragement. <3

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

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!!

Cozy Cottage Ornament (NEPAL)

HOLIDAY EDITION – While supplies last! Create safe jobs with fair wages for the women in Nepal who handcraft the Cozy Cottage Ornament through this dignified partnership. Display this darling ornament with intricate details on your Christmas Tree along with all your favorite holiday décor! This ornament features a slit pocket on the back, a convenient way to fit gift cards!

***Purchase this cute handmade ornament, using the “Shop Here” link below, & invest in the lives of women in Nepal for a brighter tomorrow.***

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

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

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

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!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Amazing, isn’t it? I think so.

Nothing Can Stop God’s Plans

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Interview That Forever Reset My Perception of Qualifications

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

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

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

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

His Sovereignty Is Sufficient in ALL THINGS

God calls the WILLING. And HE equips them.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

I didn’t feel up to the task.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

God’s Sovereignty–We Can’t Ruin Anything

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

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

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

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

Coming Next Week

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 6.5 years now! THANK YOU for your continued support & encouragement. <3

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

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!!

Ebony Suede Clutch (INDIA)

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

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

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

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

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

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!

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

But Is It Enough?

This is a concept I really didn’t understand for most of my life. Having believed on Jesus to pay for my sins since I was 5, I spent most of my life thinking I needed to somehow earn what Jesus did for me—not to save me, but to maybe deserve it or prove I appreciated it enough maybe?

There was a LOT of self-effort & willpower battles to try to force myself into submission to God’s will & way. It was exhausting… I felt like a constant failure at it… & I lived with a lot of shame because I never felt I could quite get it right.

But ever since reading Andrew Murray’s book on Prayer, (linked in the “Recommended by Michelle” BOOKS section of my website), my whole perspective of a life lived well for God has flipped on its head.

1) I Will Never be “Good Enough,” 2) Jesus Paid for That in Full, & 3) God Promises to HELP Me Live for Him

Now I understand the reality three-fold. One, I will never be good enough & I will never measure up & I will never get it right all the time… AND Jesus paid for all of that.

But even more importantly, I learned that God WILL HELP me to live for Him if I but SURRENDER to that help over my own self-efforts & failures.

What a GAME CHANGER! What a LIFE changer!

No longer do I have to live in guilt that I am “not doing it well enough” because it is not at all up to me anyway! I can bow all of my insufficiencies to Him Who MADE me & let His help fill in my gaps instead.

How much PEACE this has brought to my life… How much VICTORY.

All It Takes Is a Willing & Surrendered Heart

Do you realize that if you have trusted on Jesus’ death on the cross & rising again victorious over sin & death (Read more about that, in my previous post: “Have You Met Jesus?”), you don’t have to live for God by your own self-efforts?

All. It. Takes. Is. A. Willing. And. Surrendered-to-Him. Heart.

That is IT.

No more do you have to walk in shame of, “Oh, I have tried SO many times to have quiet time with God & it never works out.”

Never again do you have to live in defeat of, “Oh, I WANT to study His Word & read the Bible, but I always [have a headache, can’t concentrate, get distracted, get bored, etc.].”

You don’t have to give up & say, “I want to serve/give, but I don’t feel I have the means/time to do it.”

If you really do have a willing heart, you also have the GOD ALMIGHTY right there, making His raised-Jesus-from-the-dead POWER available to you!

Your Willingness as Your Offering to Him

You literally just have to take your empty hands full of ONLY willingness, offer it up to Him, & say, “God, please give me what I need to do this thing for You, so I may please & honor You. Supply where I lack.” –And TRUST Him to do JUST THAT.

Do you believe He CAN help you?

Do you believe He has enough POWER to help you?

Do you believe it is really something that HONORS & PLEASES Him?

THEN TRUST HE WILL SUPPLY WHERE YOU FALL SHORT.

Stop living in, “I want to, BUT ______________” mentality & start living in, “I want to, SO, God, this is where I feel insufficient or am struggling, so please help cover that so I may do this thing to please & honor You.”

Less Try, More Trust–Self-Effort Vs. Surrendered to Assured Victory

Abraham was full ready to sacrifice his son Isaac because he trusted God WOULD supply (Genesis 22:1-19)… it even says in another chapter that he understood that even if God had him go through with it, God could raise Isaac from the dead (Hebrews 11:17-19), so his trust in God was SOLID regardless of the outcome!

Is yours?

Do you trust Him to supply? Do you believe in less try, more trust? Do you truly believe you need less self-effort & more surrender to His assured victory to do what you feel you can’t?

Are you using it as an excuse not to try because it seems too impossible, too stress-inducing, too much time required, etc.? Or is it really only because you never thought to ask God to fill in where you lack?

What excuses are you maybe using? Where is Satan convincing you not to try because it seems too hard for you to reasonably accomplish?

Shine HOPE by laying down your willingness at the feet of God, asking for His power to cover & fill where you fall short. And trust He will do just that. And KEEP trusting each time you struggle versus giving up with the slightest resistance. Because He CAN. And He WILL.

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 6.5 years now! THANK YOU for your continued support & encouragement. <3

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

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!!

Kitchen Gift Set (NEPAL + INDIA)

While Supplies Last! Shop to save over $50 on this stunning gift set perfect for the homebody in your life!  

Purchase this artisanal gift set that creates safe jobs for women in India and Nepal. The Kitchen Gift Set pairs the Capri Utensil Set, Villa Spoon Rest, and Sicilian Grove Tea Towel to create a fun fair-trade look perfect for gifting or styling yourself!

(***Purchase this handcrafted set, using the “Shop Here” link below to empower women in Nepal & India out of poverty!***)

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

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

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

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!

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

God, Where Do You Want Me to Serve?

Last year, I prayed over where God wanted me to plug in & serve at our church. I remember the wise words of a former Sunday morning class teacher, who said that it’s sometimes a good idea to serve somewhere completely out of your comfort zone, because it forces you to rely on God’s leading & help instead of your own confidence, comfort, &/or expertise. Stretch your faith a little.

So, I try to make a habit of praying where God wants me to serve instead of only focusing on those things I love to do—ie. leading ladies’ Bible studies, accountability, discipleship & such.

Well, God’s answer came as a little bit of surprise to me—PRISON MINISTRY.

How WilI Relate to Them?

I know that the Bible talks about remembering prisoners as if in chains with them. (Hebrews 13:3) (Which is a verse our guest speaker at church this morning actually referenced!) And, while I believe this specific verse is maybe referencing fellow Christians who may have been imprisoned for their faith… I think the Bible makes it clear enough throughout that we’re supposed to be generous in our love toward others, even those we feel may not deserve it.

But to me, it seemed a little intimidating as the “unknowns” of going into a prison were daunting.

How could I possibly relate to them? How would I know what to say? What if they asked something I didn’t know how to answer? Was it scary there? Would I be in danger?

I think especially as a woman, we’re often taught a sometimes more than healthy fear of danger from childhood—”Keep a key between 2 fingers in case someone tries to attack,” “Check the back seat before getting in your car,” “Pretend you’re on the phone if you think someone is creeping on you….” “Don’t talk to strangers.” You get the idea.

Without much consideration, I developed a fear of people different than me… especially if they were of the criminal variety.

Would I Have Done Differently?

But, one Sunday, the story of the “good Samaritan” was presented (Luke 10:25-37), & in the mentioning of the religious person moving to the other side of the road upon seeing the bloodied & beaten-up man on the side of the road who had been robbed & left for dead… I couldn’t say I would react any differently. See danger… avoid danger.

But that man was left for dead. He needed HELP. He needed someone to have the courage-through-their-fear to see him & help him.

And I probably would not have. “Don’t talk to strangers.” “What if the robbers are nearby still?” “What if this man was the attacker who got “what he deserved” & would come for me if I tried to help him?”

But then, that Samaritan man, a man whose culture screamed to avoid those of the beaten man’s culture, crossed the cultural barrier taboo & just saw a man hurting & in need of HELP. So, he HELPED.

An “us versus them” scenario & instead that generous & kind man looked past all that to seeing someone just needing HELP... so he HELPED.

Only One Thing Separates Us… Only One… & His Name Is JESUS

And back to prison ministry… “us versus them”? Criminals versus non-criminals? Stay away from “those” people?

But what is it that separates us from “those” people? Me from “them”?

Jesus.

That’s it. Jesus. That is the only thing separating us.

I heard from a pastor years ago that without Jesus, we are all just as prone to the worst of sins as anyone else.

Think of so many of the revered men of the Bible with many wives, disobeying God’s one-man, one-woman command. Think of David not only sleeping with another man’s wife, but ALSO having her husband killed when the man was too honorable to sleep with his wife while his comrades were still on the battlefield… aka David’s planned coverup scheme failed (2 Samuel 11-12). Think of Rebecca tricking her husband so her preferred son could get his father’s family blessing instead of his brother (Genesis 27). Think of Paul not giving John Mark another chance when Barnabas suggested it, even though it was because of Barnabas’ suggestion that gave PAUL a second chance (Acts 15:37-39; Acts 9:26-27).

We are ALL just as prone to wander, to sin, to think we can do it our way or find a loophole or justify it… to be “them.” Because, when we take our eyes off Jesus, we are just as human as “they” are.

There is no us versus them. We are all sinful flesh in need of our Savior—Jesus Christ.

We’re All Just People in Need of Jesus

And God was convicting my heart of this illusion I had developed. He was calling me to see them as just as much people as anyone else–people in need of Jesus.

So, I joined prison ministry. I’ve been doing it for a little over a year now. And I’m glad I did.

Are there some ladies who join us that seem to maybe consider it their penance to somehow just alleviate their guilt? Sure.

Are there some ladies who might think as long as they say “sorry,” they’re “all good”? Yes, probably.

But are there some who seem to GET it? Who come & soak it up? Who cry because they relate to the song of brokenness we may sing, lifting up that there is hope when we come to Jesus? Who have accepted & believed on Jesus & are now using their sentence to draw closer to Him, as if in incubation before release, trying to learn as much as they can & sharing it with their families when they get visits? YES.

God is at WORK.

And I am not saying I can judge each heart rightly, & it’s not my job to do so. My job is to be faithful to the task, to seek to honor & please God… to sow the seeds & let God handle the rest.

Where Can God Stretch You?

Where can you get involved that feels out of YOUR comfort zone… an area God can use to stretch your faith, to draw ever nearer to Him & lean further away from reliance on yourself?

Maybe prison ministry? Nursing homes to read poetry or Scripture or play board games? Visitation at hospitals to paint nails or bring balloons or something to bring cheer? Writing a prayer for a widow & sending it to her? Baby-sitting for a young couple or single mom?

Where can you show the love of Jesus to someone hurting for it? Hurting for hope….

Each Thursday, I join a group of college girls & several other adult women & we sign in, walk to the gate, are let in, have our stuff inspected with a simple pat-down, assembly-line hug each of the ladies who show up greeting them with a smile & a  “hello, thank you for coming, so good to see you,” have someone pray, sing some worship songs, & then someone leads us in a lesson—we sometimes end it by breaking up into small groups & praying together.

It’s not as intimidating as it feels at first. And God supplies where it is.

Spiritual Warfare & How God Helps Us March Onward

And, I would like to also add that doing prison ministry & breaking the “us versus them” barrier WILL bring spiritual warfare. I spent my first maybe SIX MONTHS feeling extremely tired, stressed, &/or just an overall “I just want to go home & be in pjs—I don’t WANT to GO…!” But would always go anyway & never ONCE regretted it.

Then… I started being proactive in praying for my will to change & for resistance to lessen… & repenting of my bad attitude… & God helped with just that! Now I hardly ever feel resistance to going. It’s always a blessing.

God is at WORK.

Us Vs. Them? What I’ve Learned in Prison Ministry

So, I ask again—where can you serve… even including those areas you don’t think you would at all be good at or enjoy? Letting GOD pick….

Shine HOPE by erasing the “us versus them” mentality, seeing everyone different from us as a fellow person whom Jesus died to save… as a person who needs Jesus just as much as you do.

And please… remember to pray for me, as I have the honor of leading the lessons at prison ministry over the next couple coming months–& we will be covering the topic of God’s character trait of JUSTICE–Right words, open hearts, lives changed for God’s glory. Amen!

Coming Next Week

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

A Note from Michelle:

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Fashion as a Force for GOOD:

Each week, I feature an item that is changing lives for women around the world. These hand-crafted pieces are offering job creation opportunities for women artisans in impoverished nations all around the world! Consider these pieces when shopping for friends, family, or yourself. Check out this week’s featured beauty!!

November 2024 “Hope Mail” Set (NEPAL & INDIA)

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Enjoy free shipping on your November Hope Mail package that includes the exclusive Gingerbread Ornament, Merriment Bracelet from India and the Present Sticker!

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