Come What May, No Matter How Dark This World May Feel
Especially in my last season struggling through depression, in my 20s, I really couldn’t ever want to imagine having kids because of how dark this world could be, & how things like seasons of depression could feel so incredibly dark for seemingly no reason at all.
I felt fear at the thought, because “how could I bring my child into a world of so much suffering & darkness.”
But since then, God has been able to begin shifting my perspective over time.
It is true that God has not provided us with children, & honestly, that I would be more terrified of the idea of having children but for completely different reasons—namely my 40-something age, bad hip/back, & lack of energy that I once enjoyed 10-20 years ago….
But I also know that God would help me if that were to happen & that He would subsequently teach me a deeper reliance upon Him that would deepen my faith in Him & would end up being a great sanctifying tool for my good & His glory.
No longer, though, is that fear based on the evil of this world, though.
Because He Lives, I Can Face Tomorrow!
Because, as dark as this world may seem at any given time, with our sin more prevalently showing…. I know Who is REALLY in charge, Who holds absolute control & whose plans cannot be thwarted despite how hard it may get.
God is still on His throne. God will still have the final say. God will still use it for our good & His glory as we submit each hardship under Him.
We don’t have to be afraid of whatever may come.
And that gives me something to praise Him for.
He is in control. He is on His throne. AMEN. Praise GOD!
Shine HOPE by not living in fear of the darkness in this world, but rather by lifting your eyes to heaven, praising God that He is still on His throne & He can still use whatever may come for our Good AND His glory! Praise Him!!
“Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31)
(*TUNE IN to watch this week’s LIVE STREAM (Episode 22) on my NEW YouTube Channel!! @: https://www.youtube.com/@MichelleHydeOnline (*Tuesdays @6pm EST/Wednesdays @8am GUAM*) OR come back here to watch it once it has been uploaded!)
Coming Next Week
Join me every Monday morning, EST, for more encouragement right here on my blog/website @ www.MichelleHydeOnline.com.
Share with friends & family… & SUBSCRIBE by “Joining My Tribe,” so you never miss a week!
As God grows me, may it encourage you to seek Him & know Him & love Him more every day.
A Note from Michelle:
(***Check out my FREE Journal Printable Resources: “Accountability Partner Guide + Question Prompts” & “Bible Study Question Prompts,” as well as “Prayers of Surrender” prayer guides!***)
This blog/website has been running for EIGHT years now! THANK YOU for your continued support & encouragement. <3
If you would like to learn more of my story, check out the “About Me” tab. And if you would like to hear how I found my lasting source of HOPE, read the “Hope Is Found” tab, on this site. I hope they are an encouragement to you! <3
Also, make sure to “Join My Tribe” by adding your email to the top bar & clicking “Join My Tribe”. This gains you access to an extra weekly dose of encouragement from me in your inbox (make sure to check your other inbox folders), along with the link to each week’s new post! I can’t wait to do this journey together!!
Fashion as a Force for GOOD:
Each week, I feature an item that is changing lives for women around the world. These hand-crafted pieces are offering job creation opportunities for women artisans in impoverished nations all around the world!Consider these pieces when shopping for friends, family, or yourself. Check out this week’s featured beauty!!
Conch Brooch, Handcrafted & Empowering Women in India Out of Poverty!!
(Shown: Conch Brooch, handcrafted in India & empowering women out of poverty!!)
When you purchase the Conch Brooch you create safe jobs with fair wages in areas of extreme poverty where vulnerable women are often exploited by sweatshops.
This adorable pin shows off the craftsmanship of our talented artisan partners in India! Each bead is hand-sewn onto the pin to create this conch image. This is the perfect addition to any blazer, coat, or canvas bag to instantly give you a unique look!
***SHOP Here, OR, Email me at michellehyde.tradesofhope@gmail.com with any questions, & I will message you personally with more information!! Thank you for inspiring HOPE around the world, Lovely!***
How Can You Help Artisans around the World AND Help Support MichelleHydeOnline.com?
#1 is PRAY. Financial help is great & helps pay my website fees & helps support these women artisans… but God’s help is always needed most… both for encouragement & for spiritual hope, through Jesus, for the women we support through our ethical fashion purchases. Always PRAY first.
Your purchases not only help these women, but my commissions help me in continuing this website/blog, encouraging women all around the world with the HOPE we have in Jesus. Win-win-win!
Have a wonderful week living for His glory in all that you do!
Well, here we are on the other side of the storm. The winds have subsided. The rain has slowed. The sunshine is coming out… for some, earlier than they would hope(hot sunshine is not your welcomed friend when you don’t have access to A/C).
Last week, Guam (where we currently live) was swept over alongside a category 5 typhoon—Typhoon Sinlaku. God spared our little island, answering our cries for help by turning it away from us, but the sides of such a large & destructive typhoon is still quite destructive.
Many trees were ripped out of the ground. Some plants were stripped bare. Large trees snapped in half. Massive amounts of sand were washed over our main road. Flooding of homes happened (including our laundry room, which was fortunately recessed with a drain, making much to clean up, but gratefully not any lasting damage).
Some lost water to their homes. Most lost power. Wet flood towels struggle drying & smell up the house. Fridges begin to smell like a city dump. Trash couldn’t be taken anywhere. Laundry couldn’t be done.
Eating out of cans. Or granola bars… anything from the pantry.
Glimmers
But restaurants have begun to open. Some homes have countertop gas stoves they can use to cook. Clean-up efforts began. Gasoline supplies are sufficient. Power crews are working inhuman amounts of hours. Water crews are working to restore well water reserves. Stores are now mostly open. Kids are going back to school today in some schools, while some may not get to return to school at all based on the massive damage. Everyone is doing all they can to restore normalcy to our island home.
We spent the afternoon the other day with me just using the push broom to sweep off all the buildup of mushy mud & leaves from our driveway (it was like walking through a shallow swamp to get to our cars).
My husband climbed the ladder to our flat roof to clear the drains so our rooftop “swimming pool” could drain.
Then he cleared broken branches, massive palm fronds, & small fallen trees from the yard.
Little by little. Step by step.
Normalcy Rebuilds Slowly
Now, after 5.5 days, we finally got our power back!(Much improved from our 2 months without after our last super typhoon!)
Dishes that had merely been rinsed got washed. All mildewy cleaning towels from the flooding got washed with a large splash of vinegar. Floors got mopped. Fridge got cleaned. A/C is ON.
The foul smells are reducing. The fresh (COOL) air in our home is returning.And we can finally drink cold water at home again!
No, living through a major typhoon is not fun, but I will say that God gave me so much grace through this one.And now we watch as the island rebuilds step by step, little by little.
This Time, I Knew Better What to Expect, & I Prayed Up
When Typhoon Mawar hit us 2 years ago (our 1st of 2 super typhoons to come to Guam in 2 years), I was so ill-prepared. Mainly emotionally ill-prepared.
I had been through SO MANY typhoons, it had begun to feel like, “yeah, yeah, here comes another one.”Except it was NOT “just another one.” It was MASSIVE & DESTRUCTIVE like nothing I thought possible. And it lasted for what felt like FOREVER. And the aftermath was JARRING.
But with this one, I knew how bad it COULD get. I was ready for the worst. I prayed up. I asked others to pray diligently on our behalf as well. (Thank you SO MUCH if you were one of them!!!)
I believe it’s one reason why God allows struggles… it shows us that God is capable of getting us through ANYTHING, even when we have NOTHING… it gives us courage to turn to Him in any future struggle, knowing just how capable He is in the midst of any struggle we may face!
When I Did Feel Afraid… God Encouraged Me to Sing Praises to Him…
And when fear of feeling trapped indoors… of the heat & stuffy prison cell of a house it could become… of what we could lose… of no cool water to drink when I get parched & HOT… no refreshment…. When fear began to wriggle into my heart, I would PRAY.
And most times, when I obeyed & prayed, God encouraged my heart to sing praises to Him… so I did.
And as I sang, sometimes silently in my heart, the fear began to recede, replaced with peace.God was still in control.
Little by little. Step by step. That’s all that was needed from me. God was still in control.
God Hears Us… God Cares for Us
And after the worst had passed, when I was feeling discouraged by our dry/room temperature food… I found myself complaining about it. “How long is THIS going to be reality? How much of this do I have to endure with no options to eat anything else? How long will I have to eat this?!”I felt a little conviction upon my heart in the way of being reminded of the Israelites complaining during THEIR hard journey.
And God gently reminded me of the realization that He has previously taught me… that maybe, if instead of complaining about all they didn’t have… that they actually stopped & asked God to provide… maybe they would have gotten what they complained so hard about.After all, God had already gone above & beyond for them! What’s some meat to Him?!
So, I apologized for complaining vs trusting His care for me… & I prayed for it. I said, “God, I don’t know how this would ever be possible, but if in any way it is, could I please have a warm meal & a drink with ice in it? I am feeling really discouraged. If not, help me trust You through it.”
And guess what? That afternoon, my husband decided we needed to go in search of bags of ice to preserve our food as best as possible in our fridge… so on our search, we noticed the sign for Denny’s was lit… that there was a line to get seated… & before I knew it… we were seated inside with a warm meal & icy cold ice water.
Oh, what a kind God we serve!
After the Storm… When the Dust Settles… Praise GOD!
He saw me through this storm with grace to face each moment, even when my fear slipped in, He gently would remind me to stop & sing praises, & then the fear would melt away, replaced with more grace to face the next moment ahead.
He was sufficient.He cared for me. He reminded me I am not in control & that that is okay… because He IS. He reminded me to lean into Him, to trust His provision & care. He protected us.
Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow!
So, in follow up to last week’s post: “Where I Find Hope When Facing a Typhoon–Outside or in My Heart,” He provided. He cared for my heart. He gave me the grace to face each moment that I surrendered to Him.He reminded me to rely on Him rather than myself or anything I could or couldn’t control.He allowed me a chance to show others the HOPE He can provide if they put their faith in Him. He will work this for my good AND for His glory, because He is a good God.
He can be counted on. Put your hope on Him.
Shine HOPE by turning to Him through the storms in your life… & by letting Him shine HIS HOPE through YOUR LIFE.
“Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31)
(*TUNE IN to watch this week’s LIVE STREAM (Episode 15) on my NEW YouTube Channel!! @: https://www.youtube.com/@MichelleHydeOnline (*Tuesdays @6pm EST/Wednesdays @8am GUAM*)
Coming Next Week
Join me every Monday morning, EST, for more encouragement right here on my blog/website @ www.MichelleHydeOnline.com.
Share with friends & family… & SUBSCRIBE by “Joining My Tribe,” so you never miss a week!
As God grows me, may it encourage you to seek Him & know Him & love Him more every day.
A Note from Michelle:
(***Check out my FREE Journal Printable Resources: “Accountability Partner Guide + Question Prompts” & “Bible Study Question Prompts,” as well as “Prayers of Surrender” prayer guides!***)
This blog/website has been running for 7.5 years now! THANK YOU for your continued support & encouragement. <3
If you would like to learn more of my story, check out the “About Me” tab. And if you would like to hear how I found my lasting source of HOPE, read the “Hope Is Found” tab, on this site. I hope they are an encouragement to you! <3
Also, make sure to “Join My Tribe” by adding your email to the top bar & clicking “Join My Tribe”. This gains you access to an extra weekly dose of encouragement from me in your inbox (make sure to check your other inbox folders), along with the link to each week’s new post! I can’t wait to do this journey together!!
Fashion as a Force for GOOD:
Each week, I feature an item that is changing lives for women around the world. These hand-crafted pieces are offering job creation opportunities for women artisans in impoverished nations all around the world!Consider these pieces when shopping for friends, family, or yourself. Check out this week’s featured beauty!!
Lady Slipper Necklace-Golden (silver also available), Handcrafted in India!
(Shown: Lady Slipper Necklace-Golden, handcrafted in India. Purchase to empower women out of poverty in India!)
Create safe jobs for women in India when you shop the Lady Slipper Necklace, a stunning necklace composed of mauve crystal beads with a gold pendant featuring a botanical design and rose quartz stone. This elegant necklace is dainty and perfect to style for daily wear.
Every purchase creates safe jobs with fair wages in areas of extreme poverty.
***SHOP Here, OR, Email me at michellehyde.tradesofhope@gmail.com with any questions, & I will message you personally with more information!! Thank you for inspiring HOPE around the world, Lovely!***
How Can You Help Artisans around the World AND Help Support MichelleHydeOnline.com?
#1 is PRAY. Financial help is great & helps pay my website fees & helps support these women artisans… but God’s help is always needed most… both for encouragement & for spiritual hope, through Jesus, for the women we support through our ethical fashion purchases. Always PRAY first.
Your purchases not only help these women, but my commissions help me in continuing this website/blog, encouraging women all around the world with the HOPE we have in Jesus. Win-win-win!
Have a wonderful week living for His glory in all that you do!
I don’t think most people could say they enjoy struggles or pain… devastation. But yet, we all face it in some form, at some point in our lives… whether we like it or not.
The past week or so, we have been prepping for a typhoon. We live on Guam, so this is not too uncommon for us, but having just survived a super typhoon merely a couple years ago, there is a little added unease understandably surrounding this one.
I can’t say I enjoy them in any form, even the “lighter” ones. The howling winds outside, debris crashing into your windows & the sides of your house. Palm trees tilted almost horizontal to the ground, bending from the intense force of strong winds. Flooding, water gushing from under your front door (& even the windows if the winds are blowing the rain hard enough their way). Dark skies. Uncertainties. Unrest.
Not a good time. Sometimes you lose water or power, have spoiled food, no lights when you’re tired of the darkness, hot humidity in a home with little air circulation. No A/C when it’s always summer heat outside. No cold water to drink to refresh yourself.
Will food run out? Will clean water run out? Will gasoline run out?
It’s hard to tell. You unfortunately cannot predict or prepare for every scenario.
It’s Hard to Look At
In thinking about all of this, it can be easy to let the threat of the typhoon outside become a typhoon inside your heart as well.(& sometimes you don’t even need an actual typhoon for your life to feel like one.)
For me, as scary as the typhoon can be (when they’re really bad ones, like a couple years ago),the aftermath pain is what scares me most.
Seeing the complete devastation, with trees ripped up, plants bare of green & color, destruction to houses & power lines, lack of power &/or water sources. Seeing the hurt all around you can feel completely overwhelming, like your brain cannot quite come to terms with how much loss you see absolutely everywhere you look.
So, what is our HOPE in something like this? When discomfort & destruction are all that surround you?
The Typhoon That Sometimes Rages through My Heart
I think of my struggle with depression throughout my lifetime. How I used to pray the same thing to God, wondering how He could possibly love me so much while allowing so much pain & heaviness to reside permanently in my heart during some seasons… no explanation, nothing to “fix,” just pain all the time with seemingly no explanation for it.
His answer surprised me when it finally came,“Think of all those who go to church on Sundays & pray before a meal & that’s all they ever experience of Me… they go through their whole lives oblivious of all that I Am & can be for them if they allow Me to be Lord over the entirety of their lives… but you, you have not been awarded that so-called luxury. You have been forced over & over & OVER again into recognizing the very real reality that you cannot indeed live your life on your own… that you NEED Me.”
Everything came into focus that day.How all of that agony & pain was not for nothing… not an ounce of it was ever wasted. It drew me nearer & nearer to my Savior. It forced me to recognize my need of Him vs lulled into believing I could live life my way, by my own strength &/or wisdom. By my own power.
We’re Not the Ones in Control after All
The typhoon is similar. It’s scary. It will probably destroy a lot. It will not be fun. The aftermath will be even harder… but it will be a reminder….
We are not the ones in control—HE IS.
May it draw others into the arms of Jesus, too, to see where all their needs are met. To see Who holds the power… Who holds the HOPE.
And beyond that, come what may, in whatever pain I may face, outside the walls of my home, or within the walls of my heart… may it be a beacon of hope for others.
That my hope does not rest in me. It does not rest in the storm quieting. It does not rest in wishing for little-to-no destruction.
It rests in Him.
Where I Find Hope When Facing a Typhoon–Outside or in My Heart
And come what may, may He use this storm to glorify Himself through me.
That in any suffering or hurt I face, they see Him as my enough, my sufficiency, my all.
That in any suffering or hurt I may face, they see that God is in control. God holds the authority & the power & the HOPE.
May God use it for them to see in me their own need for HIM.
To God be the glory, forever & ever… even in the face of the storm. Amen.
Hope in the Storm
And that is why I can have HOPE in this storm.Not because I will enjoy it, but because I know He will not waste it. He can use my experience with it to help others see their need for Him. He can draw others to Himself through it. He can draw me closer to Him as my help & my refuge, my very present help in time of need.
To God be the glory! The One Whom the winds & the waves obey!
“So the men marveled, saying, “Who can this be, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?” (Matthew 8:28)
Shine HOPE by turning to Him in & out of the storms in your life, whether they be threats of winds & waves outside, or in your heart. God is in control.
“God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble….” (Psalm 46:1)
“Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31)
(*TUNE IN to watch this week’s LIVE STREAM (Episode 14) on my NEW YouTube Channel!! @: https://www.youtube.com/@MichelleHydeOnline (*Tuesdays @6pm EST/Wednesdays @8am GUAM*)
Coming Next Week
Join me every Monday morning, EST, for more encouragement right here on my blog/website @ www.MichelleHydeOnline.com.
Share with friends & family… & SUBSCRIBE by “Joining My Tribe,” so you never miss a week!
As God grows me, may it encourage you to seek Him & know Him & love Him more every day.
A Note from Michelle:
(***Check out my FREE Journal Printable Resources: “Accountability Partner Guide + Question Prompts” & “Bible Study Question Prompts,” as well as “Prayers of Surrender” prayer guides!***)
This blog/website has been running for 7.5 years now! THANK YOU for your continued support & encouragement. <3
If you would like to learn more of my story, check out the “About Me” tab. And if you would like to hear how I found my lasting source of HOPE, read the “Hope Is Found” tab, on this site. I hope they are an encouragement to you! <3
Also, make sure to “Join My Tribe” by adding your email to the top bar & clicking “Join My Tribe”. This gains you access to an extra weekly dose of encouragement from me in your inbox (make sure to check your other inbox folders), along with the link to each week’s new post! I can’t wait to do this journey together!!
Fashion as a Force for GOOD:
Each week, I feature an item that is changing lives for women around the world. These hand-crafted pieces are offering job creation opportunities for women artisans in impoverished nations all around the world!Consider these pieces when shopping for friends, family, or yourself. Check out this week’s featured beauty!!
Elva Crystal Necklace, Handcrafted in India!
(Shown: Elva Crystal Necklace, handcrafted by artisans in India seeking to end the cycles of poverty there! Purchase one below!)
The Elva Crystal Necklace features glass beads in shades of deep red, copper, peach, and pink with gold-tone accent beads throughout the design. The Elva Crystal Necklace is perfect for daily wear or paired with other ethical styles for a layered look.
Purchase this necklace using the Shop Here link below to help create safe jobs for women ending poverty cycles in India and creating the opportunity for them to earn a dignified income.
***SHOP Here, OR, Email me at michellehyde.tradesofhope@gmail.com with any questions, & I will message you personally with more information!! Thank you for inspiring HOPE around the world, Lovely!***
How Can You Help Artisans around the World AND Help Support MichelleHydeOnline.com?
#1 is PRAY. Financial help is great & helps pay my website fees & helps support these women artisans… but God’s help is always needed most… both for encouragement & for spiritual hope, through Jesus, for the women we support through our ethical fashion purchases. Always PRAY first.
Your purchases not only help these women, but my commissions help me in continuing this website/blog, encouraging women all around the world with the HOPE we have in Jesus. Win-win-win!
Have a wonderful week living for His glory in all that you do!
Well, today’s been rough. It’s been a weird day. Not a bad day, necessarily, but not great.
You see, I’ve been sick the past few days & like with most colds, have struggled to sleep at night.
In desperation to get some rest, I prayed & asked God to please show me what I could do to help me sleep last night. The ideas I got were to take a hot shower & take some sleepy cold medicine (which sometimes doesn’t actually make me sleep, but rather feel groggy, miserable, & still awake).
So, I took the cold medicine, got my shower, & then fell asleep pretty quickly once I got in bed.(Thank You, LORD!)
… Until I woke up 3 hours before my alarm.
Well, I Got My Wish…
Groggy, discouraged, & consistently seesawing between coughing up mucus & blowing my nose seemingly endlessly, I reluctantly resigned to the fact that this may not be the night that I catch up on the rest I so desperately wanted in order to work towards moving past this cold of mine.
But God blessed me in that I at some point fell back asleep anyway.
… Only to wake up FIVE HOURS LATER…totally missing my alarm going off for TWO WHOLE HOURS, unbeknownst to me.
What does that mean for me? It means I sure got that rest I asked Him for… it means I didn’t get anything other than breakfast & prepping for work accomplished this morning… but it ALSO means I went through most of the afternoon feeling disoriented & feeling like I had just woken up from one of those naps where you intend to sleep for 30-60 minutes, only to wake up hours later completely dazed & confused… one of those “Where am I? What’s happening? What’s going on?” type of wakeups.
And that dazed & confused state quickly morphed into a migraine, which I have been wrestling with the entire rest of my day.
I’m not feeling so great.
Well, I Had a Hard Day… & God Saw Me Through
I’m sure my body appreciated all that extra rest to help it heal & to fight this cold off, but boy am I not feeling so great.
Cooling compression mask, headache meds, & an ACTUAL quick nap later… & I feel somewhat coherent, but still if I move my head too quickly, the jackhammer currently residing inside my head makes me want to vomit.
Why am I telling you this, though? What’s my point?
Life doesn’t always feel great.It doesn’t always work out the way we would wish it to. Some people deal with significant pain every single day even.
I think of Job right now because that’s what we’re reading through right now.
The boils on his body were oozing & painful… I think it even mentions worms somewhere in there. Giant EW.
It can be tempting in these moments to wonder where God is in all of it…why He doesn’t show up & fix everything back to easy & comfortable.
But God shows me He cares for me in that He doesn’t always fix it all for me… God lets me see that even when my world is painful & hard & I feel weak & hurt… He is sufficient in it.
God Is God, Even When I Have Nothing to Contribute
God isn’t just God over the times when you feel strong & capable, working “together,” but even when you have nothing to give Him.
I think that’s a reason why God emphasizes rest so often in the Bible because true faith doesn’t say, “because I have faith, I will do all the things,” but rather, “because I have faith, I can trust God even when I can’t/don’t do all the things.”
Not to be lazy, but to be rested fully in Him.
He is the Provider, Sustainer of all things.
He does not need me.
Praise God.
Even when I am weak, I am strong.
Because I have faith… in HIM.
I Sure Got That Rest I Prayed for… & Then God Took Care of the Rest
And you know what? I got that rest I prayed so desperately for. I didn’t get a lick of anything else done this morning… but I got that rest… & there’s always tomorrow. The world won’t fall apart because I didn’t get my chores done. Today… today I needed physical rest so my body could heal.
And you know what else? I got a call to sub today vs my normal job as an aide for the second grade team at the school I work at. A sub for high school… which meant I didn’t have to move about the classroom, walk to & from recess, hear loud children’s excited voices, or handle noisy carline at the end of the day. I got to sit & REST.
I introduced myself, took roll, played a video for them, & they worked quietly. I didn’t have to move around, think, or handle loud noises. I got to REST.
God knew my day was going to be hard because of all that extra rest… & God provided anyway in that hard.
Is Your True Rest in HIM?
The jackhammer is quieting. I am writing. And I am thanking God for sustaining me through my day without needing my contributions.
Is your true rest in Him? Or yourself? Where do you rely?
Do you trust Him as more than able when your contribution ability is taken out of the picture? Are you able to rest when He gives you no other options?
Do you have faith… in Him?
I would have loved to have slept through the night, waking up refreshed & done with my cold, ready to ably face my day head on… but it didn’t quite work out that way… & yet, God handled it… God provided… God saw me through it.
Even when things don’t work out quite right, I can always count on Him through it all. Even in the hard.
Do you trust God to do the same for you?
Shine HOPE by leaning into Him & trusting Him to give you rest, & to be your all, even when you have none to offer Him.
“Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31)
(*TUNE IN to watch this week’s LIVE STREAM (Episode 9) on my NEW YouTube Channel!! @: https://www.youtube.com/@MichelleHydeOnline (*Tuesdays @5pm EST/Wednesdays @8am GUAM*)
Coming Next Week
Join me every Monday morning, EST, for more encouragement right here on my blog/website @ www.MichelleHydeOnline.com.
Share with friends & family… & SUBSCRIBE by “Joining My Tribe,” so you never miss a week!
As God grows me, may it encourage you to seek Him & know Him & love Him more every day.
A Note from Michelle:
(***Check out my FREE Journal Printable Resources: “Accountability Partner Guide + Question Prompts” & “Bible Study Question Prompts,” as well as “Prayers of Surrender” prayer guides!***)
This blog/website has been running for 7.5 years now! THANK YOU for your continued support & encouragement. <3
If you would like to learn more of my story, check out the “About Me” tab. And if you would like to hear how I found my lasting source of HOPE, read the “Hope Is Found” tab, on this site. I hope they are an encouragement to you! <3
Also, make sure to “Join My Tribe” by adding your email to the top bar & clicking “Join My Tribe”. This gains you access to an extra weekly dose of encouragement from me in your inbox (make sure to check your other inbox folders), along with the link to each week’s new post! I can’t wait to do this journey together!!
Fashion as a Force for GOOD:
Each week, I feature an item that is changing lives for women around the world. These hand-crafted pieces are offering job creation opportunities for women artisans in impoverished nations all around the world!Consider these pieces when shopping for friends, family, or yourself. Check out this week’s featured beauty!!
Archway Necklace, Handcrafted in INDIA
(Shown: Archway Necklace, handcrafted in India. Purchase this necklace to help human trafficking victims while also empowering women out of poverty!)
The Archway Necklace creates fair-paying, dignified jobs for women in India. This gold-tone pendant necklace features a beautiful arch pendant with a sunrise scene on it, symbolizing the new beginnings each day brings.
Every purchase supports families in areas of extreme poverty in India.
***SHOP Here, OR, Email me at michellehyde.tradesofhope@gmail.com with any questions, & I will message you personally with more information!! Thank you for inspiring HOPE around the world, Lovely!***
How Can You Help Artisans around the World AND Help Support MichelleHydeOnline.com?
#1 is PRAY. Financial help is great & helps pay my website fees & helps support these women artisans… but God’s help is always needed most… both for encouragement & for spiritual hope, through Jesus, for the women we support through our ethical fashion purchases. Always PRAY first.
Your purchases not only help these women, but my commissions help me in continuing this website/blog, encouraging women all around the world with the HOPE we have in Jesus. Win-win-win!
Have a wonderful week living for His glory in all that you do!
This topic has been in my queue for a while, & today seems to be the day.
Recently, I have started meeting with a friend of mine to pray weekly together, to serve as sort of my prayer accountability. It’s been so good & so encouraging to me.
While I do pray regularly, all throughout my day talking to God about stuff as it comes up or thanking Him as I see His hand in something… when something hurts me, angers me, or upsets me significantly… avoidance of the resulting feelings becomes my go-to gut response…not good.
You see, something has trickled into my heart. Something that has been trickling into my heart for the past 15 years… something I talked about in a blog post a few years ago, with: “My ‘Anti-Word’ for 2024–‘VICTIM.’”
I have allowed people’s opinions (judgments) of me make me feel smaller & smaller over the years.
When I Should Have Prayed… I Shrank
I SHOULD have prayed over them, trusting God to help me parse through between facts & opinions,but instead, I took them all as hits to my character & my identity.And I became smaller & smaller as a result.
Looking back, I can see how Satan saw a threat & he was smarter than me in knowing how to convince me to just keep my mouth shut & to shrink vs taking a stand for truth & being bold in my faith & obedience to God, even if it rubbed some people the wrong way.
God still allowed it to be a growing season for me in many different ways, as He never wastes our struggles or mistakes… but boy was it a rough ride when it didn’t really need to be.
I could have surrendered all of it to God for review.Instead, I got hurt & I shrank.
And, all these years later after recognizing this… I am still working to rebuild back to the bolder living-for-Jesus girl I once was.
All because I didn’t pray about it whenever it happened.
I Have Built Hurtful Habits… That I Desperately Need to Re-Write
And now, when someone says something hurtful or misunderstands me & judges me based on that misunderstanding or just plain doesn’t like me for whatever reason, I find myself shutting down all over again… it’s now my built-in, practiced, go-to gut response to it. I take it personally. I get hurt.
Not only do I get hurt, but I shut down when I get hurt.
I think about death a lot, to be honest.
Not suicidal as I have been 20 years ago, but definitely praying God would just let me skip the rest & straight shot it to heaven so I don’t ever have to feel that hurt ever again. I don’t like it one bit.
So, God encouraged me to reach out to a friend He placed on my heart so we can start retraining my brain’s reflexes to pray vs quit… pray vs avoid… pray vs shut down… pray for help vs praying for heaven.
No longer allowing the hurt to run the narrative. No longer allowing the hurt to trump who I am in Christ & the life He calls me to live for Him.
He Defines Me… His Opinion Matters Most
I am not perfect by any means. I am fully aware of my imperfections, temptation areas, mistakes, failures, wanderings, shortcomings….
But I am His. He made me. He had my days written before a single one came to be. He is bigger than me. He can fill in my gaps. It’s not about me being enough, but about Him being enough. It’s not about everyone liking me, but about me living to please Him. It’s not about everyone agreeing with me or liking what I say, it’s about being faithful to God’s leading, & about speaking truth (in love), even when it is very much unpopular. And when it comes to either people-pleasing vs God-pleasing, I should never choose other people OVER God.
Even when it causes other Christians to feel uncomfortable with it.
I am accountable to God alone, first & foremost. And as long as I live as His servant, speaking His truth in love, seeking to honor, love, obey, & please Him… then nothing else nor anybody else’s opinions really ought to matter to me.
Having My Focus Fixed on Him
Bowing all the dislikes, the hurtful words, the judgments, the slander, the misunderstandings… all of satan’s attacks… to God as the One deserving of my all despite all of that.
Not quitting, but praying.
Not shutting down, but praying.
Not staying silent, but praying.
Not growing bitter, but praying.
Not taking my eyes off my mission to live for Christ, despite all opinions of me, but praying.
Which Do You Let Rule Your Life? Anxiety or Prayer?
I have the habit of running far away from the uncomfortable, as far away as I can get. I drown it in comfort-seeking activities, like my favorite video games, social media scrolling, snacking, or binging tv.
Avoid. Avoid.Avoid.
But what I ought to be doing is taking it all, every single bit of it… to Him in prayer. To allow Him to fix my focus, to settle my heart, to grant me courage to carry on, to not allow any other’s opinions of me to define me.
I ought to pray.
I heard a quote once & I don’t know who said it, but boy did it land. He said something to the affect of: “Why is it hardest to pray when life is at its hardest? Because when we pray, we’re forced to think on & acknowledge the hard… but that’s when we need to be praying the most, because God is our hope in it.”
Where Do You Turn When Life Hits You HARD? What Is Your Go-To Gut Response? Do You Need a Re-Focus?
We need wisdom only He can give. We need perspective only He can supply.
We need courage only He can bolster. We need comfort when the world withholds it.
We need strength only His endless power can provide.
We need to pray.
Which do you let rule your life? Anxiety or prayer?
Let’s rewrite those habits. Anxie…. PRAY.Fea….. PRAY. DON’T LET THEM IN. Pray!
Shine HOPE by learning to take every hurt, every anxiety, every fear, every worry, every misunderstanding, every other person’s judgment… to HIM in prayer. Let HIM rule your life instead of any of THAT.
“Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31)
(*TUNE IN to watch this week’s LIVE STREAM (Episode 7) on my NEW YouTube Channel!! @: https://www.youtube.com/@MichelleHydeOnline (*Tuesdays @5pm EST/Wednesdays @8am GUAM*)
Coming Next Week
Join me every Monday morning, EST, for more encouragement right here on my blog/website @ www.MichelleHydeOnline.com.
Share with friends & family… & SUBSCRIBE by “Joining My Tribe,” so you never miss a week!
As God grows me, may it encourage you to seek Him & know Him & love Him more every day.
A Note from Michelle:
(***Check out my FREE Journal Printable Resources: “Accountability Partner Guide + Question Prompts” & “Bible Study Question Prompts,” as well as “Prayers of Surrender” prayer guides!***)
This blog/website has been running for 7.5 years now! THANK YOU for your continued support & encouragement. <3
If you would like to learn more of my story, check out the “About Me” tab. And if you would like to hear how I found my lasting source of HOPE, read the “Hope Is Found” tab, on this site. I hope they are an encouragement to you! <3
Also, make sure to “Join My Tribe” by adding your email to the top bar & clicking “Join My Tribe”. This gains you access to an extra weekly dose of encouragement from me in your inbox (make sure to check your other inbox folders), along with the link to each week’s new post! I can’t wait to do this journey together!!
Fashion as a Force for GOOD:
Each week, I feature an item that is changing lives for women around the world. These hand-crafted pieces are offering job creation opportunities for women artisans in impoverished nations all around the world!Consider these pieces when shopping for friends, family, or yourself. Check out this week’s featured beauty!!
Gingko Leaf Earrings (Silver)–Handcrafted in India!
(Shown: Gingko Leaf Earrings, handcrafted in India!)
When you shop the Ginkgo Earrings, you are creating safe jobs for women in areas of extreme poverty in India. These stunning, sculpted earrings are the perfect fair-trade fashion statement! Each silver-tone Ginkgo Earring features two connected ginkgo-shapes to create the beautiful dangle earring! These earrings are also available in a gold-tone finish.
***SHOP Here, OR, Email me at michellehyde.tradesofhope@gmail.com with any questions, & I will message you personally with more information!! Thank you for inspiring HOPE around the world, Lovely!***
How Can You Help Artisans around the World AND Help Support MichelleHydeOnline.com?
#1 is PRAY. Financial help is great & helps pay my website fees & helps support these women artisans… but God’s help is always needed most… both for encouragement & for spiritual hope, through Jesus, for the women we support through our ethical fashion purchases. Always PRAY first.
Your purchases not only help these women, but my commissions help me in continuing this website/blog, encouraging women all around the world with the HOPE we have in Jesus. Win-win-win!
Have a wonderful week living for His glory in all that you do!
Something that I misunderstood most of my life was the idea of rejoicing in the midst of trials.
To me, it felt like it implied that I must feel happy while also dealing with intense struggling, & that, if I couldn’t get myself to be (or pretend) to be happy, then I was living as a bad testimony for God… that I wasn’t trusting in Him enough…. That I wasn’t a good enough Christian.
Well, imagine how much shame that has brought on me over the years as a now grown woman who has struggled through seasons of depression for most all of her life.When I am going through an intensely dark season of my life, I feel no happy... I barely feel anything at all….
Constantly feeling like a failure to God, as if I just couldn’t be good enough to fake it or feel it well enough to “prove” I trusted God “enough” through those darkest of seasons was a hugely heavy burden to carry, on top of already feeling like my consistently downcast mental state alone was a hugely heavy burden for everyone else in my life to carry.
But, thankfully, God has taught me a little something about rejoicing in Him through trials over the years.
It Does Not Mean Pretending to be Happy
You see, what a wonderfully freeing thing it is to realize that rejoicing in trials does not mean pretending to be happy at all times in those trials.
But rather, something much sweeter, richer, & more real than that.
God sees me at my worst. I don’t have to ever pretend for Him, because He already sees it all anyway. He knows the real, deep-down ME.
I never have to be fake with God.He can handle my heavy burdens just fine for the both of us.
And implying the supposed falsehood that to be a good testimony for Him, I have to come off as perfect at all times is implying that the focus ought to be on my own perfection in order to somehow prove His sufficiency.
Rather, in those moments of complete & utter weakness, I have found something beautiful.
As I am feeling frail, hurting, barely holding myself together… the rejoicing comes in the form of remembering.
Taking Time to REMEMBER… & to Praise Him for WHO He Is… Despite How I’m Feeling
Sometimes even as I cry, I sit & remember all He has done for me…all He has sustained me through…& I thank Him… I praise Him that He always shows to have a plan, even when I can’t see it at the time… that He never wastes a single hurt, even when I don’t see how He ever could use it… & that He 100% ALWAYS works everything out for BOTH His glory AND my GOOD.
He holds me together when I feel like I’m falling apart.
He infuses peace in my heart when all the pieces fall around me.
He carries me when I can’t carry myself.
He protects me when I feel too weak to stand.
He cares for me when it feels like no one else does or could.
He has compassion for me no matter how little I may deserve it.
He is my strong tower when the winds of life rage around me.
He wraps His arms of love around me, even when I feel too unlovable.
He gives me HOPE in the midst of the most hopeless.
And in all those things, EVEN WHEN the pain doesn’t quit… I can rejoice through my pain. I can praise Him through my hurts.
True Rejoicing Does Not Have to FEEL Happy
I can trust Him.
I can rejoice in Him, even in & through the pain.
I don’t have to pretty up my pain or get over it in order to rejoice genuinely, but rather, I can display even better His glory by rejoicing in Him even in the even if.
I am allowed to both grieve the effects of sin & therefore, brokenness, in this world, while also simultaneously recognizing & rejoicing that God is still on His throne, He cannot & will not ever be thwarted. He will have the final say. He will be magnified. He will get the glory He deserves.
I can feel hurt & sad while also recognizing & rejoicing in the HOPE I have because of what Jesus did for me on the cross for my sins.
What Matters Is How You Choose to Respond to Your Pain… Not That You Pretend You Don’t Feel Pain…
I think where the confusion comes from is instead what we choose to do with the pain & hurts that we feel that scares people into being scared of admitting they are feeling negative feelings.
If you are dwelling only on the pain & intently choosing NOT to rejoice UNLESS it’s all fixed & prettied up… there’s a problem.
If you are allowing your pain to help you justify a root of bitterness springing up within your heart… there’s a problem.
If you are using your hurt as an excuse to slander someone else’s reputation, or to gossip about them behind their back… there’s a problem.
If your hurt tempts you into believing you need to seek elsewhere for hope… & you begin to listen to & obey that little temptation… there’s a problem.
If you refuse to have gratitude because of your hurt… there’s a problem.
If you rebel against God & obedience to Him because of your hurt… there’s a problem.
But the feeling hurt is not the problem… it is a result of the pain brought on by living in a broken world, of grieving things not being the ideal that God originally intended when He created the world… before we allowed sin to enter the picture.
And sometimes, it’s just the consequence of our own sin… a call to come back to the forgiving, gracious, loving arms of Jesus.Not a place to STAY, but a force to push you back to the only place where you will ever find true HOPE.
Let the pain draw you back to Him.
Let the Pain Draw You Ever into the Arms of Jesus
You know, I used to be so frustrated & confused & hurt at how God could allow someone (AKA me) to endure intense seasons of pain that felt source-less & meaningless… pain that sometimes felt like it would never ever end.
But, after years of praying over it, through my many seasons of great darkness… crying while crying out to God for help… I have seen things more clearly….
That because of those many seasons of darkness, where I couldn’t even see a source of it sometimes… only senseless pain… I learned the most unimaginably beautiful truth.
That, because of those many seasons of intensely dark pain, I had been repeatedly & constantly thrown ever into the arms of Jesus.My desperation demanded it. My heart needed it like air to breath. Suicidal thoughts were a regular companion of mine in some dark seasons, but God’s compassionate arms pulled me in over & over & over & over & over again,even when I couldn’t get myself to pick myself back up again.
In ALL Things… In EVERY Season… God Is SUFFICIENT… & in That… I CAN REJOICE!!
I learned that I can count on Him at my absolute worst. I learned that even when I have absolutely NOTHING to contribute… He is sufficient. I learned that I can count on Him EVEN IF nothing ever got better. I learned that I can count on the fact that He never EVER wastes even a single OUNCE of my pain, but ALWAYS uses it for BOTH His glory & my good. I learned that He is consistently sufficient in my every personal lack of sufficiency.
I learned that He is ENOUGH. And that His grace will carry me through even the worst hurts imaginable… even when it feels there is no & could never be any hope… I find that Hope in Him.
And in that… even when I don’t feel happy… I can rejoice.
Shine HOPE by turning every hurt & heartache into an opportunity to seek your sufficiency, your fulfillment, & your HOPE in HIM ALONE… & REJOICE in Him through every bit of it!!
“Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31)
Join me every Monday morning, EST, for more encouragement right here on my blog/website @ www.MichelleHydeOnline.com.
Share with friends & family… & SUBSCRIBE by “Joining My Tribe,” so you never miss a week!
As God grows me, may it encourage you to seek Him & know Him & love Him more every day.
A Note from Michelle:
(***Check out my FREE Journal Printable Resources: “Accountability Partner Guide + Question Prompts” & “Bible Study Question Prompts,” as well as “Prayers of Surrender” prayer guides!***)
This blog/website has been running for 7.5 years now! THANK YOU for your continued support & encouragement. <3
If you would like to learn more of my story, check out the “About Me” tab. And if you would like to hear how I found my lasting source of HOPE, read the “Hope Is Found” tab, on this site. I hope they are an encouragement to you! <3
Also, make sure to “Join My Tribe” by adding your email to the top bar & clicking “Join My Tribe”. This gains you access to an extra weekly dose of encouragement from me in your inbox (make sure to check your other inbox folders), along with the link to each week’s new post! I can’t wait to do this journey together!!
Fashion as a Force for GOOD:
Each week, I feature an item that is changing lives for women around the world. These hand-crafted pieces are offering job creation opportunities for women artisans in impoverished nations all around the world!Consider these pieces when shopping for friends, family, or yourself. Check out this week’s featured beauty!!
February 2026 Monthly “Hope Mail” (Made by Artisan Women in INDIA)
(Shown: This month’s HOPE MAIL! Handcrafted by women in India! Purchase these beauties, using the “Shop Here” link below to empower women in India out of poverty!)
FOR A LIMITED TIME – Only available during the month of February! Enjoy free shipping and 10% off your Hope Mail package when you subscribe every month!
Your purchase of February Hope Mail provides one day of school for a girl in an area of extreme poverty.
Featured in this month’s Hope Mail is the Carnation Sunset Earrings. These detailed, hand beaded earrings are handcrafted by women in a workshop committed to fighting child marriage and creating dignified jobs for women in India. Each drop earring uses traditional embroidery and hand beading details to show off our Artisan Partners craftmanship and create this stunning carnation design in a gold-tone frame.
Every purchase of this month’s Hope Mail creates safe jobs with fair wages for women in areas of extreme poverty in India where vulnerable women are often exploited by sweatshops and human traffickers.
***SHOP Here, OR, Email me at michellehyde.tradesofhope@gmail.com with any questions, & I will message you personally with more information!! Thank you for inspiring HOPE around the world, Lovely!***
How You Can Help Artisans around the World AND Help Support My Website:
#1 is PRAY. Financial help is great & helps pay my website fees & helps support these women artisans… but God’s help is always needed most… both for encouragement & for spiritual hope, through Jesus, for the women we support through our ethical fashion purchases. Always PRAY first.
Your purchases not only help these women, but my commissions help me in continuing this website/blog, encouraging women all around the world with the HOPE we have in Jesus. Win-win-win!
Have a wonderful week living for His glory in all that you do!
Do you ever feel invisible? Like your hurts are just too much for others? Like you’re too much for others?
I definitely feel that way sometimes.
But, if I’m honest, I think everyone probably feels that way to some degree, whether they are able to acknowledge or articulate that or not. Some people clam up, avoid others when they’re struggling. Some cry a lot. Some seem clingy & needy. We all handle it a bit differently, but deep down, we understand our hard is a burden, which can make US feel like a burden.
Sometimes I Feel Like Others See Me as a Burden
If you’ve been reading my blog for a while, you know I have big emotions. It’s something that has been shamed quite a bit in my lifetime… something I often feel a lot of shame about, as a result.
I have seen the poorly concealed rolled eyes, the distancing from me, have heard the “so much drama” comments about me. It hurts, to be honest.
Nobody likes to feel shamed when they’re already feeling weak & vulnerable. They want to be embraced & loved just where they are, as they are…without having to mask or conceal the unsightly parts of their heart.
At least, that’s what I want.
Stay
And when I am facing a ton of hard emotions, the LAST thing I want is to feel as if everyone I love & trust seem to just begin to slowly pull away from me.
I want them to pull me in closer. Bear hug me. Tell me they still love me, even when I’m not at my best. Even when I feel I have so very little to offer them.That just me is enough.
It’s not something I really experience much. I more often than not feel invisible all of a sudden.
In My Poetry Journaling, I Can “Ugly Cry”
Besides crying alone & gripping the covers up to my chin to feel safe & secure… besides gripping (or chucking) my stress ball to help me squeeze out some of the tension I feel overwhelmed by… besides praying for help… I write about it. Little poems where I let out my darkest, ugliest swirling thoughts… where I allow them to be there& allow myself to be real about their existence, so I can call it out & pray about it as it really is… not just the prettied-up version God doesn’t need because He knows all anyway.
I write about longing for the perfection of heaven, the lack of tears, the lack of pain. I even sometimes write about wishing I could die so I wouldn’t have to ever feel any pain again. I write about longing to be in the arms of God, to feel safe & whole & wholly loved. I get real with God about where I’m at, letting myself trust that even if my reality scares people away or makes me seem like the family burden, I am never a burden to God.
God Wraps His Sufficient, Gracious, Merciful, Faithful, Long-Suffering Arms Around Me
He is big enough for me. He can handle it.He doesn’t need the cliff notes, He takes it all. I can full on ugly cry with Him. He can handle the ugly, the “drama”, the not-prettied-up version of me. He takes me as is. He loves me as is.He is sufficient for me as is.
I don’t have to mask for Him. I don’t have to plaster on a smile for Him. I don’t have to pretend. I don’t have to pretend my faith is bigger than it is for Him. I don’t have to will-power my way through anything with Him. I don’t have to be okay all the time for Him. I don’t have to make myself seem worthy or appealing enough to want to spend time with me, to counter how much of a burden I feel I can be. I don’t have to try to advocate for why I’m worth keeping around. I can just BE with Him. Just me.
I can collapse in His figurative arms. Raw, hurting, & empty. I can come with nothing at all to offer Him. I can be frail & weak & ugly crying with snot all over my face. I can be as much of a burden as is humanly possible & be no burden at all to Him. I can handle everything terribly, fall apart, have no answers, get everything wrong… & yet He Is Sufficient. He is merciful. He is patient. He is faithful. He will NOT leave me nor can He love me any less.I can have nothing & He will still bring me His everything.
I love that so much.
Love Like Jesus… Even When It Is Really, REALLY Uncomfortable… Hug & PRAY with Them
Do I really, really wish more people loved others the way He loves us? To feel a tangible love & friendship where I don’t always feel like I have to convince them I’m not too much? Where I don’t feel I have to muster up cliff notes that won’t bore them or scare them or make them uncomfortable? A love that is present & warm & caring, even when it doesn’t benefit them?Of course I do. That’s why God calls us to love other people that way.
To comfort the faint-hearted, not to sing when others are broken & hurting, to mourn with those who mourn….
Not avoid. Not fix. Not quote platitudes. Just presence… just an attitude that says, “even when you’re not all together, I love you & I’m not going anywhere.”
Do You Ever Feel Invisible?
Can we be more of that to each other? Allow each other not to always have it together or have all the answers or always respond in the perfect way to all of life at all times? To have big emotions we don’t know what to do with? To be human…?
Not excusing sin, not supporting strongholds… but also learning compassion, recognizing weakness is human, bearing with one another in love, as God calls us to.
Can we take the time to SEE each other, really see them… even when they may be at their worst & have nothing to offer the friendship?
Can we love more like God loves us?
How Can You Love Others the Way You Wish to be Loved?
Do you ever feel invisible?
What would help you in it? How can you love someone else the way it would help you?
How can you be present… even when you may not get anything from it? Even if it feels burdensome to you.How can you love them anyway? As Christ loves us?
What helps me?When people still invite me, even when I’m low energy & not much of a contribution to conversation/fun. When people genuinely want to know how I am & pray WITH me through it. A long hug–you know, when it gets to that fine line between “I’ve got you, no matter what,” & borderline completely awkwardly long? Like that. When people remind me of truth, but also remind me that even in my weakness, God never gives up on me.When people are willing to be a sounding board… getting to talk about what makes my heart ache oftentimes takes the power away from whatever is plaguing me, so a listening ear does wonders.
Shine HOPE by seeking to really see people in their hurting & let them feel seen. Even if it’s uncomfortable. Love the way you would love to be loved, even when you don’t really understand their hurt…. You don’t have to understand why they’re hurting so much in order to love them so much. Remember that. God doesn’t ask us to justify why we’re hurting, He just comforts & offers His sufficient, faithful love… let’s do that.
Coming Next Week
Join me every Monday morning, EST, for more encouragement right here on my blog/website @ www.MichelleHydeOnline.com.
Share with friends & family… & SUBSCRIBE by “Joining My Tribe,” so you never miss a week!
As God grows me, may it encourage you to seek Him & know Him & love Him more every day.
A Note from Michelle:
(***Check out my FREE Journal Printable Resources: “Accountability Partner Guide + Question Prompts” & “Bible Study Question Prompts,” as well as “Prayers of Surrender” prayer guides!***)
This blog/website has been running for 7 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!!
Scarlet Cluster Studs (INDIA)
(Shown: Scarlet Cluster Studs, handcrafted in India! Purchase your own pair or buy as a gift to empower women in India out of poverty!)
Artisans in India are earning a fair and dignified wage as they handcraft these elegant and festive Scarlet Cluster Studs. Each gold-framed earring features a cluster of four scarlet-colored gems in a gold-tone setting, creating a beautiful fair-trade fashion statement. Every pair of Scarlet Cluster Studs create necessary jobs to end poverty cycles and keep families out of the slums of India!
SHOP Here, OR, Email me at michellehyde.tradesofhope@gmail.com with any questions, & I will message you personally with more information!! Thank you for inspiring HOPE around the world, Lovely!
How You Can Help Artisans around the World AND Help Support My Website:
#1 is PRAY. Financial help is great & helps pay my website fees & helps support these women artisans… but God’s help is always needed most… both for encouragement & for spiritual hope, through Jesus, for the women we support through our ethical fashion purchases. Always PRAY first.
Your purchases not only help these women, but my commissions help me in continuing this website/blog, encouraging women all around the world with the HOPE we have in Jesus. Win-win-win!
Have a wonderful week living for His glory in all that you do!
God is so incredibly patient. Do you believe that? Have you seen that in your own life? Because I have.
Today, I am reminded of the Israelites in the wilderness.They are so easy to pick on until you realize how accurate a reflection of us they oftentimes are.
They complained A LOT.
They had spent SO LONG crying out to God for help. God heard their cries & led Moses to lead them to their rescue & escape from years of being the slave labor of the Pharoah. But nothing was ever good enough for them.
God Always Has a Plan…. When Chaos Seems to be Winning… God Is Working
It had started out as an offering from a king who respected Joseph(remember him?)(Genesis 47) but when that king died & it was now years & years later, the Israelites had multiplied so much that the new king in power was thinking to himself, “they could overtake us, so let’s just squash that right now & make them our slaves & oppress them… oh, & kill all their baby sons.”(Exodus 1)
But God had a plan.
So God led Moses (Exodus 3), did miracles (Exodus 7-11), wowed literally everyone, & after showing that He ALONE was God Almighty, He got His people FREE.
But then, it didn’t stop there. He made sure their clothes never wore out & their shoes stayed good (Deuteronomy 29:5) … And God led them with a pillar of cloud by day & of fire by night for light (Exodus 13:21). He parted the Red Sea (Exodus 14:21). He provided them with FOOD they didn’t have to farm or buy (Exodus 16). He had water gush from hit rocks to provide water where there was none (Exodus 17).
God HAD them. He cared for them & protected them & provided for them & FREED them... against ALL ODDS!
Instead of Complaining, Have You Tried Praying?
And yet it seems that every single chapter detailing this journey was met with a NEW COMPLAINT AGAINST GOD.
But you know what the absolute wildest part of it is? I am not entirely convinced that God would even withhold what they wanted if they had just believed in Him enough to ASK Him.
Grumbling at every turn. Lusting after the few comforts they had had before, in captivity. Lusting after the known & fearing the unknown. Lusting after comforts over FREEDOM.
It really just sounds DUMB.
Until I realize I do the same thing.
Forever a Work-in-Progress… & Thank God (really, THANK Him) That He NEVER Gives Up on Us
I try to self-solve & self-soothe my way through hard stuff. I avoid it even sometimes. I feel frustrated & overwhelmed & despairing.
And eventually, God gives me a gentle nudge reminder that “oh yeah… God.”
So dumb.
Now, please realize I have definitely grown a lot in the past years with this… but I definitely still have some growing left to do.
Our Complaining Shows We Really Don’t Trust Him
I also see a consistent thread that the reason God was so upset about the complaining was that it showed that the people didn’t believe in Him.
I mean, can you blame Him? I mean, leave out the fact that He literally made us AND the world we live in (without our help, at that… & out of nothing but His WORD) … leave that very important part of the equation out & JUST consider EVERYTHING He did supernaturally to make sure you were set free & were free indeed. Miraculous! Did they not remember?
Instead of complaining & grumbling, they could have taken a moment to consider ALL God had done for them ALREADY & gone TO HIM with their struggles!
Believe that if He did all that for you… He is worth believing & ASKING…. Not complaining.
How Much Do I Lose Out on Because I Don’t Believe He Can Do More Than I Can?
How much do I miss out on because I don’t bother to consider believing in Him over myself or my circumstances or my resources or my time or my hurts?
Lack satisfaction? Ask Him to teach you contentment.
Lack resources? Ask Him to provide.
Lack time for something? Ask Him for timing.
Lack courage or wisdom? Ask for it.
Lack energy? Ask Him for a way forward.
Don’t resort to trusting yourself, your circumstances, or your hurts to guide you.
Don’t resort to grumbling & complaining about your life.
ASK HIM. Turn to Him. Trust Him. Believe in Him.
God Is GOD & You Are NOT
He can do far more than you’re capable of doing. Do you trust that? … And ACT on it by turning to Him in everything?
“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” (Ephesians 3:20-21)
How do you know what to ask for, though? By reading your Bible & praying for wisdom on that very thing.
“Because You Can’t” Is Not a Valid Excuse… Because You Know God CAN
And I think that’s where some lose interest, because complaining feels like we’ve acknowledged that there is a problem that we can’t fix, so we’re free to avoid it & live how we see fit. As if we’re absolved from accountability because it’s “not our fault.”
But God can.We know God can. But we have to trust God can & ASK Him. And God isn’t at all fooled at the fact that our complaining just seems a more comfortable solution… a copout.
Asking seems like more work. Asking is admitting we can’t & need help. Asking is letting someone else be in charge. Asking brings accountability. Asking may require work on our part that we’re intimidated about.
Don’t Stay Stuck… PRAY to the God Who CAN
But don’t stay there. Don’t stay stuck.Trust God knows what He’s doing AND wants a life that is best for you, not just mediocre or “surviving.”
“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.” (John 10:10)
It doesn’t mean the hard will stop, but it does mean He’ll be your enough in the hard.
So ASK HIM.
Shine HOPE by daring to ask the God Who made you & gave His all for you… rather than just copping out with complaints that anger Him because they reveal a lack of trust.
Coming Next Week
Join me every Monday morning, EST, for more encouragement right here on my blog/website @ www.MichelleHydeOnline.com.
Share with friends & family… & SUBSCRIBE by “Joining My Tribe,” so you never miss a week!
As God grows me, may it encourage you to seek Him & know Him & love Him more every day.
A Note from Michelle:
(***Check out my FREE Journal Printable Resources: “Accountability Partner Guide + Question Prompts” & “Bible Study Question Prompts,” as well as “Prayers of Surrender” prayer guides!***)
This blog/website has been running for 7 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!!
Gingerbread Village Set (INDIA)
(Shown: Gingerbread Village Set, limited availability, handcrafted in INDIA.)
HOLIDAY EDITION – While supplies last! Shop to support families in areas of extreme poverty in India!Display the darling Gingerbread Village Set along with all your favorite holiday decor! This set of three unique, hand-painted mango wood houses will create a beautifully cozy feel when placed on your mantel or in a tablescape display. Each house is eco-friendly and made from fast-growing mango wood, a sustainable byproduct of India’s mango fruit industry. Each house features unique natural wood grains and hand-painted gorgeous designs.
***Purchase this beautifully unique & handcrafted set, using the “Shop Here” link below, to empower women in India out of poverty, by providing them with safe, reliable work environments!***
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!
Have a wonderful week living for His glory in all that you do!
I had my blog all typed up. Ready to copy/paste. Ready to edit.
But as I sat here, pasted text on my blog editor site… it just felt off. Like I couldn’t get myself to continue with it. Not in a defiant or lazy way, but like a brick wall was preventing me from continuing.
So, now I have 1.5 hours left before I publish & my page is erased & I am writing this instead.
God knows what I need more than I do. He knows what’s on my heart better than I do. He sees the depth of my subconscious & knows all of its triggers & intricacies better than I understand it myself.
I can trust Him with my deepest fears, deepest hurts, deepest longings, deepest failures, deepest insecurities… ugliest of ugly cries.
I don’t have to prove anything to Him. I don’t have to try to make Him like me or want to spend time with me. I don’t have to convince Him to love me.
He just does.
How often I try to pretty up my emotions or wrong thinking for Him, as if He doesn’t already know.
The psalmists inspire me with their rawness. I can be like that with God. He can handle it.
He doesn’t want my cliff notes. He wants all of me… the good, the bad, & the ugly.
How beautiful a truth that is to me.
I don’t have to ever pretend I’m better than I am. I don’t have to project strength or assurance.
I can be scared. I can be unsure. I can doubt. I can wonder. He is patient with it all. He can handle it all.
He is patient & kind. He is gentle. He is enduring in His love for me. Faithful when I flee. Forgiving when I trust His blessings over Him as my blessings-Giver.
I can show my imperfections & weaknesses. I can feel worthless & hopeless. He stands steady & sure. Unwavering. Ready to welcome me home no matter how far I stray.
What a wonderful Father indeed. He will listen for hours & not tune me out. He will take me at my worst & respond with gentle kindness. He is what I lack & supplies generously upon request.
He doesn’t hold back. He doesn’t guilt me or shame me or push me away.
He loves with an enduring, faithful love. A love laced with grace, grace, by definition being undeserved, above & beyond even. His mercies are new every morning. He forgives upon forgives upon forgives.
How faithful. How true. How sure. How steady. How eternal. How infinite He is.
I am always safe & always loved when I come to the arms of Jesus.
Those same arms are waiting to welcome you, too.
And that’s all I have to say today. Turn to Him. He’s what you need. Nothing else will satisfy like the unfailing love of the God Who made you… the steady unchangeable God, shown so beautifully, so completely, so dramatically through the sacrifice of His one & only Son, Jesus Christ our LORD.
I don’t know where you’re at. I can’t see you. I can’t know your thoughts or your fears or what you mask to show strength to the world because you feel the world needs to see you strong.
God doesn’t care about pretense. He doesn’t need a show. He loves you. Just you. Right now. Where you’re at. Whatever that looks like.
He won’t ever stop pursuing you. He won’t ever give up on you.
I know. I’ve seen it. 36 years (as a Christian) full of failures & shortcomings & lessons learned & humbling moments & He has never once left me. He pursues you. He never gives up on you. Even at your ugliest, very worst version of yourself. The part of you you’re ashamed of. He sees it. And He loves you.
He wants to heal those parts of you. He wants to break you free from their chains. He wants you to feel hope swell up in you & overflow across everything that resides in the deepest, darkest depths of your heart.
Every night, I thank God audibly for the same thing. Every night. “Thank You Lord, that You never give up on us.”
He will never give up on you. He is faithful even if you’re not.
He asked Jesus to die for every wrong bit of you, even down to the morning grumpies to the very worst of you. Jesus let them beat Him & torment Him & lie about Him & spit on Him & KILL HIM because HE LOVES YOU THAT MUCH. Nothing you can do can ever stop that love He has for you!
NOTHING.
Repent. Turn to Him. Trust on Him. Lay it all down at His feet & receive His forgiveness. Because He offers it free of charge. His love COMPELS Him to.
Run into the arms of Jesus. He’s waiting for you. And He always will be. And nothing you do can ever change that.
I was talking to a friend in the past months about her struggle through some very strong, painful emotions. Like many of us, she felt guilty for feeling that way, as if it made her seem to not be trusting God enough with it.
That’s how I grew up believing, too. That if I am having very strong negative emotions, it was shameful because it meant I wasn’t trusting God enough.
But let me tell you something that will hopefully loosen those chains for you a little bit if you also struggle with that type of shame—emotions are not sin… they’re simply indicators.
Emotions on Full Display Throughout the Bible
I would like to encourage you to, as you read through the Bible in the coming months, look out for expressions of emotions… how they’re expressed, what comes from them, prayers prayed through them, how God responds to them, etc. You will slowly release any idea of feeling ashamed for feeling.
Emotions are very clearly & strongly expressed throughout the entire Bible!
Now, just as having hundreds of wives & concubines, as many kings did (including kings whom God praised for their faith), just because it’s mentioned IN the Bible does not mean it is automatically not sinful.
And that is why we must look at how God RESPONDS to emotions in the Bible. This is why I strongly encourage you to turn your attention to that as you read in the coming months, so you can begin to see patterns emerge in looking at how God feels about our feelings.
Joy IN the Hurts/Distresses?
As someone who struggles with depression, sometimes pretty severely in certain seasons of my life, I can tell you right now how so many of the Psalms, as well as the “thorn in the side” passage (2 Corinthians 12:7-10) become so clear. This understanding that I can have such intensely painful feelings, not always even see any real, justifiable cause for them (which only makes it more painful & embarrassing), & still feel joy AND intense pain simultaneously.One does not always erase the other.
And that right there is what I think so many Christians misunderstand about having joy in every season, trusting the Lord… as if it means you should therefore not feel pain because you should feel joy.
No. Just as Paul says, “in needs… in distresses,” he doesn’t say the distress is therefore now ABSENT because he now sees the bigger picture of being a testimony for God’s strength in his weaknesses & pains… he says IN IT.
That was me, going through my very dark, very painful seasons. The sun didn’t come out & shine all my sad hurting away because I trusted God in it… the pain very much remained & tormented me, & yet I had this hope inside of me, this “come what may, I know You have a plan, God… I know You have me… I know You won’t waste a single ounce of this pain I feel right now.” A peace, A contentment. A knowing. An assurance. A HOPE.
A joy.
Don’t Suffer in Silence Trying to Look “Strong for God”
So often I see Christians who are very obviously suffering trying to plaster on a smile for all the world around them to see, afraid to be a bad witness for Christ, afraid it will appear that they must not trust Him “enough.” STOP!
The Bible does NOT shy away from pain. It is clear about it. It talks about it. And it shows that God is sovereign, sufficient, & sure through it.Compassionate, gentle, kind even.
Honey, if you are plastering “I’M OKAY” on your face to prove to others how good your God is… stop it.
All the world sees then is you pretending to be strong. It doesn’t show HIM to be strong.
Being a testimony to His strength means being real about your weaknesses. BOASTING even in them. So that others may clearly see that you don’t have all the answers, you’re not strong, you’re not able… but HE IS.
Big Emotions Don’t EQUAL Sin, But They Are Also No Excuse for Sin
Big emotions are not an excuse to wallow, to hide away, withdraw, hold bitterness, lash out, hurt others, be rude, talk about someone behind their back, refuse kindness to others who are undeserving such as yourself. Big emotions are not an okay to sin.
Big emotions are not sin, but they’re also not an excuse for sin.
They’re just indicators. So please stop beating yourself up over them. Stop beating OTHER people up for them. And check yourself if you’re using emotions as your “get out of jail free card” for wrong behavior or bad attitudes that displease & dishonor God.You need to yield them to God for help if you are struggling with this.
God Sees Me & God Cares
Sometimes, when I am flooded by big, hard emotions, whether someone said a careless hurtful thing, it’s that time of the month, something awful happens, or my depression is just kicking my butt… whenever I feel like whimpering, “Can I please just go to heaven now, God? I don’t want to feel this hurt anymore,”I picture God as so big & mighty that He fills a whole 2-story open room, & small little me (in comparison) crawls up into the crook of His elbow & curls up there, nestled in His strong arms. Safe. Protected. Loved.
I stop to remember that He is bigger than me. Stronger. Powerful. Wise. Good. Compassionate. Kind. Loving. He has a plan. He holds me. He hears my cries. He knows my heart. He loves me. He is sufficient in all things. I can trust Him even when everything is hard & everything hurts.
Even then… I can trust Him. And so can you.
How to Please God & Have Big Emotions
Stop trying to be “strong” for God.He is more than capable for the BOTH of you.
Shine HOPE by coming to God, crying out to Him in those big emotions, trusting He sees you, has you, & has a plan in it… turning to Him & crying out to Him as your help in & through it, & by shaking off the shame for those indicators that ought to just draw you right back into His very capable & loving arms. Having joy, even in still feeling very much the hurts of the storm you are in, because He’s got you.
Coming Next Week
Join me every Monday morning, EST, for more encouragement right here on my blog/website @ www.MichelleHydeOnline.com.
Share with friends & family… & SUBSCRIBE by “Joining My Tribe,” so you never miss a week!
As God grows me, may it encourage you to seek Him & know Him & love Him more every day.
A Note from Michelle:
(***Check out my FREE Journal Printable Resources: “Accountability Partner Guide + Question Prompts” & “Bible Study Question Prompts,” as well as “Prayers of Surrender” prayer guides!***)
This blog/website has been running for 7 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!!
September 2025 Hope Mail
(Shown: September 2025 “Hope Mail,” handcrafted in India. Purchase this to help empower women in vulnerable areas out of poverty, using the “Shop Here” link below!)
FOR A LIMITED TIME – Only available during the month of September! Enjoy free shipping and 10% off your Hope Mail package when you subscribe every month!
Your purchase of September Hope Mail provides one day of school for a girl in an area of extreme poverty.
Featured in this month’s Hope Mail are the Golden Canopy Earrings, stunning ebony brown and gold earrings in the shape of a leaf. These earrings are crafted using remnant leather, making them eco-friendly as well. Your purchase creates dignified jobs for women in areas of extreme poverty in India.
***Purchase this month’s Hope Mail, using the “Shop Here” link below, to create safe jobs with fair wages for women in areas of extreme poverty in India where vulnerable women are often exploited by sweatshops and human traffickers.***
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!
Have a wonderful week living for His glory in all that you do!
