I will be honest with you: staying faithful to God is not always an easy feat for me. I am stubborn & selfish & often automatically think I have things figured out already my way.
And when I am distracted by something “shiny” or feel the least bit tired, the willingness to be faithful in my submission to God drops quite a bit.
I often forget to pray for help & instead either quit or try my own way until I wear myself down & want to quit because I like instant gratification.
… Let’s just say that God has had to show me a lot of grace & exercise much patience with me.
An Opening for Sin
Whenever I have a need, I immediately want to see it fixed to my satisfaction—emphasis on immediately.
It is pretty common for me to face temptation or face some sort of hardship, pray for help, not see it made easy for me to resist (by removing it altogether, because I don’t want to have to choose to obey when temptation is calling me), & then blame God when I give in.
Or, I go to God for help but then go to my own Plan B or Plan C pretty quickly, not trusting God enough to wait on Him & rest in Him.
This is also why sin is such a temptation for me, because Satan always seems to package it as the shiny quick fix to all of my problems.
Make Sure to Read the Fine Print
But there is always fine print to sin. That’s why God commands us to avoid it, because while it seems justifiable & safe & the perfect answer… it always comes back to bite you… it always has consequences you’re not always aware of when you dive into those sins.
So, being aware of this fact, I know even more how important it is to stay faithful & submit to God’s commands (aka God’s way).
And, you would think this would be motivation enough to stick to God’s ways, but that instant gratification addiction is strong with me. I want it to be made easy for me to follow & obey God.
I Want It Easy
It takes a lot for me to go from knowing what I need to do, seeing an obstacle that makes it less than appealing to follow through, to stopping to pray for help from God versus quitting & running the opposite direction toward something easier or more appealing.
I get stuck in the lazy &/or anxiety trap way too often.
I get paralyzed with overwhelm or with a pull toward an easier-seeming way & head straight there.
And I often turn to the television, or a tablet, or something else where I can engulf my mind into something that doesn’t cause me anxiety, numbing everything else out because it just seems easier… versus asking God to help me push through it—trusting Him for victory.
Our Good God Is a God of VICTORY
But, what I need to learn to do is to realize that no matter how strong the pull to something else may seem & no matter how appealing that instant gratification promises (lies) to be… I need to stop giving in… I need to fall to my knees if need be. And I need to cry out to God for help.
And so, this has been something I have been trying to intentionally be aware of lately, asking God to help me see when I am coveting instant gratification over trusting in Him—because God is Good & God is a God of VICTORY.
My Prayers Against Giving In
I have been praying something like this, “God, please help me! I don’t know how to handle this or how to follow through on this, so I just want to run toward whatever feels easier & more instantly gratifying. And I know You have an answer & You always have a plan & I can always trust You in everything, but I often fold & turn to whatever seems quicker, shinier, or easier.Please help me to stop compromising at every other turn. Help me lean into You more. Help me to be aware of the times I am seeking ease more than a peace in You. Help me know when I am compromising for something less than what You have to offer me out of Your lavishing love for me. I want to honor You. You deserve my full honor & respect. You are faithful even when I am not. Thank You for continuing with me, for giving me grace, for showing me patience…. Thank You for never giving up on me. You are so Good… all the time. I love You because You loved me first. Thank You. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.”
Staying Faithful-Without Instant Gratification
So, if you’re with me on this… struggling to stay faithful when instant gratification seems to sparkle & shine for your time & attention, determine to stop & ask God for help trusting Him in everything big & small.
Shine hope by turning to God every time it’s hard to stay faithful to His way & by asking for His help in saying, “NO” to those shiny instant gratification opportunities. Staying faithful-without instant gratification-can seem impossibly hard sometimes, but with God, nothing is impossible.
“Jesus looked at them & said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”(Matthew 19:26)
He’s always worth it, 100%.
Coming Next Week
Join me every Monday morning, EST, for more encouragement.
As God grows me, may it encourage you to seek Him & know Him & love Him more every day.
Share with friends & Subscribe by Joining My Tribe, so you never miss a week.
A Note from Michelle:
This blog/website has been running for almost THREE years now! THANK YOU for your continued support & encouragement. <3
If you would like to learn more of my story, check out the “About Me” page. And if you would like to hear how I found my lasting source of HOPE, read the “Hope Is Found” page, 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, 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! Check out this week’s featured beauty!!
Silver Medallion Necklace
(Every purchase of this Silver Medallion Necklace empowers women in India out of poverty!)
This textured silver-tone chain from India can be worn separately or layered with other necklaces from our One World Collection. The uniquely textured pendant adds the perfect artistic touch. Three length options allow you to choose your comfort & style. Every purchase provides fair-trade jobs in areas of extreme poverty in India.
In India, poverty often leads to exploitation of vulnerable Artisans in sweatshops. Every purchase provides these Artisans with fair wages, access to healthcare, education for their children, & care for elderly family members.
How You Can Help:
SHOP Here, OR, Email me at michellehyde.tradesofhope@gmail.com with any questions, & I will message you personally with more information!! Thank you for inspiring HOPE around the world, Lovely!
Your purchases not only help these women, but my commissions help me to continue supporting them as well as continuing this website/blog, encouraging women all around the world with the HOPE we have in Jesus. Win win!
If you read my blog & think to yourself, “Man, this girl has it all together with her weekly blog posts & she is way more faithful & strong in her faith than I am…” well, let me stop you right there to give you an honesty check—everything I post about is something I have struggled through (or am still struggling through) myself.
I don’t come to you as someone who has figured it all out.
I don’t come to you as someone who is always sure & strong in her faith, always making the right choices.
I come to you as a fellow woman on a journey to trust God with more of her life as she fails, forgets, drops the ball, messes up, etc., leaning into the Holy Spirit’s work in her life.
The Hard-Headed Truth
To be honest with you, I am one of the most stubborn, hard-headed skeptics I know. It’s a miracle, truly, that God has grown me to where I am today.
Then, there’s the fact that even when I DO learn… God reminds me & I forget & He has to remind me again. I am hardheaded that way… or maybe prideful in always wanting to try my way first.
I am by no means perfect & I have a loooong way to go, but I just keep trying again… failing forward, letting the Holy Spirit work in me as I lean into Him.
And the key, I have learned (from my many failures & prideful mistakes) is to KEEP coming to HIM for help in the learning to trust & obey Him… even & ESPECIALLY after you mess it all up first.(That, I have learned from my own personal failures… Satan likes to use our mistakes & failures to create a rift between us & God, but God says, “Yep, Jesus paid for that, too. Come back to Me, My child.”)
Let’s Do This Together!
It’s a PROCESS & a JOURNEY we are ALL going through.
That’s where my confidence comes from—not in thinking I am better than anyone else, but in realizing that we are all broken & in need of God’s help & that any good I accomplish is because of the abilities, gifts, opportunities, strength, wisdom, etc. that HE has given me.
I NEED Him.
And so do you.
Hello, We Meet Again…
I am no stranger to this inner battle against temptation, just as much as I know you are no stranger to it either–& we all have our personal weak spots that Satan knows how to exploit. This battle is one we are all familiar with & is one we will continue to fight throughout our life, as Satan’s key personal mission is to pace the earth, seeking whom he may devour, seeking to kill, steal, & destroy. (1 Peter 5:8; John 10:10)
It is very true that the more we spend time talking to God about every detail of our lives, asking for wisdom or strength or comfort or counsel or any of the promises God offers us, that we are much less likely to be troubled with temptation, but none of us are immune to it.
It is also true that when we follow the instructions & guidelines laid out for us in Ephesians & summarized at the end of Ephesians, with the armor OF God, that we will also be much less vulnerable to these attacks… but the attacks will still come. (Ephesians 6:10-20)
Satan Knows Where to Hit Us
Satan can’t MAKE us sin, but he will & does definitely cultivate scenarios where we are much more prone to take our eyes off of God & choose sin instead.
Whether it be that phone or laptop that no one else has access to… making it easy to search, read &/or see what I know I shouldn’t (Fine Print: it leads to joyless emptiness & further destruction)… or even whether it be watching that show on tv that has content that far too often ignites my triggers for that temptation. (Matthew 5:28-this is addressed to men, but also applies to women lusting after men!)
Whether it’s the temptation to eat one more slice of cake or snack a little (or a lot) more than my body says it needs because I am stressed &/or bored. Or to eat foods consistently too full of fat, sugar, & preservatives, things that are quick & “more fun to eat” & avoiding nutritious, beneficial foods that my body really needs. (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)
Whether it’s the temptation to talk about someone else, thinking I’m being a friendly neighbor to warn someone about that someone because they said something they shouldn’t have, unknowingly slandering them in the process, versus taking that concern to God & watching what words come out of my mouth, that they may only be edifying, for the building up of others, as God instructs. (James 4:11; Ephesians 4:29)
Oh, & There’s More…
Whether it’s harboring bitterness because someone wronged me or hurt me, versus praying for them as God instructs us to do… & then leaning into God for comfort & healing, while asking His help to let it go & offer grace, trusting God with the justice & with that person’s heart… Letting HIM be their righteous Judge, not me. (Hebrews 12:15; Colossians 3:13)
Whether it’s nursing personal wounds or giving way to my anxiety, letting Satan stir that pot of discontentment & trauma so that I can stay the victim rather than accept my part of responsibility & turn to God for healing & growth, trusting that I don’t need to manipulate Him with a sob story to gain His love & care & help & gentle attention. (Psalm 73:24; Psalm 55:22; 1 Peter 5:7; Philippians 4:6)
Whether it’s not praying &/or not reading my Bible consistently because I’m too… tired, too distracted, have a headache, am too busy, too bored with it, too restless, or don’t feel I understand what I’m reading enough anyway… Rather than trusting that God is bigger than me & can help in ALL of these areas. (Philippians 4:6; Proverbs 3:5-6; Ephesians 3:20-21)
These are all things I have wrestled & sometimes still wrestle with… I am surely a work in progress… & in all of these areas, I have prayed.
But, I have not always accepted God’s help when He offered it… because I chose my way instead.
An Example I Want to Emulate
I have basically been the opposite of Shadrach, Meshach, & Abednego, as told about in Daniel 3.
You see, back in their day, a statue was erected in their king’s honor & a decree was issued that everyone in the kingdom bow down & worship that statue.
Well, in God’s Word, the Bible, God commanded that we worship no one but Him, knowing full well that worshipping the creatED in place of the CreatOR was unwise & dishonoring to the only One who deserves that worship—LORD Almighty.
So, when everyone was told, “Now is the time, all you people! Bow down & worship!” they didn’t.
They stood tall, proclaiming with their inaction that they really believed only One to be worthy of that worship.
Putting on the PRESSURE to Sin
And when the guards took notice, these three men still refused to bow &/or worship anyone but God alone.
So, the guards collected them & they were taken to the king himself, having their disobedience announced before his presence. And they still didn’t bow.
They were EVEN offered a chance to bow in private, only in front of the king, so that they could “technically obey the decree, without ruining their reputation before all those people.” And they still didn’t bow.
THEN, they were threatened with being thrown to their deaths in a fiery furnace SO HOT that it sometimes killed those who would go to throw them into it. And they still didn’t bow!
Their response? “Shadrach, Meshach & Abednego replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, & he will deliver usfrom Your Majesty’s hand. But even if He does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.” (Daniel 3:16-18) (Emphasis mine.)
Their response was to honor God & trust & obey God NO MATTER WHAT… EVEN if it was NOT made easy for them!
“Technically Obeying” Is Still Disobeying
You see, I am not like that. I would have done a short bow to “technically not disobey God while technically still obeying the king.” I would have looked for a loophole to do both versus standing for obedience & honor to God alone.
I would have bowed in front of the king, asking him to just not tell anyone & letting him know I didn’t agree with it because only God should be worshipped, but still doing it in private to spare my life.
I would have been afraid of the consequences of obedience.
I would have hesitated.
I would have given in… I would have looked for a loophole… & I do.
I don’t have a very strong, “And if not” attitude. I want it made easy for me.
It’s Just NOT Worth It!
Those three men understood. They knew it wasn’t worth it. They knew that the king would believe in his heart that he was bigger than the true God because the men listened to him over GOD.
They knew it wasn’t worth defaming God. They knew the worst is that they would die & go to Heaven.
They knew that God could save them from death in that fiery furnace in exchange for their obedience (which He DID!!-Daniel 3:24-27) but that IF NOT, they were still determined to obey & honor God NO MATTER the cost.
And because they trusted & obeyed God above the king AND their own fear of death, the king realized the Truth-that GOD ALMIGHTY IS WHO HE SAYS HE IS & ONLY HE IS WORTHY OF WORSHIP! (Daniel 3:28-30)
Our War with Temptations
How often have I prayed for God’s help in overcoming the temptation to just cave in any of those scenarios I confessed to struggle against… knowing full well that although I prayed fervently, I had already determined in my heart that I was going to do it anyway… that I was going to bow.
Because I wanted it more than I wanted to honor & obey God.
Because I wanted it more than I wanted to risk not being happy, trusting in it more than in God.
_______________… & THEN I’ll Obey!
Because I wasn’t (& am often not) willing to NOT bow UNLESS it’s made easy to resist.
Take away that fiery furnace & then I’ll obey!
Take away the decree completely & then I’ll obey!
Make the king change his mind & THEN I’ll obey!
Make it easy for me to obey & then I’ll obey.
God’s Way or the Highway!
But I don’t want to live that way anymore. I have already seen the victory that comes in saying “God’s way or the highway!” when I was willing to say to God: “Okay, God, even if I perceive that I may never be satisfied-if I don’t escape with fantasies-because of my assault trauma… you know what, I would rather lose that then to keep dishonoring You by doing it my way, because you know what… my way is NOT WORKING. My way seems appealing but always has a catch. My way always comes with damaging fine print that I too often ignore or pretend isn’t there. And if You MADE sex to BE ENJOYED between a HUSBAND & his WIFE, then YOU are the ONLY authority on how it works & how to find the satisfaction I have been seeking to fulfill my way. So, NO MORE. I want Your way & ONLY Your way from now on!! AMEN.”
Be Willing to Say, “But If Not… I Will Still Obey!”
And that’s how I need to be in EVERY area of my life… in EVERY one of those scenarios I listed at the beginning of this.
That “& IF NOT”… if it’s still boring… if I still want to stir that pot of discontentment… if I’m worried I will end up discontent or unhappy… if I am too busy… if there are too many distractions… if NONE of the obstacles are removed, that I WILL STILL WALK FORWARD IN OBEDIENCE, TRUSTING THAT GOD CAN HELP ME, but that IF NOT, it is ALWAYS worth doing it HIS WAY.
Our war with temptations ends when we determine that God has the final say, God knows best, & only God’s way can bring the satisfaction we so desperately try to cling to our way…
… When we say, “Temptations, I WILL NOT BOW… because I KNOW MY GOD CAN SAVE/HELP ME… but IF NOT… I still will NOT bow to you!”
Suit Up in GOD’s Armor-Ephesians 6
Shine HOPE by suiting up with truth to counter the lies we’re fed & believe… by determining to do it God’s way even when it seems impossible… to remember God’s got you in the palm of His hand… by being wrapped up in God’s peace that always seems too good to be true, by remembering Who has ultimate authority & power, & by knowing God’s Word as a sword against any attack Satan may try against you.
Because when we suit up in GOD’S armor, that’s how we win our war with temptations.
“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, & he will flee from you.” (James 4:7)
Not today, Satan, not EVER. In JESUS’ name, AMEN.
Coming Next Week
Join me every Monday morning, EST, for more encouragement.
As God grows me, may it encourage you to seek Him & know Him & love Him more every day.
Share with friends & Subscribe by Joining My Tribe, so you never miss a week.
A Note from Michelle:
This blog/website has been running for almost THREE years now! THANK YOU for your continued support & encouragement. <3
If you would like to learn more of my story, check out the “About Me” page. And if you would like to hear how I found my lasting source of HOPE, read the “Hope Is Found” page, 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, 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! Check out this week’s featured beauty!!
Andean Earrings (Peru)
(Fashion as a force for Good! Empower women in Peru out of poverty with these beautifully hand-crafted Andean Earrings! These are some of my favorite earrings because they remind me of a certain Disney princess.)
Handcrafted by our newest Artisan partners in Peru, these unique statement earrings are showstoppers with 24k gold-plated oval studs & framed teardrop chrysocolla stones. Designed to pair with our Andean Ring, hammered metal & natural variations of swirling green chrysocolla add “Old World” charm to these ethically made earrings.
Every purchase of these beautifully hand-crafted earrings provides safe jobs with fair wages in areas of extreme poverty in Peru.
How You Can Help:
SHOP Here, OR, Email me at michellehyde.tradesofhope@gmail.com with any questions, & I will message you personally with more information!! Thank you for inspiring HOPE around the world, Lovely!
Your purchases not only help these women, but my commissions help me to continue supporting them as well as continuing this website/blog, encouraging women all around the world with the HOPE we have in Jesus. Win win!
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.” (Proverbs 9:10) (Emphasis mine.)
I have heard this verse fluffed up so much that from what I have been taught, I think it has mostly lost a huge part of what makes this fact so phenomenal.
This idea of “fearing God” has been often taught as an idea of awe… that God is so great that we think, “Wow, God! You’re great!” And that fearing God as wisdom basically means it’s wise to think He’s pretty great.
But the more that I learn about who God is, the deeper my understanding of this phrase becomes.
All That God Is… & He Is So Much More
You see, God is SO far above & beyond what we can even IMAGINE(Isaiah 55:8-9).
He existed before time & exists out of time, knowing everything past, present, & future simultaneously & how every aspect interacts throughout the existence of time (Psalm 139:13-16).
The name of God holds more power than anything else (Luke 10:17).
“For by Him all things were created, in heaven & on earth, visible & invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through Him & for Him.” (Colossians 1:16)
God can do immeasurably above what we can ask or even imagine (Ephesians 3:20-21).
We don’t have to believe in Him for Him to exist & for His laws to stand according to what He says.
And THAT is just the beginning behind the WHY we ought to fear God… & why the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom.
It’s a clear understanding that HE is God & I am NOT.
It’s an understanding that HE will prevail & He WILL get the glory & His plans will NOT be thwarted.
It is an understanding that only God holds the final say & will have the final word.
… That His judgements will stand, whether you agree or not.
Fearing God Is the Beginning of Wisdom
And so, having this fear (reverence, awe, & understanding that ONLY HE is GOD) & understanding that what He determines will stand… & living with that understanding… is the beginning of wisdom.
It’s a deferring to Him in everything, whether you agree with it or understand it… or not.
It’s an obedience to Him in everything, whether you think it should be done differently or believe otherwise… or not.
It’s a laying down your course of life for His will & plan.
And here is the beautiful thing… looking at the verse that followsProverbs 9:10…
Proverbs 9:11 tells us, “For by Me, thy days shall be multiplied, & the years of thy life shall be increased.”
We Can ALWAYS Trust Him in ALL Things
In other words, fearing God is the beginning of wisdom BECAUSE God ALWAYS knows what He is talking about.
Sometimes it may feel like real FEAR… that we feel like, “I don’t know God. This doesn’t make sense, because life seems to be this way instead or culture says it’s this way instead. I don’t know how to believe what You say… BUT You are God & I am not, so no matter how scary it is to step out of what seems logical to me, I will obey You as the ultimate authority above my own logic, because You alone are God. Help me to obey, even when I don’t get it. In Jesus’ name, I pray. AMEN.”
God Is a God of PROMISE
And the same goes with God’s promises. His promises are not “this could happen” or Him saying, “I can do this” but rather, “This WILL happen & I WILL do this.”
So, when we pray, we don’t have to beg or plead or petition for God to go through with a promise… we need to CLAIM it as FACT.
Don’t pray from a position of assumed defeat, but from an understood VICTORY, when you pray God’s promises.
If anything, say, “God, please help me to REST in this PROMISE.” Or, “God, help me to see how to move forward, knowing this is Your promise.”
CLAIM His promises as FACT.
God IS Who He says He is. God DOES what He says He will.
Shine HOPE by fearing God as the the beginning of wisdom.
Coming Next Week
Join me every Monday morning, EST, for more encouragement.
As God grows me, may it encourage you to seek Him & know Him & love Him more every day.
Share with friends & Subscribe by Joining My Tribe, so you never miss a week.
A Note from Michelle:
This blog/website has been running for almost THREE years now! THANK YOU for your continued support & encouragement. <3
If you would like to learn more of my story, check out the “About Me” page. And if you would like to hear how I found my lasting source of HOPE, read the “Hope Is Found” page, 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, 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! Check out this week’s featured beauty!!
Pearl Drop Hoops (India)
(Fashion as a force for good! Empower women in India out of poverty with these beautifully hand-crafted items!)
Removable freshwater pearl drops & classic gold-toned hoops make these Pearl Drop Hoops from India stunning enough to dress up any evening outfit, yet comfortable enough to wear every day. (Pearl shown on Long Chain Necklace-Golden (India) with Darling Charms Set charms.)
In India, poverty often leads to exploitation of vulnerable women in sweatshops. Every purchase provides these Artisans with fair wages, access to healthcare, education for their children, & care for elderly family members.
How You Can Help:
SHOP Here, OR, Email me at michellehyde.tradesofhope@gmail.com with any questions, & I will message you personally with more information!! Thank you for inspiring HOPE around the world, Lovely!
Your purchases not only help these women, but my commissions help me to continue supporting them as well as continuing this website/blog, encouraging women all around the world with the HOPE we have in Jesus. Win win!
This week, I want to talk about something that I never really understood growing up as a Christian.
Aside from misunderstanding that Christianity was just a bunch of rules, versus the Truth that Jesus paid our debt to fulfill God’s laws & that obedience to Him is not to PROVE our faith to God, but as a way to live our faith in God. We believe, so we trust & obey….
But aside from that misunderstanding, I also mistakenly believed that Christianity had mostly to do with after death, in whether or not you will go to Heaven (eternal contentment & joy) or Hell (eternal restlessness & agony). I didn’t think God had much to do with our life before death, other than trying to “be a good person” as I believed it.
But I was wrong.
SO wrong.
There’s More to Life
And there are so many verses that point to this fact, including …… where it tells us that Jesus “came, not to condemn the world, but to save it” (John 3:17)… & “that we may have life & have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10)
Also, consider the other, lesser talked about brother in the story of the Prodigal Son, how his father told him, in essence, “you had all of this the whole time.” (Luke 15:31)
Do we really live like we believe that God wants for us more than just to “get through life” so we can experience Heaven when we die?
His Beautiful Design
Think about how God designed & created us with our senses & then extravagantly designed & created this world with so much unique beauty for our senses to appreciate, where every one of the same flower is recognizable as that type of flower, but comes in many shades & height & sizes & colors. Everything is unique & beautiful to behold. (Genesis 1)
Or, remember that God created in advance good works for us to do. (Ephesians 2:8-10)
HE planned them. HE arranged them.
And HE provides what we need when we need it & lean into Him for it. (2 Peter 1:3)
Be Being Filled
In Ephesians 5:18, God tells us to “BE FILLED with the Spirit.” (emphasis mine)
And to clarify, the Holy Spirit is with every single person who has submitted their life to God through accepting Jesus Christ as their Savior, but this verb of “Be Filled” has a deeper meaning.
This verb actually has the understanding of “be BEING filled.”
In other words, while the Holy Spirit is WITH us & is made available to every single person who has accepted Jesus Christ, we are called to this “BE BEING FILLED” idea.
We are called to submit to His lead in every relationship, in every conversation, in every task, in every decision, in every day.
We are called to lean into Him in EVERYTHING.
We Are But a Branch
This is why we are told to PRAY WITHOUT CEASING (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18) & to ABIDE (stay, continue) IN CHRIST as a branch to our Vine (John 15:4).
The Bible even warns us about living as “wise in our own eyes.” (Isaiah 5:21)
Submit every preconception, every “way I grew up/was raised”, every assumption, every ideal, etc. under God’s authority & say-so, because where we can err, He will never.
Tuck everything you think you know into His unchanging, infallible Truth.
He Can
And where we drain & deplete & come up as insufficient, He does not.
He can provide peace where only chaos reigns.
He can redirect our misunderstandings to the truth.
He can see the thoughts & intentions we cannot.
He can see how this will ripple effect a future beyond our lifespan.
“Now to Him [God] who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church & in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever & ever! Amen.” (Ephesians 3:20-21)
We need to submit to this command of be BEING filled, a continual filling, a continual leading, & a continual submission to His Lordship.
God Is All-Sufficient for Our Needs
I cannot even tell you how many times I thought I “needed” something other than God to fulfill me… something not quite in line with the impossible standard God commanded. (Impossible because I was trying to live it in my own wisdom, power, & understanding… aka without His help.)
I missed the mark (sinned). I chose my way, my solution, my “wisdom.”
And there were always unforeseen consequences… fine print.
What I yearned after never fulfilled me, but left me always searching for more… I felt like something was empty & off in my life… I felt restless & discontented.
Until it dawned on me, “Wait. If God made me… & He knows literally everything… Wouldn’t He KNOW what’s best for me in this? Shouldn’t I drop my way & try His? Doesn’t that make sense?”
Sins –> Harmful Fine Print –> Turning to His Way –> Blessings
And guess what, this has always worked in every area where I was compromising to get what I thought I was missing from God, getting hurt by the consequences of a wrong solution, to turning to God’s way & realizing the blessings His way brought me.
… with flirting to gain approval & to “end” my insecurities (only to be left feeling trapped that if I don’t keep playing the game, I lose)… with turning to fantasies because it felt less vulnerable than dealing with assault trauma from my past… with turning to tv/games/numbing myself vs turning to God in my despairing moments, including fights with depression…
With all of those above examples, when I had that realization that “God made me… knows everything… would know what I need…” & I STOPPED my “wisdom” for HIS… I found the hope I was so desperately searching for.
We need to submit to Him because only He actually knows what we need.
We Need to Submit to Him–Continually
We need to submit to Him because only He knows what we were designed & created for (because we were designed & created BY GOD.)
We need to submit to Him because ONLY He has any real authority over anything in life.
He alone is King.
He alone is GOD ALMIGHTY.
And only He loves you infinitely/unconditionally, sent Jesus to willingly pay your debts to Him, & knows you better than you could ever know yourself.
Be BEING Filled. Submit to Him in EVERYTHING.
Our Part in Life… Letting HIM Shine
Because 100% He knows better & already has a plan in place.
You just have to be willing to follow His lead, with His help.
That’s it. That’s your part.
You shine Hope by letting HIM shine through YOU.
Coming Next Week
Join me every Monday morning, EST, for more encouragement.
As God grows me, may it encourage you to seek Him & know Him & love Him more every day.
Share with friends & Subscribe by Joining My Tribe, so you never miss a week.
A Note from Michelle:
This blog/website has been running for almost THREE years now! THANK YOU for your continued support & encouragement. <3
If you would like to learn more of my story, check out the “About Me” page. And if you would like to hear how I found my lasting source of HOPE, read the “Hope Is Found” page, 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, 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! Check out this week’s featured beauty!!
Moonstone Hoops (India)
Fashion as a force for good! Empower women in India out of poverty with these beautifully hand-crafted Moonstone Hoops! (Also shown: Long Chain Necklace (Golden), Darling Charms Set charm, & a pearl from the Pearl Drop Hoops.)
Artisans from India cut & frame moonstones on these gold-toned elliptical hoops. Moonstones are prized in India for the unique way they reflect light.
How You Can Help:
SHOP Here, OR, Email me at michellehyde.tradesofhope@gmail.com with any questions, & I will message you personally with more information!! Thank you for inspiring HOPE around the world, Lovely!
Your purchases not only help these women, but my commissions help me to continue supporting them as well as continuing this website/blog, encouraging women all around the world with the HOPE we have in Jesus. Win win!
This week will mark NINE years of marriage to my loving husband, Jamie.
To celebrate, we had a lovely weekend visit to Morioka, Japan over this past weekend, complete with a trip to the zoo, a stroll through a beautifully landscaped castle ruins park, Mario Kart face offs at a giant arcade, enjoying (twice!) the best brunch I have had in Japan (@ Brunch Morioka), & lots of shopping.
It was a great trip made even greater by the company I shared with my best friend AKA my husband.
Not a Façade, But We’re Not Perfect
Many people have told me that me & my husband seem like newlyweds at times, laughing & teasing each other, being flirtatious, & just being good friends with one another.
But we’re not perfect. Neither one of us is.
We have our days in the grumps, we argue sometimes when we disagree, & we don’t always agree on everything.
But we have a secret weapon. We know the Truth… We know the Way-Maker.
Every Relationship… We Are All Imperfect
Satan would have married couples believe that one disagreement or fight (or maybe many) means your marriage is a sham… that “maybe you’re not meant for each other after all.”
But isn’t difficulty & challenge present with every close friendship? Even every family relationship (aka sister cat fight, haha)?
When one imperfect person marries another imperfect person, it is only logical that you will imperfectly relate to one another.
That doesn’t make your marriage broken… just human. And Satan likes to twist that to cause even more damage, sorrow, & anxiety.
Growing Up with a Sister
One of my sisters is just two years younger than me, so we grew up together. And there were days where we would “hate” each other so much that we would yell as much while running to our room, followed by a door slam that echoed throughout the house.
Of course, typically, my mom would FORCE us to hug it out & tell each other, “I’m sorry” & “I love you” (but made us repeat those words until we said it “like we mean it”).
It was the WORST. But I am super grateful for it now.
What I once had to say to her with a rolled eye & a squeaked out “I love you” (full of disdain), has ended up developing a bond in us that cannot be easily broken.
My mom always said to us, “She is your sister. She is your lifelong friend. Where other friends come & go, you will always have your sister. So, make it work!”
Such wise words & ones I have clung to throughout my life.
And the same goes for marriage.
We’re not perfect. But he is my lifelong friend. And where other friends may come & go from my life, I will always have him.
A Husband Can’t Replace God
Early on in our marriage, I put a lot more pressure on my husband than I should have. He was working long hours & came home ready to be a vegetable for a while, but I was lonely & put that weight on his shoulders.
This created a lot of strain on our friendship because he wanted to help but couldn’t & I felt unloved if he didn’t.
(I hesitate to say, “it put strain on our marriage” vs “on our friendship” because God says two become oneflesh(Mark 10:8-9) when you commit yourself to marriage (just as my mom mentioned about sisters… my sister & I will always be sisters, even if we were to stop associating with one another), so we’re in it regardless… but that doesn’t mean it’s always easy.)
In other words, I was looking to the wrong one to fulfill me. My husband was never meant to be that missing piece. He is meant to be my partner in this life… my friend… the other half of a marriage meant to give God glory.
And through my tearful prayers, God revealed Himself as our Way-Maker.
God Is Our Way-Maker
When I felt alone & depression threatened to flood my heart, putting full weight of it on my husband’s already tired back, God encouraged the both of us to turn to HIM instead of pressuring or pushing away each other.
Instead of being pit against each other, debating against each other for our right solution or even growing numb & giving up on the solution altogether, God encouraged us to rejoin as ONE team, turning to GOD for the solution against the problem.
God reminded me that we do not wrestle against flesh & blood. That yes, we may have disagreements or misunderstandings, but that God can bring a solution… while Satan wants to twist & aggravate the situation until the relationship is “damaged beyond repair.”
God brought us back to the same side so we could fight the problem (vs each other) together under God’s direction, wisdom, & peace.
God was our glue… our bridge… our Way-Maker.
God Always Knows How
And through our prayers, tensions waned & our friendship grew.
God helped fulfill me & see the little ways that my husband expressed his “I love yous” & He helped me to be a better support to the stress my husband faced with his long hours.
And over the years, this has become our pattern: have a human moment of grumpiness or disagreement, maybe not handle it right at first, but remember & turn to God for wisdom, peace, & a solution.
This has helped us cultivate TEAM HYDE.
We are not impervious to Satan’s jabs & attacks. We fall for them sometimes.
But we know the way back.
We have to turn to God & stick together, unified against the threats of Satan’s attempts to attack our marriage & friendship.
Pray Over Close Relationships with Family & Friends–You Better Believe Satan Wants Them OVER
And the same goes for other family members or even friends.
Anything that has potential to give God glory is for sure a target Satan will attack.
Remember that fact when faced with disagreements & arguments… especially for those relationships that encourage you to look to God as your hope & source of solution. Those who edify & encourage you… or those for whom you edify & encourage.
Turn to God. Ask Him to help you cut through any lies or misunderstandings.
Ask God
Ask Him to put a hedge of protection around your close friendships.
Ask Him to keep you alert to Satan’s tricks, schemes, & lies when it comes to those close relationships.
Ask Him for His wisdom, peace, & help.
And always turn to God in all things big or small….
Because GOD is our WAY-MAKER.
Shine Hope by always turning to Him as the Bridge back together, the Glue to keep you together, & the Way-Maker when things seem impossible.
Because God is in the business of doing the impossible EVERY DAY.
Coming Next Week
Join me every Monday morning, EST, for more encouragement.
As God grows me, may it encourage you to seek Him & know Him & love Him more every day.
Share with friends & Subscribe by Joining My Tribe, so you never miss a week.
A Note from Michelle:
This blog/website has been running for almost THREE years now! THANK YOU for your continued support & encouragement. <3
If you would like to learn more of my story, check out the “About Me” page. And if you would like to hear how I found my lasting source of HOPE, read the “Hope Is Found” page, 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, 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! Check out this week’s featured beauty!!
Andean Earrings (Peru)
Fashion as a force for good! Empower women in Peru out of poverty with these beautifully hand-crafted Andean Earrings! (Also pictured: Long Chain Necklace (Golden) & Darling Charms from India & Pearl from our Pearl Drop Hoops.)
Handcrafted by our newest Artisan partners in Peru, these unique statement earrings are showstoppers with 24k gold-plated oval studs & framed teardrop chrysocolla stones. Designed to pair with our Andean Ring, hammered metal & natural variations of swirling green chrysocolla add “Old World” charm to these ethically made earrings.
Every purchase provides safe jobs with fair wages in areas of extreme poverty in Peru.
How You Can Help:
SHOP Here, OR, Email me at michellehyde.tradesofhope@gmail.com with any questions, & I will message you personally with more information!! Thank you for inspiring HOPE around the world, Lovely!
Your purchases not only help these women, but my commissions help me to continue supporting them as well as continuing this website/blog, encouraging women all around the world with the HOPE we have in Jesus. Win win!
“Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore, do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.” (Ephesians 5:15-17) (Emphasis mine.)
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test & approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing & perfect will.” (Romans 12:2) (Emphasis mine.)
So, what is God’s will? That’s what I would like to talk about today & it’s a two-fold answer.
First: God’s Law Is Perfect
On one hand, you have the more obvious answer of how to know what God’s perfect will is, & that is His Word… His law.
Now, I have talked about this many times, but the word “law” should not evoke feelings of recoil or indignation, but, as shown all throughout the longest chapter in the Bible—Psalm 119, God’s law is so beautiful & wonderful & something to be highly treasured & valued!
You may be thinking as I did through the many times of running across the many verses of Psalm 119—“People can’t actually ENJOY & TREASURE God’s law… Because laws are constricting & limiting. The writers of these psalms are just saying what they think He wants to hear because it makes them look ‘spiritual’.”
I get that, if that’s you… I totally get that because that was me for most of my life.
But, as I get to know & love God more… the more I seek after Him… the more I am proven completely wrong on that front. God’s laws ARE amazing.
As 2 Timothy 3:16 puts it, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, & is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness….” Or, as many a pastor has put it, “the Bible is good for knowing what is right, what is wrong, how to get right, & how to stay right.”
God’s Law Is Perfect in Knowledge, Understanding, Wisdom, & LOVE
Why? Because God literally knows EVERYTHING & has PERFECT understanding…. AND He made sure we had that information available to us.
What a wonderful, loving God indeed!
And so, knowing everything, understanding everything perfectly, AND making sure we have that information available to us… it only stands to reason that HIS WILL stems primarily from HIS WORD.
To KNOW His perfect will, we need to get to know God’s Word—that’s where reading & meditating on & studying His Word comes in as SO IMPORTANT, nay, even the MOST important way we can spend our time.
And the most VALUABLE way we can spend our time on earth.
Knowing Is Not Enough
But KNOWING is not enough.
Now, before the recoil comes bubbling up again as it would have once done to me… this is NOT a guilt trip post. This is NOT a post to say “YOU’RE NOT DOING ENOUGH, WOMAN!”
NO.
This is to say that just knowing is not going to do very much good at all. Just like faith (in God) holds little value unless we ACT on what we claim to believe & live it out. It’s like knowing the cure & not taking it.
As my earlier post pointed out, if you want to grow in your faith… you need to DO what God says aka OBEY His Word. (Check out that post, here: “Want to Trust God? Obey Him.”)
James 1:22-25 has something to say about this, too. That knowing without doing is like a man (or woman) who looks in the mirror & then immediately forgets what they look like… aka it’s worthless, pointless, & doesn’t do you any good. It’s wasted.
Second: Letting God Be in Charge of You
And here’s where the two-fold part comes in… we can have book-knowledge of God’s perfect will, through His Word… BUT, we also need to ABIDE.
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain [abide] in Me & I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing,” is what Jesus tells us in John 15:5.
God tells us to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thess. 5:16-18) & to be as branches on Him as the vine for a reason… we NEED to constantly be drawing FROM HIM.
ABIDE in Him.
We need to get used to telling Him everything, asking Him for every need, turning to Him in every situation, & drawing from Him for all things big & small.
… but help in knowing how to apply His Word at any given moment.
Let God Interrupt Your Plans
AND, being open to let God change your schedule to work out His plans… His good works that He has prepared in advance for you to do (Ephesians 2:10).
And how better to redeem our time, as Ephesians 5:15-17 tells us, than to offer our schedule to God & be willing to let Him change it according to His perfect will for that day?
God instructs us, in James 4:13-15, not to hold too tightly to our own plans, but to be willing to stay open to GOD’S PLANS.
Be willing to let Him have the reins of your day & to guide your hands & feet as you go about it.
To know God’s perfect will… to redeem the time for what has lasting value in this world… you need to be leaning into Him consistently & saying, “God, I have this planned for my day, but if someone needs You, help me to be sensitive to it…. If You have a good work set out for me today, help me to be willing to sidestep my schedule to be available for Your plan for today. Help me make myself available to You over my routines, habits, & plans. In Jesus’ name, I pray. AMEN.”
Because, only when you are willing to have God shake up your schedule & let Him work out His own perfect plans will you begin to see His good & perfect will fleshed out in your life.
Personal Example
I promise that letting God interrupt you is 100% always better than what you had planned.
In college, I was on the spiritual leadership team on our dorm (Go LU!) & there were many times where I had tests to study for or papers to finish or speeches to memorize… & then a young lady would knock on my door, asking for counsel, a listening ear, or prayer support.
I wish I could say I was immediately willing, but I have a hard time tossing my schedule to the wind, so every time I would stop & pray silently where only God & I knew & I would say, “God, I know she is more valuable to You than whatever grade I may get on this assignment, so if you want this to consume my time in place of my task, please give me peace, give me compassion, & help me love her on Your behalf. I trust You with the rest. Amen.”
And she & I would talk & she would share her woes & we would pray together. We would both leave the conversation refreshed, edified, & reminded of God’s goodness, power, & love.
And EVERY time, God would either give me the strength to study way past my old self felt capable (I went to college later in life & late nights were not a thing for me, haha)… or the test/paper/speech would be postponed… or the assignment would be easier than I was believing it would be & that extra study time would have been a wasted effort.
God always took care of the rest when I surrendered my schedule to His plans.
What Is the Perfect Will of God
So, what IS the perfect will of God?
To understand the answer to this, you have to learn to seek to 1—KNOW His Word, & 2—LEAN INTO HIM moment-by-moment.
Only then will you begin to redeem your time in a fulfilling way, the way God designed it to be.
Consistent in His Word, consistent in time talking with Him & made available to His lead for each day.
It’s not easy.
I go on auto-pilot… I set my plans & have a hard time with impromptu plans….
But, I want to be used by God. I want my time to mean more than getting through the week.
Shine Hope Through God’s Good & Perfect Will
God sees the hurting hearts. He sees you if you’re reading this with a broken heart. He knows our struggles & tears & hurts & trauma & fears….
He sees EVERY individual even better than they see themselves. And He knows their needs on an intimate & deep level. AND He cares so SO much for them all.
So, be a vessel of hope. Because we may not see a need, but He does. He knows. And He knows how to help. All we have to do is be willing to trust His lead.
Redeem your time.
Don’t live as unwise, but as wise.
Understand what is the perfect will of God.
And be a light of HOPE for Him, through Him.
Shine Hope by knowing what is the perfect will of GOD.
Coming Next Week
Join me every Monday morning, EST, for more encouragement.
As God grows me, may it encourage you to seek Him & know Him & love Him more every day.
Share with friends & Subscribe by Joining My Tribe, so you never miss a week.
A Note from Michelle:
This blog/website has been running for over TWO years now! THANK YOU for your continued support & encouragement. <3
If you would like to hear more of my story, check out the “About Me” page. And if you would like to hear how I found my lasting source of HOPE, read the “Hope Is Found” page, 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, 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! Check out this week’s featured beauty!!
Silver Medallion Necklace (India)
(Fashion as a force for Good! Empower women in India out of poverty with this beautifully hand-crafted Silver Medallion Necklace!)
This textured silver-tone chain from India can be worn separately or layered with other necklaces from our One World Collection. The uniquely textured pendant adds the perfect artistic touch. Three length options allow you to choose your comfort & style.
Every necklace has variations as a part of the Artisan-made charm! And every purchase provides fair-trade jobs in areas of extreme poverty in India.
How You Can Help:
SHOP Here, OR, Email me at michellehyde.tradesofhope@gmail.com with any questions, & I will message you personally with more information!! Thank you for inspiring HOPE around the world, Lovely!
Your purchases not only help these women, but my commissions help me to continue supporting them as well as continuing this website/blog, encouraging women all around the world with the HOPE we have in Jesus. Win win!
Forgiveness is a pretty big deal to God. So much so that He set the ultimate example in that “while we were still sinners, Jesus Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)
But it’s something that is very challenging for me.
It’s not that I hold grudges or get pouty, but if someone is intentionally spiteful or if I see a Christian, who represents Jesus Christ, misrepresenting Him, I can feel an immediate wall go up between me & that person.
I understand that we can sharpen one another as iron sharpen iron (Proverbs 27:17) & that certain circumstances require loving confrontation to correct the wrong (2 Timothy 4:1-5)(Ephesians 4:15), but in the case of someone who is unrepentant or uncaring, we are called to forgive anyway. (Matthew 18:21-22)
Not Understanding
Learning to forgive is something I have been praying over for the last couple of years or so.
… Not that I mean to be unforgiving, but I struggle even understanding what it means TO forgive.
Some people describe forgiveness as a “forgive & forget,” while others say “forgive but be smart & never forget.” Still others act like forgiveness means completely excusing the wrongs committed.
Apologies Go a LONG WAY
In my past, I have often had people say very hurtful things to me that caused a lot of emotional scarring on my heart, only to have that person brush it off after their emotions calmed down, implying to me that their hot emotions justified their hurtful words.
This sort of behavior can be quite harmful, as it makes the victim feel to blame.
That is why it is so important, if you emotionally lash out at someone, whether they be your child, spouse, parent, friend, or stranger—to apologize—to take responsibility for it & express remorse to the person wronged.
Taking the Burden on Myself
On my end, I cultivated an even more dangerous habit in response… I began holding on to their wrongs myself, as if me deciding to let them go justified those wrongs somehow. In my opinion, those wrongs needed to be seen as wrong & if the person wouldn’t acknowledge it, my heart wouldn’t let it go.
I wanted that wrong to be treated as a wrong versus being swept away as if justified.
But that’s not my job. I don’t need to bear that burden or responsibility.
Jesus paid for those wrongs. God is the Judge.
Not me.
My Journey with Forgiveness
And that’s what God has been teaching me in my quest to understand the meaning & practical application of forgiveness.
I don’t have to hold on to those wrongs.
God knows those wrongs are wrong. God is the Righteous & Perfect Judge. HE can & will handle it, even if that means it being covered on the cross when Jesus paid our debt before God.
And then the Holy Spirit brought a passage in Matthew 18 to mind.(In other words, God brought in “the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God” (Ephesians 6:17) aka RHEMA, where He seems to highlight a section of Scripture meant to deal directly with what you have been seeking God for help with.)
The Unforgiving Servant
This passage in Matthew 18 contains a parable (story told in the Bible to illustrate a specific Truth from God) about the Unforgiving Servant. Read about him below:
“Then Peter came to Him [Jesus] & said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, & I forgive him? Up to seven times?”
Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven. Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. And when he had begun to settle accounts, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. But as he was not able to pay, his master commanded that he be sold, with his wife & children & all that he had, & that payment be made. The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, ‘Master, have patience with me, & I will pay you all.’ Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, & forgave him the debt.
“But that servant went out & found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; & he laid hands on him & took him by the throat, saying, ‘Pay me what you owe!’ So, his fellow servant fell down at his feet & begged him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, & I will pay you all.’ And he would not, but went & threw him into prison till he should pay the debt. So, when his fellow servants saw what had been done, they were very grieved, & came & told their master all that had been done. Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?’ And his master was angry, & delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him.
“So, My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses.” (Matthew 18:21-35)
A Truth from the Parable
As you can see from this parable, unforgiveness is no joking matter to God. He takes it very seriously.
And in His seemingly harsh reaction to it, we can be tempted to forget that the punishment threatened here is exactly what we deserve.
Actually, we deserve Hell because of our “infractions” aka SIN against God, but instead of demanding we suffer or pay, He covered our debt through His compassion for us.
But then for us, having been forgiven SO MUCH by HIM, to go & NOT forgive so much LESS from others… well, in God’s eyes, it is deserving of the wrath we had been spared.
We need to be careful not to hold what others owe us over their heads.
Because God surely doesn’t do that to us, & if He did, we would surely be crushed under the weight of all we would owe Him.
Forgiveness Even When Found Guilty
In that story, the fellow servant owed the original servant. It’s not that the servant was innocent & “deserving” of forgiveness. The servant owed money & deserved repercussions for not paying what was owed.
But that first servant was called to forgive anyway… because he had been forgiven a debt far greater.
Dealing with Unforgiveness
Forgiveness seems impossible when I am only looking at what others owe me or at the wrongs they have done against me… when I see their lack of innocence as glaringly obvious….
… But then, when I compare their debt to myself & my forgiven debt to God….
… And ask God to help me let go & let Him take His seat as Redeemer & Judge…
… Then it’s a lot harder for me to keep holding on to that unforgiveness against their wrongs.
Because I deserve GOD’s wrath, but He forgave me & covered my debt when I asked Him to cover me. He had compassion on me.
Let Go, Let God, Pray & Forgive
I need to remember that when I am wronged. I need to pray for them who persecute me & love those who make themselves my enemy(Matthew 5:44) & consider their payment as also coverable by Jesus’ blood, just as mine was covered.
And I need to forgive, let go, & let God.
Shine Hope by letting God sit in the Judge’s seat & by trusting Him to handle it… because that’s not your burden to bear anymore or ever.
Coming Next Week
Join me every Monday morning, EST, for more encouragement.
As God grows me, may it encourage you to seek Him & know Him & love Him more every day.
Share with friends & Subscribe by Joining My Tribe, so you never miss a week.
A Note from Michelle:
This blog/website has been running for over TWO years now! THANK YOU for your continued support & encouragement. <3
If you would like to hear more of my story, check out the “About Me” page. And if you would like to hear how I found my lasting source of HOPE, read the “Hope Is Found” page, 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, 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! Check out this week’s featured beauty!!
Long Chain Necklace-Silver (India)
(Fashion as a force for Good! Empower women in India out of poverty with this beautifully hand-crafted Long-Chain Necklace!)
This silver-tone link-chain design is handcrafted in India & is totally on-trend! Wear alone, double up, or layer together with other chain necklaces from our One World Collection, like our Long Chain Necklace – Gold. Every purchase provides fair trade jobs in areas of extreme poverty in India.
Artisan Story
Vishnu’s Story of Hope:
“When I was 19 years old my friend introduced me to this work. Then I started work with a factory. When I was in the first factory, the boss & working environment were not friendly. I also faced issues with my colleagues. I was not liking the work much.
But now, I enjoy my work. I like making & setting stones with the silver & brass jewelry, mostly setting earrings & rings. I’m educating my children & my work is helping me to achieve my family goals. I’m still facing hardships in my life, but I like being an Artisan. I hope to earn more for my family & fulfill their dreams, so they can enjoy a good life in the future.”
How You Can Help:
SHOP Here, OR, Email me at michellehyde.tradesofhope@gmail.com with any questions, & I will message you personally with more information!! Thank you for inspiring HOPE around the world, Lovely!
Your purchases not only help these women, but my commissions help me to continue supporting them as well as continuing this website/blog, encouraging women all around the world with the HOPE we have in Jesus. Win win!
I was recently convicted by the Holy Spirit in an area I hadn’t really considered previously. Those moments are always great, aren’t they? We get lulled into thinking we’re doing pretty well as a human being & then BAM, you realize you haven’t been doing quite as well as you previously imagined.
Now, this isn’t something He does to push us down with guilt & shame, but to lift us up, putting away the old me & replacing that with better habits that honor & love both God & others better & more intentionally.
So, I had one of those moments when I came across Ephesians 4:29, “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” (Emphasis mine.)
Only What Is Edifying
Now, because I had seen improvement on the first half of that command, watching my mouth to not accidentally slander or gossip, & cleaning up my vocabulary from the unwholesome talk of my youth, I thought I was doing pretty well here.
But when I read that verse this time, the second half seemed to lift off the page & present itself upon my heart, “… only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” ONLY what is edifying to others.
Wow, now THAT is a tall order.
Much Improvement Needed
I have much improved, with God’s help through the Holy Spirit, on the “what NOT to do” in that verse’s first half, but often I wildly neglect the responsibility given for me TO DO in the second half.
ONLY what helps build others up according to their needs… ONLY what edifies them.
I promise you that is not something I live up to currently.
Social Anxiety Wins Too Often
You may see my blog’s (hopeful) encouragement & my social media presence of mostly (hopeful) encouragement, but in person? Social awkwardness & social anxiety of just trying to get through the conversation without looking &/or feeling like an idiot is my main & usually ONLY focus.
Now, I try to be kind & caring & all that… but I don’t intentionally pray for God to help me find words that will build them up… that will leave them encouraged… that will do lasting good in their hearts.
I just get in & get out, hoping to not look a fool.
And then that little verse.
Be His Light in the World
I realized I have been more concerned with being liked (or at least accepted) instead of being a LIGHT of hope & encouragement… intentional in building others up whom God places in my path.
I have been looking out for ME, instead of trusting GOD to do that, while looking out for those around me.
How convicting.
How selfish I am & how untrusting of God that reveals my heart to be.
A Prayer of Repentance & for Growth
“LORD, I see this reminder… this Truth. I see the call in it to trust You with my image or worth while seeking how I can be intentionally blessing others with my words… building them up… encouraging them… nourishing them with Your call of hope, Your LOVE, & Your Truth. I have been an unwilling messenger. Please forgive me. Help me to be bold in speaking Your Truth in love, in shining hope into the lives of those I interact with every day. Help me to stop trying to save face or to stop fading into the background, & help me to realize people are worth it. You DIED for them. Your Truth is for them & WILL help them whether they get that or not. Your ways are good. Help me be a voice for that Goodness & HOPE. Help me not self-protect, but to SHINE FOR YOU. Your glory, their blessing. Your glory, not mine. Help me grow here. Please help me. They’re worth it. You’re worth it. You’ve got me. They’re worth it to You, God, so they should be worth it to me. Help me. In Jesus’ name, I pray. AMEN.”
Not Easy, But God’s Got You
I get that it’s not easy. I feel you. (Or maybe this is an area you thrive in already?) But God can help you improve. He can bolster your confidence & give you the words. He can be your ENOUGH.
Every person is seen by God & known intimately by God. He sees their hurts & their struggles & their hearts. And He may be sending you as His messenger to show them He sees & cares for them. Shine for Him, through Him–for them.
Shine hope by determining to ONLY speak what is helpful in building others up according to their needs, willing yourself to lean into God for help when you want to freeze up or flee the scene.
Coming Next Week
Join me every Monday morning, EST, for a new blog post with more encouragement.
As God grows me, may it encourage you to seek Him & know Him & love Him more every day.
Share with friends & Subscribe by Joining My Tribe, so you never miss a week.
A Note from Michelle:
This blog/website has been running for over TWO years now! THANK YOU for your continued support & encouragement. <3
If you would like to hear more of my story, check out the “About Me” page. And if you would like to hear how I found my lasting source of HOPE, read the “Hope Is Found” page, 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, 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! Check out this week’s featured beauty!!
Zoya Earrings (India)
(Fashion as a force for good! Empower women in India out of poverty with these beautiful Zoya Earrings!)
Zoya means “shining, life” in Hindi. These stylishly stunning gold-toned earrings are handcrafted in India, featuring genuine freshwater pearls on a delicate linked-chain design.
Artisan Story (Dulal)
“When I was 19 years old, I wasn’t interested in further studies. My life was just sad. I was not aware of my abilities & was just in search of some work. I was depressed due to economic conditions. Then my friend introduced me to this work. My previous boss used to treat me very badly.
Now, I enjoy my work! It’s helping my family & me. I’m capable enough to fulfill my needs, & I’m making all types of handmade jewelry. So overall, it’s a big achievement for me! I’m happy to be an Artisan. I have hope for a good life in the future!”
How You Can Help:
SHOP Here, OR, Email me at michellehyde.tradesofhope@gmail.com with any questions, & I will message you personally with more information!! Thank you for inspiring HOPE around the world, Lovely!
Your purchases not only help these women, but my commissions help me to continue supporting them as well as continuing this website/blog, encouraging women all around the world with the HOPE we have in Jesus. Win win!
This is something I feel like I need to talk about until I am “blue in the face” mainly because it’s something I wrestle with almost every single day.
I like knowing what is right & wrong & where to draw the line. I like being sure that what I believe is true before acting on it. I like feeling like I understand & agree before I endorse or move forward with it.
And, while the Bible does tell us to “test the spirits” aka make sure it’s God instructing & leading you versus a ploy of the devil that almost seems about right… there is a difference in having discernment & making excuses.
I Know It’s God & I’m Still Not Sure I Want to Do It
You see, the areas I am talking about are not things I need to figure out whether it’s God’s leading or not… no, they are things I already know full well that God instructs, but I’m not sure I have wrapped my head around the why or the value in it.
In other words, it is me seeing if I agree with God before I obey God.
And that is dangerous territory, my friend.
God Is ALWAYS Right
Why? Because God is always ALWAYS 100% right in EVERYTHING & has ALMIGHTY power & understanding in all things.
So, when I hear what He says, don’t get it or think I know better, so I don’t do it… it’s foolish… it’s arrogant… & let’s call it for what it is—sinful.
Ways I’ve Done This
Maybe you’re wondering what I mean when I say I do this far too frequently… what are my examples of this….
I could name so many off the top of my head, but I will name a few to help you get the picture.
God says not to lust & not to practice sexual immorality (aka anything outside of you with your husband), yet, for years, because I struggled with this area of temptation & me not having been married until I was 28, justified my fantasies by saying, “BUuuuut, I have these temptations & I don’t have a husband, so God, Your law here doesn’t make sense to me, so I will fantasize because at least then I am not having sex technically.”
But just because I didn’t get WHY, doesn’t justify my disobedience here.
I didn’t agree or understand, so I chose MY way instead.
Healing After MY WAY
And it built up SO MANY scars in this area that when I HAD God’s way, I had to have His help healing through all of the resulting scars before I could enjoy the way God had designed it to be enjoyed—with my husband.
And that’s why God told me NO. Because He KNEW those scars were a result of going outside where He said to stay.But I didn’t listen because I thought little ol me knew better than Him.
More Subtle Examples of Having Faith in Myself
And here is a more subtle, yet EQUALLY powerful example… reading my Bible & praying (aka turning to God in all areas of life & giving Him thanksgiving & praise).
He tells us to meditate on His Word (the Bible) day & night. He tells us COUNTLESS times to PRAY… but I didn’t want to feel like I was checking off a to-do list… I didn’t think I understood what I was reading anyway… I thought I understood the basics, the “gist” of it & that was “enough”… I thought going to church was my solution for that… I thought it was too boring… I thought I was just too busy… I thought I was too easily distracted to do it….
AKA I thought I knew better than God.
Obedience Does Not Add to God… He Tells Us to Do it for US
But, hear me on this… GOD DOES NOT NEED YOU TO READ YOUR BIBLE AND/OR PRAY.
You might be like, now wait one minute!! You just said He commands us to do those things!
But re-read that bold statement again… HE doesn’t need it… He tells us to do those things because He knows WE need them!
So, for me to be too busy, too distracted, too bored, etc…. is the same as saying, “God, I know better than You on this one.”
But ya don’t… & I don’t either, no matter how often I am convinced that I do.
Check Yo’self Before You Wreck Yo’self
And there are SO MANY examples of this type of subtle little arrogance in my life, where my actions are basically telling God, “No, I know better than You on this one.”
OUCH.
This should not be so! How ARROGANT of me! How FOOLISH! How shameful.
God is helping me to see this pride. He is helping me see that I don’t have to trust Him first on something or see the ‘why’ behind it or put all the pieces of it together first to see how it will or will not turn out in my favor.
What I NEED to do is OBEY.
Because, get this, WHEN we OBEY… TRUST GROWS.
Naturally.
Trust Is a Natural Fruit of Obedience
Trust is a natural fruit of obedience. Because the more we obey, even when it doesn’t make any sense to us at all, the more we learn to realize that His wisdom far surpasses our own… the more it grows our confidence in HIM.
And the more we obey & the more we grow in trust in Him as a result, the more ready we are to say, “Well God, I don’t get it, but I know You do, so lead the way!”
Knowing He is big enough to handle the obstacles in your path.
Knowing He is strong enough to bolster your strength, too.
Knowing He can handle what you can’t.
Knowing He knows what you don’t.
Knowing He sees what you can’t.
Knowing He is GOD & you are not.
Want to Trust God? Obey Him
This is what the Bible talks about fearing God as the beginning of wisdom… it’s saying, “Oh wow, You are obviously greater than I, so I know I can trust Your judgement much more reliably than I can EVER trust my own.”
Obedience nurtures, grows, cultivates, & strengthens faith because He never gets it wrong… EVER.
Want to grow in faith? Want to trust God more?…
Then OBEY Him. (And trust me, I am talking to myself on this one because BOY am I WEAK in this area!)
Shine HOPE through obeying God & showing yourself more that EVERY time GOD CAN BE TRUSTED.
Coming Next Week
Join me every Monday morning, EST, for more encouragement.
As God grows me, may it encourage you to seek Him & know Him & love Him more every day.
Share with friends & Subscribe by Joining My Tribe, so you never miss a week.
A Note from Michelle:
This blog/website has been running for over TWO years now! THANK YOU for your continued support & encouragement. <3
If you would like to hear more of my story, check out the “About Me” page. And if you would like to hear how I found my lasting source of HOPE, read the “Hope Is Found” page, 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, 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! Check out this week’s featured beauty!!
Sea Glass Necklace (Jordan)
(Fashion as a force for Good! Empower women in Jordan out of poverty with this beautifully hand-crafted Sea Glass Necklace!)
Artisans recreate the look & feel of sea glass by upcycling glass bottles from local hotels and restaurants that would otherwise be discarded, & tumble it with water & sand from the Red Sea until it is smooth & resembles the beautiful pieces found in nature. Sizes & colors may vary.
Artisan Story
Manal’s Story of Hope:
I love being an Artisan in Jordan. It’s given me the opportunity to learn new things. Working with the other women gives me a reason to get up in the morning. We’re a family, not colleagues. Since partnering with Trades of Hope, I’ve become stronger as a person and more confident. Your purchase helps me pay for my daughters’ university. I’m proud that my daughters will earn degrees. Thank you!
How You Can Help:
SHOP Here, OR, Email me at michellehyde.tradesofhope@gmail.com with any questions, & I will message you personally with more information!! Thank you for inspiring HOPE around the world, Lovely!
Your purchases not only help these women, but my commissions help me to continue supporting them as well as continuing this website/blog, encouraging women all around the world with the HOPE we have in Jesus. Win win!
God has really been emphasizing this point to me over the last year or so that what I was considering as my faith gauge was not in fact an accurate measure of my faith.
I feel like this word, “faith” gets thrown about pretty freely today. Do you get that sense? Like, “keep the faith,” “just have faith,” etc.?
But I am noticing that where I thought I had faith, because I was surely praying about stuff… I was actually just having faith in how I thought things should be or what I thought should happen… & then asking God to make it happen.
My faith was actually in myself, but I was calling it “FAITH” because I was turning to God to make it happen for me.
God Doesn’t Do Our Bidding… He Fulfills His Promises
Faith does not control God. Faith does not make God subject to us as our genie to do our bidding.
And God does not NEED us to pray. He does not NEED us to read our Bible even… He tells us to do those things because He knows perfectly that WE need them.
No, faith is turning to God for what He has already promised to us, asking Him to carry out His promise to us & asking for His help in walking obediently to what He has called us to do, BY FAITH… in HIM.
What Is Faith?
Faith gives substance to things unseen. Faith shows that someone other than us (GOD) should be calling the shots & should be consulted for Truth & wisdom & direction in our lives.
Faith is OBEDIENCE.
So, if you want to check your TRUE “Faith” gauge, check your life.
It’s easy to quote Scripture & memorize verses & pray… but unless we actually act on what we say we believe is true… can we really say we’re sincere in our faith?
Faith Is Obedience… Even When We Don’t Understand It First
Because faith is not equated to wishful/hopeful thinking.
Faith is not believing God is real (the Bible says even the demons believe & TREMBLE!-James 2:19)
Faith is not believing God CAN & so asking Him to do it OUR way.
Faith is surrender. Faith is submission. Faith is OBEDIENCE.
Because if we really believe that God is all-knowing, all-wise, Creator, Redeemer LORD Almighty… wouldn’t we obey because we know He ALWAYS knows best anyway?
How Can We Have Faith If We Don’t Get It?
I have done a post before about obedience not being a bad word… & the reason for that is because God LOVES us SO MUCH that because we are selfish & rebellious & prone to wander from Him, He sent His only Son, Jesus Christ, to pay our debt FOR us. And ALL we have to do is trust that payment on our behalf! WOW.
Perfectly loving & perfectly wise…. & perfectly deserving of authority over everything in our lives.
Check Your Faith Gauge
Because, when we act in faith… aka OBEY… life just seems to work better because we’re living the design it was meant to have versus forcing the way we think it should be. It’s submitting to God as being worthy of the final say in literally everything.
So, if you want to claim to have faith in God… stop just praying for your way to happen… & start walking in trust for HIS way.
And it’s okay to struggle. We naturally cling to what we think we know & understand… it’s okay to struggle… but we need to be asking for His help to walk in faithful obedience.
Have Faith… Live Faith
We can’t appreciate the blessings that come from living God’s Truth in our lives unless we ACTUALLY live out God’s Truth in our lives… Imagine that!
God is faithful, even when we are not. (2 Timothy 2:13)But let’s strive to lay down our life our way & ask Him to help you exchange every part of it for His way.
Shine HOPE through OBEDIENCE to God’s Truth. It’s 100% ALWAYS worth it EVERY time.
Coming Next Week
Join me every Monday morning, EST, for more encouragement.
As God grows me, may it encourage you to seek Him & know Him & love Him more every day.
Share with friends & Subscribe by Joining My Tribe, so you never miss a week.
A Note from Michelle:
This blog/website has been running for almost THREE years now! THANK YOU for your continued support & encouragement. <3
If you would like to hear more of my story, check out the “About Me” page. And if you would like to hear how I found my lasting source of HOPE, read the “Hope Is Found” page, 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, 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! Check out this week’s featured beauty!!
Moonstone Hoops (India)
(Fashion as a force for good! Empower women in India out of poverty with these beautifully handcrafted Moonstone Hoops.)
Artisans from India cut & frame moonstones on these gold-toned elliptical hoops. Moonstones are prized in India for the unique way they reflect light.
Meet the Artisan:
Poonam grew up in poverty. Her father was a laborer & did his best to provide for Poonam & her two brothers. Finances were always tight, but Poonam’s family somehow made ends meet. Poonam was fortunate to have studied until 12th standard but could not study any further because her family did not have the money to pay for her to go to university.
So, Poonam moved to the city to search for work. In the city, she learned that she had a talent for Meenakari, the art of coloring & embellishing metal. Sharpening her craft, Poonam began looking for better opportunities when she discovered this Artisan community. Poonam hopes to one day start a family with her husband, who is working toward his degree.
How You Can Help:
SHOP Here, OR, Email me at michellehyde.tradesofhope@gmail.com with any questions, & I will message you personally with more information!! Thank you for inspiring HOPE around the world, Lovely!
Your purchases not only help these women, but my commissions help me to continue supporting them as well as continuing this website/blog, encouraging women all around the world with the HOPE we have in Jesus. Win win!
