So Many Opinions

I get a lot of differing responses to the fact that I run a blog & my own website.

Some have expressed that I (just by the very fact that I write a weekly blog) seem smug or as if my reasoning behind doing so is because I think I am somehow better than everyone else. (Ha! As if.) Some seem to think I have NO business doing this because of how obvious a mess I am. Some put me on a pedestal I don’t deserve to be on. Some think I do this because I am a “good person.” Some think I just want the spotlight all on me. Some seem to physically be struggling to hold back an eye roll to my face.

I don’t know what your opinion is, & honestly, to risk being rude, it really shouldn’t matter at all... because NONE of that should determine why I do this.

What Motivates Me?

In fact, if it were completely my choice, I probably would NOT be doing this. I don’t think my writing is good enough. I oftentimes don’t think my post has anything “inspirational” to say. I feel weak & inadequate & honestly, it really highlights so many areas of weakness in me that I would much rather sugarcoat, brush over, & move on from in private.

I really needed to establish early on what exactly motivates me on this blog journey. The opinion of others? Or honoring what God has put in front of me to do–to consistently be a presence that points repeatedly to God, through Jesus Christ, as my only true hope–good mood, bad mood, good attitude, bad one… whatever. All to Him. All for Him. All through Him. To God be the glory, Amen.

ALL struggles, pain, & weaknesses have the potential to point someone else who is struggling similarly to the only place I have found true hope—God, through Jesus Christ.

Keeping My Dignity or Letting Everything Shine for Christ?

I used to wonder why I struggle with emotions so much. Why it can be so easy for me to get so low out of nowhere.

If you have not personally experienced a situation or depression symptoms or a particular flaw/weakness, it can be quite easy to raise an eyebrow, roll your eyes, & think to yourself, “Well isn’t she begging for attention at every turn?” or, “How has she not figured this out yet?”

Trust me, I am sometimes tempted to keep my mouth shut because SOMEtimes negative reactions from people are more common than prayerful, patient, gracious responses. And, let’s be honest… I want to keep some form of dignity intact.

God Has Me… No Matter the “Even If”

I used to cry & ask God, “WHY?!” Why do I have to drop so low out of seemingly nowhere sometimes? Why do things that seem normal to so many people have to feel like an all-out battle for me? Why does the darkness keep trying to take me under it?

And guess what, sometimes I still feel that way when going through a dark day. Truly.

But, as I was reading one of Paul’s letters, inspired of God in God’s Word (the Bible), he was talking about prison & going places where he was wanted as dead… & yet he faced them with joy & hope, because He knew God NEVER wastes our pain. He ALWAYS has a plan. He’s completely sufficient IN them. And in those places, Paul KNEW he could have a rare & beautiful opportunity to shine HOPE to people who would otherwise never come near him or bother to listen. He could share the hope of Jesus where few dared to go… & come what may, because of Jesus… he had Heaven to look forward to, knowing God had him no matter the “even if.”

And it dawned on me. When we go through hard things in life that bring us incredibly low, we have that same rare, beautiful opportunity to shine HOPE to people who would otherwise never care to listen about Jesus.

Even Here, God CAN… Even Here… There Is HOPE in JESUS

When you are brought to low places, other people in those same low places can get a glimpse that “EVEN HERE” God CAN. Even HERE, there is HOPE in Jesus.

Do I like having all of these hard situations, emotions, failures, weaknesses? Definitely no. But I can glory in the LORD & PRAISE Him for them because they take me to places where people can relate & can clearly see that EVEN IF… God is enough… JESUS’ sacrifice offers HOPE… REAL, I-CAN-COUNT-ON-IT HOPE.

Is it more comfortable to save face? Oh, yes. But is it worth it to save face? No, not at all. I don’t ever want to waste one of those rare, beautiful opportunities.

No matter what I face, even if it’s where I got to myself… I want everything to point back to Him.

Sometimes I Have to Pray for the Right Mindset to Bring God Glory Versus My Natural Wanting to Crawl in a Hole & Hide

I do not always have a good attitude about it right away, either. Sometimes, I’m like, “NOPE, this one is being kept to myself…” but then I realize: then what is the point of the hard experience if God won’t be glorified in it? I don’t want to waste it! Because, no matter how HARD something may be, He is ALWAYS sufficient in it. And not a just enough sufficient, but an overflowing sufficient.

Listen. I have been in some dark places. I’m sure many have been through way worse than me, though.

But in those darkest of places, even if mine seem trivial in comparison to your own… let my life be a constant reminder that you can look to Him & you can find HOPE there & only there.

Where Does My Hope Come From… from the Lord, the Maker of Heaven & Earth!

Sure, it may feel that hope is accessible in many different places & forms… but LASTING, no-strings-attached, covers ALL… HOPE… is ONLY found in Jesus. Periodt.

And no matter how weak it may make me look, or how pathetic, or whiney, or sad, or annoying, or “show-off-y.” I don’t care. I want everything in my life to remind you that HE IS WHERE YOUR HOPE COMES FROM.

Verse Reminders AKA Truth Reminders

“I will lift up my eyes to the hills—
From whence comes my help?
My help comes from the Lord,
Who made heaven and earth.” (Psalm 121:1-2)

“My soul, wait silently for God alone,
For my expectation is from Him.
He only is my rock and my salvation;
He is my defense;
I shall not be moved.
In God is my salvation and my glory;
The rock of my strength,
And my refuge, is in God.

Trust in Him at all times, you people;
Pour out your heart before Him;
God is a refuge for us. Selah (Psalm 62:5-8)

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son [Jesus}, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” (John 3:16-17)

“Therefore, whether you eat or drink, [or face suffering/trials], or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31) (brackets added)

My Prayer

 “God, I know I have the tendency to want to be what people want… to save face… to be liked… to appear strong & put together… to not make a scene & to stay in the shadows when I feel less-than… to not seem whiney… to not put all of my less-than”ness” on display. Forgive me for wanting to make it only about me… about my comfort… about my reputation… about people accepting/liking me. Please continue to remind me that my pain, my failures, my weaknesses, my struggles are all rare, beautiful opportunities to be brought low so that I can point to You as my only true HOPE in ANY & every situation in life. Use my weaknesses & failures to glorify Your name. THANK YOU for sending Jesus for us. We don’t deserve You. We don’t deserve our wrongs against You living for ourselves & by our own way, to be covered by & through Jesus. THANK YOU for not leaving our forgiveness up to us. THANK YOU for MAKING a way, through Jesus. HELP ME to be a light for You NO MATTER the circumstances. You are beyond worth it. BE my strength. BE my comfort. BE my refuge…. COME WHAT MAY. In Jesus’ Almighty name, AMEN.”

Rare, Beautiful Opportunities… In the Midst of Our Deepest Hurts & Struggles

What are you struggling with right now?

What weakness seems to creep up on you too many times to comfortably admit?

What hurts you?

Where do you feel alone?

What brings you low?

And how can those areas become rare, beautiful opportunities to rely on & point to hope in Jesus?

Will you let those hurts/struggles be wasted? Or will you use them to point to God as your truest sufficiency come what may?

Where can you use those areas to shine a light of hope in Jesus to the world watching around you?

SHINE HOPE by determining to not let your human struggle to go wasted… to use it all as rare, beautiful opportunities to give God glory.

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 FIVE 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!!

Hand-Carved Acorn Set (INDIA)

LIMITED EDITION – while supplies last! This adorable set of three wooden acorns is meticulously hand-carved in India by women earning fair wages for their work. Each acorn features a hand-carved tag tied with satin ribbons that say: “gather,” “grateful,” and “blessed”. Made of eco-friendly mango wood, a fast-growing, sustainable byproduct of India’s mango fruit industry and the acorn stem at the top is made from antiqued aluminum.

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

How You Can Help the Artisans & Support My Website:

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

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

Love ya lots! Have a wonderful week!

It’s Okay to Admit Weakness… It’s in Our Nature

Well, I think it has been thoroughly established at this point that I am a weak human. Now, to redeem myself only somewhat, I don’t mean this to say that as far as humans go, I am a weak one… but rather that, as humans, we are weak… & I am no exception.

I know this is counter-culture for me to say this & be okay with it. Our culture screams self-sufficiency as the goal, the thing to admire in someone…. But I disagree.

It’s okay to admit our weakness, because as humans… we ARE weak.

We Need to be More Okay with Letting Others Know They’re Not Alone in Their Weakness

I cannot even tell you how many times at this point that I have gone on social media to share my weakness of the day, whether it be a bad attitude or just feeling so BLAH that I don’t feel up to doing anything, or whatever else it may be that I am facing… & to then pray through it, leaning on God for help. It’s seems like God urges me to share my every weakness with the world in an effort to reveal Him as my true strength.

I have to tell you, my default is selfishness. My default is “look out for numero uno.” My default is complaining & whining & just wanting to quit when things get hard. My default is seeking out comfort. My default is wanting to be completely self-sufficient, not NEEDING God, but knowing He’s there for me “just in case.” Ha. My default wants to do what I want more than what God wants.

If you ever see anything different out of me, it is not because I am some superhuman Christian, or even that me being a Christian somehow makes me superhuman… Nope. But, as a Christian, I do have access to GOD’s superhuman strength & power.

But I still have to CHOOSE to surrender to His will & way & help, otherwise, my humanness is just as humanly weak as any other person out there, Christian or not.

I Don’t Just Choose Jesus, I NEED Jesus

The more that I grow, the more glaringly obvious my sinful nature & my need for Jesus becomes.

I thought I had to be good enough… not for Jesus to pay my debt to God really, but to be good enough to be in God’s good graces. I mistakenly thought it was up to ME to be faithful, obedient, etc…. in MY strength & MY willpower.

But I was wrong.

If you’re feeling tired in life right now, you are not alone. Judging by the memes & social media posts I see shared frequently, that seems to be a majority of the population right now, quite often including me.

But don’t let tired keep you fooled. You were never meant to be able to do this life on your own. You were made to NEED God’s help.

Ask God’s Forgiveness for Wanting to Do It in Your OWN Strength Versus Needing to Rely on HIS

That’s an uncomfortable concept to me, if I am being completely honest with you… which is why I know that I NEED to ask God’s forgiveness when I have a bad attitude, when I am grumpy & “done” with everything on a given day… because what that reveals in me is my not wanting to need Him.

I want to feel capable & strong & alert & self-sufficient & ready for my day, confident that I am fully capable to handle whatever comes my way, & when that’s not really my vibe that day, I feel annoyed & frustrated & tired with all of it… when I should be humble in accepting my human frailty & joyful in knowing that God is never fragile & He always makes Himself available to me (& to you).

God has proven Himself to me more times than I can count, though I try to document them as best I can through this blog, acting as a growing testimony of all He is to me & all He has done in & through my life. But I still find myself wanting to rely on myself instead.

God Is Capable of WAY MORE Than We Could Ever Give Him Credit For

I was the doubter of doubters, the key word being: WAS.

I know now what He is capable of. I have learned to trust that He CAN, even when I don’t see any possible way for that to be true. He is above me, beyond me. Thank GOD.

His ways are higher than mine. (Isaiah 55:9) He can do far more than I could ever ask or THINK. (Ephesians 3:20-21)

Do you know why the little repeated phrase in the Bible that says, “FEAR GOD,” (Proverbs 9:10) has become SUCH a comfort to me? Because it’s a reminder that God is GOD. And I am not.

Don’t Let Tired Fool You

Lean into God for help. LET Him BE your strength. Don’t let tired fool you.

You may think in your heart, “yeah, yeah, God is my strength,” as if to say, “yeah, I get it, He’s God & now I have His strength, so I should be able to do this.” NO. I am saying, “you may be a Christian, but you are STILL HUMAN. Take that humanness to Him, admit your limitations to Him, & ASK Him to be your enough IN it & THROUGH it. Consistently SUBMIT to Him AS your strength. It’s not just a once & done, but a continually laying down of yourself in exchange for His Godness to take the reins of your life.”

Seek & You SHALL Find

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.” (Matthew 7:7-8)

“Now to him 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 and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” (Ephesians 3:20-21)

“You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.” (James 4:3)

If you don’t feel God filling in as you pray… being your enough in it… are you asking Him to help you feel self-capable again? Or are you asking to see Him be capable FOR you?

Are you asking Him to reinforce your will or way? Or are you submitting to HIS being done?

Shine HOPE by not letting “tired” have the final say. Trust that God is bigger & greater & mightier than your biggest, greatest, & mightiest limitations. He will ENABLE you to do His will AS you lean into Him AS your strength every step of it.

AMEN.

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 FIVE 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!!

Chai Crossbody (INDIA)

This gorgeous camel-colored Chai Crossbody Bag can be used as an on-trend belt bag or as a Crossbody bag. The removable and adjustable strap has a subtle block print pattern. The ethically made Chai Crossbody is handcrafted in India and features an exterior slip pocket, interior zipper pocket, interior slip pocket, and leather shoulder strap. The interior is lined in a tan fabric with a fun poppy print on it.

*****Every purchase provides safe jobs with fair wages for women in areas of extreme poverty in India!*****

How You Can Help the Artisans & Support My Website:

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

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

Love ya lots! Have a wonderful week!

A New Year, A New Monster to Face

Starting this new school year, working as an aide, I will tell you that I started with trickles of anxiety that quickly began to form a swirling haze of oppression that never seemed to let up.

It’s not a difficult job, being an aide, but for certain reasons, my year last year was less than great & because of that, I now feel fear associated with starting my job.

Now, at first, this was just manifested in feeling a little off, a little apprehensive about the coming year… but soon, as I had been stuffing all of those feelings down or away, they began to press into me like a heavy blanket over me that just kept getting heavier.

… Until Tuesday night.

I’m Glad I Didn’t Sleep

On Tuesday, I was feeling so oppressed by it, so weighed down & anxious & afraid… I had let it linger too long & now it was getting out of control.

My husband & I spend some time praying over it that night, recognizing that Satan was having a field day in my heart & mind. Then Jamie (my hubs) went to sleep… & I didn’t.

No, I didn’t get any sleep Tuesday night. None at all. But for once, I’m glad for it.

You see, I started that night feeling so down & pressed in & like my mind was swirling angsty tormenting feelings I wanted to swat away &/or numb over for any sort of relief.

So, after my husband fell asleep & my torment didn’t stop… I decided it was time to journal it out & pray over it so I could actually address each piece of it, bit by bit, rather than having this faceless, nameless swirl of anxieties raging war on my mind.

Prayer Journaling Your Anxieties WORKS–Handing Every Part to God, Piece by Piece

I began to write them all out–all the nagging little thoughts–trying to be as specific as I possibly could, so that I could really dig in & get to the root of the lie my heart must be holding onto, so I could then exchange it for truth & the help of God’s strength to kick it in the face.

So, I named names (in my personal journal)… or, I attempted to:

-So & so didn’t believe me, as if they don’t trust me.

-So & so said ___________, so they clearly misunderstood me & didn’t care to let me clarify.

-So & so talked about me behind my back, & I overheard, so now I feel insecure.

-So & so doesn’t trust me & because I care so much about my integrity & reputation, that really hurt me.

-So & so doesn’t seem to like me, even though I try to be intentionally friendly with them.

-I feel alone & misunderstood & out of sync with everyone around me & I just want to withdraw & stop trying.

–Why does there seem to be so much disconnect between me trying to put my best foot forward & others seeming to think I don’t care & just want to get away with doing the least possible. How could they even begin to think that about me when I care so much about doing a good job & having integrity in all I do!?

Writer’s Block on my Prayer Journaling?!

Those were just a fraction of my list that I WANTED to write. (I say, “wanted to write,” because every time I tried to begin my list, I froze & my mind went blank, as if something was physically blocking my brain from being able to type the thoughts in my own head.)

So, frustrated, I prayed about that, too. Like, “come ON, God! What is the deal!? I need to get this jumbled mess OUT of my head! I need You to help me deal with it! Why can’t I write about this (in my personal journal)??? Why are you stopping me? What is happening? Help me! I need You!”

And, as I prayed, a single word began to form above all else in that jumbled mess: SATAN.

Not one of the “so & so” people… not one problem over another as the “main problem”… but SATAN. Satan was behind all of it & all of a sudden, that became so abundantly clear to me that everything else began to suddenly make much more sense.

“For We Wrestle Not Against Flesh & Blood…”

I mean, think about it, God even TELLS us:

“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” (Ephesians 6:12)

Sure, maybe someone had an off day & said something careless or unkind.

Sure, maybe someone didn’t pray but just reacted in their own humanness.

Sure, maybe someone DID make a big mistake.

Sure, maybe someone DOESN’T believe me for whatever reason.

Sure, maybe someone IS holding onto a misperception of me for whatever reason.

But, Satan. Satan is the one using all of those things to torment me, to feed my insecurities & to tell me not to bother trying anymore, to isolate myself & to just quit trying to make friends… to just resign with being an outsider who is miserable & alone as if that’s all I can or will ever be.

Satan.

What Does GOD Say?

God says I am part of the BODY of the church, with Jesus as the Head. That we are all meant to work together & love one another & support one another. (1 Corinthians 12:14-27)

God says to love those who aren’t great to us. (Luke 6:27-36) In other words, even if someone chooses wrong, I have an opportunity (& a responsibility) to still choose right.

He doesn’t just say to love those who love you. So, even if the aforementioned DID all actually HATE me (if going to the absolute extreme scenario), my response ought to be to love them still, to participate & contribute still, to pray for them still… to be a PART of the BODY of Christ still.

What Does Satan Want? What Does GOD Want?

Satan wants me constantly second-guessing myself, staying timid with my God-given gifting unused & my God-given opportunities ignored or forgotten. (2 Timothy 1:7)

God wants my confidence to be in God, even if I DO mess up. God wants me to make the right choice, even if it were true that others would refuse to do the same.

Satan wants me isolated & alone, withdrawn from community & fellowship & accountability.

God wants me plugged in as a member of His body, the church… & actively loving those around me.

Don’t listen to Satan, my friend. Don’t do it.

People will mess up, sure. I mess up, you mess up… we all mess up.

But don’t let Satan spin that into anything more.

Claim truth. Cling to God. Stand firm against the devil. Don’t give him an INCH (because he will take it & RUN with it, of that you can be SURE).

Facing the Anxiety Monster

You’re not alone. You’re not less than anyone else… even when you’re facing the “anxiety monster.”

And even if someone does misjudge you or mistreat you, peace can be found in the arms of God, entrusting that hurt to Him for His peace, His comfort, His healing, & His way forward to love anyway.

Shine HOPE by taking that anxiety to the CROSS of Jesus & asking God to help you have discernment to see where Satan is deceiving you & holding you captive, so you can find the freedom we are offered in Jesus. (John 8:36)

… So yeah, not sleeping is BLEH, but this time… I’m pretty glad I didn’t sleep.

*Remember TRUTH*

“IN the multitude of my anxieties within me,
Your comforts delight my soul.” (Psalm 94:19, emphasis added)

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)

“Therefore, humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:6-7)

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7)

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

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

Also, make sure to “Join My Tribe” by adding your email to the top bar & clicking “Join My Tribe”. This gains you access to an extra weekly dose of encouragement from me in your inbox (make sure to check your other inbox folders), along with the link to each week’s new post! I can’t wait to do this journey together!!

Fashion as a Force for GOOD:

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

August 2023 Hope Mail (GUATEMALA & INDIA)

FOR A LIMITED TIME – Only available during the month of August!

Who do you know who would love a beautiful package filled with hope in their mailbox? This exclusive August Hope Mail package makes a great gift for any occasion! Why not treat yourself to a little inspiration? Enjoy free shipping on this August Hope Mail package that includes our Buna Earrings from India, a Coffee Sample from Guatemala, and an adorable sticker mailed in a stylish Fashion as a Force for Good Envelope.

*****Every purchase provides safe jobs with fair wages for women in areas of extreme poverty in India and Guatemala where vulnerable women are often exploited by sweatshops and human traffickers.*****

How You Can Help the Artisans & Support My Website:

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

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

Love ya lots! Have a wonderful week!

The Hurt That Bleeds Out

We all have been hurt at some point in our lives—I feel pretty confident in that claim—but have you ever recognized ways that those hurts effect your reactions to others?

Does your insecurity rear up? Do you feel immediately offended? Do you withdraw? Do you go on the offensive?

I think for me, it sometimes depends how my hormones/sleep is going, but I have felt & reacted in all of the above for sure.

My Way or God’s Will?

But the more time I spend getting to know God & His heart through His Word & spending time talking with Him, the Holy Spirit convicts my heart about those things… that those reactions don’t line up with how God instructs us to react… no matter how natural those responses may feel in the moment.

So, if they feel so natural yet don’t line up with God’s instructions… which is wrong–I ask that rhetorically of course, because anything that contradicts God’s Word is, by default, wrong.

And yet, it feels so “it’s just how it is” & “well, I can’t help it—that’s just my personality.”

Nope. Cop out alert right there. If a pattern in my heart contradicts God’s instruction, I should not so easily accept the contradiction… I should seek to correct it through prayer with God, time in His Word (the Bible), & counsel from mature believers in Jesus to help me get to the root of the disconnect & cooperate with the Holy Spirit in His weeding it OUT of my natural patterns.

A surrender to His will versus my wrong patterns. God’s will over my way.

Trading My Learned Path for His

I think a lot of my wrong reactions stem from my brokenness in this sin-torn world.

It’s easy to learn patterns that maybe help me protect myself, put up walls, save face, act like “who cares about you anyway?” But a more Jesus-like response would be staying soft, with tenderness, grace, kindness, & patient, longsuffering love toward one another come what may.

Strength coming from HIM & NOT my learned defense mechanisms.

I may be tempted to start up with, “But they…..!!!”

But then I remember: “But, He….”

Keeping My Mouth Shut Is Not the Same as Having a Right Reaction

It is quite true that God has worked a number on this area of my life already, in that I usually can at least keep my mouth shut, but He hears my thoughts & my real heart about things… & He cares about that, too.

So, how do I take my natural, gut reactions & turn them over to allow the Holy Spirit to produce in me His fruit? (Galatians 5:22-23) How do I learn to respond only in a way that honors, pleases, & gives God the glory?

Well, it goes back to my favorite little word—surrender.

It Takes Surrender

I have to be willing to yield my way that feels so right… for His help to do it His way.

To say, “God, ooooh how I hate the way they said that just now & boy do I want to be snarky right now….! But… please forgive me. Jesus died for that, too. Help me to have Your patient, GRACIOUS (by definition: undeserving) LOVE toward them. (1 Corinthians 13:4-7; 1 John 4:16; John 3:16-17) Help me to pray for them (Matthew 5:43-44) versus rehearsing their words or behavior all day. Help me entrust my hurt to You. Be my comfort & heal my heart & help me to forgive & let You handle it. In Jesus’ name, AMEN.”

The Triggers Come in Many Forms

Sometimes it’s just an unexpected, raised eyebrow from someone (like: “really, Michelle? That was dumb.”). Sometimes it’s criticism when you expected praise. Sometimes it’s an unkind word that felt like a complete slap to your face. Sometimes it’s rudeness in exchange for your intended kindness. Sometimes it’s a careless response to a sensitive topic. Sometimes it’s a lack of understanding or a misunderstanding or a total unwillingness to even try to be understanding.

There are many triggers that can catch me off guard & cause my walls SPRING UP, where I feel attacked & on the defense & I’m insecure & hurt & I think, “how can they even THINK that way!”

But, I come back to that prayer of… surrender.

How Does God Respond to ME?

Oh, how many times have I offended God? How many times has He tried to communicate a truth to me & I did the opposite because His way didn’t make me feel good? How many times have I dared question the Almighty God who sent Jesus to die for my debt to Him? (Romans 5:8; John 3:16-17)

And yet, how does He respond to me? With tenderness. With grace. With patience. With love. With forgiveness. With hope.

Responding from a heart of brokenness versus God’s grace is the most natural thing I can do. But boy does it spit on all God offers me in exchange for all of my deep unworthiness.

Responding from a Heart of Brokenness Versus God’s Grace

Take some time to do a mental assessment next time you rear up in response to something, or want to hit back with your words, or think nasty thoughts toward someone else because of what they said or did or how they acted toward you.

Accept responsibility if your response may not exactly line up with God’s response to you & take a minute to confess that to God right away. Jesus paid for that stray thought or outburst of anger & hurt. Confess it to God & ask His forgiveness. He will forgive. (1 John 1:9)

And be willing to surrender that very real gut feeling to God’s gracious way instead.

Pray for God’s perspective to grow in your heart… a perspective of His grace… when all you may want to do is respond from your heart of brokenness.

Shine HOPE by letting God’s grace trump how you feel when you are wronged &/or hurt by someone else & by praying for them versus attacking, withdrawing, or slandering their name to others for validation. Shine HOPE, through Him & for Him.

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 FIVE 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!!

Soleil Earrings (INDIA)

Make a fair-trade fashion statement with the Soleil Earrings! These gorgeous earrings feature a rectangle chalcedony stud with a hammered brass rectangle accent and colorful beaded fringe in shades of blue, gold, teal, and light pink. These unique artisanal earrings are handcrafted in a workshop in India that’s committed to fighting child marriage and helping women become financially independent as fair-trade Artisans.

How You Can Help the Artisans & Support My Website:

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

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

Love ya lots! Have a wonderful week!

Because the Distinction Matters

“…  because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools….” (Romans 1:21-22)

“Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:6)

“Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned—” (Romans 5:12)

“And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment,” (Hebrews 9:27)

“Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12)

“However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.” (John 16:13)

“Then Jesus said… The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. (John 10:10)

“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it. (Matthew 7:13-14)

“For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.” (Romans 10:2-4)

Not My Words Today, but His

Who do you say God is? Do you glorify God AS God? There is a clear distinction made between knowing God & glorifying Him AS God.

“For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man….” (Romans 1:20-23)

Today, nothing I wrote felt right. All that felt right was stripping it down to these God-inspired Bible verses compiled by our pastor for yesterday’s church sermon. God is not meant to just be known as God–even demons know He is God & tremble… but to be glorified AS GOD in our day-to-day lives.

How well can you say that you do that?

“You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble!” (James 2:19)

Knowing God Versus Glorifying Him AS God

There’s only one way to heaven & it’s not tradition, family name, good works, or anything else… it’s Jesus.

There’s only one fully reliable truth & it’s not our opinions, the world’s knowledge, or “progressive thinking”… it’s the Word of God.

There’s only one true, fulfilling LIFE & it’s not parties, wealth, success, reputation, sex, alcohol, being “loved”, being honored, etc…. it’s a life surrendered to God, led by His Spirit.

It’s not enough to just KNOW God, but we must strive to live our life to GLORIFY Him AS GOD in all & everything, righting our perspective back to Him through consistently, intentionally giving thanks to Him in all circumstances.

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

Shine HOPE by determining not just to know God, but to glorify His as such in your day-to-day all day, every day everywhere you are.

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 FIVE 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!!

Iris Gift Set (India)

While Supplies Last! Beautiful, artisanal gift set perfect for the influential woman in your life!

Purchase this artisanal gift set that creates safe jobs for women in India. The Iris Gift Set pairs the Raven Belt Bag with the Iris Bag Strap to create a gorgeous fair-trade look to gift!

Raven Belt Bag – This genuine leather Raven Belt Bag from India is both practical and stylish with its adjustable removable strap, interior zipper pocket, and zipper closure. Keep all your essentials safe and secure anytime you’re on the go.

Iris Bag Strap – Add an elegant touch of artisanal style to your favorite bag with this embroidered floral bag strap from India. Handcrafted by differently abled women who are overcoming discrimination and abuse, our Embroidered Iris Bag Strap features a traditional black, purple, and green iris pattern.

***Every purchase of this gift set provides safe jobs with fair wages for marginalized and differently abled women in India.***

How You Can Help the Artisans & Support My Website:

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

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

Love ya lots! Have a wonderful week!

Why Do I Keep Fighting Back?

Can I just be honest with you right now?

I have a rebellious heart. I relate very much with Paul when he talks about not doing what he wants to do & doing what he doesn’t (Romans 7:15-20) & how his spirit & flesh wage war against each other (Galatians 5:16-17). That’s me to a “t” & it’s SO annoying.

I don’t want to be like this. I wish I could just will myself to wholeheartedly give my whole self to God & never look back, never question Him... & never will for anything apart from pleasing, honoring, & glorifying Him in all I do, think, or say.

But that’s not me. I always fight for ME, me, me, ME. What do I FEEL like doing? What will I get excited about? What makes me comfortable? Blah blah blah. Never fails to lure me in. It’s embarrassing how often I fall for it.

Maybe God uses this will in me to serve as an example to others of “what not to do.” I don’t know. I mean, I feel He does do this, but He would probably (aka would undoubtedly) prefer if I were the shining example of what it looks like to do right all the time—to be a display to others of a shining life lived through His truth & His enabling power, grace, & peace.

How I wish that were me.

Never Enough

So why do I seem to fight what I know to be right at every turn? I mean, I’ve talked about how much I relate to the ebb & flow of the Israelites affections for & obedience to God versus rebellion & hard-heartedness. One day, I am singing praises as to how I saw God undoubtedly come through for me… & the next, I feel annoyed at my spirit’s reminder to spend time in my Bible when I really just want to watch some tv.

I know what infuses life into these bones & what seems to drain me dry over time & yet I KEEP going back to what does not satisfy (aka anything other than God Himself through prayer, worship, or time dwelling on His Word—the Bible). WHY, me? WHY are you like this?!

Am I Alone on This?

Do you ever do that? Do you understand deep in your gut that you only ever feel deeply & truly satisfied when you spend time with Him & yet you so easily get lured away to anything but time with Him?

Am I the only one?

This post isn’t seeming very “here’s a little nugget of truth…” ish is it? Just me complaining about myself again.

But here’s the thing: I don’t have all the answers. I don’t always make the right choices. I sometimes (too often) choose me over God. I am not a shining example of choosing right.

Praise GOD!

But God is still patient with me. He doesn’t slam me with a list of “get this all right before morning or we’re DONE!” He is gentle with me. He is forgiving (in what seems to me as OVERLY so). He is kind. He leads step by step usually versus all at once. Thank God–His faithfulness is not dependent on MINE.

And my constant failures to live up to His standards of holiness only serves as a constant reminder of my need for Him, for JESUS. It’s humbling, isn’t it?

I don’t know why my constant pull is “my way!” or “but I want THIS!” or “maybe later!” but God gently reminds me & reinforces that what I REALLY need is HIS way… to want HIM above all else… & to obey Him (& enjoy the blessings born of obedience) NOW.

He is where my true satisfaction comes from. He is what I really need & want. Only He can fill that void in me.

I was made for Him & He made me to need Him & to find my true satisfaction in Him alone. None else.

Finding Hope in Our Hope-Giver

So, let’s make an agreement, shall we? To start calling ourselves out when we start to lean toward anything else… to call it for what it is… idolatry… turning to or relying on anything but God to satisfy us.

And in our calling it out to ourselves… may we remember to pray, to be a “quick repenter” (read more about being a quick repenter, here: “The Great Power of Daily Repentance”) & right then & there admit it to God & ask His forgiveness… & ask for help recognizing it sooner next time… & ask for help drawing on Him as your life’s fulfillment & satisfaction above all else.

Because that’s what He made us for.

Shine hope by turning to Him to satisfy your soul… by determining to obey His call on your heart at every turn, always seeking Him to fulfill true satisfaction for your soul.

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

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

Also, make sure to “Join My Tribe” by adding your email to the top bar & clicking “Join My Tribe”. This gains you access to an extra weekly dose of encouragement from me in your inbox (make sure to check your other inbox folders), along with the link to each week’s new post! I can’t wait to do this journey together!!

Fashion as a Force for GOOD:

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

Blue Palm Earrings (India)

Limited Edition – available while supplies last! The ethically made, gorgeous Blue Palm Earrings utilize up-cycled bone hand carved into a leaf shape, dyed a beautiful shade of blue contrasted by the ivory circle stud base. Beautifully crafted to compliment your summer looks, these unique artisanal earrings are handcrafted in a workshop in India that’s committed to fighting child marriage and helping women become financially independent as fair-trade Artisans.

How You Can Help the Artisans & Support My Website:

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

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

Love ya lots! Have a wonderful week!

Such Feelings

If you know me, or have been following my blog any time over the last 5 years (how has it been 5 years?!), then you probably have gathered that I have big feelings. For good or for bad, whether people enjoy it or hate it… I have big feelings.

Sometimes I love it, because it infuses my good days with so much zest, but the bad days are rough because I feel things so deeply it seems to sometimes affect me in a physical way with overwhelm & zoning out & feeling crushed beneath the weight of them.

And of course then you add in the depression. Now, this isn’t wallowing in despair depression—feeling depressed is not the same as having depression… although, if I allow it to consume me, it can very well lead to feeling & BEING depressed. But, on its own, it’s just a general sense of feeling numb & checked out of life… like everything just feels like a meaningless blur. And when I say, “I just don’t care,” it’s not in an obstinate, rolling my eyes type of thing, but rather just literally not caring about much of anything because I just feel numb as if I am just existing through my day.

But whether it’s my depression symptoms dragging me down to the dust, like a ball & chain clasped to my ankles as I try to walk through mud & haze… or whether it’s an emotional high where I just want to live life with fullness & vibrancy feeling free from the haze… or whether some thing or another knocks me to the ground with unexpected hurt or overwhelm that halts me in my tracks… no matter what it is that my feelings are feeling… it should not affect my obedience to God.

Chasing Happy Highs

Not allowing feelings to affect my obedience to God is a hard one for me. Our bodies are meant to release “happy hormones” when we accomplish tasks… there is a natural reward system built into our brains… & when that malfunctions & life feels empty & numb & void of feeling… well, I want to zone out & avoid at all costs how trapped & stuck that makes me feel. I want to chase “happy highs” however possible—tv, food, games, shopping trip, etc.

And what I DON’T feel like doing is to buckle down & DO IT ANYWAY.

I heard a quote today from the pastor at church this morning from Augustine maybe? The quote went something like: “God made us for Himself & we will remain restless until we seek our rest in Him.” Something like that. And isn’t that so true?

I can chase “happy highs” all I want, but until I seek my rest in Him, I will always be restless. I NEED Him.

Obeying God Is for My Good

Part of resting in God is realizing that I NEED to obey HIM rather than my feelings, recognizing that obedience to God is for my own good because all of what God commands is for my good.

I mean, think about it… just even looking at the basic 10 Commandments given to Moses for the people, by God, you can see it. (Genesis 20:1-17) Don’t steal, don’t commit adultery, love your neighbor as yourself, etc. His commands are basically—treat each other WELL! (Luke 6:31; Matthew 7:12) God even goes so far as to say that all the commands can be summed up under “love God with your all & the second being like it to love your neighbor as yourself.” (Paraphrase) (Matthew 22:36-40)

We were made to love God. We are designed to worship, honor, & glorify Him… & to love others.

Of course, we can’t be SAVED from our SIN against God by obeying these very good God-given commands (they are given as law to reveal our need for Him) (Romans 3:20; Romans 7:7) … because we will never ever get it spot on 24/7–that’s why God sent Jesus to pay our debt so if we repent or turn from our sin, ask for forgiveness, & turn to God, through Jesus, as your hope… you are saved… through your faith in Him. (Romans 3:23-24; Romans 10:9-11)

BUT, those 10 commandments, although they can’t save our souls, are still commands worthy of obedience… as are all of God’s teaching in the Bible… because it honors Him & it’s for our good.

We NEED to Obey… We NEED His Truth & Way of Life because It’s What We Were MADE to NEED

Obedience to God, though, is not just avoiding doing the “thou shalt nots” of the Bible… it’s a living out a life of seeking to know & love Him more… bowing how I want to respond for what honors & glorifies HIM (through asking for His wisdom & help doing it)… a determining to represent Him well & intentionally in your interactions with others & in how you express love for others. Obedience, at its core, means a life lived for HIM, through Him.

God knows we need it. We NEED Him. We NEED prayer (a plugging into HIM & HIS resources) (Proverbs 3:5-6; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18), We NEED to feed our souls on His Word (the Bible). God tells us to even CRAVE His Word as newborn babies crave milk & NEED it to survive. (1 Peter 2:2-3)

Obedience isn’t some super religious thing we do to prove how religious we are.

Obedience is NECESSARY for a full & abundant & victorious LIFE. (John 10:9-10) Obedience is necessary to please, honor, & glorify God—for which purpose we were created! (Isaiah 43:7; 1 Corinthians 10:31; Revelation 4:11; Romans 11:36)

Checking My Motivations in My Obedience to God—Time in His Word, the Bible

We read our Bibles, not because we feel like a “terrible Christian” if we don’t, guilted into keeping up with it & shame-building as we miss day after day throughout the year…. We read our Bibles because 1. It honors God to seek to know & love Him better/more, & 2. We are influenced & impacted by the world every moment of our life & we NEED to be INTENTIONAL in feeding our soul with TRUTH to ground us in this crazy world we live in.

God isn’t keeping track with hand on hip & a raised, judgy eyebrow, making note of: “still waiting to see if they prove their love for me ENOUGH.” Jesus paid for that missed day, week, year, or even lifetime—it’s in the past & if you have repented of it, God has forgiven it. God isn’t expecting a “read through the Bible in a year” OR ELSE:  “BAM—Bad Christian alert!”

But God is honored every time we DO pick up our Bibles & commit to reading it, thinking on it, dwelling on it, & referring back to it when we face circumstances that come up in life, preparing ourselves with His Word that He made sure we would have access to because He made sure it was written all those many years ago.

Why Do I Pray?

We pray, not just before meals & before bed “because it’s what a good Christian person does.” We don’t do it to seem pious or religious. We do it because we NEED HIM EVERY SECOND OF EVERY DAY.

It’s not about repeating special words or making sure we say, “Father” enough times in our prayer. It’s not about praying “enough times” to get God to act. It’s not about getting God to give you everything you want your way as if He’s your personal enforcer while you sit in the seat of authority.

Prayer is about submission to an Almighty God Who is HOLY & deserving of all & holds ALL authority in heaven AND earth & yet keeps His throne-room door open at all times for all requests & pleas.

Prayer is about recognizing it’s all about Him, all FOR Him, all THROUGH Him. Prayer is about recognizing that God is GOD, & I am NOT.

Prayer is about plugging in to our Vine. (John 15:1-17) What can a branch bring forth without being connected to its life-giving Vine? What can we produce of worth without plugging into Him as our life-giving source? He is the source of our being. He is our nourishment. He is our peace. He is our enabling strength, even when we ourselves are depleted.

Prayer is about both recognizing & expressing our need, as well as turning to the One where our need may be met, even beyond what we imagine Him capable. (Ephesians 3:20-21; Luke 1:37)

To Feel Like a “Good Person” or to Honor, Please, & Glorify God?

And living for God isn’t about getting in “enough” service hours each week to prove how dedicated we are to serving God. It’s not about proving to or earning anything from God. It’s not about “being a good person.” (Romans 3:10-12; Ephesians 2:8-10)

Living in obedience to serve Him & love others, seeking to honor & please & glorify Him in every thought, reaction, & interaction is simply for that reason—to honor, please, & glorify HIM—because He is deserving of it. Not because I feel like it, & neither should I avoid it because I DON’T feel like it.

Feelings & Obedience Shouldn’t Affect Each Other

So, yes, sometimes my depression symptoms mean that I am zoned out, feel nothing, get no “happy hormone” reward for doing it… & yet I say a little prayer:  “God, please forgive me for how badly I want to avoid this right now because I DO NOT FEEL LIKE IT… please forgive me & help me do it anyway, because I want to honor You & I know I need You whether or not I feel like it will help at all right now. Please forgive my attitude & help me to honor You anyway. In Jesus’ name, I pray—AMEN.” And then I open my Bible & my current study, turn to the right page, click on my pen & begin my study each morning… whether I FEEL like it or not.

Feelings & obedience shouldn’t affect each other. Bad feelings too bad? Good feelings too distracting? Numbness clouding over any desire to do anything? Do it anyway—with God’s help.

We’re Meant to Need & Ask for His Help to Obey

Through Andrew Murray’s book on Prayer, a compilation of his works, I learned that so many Christians burn out either by guilt-driven obedience or self-driven obedience… or they just give up because they feel they just can’t (both were me at different points in my life)—too busy, too distracted, too numb, too tired, too sick, etc.—but that so many of commands given in the Bible are either followed by or preceded by “by God, through God, by faith, or through faith.” In other words? We’re not meant to be ABLE to obey Him… ON OUR OWN WITHOUT HIS HELP. We are MEANT to need His help & to turn to Him for that help in our walk of obedience.

So, if you feel you can’t obey Him for WHATEVER reason, you’re in good company! Take that to God & be honest with Him & ask for His help: “God, please forgive me for my lack… help me know when to fit it in & help me to LISTEN when You give the nudge in that time… help me to focus… help me to concentrate… help my WANT.” RELY ON & COUNT ON His help.

And when emotions are running wild or feel non-existent… remember that feelings & obedience shouldn’t affect each other. God can help if you are willing to let Him. Let Him help.

Shine HOPE by determining to honor, please, & glorify God through obedience, whether you feel like it or not… by making sure to turn to Him diligently & consistently for His help.

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 FIVE 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!!

Tranquility Ring Set (India)

This set of 2 adjustable rings can be worn stacked together or separately! A silver-toned plated brass ring with a simple twist perfectly complements the gorgeous chalcedony ring.  This small oval-shaped, faceted chalcedony stone is set in silver-toned plated brass featuring a design on the silver band.

***Every purchase empowers women to earn fair wages for their work and to end cycles of poverty for her family.***

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!

Inner Dialogue Versus Prayer?

Are you someone like me who has inner dialogue with yourself all the time?

I mull over things. I stress trying to come up with answers. I worry, wondering how something could work out if I don’t come up with answers. I think over every angle & how I can fix something when nothing seems to be going right.

I rehash uncomfortable or hurtful conversations, trying to figure out where I went wrong or why the other person said what they said or how I could have handled it any better.

I get frustrated when inconvenienced or when I’m the victim of outright rude behavior & then I go through all of my could have, would have, should haves, knowing the moment has already passed. I get annoyed & inwardly fume at whatever they did that was hurtful to me.

I daydream. I create whole worlds in my head that I can escape to when I don’t have a good book on hand. It’s how I soothe when bored or restless.

I try to soothe myself or justify my reaction in my head or talk myself out of or through whatever I am feeling.

I sit in guilt when I mess up. I mull over it & stress about it & kick myself, beating myself up when I make a wrong choice with my attitude or behavior or reaction for the millionth time that day.

And in all of those things, I ought to be talking to God about it instead.

Turn My Thoughts to Prayers

That’s a hard thing for me to come to terms with. I mean, I know God is always listening—He always hears me—& I know we’re supposed to “pray without ceasing,” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18) but I guess it just comes so naturally to just think it over in my head versus acknowledging His presence is with me in every situation.

It’s much easier to do all of the above & then talk to family or friends about it than to remember, “Oh yeah, God… You’re right there, aren’t You? You saw that. You heard that. You know how to & can help me… so let me bring it to You.”

But it’s more than that, isn’t it? Because somehow I want to feel capable or feel I ought to be able to figure it out as a grown up adult. I guess because turning to Him instead takes faith & it takes practice & surrender. It takes letting go of control & giving it to Him instead.

Have Faith in the GOD Who Loves You!

Going to God instead of handling it myself takes faith because I have to take a step back to recognize He is GOD—& I am not. He literally knows EVERYTHING. He SEES everything. He HEARS everything—even thoughts. He also has perfect wisdom & cares about me.

He cares about me. There’s another place of needed faith…. That He cares enough to step into my little (or big) issue & help me. That He is never too busy because He is infinite. That He can’t be diminished, no matter how great or little my need. That whatever seems “just the way it is” to me is never impossible to change for Him… & that whatever change He determines is needed… is for my actual good.

He can do anything without diminishing any of His power or God-ness AND He loves us more than we can comprehend. It should be easy to put faith in Him in everything. But it takes letting go & letting HIM.

Fail Forward, It Is Worth It!

And it doesn’t come naturally. It takes practice. I have to DETERMINE to turn to Him in my mind & heart to hand it over to Him for help. It takes practice.

“I’m sorry, Lord, I’m doing it again… having a conversation in my head & trying to figure things out when You’re right here willing & able to help. Please forgive me. Help give me direction, wisdom, & peace. Help me to better trust You & help me to come to You more immediately next time. Amen.” This is a prayer I have learned to start praying whenever I find myself self-dialogueing versus talking to Him about it in my heart, acknowledging that He is right there all the time.

I need to TRAIN my brain to acknowledge Him & turn to Him in ALL things.

“In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.” (Proverbs 3:6)

Surrender, Surrender, Surrender!

But, & this is probably the biggest hurdle of them all—it takes surrender to talk to Him instead of myself. I have to admit I need help. I have to give up control. I have to let go of the limitations that really are my comfort zones because they allow me to justify not moving forward when I don’t think moving forward feels possible or comfortable or fun in that area.

I have to give up being the main character in my story & admit I am a supporting character in HIS story… HIS-tory.

And not only that, but sometimes quite frankly I feel justified in how I want to think about a situation or circumstance.

Rude interaction? Rude response in my head.

Frustrated about life? I want to figure out how I want it fixed.

Am I willing to have faith? To let Him be GOD in my heart & thoughts?

Am I willing to practice turning my heart to Him in all things? Even when it doesn’t come naturally to me at all?

Am I willing to surrender my way or my feelings for His lead & His way?

That’s what prayer is really. That’s how we can pray without ceasing… because it’s a matter of turning to Him in every natural thought & asking Him to help you exchange it for something that better honors/pleases Him versus yourself. It’s a matter of SURRENDER.

Do You Talk to Yourself More Than to God?

So what is it like for you? Do you talk to yourself more than to God? Or does it come naturally to you to turn every thought to Him as if He is a friend always by your side, everywhere you go, who can read your every thought (because He is that Friend).

Or are you like me & you need to work on it quite a bit? Maybe put more faith in His ability & His care for you. Maybe it’s just a matter of needing to practice it because it doesn’t come naturally to you to acknowledge His ever-presence. Maybe it’s a matter of surrender, where you want a little of the control or feel the need to be in charge of how things turn out or how you think things OUGHT to turn out.

Or maybe, like me, it’s a little bit of all three of those.

Shine HOPE by turning your thoughts to Him in ALL circumstances, recognizing that He is ever-present with you everywhere you go & He cares for you, too—more than ANYONE ever could. He gave Jesus for you, so be careful ever doubting His deep care for you even for one single second. He LOVES you! 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 FIVE 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!!

Raffia Earrings (India)

These stunning Raffia Earrings feature an oval blue glass bead and a circle of raffia fringe with an embroidered seed bead center, hanging from a hand-hammered brass stud. Make a fair-trade fashion statement with these beautiful earrings, handcrafted in a workshop in India committed to fighting child marriage and helping women become financially independent as fair-trade Artisans.

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!

Everything?

“Whether you eat or drink, or WHATEVER you do, do it ALL for the GLORY OF GOD.” (1 Corinthians 10:31, emphasis added)

“Be holy, for I am holy.” (Leviticus 19:2; 1 Peter 1:15-16)

I don’t know about you, but when I have always read these verses, I would get a little quicker past a few verses like the ones I shared above.

I know I don’t measure up to that standard. I know I am nowhere NEAR being holy apart from the righteousness accounted to me through JESUS.

So, reading verses like that just seems like “lalala, I can’t HEAR you!” because the impossibility of it mixed with the directness of it made me uncomfortable.

That doesn’t mean I discount them or think they’re not entirely important–because God says it, but I never really considered the fact that IF GOD SAYS IT… it MUST be possible.

Nothing So Obviously Rebellious

But, if I am really, truly honest with myself, I can tell that there are certain sins that I’m okay with—& that’s not okay.

Now, I don’t mean that in the way of picking & choosing certain ones of the Ten Commandments given by God to Moses (Deuteronomy 5:1-21) & saying, “I think THIS ONE is okay… oh, & THIS ONE, too!” Nothing so obviously rebellious.

It’s more that if I consider the command to by HOLY & that WHATEVER I do, ALL should be for God’s glory… weeelllll…. I don’t always 100% live like that–& I should, because God says to.

I mean, most things, sure… I try to anyway… but how often do I stop comparing what I’m okay with… with what GOD says He’s okay with… versus with other people in my life?

Do I let HIM set the gauge on ALL things? Or my church? Or my parents? Or a Christian author? Or my peers?

Who determines for me what God is okay with in my life?

Do I Excuse Things That Promote Sin?

Here’s a BIG example for me that up until my self-imposed “rehab” from reliance on coping mechanisms versus trusting that God’s peace really can be sufficient & I don’t have to be trapped any longer by the “OR ELSE” that comes with maintaining my coping mechanisms for my depression… I can really be free from them & trust God in their place… but that is a rabbit hole from my point…

In my “rehab,” I have not allowed myself to watch any tv (read: binge watch, because once my symptoms hit, I have grown to have zero self-control anymore when it comes to tv-watching once I start as I try to drown out the symptoms). And in this giving up of television… amongst other things… I have found it has become much easier to live in a way that honors God—including & especially my thought life!

Why? I think it’s because although I try not to watch “trashy” television, a lot of it still portrays sin & that sin influences me even in subtle ways I would have never owned up to or even recognized previously because I grew up watching tv & it’s always been considered completely, absolutely acceptable—as long as I am not indulging in “filth” that PROMOTES & openly DISPLAYS sin.

But unless my prayer life & Bible study time outweighs the time I spend influenced by tv, guess which one is most likely going to have the stronger, albeit subtler, influence over me? (Galatians 6:8)

How Do You Think It Makes God Feel?

If I am engaging in something where sin is taken lightly, (aka something that God hates & considers worthy of needing to send Jesus to DIE for us because otherwise the punishment is eternal wretched torment in HELL (Romans 6:23; Isaiah 53:5-6; John 3:16-17)… does it honor Him if I engage in enjoying it?

Imagine your friend confides in you that someone called her fat & laughed at her & it just caught her off guard & deeply cut her & hurt her & she confides in you saying how much it hurts her… then you sit down with her & choose to watch a show where one character or another makes fun of someone’s weight & a laugh track plays… how do you think your friend is going to feel about that being the butt of the joke?

How do you think God feels when He sees you watching or engaging in something that makes light of something He says hurts Him? Namely, SIN? Do you think that honors Him? Pleases Him? Or hurts His heart? How do you think it makes God feel?

If a particular sin is treated dismissively, like no big deal… or promoted or praised, when God says it is worthy of DEATH & eternal punishment in Hell… where Jesus had to DIE because of it… do you think it honors Him to engage in it or excuse it or watch it? Do you think it pleases Him?

How do you think it makes God feel?

Is This Legalism?

This is where my conviction creeps in, because I recognize how much of a surprising change it’s been in me just these last 2.5 ish months just from not watching tv… & now I am realizing that what I have justified–because it’s widely accepted… may not be what’s best for me because I can’t say with full confidence that it doesn’t hurt or dishonor or displease God.

“All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things edify [build up].” (1 Corinthians 10:23, brackets added)

It’s not a matter of legalism. I can’t be saved by being “good” (Ephesians 2:8-9) & any amount of “good” in me is counted as dirty rags to God (Isaiah 64:6)… it’s ONLY by/through JESUS. Only. (John 14:6)

BUT, it IS a matter of whether I really care about giving God the GLORY in WHATEVER I do…. It IS a matter of whether I will CHOOSE to strive to honor & please God with every choice I make (aka striving to live HOLY & pleasing to GOD).

Where Do I Draw the Line?

What’s more important to me? Salvation with a side of living however I see fit as long as it’s not “TOO” offensive/dishonoring to God?

Where’s my line that I’m willing to draw there?

Where am I willing to hurt Him “just a little”?

Do I care about being HOLY? Or just “good enough”?

Do I justify things because I REALLY LIKE IT & IT’S “NOT THAT BAD”?

Who determines what is GOOD? Me? Or HIM?

Is It Okay to “Simply” Make Light of Any Sin?

God says course language/jesting is wrong. (Ephesians 5:4; Matthew 12:36-37; Ephesians 4:29)

God says complaining & gossip is wrong. (1 Corinthians 10:8-10; Jude 1:14-18; Philippians 2:13-16; Proverbs 16:28; James 4:11)

God says murder & hatred is wrong. (Proverbs 6:16-19; 1 John 4:20)

God says sensuality, lust, & sex outside the context of marriage is wrong. (1 Corinthians 10:8-10; Matthew 15:19; Ephesians 4:19; Mark 7:20-23; Matthew 5:28; 1 Corinthians 7:1-4; 1 Corinthians 6:18)

God says witchcraft is wrong. (1 Samuel 15:23; Galatians 5:19-21)

God says choosing our identity versus letting Him determine that is wrong. (Genesis 1:27; Psalm 139:13-16)

God says sleeping with the same sex is wrong. (Leviticus 18:22; Romans 1:26-27)

What are we okay with watching that makes light of any of that sin because our church always allowed those movies/shows because they weren’t openly engaging in it or promoting it… maybe so our parents were okay with it, our peers encourage it, the world accepts it…?

Have we bothered to ask God what HE is okay with in any of it?

I’m a Sinner… I’m Still Learning to Surrender More to Him for His Glory over My Entertainment

I am not saying all of this because I have it all figured out & always make the right decision or even always know what the right decision is.

I am not here to make the call on where that line ought to be for you.

God says to be 100% convinced in your OWN heart before God… (Romans 14:5) & that if we’re not, & we choose to do it anyway… to US (not necessarily to everyone) it IS sin. (Romans 14:23)

Are you 100% convinced in your heart before God?

The Sins We’re Okay With

The sins we’re okay with… would you say there’s anything you’re okay engaging in that downplays, glorifies, or makes light of anything God hates? Where is the line for you on what you’re okay disappointing, displeasing, or hurting God?

Is there ANY doubt that you’re burying in justifications even though you know very well or even just have the slight inkling idea that maybe God is NOT okay with it?

What sins are you okay with if “to YOU (because of doubt) they are sin”?

SHINE HOPE by being willing to lay down a prayer of surrender whenever God nudges your heart about something, saying, “God, LORD, if there is ANYTHING I do that dishonors or displeases you in the SLIGHTEST, help me to NOT be okay with it anymore. WEED IT OUT of my life! I want my life to strive for holiness AKA a life that seeks to honor & please You with everything I choose. In Jesus’ HOLY name, Amen.”

Amen.

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 almost FIVE 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!!

(Explorer Gift Set: India, Haiti, & Guatemala)

Looking for a thoughtful, unique gift? Send him an ethically made gift that makes the world a better place! This Explorer Gift Set empowers families out of poverty with the genuine leather Explorer Wallet from India, a hand-stitched card from Haiti, and packaged in a traditional fabric pouch handwoven in Guatemala. The Explorer Set is perfectly packaged to give to the influential man in your life for Father’s Day, Graduation gifts, or a spring birthday!

*****Every purchase provides safe jobs with fair wages for families in areas of extreme poverty in India, Haiti, and Guatemala.*****

How You Can Help the Artisans & Support My Website:

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

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

Love ya lots! Have a wonderful week!

It’s in What’s Not Said

Well, this week at church hit me a little different.

Maybe you see me doing these blog posts every week & going LIVE to chat about the topics every week, & you think, “How can you say you’re silent? You’re anything but silent about God’s Word!”

But let me tell you, while God has brought me great lengths from where I was at when I launched my website & first blog post nearly 5 years ago… I still have some growing to do.

I used to struggle even with how I write now. I used to sort of “water down” what I wrote to make it more palatable to the general audience because I was so afraid of offending anyone—heaven forbid (it’s “in style” to be offended about literally everything these days, it seems).

But, back then, God chided my heart & put an unrest in me to let me know something was off—that if someone was in search of life-giving, FREEING truth… they wouldn’t get what they were looking for… & if someone didn’t care about that, they wouldn’t have reason to care about my measly blog anyway.

So, considering that I have become more straightforward in my pointing to Who my hope comes from—JESUS—it may seem an exaggeration to say I am sinning through my silence… but I am. It’s in what I choose NOT to say….

Finally Reaching their Promised (by God) Land! But…

At church, our pastor has been walking through the journey of the Israelites in the Old Testament, a common theme being their grumbling (see also: murmuring & complaining aka not going to God & thus trusting Him with it/through it)—it’s pretty much threaded through MUCH of the Old Testament. (Exodus 15:24; Exodus 16:2; Exodus 17:3; Numbers 14:2; Numbers 14:29; Numbers 16:41; Deuteronomy 1:27; Joshua 9:18; Psalm 106:24-25)

Right now, we’re in Numbers 13-14, getting to the part where they have arrived at the land God has PROMISED to give them, has singlehandedly LED them to, after PROVIDING miracle after miracle after MIRACLE to GET them there.

And God tells them, at the beginning of Chapter 13, to send their choicest men to go scout ahead to let the people know what to expect: namely, the beautiful, bountiful promised land’s reality of “a land flowing with milk & honey.” (Exodus 3:16-17; Exodus 33:3)

Well, the guys go, get samples of the land’s bountiful resources, & return to the people to give their report. Now, this was meant to be a scouting mission for the place where GOD called them to go, where GOD promised to provide… NOT a “whether or NOT we should go” type thing.

But that’s exactly how they handled it… as giving their assessment of whether or not they should go… & their assessment was a huge NOPE.

A Faith More in Human Ability or God Ability?

“YES, it’s BEAUTIFUL!”

“YES, it’s everything God said it would be & MORE!”

“YES, it’s AMAZING land!………”

“BUT, the people living there are like giants! & there’s so many of them that we don’t even stand a CHANCE! We need to turn back! We will lose!” (Numbers 13:26-29; Numbers 13:31-33, paraphrase)

RUH-ROH. That was NOT their call to make. That was NOT their assignment! (*But wait, don’t I do that ALL THE TIME when I choose not to do something I OUGHT to do because it makes me uncomfortable??? Oops. I try to OUT-LOGIC GOD.)

But it was effective, as basically EVERYONE came as one accord to agree with those choice men. They did NOT want to risk it. (Numbers 14:1-4; Numbers 14:10) They were SO afraid, in fact, that they were readying to STONE anyone who opposed their idea to give up!

“Then the Lord said to Moses: “How long will these people reject Me? And how long will they not believe Me, with all the signs which I have performed among them?” (Numbers 14:11)

Am I Too Willing to Stand for God’s Leading, Despite the Hatred of the Crowd?

But there were 2 men who chose to look at the roughness of the situation—I mean, if their choicest men were shaking in their boots so eager to get OUT of there, it MUST have been BAD—but these 2 men:  Caleb & Joshua, chose to trust not what they could see, but the God Who is GREATER than any obstacles they saw ahead. (Numbers 13:30; Numbers 14:6-9)

They remembered how God rescued them from slavery & oppression in Egypt.

They remembered how God had led them through the wilderness with a pillar of smoke by day & a pillar of fire by night, never leaving them to fend for themselves for one moment.

They remembered the manna food that came from the sky that God provided as their daily sustenance, & the water that miraculously sprung out from the rocks when struck in places with no near water source.

They remembered every bit of God’s power & majesty & provision!

And they looked at the SAME OVERWHELMING odds & said, “You know what, it IS a great obstacle that is NOT humanly possible… BUT GOD IS GREATER.”

And the people wanted to STONE them for proclaiming it! What?! (Numbers 14:10)

What Does It Mean to Live by FAITH?

Living in faith means doing what God says, even if it makes NO SENSE to us.

Living by faith means doing what God says, even if the crowd wants to stone you (or “cancel” you) for it.

Crossroads in your life that change the course of your life may seem insignificant at the time but end up having a HUGE impact. Where will our choices lead us? To mediocre, “good enough” or to God’s BEST for those influenced & impacted by you? Are you influencing the world or is the world influencing you? <–Read a previous post on that, here.

When we say, “But I can’t.” We need to finish that statement with, “But GOD CAN.”

Don’t get caught fixating on avoiding discomfort or struggle versus trusting God is more than sufficient through ANYTHING.

Remember Who He Is

What has God ALREADY gotten you through? Throughout history, what has God ALREADY done?

God’s promises or human obstacles… which will you let rule your path/heart/confidence/life?

If even the GREAT 10 were AFRAID, the obstacles they saw must have been HUGE, but Caleb saw clearly that GOD IS GREATER.

Will you be willing to stand alone or will you hide in the majority?

God’s Ways Lead to the Promised Land

This is where I was convicted in my own heart: God’s way & God’s Truth leading to obedience to His Word & also SALVATION… THAT is the promised land… the good land promised by God.

Will I be courageous in encouraging obedience to God’s will, to give Him glory in ALL things… even the things people love to cancel others for… to seek to honor & please Him with EVERYTHING in life, even if it makes me the hated minority, knowing if God has led it then it IS the “promised land” we seek?

His way leads to LIFE. Am I really committed to believing that ENOUGH to speak up about even those things that the media is quick to stone you with their viral words of hatred?

Will I be like Caleb or like the other guys? Will I trust self or God? Will I protect myself or the Truth of God that sets us free & leads to life everlasting?

My Sin? Silence.

Is comfort so much my idol that I would deny encouragement for people to be free of the payment & guilt of their sin? Or if already free, to find the GOODNESS & BLESSING tucked in living a life of determined, surrendered obedience to God no matter what?

Being a Caleb requires sacrifice, surrender, sometimes ridicule, & sometimes a LONELY standing alone. It’s an obstacle that in my seeking out of comfort, seems NOT humanly possible.

But God makes it all worthwhile.

Who around me will pay the price for my silence?

“And your sons shall be shepherds in the wilderness forty years, and bear the brunt of your infidelity, until your carcasses are consumed in the wilderness.” (Numbers 14:33)

I ask again, who will pay the price for my silence?

God Is My Strength, in Whom I Place My Trust

Why do I think I have to be strong when God Himself promises to be my strength?

What God calls sin, is sin. We can justify it, disbelieve it, ignore it, avoid it, talk around it, feel progressive & forward-thinking about it… but what God calls sin… is SIN.

And judgment day will come.

Don’t make excuses. Don’t make yourself out to be wiser than the One Who MADE you.

Trust HIM over yourself. And if it makes absolutely no sense to you & you just REFUSE to live by it until it makes sense to YOU… let’s just say God understands more than you do & that excuse (saying you have to know as much as God or you refuse to obey Him) will not fly with Him come judgment day. Your choice is your choice & thus your consequences will be your consequences.

Be Careful

“For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools,” (Romans 1:20-22; Romans 2:15-16)

Shine HOPE by determining NOT to keep quiet… NOT to focus on the HUGE obstacles/struggles ahead… BUT to fix your eyes on REMEMBERING ALL GOD has brought you through & done throughout history… without your help. (1 Thessalonians 5:11)

Let God be God in your life every day.

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 almost FIVE 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!!

May 2023 Hope Mail

FOR A LIMITED TIME – Only available during the month of May!

Imagine the joy of opening this May Hope Mail package and discovering these eco-friendly fair-trade earrings! Artisans in India handcraft these elegant Silver Simplicity Earrings. Each earring features six silver-tone ovals linked to smaller circles, creating a beautiful fair-trade fashion statement. Every pair of Silver Simplicity Earrings helps to end poverty cycles and keep families out of the slums of India!

This bright, colorful Aqua Statement Bracelet is handcrafted in India and designed to create a fair-trade fashion statement! Several strands of aqua colored glass seed beads on viscose thread. Each bracelet is finished with knotted ends and fun hot pink tassels on the pull strings. This bracelet is helping women in India leave situations of abuse and discrimination and sending girls to school.

Inspire yourself or someone you love with this exclusive, vinyl, Trades of Hope Esther Sticker with the encouraging message, “Perhaps this is the moment for which you were created.”

*****Every purchase provides 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 the Artisans & Support My Website:

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

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

Love ya lots! Have a wonderful week!