I am going to be honest with you. I am kind of freaking out.
For those who aren’t aware—some days I am extremely low energy. Today is one of those days. I feel a need of a nap constantly lurking over my head. My eyes feel sunken in & my energy level is sitting at around a 2.5/10.
But I cannot afford a low energy day. Our pack out is scheduled for Monday & it’s Thursday as I’m typing this.
There is too much to do to feel this tired & ragged.
It’s discouraging to me.
Another Typhoon…???
But that’s not all—we also have another big storm heading our way(is 2 super typhoons in a year not enough??) after we have already mostly cleared our pantry… & that sets us up to have heavy rains on our pack out which is a huge no-no for mold potential as our household belongings sit in storage for who knows how long while we house-search in Florida.
Too much to do… too little time… no energy to do it…heavy rains predicted when we need dry skies. It’s all too much.
And on top of it all… it seems the type of home we want is a unicorn for our budget. But God can find us the right space. We just need to wait on Him.
I am feeling overwhelmed by it all.
I Feel Ragged… So, I Probably Ought to be Praying…
So I probably need to take a step back from it all & go sit with God & pour all of this out to Him to see what He will do with the little I have left.
“God, I cannot do this. It’s all too much. There are so many things to try to remember of what I need to do before the movers come. I just don’t have any energy to think it all through or to execute it well. I feel like I am carrying around a couple weighted blankets & someone slipped me some sleepy time meds. Every step feels like a chore. My brain feels foggy. I can’t think clearly because I feel so out of it & tired. How am I supposed to pull this together? How am I supposed to figure out logistics when my brain doesn’t want to cooperate? How can I get everything done like this? And the rain? Clearly I have no control over that. I don’t know what to do. I feel so weighed down by my ineptness today. Please help me.Please show me what to do. Please give me wisdom. Please light my path. Please be my strength. Please encourage me. Please show up & fill in where I am lacking in so many different ways today. Please HELP me. In Jesus’ name, AMEN.”
I can’t count on myself today, but I can’t quit either… so I have to pray & trust that God can do what I can’t with what I don’t have to offer. He has to help or it won’t happen.
Lord, give me Your PEACE.
I Just Need Peace
Prayers appreciated in this move. It’s a lot. I really don’t enjoy moving (& that’s putting it nicely). Saying goodbyes, the logistics of it all, leaving my sense of home for who knows how long, a new place, making new friends, making major decisions like where to live… I don’t like doing any of it.I need His help.
In my weakness, let Him to be shown as my strength.
Because I need it. And I just need PEACE.
How Are YOU Doing?
I don’t know if you feel any scrap of how I’m feeling(or maybe even more so)but let’s be praying for each other. Let me know how I can be praying for you, too. We need each other & we need Him more.
How are YOU doing today? Are you turning to Him through it in prayer?
Shine HOPE by taking all your lack to Him in prayer & trusting He can do with it more than you could ever hope to… & He can give you peace even in the places where hope seems the MOST impossible. Praise God!
“Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”(1 Corinthians 10:31)
Join me every Monday morning, EST, for more encouragement right here on my blog/website @ www.MichelleHydeOnline.com.
Share with friends & family… & SUBSCRIBE by “Joining My Tribe,” so you never miss a week!
As God grows me, may it encourage you to seek Him & know Him & love Him more every day.
A Note from Michelle:
(***Check out myFREE 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 since Summer 2018!! 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!!
Larimar & Leaf Set–Handcrafted in & Empowering Women in the Dominican Republic Out of Poverty!
(Shown: Larimar & Leaf Set, handcrafted in & empowering women out of poverty in the DR!)
Inspired by the beauty of the sea, this elegant set features a lanyard-length necklace adorned with soothing shades of aqua and turquoise beads, finished with a striking larimar pendant and silver accents from our Artisan Partners in the Dominican Republic. Paired with our gorgeous Silver Petal Earrings from India that are beautifully textured silver leaf earrings, this set brings a touch of natural elegance and coastal charm to any outfit. Perfect for everyday wear or adding a special touch to any occasion.
***SHOP Here, OR, Email me at michellehyde.tradesofhope@gmail.com with any questions, & I will message you personally with more information!! Thank you for inspiring HOPE around the world, Lovely!***
How Can You Help Artisans around the World AND Help Support MichelleHydeOnline.com?
#1 is PRAY. Financial help is great & helps pay my website fees & helps support these women artisans… but God’s help is always needed most… both for encouragement & for spiritual hope, through Jesus, for the women we support through our ethical fashion purchases. Always PRAY first.
Your purchases not only help these women, but my commissions help me in continuing this website/blog, encouraging women all around the world with the HOPE we have in Jesus. Win-win-win!
Have a wonderful week living for His glory in all that you do!
I’ve been through some painful stuff in my lifetime…as I am sure you can say for yourself as well. And while I would cling to the fact that “even if it never got better, at least I can look forward to heaven…” well, I was missing one small little detail.
You see, it really has been a comfort to me to consider the fact that even if whatever hard I’m facing never seems to quit, I know that my hope is secured because of what Jesus did for me on the cross, dying to pay for my sins & rising again to conquer them once & for all. But the fact is, there’s more….
“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.” (Psalm 23:4)
Psalm 23:4 doesn’t shy away from the concept of suffering. It doesn’t sugar-coat it, hide it, avoid it, pretend to the world it isn’t there… it confronts it with truth IN it.
And why no fear? Not just the hope of eternity in heaven, free from sin, pain, or death because of Jesus… but here NOW IN it with me.
I don’t have to fear the evils of this world or the pain or suffering in this life… not JUST because I have heaven on the horizon, but because He is with me in it, through it… every step of the way.
“For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5b)
God Doesn’t Hide from Our Pain
I absolutely love the fact that God doesn’t shy away from our pain or ask us to “just buck up.” He doesn’t want us to pretend. He doesn’t push away from us. He wants us to know where we can find hope where hope seems impossible. Not just waiting on eternity, but finding comfort through the storm NOW.
He doesn’t promise all of our hard away, but He promises to be our enough IN the hard.
It can seem so lonely when we face times of suffering. It can be so isolating when we see the suffering around us but others want to minimize or ignore it. But God sees. God knows. God cares. He wants us to cry out to Him in it. He wants to be what we need in it.
Nothing Else Lastingly Satisfies
My husband & I are reading through Ecclesiastes,one of the most uplifting books of the Bible(sarcasm here), & yet, even with all of the “vanity of vanities, all is vanity” comments throughout, it’s a clear reminder of what we ought to be living for, what will last beyond a temporary pleasure or satisfaction.It’s only in Jesus. Everything else fades or always just falls short of feeling like “enough.” But Jesus SATISFIES.
“Sorrow is better than laughter, For by a sad countenance the heart is made better. The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, But the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.” (Ecclesiastes 7:3-4)
We can chase what makes us feel good, what makes us feel comfortable…. But we will always be chasing, grasping for the wind… a pursuit ever fleeting, ever just out of reach. But God knows that when we face hard things, we learn & we grow… & we see Him more clearly as our sufficiency instead of ourselves.Ignoring all pain & suffering doesn’t make it to stop existing.We NEED Him whether we like to admit it or not.
In His Presence Is Fullness of Joy… So Get into His Presence
I talked in a recent blog post about “In His Presence Is Fullness of Joy” & that I always assumed joy was just a given(or was supposed to be). But I have learned that when the heaviness settles on my heart or I feel overwhelmed or so restless it feels like my skin is uncontrollably squirming with angst, that I literally need to pause the tv, set down the phone, aka not turn to anything else to numb or avoid or comfort… & just sit & ask God for His presence… for His help… for His steadying hand… for His peace… for His calm. And let Him settle me. I need to just sit & BE in His presence.
To worship & praise His name… put everything in perspective of Who He is & what He has done for me.
He is big enough to handle my worst. He doesn’t shy away from it. He doesn’t push away from me in it. He doesn’t ask me to pretty it up to make it more palatable or hide it better so it makes Him more comfortable to be around me. He doesn’t ask me to pretend. He can take it… the worst & ugliest of me. When the pain is raw & not cleaned up yet.
And He sits with me in it. Fully embraces me at my worst. Calm IN the storm. Peace. GRACE.
God Sees Me & He Will Not Waste My Pain
And God ALWAYS has a plan. He is always working. He is never asleep. He is never missing a detail. He hasn’t forgotten you. He sees you. He cares for you. He is with you.
And He is working.
We can take comfort in that NOW.
“In the day of prosperity be joyful, But in the day of adversity consider: Surely God has appointed the one as well as the other….” (Ecclesiastes 7:14a)
He knows what we need. We can take comfort in that. He knows that adversity strengthens our character & builds our trust in Him as we turn to & cry out to Him in it.Because He always comes through. Not in praying for the end of the struggle, but in praying to see Him care for us in the struggle.
Unafraid… For I Know He Is with Me
And because I KNOW He is working, I can ask Him, “Lord, I do NOT want to waste this pain or struggle. Please use it to bless others somehow… to be a testimony to others that You are so much beyond sufficient. Show Yourself to BE my strength. Be strong in my weakness. Show the world Your grace through me… through this pain. In Jesus’ name… AMEN.”
The disciples understood this while singing His praises in prison (Acts 16:25). Job understood this when he lost EVERYTHING (Job 1:21). Paul understood this when his life was threatened (Acts 21:13). The 3 men thrown in the furnace understood this (Daniel 3:16-18). Daniel understood this when faced with the lions den (Daniel 6). God is worthy of our all & sufficient for us in ALL circumstances. He is working. We are a living testimony. IN the pain, & when God will eventually call us home–all in His perfect timing. God has a plan & He is at work! Cling to Him!
Unafraid… for I know He is with me. God has a plan. God is working. God will provide. God is in control. God will comfort. God is enough. God is with you.
Shine HOPE by turning to Him when you are afraid, trusting Him as your sufficiency as you go through it, knowing He is with you wherever you go.Not just waiting on eternity as your hope… but right NOW He is with you.
“Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”(1 Corinthians 10:31)
Join me every Monday morning, EST, for more encouragement right here on my blog/website @ www.MichelleHydeOnline.com.
Share with friends & family… & SUBSCRIBE by “Joining My Tribe,” so you never miss a week!
As God grows me, may it encourage you to seek Him & know Him & love Him more every day.
A Note from Michelle:
(***Check out myFREE 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 since Summer 2018!! 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!!
October 2026 “Hope Mail”–Fighting Poverty in India!
(Shown: October 2026 “Hope Mail” empowering women in India out of poverty with every purchase!)
Your purchase of October Hope Mail provides one day of school for a girl in an area of extreme poverty.
Enjoy the artisanal design of the Moroccan Tile Earrings when you shop Hope Mail this month! These detailed, hand-beaded statement earrings are handcrafted in a workshop in India that’s committed to fighting child marriage and helping women become financially independent as fair-trade Artisans. Featuring vibrant colors inspired by Moroccan Tile designs, these earrings are not only beautiful but create necessary jobs for women in areas of extreme poverty in India.
Every purchase of this month’s Hope Mail creates safe jobs with fair wages for women in areas of extreme poverty in India where vulnerable women are often exploited by sweatshops and human traffickers.
***SHOP Here, OR, Email me at michellehyde.tradesofhope@gmail.com with any questions, & I will message you personally with more information!! Thank you for inspiring HOPE around the world, Lovely!***
How Can You Help Artisans around the World AND Help Support MichelleHydeOnline.com?
#1 is PRAY. Financial help is great & helps pay my website fees & helps support these women artisans… but God’s help is always needed most… both for encouragement & for spiritual hope, through Jesus, for the women we support through our ethical fashion purchases. Always PRAY first.
Your purchases not only help these women, but my commissions help me in continuing this website/blog, encouraging women all around the world with the HOPE we have in Jesus. Win-win-win!
Have a wonderful week living for His glory in all that you do!
This week is another adaptation of my lesson prep for prison ministry.
I just felt that, although not prison, we all can have seasons where we feel stuck or trapped… especially like my seasons where I am struggling with depression…. And I have learned that even in those really hard, difficult times… sometimes those are the most prime times to be able to give God the glory because onlookers can more clearly see that it’s not at all because of me.
We’ve all had times in our lives when we feel stuck. Maybe it’s a season of grief or maybe an illness or injury… maybe it’s depression… maybe it’s prison.
When we’re in these seasons, where everything just seems hard & the hard doesn’t seem to ever want to stop… when you have no control… it can all be very discouraging. It can feel disheartening & like life is just beating you up.
And in those moments, we can possibly feel like, when our world feels so dark & grim—how are we supposed to give God glory?
But here I am to tell you that it is oftentimes in these moments where we have the MOST opportunity to give God the glory.
It’s Not about How Great You Look
I always say that when you’re doing something for God, its success does not hinge on everything going perfectly, but often in how you respond when nothing goes right.
You see, it shows more clearly where you end & where He begins. It shows where you humble your weakness to Him & trade it for His help.
Alternatively, when you are strong & everything in your world is going pretty smoothly, & everything seems to just be going according to plan… when you seem strong & capable… who are people going to praise? Who is going to get the glory in that? Oftentimes… you.
But, when everything is seeming to fall apart & you clearly don’t have a backup plan, but you stop & pray over it & see it all work out… who are they going to praise in that situation? More likely Him.
When someone looks at your life, do they see a strong, capable woman?Or do they see a woman who leans upon her Lord?
We’ll Always be a Work in Progress
I am definitely not always a pro at this—although the more times that I realize my need, that I need to stop, admit my limitations, & cry out to God for help in prayer, the more easily that response comes to me in the future.
Now, I’m also not saying to purposely act like a hot mess or drop the ball on every task to show that you trust God is in control—that would be irresponsible stewardship of the task God has put before you & show it doesn’t actually matter much to you at all.
Trust & reliance on GOD is not the same as inaction on your part.
But I am saying that when you do your best & it still all crumbles apart, don’t be scared of the failure… show others Who you turn to when you don’t have all the answers. Show them Who is your strength when you feel you have none.
Who knows, maybe that is the whole reason God granted you the stewardship over that… knowing it would fall apart… SO THAT people could have opportunity to firsthand witness you turning it over to God for help when it starts to fail. Maybe that was the point all along.
Yeah, I Am Weak… I Admit It
That is why I can be so open with struggling with depression pretty badly in some seasons of my life. Does it make me look good? No, not at all. People often judge me & say I am “just being dramatic.”
But does it show others my very real human weaknesses so that they can more clearly that where I succeed must not have been all me? Yes. In many cases, yes.
I want others to know where I fail & fall short. I want people to see where I screwed it up & felt I had no hope left. I want people to see where I end & where He begins…. I want HIM to get the glory in my life, not me.
I want others to see & know that any good from my life is not because I am a success or a strong woman, but because I know from where my help & strength come from–& it’s not of myself, that’s for sure.
And that is why it is entirely possible to give God the glory when you just feel stuck in your life.
What Is Your “Stuck”?
Chronic illness? Bad diagnosis? Injury? Grief? Depression? Prison? What is pushing you down? What is your “stuck”?
Use whatever it is as your opportunity to lean into God as your help & your strength & your wisdom & your comfort. As your platform to show the world where you end & He begins… be a beacon of hope.
Let His help be shown through your stuck.
God sees you. He hasn’t forgotten about you. He will not waste a single ounce of “stuck” in your life, because they are prime opportunities to teach you (& others through you) that He can when ‘can’ feels super impossible.
That He can use even someone like you, even someone with your “stuck.”
Praise Him in the Storm
Think of the followers of Jesus (Paul & Silas) in prison. They understood the assignment. Most were imprisoned wrongly, simply for sharing the gospel, rather than breaking any laws. But did they scream their rights? Did they grumble & complain to everyone around them?
“But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.” (Acts 16:25)
No, they sang praises to their God. They lived as a testimony EVEN in prison.
They understood that God was still with them, even in that cell & that God cared just as much for each prisoner they sat beside & every prison guard who watched over them. That Jesus died for them, too.
God Doesn’t Do Anything Without a Purpose
And what about Paul. Did you know his friends kept warning him? “Don’t go there, are you crazy?! They want to KILL you!!!”
But how did Paul respond?
“Now when we heard these things, both we and those from that place pleaded with him not to go up to Jerusalem. Then Paul answered, “What do you mean by weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” (Acts 21:12-13)
He also understood the assignment. He knew that no matter who God put him in front of, even if they had the power to kill him, that the Gospel of Jesus Christ was worth dying for & that those people who fight against it so hard are also ones for whom Jesus died. He was willing to die to get the chance for an audience with those in charge to hear the hope of Jesus.
Sometimes I Just Feel SO Stuck in Life!
In my seasons of dark depression, life is really hard. It feels hopeless, like my mind is under constant oppression & attack. Like I cannot get free no matter how hard I try. Like I am fighting every day just to keep my head above water, so to speak.
I feel weak & pathetic. I feel useless. I feel embarrassed. I feel like I make God look bad.
But on the contrary. I cannot tell you how many times God has used even my darkest days to show me & even others that He can where I very obviously could not.
There’s this little phrase in a verse that I love so much… He lifted my head.
“But You, O Lord, are a shield for me, My glory and the One who lifts up my head.” (Psalm 3:3)
I don’t know, something about this picture just really shows His gentleness when all seems lost. Like this picture of being so completely limp & weak with nothing to offer, so lacking that even lifting your head off the floor feels too much of a strain, one you can’t bear… & yet… God. His gentle, loving, sovereignly powerful care… & He lifts your head.
I don’t know if you’ve ever felt that low before, but I have. It’s like only the solid, firm floor feels sturdy enough because I feel so limp & frail that the bed or couch cushions don’t feel secure or sturdy enough to hold me steady. I just lay flat on the floor to feel that sturdiness underneath me & I can feel so limp & weak that I can’t even get myself to lift my head. And then this picture of our great, majestic All-powerful God kneeling down beside me to lift my head for me… I don’t know why, but I just get choked up thinking about it because that really is the type of gentle, loving, sees-me care He shows me in my every weakest point in life.
My Weaknesses for His Glory
My weaknesses are not something I am ashamed of anymore, because they have become the canvas on which God shows Himself all the more wonderful & spectacular than I could ever have imagined Him to be.
Every crack in me only serves as crevices for His love & power & faithfulness & grace to shine through even brighter to the world around me.
I used to pray about my depression to the tune of: “but, if You actually loved me, why, oh WHY, would You let me suffer SO MUCH for NO REASON—ie no cause of loss or betrayal or physical pain or ANYTHING to at least justify to others my suffering, but NO, I have to be in such complete, constant pain in some particular seasons, with absolutely nothing to help people be understanding to me IN IT. Why?!”
I didn’t understand how God could simultaneously love me AND let me suffer so much.
But you know what, there came a day when that answer to those prayers finally came: “Michelle, you look around & see lukewarm Christians everywhere who seem to think just going to church or praying before they eat is all I am to them & it grieves your heart. They have an ignorance of Me that keeps them from drawing nearer. But you haven’t had that “luxury.” No, you HAVE suffered… & because you have suffered so much… you have not had the “luxury” of believing the lie that you don’t need Me… no, you have been forced through that suffering to come to Me over & over & over again, learning that I am where your hope is found… learning to rely on Me. It is indeed the greatest blessing, My child… not a curse.”
Wow was I put in my place that day. The humbling realization washed over me & poured out of me as pure gratefulness. What I had always seen as my greatest curse instantly turned into my greatest blessing & benefit.
All of those years where I have suffered so much pushed me ever into His arms as my help & I have seen Him come through for me over & over & over & over & over & OVER again because of those many seasons!
And because of that… on TOP of that… I can share that same exact hope I have personally seen as FACT, through my own suffering, as a display of hope to absolutely everyone who will hear me.
I can be a beacon, a lighthouse that draws others around me to the One Who gives me hope in the most hopeless of places.
Shining As a Beacon of Hope… RIGHT Where You Are
So, no, we are never truly “stuck.” Not really.
God has a purpose in it.God has a plan. God will not ever waste a single ounce of our struggles or suffering or seasons of “stuck.” He knows what He is doing.
We can trust Him.We can proclaim Him. We can point others to where OUR own hope comes from—Jesus Christ our LORD!
So, sing His praises! Of His greatness & power & majesty! His love & grace & faithfulness! His sovereignty, His deity, His longsuffering favor toward us who are even least deserving! That Jesus died so that we may LIVE! PRAISE Him!
Read the Bible & dwell on its words & truth.
Pray & spend time pouring out your struggles & anxieties to Him, asking for His help & thanking Him for being One Who cares for you no matter what you may feel you do or don’t deserve.
Remember your salvation undeserved… & SHARE IT. Be a BEACON for HOPE.
He Is at Work
Are you feeling stuck in life right now because of your current circumstances? What does your “stuck” look like? How does it make you feel right now? Is God too small to help you or to shine through you in this?(No.)
Can you flip the script on it & instead see it as an opportunity to lean into Him, see Him show up for you in it, & live as a beacon to a hurting world?
Ask Him & watch Him shift your heart & renew your mind.
He is working.
Shine HOPE by leaning on Him & living for Him, even on your absolute worst days… & see the wonderful ways that God shows up & makes Himself known to you & to those you allow to look in on your pain… let them see Him in it.
“Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”(1 Corinthians 10:31)
Join me every Monday morning, EST, for more encouragement right here on my blog/website @ www.MichelleHydeOnline.com.
Share with friends & family… & SUBSCRIBE by “Joining My Tribe,” so you never miss a week!
As God grows me, may it encourage you to seek Him & know Him & love Him more every day.
A Note from Michelle:
(***Check out myFREE 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 since the Summer of 2018!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!!
Pearl Seashell Brooch, Handcrafted in & Empowering Women Out of Poverty in India!
(Shown: Pearl Seashell Brooch, handcrafted in & offering brighter futures for women in India!
When you purchase the Pearl Seashell Brooch you create safe jobs with fair wages in areas of extreme poverty where vulnerable women are often exploited by sweatshops.
This adorable pin shows off the craftsmanship of our talented artisan partners in India! Each bead is hand-sewn onto the pin to create this seashell image. This is the perfect addition to any blazer, coat, or canvas bag to instantly give you a unique look!
***SHOP Here, OR, Email me at michellehyde.tradesofhope@gmail.com with any questions, & I will message you personally with more information!! Thank you for inspiring HOPE around the world, Lovely!***
How Can You Help Artisans around the World AND Help Support MichelleHydeOnline.com?
#1 is PRAY. Financial help is great & helps pay my website fees & helps support these women artisans… but God’s help is always needed most… both for encouragement & for spiritual hope, through Jesus, for the women we support through our ethical fashion purchases. Always PRAY first.
Your purchases not only help these women, but my commissions help me in continuing this website/blog, encouraging women all around the world with the HOPE we have in Jesus. Win-win-win!
Have a wonderful week living for His glory in all that you do!
It’s Sunday afternoon right now as I’m writing this & I just need to brag on God a little bit.
You see, today was my first day back teaching the K4/K5 Sunday School class after a few month summer break of traveling & hosting my parents here on Guam.
I am not one who gravitates toward working with children,but you would never know it because I literally work with kids all the time. I taught K5 years ago (was not my plan), I help with K4/K5 children’s church now, & I also aide for 2nd grade (previously 1st grade for a few years). So, saying it isn’t something I would eagerly gravitate toward sounds pretty understandably unbelievable.
I feel like those actresses who play the same genre several times & then get pigeonholed there… they may WANT to branch out, but people automatically envision them playing those types of roles & so those are the ones they tend to be able to book. (Do I need to just not mention anything about my past of working with kids & see where I get placed in the future as a blank slate? Haha, maybe.)
But, I did pray & ask God to show me where He wanted me to serve, versus just shooting straight for what my preferences would be: ie. Discipleship, women’s ministry, maybe even young adults/teens. And God answered by just putting this I-can’t-ignore-it nudge on my heart to serve where I’m serving. And here I am.
It’s Healthy Sometimes Not Doing What Feels Most Comfortable
Anyway, because this isn’t exactly the ministry area I would have picked, sometimes I feel so out of my element & so out of my comfort zone, that I need to weekly take a deep breath & pray for a good attitude, the energy to get through it, & the words & wisdom to share with the kids so my teaching isn’t wasted.
I pray every Saturday night this way: “Lord, please help me to have a good attitude about getting up earlier tomorrow & help me have the right words to say to help them understand what I teach from Your Word. Give me the words & wisdom & please help me get through it. Give me a right attitude about it, too. In Jesus’ name, amen.”
Years ago, back when we first lived on Guam, right after my hubs & I got married, there used to be adult Sunday school at our church & we were in the marriage & family class.
Our teacher had so many nuggets of wisdom to help us as a newly married couple hoping & fully expecting to have kids someday.
But one thing in particular that he taught stands out to me in regards to ministry. He would always say, “Don’t just volunteer where you feel comfortable & in something you feel already confident in… because what happens when you do that? You’re trusting in yourself, your know-how, your abilities… no. Instead, volunteer outside of your comfort zone, where you don’t feel you can do it… because then you’re not relying on yourself—you’re relying on HIM through each day of it. And when you rely on Him, you are letting Him work through you, in His strength, His wisdom, His guidance… & that is where true work can be done because you’re letting Him take the lead instead of yourself.”
What wise words!
Praying My Way Through It
And that’s my life these past few years—praying my way through every day of it because it is NOT what I would have chosen for myself.And honestly, it’s been WAY more rewarding getting to see HIM work through what I KNOW cannot come from ME.
And today was no different. It’s the start of a new school year, kids that are barely past THREE are now joining my class. Most of those who would have been my now K5ers (who know the rules & routines of our class & can help set the tone for the rest of the class) have moved or are just not back on island yet from summer travels… so hardly any of them know the rules & routines. Starting FRESH here.
That’s hard enough, but I had FIFTEEN kids today. FIFTEEN! I normally have no more than 8, maybe?
Then I had several kids who knew no boundaries or self-control.They were loud, all-over-the-place chaotic.(2 got in a fist fight!) Multiply that & pretty quickly the whole class can dissolve into chaos. It’s a LOT.
I’m Glad I Can Count on Him When I Can’t Count on Myself
But I went to God with it all last night in preparation for it.I prayed through it today.And the unnatural calm I felt today in the midst of all THAT was all Him.
It didn’t get to me. I took a deep breath, prayed silently, then handled each situation with calm, demonstrating how they are to handle each situation.
Not joining the chaos or trying to fight above it… but bringing them down to my calm instead.
And for the most part, it worked. I showed them respect & stayed calm. They mirrored & began to get how we do things in our class.
It was truly miraculous. I can’t believe how well I handled that because that is not my natural response to chaos (cue panic & frustration & get-me-out-of-here thoughts of desperation).
God had me.God helped me. God kept me centered & grounded.
Because I relied on Him & not me in it.
I’m SO glad I can count on Him when I can’t count on myself.
Don’t Fear Serving Him Where You Don’t Feel You’re Made for It
So, don’t fear being outside your comfort zone. Don’t fear what you’re not good at. Don’t just serve where it makes you feel comfortable.
Pray about it. Ask God to lead. Ask God to decide.
And trust Him to take the lead through it. His wisdom. His words. His guidance.His work through you.
He’s got you even when you don’t got you.
Trust Him! He’s got it.
Shine HOPE by turning to Him through the hard, when you’re completely out of your comfort zone & have no clue what you’re doing. He already knows. He’s got it. He will help as you call out to Him for it.
“Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31)
Join me every Monday morning, EST, for more encouragement right here on my blog/website @ www.MichelleHydeOnline.com.
Share with friends & family… & SUBSCRIBE by “Joining My Tribe,” so you never miss a week!
As God grows me, may it encourage you to seek Him & know Him & love Him more every day.
A Note from Michelle:
(***Check out my FREE Journal Printable Resources: “Accountability Partner Guide + Question Prompts” & “Bible Study Question Prompts,” as well as “Prayers of Surrender” prayer guides!***)
This blog/website has been running for EIGHT years now! THANK YOU for your continued support & encouragement. <3
If you would like to learn more of my story, check out the “About Me” tab. And if you would like to hear how I found my lasting source of HOPE, read the “Hope Is Found” tab, on this site. I hope they are an encouragement to you! <3
Also, make sure to “Join My Tribe” by adding your email to the top bar & clicking “Join My Tribe”. This gains you access to an extra weekly dose of encouragement from me in your inbox (make sure to check your other inbox folders), along with the link to each week’s new post! I can’t wait to do this journey together!!
Fashion as a Force for GOOD:
Each week, I feature an item that is changing lives for women around the world. These hand-crafted pieces are offering job creation opportunities for women artisans in impoverished nations all around the world!Consider these pieces when shopping for friends, family, or yourself. Check out this week’s featured beauty!!
August 2026 “Hope Mail”
(Shown: August 2026 “Hope Mail” made by women escaping poverty in India.)
In India, poverty often leads to exploitation of vulnerable women in sweatshops. Every purchase provides these Artisans with fair wages, access to health care, education for their children, and care for elderly family members. Purchase this month’s Hope Mail and empower women in India!
FOR A LIMITED TIME – Only available during the month of August! Enjoy free shipping and 10% off your Hope Mail package when you subscribe every month!
Your purchase of August Hope Mail provides one day of school for a girl in an area of extreme poverty.
August Hope Mail includes the stunning Blue Sage Quartz Necklace, handcrafted by women in India earning a fair wage for their work. Featuring dyed quartz on a gold-tone adjuster chain, this necklace is perfect for everyday wear.
Every purchase of this month’s Hope Mail creates safe jobs for women to earn a dignified wage and send their children to school.
***SHOP Here, OR, Email me at michellehyde.tradesofhope@gmail.com with any questions, & I will message you personally with more information!! Thank you for inspiring HOPE around the world, Lovely!***
How Can You Help Artisans around the World AND Help Support MichelleHydeOnline.com?
#1 is PRAY. Financial help is great & helps pay my website fees & helps support these women artisans… but God’s help is always needed most… both for encouragement & for spiritual hope, through Jesus, for the women we support through our ethical fashion purchases. Always PRAY first.
Your purchases not only help these women, but my commissions help me in continuing this website/blog, encouraging women all around the world with the HOPE we have in Jesus. Win-win-win!Have a wonderful week living for His glory in all that you do!
If you know me personally, you most likely already know this… but I am not the ministry “leader” anyone needs me to be.
Even with all the different things I help out with & the teams I serve alongside… even with the website & blog & YouTube channel… I am not the ministry “leader” you need me to be.
I would run out of hours in a day trying to tell you about all my many insecurities & insufficiencies & failures… all the times I trust myself more than I should… all the times I trusted in God’s blessings more than I actually trusted Him… all the times I trusted His gifting in me more than Him as the One Who imparted the gifting.
No, I am not the “leader” you need me to be at all.
It’s Not About Me as the Hope Anyone Needs
In fact, this website almost never happened in the first place because I understood all that about myself. I mean, who am I to be sharing on any sort of platform at all?
And yes, God helped me see that this all isn’t about anyone seeing ME as worthy of praise, but HIM… that it’s about pointing to HIM as the hope people need—NOT me… so it’s okay that I am imperfect & a work-in-progress just like anyone else, sure.
But guys, you don’t understand. I have seasons where I really struggle… like really struggle. I have seasons where my comfort zone actually becomes the strong aching in my heart… it becomes the familiar… it becomes my safe space, as if the hurts in the world (or in my world around me) are happening AT me… & I expect it to.As if I’m justified in moping & despairing & hurting & maybe even some bitterness being allowed to creep in there.
And no, it’s not an all the time thing… like now, I am not feeling it… but I did just 30 minutes ago.
It’s a Simmer I am Becoming Far Too Familiar With
Slight rage… bitterness… hurt… beating myself up emotionally & endlessly for never feeling like I can ever be good enough… for being too needy… too sensitive… too insufficient. “If I could just be more _____________________, then maybe ___________________.” If I could just be LESS _____________________, then maybe _____________________,”
I beat myself up. I feel alone sometimes.I feel like it’s my fault when I feel alone.
I feel like if I just cared less, then it maybe wouldn’t hurt so much. If I was less needy or sensitive… then maybe it wouldn’t hurt so much.
I resent feeling that way, or having situations or circumstances that make me feel like that.
I fantasize about dying. A heart attack that straight shots me straight to heaven—where pain no longer exists. (I know that is dark… I’m sorry.)
I feel tired. I feel like nothing is going to change & I’m tired of trying… of believing it ever will.
It makes me want to throw in the towel & just check out… quit. Not in an ending it myself type of thing(which I have definitely been there in my 20s & in my teens, but not for a while since then).
I just want to be in heaven so badly sometimes.
There’s the Solution Staring Me Straight in the Face
And then I see it… the solution staring me right in the face… the one I am always encouraging you toward… abiding in Him… praising Him… coming before Him with a heart that seeks gratitude toward God for all that He is & all that He has done for me… remembering that He is still in control & He still has me.
But I honestly feel so beat up… it’s become my gut response to respond in bitter anger & then resentment toward myself. I don’t want to reach out to Him. I want to wallow in my bitter pool of resigning to it. And I know that’s wrong & I know that will only end up hurting me worse & I know that it won’t solve anything. I know that emotions are just indicators–not facts, not determined outcomes.
Pray for me, please. I need to remember to praise Him when I feel the hurt hit me in the face unexpectedly. I need to remember Who He is. I need to lean into Him when I feel I can’t stand. I need to trust He can where I can’t. I need to keep praying & not stop just because I’m not seeing the results I want as fast as I want, the way that I want them.
I need to put my trust in Him alone… not in reaching the end of hurtings, not in things going the way I want them to, not in people all treating me the way I wish they would… but in Him alone.
The Unworthy Are Still Called to Magnify Him
So, yes… I am so humbled, so glad that the unworthy are still called to magnify Him. I don’t deserve to have my name attached to Him. I am so unworthy of the righteousness I can claim not because of me, but because of Christ… but I guess that is kind of the point isn’t it? The lavishing of grace? More blessing than I deserve because of Jesus being willing to die for all of my sin. What great reasons we have to praise Him, even when life hurts a little or a lot.
He is King of kings, LORD of lords, Alpha, Omega, Beginning & End, my Maker, Sustainer, Redeemer, Almighty God of Heaven & Earth. He is my God.He is my friend. He cares for me, made me, died for me, & is seated on His throne. He will have the final say. He will use every hurt for His glory & my good. He never wastes any hard thing, any tear. He is GOOD. He is my Father. He is My God.
He is worth living for… when things are going so well, & even when my heart is heavy & hurting.
He is worthy of my all–even though I am so incredibly unworthy of Him.
Shine HOPE by recognizing that even in all the ways you fall short, He is still worthy & we are still made to give Him glory.
“Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31)
Join me every Monday morning, EST, for more encouragement right here on my blog/website @ www.MichelleHydeOnline.com.
Share with friends & family… & SUBSCRIBE by “Joining My Tribe,” so you never miss a week!
As God grows me, may it encourage you to seek Him & know Him & love Him more every day.
A Note from Michelle:
(***Check out my FREE Journal Printable Resources: “Accountability Partner Guide + Question Prompts” & “Bible Study Question Prompts,” as well as “Prayers of Surrender” prayer guides!***)
This blog/website has been running for EIGHT years now! THANK YOU for your continued support & encouragement. <3
If you would like to learn more of my story, check out the “About Me” tab. And if you would like to hear how I found my lasting source of HOPE, read the “Hope Is Found” tab, on this site. I hope they are an encouragement to you! <3
Also, make sure to “Join My Tribe” by adding your email to the top bar & clicking “Join My Tribe”. This gains you access to an extra weekly dose of encouragement from me in your inbox (make sure to check your other inbox folders), along with the link to each week’s new post! I can’t wait to do this journey together!!
Fashion as a Force for GOOD:
Each week, I feature an item that is changing lives for women around the world. These hand-crafted pieces are offering job creation opportunities for women artisans in impoverished nations all around the world!Consider these pieces when shopping for friends, family, or yourself. Check out this week’s featured beauty!!
Solenne Earrings–Providing Jobs for Women in India!
(Shown: Solenne Earrings, handcrafted by & providing fairtrade jobs for women in India!)
These stunning cascading Solenne Earrings feature white glass beads and embroidered gold seed beads to create the design. Make a fair-trade fashion statement with these beautiful earrings perfect for summer or any season and handcrafted in a workshop in India committed to fighting child marriage and helping women become financially independent as fair-trade Artisans.
***SHOP Here, OR, Email me at michellehyde.tradesofhope@gmail.com with any questions, & I will message you personally with more information!! Thank you for inspiring HOPE around the world, Lovely!***
How Can You Help Artisans around the World AND Help Support MichelleHydeOnline.com?
#1 is PRAY. Financial help is great & helps pay my website fees & helps support these women artisans… but God’s help is always needed most… both for encouragement & for spiritual hope, through Jesus, for the women we support through our ethical fashion purchases. Always PRAY first.
Your purchases not only help these women, but my commissions help me in continuing this website/blog, encouraging women all around the world with the HOPE we have in Jesus. Win-win-win!
Have a wonderful week living for His glory in all that you do!
I don’t think most people could say they enjoy struggles or pain… devastation. But yet, we all face it in some form, at some point in our lives… whether we like it or not.
The past week or so, we have been prepping for a typhoon. We live on Guam, so this is not too uncommon for us, but having just survived a super typhoon merely a couple years ago, there is a little added unease understandably surrounding this one.
I can’t say I enjoy them in any form, even the “lighter” ones. The howling winds outside, debris crashing into your windows & the sides of your house. Palm trees tilted almost horizontal to the ground, bending from the intense force of strong winds. Flooding, water gushing from under your front door (& even the windows if the winds are blowing the rain hard enough their way). Dark skies. Uncertainties. Unrest.
Not a good time. Sometimes you lose water or power, have spoiled food, no lights when you’re tired of the darkness, hot humidity in a home with little air circulation. No A/C when it’s always summer heat outside. No cold water to drink to refresh yourself.
Will food run out? Will clean water run out? Will gasoline run out?
It’s hard to tell. You unfortunately cannot predict or prepare for every scenario.
It’s Hard to Look At
In thinking about all of this, it can be easy to let the threat of the typhoon outside become a typhoon inside your heart as well.(& sometimes you don’t even need an actual typhoon for your life to feel like one.)
For me, as scary as the typhoon can be (when they’re really bad ones, like a couple years ago),the aftermath pain is what scares me most.
Seeing the complete devastation, with trees ripped up, plants bare of green & color, destruction to houses & power lines, lack of power &/or water sources. Seeing the hurt all around you can feel completely overwhelming, like your brain cannot quite come to terms with how much loss you see absolutely everywhere you look.
So, what is our HOPE in something like this? When discomfort & destruction are all that surround you?
The Typhoon That Sometimes Rages through My Heart
I think of my struggle with depression throughout my lifetime. How I used to pray the same thing to God, wondering how He could possibly love me so much while allowing so much pain & heaviness to reside permanently in my heart during some seasons… no explanation, nothing to “fix,” just pain all the time with seemingly no explanation for it.
His answer surprised me when it finally came,“Think of all those who go to church on Sundays & pray before a meal & that’s all they ever experience of Me… they go through their whole lives oblivious of all that I Am & can be for them if they allow Me to be Lord over the entirety of their lives… but you, you have not been awarded that so-called luxury. You have been forced over & over & OVER again into recognizing the very real reality that you cannot indeed live your life on your own… that you NEED Me.”
Everything came into focus that day.How all of that agony & pain was not for nothing… not an ounce of it was ever wasted. It drew me nearer & nearer to my Savior. It forced me to recognize my need of Him vs lulled into believing I could live life my way, by my own strength &/or wisdom. By my own power.
We’re Not the Ones in Control after All
The typhoon is similar. It’s scary. It will probably destroy a lot. It will not be fun. The aftermath will be even harder… but it will be a reminder….
We are not the ones in control—HE IS.
May it draw others into the arms of Jesus, too, to see where all their needs are met. To see Who holds the power… Who holds the HOPE.
And beyond that, come what may, in whatever pain I may face, outside the walls of my home, or within the walls of my heart… may it be a beacon of hope for others.
That my hope does not rest in me. It does not rest in the storm quieting. It does not rest in wishing for little-to-no destruction.
It rests in Him.
Where I Find Hope When Facing a Typhoon–Outside or in My Heart
And come what may, may He use this storm to glorify Himself through me.
That in any suffering or hurt I face, they see Him as my enough, my sufficiency, my all.
That in any suffering or hurt I may face, they see that God is in control. God holds the authority & the power & the HOPE.
May God use it for them to see in me their own need for HIM.
To God be the glory, forever & ever… even in the face of the storm. Amen.
Hope in the Storm
And that is why I can have HOPE in this storm.Not because I will enjoy it, but because I know He will not waste it. He can use my experience with it to help others see their need for Him. He can draw others to Himself through it. He can draw me closer to Him as my help & my refuge, my very present help in time of need.
To God be the glory! The One Whom the winds & the waves obey!
“So the men marveled, saying, “Who can this be, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?” (Matthew 8:28)
Shine HOPE by turning to Him in & out of the storms in your life, whether they be threats of winds & waves outside, or in your heart. God is in control.
“God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble….” (Psalm 46:1)
“Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31)
(*TUNE IN to watch this week’s LIVE STREAM (Episode 14) on my NEW YouTube Channel!! @: https://www.youtube.com/@MichelleHydeOnline (*Tuesdays @6pm EST/Wednesdays @8am GUAM*)
Coming Next Week
Join me every Monday morning, EST, for more encouragement right here on my blog/website @ www.MichelleHydeOnline.com.
Share with friends & family… & SUBSCRIBE by “Joining My Tribe,” so you never miss a week!
As God grows me, may it encourage you to seek Him & know Him & love Him more every day.
A Note from Michelle:
(***Check out my FREE Journal Printable Resources: “Accountability Partner Guide + Question Prompts” & “Bible Study Question Prompts,” as well as “Prayers of Surrender” prayer guides!***)
This blog/website has been running for 7.5 years now! THANK YOU for your continued support & encouragement. <3
If you would like to learn more of my story, check out the “About Me” tab. And if you would like to hear how I found my lasting source of HOPE, read the “Hope Is Found” tab, on this site. I hope they are an encouragement to you! <3
Also, make sure to “Join My Tribe” by adding your email to the top bar & clicking “Join My Tribe”. This gains you access to an extra weekly dose of encouragement from me in your inbox (make sure to check your other inbox folders), along with the link to each week’s new post! I can’t wait to do this journey together!!
Fashion as a Force for GOOD:
Each week, I feature an item that is changing lives for women around the world. These hand-crafted pieces are offering job creation opportunities for women artisans in impoverished nations all around the world!Consider these pieces when shopping for friends, family, or yourself. Check out this week’s featured beauty!!
Elva Crystal Necklace, Handcrafted in India!
(Shown: Elva Crystal Necklace, handcrafted by artisans in India seeking to end the cycles of poverty there! Purchase one below!)
The Elva Crystal Necklace features glass beads in shades of deep red, copper, peach, and pink with gold-tone accent beads throughout the design. The Elva Crystal Necklace is perfect for daily wear or paired with other ethical styles for a layered look.
Purchase this necklace using the Shop Here link below to help create safe jobs for women ending poverty cycles in India and creating the opportunity for them to earn a dignified income.
***SHOP Here, OR, Email me at michellehyde.tradesofhope@gmail.com with any questions, & I will message you personally with more information!! Thank you for inspiring HOPE around the world, Lovely!***
How Can You Help Artisans around the World AND Help Support MichelleHydeOnline.com?
#1 is PRAY. Financial help is great & helps pay my website fees & helps support these women artisans… but God’s help is always needed most… both for encouragement & for spiritual hope, through Jesus, for the women we support through our ethical fashion purchases. Always PRAY first.
Your purchases not only help these women, but my commissions help me in continuing this website/blog, encouraging women all around the world with the HOPE we have in Jesus. Win-win-win!
Have a wonderful week living for His glory in all that you do!
Well, today’s been rough. It’s been a weird day. Not a bad day, necessarily, but not great.
You see, I’ve been sick the past few days & like with most colds, have struggled to sleep at night.
In desperation to get some rest, I prayed & asked God to please show me what I could do to help me sleep last night. The ideas I got were to take a hot shower & take some sleepy cold medicine (which sometimes doesn’t actually make me sleep, but rather feel groggy, miserable, & still awake).
So, I took the cold medicine, got my shower, & then fell asleep pretty quickly once I got in bed.(Thank You, LORD!)
… Until I woke up 3 hours before my alarm.
Well, I Got My Wish…
Groggy, discouraged, & consistently seesawing between coughing up mucus & blowing my nose seemingly endlessly, I reluctantly resigned to the fact that this may not be the night that I catch up on the rest I so desperately wanted in order to work towards moving past this cold of mine.
But God blessed me in that I at some point fell back asleep anyway.
… Only to wake up FIVE HOURS LATER…totally missing my alarm going off for TWO WHOLE HOURS, unbeknownst to me.
What does that mean for me? It means I sure got that rest I asked Him for… it means I didn’t get anything other than breakfast & prepping for work accomplished this morning… but it ALSO means I went through most of the afternoon feeling disoriented & feeling like I had just woken up from one of those naps where you intend to sleep for 30-60 minutes, only to wake up hours later completely dazed & confused… one of those “Where am I? What’s happening? What’s going on?” type of wakeups.
And that dazed & confused state quickly morphed into a migraine, which I have been wrestling with the entire rest of my day.
I’m not feeling so great.
Well, I Had a Hard Day… & God Saw Me Through
I’m sure my body appreciated all that extra rest to help it heal & to fight this cold off, but boy am I not feeling so great.
Cooling compression mask, headache meds, & an ACTUAL quick nap later… & I feel somewhat coherent, but still if I move my head too quickly, the jackhammer currently residing inside my head makes me want to vomit.
Why am I telling you this, though? What’s my point?
Life doesn’t always feel great.It doesn’t always work out the way we would wish it to. Some people deal with significant pain every single day even.
I think of Job right now because that’s what we’re reading through right now.
The boils on his body were oozing & painful… I think it even mentions worms somewhere in there. Giant EW.
It can be tempting in these moments to wonder where God is in all of it…why He doesn’t show up & fix everything back to easy & comfortable.
But God shows me He cares for me in that He doesn’t always fix it all for me… God lets me see that even when my world is painful & hard & I feel weak & hurt… He is sufficient in it.
God Is God, Even When I Have Nothing to Contribute
God isn’t just God over the times when you feel strong & capable, working “together,” but even when you have nothing to give Him.
I think that’s a reason why God emphasizes rest so often in the Bible because true faith doesn’t say, “because I have faith, I will do all the things,” but rather, “because I have faith, I can trust God even when I can’t/don’t do all the things.”
Not to be lazy, but to be rested fully in Him.
He is the Provider, Sustainer of all things.
He does not need me.
Praise God.
Even when I am weak, I am strong.
Because I have faith… in HIM.
I Sure Got That Rest I Prayed for… & Then God Took Care of the Rest
And you know what? I got that rest I prayed so desperately for. I didn’t get a lick of anything else done this morning… but I got that rest… & there’s always tomorrow. The world won’t fall apart because I didn’t get my chores done. Today… today I needed physical rest so my body could heal.
And you know what else? I got a call to sub today vs my normal job as an aide for the second grade team at the school I work at. A sub for high school… which meant I didn’t have to move about the classroom, walk to & from recess, hear loud children’s excited voices, or handle noisy carline at the end of the day. I got to sit & REST.
I introduced myself, took roll, played a video for them, & they worked quietly. I didn’t have to move around, think, or handle loud noises. I got to REST.
God knew my day was going to be hard because of all that extra rest… & God provided anyway in that hard.
Is Your True Rest in HIM?
The jackhammer is quieting. I am writing. And I am thanking God for sustaining me through my day without needing my contributions.
Is your true rest in Him? Or yourself? Where do you rely?
Do you trust Him as more than able when your contribution ability is taken out of the picture? Are you able to rest when He gives you no other options?
Do you have faith… in Him?
I would have loved to have slept through the night, waking up refreshed & done with my cold, ready to ably face my day head on… but it didn’t quite work out that way… & yet, God handled it… God provided… God saw me through it.
Even when things don’t work out quite right, I can always count on Him through it all. Even in the hard.
Do you trust God to do the same for you?
Shine HOPE by leaning into Him & trusting Him to give you rest, & to be your all, even when you have none to offer Him.
“Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31)
(*TUNE IN to watch this week’s LIVE STREAM (Episode 9) on my NEW YouTube Channel!! @: https://www.youtube.com/@MichelleHydeOnline (*Tuesdays @5pm EST/Wednesdays @8am GUAM*)
Coming Next Week
Join me every Monday morning, EST, for more encouragement right here on my blog/website @ www.MichelleHydeOnline.com.
Share with friends & family… & SUBSCRIBE by “Joining My Tribe,” so you never miss a week!
As God grows me, may it encourage you to seek Him & know Him & love Him more every day.
A Note from Michelle:
(***Check out my FREE Journal Printable Resources: “Accountability Partner Guide + Question Prompts” & “Bible Study Question Prompts,” as well as “Prayers of Surrender” prayer guides!***)
This blog/website has been running for 7.5 years now! THANK YOU for your continued support & encouragement. <3
If you would like to learn more of my story, check out the “About Me” tab. And if you would like to hear how I found my lasting source of HOPE, read the “Hope Is Found” tab, on this site. I hope they are an encouragement to you! <3
Also, make sure to “Join My Tribe” by adding your email to the top bar & clicking “Join My Tribe”. This gains you access to an extra weekly dose of encouragement from me in your inbox (make sure to check your other inbox folders), along with the link to each week’s new post! I can’t wait to do this journey together!!
Fashion as a Force for GOOD:
Each week, I feature an item that is changing lives for women around the world. These hand-crafted pieces are offering job creation opportunities for women artisans in impoverished nations all around the world!Consider these pieces when shopping for friends, family, or yourself. Check out this week’s featured beauty!!
Archway Necklace, Handcrafted in INDIA
(Shown: Archway Necklace, handcrafted in India. Purchase this necklace to help human trafficking victims while also empowering women out of poverty!)
The Archway Necklace creates fair-paying, dignified jobs for women in India. This gold-tone pendant necklace features a beautiful arch pendant with a sunrise scene on it, symbolizing the new beginnings each day brings.
Every purchase supports families in areas of extreme poverty in India.
***SHOP Here, OR, Email me at michellehyde.tradesofhope@gmail.com with any questions, & I will message you personally with more information!! Thank you for inspiring HOPE around the world, Lovely!***
How Can You Help Artisans around the World AND Help Support MichelleHydeOnline.com?
#1 is PRAY. Financial help is great & helps pay my website fees & helps support these women artisans… but God’s help is always needed most… both for encouragement & for spiritual hope, through Jesus, for the women we support through our ethical fashion purchases. Always PRAY first.
Your purchases not only help these women, but my commissions help me in continuing this website/blog, encouraging women all around the world with the HOPE we have in Jesus. Win-win-win!
Have a wonderful week living for His glory in all that you do!
Something that I misunderstood most of my life was the idea of rejoicing in the midst of trials.
To me, it felt like it implied that I must feel happy while also dealing with intense struggling, & that, if I couldn’t get myself to be (or pretend) to be happy, then I was living as a bad testimony for God… that I wasn’t trusting in Him enough…. That I wasn’t a good enough Christian.
Well, imagine how much shame that has brought on me over the years as a now grown woman who has struggled through seasons of depression for most all of her life.When I am going through an intensely dark season of my life, I feel no happy... I barely feel anything at all….
Constantly feeling like a failure to God, as if I just couldn’t be good enough to fake it or feel it well enough to “prove” I trusted God “enough” through those darkest of seasons was a hugely heavy burden to carry, on top of already feeling like my consistently downcast mental state alone was a hugely heavy burden for everyone else in my life to carry.
But, thankfully, God has taught me a little something about rejoicing in Him through trials over the years.
It Does Not Mean Pretending to be Happy
You see, what a wonderfully freeing thing it is to realize that rejoicing in trials does not mean pretending to be happy at all times in those trials.
But rather, something much sweeter, richer, & more real than that.
God sees me at my worst. I don’t have to ever pretend for Him, because He already sees it all anyway. He knows the real, deep-down ME.
I never have to be fake with God.He can handle my heavy burdens just fine for the both of us.
And implying the supposed falsehood that to be a good testimony for Him, I have to come off as perfect at all times is implying that the focus ought to be on my own perfection in order to somehow prove His sufficiency.
Rather, in those moments of complete & utter weakness, I have found something beautiful.
As I am feeling frail, hurting, barely holding myself together… the rejoicing comes in the form of remembering.
Taking Time to REMEMBER… & to Praise Him for WHO He Is… Despite How I’m Feeling
Sometimes even as I cry, I sit & remember all He has done for me…all He has sustained me through…& I thank Him… I praise Him that He always shows to have a plan, even when I can’t see it at the time… that He never wastes a single hurt, even when I don’t see how He ever could use it… & that He 100% ALWAYS works everything out for BOTH His glory AND my GOOD.
He holds me together when I feel like I’m falling apart.
He infuses peace in my heart when all the pieces fall around me.
He carries me when I can’t carry myself.
He protects me when I feel too weak to stand.
He cares for me when it feels like no one else does or could.
He has compassion for me no matter how little I may deserve it.
He is my strong tower when the winds of life rage around me.
He wraps His arms of love around me, even when I feel too unlovable.
He gives me HOPE in the midst of the most hopeless.
And in all those things, EVEN WHEN the pain doesn’t quit… I can rejoice through my pain. I can praise Him through my hurts.
True Rejoicing Does Not Have to FEEL Happy
I can trust Him.
I can rejoice in Him, even in & through the pain.
I don’t have to pretty up my pain or get over it in order to rejoice genuinely, but rather, I can display even better His glory by rejoicing in Him even in the even if.
I am allowed to both grieve the effects of sin & therefore, brokenness, in this world, while also simultaneously recognizing & rejoicing that God is still on His throne, He cannot & will not ever be thwarted. He will have the final say. He will be magnified. He will get the glory He deserves.
I can feel hurt & sad while also recognizing & rejoicing in the HOPE I have because of what Jesus did for me on the cross for my sins.
What Matters Is How You Choose to Respond to Your Pain… Not That You Pretend You Don’t Feel Pain…
I think where the confusion comes from is instead what we choose to do with the pain & hurts that we feel that scares people into being scared of admitting they are feeling negative feelings.
If you are dwelling only on the pain & intently choosing NOT to rejoice UNLESS it’s all fixed & prettied up… there’s a problem.
If you are allowing your pain to help you justify a root of bitterness springing up within your heart… there’s a problem.
If you are using your hurt as an excuse to slander someone else’s reputation, or to gossip about them behind their back… there’s a problem.
If your hurt tempts you into believing you need to seek elsewhere for hope… & you begin to listen to & obey that little temptation… there’s a problem.
If you refuse to have gratitude because of your hurt… there’s a problem.
If you rebel against God & obedience to Him because of your hurt… there’s a problem.
But the feeling hurt is not the problem… it is a result of the pain brought on by living in a broken world, of grieving things not being the ideal that God originally intended when He created the world… before we allowed sin to enter the picture.
And sometimes, it’s just the consequence of our own sin… a call to come back to the forgiving, gracious, loving arms of Jesus.Not a place to STAY, but a force to push you back to the only place where you will ever find true HOPE.
Let the pain draw you back to Him.
Let the Pain Draw You Ever into the Arms of Jesus
You know, I used to be so frustrated & confused & hurt at how God could allow someone (AKA me) to endure intense seasons of pain that felt source-less & meaningless… pain that sometimes felt like it would never ever end.
But, after years of praying over it, through my many seasons of great darkness… crying while crying out to God for help… I have seen things more clearly….
That because of those many seasons of darkness, where I couldn’t even see a source of it sometimes… only senseless pain… I learned the most unimaginably beautiful truth.
That, because of those many seasons of intensely dark pain, I had been repeatedly & constantly thrown ever into the arms of Jesus.My desperation demanded it. My heart needed it like air to breath. Suicidal thoughts were a regular companion of mine in some dark seasons, but God’s compassionate arms pulled me in over & over & over & over & over again,even when I couldn’t get myself to pick myself back up again.
In ALL Things… In EVERY Season… God Is SUFFICIENT… & in That… I CAN REJOICE!!
I learned that I can count on Him at my absolute worst. I learned that even when I have absolutely NOTHING to contribute… He is sufficient. I learned that I can count on Him EVEN IF nothing ever got better. I learned that I can count on the fact that He never EVER wastes even a single OUNCE of my pain, but ALWAYS uses it for BOTH His glory & my good. I learned that He is consistently sufficient in my every personal lack of sufficiency.
I learned that He is ENOUGH. And that His grace will carry me through even the worst hurts imaginable… even when it feels there is no & could never be any hope… I find that Hope in Him.
And in that… even when I don’t feel happy… I can rejoice.
Shine HOPE by turning every hurt & heartache into an opportunity to seek your sufficiency, your fulfillment, & your HOPE in HIM ALONE… & REJOICE in Him through every bit of it!!
“Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31)
Join me every Monday morning, EST, for more encouragement right here on my blog/website @ www.MichelleHydeOnline.com.
Share with friends & family… & SUBSCRIBE by “Joining My Tribe,” so you never miss a week!
As God grows me, may it encourage you to seek Him & know Him & love Him more every day.
A Note from Michelle:
(***Check out my FREE Journal Printable Resources: “Accountability Partner Guide + Question Prompts” & “Bible Study Question Prompts,” as well as “Prayers of Surrender” prayer guides!***)
This blog/website has been running for 7.5 years now! THANK YOU for your continued support & encouragement. <3
If you would like to learn more of my story, check out the “About Me” tab. And if you would like to hear how I found my lasting source of HOPE, read the “Hope Is Found” tab, on this site. I hope they are an encouragement to you! <3
Also, make sure to “Join My Tribe” by adding your email to the top bar & clicking “Join My Tribe”. This gains you access to an extra weekly dose of encouragement from me in your inbox (make sure to check your other inbox folders), along with the link to each week’s new post! I can’t wait to do this journey together!!
Fashion as a Force for GOOD:
Each week, I feature an item that is changing lives for women around the world. These hand-crafted pieces are offering job creation opportunities for women artisans in impoverished nations all around the world!Consider these pieces when shopping for friends, family, or yourself. Check out this week’s featured beauty!!
February 2026 Monthly “Hope Mail” (Made by Artisan Women in INDIA)
(Shown: This month’s HOPE MAIL! Handcrafted by women in India! Purchase these beauties, using the “Shop Here” link below to empower women in India out of poverty!)
FOR A LIMITED TIME – Only available during the month of February! Enjoy free shipping and 10% off your Hope Mail package when you subscribe every month!
Your purchase of February Hope Mail provides one day of school for a girl in an area of extreme poverty.
Featured in this month’s Hope Mail is the Carnation Sunset Earrings. These detailed, hand beaded earrings are handcrafted by women in a workshop committed to fighting child marriage and creating dignified jobs for women in India. Each drop earring uses traditional embroidery and hand beading details to show off our Artisan Partners craftmanship and create this stunning carnation design in a gold-tone frame.
Every purchase of this month’s Hope Mail creates safe jobs with fair wages for women in areas of extreme poverty in India where vulnerable women are often exploited by sweatshops and human traffickers.
***SHOP Here, OR, Email me at michellehyde.tradesofhope@gmail.com with any questions, & I will message you personally with more information!! Thank you for inspiring HOPE around the world, Lovely!***
How You Can Help Artisans around the World AND Help Support My Website:
#1 is PRAY. Financial help is great & helps pay my website fees & helps support these women artisans… but God’s help is always needed most… both for encouragement & for spiritual hope, through Jesus, for the women we support through our ethical fashion purchases. Always PRAY first.
Your purchases not only help these women, but my commissions help me in continuing this website/blog, encouraging women all around the world with the HOPE we have in Jesus. Win-win-win!
Have a wonderful week living for His glory in all that you do!
God Sees through It… Others See through It… It’s Not the Same
I grew up understanding the pursuit of holiness a lot differently than I do now after years more of trusting in Jesus to save me from my sins. You see, I thought holiness was perfection. And, well, it is… but it’s not immediate.It’s not pretending to be holy, either. Because holiness doesn’t happen overnight.Holiness is something God produces in us the more of our lives we learn we need to surrender to Him. It is not projecting perfection. It is not trying to act like we’re perfect all the time & that we never make mistakes. It is not trying to be a good testimony for Godby pretending we have it all together. And that is sort of how I understood it. I was wrong.
Forever a Work in Progress=ALL of Us
A great resource for better understanding this topic is a little book by Jerry Bridges “The Pursuit of Holiness.”(*You can find the link to it on the “Recommended by Michelle” page of my website, alphabetically, under “Books,” here.) I love how gracious he is about the topic, yet unyielding from truth. He doesn’t make excuses for sin but also doesn’t pretend he has it all figured out, either. Let’s get it out there right now: We will NEVER reach perfect holiness this side of heaven. Our righteousness–our holiness–was bought by the blood of Jesus–HIS holiness is accounted to US because of our faith in HIM. We don’t automatically BECOME perfect but are ACCOUNTED as without blemish because of the blood of Jesus. But, we strive for holiness all the same, because it is what God asks of us… it’s how we honor Him… obey Him… love Him.
Pretending Perfection Is Not the Same as Holiness
Be careful, though, that you do not fall into the trap of thinking that means you have to PRETEND holiness in order to please God.
It does NOT honor God to dress up on Sunday, wear a bright smile around others, while you all just screamed at each other on the way to church. Simply looking or pretending the part does not please God.God sees behind the masks. Look to the MANY repeated examples in the Bible. These authors, inspired by God, did not sugarcoat their messy ministries & mistakes. They failed SO MUCH & it is recorded FOR US. Because the point is not that we look to their perfection, but to the perfection of Christ as our example… as our hope. When we plaster a smile, pretend pleasantries, & hide all of our faults from the world around us… we are being like the white-washed tombs Jesus calls out during His ministry on earth. It’s FAKE.That does not honor God. It MOCKS Him, because it gives US the credit… not Him. It points to US… not Him.
And because it’s quite frankly… a lie. None of us are actually perfect.
A Forever Pursuit of Holiness
Now, this doesn’t mean to be as messy as you feel like because we ought to be “authentic.” We ought to live with restraint, taking every thought captive & MAKING it obedient to Christ. We need to be working to bow our insufficiencies, mistakes, failures, etc. to His help. We ought to be seeking His Word, the Bible, meditating on its Truth. Talking with Him without ceasing, leaning on Him & His wisdom & strength in every circumstance. We ought to be honest with ourselves & with Him about our many weaknesses, ever surrendering those to His pruning & perfecting, to be made more like Jesus Christ. But this is not a pretending process. It is a pointing to Him through every bit of it.Revealing your weaknesses as one ever submitting them to the King of kings, Lord of lords… His authority, His Word, His help… for His glory.
Let People See
Letting people see the process. Letting people see where your hope is found–not in your goodness, but in His. I will be the first to tell you that I don’t deserve one bit of God’s grace, but that is the very reason it is called grace… the very nature of grace is the fact that it is completely & utterly undeserved. And not a single one of us deserve it! A speaker came to our church during one particular conference, & while I cannot recall his name, I will forever remember his words, something to the tune of: “The funny thing about holiness is that the holier you become, the more wretched you realize that you are.” How very, very true.
Ever Surrendered
We can never hope to be “enough” for God. Our hiding of sins or sinful attitudes or thoughts behind a smile does nothing to convince God of anything. He knows our heart better than we ever could. He sees the intent even.
I believe that a healthy balance of authenticity & a striving for holiness involves being honest about your struggling, your process, your needs, your strongholds… bringing them to light, supporting one another in them, speaking truth to one another, praying for one another, encouraging one another toward a life that pleases Him.
Not pretending holiness, but an open & honest pursuit of it… together, in prayer, with God’s help.
Shine HOPE by not pretending holiness… but by pursuing it alongside one another, honestly, sometimes raw & vulnerable… seeking to please God together through all of our struggles & weaknesses. Forever a work in progress–submitted to gracious, loving God for help.
“Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31)
Join me every Monday morning, EST, for more encouragement right here on my blog/website @ www.MichelleHydeOnline.com.
Share with friends & family… & SUBSCRIBE by “Joining My Tribe,” so you never miss a week!
As God grows me, may it encourage you to seek Him & know Him & love Him more every day.
A Note from Michelle:
(***Check out my FREE Journal Printable Resources: “Accountability Partner Guide + Question Prompts” & “Bible Study Question Prompts,” as well as “Prayers of Surrender” prayer guides!***)
This blog/website has been running for 7.5 years now! THANK YOU for your continued support & encouragement. <3
If you would like to learn more of my story, check out the “About Me” tab. And if you would like to hear how I found my lasting source of HOPE, read the “Hope Is Found” tab, on this site. I hope they are an encouragement to you! <3
Also, make sure to “Join My Tribe” by adding your email to the top bar & clicking “Join My Tribe”. This gains you access to an extra weekly dose of encouragement from me in your inbox (make sure to check your other inbox folders), along with the link to each week’s new post! I can’t wait to do this journey together!!
Fashion as a Force for GOOD:
Each week, I feature an item that is changing lives for women around the world. These hand-crafted pieces are offering job creation opportunities for women artisans in impoverished nations all around the world!Consider these pieces when shopping for friends, family, or yourself. Check out this week’s featured beauty!!
Malachite Drop Earrings (Made by Our Artisans in India!)
(Shown: Malachite Drop Earrings + one of our artisan women in India!)
These stunning Malachite Drop Earrings are handmade in India by women earning fair wages for their work. These earrings feature an organic gold-tone shape with a dangle malachite stone charm, to create a sophisticated fair-trade fashion statement.
Every purchase creates safe jobs with fair wages in areas of extreme poverty where vulnerable women are often exploited by sweatshops.
***SHOP Here, OR, Email me at michellehyde.tradesofhope@gmail.com with any questions, & I will message you personally with more information!! Thank you for inspiring HOPE around the world, Lovely!***
How You Can Help Artisans around the World AND Help Support My Website:
#1 is PRAY. Financial help is great & helps pay my website fees & helps support these women artisans… but God’s help is always needed most… both for encouragement & for spiritual hope, through Jesus, for the women we support through our ethical fashion purchases. Always PRAY first.
Your purchases not only help these women, but my commissions help me in continuing this website/blog, encouraging women all around the world with the HOPE we have in Jesus. Win-win-win!
Have a wonderful week living for His glory in all that you do!
How do you become someone who is ALL IN for God? Is it only certain people who are exceptionally passionate people? Extra spiritual somehow? The right personality for it?
How can you go from just your average person to someone with a ministry like Paul’s? Like authors/speakers/pastors you admire? Is that even possible?
Sometimes it seems tempting to “leave that up to the ones who are “called” to it…those who seem to know what they’re doing… who seem to be naturals at it.” The problem with that line of thinking is literally every example of flawed human beings we read about in the Bible (aka everyone)… that the wonder, power, greatness, wisdom, miracles, etc. did not come from them being great at all… but because they trusted God over themselves.
I’m Never Going to be Good Enough…
I grew up a Christian. But I wasn’t always as I am now: designing/running my own website & blog, leading Bible studies, prayer groups, Sunday school classes, accountability groups, etc. I never thought I was good enough for ANY of that… & I wasn’t… & I still am not.
When I was just 5 years old, God got my attention. The sermon the pastor had preached in church started illuminating, as if it just all started suddenly coming into clear focus.That the sin he preached about was about ME TOO. I lied to my parents, argued, disobeyed, was mean to my little sister… all those things were SIN. I WAS WHY JESUS HAD TO DIE. ME.
I realized that my sin angered God & separated me from Him & made me worthy of Hell. I realized Jesus loved ME enough to die for MY sins. That Jesus was the ONLY way, because I was not good enough.
My parents asked me questions & walked me through how I could lay down my life & trust in Jesus to save me from my sins, that His death & resurrection alone was sufficient.
God, in His infinite grace, through His love for us that compelled Him… saw fit to pay my debts.
I Thought God Was Pretty Hands Off in the Day-to-Day… That His Saving Me Applied Only After Death… I Was Wrong
But, although I knew eternal peace from that young age &, in hindsight saw His fingerprints all throughout my life… I didn’t know much beyond that. I had to LEARN it.
You see, I thought He gave us His Word (the Bible) as good pointers/wisdom & that was that… it was up to me to figure out the rest from there. I didn’t know how He could help illuminate His Word to me through the Holy Spirit, as He had when the pastor had preached about heaven & hell all those years ago. I thought it was up to me to figure it all out.
I also wrongly felt pressures to always be good enough to “deserve” Jesus. As if I felt I needed to add more onto it as my life went on, more clearly recognizing my unworthiness the older I got… & I wanted to balance the scales a bit so I could maybe feel worthy of Jesus saving me… constantly worried that if I didn’t do enough, maybe my salvation was fake because I knew I was so flawed.
I also wrongly believed that God didn’t have much to do with my day-to-day life, other than me trying to read the Bible & live in a way that honored Him. Like… that GOD was pretty much hands-off other than that.
Everything We Say or Do Will All Pass Away… Except for What We Do for HIS KINGDOM
I ALSO wrongly believed that life was just life. You follow the flow of society… go to school, graduate, go to college, get a job, get married, have kids, etc. & that life was just about trying to do your best to live for God by praying before meals, going to church, not cussing, & just trying to be a good person, etc. through all of it.
I didn’t really truly understand the purpose of prayer beyond thanking Him for things, asking for things, or whatever.
Maybe all this describes you right now. That you believe that’s that & there’s nothing more to it.
But can I challenge you to wonder if there could be more?
That the fruit of prayer can be so incredibly richer than you currently believe it to be?
Even in the Quiet, Unappreciated, Unnoticed Parts of Life… They Can be Used to Glorify & Worship God, Too
I am not talking about a “going viral” type of ministry. I am not talking about being an author or speaker recognized nationally. Or even being really popular.
Sometimes it’s in the quiet things & seems to go quite unnoticed (like my little blog—or even like parenting or tending to your home/family). Sometimes it’s so small, but yet so rich.
This is why I write this blog, or at least a huge part of it. I desperately want you to see that going more & more ALL IN for Him is not reserved for the super spiritual type people. It’s for the average, even less than average. I want you to experience the richness of a life full, brimming, & overflowing with purpose, a joy that goes beyond circumstances… a life mission that lives long after you. A life of bringing honor & glory & worship to the One True King of kings, Lord of Heaven & Earth, Savior of our souls.
Even in the mundane. Even in just surrendering your sour attitude on a hard morning. Even in remembering to pray when you feel weak or even when you feel strong, relying on Him over self. Even on caring for others in the quiet, unnoticed things. Living a life surrendered to His purposes & His Will & His provision & His Love.A life that puts Him first in EVERYTHING, praying for His help to do so at every turn, even & especially when you REALLY don’t FEEL like it.
He Can Use the Weakest of the Weak, if They Are But Willing to Surrender Their Meager Self to His Infinite Power & Purpose
I was no one special. I was just some girl growing up thinking it was all up to me to be a good person to please God “enough.” I didn’t know He would help me in doing that better if I but asked Him & relied upon His help.
I prayed only when I needed something, not when I truly believed nothing could change anyway. Now I see the evidence again & again in the Bible of WHY we OUGHT TO TURN TO HIM WHEN THERE IS NO HOPE… because God can do what I can’t. He can make happen what I can’t.
Not vain repetitions, as if He doesn’t already know… but repeatedly & consistently because you know He’s where your hope will be found & nowhere else.
Praying for HIS peacewhen peace is impossible.
Praying for HIS strengthwhen you are absolutely depleted of it.
Praying for HIS wisdomwhen you’ve exhausted all options.
Praying for forgiveness when you have fallen short for the millionth time already, knowing His grace has no limits.
Praying for help to make the right choice, to have the right attitude… for even a desire to WANT to make the right choice or have the right attitude (that’s usually where I have to start anyway).
Does Your Personality Determine How “All In” You Can be with God?
You aren’t BORN WANTING to please God, but SELF.
Going ALL IN with God takes a surrendered heart, a surrendered will.
It takes a willingness over & over & over again, not giving up on what God can do with a willing heart, saying, “God, I am unworthy, make me more like Your Son… make me more like Jesus. Help me to honor You better, to love You better, to please You better in EVERY area of my life, big or small. In Jesus’ name, AMEN.”
I promise you, it is 100% worth it.
I am still a work-in-progress & forever will be. But I have a God Who is so far beyond my limitations. And in Him is where my trust is rooted... not myself.
…. Not myself….
What Are You Willing to Surrender? What Are You Willing to Trust God Can Change in You?
If you want an ALL IN faith, an ALL IN life (one that you can look back on while on your death bed & be proud of),you have to be repeatedly willing to lay yourself, your way, your will, your wisdom, your all… down at His feet as a sacrifice.For Him to redeem it into something more beautiful, more eternally significant. For His Kingdom.
It’s not an overnight thing. I spent YEARS in tumultuous doubts from the clashes of culture vs. God’s Word in my youth, years I never thought could ever end. He ended it by leading me through one of the darkest valleys I’ve ever known. But on the other side, I walked out in full assurance of Who my God is. That I never had to doubt ever again–& for that, I only WISH I could lead everyone I know to that same terrible valley I thought I could only hate & fear. Because it led to TRUE LIGHT of HOPE.
I have a long ways to go, but it’s a journey well worth the pursuit.Everything else is just filler before death… death that leads to me being forgotten completely within just a few generations.
But what I do for Jesus Christ will have eternal value. Shining a light of hope into this world, letting my broken pieces be where His light shines through… showing the world the way to HOPE.
Let Your Brokenness & Flaws Shine His Glory & Grace through the Cracks
My mistakes & my flaws & my failures are no longer mine to keep… they are the cracks & crevices that allow others to see what God can do with our brokenness & our flawed humanity. His redemption. His healing. His grace. His love. His HOPE.
So, the level of your being ALL IN with God, living as a true light for Him in all areas of your life, has very little to do with you or your personality… & it has ALL to do with your willingness to continue laying yourself down to His help & His will over your own.
So… SHINE for Him. Shine HOPE. But first, be willing to start with repeated-throughout-the-years moments of surrender that say, “God, I want to live ALL IN for You, but I have no idea where to begin… or if I have the personality for it… so change me, shape me into someone who lives to live a life that shines hope, found only in Your Son, Jesus Christ. In Jesus’ worthy, holy name, AMEN.”
Join me every Monday morning, EST, for more encouragement right here on my blog/website @ www.MichelleHydeOnline.com.
Share with friends & family… & SUBSCRIBE by “Joining My Tribe,” so you never miss a week!
As God grows me, may it encourage you to seek Him & know Him & love Him more every day.
A Note from Michelle:
(***Check out my FREE Journal Printable Resources: “Accountability Partner Guide + Question Prompts” & “Bible Study Question Prompts,” as well as “Prayers of Surrender” prayer guides!***)
This blog/website has been running for 7.5 years now! THANK YOU for your continued support & encouragement. <3
If you would like to learn more of my story, check out the “About Me” tab. And if you would like to hear how I found my lasting source of HOPE, read the “Hope Is Found” tab, on this site. I hope they are an encouragement to you! <3
Also, make sure to “Join My Tribe” by adding your email to the top bar & clicking “Join My Tribe”. This gains you access to an extra weekly dose of encouragement from me in your inbox (make sure to check your other inbox folders), along with the link to each week’s new post! I can’t wait to do this journey together!!
Fashion as a Force for GOOD:
Each week, I feature an item that is changing lives for women around the world. These hand-crafted pieces are offering job creation opportunities for women artisans in impoverished nations all around the world!Consider these pieces when shopping for friends, family, or yourself. Check out this week’s featured beauty!!
Moon Earrings (Handcrafted in INDIA)
(Shown: the handcrafted Moon Earrings, made in India. Purchase a pair of these gorgeous earrings & empower women in India out of poverty while also financially supporting the MichelleHydeOnline.com site!)
Showcase detailed Artisanal craftmanship when you style these unique Moon Earrings! These gorgeous, beaded earrings are handcrafted in a workshop in India that’s committed to fighting child marriage and helping women become financially independent as fair-trade Artisans. Featuring white beads in a gold moon shape and finished with a freshwater pearl, the Moon Earrings are intricately crafted to create a subtle, beautiful iridescent design. Not only are the Moon Earrings stunning, but they also create necessary jobs for women in areas of extreme poverty in India.
SHOP Here, OR, Email me at michellehyde.tradesofhope@gmail.com with any questions, & I will message you personally with more information!! Thank you for inspiring HOPE around the world, Lovely!
How You Can Help Artisans around the World AND Help Support My Website:
#1 is PRAY. Financial help is great & helps pay my website fees & helps support these women artisans… but God’s help is always needed most… both for encouragement & for spiritual hope, through Jesus, for the women we support through our ethical fashion purchases. Always PRAY first.
Your purchases not only help these women, but my commissions help me in continuing this website/blog, encouraging women all around the world with the HOPE we have in Jesus. Win-win-win!
Have a wonderful week living for His glory in all that you do!
The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
