We need to step out & be a little counter-culture here today. We need to recognize that just because something is permeating culture–no matter how “church-y” it may sound–it doesn’t make it true.
Have you ever heard someone quote the saying, “God would never ask you to do something unless He knew you could do it” or maybe “God asked you to do it because He knew you could do it”?
While well-meaning, these statements couldn’t be further from the truth. Let’s talk about it.
“My Grace Is Sufficient”
Even in dealing with a thorn in one’s side that you can’t seem to get rid of, as in 2 Corinthians 12:7-9, God asks us to do & face things all the time that we cannot possibly do… without Him.
And even things we THINK we can do just fine, are usually not done to their potential because we’re trying to do it withOUT Him… in our OWN strength or our OWN wisdom.
He wants us to recognize His help in our lives. He wants us to see our real need of Him.
And when we face seemingly impossible things, we are often forced to reckon with the fact that we CAN’T… & we’re given a beautiful opportunity to see His CAN.
When we stop relying on ourselves & our abilities, we see how much greater He is than us… How infinitely capable, even of the “impossible.”
God Knows That HE Is Able
The God-asked-you-to-do-it-because-He-knew-you-were-able lie is so prevalent on social media, seeing it on cute graphics shared even by Christian sources & can sometimes be heard in churches because it SOUNDS so true, but the important distinction to be made here is this:
God asked you to do it because He knew HE was able,NOT because you are.
We need to stop basing our lives on what we are capable of & begin framing everything around that of which HE is capable.
When I Face a Dead-End in His Lead… He Has a Plan
For example, I had no experience designing a website before this blog came to be, but I felt God’s nudge in this direction, & so I prayed & asked Him to provide the guidance & help I would need to follow His lead. And soon after, I came across an ad for training for just such a thing & in a budget with which I was comfortable!
God knew I couldn’t—I had no experience, no know-how, no means of carrying out His plan… But because I knew He had asked it of me, I knew also that He had a plan in place to make it happen.
Avoiding God’s Lead Because I Am Not Able
Another example… I have been avoiding helping with childcare at our church. First, it was because the monthly disappointment of no pregnancy, after months of working with a doctor toward that goal, was still fresh in my heart & working with others’ children felt like fresh jabs at still-healing wounds… but then it just got easy to avoid the uncomfortable… it became my cop-out.
I no longer felt the fresh sting of the childless hurt, but had grown so comfortable NOT having the task of childcare in my life… it almost became a “well, if I can’t have children, at least I don’t have to face any challenges of raising, teaching, or disciplining them (or changing diapers).”
Not having children became my excuse to not try intimidating-to-me tasks involving children.
Trusting God in My “But I’m Not Good At That….”
Mamas may not get this, but for me, I haven’t had to change a diaper in over 25 years maybe & have never had children of my own, so the idea of doing it for someone else’s kids just feels cringy & uncomfortable for me. I feel awkward. I feel out of place. I feel like passing the child onto the parent & saying, “it’s your kid, you do it.”
And when discipline becomes an issue, going from silly playtime to actually having to be the responsible-for-a-child adult, well, I freeze in very uncomfortable anxiety in my lack of experience with them.
But God has been nudging my heart, revealing this refusal-to-serve to me… showing me that I am hiding behind an excuse that no longer bothers me just to avoid doing something that is uncomfortable & awkward for me.
And He is asking me to trust Him in the gaps where I lack… To step out in faith that if He has asked it of me, He will also help me along the way as I ask for it.
Stop Avoiding the Hard… Stop Plowing through the Hard
I know maybe those may sound like silly, inconsequential examples in regards to your own life, but have you ever stopped to consider whether there is any area where you are digging in your heals because you think, “if I don’t feel capable of this, it must not be from God,” or maybe trying to plow through all of the discomfort, exhausting & straining yourself because you think, “God asked me to do it because He knows I am able”?
Let those thoughts go.
He DOES Ask Us to Do Things We CanNOT Do, Because He Knows HE Can
He does ask us to do things we feel are impossible for us.
He doesn’t ask us to do things just because He “knows we’re capable.”
He asks us because He knows NOTHING is impossible for HIM.
He asks us because He knows that HE is capable—even when we ourselves are lacking.
The God-Asked-You-to-Do-It-Because-He-Knew-You-Were-Able Lie
So, take a moment & ask God to show you where you may be sticking your palm to His face unknowingly because you feel incapable. And ask Him for help in trusting that HE is enough for any path down which He may lead.
Shine HOPE by doing as He leads, trusting that HE is ALWAYS able, EVEN when you’re NOT.
Coming Next Week
Join me every Monday morning, EST, for more encouragement right here on my blog/website @ www.MichelleHydeOnline.com.
As God grows me, may it encourage you to seek Him & know Him & love Him more every day.
Share with friends & family… & SUBSCRIBE by “Joining My Tribe,” so you never miss a week!
This blog/website has been running for over THREE years now! THANK YOU for your continued support & encouragement. <3
If you would like to learn more of my story, check out the “About Me” 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!!
Silver Medallion Necklace
(Silver Medallion Necklace–You can help create Jobs for Women in India!)
This textured silver-tone chain from India can be worn separately or layered with other necklaces from our One World Collection. The uniquely textured pendant adds the perfect artistic touch. Three length options allow you to choose your comfort & style.
Every purchase provides fair-trade jobs in areas of extreme poverty in India.
How You Can Help:
SHOP Here, OR, Email me at michellehyde.tradesofhope@gmail.com with any questions, & I will message you personally with more information!! Thank you for inspiring HOPE around the world, Lovely!
Your purchases not only help these women, but my commissions help me in continuing this website/blog, encouraging women all around the world with the HOPE we have in Jesus. Win win!
The Bible mentions 2 separate categories of sin in the Bible: 1. Grieving the Spirit (doing what we should not do) (Ephesians 4:30) & Quenching the Spirit (not doing what we should do) (1 Thessalonians 5:19).
For me, I find myself mainly focusing on what NOT to do & tend to “justify away” my inaction in various ways.
I often, (arrogantly, I might add), try to logic my way around what God directs me to do via His Holy Spirit. In other words, I feel His nudge onmy heart & think my way out of doing it versus just trusting God knows what He’s doing better than I do–that is me quenching the Spirit.
When We Say “No” to God
Do you feel God nudging you to serve somewhere in church or your neighborhood, but the idea intimidates you & so you avoid it?
Do you feel God wants you to befriend someone, but you feel uncertain of how they might respond & your insecurity keeps you at a distance?
Do you feel God nudging you to share your testimony, but you’re afraid of judgement?
I could go on & on with examples similar to these that have halted me in my tracks, where I didn’t do what God asked of me because of fear, timidity, anxiety, insecurity, feeling insufficient, etc.
These, as I understand it, are exampled of me quenching the Spirit of God, as mentioned in 1 Thessalonians 5:19—“Do not quench the Spirit.”
Wrapped in Excuses
There is a similar, yet different command in the Bible, found in Ephesians 4:30, commanding us against GRIEVING the Spirit. This command is something I find myself talking about more often, because it is the command to AVOID doing what God says to AVOID doing, plain & simple (yet, often not simple to accomplish).
But QUENCHING the Spirit is much more subtle. Sometimes God’s leadings are not expressly mentioned in the Bible, but rather are nudges from the Holy Spirit. And usually, it can completely go against logic or human wisdom, making it easier to find loopholes & avoid altogether, wrapped up in words like: insecurity, anxiety, feeling unsure of what to do or say, recognizing a personal weakness we feel prevents our ability to do it, etc.
God promised to send us the Holy Spirit (John 14:15-17), upon Jesus’ resurrection from the cross & into Heaven on His throne. The Holy Spirit convicts us to avoid doing those things God tells us not to do.
But the Holy Spirit also leads. He directs & guides us, especially as we pray for God’s wisdom & direction in a specific area–It’s just not always so easy to follow His lead–especially when His lead doesn’t seem to make sense to us.
God’s Nudges
Since I had been a Christian since I was 5, I have had the Holy Spirit’s presence in my life from a very young age, although I didn’t always recognize His nudges as from Him until my discernment & understanding grew as I grew closer to God.
Because of the Holy Spirit’s presence in my life, I would feel nudges to or away from things sometimes, creating an opportunity for me to choose my way or His way.
I Didn’t Listen
When I fell in love in my early twenties, the Holy Spirit gave me such a nudge after I prayed about the future of the relationship.
I was so sure I would marry that guy because of how much I cared for Him, but God kept nudging me to obey His lead & walk away–that God had a different path for me & him.
Well, I chose not to. I kept fighting it. I was sure maybe those nudges just meant “not right now,” so I kept holding on. I dragged this guy I cared about through the mud in the process because I refused to trust God’s lead.
That was me quenching the Spirit.
God Knows What He’s Doing Better Than We Do
I had asked for God’s guidance & when His answer didn’t match the one I desired, I ignored Him & pushed through, hurting myself & the person I so cared about along the way.
That guy was not a part of God’s future for me, & I was not a part of his. But I didn’t want to listen & we both paid the price for my stubborn refusal to follow God’s will.
I shared my story once before about my “first love”–read about it , here.
My Temper Tantrum
Another example came more recently. My husband asked if I wanted to eat out at a favorite restaurant—I am a SUCKER for eating out & immediately & excitedly agreed.
But, the back story to this is how I had recently discovered my addiction to eating out that God had been convicting me of in a new awareness of my problem.
I immediately felt God’s nudge on my heart to choose eating healthy leftovers at home versus going out.
Rearing up, I felt defensive & angry: “Great. Now You have brought this to my attention & does that mean I can NEVER have fun ever again by eating out?! I want to go out after a long day & enjoy a night out with my husband. Is that so bad?! Why are you guilting me & keeping me from having any fun!? Is this what I have to look forward to from now on?!” –I know… real mature temper tantrum, huh?
Humility Check–God Is Always Looking Out for Our Best
So, I stuffed His nudge deep down & determined it was no big deal & that this was “just this once more,” as I got dressed & ready to go out.
But something happened. For some odd reason-that was never explained-whether from a neighbor’s bbq or who knows… I smelled smoke.
And as soon as the smell hit my nose, I got a flash in my head (like seeing my life flash before my eyes) of my house on fire, with my kitty trapped inside… & my heart dropped.
I got it. I instantly understood the message… & I instantly saw how arrogant & untrusting I had been.
I had been fussing, whining, complaining, accusing God of trying to take all my fun away, but in that split second, I was humbled by the Truth: God NEVER tells me (or you) something that is not EXPRESSLY for my GOOD. EVER.
God Looks Out for Us
And while I complain about God’s so-called strict, fun-zapping, dictator-like control, God reminded me in that moment of His LOVE. He wasn’t trying to ruin my life by asking me to stay home… He was trying to lovingly protect me from myself & my addiction.
After remorseful, embarrassed, humbled tears, I shook my head & whispered in my heart, “God, I am SO sorry. I was so unkind & unfair to You. You know everything & I don’t. You know exactly what I need & I don’t (even though I often feel strongly that I do). Please forgive me for my arrogance. Forgive me for not trusting Your Goodness & Your love for me. Please, show me… was this scenario designed to teach me a lesson? Or do you really ask me to stay home tonight? I’ll do whatever You ask now. Thank You for guiding me even when I am rude to You. Thank You for Your persistent, faithful goodness. Thank You. AMEN.”
What Does It Mean to “Quench the Spirit”? Is It Sin?
So what does it mean to “quench the Spirit”? Is it sin? It means not trusting God’s leading & trusting our own logic or wisdom above His. And yes, it is a sin.
It may be scary. It may seem, in the moment, to be restrictive. It may make you feel insecure or insufficient for the task. But whatever God asks of you… DO IT. Do it & trust that HE can fill where you lack.
Hard doesn’t equal bad. Hard means we get to step back & watch Him work.
Trust God’s lead & follow it.
Trust Him to Help You Grow in This Area As You PRAY
And if you struggle here, as I so obviously do… PRAY about it. Ask God to help you see WHEN you’re doing it & to remind you to SEEK HIM for HELP when you would rather avoid.
Determine to obey anyway. Determine to trust His help. And do it.
I often don’t trust God’s plan & His lead, & as a result, my path is much more painful than God ever intended it to be… & yet still, every day in small ways, I ignore His little prompts as I run on autopilot through my routine. This should not be.
Ask God to wake you up. Ask Him to show you how to know it’s Him, to recognize His still, soft voice on your heart. Ask Him to help you relinquish what you THINK you know, for what He DOES know.
Shine hope—don’t quench the Spirit.
Coming Next Week
Join me every Monday morning, EST, for more encouragement right here on my blog/website @ www.MichelleHydeOnline.com.
As God grows me, may it encourage you to seek Him & know Him & love Him more every day.
Share with friends & family… & SUBSCRIBE by “Joining My Tribe,” so you never miss a week!
This blog/website has been running for over THREE years now! THANK YOU for your continued support & encouragement. <3
If you would like to learn more of my story, check out the “About Me” 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!!
Long Chain Necklace (Silver-toned) (India)
(Silver-toned Long Chain Necklace & Silver Medallion Necklace, hand-crafted in India. Every purchase empowers women in poverty!)
Love long chain necklaces? This is the necklace for you! This silver-tone link-chain design is handcrafted in India & is totally on-trend! Wear alone, double up, or layer together with other chain necklaces from our One World Collection, like our Long Chain Necklace – Gold.
Every purchase provides fair trade jobs in areas of extreme poverty in India.
In India, poverty often leads to exploitation of vulnerable Artisans in sweatshops. Every purchase provides these Artisans with fair wages, access to healthcare, education for their children, & care for elderly family members.
Purchase this necklace & empower an Artisan in India!
How You Can Help:
SHOP Here, OR, Email me at michellehyde.tradesofhope@gmail.com with any questions, & I will message you personally with more information!! Thank you for inspiring HOPE around the world, Lovely!
Your purchases not only help these women, but my commissions help me in continuing this website/blog, encouraging women all around the world with the HOPE we have in Jesus. Win win!
I have found that this topic is not a popular one. I can almost see hair bristling when I talk about it. And that reaction has been my own as well.
Who doesn’t like to feel they have some manner of control in their life?
I’ve talked about this topic before, in “The Tale of Two Cakes,”(that post being from the perspective of how we decide to encourage others–toward self or God), but it’s a concern I see slowly seeping into mainstream Western Christianity, so I feel compelled to revisit this topic, in hopes that you & I both take it to heart.
We need to discuss the very important distinction between self-empowerment & self-surrender.
I Want to Feel in Control of Things
There are so many areas of life, where I mess up regularly, that stem from this innate need I feel to have some control over my own life.
This need manifests itself in many ways, from eating out to soothe anxiety, to questioning God’s direction in my life by testing out my way 700 times first.
I want a say. I want to try. I want to do it myself.(I sort of sound like the typical toddler, don’t I?) But if you evaluated your own life, could you detect this same inner voice? Maybe sugar-coated & justified, but with the same telltale undertones ringing true of your personal need for control?
It’s Even Being Taught by Well-Meaning Christian Leadership
Sadly, this message of SELF-empowerment is spreading like wildfire in many Christian circles—even Christian conferences & sermons.
How can WE get OUR life back on track? How can WE get the most out of OUR life? How can WE feel good?
But the joy (& peace) is not in having more or accomplishing more, but in surrendering more. It’s not in having more control, but by giving Him more control.
The more that we look up & say, “God, I am sorry for clinging to or coveting such-&-such. Help me know how to find that joy in YOU,” the more we actually find what we’re looking for.
I feel saddened by Christian mantras that echo self-empowerment sentiments of “YOU’ve got this!” “YOU’re ENOUGH!” “YOU can handle it!”
Because, the truth is, you don’t, you’re not, & you can’t.
You Were Designed to NEED HIM
You’re not meant to be self-capable, self-sufficient, or self-empowered.
You were designed to NEED HIM.
And until we figure that out & live like that is true, because it is, then we will always feel like we, compared to everyone else around us, just can’t seem to get a handle on things.
You don’t need to believe that you’ve got this.You need to recognize that HE DOES.
You don’t need to be told you’re enough.You need to realize that HE IS.
You don’t need to think that you can handle it.You need to see that HE CAN.
We need to learn how to surrender more. To take our “I can’ts” to His throne & say, “God, be my enough. Supply my needs. Direct me. Guide me. Show me how to obey You & to honor You & to please You with my everything. Make me decrease so You may increase.”(John 3:30-36)
This life is not about a rat race of trying to feel capable & strong & get the most out of it. It’s about learning more & more that His plans are higher & better than ours (Isaiah 55:8-9) & that He can enable us in our MANY weaknesses every step along the way.
What Do You Cling to for Control That You Need to Entrust to Him?
I am convicted of how little I am willing to give up control in my own life… I love feeling self-capable & self-empowered more than most anything.
I give, but only from excess or leftovers: time, resources, money.
I help, but only if/when it’s convenient/comfortable.
I edify intentionally & am friendly, but only if I feel it will be received well.
I support others, but only if there’s little cost to me & I can “protect my mental health” (aka feel no stress from it).
I sacrifice, but only if I can see the reward.
I obey, but often only if I can see the benefit of it up front.
This should not be! I NEED to SURRENDER MORE to Him. I need to trust His work & His Truth & His sufficiency more than my own!
I am not enough. I am weak to temptations. I am selfish. I am prideful. I am prone to wander. I am prone to choose ME. I am disobedient in my inaction & sometimes in my actions. I am too me-focused in life–MY comfort, ME well-being, MY desires, MY needs, MY wants, MY plans, MY control.
God Says…. We Ought to Trust HIS Way
God says when someone demands your tunic, give them also your cloak. (Luke 6:27-36)
God says when someone demands you go a mile, go with them two.
God says that Whatever we do to the least of these, we do also to Him. And whatever we don’t do, we also don’t do to Him. (Matthew 25:31-46)
God says to test Him with our giving sacrificially, that all things come from Him & we can trust Him to provide as we provide for others. (Malachi 3:10)
God says that in all our ways we ought to acknowledge Him (not OUR wants/needs/perception/logic) & He will make our paths straight. (Proverbs 3:5-7)
God says that in our weaknesses, that is when His power is made known to us & we realize it really is enough for us. (2 Corinthians 12:9-10)
Self-Surrender.
Self-Empowerment or Self-Surrender?
The more you give for Him, the more you seem to gain. It’s never not worth it.
Shine HOPE—Instead of seeking to feel more capable, strong, & worthy… seek HIM.
Self-Empowerment or Self-Surrender—which will you choose?
Coming Next Week
Join me every Monday morning, EST, for more encouragement right here on my blog/website @ www.MichelleHydeOnline.com.
As God grows me, may it encourage you to seek Him & know Him & love Him more every day.
Share with friends & family… & SUBSCRIBE by “Joining My Tribe,” so you never miss a week!
This blog/website has been running for over THREE years now! THANK YOU for your continued support & encouragement. <3
If you would like to learn more of my story, check out the “About Me” 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!!
Long Chain Necklace (Golden) (India)
(Empower women out of poverty!)
Love long chain necklaces? This is the necklace for you! This gold-tone link-chain design is handcrafted in India & is totally on-trend! Wear alone, double up, or layer together with other chain necklaces from our One World Collection, like our Long Chain Necklace – Silver. (Shown with the Darling Charms Set.)
Every purchase provides fair trade jobs in areas of extreme poverty in India. In India, poverty often leads to exploitation of vulnerable Artisans in sweatshops. Every purchase provides these Artisans with fair wages, access to healthcare, education for their children, & care for elderly family members.
Purchase this necklace & empower an Artisan in India!
How You Can Help:
SHOP Here, OR, Email me at michellehyde.tradesofhope@gmail.com with any questions, & I will message you personally with more information!! Thank you for inspiring HOPE around the world, Lovely!
Your purchases not only help these women, but my commissions help me in continuing this website/blog, encouraging women all around the world with the HOPE we have in Jesus. Win win!
How easy it is, especially when raised in the church & taught good, moral behavior as a child, to confuse these two very different ideas: acting holy & being holy.
I was that kid. I grew up in a Christian home, going to church a few times a week, growing up in Christian culture, knowing all the dos & don’ts & all the right answers in Sunday School (“Jesus” or “the Bible”).
I KNEW it, but although I became a Christian at a pretty young age, trusting that I needed Jesus to save me from my sins, I still had to learn to go from accepting these taught behaviors to moving them down to my heart as a conscious act of worship to God, consciously striving to please HIM, vs. just knowing the right answer when asked.
It can be easy to live the life of a Pharisee when you grow up in the church–looking pretty good… on the outside.
What’s Beneath the Surface?
You learn to wear the “right” clothes, put on that Christian smile that says, “No really, I’m fine, everything in my life is going just fine” (even if it isn’t), & know all the “right” answers at church.
It can even be taken a step further… joining the choir or band or worship team, leading a Sunday School class or Bible Study, attend every service & event & conference, checking off your “Christian to-do list” of serving in the church, serving your community, reading the Bible & praying before meals & before bedtime… becoming a pastor or a missionary because it just seems like the “right” Christian thing to do.
Now, nothing is wrong with those activities, don’t get me wrong! But, what are our motives? Are we striving to live a life pleasing to the Lord, honoring Him in obedience? Or because it’s the “Christian thing to do.”
Motive Check!
We need a motives check on our lives, maybe even DAILY, because it can be so easy to just slip into going with the motions, versus consciously stopping to say, “God, I may not feel earnest in this right now, but I know it honors You, so I want to keep doing it. Please change my heart & my perspective to seek to please You more than just doing ‘Christian things.’”
I honestly flip flop between these two every day. Some days I GET it & realize I need to live in obedience to Him whether I feel like it or not because He DESERVES it AND because it’s ultimately FOR MY GOOD…. While other days, I just go through the motions to get it done so I can move onto something I’d rather be doing (big mood today).
Do You REALLY Live for HIM?
It’s a struggle, this constant battle between flesh & spirit. Bad habits are easily formed, leading to addictions of idols that we put before Almighty God.
And although they seem shiny & appealing & just what we’re craving… they somehow always slowly & steadily sap our joy… & harden our hearts.
No, it’s not enough to just APPEAR holy while we choose SELF on the inside.
We don’t want to “wash the outside of the cup” while the inside is just gross (or, “full of self indulgence.”) (Matthew 23:25-26)
We don’t want to become “white-washed tombs,” clean on the outside, but full of death on the inside. (Matthew 23:27-28)
Man looks on the outward appearance, it’s true… but God looks at the heart. We can’t fool Him.(1 Samuel 16:7)
Who Do You Glorify When You ACT Holy vs Being Holy? Yourself… or God?
When we ACT holy, it never reaching our heart as an outpour of worship & obedience to God, our behaviors & actions only serve to put the spotlight on YOURSELF as someone who “does everything right,” versus shining a light for HIM Who ALONE is Good.
Acting holy will exhaust you. You will always feel like you never quite measure up, wondering if every other Christian has it together while somehow you just seem to struggle behind your smile.
Acting holy will leave you empty & fruitless, wondering how you can do SO MUCH & still feel like nothing is ever enough.
Striving to BE holy, to live a life that pleases God means recognizing you CAN’T do it alone & that you NEED God’s help guiding you, strengthening you, & enabling you.
When we seek only His will vs trying to be the end-all, be-all, “best Christian ever”, it takes out the hamster wheel of fruitless pursuit & brings you satisfaction & contentment of quitting the “I can (or should) do it all,” for a life that begins to only go where God leads & leaves the rest up to Him, relying on His help for everything He does lead you to.
Living holiness doesn’t mean adding things to your to-do list. Remember Mary at Jesus’ feet, while Martha exhausted herself trying to be a good hostess? Jesus commended Mary in that scenario. (Luke 10:38-42)
Holiness doesn’t mean MORE WORK, it means only doing HIS work for you, with HIS help… & leaving the rest to Him.
WE NEED HIS HELP EVERY STEP… & He Will Give It AS You Seek Him for It!
We are weak. We are limited. We are prone to wander. We are prideful. We are easily distracted. We are in a constant battle with flesh. We seek SELF.
But God is forgiving. God is All-Powerful & Almighty. God is limitless. God is faithful. God is humble & kind & LOVE. God is patient. God is Enough. God is Victorious. God seeks us. God alone is GOOD.
He DESERVES our ALL. And He gives HIS ALL.
The Difference Between Acting Holy & Being Holy
The difference between acting holy & being holy is a matter of the heart... your motivations. Are you doing it out of obedience to God, to honor Him, to spend time with Him, to shine a light for others to see Him?
Or are you doing it to be a “Good Christian”?
Open your heart for Him to reveal your true motives, repenting over any self-glory, Pharisee-like behaviors you might be having, & ask Him to renew your heart & mind as you seek Him through His Word & prayer.
Shine Hope by determining that Acting holy is not enough. BE holy, for HE is holy.(1 Peter 1:15-16)
Coming Next Week
Join me every Monday morning, EST, for more encouragement right here on my blog/website @ www.MichelleHydeOnline.com.
As God grows me, may it encourage you to seek Him & know Him & love Him more every day.
Share with friends & family… & SUBSCRIBE by “Joining My Tribe,” so you never miss a week!
This blog/website has been running for THREE years now! THANK YOU for your continued support & encouragement. <3
If you would like to learn more of my story, check out the “About Me” 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!!
Luminous Studs (North Asia)
(Fashion as a force for Good! Purchase a pair of these Luminous Studs & empower women in North Asia who are rescued out of sex trafficking. Also Shown: 1 Strand of 2-Ellora Necklace.)
These 14k gold-plated mask-friendly studs are mesmerizing, as they sparkle in the light, creating iridescent shades that change with your every move.
Every purchase helps support a sex trafficking survivor in North Asia with safe housing, health care, trauma counseling, job skills training, & dignified income.
How You Can Help:
SHOP Here, OR, Email me at michellehyde.tradesofhope@gmail.com with any questions, & I will message you personally with more information!! Thank you for inspiring HOPE around the world, Lovely!
Your purchases not only help these women, but my commissions help me in continuing this website/blog, encouraging women all around the world with the HOPE we have in Jesus. Win win!
Self-effort is something I am far too prone to lean into.
I know this may sound silly, because pretty much everything requires self-effort, but what I mean is the tendency to RELY on self-effort, while NEGLECTING to lean into God’s lead & God’s help–& let me emphasize LEAD, here, because too often I come up with my own plans & then want God to bless them, rather than asking what HIS plan is & help in doing THAT.
Now, at first glance, this Truth that “apart from Him, we can do nothing” seems outlandishly false. I don’t ask for God’s help doing most everything I do, & yet, I still do it!
But, when we take a closer look at this, it becomes more & more clear that we actually don’t do ANYTHING without His help.
We often lean into things we feel we are good at, where we feel most comfortable or capable, sometimes ignoring God’s nudge toward things that intimidate us.
Take this website & blog for example… It is a dream I have had since the late 2000’s & yet, to me, it seemed impossible then because I had ZERO idea how to do it!
But God was preparing my heart to trust Him with the details as He led me here. He put the steps in place & as He pointed the way, I walked.
He doesn’t put something on our hearts & then leave us to it, hoping we somehow figure it out or muster up enough bravery to face it. HE PREPARES us. HE LEADS us. HE ENABLES us.
Are You Ever Afraid to Ask God for His Will?
I don’t know about you, but there have been seasons in my life where I was actually AFRAID to ask God for guidance because I was overwhelmed with the feeling that I wouldn’t be able to do it.
How silly! How very much that displays my lack of trust in our Good God!
He does not live to embarrass us & make us squirm, giving us tasks He very well knows we canNOT handle, only to chuckle as we try or worse, blame us if we fail.
HE does the work. HE provides the wisdom. HE does the leading. HE provides the strength.
WE obey. WE trust. That’s OUR job in it!
We Can Ask Him with Full Confidence… in HIM!
And that is why we can have COMPLETE confidence when we go to God for guidance & help!
Because we know that:
He knows us better than we know ourselves.
He sees all the pieces at play in any given moment, even the parts of life coming where we are completely unawares.
He has perfect knowledge, perfect understanding, & perfect wisdom.
He CARES deeply for you. He IS love. He is Good.
He prepares the way for us & enables us where something may seem impossible.
In other words, where God leads, God provides.
The Example of Moses
Think of Moses. He wanted to help his people so badly after growing up with royalty while he watched his people be harshly treated. But when he handled things poorly, by reacting out of anger, bitterness, & hatred, he ran away. But God pursued his heart & called him to return & to lead his people to freedom, with God’s help.
Moses was of course nervous! He had killed a royal soldier. He had run away from home. His nationality was of the slaves, even though he grew up amongst the royals. Moses felt completely unworthy of such a huge task.
But, God knew that Moses but need to rely on GOD’s wisdom, guidance, strength, & power, NOT his own.
And not only did God give Moses the words to say to the Pharoah, He also provided the miracles Himself.
Moses’ job? Obey & trust GOD.
(Read the full story of Moses growing up with royalty & obeying God in following God’s lead to free the Israelites, with God’s help, in Exodus 1-14.)
Our Role Is Trust in & Obedience to God
That is our job in life: Obey & trust GOD.
But too often, we rely on SELF.
We either run life on auto-pilot, not taking much time to consider God’s will in any given moment….
Or, we see what He wants us to do & try to do it without His help or avoid it because we don’t see how to do it ourselves.
I run on auto-pilot A LOT… ESPECIALLY when God teaches me something, so I think, you know, “Thanks, God! I’ve got it from here!” oof
Or, I simply go through life living for comfort or fun, not really stopping to consider what God might want me to do differently, because I am too focused on protecting said comfort/fun in my life, not wanting those idols to be threatened.
Or, when I DO see that He wants me to do something differently, I don’t trust that it’s better than what I cling to, so I often choose to trust me over Him & His plan.
I wrestle against pride EVERY day in these ways.
God, forgive me!
And maybe I write about it too much, maybe I sound like a broken record, but it’s something of which I need to CONSTANTLY be reminding myself.
I NEED Him
I NEED to learn to bow to Him every morning for His day’s plan. I NEED to learn to bow down in every situation where I want to respond by gut reaction versus leaning into Him to love & work through me. I NEED to be willing to see that He is FAR better than my idols I cling to… that the chase for comfort & fun is always fleeting, but the peace & contentment that He nourishes within us are LASTING.
I NEED to OBEY & TRUST Him.
I NEED Him.
Who Is Master of Your Life?
What are you holding back from Him? Where do you determine you know better? Where do your self-efforts seem to shine their worst?
Repent. Confess them to God & ask for His forgiveness. Ask Him to give you an awareness of when you are making these self-effort-decisions & ask Him to help you remember to humbly lean into Him instead of yourself.
So, shine HOPE by determining to live with Him as your Source, your Guide, & your Strength… to obey & trust HIM.
Coming Next Week
Join me every Monday morning, EST, for more encouragement.
As God grows me, may it encourage you to seek Him & know Him & love Him more every day.
Share with friends & Subscribe by Joining My Tribe, so you never miss a week.
A Note from Michelle:
This blog/website has been running for THREE years now! THANK YOU for your continued support & encouragement. <3
If you would like to learn more of my story, check out the “About Me” 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, along with the link to each week’s new post! I can’t wait to do this journey together!!
Fashion as a Force for GOOD:
Each week, I feature an item that is changing lives for women around the world. These hand-crafted pieces are offering job creation opportunities for women artisans in impoverished nations all around the world! Check out this week’s featured beauty!!
Luminous Studs (North Asia)
(Fashion as a force for good! Every purchase of these Luminous Studs empowers a woman in North Asia out of sex-trafficking.)
These 14k gold-plated mask-friendly studs are mesmerizing, as they sparkle in the light, creating iridescent shades that change with your every move. Every purchase helps support a sex trafficking survivor in North Asia with safe housing, health care, trauma counseling, job skills training, & dignified income.
In North Asia, poverty encourages sexual exploitation of women in brothels. These women want to provide for their families but have few options. Your purchase helps provide sex trafficking survivors with holistic care, dignified income, & hope.
Purchase these earrings & empower a woman in North Asia!
How You Can Help:
SHOP Here, OR, Email me at michellehyde.tradesofhope@gmail.com with any questions, & I will message you personally with more information!! Thank you for inspiring HOPE around the world, Lovely!
Your purchases not only help these women, but my commissions help me in continuing this website/blog, encouraging women all around the world with the HOPE we have in Jesus. Win win!
When I started my blog over 2 years ago, ONE of my biggest concerns (shared by my husband) was that I would never be able to stay consistently committed to it.
To be quite honest, I am the type of person who gets really excited about a new project, gets invested in said project, but when the excitement wanes, the project begins collecting dust(usually all within the same month).
I am pretty responsible when given tasks to complete, unless those tasks are assigned by myself, because I don’t seem to mind disappointing myself & it ends up becoming a problem with my productivity sometimes… (& my husband, although gracious with me, knows it, too).
Meal planning & house-cleaning get pushed back far too often, leaving a then overwhelming obstacle that I just want to avoid altogether. It’s a bit of a problem & I have been working to ask God to help me in that area.
So, when God put this website & blog on my heart, knowing I would need to commit weekly, whether I felt inspired, motivated, in a sharing mood, or NOT… I was not so sure.
Warts & All
I prayed about this concern, asking God to help me know whether to pay for & start the training I needed to create my website, knowing all too well my infamous tendency to quit when the going got tough. I was afraid I couldn’t keep up with it… knowing that if I was grumpy or busy or feeling so incredibly lazy one week, I would need to still show up, warts & all.
I wondered how I could write a blog, run a website, & host a community on social media, knowing I was so fickle… wondering how I could possibly stay consistent AND authentic while doing it.
It seemed an impossible combination, seeing my personal track record.
Not About MY Glory, But HIS
But in my asking God about it, seeking His wisdom & guidance, He reminded me of one very beautiful fact: this blog was not to be about my glory, but HIS.
In other words, seeing as I am JUST HUMAN, there would undoubtedly be weeks I didn’t want to care or didn’t want to scrap together an ounce of effort & where I just wanted to drop it all for some tv binging sessions… but that I could show up & be real about it ALL… because it’s NOT about ME being great, but about HIM being GREAT.
Let’s Get Real
He encouraged me that I could show up for my weekly videos or blogs like a complete hot mess, not having gotten any sleep, grumpy & grouchy, wishing I could avoid any & all responsibility, NOT caring about anyone but myself because I am feeling selfish & lazy… & say, “Listen ladies, I didn’t want to be here today. I wanted to tell God off & say, ‘I don’t wanna!’ like a whiny toddler throwing a hissy fit. I don’t feel like I have myself together AT ALL today & I honestly feel like I would rather just quit. But, GOD. In all of my mess, in all of my unwilling, stubborn bad attitude, I knew deep down that God’s got me, even when I don’t. So, I asked Him to help me show up for Him & help me point to Him. Because, ladies, it’s not about you or I having ourselves together, it’s about Him having full control, even when we feel out of control. We can trust Him EVEN when we fail completely.”
Even when.
Only He Has It All Together
I don’t have to pretend to have it all together, because I don’t. I am afraid of vulnerability & have to ask God for courage. I am lazy & prefer doing the bare minimum & have to ask God for the extra push of strength & motivation to trust Him more. I have insecurities where I need to ask God to help me trust Him for my confidence.
And there began my confidence to begin my blog, even in all of my known personal weaknesses, knowing that even if I want to quit or fail embarrassingly, I can always turn to Him to help me & to be my strength & my role is to JUST SHOW UP.
Up to Him
Because it’s not about me coming to you, the epitome of what a Christian woman “should” look like. It’s about me coming to you as a FELLOW weak, prone to wander, limited human being, warts & all & pointing to our Almighty, Always Faithful, INFINITE, Limitless, PERFECT God who loves us all so, so much.
Prayer… talking to God… is about admitting you NEED Him… In everything big & small.
It’s okay to need Him. It’s okay to SHOW you need Him because we were ALL MADE TO NEED Him.
Don’t Bow Out, Just Show Up
So, the next time you are tempted to bow out because you just CAN’T… & next time you want to turn down a project God has put on your heart because you don’t think you can live up to it… understand that it’s okay to put yourself out there for a project you feel you can’t do… because He will help you as you lean into Him in trying to follow His lead through life.
Shine HOPE by being transparent, by allowing your human weakness to show, by JUST SHOWING UP, & by remembering that it’s about God’s glory, not yours.
He’s got you, babe. He’s got you.
Coming Next Week
Join me every Monday morning, EST, for more encouragement.
As God grows me, may it encourage you to seek Him & know Him & love Him more every day.
Share with friends & Subscribe by Joining My Tribe, so you never miss a week.
A Note from Michelle:
This blog/website has been running for over TWO years now! THANK YOU for your continued support & encouragement. <3
If you would like to hear more of my story, check out the “About Me” page. And if you would like to hear how I found my lasting source of HOPE, read the “Hope Is Found” page, on this site. I hope they are an encouragement to you! <3
Also, make sure to “Join My Tribe” by adding your email to the top bar & clicking “Join My Tribe”. This gains you access to an extra weekly dose of encouragement from me in your inbox, along with the link to each week’s new post! I can’t wait to do this journey together!!
Fashion as a Force for GOOD:
Each week, I feature an item that is changing lives for women around the world. These hand-crafted pieces are offering job creation opportunities for women artisans in impoverished nations all around the world! Check out this week’s featured beauty!!
Nairobi Necklace from Kenya!
Fashion as a force for Good! Empower women in Kenya out of extreme poverty by getting your own gorgeous Nairobi Necklace from Kenya!
Small hammered ovals & ethically sourced bone shapes adorn this golden necklace that shimmers in the light. Crafted in Kenya.
In Kenya, where many people struggle with starvation & poverty, the women we partner with are defying the odds! Your purchase empowers these women to earn an income, overcome physical disabilities, & become important parts of their communities!
Purchase this piece & empower a woman in Kenya!
How You Can Help:
SHOP Here, OR, Email me at michellehyde.tradesofhope@gmail.com with any questions, & I will message you personally with more information!! Thank you for inspiring HOPE around the world, Lovely!
Your purchases not only help these women, but my commissions allow me to continue encouraging women all around the world with the HOPE we have in Jesus. We appreciate your continued support!
It started November 1, before the sun rose, driving to the airport way earlier than I am comfortable waking & then saying goodbye to my Mom & brother-in-law who so graciously drove us to the airport so incredibly early.
My hubs & I had just spent about a month with our families in the States, cautious & careful to social distance, wear masks, & not go out to socialize/shop as much as we’re used to, all in the name of healthy precaution.
Arriving Back in Japan
After a grueling, sleepless 24-hour journey from my parents’ home back to Japan, we had to go through COVID screening at immigration in Japan. We were herded like cattle through different COVID immigration checkpoints & then asked to go stand in a booth similar to that of a voting booth & spit a specific amount of saliva into a test tube type thing.
Then came a sit-down with immigration to cover where we had been & where we planned to go within Japan (with details about how we planned to get there, aka NOT public transportation.) Jamie handled most of that, with me answering questions as I was asked.
Restlessly Settling In
We received emails that our tests were negative, meaning we were cleared to take the shuttle to the military base there in Tokyo, where we would be taken directly to our quarantine room. It was much like a hotel room, except as a small apartment, with a tv, basic amenities, & a kitchen.
We spent Monday night through Wednesday morning in our Tokyo base quarantine room, ordering takeout online for every meal, as we had little else to choose from, trying to pass the time away as sanely as possible with our growing “cabin fever.”
Finally Heading Home
Then came the Wednesday morning bus from Tokyo to Misawa. We had to order food beforehand because for this 10+ hour bus ride, we were not permitted to exit the bus for any reason. There was a surprisingly large bathroom on the bus (think ferry boat bathroom versus the tiny airplane bathroom we were expecting). The bus was crammed full of people coming from who knows where outside of Japan. Our hopes for avoiding COVID were teetering.
Once we arrived in Misawa, we were divided & directed to smaller vehicles, depending on where we all lived, ours being the off-base van.
When we got home on Wednesday night, we knew the drill… no leaving our house or coming into contact with any other person, for any reason, for the rest of our 14-day quarantine upon arriving in Japan.
The Symptoms Began
Thursday, a mild sore throat began.
Friday, my symptoms multiplied. I had a mild fever of 100.3 & had chills, a headache, fatigue, aches, minor nausea, diarrhea (sorry, for too much information? (tmi)), & a mild dry cough.
I tried to convince myself that it was just my body adjusting from all the travel as well as the sudden drop in temperature upon stepping off the bus in Misawa after sun fall.
But somewhere deep down, something didn’t feel right.
Monitor & Wait…
Don’t worry, we responsibly called the COVID response line & reported it. But because my symptoms were pretty mild & my fever was low & short-lived, coupled with the fact that I was in quarantine already & would be tested in less than a week anyway, I was told to monitor my condition until my test & to report in again if it worsened to any of the more serious symptoms.
Fortunately, it didn’t get more serious & I got better, with only a lingering minor headache, fatigue, & mild diarrhea (sorry, again) remaining. I was hopeful.
But then, I completely lost my sense of smell, a telltale symptom of COVID-19… & I mean COMPLETELY. I tested it with essential oils &… NOTHING.
Getting the Test… Getting the Results… I’m Positive
On day 10 of quarantine, we drove on base to get tested, instructed never to open our windows or get out of our car for any reason, except the slight lowering of the window for the test specifically.
We were hopeful. Just a few short days until life, as normal, resumes!
Day 11 of quarantine, we got the call. I had COVID.
The Rush of Instructions & Contact-Tracing Calls Began
We were instructed that I should pack a bag & be ready to leave my house in the next few hours to be taken into isolation. We later found out that Jamie was also required to do the same, separate from me, as well as everyone who was on that bus into Misawa.
Because they didn’t want any human in our home before it could be thoroughly decontaminated, the positive was them allowing me to bring my kitty as a companion during this isolation.
I was scared. I was nervous. I didn’t want to go. I had no idea what lay ahead of me in terms of isolation & I didn’t want to do it alone. I wanted my husband, Jamie, to come with me & help me know how to navigate the unknown.
In my preparations to move into isolation, I would intermittently stop prepping & cry into a pillow, wishing it was all just a bad dream. This information I had received also meant I would be spending my birthday alone, in an isolation room away from home. I was so grieved by it all. I wanted to stay home.
The Isolation Began
Moving into my new, temporary, empty apartment, things only got worse… No kitchen supplies, no TV, a rock-hard mattress, & carpets covered with all kinds of stains (one of which appeared to be old dog urine that never got cleaned up & was crusted into the carpet).
I felt despair wash over me upon seeing my new “home” & I cried as Jamie stepped out of my room after helping me bring in my bags.
The isolation began.
The Sleepless First Night Alone
That night, alone & cold & on the hardest mattress I have ever “slept” on (& I typically prefer firmer mattresses!), I felt so sad & if it weren’t for the gross carpets, would have dropped to my knees & let the sadness envelope me.
I didn’t sleep that first night, after a night of tossing & turning, where the hard mattress left me sorer with every passing hour.
In Comes the Cavalry!
To my delight, a friendly acquaintance (AKA Absolute HERO) offered me a spare mattress topper the next day & church friends were quick to bring food, paper products, plasticware, soap, pots, pans, water, etc., coming to the quick rescue with so much generous support & encouragement. (Someone even brought me a tv to use!)
I felt overwhelmed by all the love pouring in from unexpected places!
Living in Isolation
Over the next several days, with no symptoms, I was visited twice daily for vitals checks by various nurses.
I spent the days doing puzzles, playing Minecraft, reading, talking to Jamie on video chat, & being soothed by a cute cat snuggled alongside me.
Since it was my birthday week, I made one of my favorite meals, called Creamy Cheesy Chicken (think creamed parmesan cheese, garlic, & cream cheese over chicken & broccoli, with rice—YUM) to help cheer me up.
The Gift of Friendship
My friends were so generous with gifts & words of kindness flooded in from unexpected people who just wanted me to know I had their support if I needed it.
I will tell you, you don’t realize how blessed you are until you are in great need & HAVE to ask for help. They were all so generous with their time & efforts, even treating us to meals occasionally or bringing me cheerful birthday gifts of things to help me pass the time like puzzles, books, bath stuff, nail stuff, coloring supplies, etc. I was blown away by their kind generosity.
Anticipating My “Guaranteed” Release!
With COVID-19, apparently you are only contagious 10 days after symptoms begin & the COVID team/Misawa base decided to play it safe & have me stay an added few days. I would be free soon enough.
November 18 was my birthday & while I dreaded the idea of a lonely birthday locked away in my tower, I asked God to help me enjoy it & that’s exactly what He did. I had my favorite foods, spent a lot of time video-chatting my family & Jamie, played with some of the stuff generously brought by friends, & even was brought candles & a lighter for my brownies, with sparkling cider. It was a pretty okay day.
The next day was packing day. I would be released the next day. It was a lot of work, but I got everything washed & cleaned up & loaded in my bags & all my bags were ready & waiting for my authorization guaranteed to come the next day.
Except it didn’t.
The Deliberation
Bright & early I received a call from the COVID response team telling me my release was being debated. Even though I had had absolutely no symptoms for about a week & because it had been 2 weeks since the start of my symptoms, I was no longer contagious… they weren’t sure about releasing me because they never took my temperature or saw my symptoms for themselves (AKA they had no proof) & because I was not asked to be tested when the symptoms began, they weren’t sure they could count my word.
I sat & waited anxiously all day for the deliberation to come to a conclusion. Bags by the door, I was ready to go.
Finally, that evening of the 20th, I got the call from an authority in public health.
My release was declined. I would be locked in for another week.
As the Despair Settled Over Me…
I went through the motions of trying to be polite & express my understanding of their answer while my head swirled in bewilderment. I had been guaranteed I was okay to leave today… & yet, I wasn’t. I didn’t understand how a “guaranteed release” could turn into another WEEK here…!
When I finally was able to hang up, I let my hand & phone drop to my lap as I stared at the wall in front of me.
And then I just cried.
Together Again
I knew my husband would be slightly excited because that meant we could finally be reunited. He had tested positive several days after our arrival in isolation & would have to stay even longer, but now that I could not leave, their rule of us staying separate was no longer a requirement. (Before I got word of my weeklong extension, when Jamie tested positive, COVID authority said that even though we were BOTH positive, we could not isolate together because I would have to stay the additional 1.5 weeks with him if I did? We never understood why.)
But even though I was glad to see my husband again, I was supposed to be going home & now I was just moving across the hall for my FOURTH week of quarantine.
Defeated
The first day was spent in a daze. DEFEATED was the word that described how I felt. I didn’t want to hope for anything anymore because I couldn’t handle any more disappointment.
We spent Thanksgiving in our little apartment, with our cat, celebrating with a mounded plate of delicious food, thanks to those same wonderful church friends who had been taking such good care of us through all of this isolation & frustration.
1.5 Weeks Later…
It was a rough month, but today, right now, I am writing to you from my couch in my living room in my house… & I am thinking THANK YOU, GOD.
But maybe not for the reason you may be thinking right now.
Not just Thank You, God for being HOME FINALLY, (but that is definitely part of it—I almost was beginning to think they meant never to let us leave), but also because of all the many blessings He has brought me during this rough month of November.
ALL HE HAS PROVIDED!
He provided someone willing to rush over a mattress topper to give me comfortable sleep.
He provided friends who rushed to fulfill our every need when we couldn’t take care of it ourselves.
He gave me a birthday filled with love from friends & even unexpected people.
He provided generous friends who brought us a bountiful Thanksgiving meal & even a centerpiece to liven up the place.
He provided us a 9th floor view of amazing sunsets over Misawa.
He provided approval to have my cat as my companion, where he normally sleeps in his own space, he spent every night cuddled against my legs on the bed & every day snuggled next to me on the couch.
He provided video calls/technology to help me stay connected when I was all alone.
He provided PEACE when I felt peace was ABSOLUTELY IMPOSSIBLE.
God PROVIDES.
Memories Better Than Expected
Was it fun? Nope. Would I repeat it? No.
But I will leave it behind me with much fonder memories than I ever expected I could. Memories of kindness, generosity, unexpected love, & a peace that made absolutely no sense in the midst of some very tough days.
And on those days when I was so upset & anxious & frustrated & alone & tired & aching & sleepless, when I cried out to God… He showed up EVERY time by filling me with HIS PEACE, letting me know He’s got me & He’s got everything under control.
Take Those Cries to God
My call to you is this: Maybe you didn’t miss out on the entire month of November, get COVID, or get isolated from even your husband, or maybe your month has been EVEN WORSE… but whatever the case, take those cries to God.
Because, when things seem impossible… things such as peace & HOPE… God is master of the impossible. He is King of kings, Lord of lords, Creator, Redeemer, Beginning, & the End, All-Knowing, All-Present, All-Understanding, All-Wise, Sovereign, LOVING GOD.
CRY. OUT. TO. HIM.
He is worth it every freakin’ time!
Shine HOPE by turning to Him when all seems hopeless & lost, letting Him be the hope that fills your heart when you feel you have none.
He’s got you, babe. He’s got you.
Now… it’s time for me to go sigh a HUGE sigh of relief, because you know what? I’m HOME! Praise God!
Coming Next Week
Join me every Monday morning, EST, for more encouragement.
As God grows me, may it encourage you to seek Him & know Him & love Him more every day.
Share with friends & Subscribe by Joining My Tribe, so you never miss a week.
A Note from Michelle:
This blog/website has been running for over TWO years now! THANK YOU for your continued support & encouragement. <3
If you would like to hear more of my story, check out the “About Me” page. And if you would like to hear how I found my lasting source of HOPE, read the “Hope Is Found” page, on this site. I hope they are an encouragement to you! <3
Also, make sure to “Join My Tribe” by adding your email to the top bar & clicking “Join My Tribe”. This gains you access to an extra weekly dose of encouragement from me in your inbox, along with the link to each week’s new post! I can’t wait to do this journey together!!
Fashion as a Force for GOOD:
Each week, I feature an item that is changing lives for women around the world. These hand-crafted pieces are offering job creation opportunities for women artisans in impoverished nations all around the world! Check out this week’s featured beauty!!
Radiant Necklace Set
Fashion as a force for GOOD! This 3-Piece Radiant Necklace Set (only 1 shown) is a great way to empower women in India to rise out of poverty!!
On-trend set of 3 layered necklaces(only ONE shown) that can be worn together or separately, featuring a labradorite stone, hammered discs, & a *blue topaz crystal drop*.
Artisan Information:
In India, poverty is rampant & fair working conditions are hard to find. Every purchase provides women with income, access to healthcare, education for their children, & care for elderly family members. Many of these artisans have been exploited by sweatshops in the past but are now receiving fair wages as artisans in safe & caring fair-trade workshops.
Purchase this piece & empower a woman in India!
How You Can Help:
SHOP Here, OR, Email me at michellehyde.tradesofhope@gmail.com with any questions, & I will message you personally with more information!! Thank you for inspiring HOPE around the world, Lovely!
Have you ever stopped to consider just how little we deserve grace?
I know it’s hard for me to consider this fact because it is so easy to only consider my intentions & to always try to look at myself in a more positive light.
Pretty Good on the Outside, But…
When I was young, I got pretty good at keeping up appearances & trying to be the golden child who knew all the right answers. I still thrive on praise & once I figured that out, it became my goal to have people like me.
I thought being “good” was enough.
And even now, as an adult, I find it easy to consider the few accolades I receive & just bury the negative aspects of myself, pretending they don’t exist.
God Sees & God Knows
But those negative things about me do exist. And God sees every selfish decision, every refusal to run to Him for help, thus doing it my way, the wrong way. God sees it all. Every secret & every blemish that I try so hard to act as if it doesn’t exist.
Until I Face Hardship… Then It REALLY Shows
But when I am faced with something difficult, frustrating, &/or painful, those negative sides of me seem to shine beyond anything I can hide from myself.
Satan used to convince me that those less-than-appealing moments meant that I wasn’t really saved by God’s grace… that I obviously didn’t prove myself good enough.
But over the years of struggling through those fears & accusations, God has encouraged me with one very beautiful fact… Thank God, God’s grace is for everyone. And it’s NOT based on ME.
I Am NOT Good Enough… & Yet…
Me, even me, in all of my mess, a girl who could never earn the grace God offers, is offered it all the same.
You see, there is actually NOTHING I can do to earn it. Even in all of my good intentions, focusing hard on the accolades I receive & focusing just as hard on ignoring or justifying the not-so-pretty parts… I cannot even begin to earn it. And neither can you.
And that, Beautiful, is the most magnificently, spectacularly amazing fact that we can cling to in our darkest moments. We CAN’T earn it!
In the Beginning… God KNEW
Going back to before time began, God planned & designed humanity, the world, & all that is in it. And in that plan, before creation began, He KNEW we would betray Him, rebel, & have those negative aspects hidden from the world. He KNEW.
And yet, instead of saying, “You know what—they’re not worth it,” INSTEAD, He said, “So God created mankind in His own image. In the image of God, He created them; male & female He created them.” (Genesis 1:27) & “For God SO LOVED the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him will not perish, but have everlasting LIFE.” (John 3:16)
He had a plan. A plan for our rescue. A plan for our redemption.
A plan of GRACE.
He Knew… He Planned… HE Rescued
“But God proves His love for us in that WHILE we were still sinners, Christ died FOR us.” (Romans 5:8) (Emphasis mine.)
He knew I would be this way, with my stubborn, selfish attitude, bent on gaining praise & maintaining comfort. He knew where my personal struggles would be.
And YET, He sent Jesus for me. And for YOU.
When I Tested Positive
I know, for me, it’s easy to forget all of this stuff about God’s grace. It’s easy to take for granted this beautiful gift.
And then, when I return from a trip, destined for 2 weeks of required home quarantine before getting covid-19 tested on day 10, only to then test positive & immediately get forced out of my home, away from my husband, into an isolation tower for an extra week… only to arrive at the end of my quarantine, waiting for the call that I am authorized for the release, all packed & ready to head home finally… to be told they made a mistake & decided to keep me ANOTHER EXTRA week in isolation (this time allowing me to actually be with my husband, just unable to ever leave our isolation apartment)…. After ALL of that, I spent my first day of our FOURTH isolation week in a complete feeling of just plain DEFEAT.
I cried before even calling my husband with the news, knowing we would be excited to finally see each other again, but also knowing I was meant to be on my way HOME & able to cook & take care of the both of us without relying on the generous kindness of our friends. (THANK YOU, FRIENDS!!!!)
Defeated
And I did NOT feel gracious. I felt bitter.
I felt defeated.
I stayed in bed most of that first day of my fourth week, having just moved, NOT home, but next door to where my husband was isolated (he tested positive a week after I did), in shock that my “guaranteed” release was really not so guaranteed after all. I felt too defeated to try to pass time pleasantly.
I just wanted to sleep the next week away, sedated, numb, & unaware that I was still STUCK there.
I Knew God Could Help Me… But I Didn’t WANT It
And in those moments of wretched bitterness & just numb lack of care about anything… I knew I could turn to God. I KNEW He could help me.
But I didn’t WANT it. I WANTED to feel bitter & angry, as if this whole mess of a process DESERVED my bitterness.
I wanted to write angry letters & be rude & give them a piece of my mind for tossing about my hope & kicking it to the curb. I was MAD. And TIRED of the whole mess.
My Weaknesses Awaken My Awareness of God’s GRACE
And I knew in my heart that I was behaving with a terrible attitude & refusing God, turning my back on Him in my anger.
And eventually, my heart began to ache in recognizing my own stubborn selfishness. My heart began to recall the lavished grace of God in contrast to me spitting my stubborn anger back at Him.
And God’s GRACE began to trickle into my heart like a shining beacon of HOPE. That even when I deserve it LEAST. Even when I am stubborn & rude. EVEN when I INSIST on a nasty attitude toward someone… And even though God sees it ALL…. There is His grace.
Not I, But CHRIST
He didn’t ask me to prove myself. He didn’t ask me to be perfect first. He didn’t ask me to show a good enough track record. He didn’t even give me a single chance at any of that… because HE HAD ALREADY PAID FOR IT IN FULL.
He didn’t shame me for my shameful behavior, He just whispered His grace into my restless, frustrated heart, reminding my hurting heart of His great love for me in the midst of my aching, pained frustration.
That’s how much He loves me. And YOU.
God Loves Us, Even At Our Worst… & Even Our Worst Enemy
And that’s why He asks us to extend grace, UNDESERVED GRACE, to others, too. Because He wants us to remember that THAT is how much He loves every single human being on earth today, eternity past, & eternity future.
But not only does He GIVE us grace… & not only does He ask us to remember His great love for every person, meaning He wishes US to extend grace to THEM… BUT, He ALSO offers His help to do it.
Guys, this blows my mind.
God’s Love Isn’t Limited by How Much We “Deserve” It
When I am filled with anger & resentment & frustration & I am stubbornly clinging to it, unwilling to relinquish my feelings toward those who wrong or hurt me… I can ASK God to help me give grace.
Because God loves that person, too.
Because God loves me.
God Cares for Us
And sitting in my room, cross-legged on my impossibly hard mattress in my isolation tower for the FOURTH week of isolation from the outside world, hands in my lap, staring blankly at the wall in defeat… I hear that whisper across my heart, “Give them grace, Michelle. And ask Me for help because I will help you do what feels impossible to you right now.”
And after hours of fighting against that whisper, stubbornly wanting to cling to my bitterness… I sigh. I release the wall I was building… And I ask Him to help me get through & to help me be gracious in my frustrating situation.
And He did.
Again… Not I, But Christ
I am by NO means the one you need. I can’t offer you any hope. I am just a person, frail & flawed like you.
But God is higher than me. He is greater than you.
It’s not about the bad or wrong you’ve done… the past you regret or hide… or about any of the negatives you try to justify or cover up in yourself.
It’s not about good you’ve done… the accolades & praise you get… or about anything you try to shine relentlessly to prove yourself.
Jesus Paid It All… All to Him I Owe
It’s about a Man, God in flesh, whose plan ALL ALONG was to provide our rescue & redemption. A free gift bought with His life… that He offered willingly to save you.
It’s about a Man named JESUS CHRIST & how He resurrected after death, claiming victory over both our SIN & the despair of death.
It’s about Jesus offering His nail-pierced hands to us & saying, “For God so loved the world [that means YOU] SO MUCH that He sent [Me-Jesus Christ], His only begotten Son, to die willingly on your behalf (while you were still a sinner) that if you but BELIEVE on Me, you will not live a life of death, but will live life abundantly & with a promise of abundant life everlasting.” (Paraphrase. See John 3:16, Romans 5:8, John 10:10, & Matthew 16:25)
Thank God, God’s Grace Is for Everyone!
This is a call to remember that God’s grace is for everyone.
God’s grace is for me.
God’s grace is for you.
And God’s grace is even for the person(s) you feel are LEAST deserving… Because God loves them, too.
God’s Got Me
Humble yourself before His GREAT love for you. Extend that same great love to others. And ask for God’s help in living for Him, His way, trusting Him EVERY step of the way—even if you get stuck in isolation with Covid for FOUR weeks, to include your birthday & Thanksgiving.
God has a plan. Even in that. And I will yet praise Him because I know He’s got me.
And I will take that deep sigh… & ask God to help me release the bitterness & embrace GRACE.
Shine hope by receiving God’s grace & extending it to others (with God’s help, of course), darling. It’s totally worth it.
Coming Next Week
Join me every Monday morning, EST, for more encouragement.
As God grows me, may it encourage you to seek Him & know Him & love Him more every day.
Share with friends & Subscribe by Joining My Tribe, so you never miss a week.
A Note from Michelle:
This blog/website has been running for over TWO years now! THANK YOU for your continued support & encouragement. <3
If you would like to hear more of my story, check out the “About Me” page. And if you would like to hear how I found my lasting source of HOPE, read the “Hope Is Found” page, on this site. I hope they are an encouragement to you! <3
Also, make sure to “Join My Tribe” by adding your email to the top bar & clicking “Join My Tribe”. This gains you access to an extra weekly dose of encouragement from me in your inbox, along with the link to each week’s new post! I can’t wait to do this journey together!!
Fashion as a Force for GOOD:
Each week, I feature an item that is changing lives for women around the world. These hand-crafted pieces are offering job creation opportunities for women artisans in impoverished nations all around the world! Check out this week’s featured beauty!!
Mirage Earrings
Fashion as a Force for GOOD! Check out these gorgeous Mirage Earrings from Asia & the Black Friday deals just released!!
With just a touch of glimmer these earrings are fun and easy to wear.
Artisan Information:
In Asia, poverty leads many women to being sexually exploited in brothels. These women want to provide for their families but have so few options. Through your purchase, women are being rescued from these brothels & rehabilitated. Holistic care is given to these women, including a shelter, job training, healthcare, counseling, & educational grants for artisans & their children. You can help these women experience restoration for their future!
How You Can Help:
SHOP Here, OR, Email me at michellehyde.tradesofhope@gmail.com with any questions, & I will message you personally with more information!! Thank you for inspiring HOPE around the world, Lovely!
Some of you, like I would have, will read the title of this post & immediately say to yourself, “Jesus, of course!”
But, do our actions say we trust Jesus? Or morality/religion?
I grew up in the church. I was taught all the right things to do & to say. I knew the stereotypical answer to every question was ‘JESUS.’
And even though I understood at a young age that I did bad things sometimes (like lie or hit my sister), that those actions separated me from God & made Him unhappy… & that Jesus took my punishment on Himself so that I could be forgiven… I still grew up with a sense of morality guiding my actions, versus trusting in God, through Jesus.
What’s Your Motivator?
Have you ever felt condemnation leading your decisions? Like you didn’t want to make God angry when you messed up, so you did ______________ to help you overcome the shame or guilt you felt?
Or, maybe you felt like as long as you tried to make “good” choices, that’s all God really cared about & you went about making your own decisions & leading your own life your own way, as long as you felt like a good person while doing it?
There are often so many ways that this sometimes subconscious morality motivator has permeated the way that we live life.
Subtle… Subconscious… But So True
So often I didn’t even realize that I was letting morality guide my decisions more than I was actually letting GOD lead my life.
Do you do that, too? Can you think of some examples of this in your own life?
God has really been waking me up to the fact that I do this far too often.
I am often subconsciously letting religion/morality guide me rather than a humble surrender to God, through Jesus… rather than a loving trust in a God who loves us SO much & who is also perfectly reliable, trustworthy, wise, powerful, strong, knowledgeable, etc.!
What Jesus Did Was ENOUGH
Jesus already paid my debt. In full. Forever. I have a zero balance to what I owe God (& good thing, too, because I could never even get close to repaying Him).
I don’t owe God anything. Jesus’ sacrifice was sufficient.
“BUT WAIT,” you might think to yourself, “that doesn’t justify doing wrong & it doesn’t mean you can just live however you want & dishonor God just because your debt is paid!” Exactly right.
But my hope in this post is to bring to light where our motivations are in living a life that honors God.
Ask Yourself These Questions
Are you trying to be good enough for Him?
NO NEED. God loves us so fully & completely that nothing can separate us from it nor diminish it, even at our very absolute worst.
2. Are you trying to earn God’s grace?
NO NEED. Jesus paid the debt we owe for our sinful, selfish choices. PAID IN FULL. As long as we accept Jesus’ sacrificial gift on our behalf & place our trust in Him as our hope (rather than ourselves or our ‘good’ actions), then we’re all set there.
3. Are you exhaustively trying to keep an image of perfection?
NO NEED. We need to be pointing to Jesus as our hope IN our human imperfections & limitations.
Human perfection is unattainable. We ALL struggle. We ALL get it wrong sometimes. We ALL make mistakes. We ALL need grace. We ALL need God’s wisdom, strength, comfort, peace, love, grace, hope, courage, power, help, etc. EVERY DAY.
Our weaknesses… HIS GLORY. Don’t live to prove you have it all together. Live honestly in all your human weakness, pointing to & leaning into God every step of the way. Make it all about what HE can do, rather than what YOU can do.
Don’t Get It Twisted
I want to pause to point out how I HUGELY misunderstood Question 3 above.
I thought that BECAUSE I was a Christian, I SHOULD be able to be perfect.
What I didn’t then realize, was that my NEED for Him does not end at salvation(accepting Jesus’ payment for my sins).
Don’t ever think that when the Bible tells us God has given us all we need in order to follow Him well, that we don’t need HIM for & through it all!
You don’t become God when you become a Christian… you just gain full access to His resources. So, don’t neglect to ask for His help!
A Grateful Trust
Those reasons stated in the questions I listed above are NOT the right motivators to live righteously(righteousness is trying to please God & living the way He says is best, in the Bible).
BUT, if we look at those “NO NEED” reasons I just mentioned & instead are living out of GRATEFUL TRUST in our great, loving God, THEN we’re getting it right.
Do You Trust Morality… Or Jesus?
So, where are your motivations? Will you let yourself be honest with YOU & with God? Do you trust morality… or Jesus?
Are you trying to measure up? Are you trying to earn God’s forgiveness/grace? Are you trying to put on a perfect façade so others think you’re doing a good enough job as a Christian?
Or, are you trusting God’s love for you… trusting Jesus’ grace for you… & pointing to Him as your true source of HOPE?
Ask Him Where You’re Not Sure
And if you, like I did for SO LONG, question whether God really does love you that much or how much exactly you could entrust to God or in being vulnerable in pointing to GOD as your hope… ASK GOD for help in even helping you to trust what God says/knows about it.
My Prayer:
Start there. Bow your heart & say something like:
“God, I believe, somehow I believe… but help my unbelief. Help me trust that You really do love me that much. I don’t see it sometimes… I mess up too much & I was so stubborn & rebellious & self-centered & wise-in-my-own-eyes, not trusting You. I STILL struggle sometimes to trust You over myself as my first instinct. So, help me! And Lord, help me to trust Your GRACE. I don’t have to add to it or deserve it. Grace is, by definition, UNDESERVED… & yet You still, though it be undeserved, gave it & offered it to me. Help me to rest in that… to have peace in Your power to overcome my worst & forgive it all & to help me be better step by step. And help me to not make following You about how good I AM as a follower, but rather how inept & foolish & selfish & weak I am in light of how GREAT & AWESOME & INFINITE & LOVING You are. Help me point to You in every weakness, every insecurity, every fear, every doubt, every worry, every stress, every mistake, every shame… we’re all in this together, all making mistakes… so help me to be real & honest with my journey to others so that they can more clearly see YOU, not me. YOU are the hope I should be pointing to in everything. Help me be okay showing my weakness for Your glory. And help me to lean into You through everything… to seek to please You with my life out of gratitude for Your grace. And help me to TRUST You enough to do life YOUR way & to ask You to guide me in it & to help me through it every step because You know I fail often. So, HELP ME. Thank You that You always make Yourself available to us night or day, any time, anywhere & You never for a moment tire of us nor lack the wisdom, grace, strength, comfort, power, etc. that we seek & request of You. Thank You for being our infinite & gentle, kind, patient, & LOVING God. I love You. Help me to know & love You more every day. AMEN.”
Amen & amen.
Check Your Motivators & Shine HOPE
Shine Hope by trusting His love for you(& asking for His help in trusting it if you don’t trust it), by trusting His grace (Jesus paid it ALL), & by living with your heart on your sleeves… Not trying to be perfect, but pointing to the One who IS—Jesus Christ, our only true & real HOPE. Shine HIM. <3
Coming Next Week
Join me every Monday morning, EST, for more encouragement.
As God grows me, may it encourage you to seek Him & know Him & love Him more every day.
Share with friends & Subscribe by Joining My Tribe, so you never miss a week!
A Note from Michelle:
This blog/website has been running for TWO years now! THANK YOU for your continued support & encouragement. <3
If you would like to hear more of my story, check out the “About Me” page. And if you would like to hear how I found my lasting source of HOPE, read the “Hope Is Found” page, on this site. I hope they are an encouragement to you! <3
Also, make sure to “Join My Tribe” by adding your email to the top bar & clicking “Join My Tribe”. This gains you access to an extra weekly dose of encouragement from me in your inbox, along with the link to each week’s new post! I can’t wait to do this journey together!!
Fashion as a Force for GOOD:
Each week, I feature an item that is changing lives for women around the world. These hand-crafted pieces are offering job creation opportunities for women artisans in impoverished nations all around the world! Check out this week’s featured beauty!!
Mirage Earrings
Fashion as a Force for Good! Empower women in Asia out of poverty with these beautiful Mirage Earrings!
With just a touch of glimmer these earrings are fun & easy to wear.
Artisan Information:
In Asia, poverty leads many women to being sexually exploited in brothels. These women want to provide for their families but have so few options. Through your purchase, women are being rescued from these brothels & rehabilitated. Holistic care is given to these women, including a shelter, job training, healthcare, counseling, & educational grants for artisans & their children. You can help these women experience restoration for their future!
How You Can Help:
SHOP Here, OR, Email me at michellehyde.tradesofhope@gmail.com with any questions, & I will message you personally with more information!! Thank you for inspiring HOPE around the world, Lovely!
I have a lot of stuff floating around my mind today. I have a big case of the, “I don’t wanna.”
Have you ever had days where you just can’t seem to sit down & concentrate on one thing? Because that’s totally me today.
Today has been a game of, “how long can I put off sitting down to write my blog, because I just can’t seem to sort out my thoughts & sit still for more than a few minutes at a time.”
But here I am, so that’s a start…?
Wanting to Blend In
Writing my blog these last two years has taken me on a crazy ride.
When I first started, I was afraid of not being a blend-in-able nobody.
I was basically afraid of facing the critical & harsh world of online/social media. I am most likely never going to be completely over this, I imagine, because one of my “love languages” is affirmation & while that means I flourish when others believe in me, negative responses make me want to quit.
I just pray about this & know that if/when it happens, I will just need to cling to God & step forward with His help, because this girl won’t make it far otherwise. (Good thing God is big enough for the both of us, huh?)
A Voice in the Wind
After praying over this anxiety & asking God to help me trust Him more than my fears, the blog began… & so did other, new worries.
Not too long after beginning my blog, Satan tried scaring me away from shining for Christ by making me feel like a voice in the wind.
I had such passion & excitement, mixed with diligent planning, praying, & preparations, to share my heart & point to Jesus’ hope in everything I talked about… but no one seemed to care one single bit.
It was pure crickets.
I felt alone. I felt my efforts were wasted. I felt my voice simply echoed over empty rooms.
He Is SO Worth It
But again, God is always ready to use faced trials in our obedience to follow His lead as an opportunity to teach & grow me & that, sister, is exactly what He did.
God showed me through that LONG time of silence a lesson about priorities.
Was my priority in being heard or in showing up in obedience to Jesus Christ whether I felt heard or not, shining a light of hope in Him no matter who noticed? Was my goal recognition or putting God’s glory first regardless?
Even If Just the Background Noise
It was through that wasteland of cricket responses that I learned that not everyone who notices will say so, but I should show up & point to Jesus Christ anyway.
It was through that wasteland that I learned that even if NO ONE was paying attention, silent or not, it was worth showing up for Jesus.
Even if to others I was just background noise that sang the praises of my Father God, I was willing to show up & keep being that background noise that always pointed to Him as my hope.
It wasn’t about me. It was about Him.
Growing Pains Lead to Growth
But, of course, the lessons didn’t stop there.
Next, after growing in understanding my need to turn to God in my fears & after licking my wounds of feeling invisible in my efforts & exchanging that perspective to just show up & point to Him anyway… Next came a new fear: Never feeling like I had anything important to say.
Satan keeps on coming & God keeps on using it to make my trust in God even stronger. Take that, Satan!
You can probably guess that God ALSO used this insecurity to grow me… He did. He’s always with me.
Not How Great I Am
It’s easy to look at my mistakes, my failures, my insecurities, my awkwardness (this one is a big one, y’all), my PAST, my lacking, my insufficiencies, my everything-that-is-less-than-perfect-about-me… & think to myself & to God, “God, are You kidding me? I canNOT do this! I mean, LOOK at me!? I am not worthy to be a voice for You. I am not good enough to stand up & shout Your glory. I will screw it up… completely. I am too imperfect for this. I can’t.”
But God’s voice comes as a gentle reminder over my heart, “I made you. I don’t make mistakes. You’re human & you’re limited, yes… But I am Almighty AND I love you beyond your comprehension. I will help you. I don’t need you to be perfect. I just need you to show up for Me & let Me work through it. Your flaws, My glory. Just show up. Lean into Me, let Me strengthen you, let Me lead, & just show up. The world needs more people willing to be a shining light of hope in the darkness of sin & despair. I am that hope. So, just show up & shine & let Me do the rest.”
Just SHOW UP
And so, I come each week, knowing some weeks I probably sound like a rambling baboon.
But I show up. Because He’s worth showing up for.
God’s Not Done with Me Yet…
And finally, there are days like today, that have been showing up more & more frequently & consistently lately—Not being able to sit still or concentrate & then procrastinating REAL hard as a result.
And, looking back at God’s track record above, through the struggles on my now 2-year journey with this blog (not to mention every other trial I have turned to Him with in my life), I am pretty confident that God has a plan in this struggle as well.
He’s Always with Me… & You
So, I turn to Him in it. I lay down my grief & whining & dragging of my feet. I open up honestly to Him about my cases of, “I don’t wannas.” And I ask for His help… for Him to speak to someone, anyone, even if just one person, through my chaotic mess of thoughts as I sit to write.
And hopefully that’s you. Hopefully this encourages you to take every struggle, every trial, every “I don’t wanna” to HIM & ask for His help through every one of them.
I Pray for EASY
Do I often wish & ask God to make it easier, with less struggle & trial on this blog journey? YES.
But then I would be even more tempted to stop relying on Him & start relying more on myself.
Relying on myself NEVER ends well.
So, I will forever be grateful for the trials that remind me of my GREAT weakness & His GREAT willingness to help me every step of the way.
God Is Infinite… With Infinite Love for Us
Satan may have a slew of tactics to keep us silent, make us want to quit, & distract us away from shining for Jesus… BUT, God is INFINITELY bigger AND opens His doors wide for our EVERY petition & request.
NO request is too small. He is infinite.
NO request is too big. He is infinite.
NO request is too hard. He is infinite.
NO request is too inconvenient. He is infinite.
NO request is too silly or “inconsequential”. He is infinite.
Ask Him… No Matter WHAT Your Struggle Is… Just ASK HIM
JUST ASK HIM. Be honest & raw & real about your heart & your screw ups & your “I don’t wannas” & go ahead & ASK HIM FOR HIS HELP.
Shine Hope by taking your messes to our infinite, almighty, loving God & by asking Him for His help through every single one.
He is infinite AND He loves you, Beautiful.
(Done writing with 3 hours left before my deadline… not including the need to do editing, graphics, & my Join My Tribe emails… Boy, I cannot WAIT until the time change hits again, because then it will give me an extra hour I can procrastinate each week, haha. (We don’t have daylight savings time in Japan.) But maybe I should pray through that, too.) 😉
Coming Next Week
Join me every Monday morning, EST, for more encouragement.
As God grows me, may it encourage you to seek Him & know Him & love Him more every day.
Share with friends & Subscribe by Joining My Tribe, so you never miss a week!
A Note from Michelle:
This blog/website has been running for TWO years now! THANK YOU for your continued support & encouragement. <3
If you would like to hear more of my story, check out the “About Me” page. And if you would like to hear how I found my lasting source of HOPE, read the “Hope Is Found” page, on this site. I hope they are an encouragement to you! <3
Also, make sure to “Join My Tribe” by adding your email to the top bar & clicking “Join My Tribe”. This gains you access to an extra weekly dose of encouragement from me in your inbox, along with the link to each week’s new post! I can’t wait to do this journey together!!
Fashion as a Force for GOOD:
Each week, I feature an item that is changing lives for women around the world. These hand-crafted pieces are offering job creation opportunities for women artisans in impoverished nations all around the world! Check out this week’s featured beauty!!
Radiant Necklace Set
Fashion as a force for GOOD: Empower Women Out of Poverty with this beautiful Radiant Necklace Set (1 of 3 shown) from India & these Mirage Earrings from Asia!
On-trend set of 3 layered necklaces(only 1 shown) that can be worn together or separately, featuring a labradorite stone, hammered discs, and a blue topaz crystal drop.
Artisan Information:
In India, poverty is rampant & fair working conditions are hard to find. Every purchase provides women with income, access to healthcare, education for their children, & care for elderly family members. Many of these artisans have been exploited by sweatshops in the past but are now receiving fair wages as artisans in safe & caring fair-trade workshops.
Purchase this piece & empower a woman in India!
How You Can Help:
SHOP Here, OR, Email me at michellehyde.tradesofhope@gmail.com with any questions, & I will message you personally with more information!! Thank you for inspiring HOPE around the world, Lovely!
