Avoiding the Pendulum Swing

I understand why it’s done… we don’t want to encourage Christians to become complacent or lazy or prone to inaction, believing that it’s up to God, so why bother….

But like most everything else, we need to be careful not to let the pendulum swing to the complete opposite, to the equally harmful & damaging side… “it’s all up to us.”

It makes sense where these conclusions can be drawn… the 10 commandments, for example… or basically any command you may read in the Bible, for that matter. On the surface, this very much looks like God is clearly saying, “it is all up to you—do better.”

BUT… upon closer inspection, we see that EVEN with the 10 commandments… God knew we still needed Him to step in… We needed JESUS.

You see, a really truly awesome thing about God is, that while He sends us forth & gives us commands to follow & obey… He ALSO does the empowering to make it happen–He doesn’t leave that part up to us.

Not Just DO… Pray

Now, this is not an “I’ll just sit back & wait for God to make it happen,” type situation, nor is it a, “well, God has already given me all I need so I ought to be able to do it just fine without help.”

Consider all of the MANY verses that urge us to pray… pray without ceasing even (1 Thessalonians 5:17). (Read more about how to pray without ceasing, here: “Pray Continually-What Does Prayer Actually Accomplish?”) Even the armor of God that we talked about over the last 2 weeks (Part 1 & Part 2) mentions this at the end of the armor piece descriptions: “praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit,” (Ephesians 6:10-18).

It is a bowing to that power. It is a recognizing the availability of that power. It is an acknowledging that if God leads me to it, HE WILL lead me through it.

I don’t have to “be a better Christian.” I have to be a more-surrendered-to-His-power Christian.

Urge a Surrendered-to-His-Power DOING

When we urge Christians to do better or be better or live better or desire better or “whatever” better… we CANNOT neglect the power of God in that equation.

It ought to be taught as a “do this! … AND trust God through prayer to help make it happen.”

I understand that if you grew up in the church or you went to seminary, that could possibly seem too elementarily “duh” to you, but please be careful not to place the burdensome weight of that DOING on fellow Christians. Urge a surrendered-to-His-power-IN-the-DOING type of walk with God. A surrendered life… not just to do, but to will.

“… for it is GOD who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.” (Philippians 2:13) (emphasis mine)

It’s a trusting in His power as the empowerment behind our actions that makes it possible for us to carry them through as we ought.

Teach hearts to trust HIS power, NOT theirs. HIS work… NOT theirs.

God Can Work Amazing Things with Willing Hearts

I literally can’t help but cringe when I hear someone urging others to get involved while also neglecting to teach them HOW… & I don’t mean “how” as in WHERE, but that they don’t have to know all of what they’re doing, feel comfortable, feel capable, feel they have the time–NOTHING.

They LITERALLY JUST HAVE TO BE WILLING. God can do AMAZING things with WILLING hearts. Don’t have time? God will help give you time. Don’t have the energy? God will supply that. Don’t have the capacity? God will increase your capacity or show you something that works where you’re at. You LITERALLY just have to be WILLING & rely on HIM. That’s it.

The POWER of Prayer

A great example of this is something I learned from Andrew Murray through his book on PRAYER. He emphasizes that Christians get burnt out so often because they try & try & fail & try & fail… but that we ought to teach Christians to instead depend on & turn to God for help in the doing so that we may continue in the doing. (Find more information on this book within my website Recommendations tab, in the “BOOKS” section, here.)

This led to a whole game changer with Bible reading for me. Distractions, unexpected things, headaches, tiredness, boredom, rebelliousness… so many things kept swerving me off the path of consistent Bible reading… but after I read Andrew Murray’s book, everything changed….

It became instead, not a “try to do it better this time” but rather a, “God, I can’t do this. It’s too hard. I need Your help. I know that this honors You, so I want to do it & because it honors You, I know I can count on Your power to help me through it, so please help me now.”

WOW. I didn’t pray that determining to come back later when I “felt the prayer kick in.” No, I would pray & then immediately read, trusting God’s power WOULD INDEED help me where I lacked. And it did. EVERY time.

Don’t Neglect the Power of God

So, whether it be armoring up, as we have been talking about recently, or following the 10 commandments out of respect & trust in God’s ways above our own… or in anything God calls us to do…. DON’T NEGLECT THE POWER OF GOD.

Don’t willpower your way through it.

Don’t beat yourself through shame to get yourself to do it.

Don’t run away from it, avoid it, or give up altogether.

PRAY & trust that God supplies where you lack. God can where you can’t. God is able where you are insufficient. GOD CAN. So lean into Him & ask for Him to help… & trust that if it honors Him, pleases Him, & gives Him glory—He WILL indeed help.

Shine HOPE by living a leaning-on-Him lifestyle of obedience to Him… letting everything you do be for the glory of God… by the power of God.

Coming Next Week

Join me every Monday morning, EST, for more encouragement right here on my blog/website @ www.MichelleHydeOnline.com.

Share with friends & family… & SUBSCRIBE by “Joining My Tribe,” so you never miss a week!

As God grows me, may it encourage you to seek Him & know Him & love Him more every day.

A Note from Michelle:

(***Check out my FREE Journal Printable Resources: “Accountability Partner Guide + Question Prompts” & “Bible Study Question Prompts ,” as well as “Prayers of Surrender” prayer guides!***)

This blog/website has been running for SIX 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!!

Capiz Leaf Earrings (PHILIPPINES)

The Capiz Leaf Earrings create safe jobs with fair wages for women in areas of extreme poverty in the Philippines. These elegant eco-friendly earrings feature ethically sourced, sustainable, capiz shells that local families harvest from the bottom of the sea surrounding the Philippine islands. Artisans handcraft these natural capiz shells into toasted champagne-colored leaf shapes.

***Purchase these handcrafted Capiz Leaf Earrings, using the “SHOP HERE” link below, to empower women in the Philippines out of poverty!***

How You Can Help the Artisans & Support My Website:

#1 is PRAY. Financial help is great & helps pay my website fees & helps support these women artisans… but God’s help is always needed most… both for encouragement & for spiritual hope, through Jesus, for the women we support through our ethical fashion purchases. Always PRAY first.

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

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

Love ya lots! Have a wonderful week living for His glory in all that you do!

Church or Christian Country Club?

I noticed this a couple decades ago & now even more so, but in a country that was once known as a Christian nation, it has seemed that, even in my youth, church is oftentimes more about attending because that’s how we grew up or in order to be a “good Christian,” rather than any particular personal investment or much heart surrender on the part of many whose lives I observed outside of church.

It has also seemed, in many churches I witnessed through the years, church has been treated as more of a Christian country club rather than a body of believers submitted to & serving Jesus Christ—a place to feel good rather than a place of humble sacrifice to Him.

Do we get encouragement at church? Yes, of course. But that ought not be its main function… to FEEL good.

This mindset is often evident in arguments within the church about music taste or carpet colors or other inconsequential things.

Church is not about focusing on us & our comfort & our feelings. Church is about coming together to worship the God Whom we serve, He Who made heaven & earth & all that is in it. It is about bowing our lives to Him to be used as He pleases, even if uncomfortable or lacking “fun.” It is to glorify HIM & make HIM known & seen. It is about learning how to know & love Him better.

A Dangerous Shift in Thinking

How does this sort of thing happen? Where church becomes more about an emotional high & a social gathering rather than serving & submitting to God Almighty?

Well, another deficit I have witnessed is the alarming lack of personal discipleship… aka walking alongside each other in life, pointing one another continually to God’s Truth & the hope we have because of Jesus, resetting our compass to always point to Him & His Word (the Bible), living our lives, whether we eat or drink or whatever we do… doing it ALL for the glory of God. (1 Corinthians 10:31)

That is NOT natural.

It is definitely not natural for me! I mean, sure, there are times where it seems to come more effortlessly. But it is far too easy for me to stray & live for myself instead of for God.

We NEED each other in this regard. We should not neglect the importance & great value of discipleship. Discipleship ought to be a heavy focus in every church as we all seek how we may better please & honor God with the entirety of our lives versus just Sunay mornings & praying before meals.

Pour into the Lives of Others!

I think one of the big LIES satan has infused into much western Christian culture thinking is the fact that you must be a Bible scholar or ministry major or church leadership to be involved in discipleship. This is NOT the case.

God is talking to ALL of us when He commands us to “GO & MAKE DISCIPLES of all nations.” (Matthew 28:19-20) The Bible ALSO says that the older women ought to teach the younger women. (Titus 2:3-5)

We need each other. We ought to be growing so that we may invest in the growth of women younger than us—AKA discipleship.

The Bible says that iron sharpens iron… (Proverbs 27:17) that everything we say ought to be for the edification (building up) of those who hear it. (Ephesians 4:29)

We need each other. We need constant reminders to reset course to always be seeking Jesus, to know & love Him more.

We All Need Focus Resets Sometimes, Don’t We?

If you see me wearing shirts with Bible verses or listening to worship music or bringing up spiritual things in “non spiritual conversations,” that’s because I need that constant reset of, “oh yeah, HE is what it is all about… not this… not me… HIM.” I NEED that reminder CONSTANTLY.

We really need each other, guys, because it is way too easy to be fooled by the great deceiver—Satan… to be tempted & distracted away, to live for ourselves & our routines & our habits & our responsibilities & our likes & our problems & the many distractions that surround us everywhere, every day.

We need to be watchful, sober-minded, ready, knowing Satan will forever be trying to lure us away from the God Who gave us everything, through Jesus… to doubt Him & to doubt His love for us & to live for ourselves & our own destruction.

We NEED to be prompting each other toward Jesus.

We Need Each Other—The Desperate Need for Discipleship

Maybe you recognize this & you feel like I am “preaching to the choir.” Maybe you are already living to pour into other women & go alongside them in life to encourage them & continually point them back to truth & the hope we have because of Jesus. YAY! Keep at it. It is the most eternally worthwhile investment you will ever make!

Maybe you recognize this is necessary, but you feel you are far from adequate for the task. Well, you are not alone. I don’t feel adequate! But this isn’t an, “I am better than you,” gig. This is an, “I am a fellow weak one in need of grace wanting to learn to live to point back to Him more & more in all things big or small. Seeking always to know & love Him more.”

You may not be “good at it,” but the good thing is that God doesn’t require you to be good at it. He requires that you trust that He fills in where you lack, & for you to just encourage a constant turning to Him as your help. It takes practice. And in your learning, you will encourage someone else to learn as well. Yay!

How to Do It…

Maybe you recognize it’s importance & WANT to obey in this, but you have ZERO idea where to start…. Well, first, I am going to ask you to pray for it… with a willing heart of obedience, sincerely asking God something like, “God, I want to encourage other women toward You, but have no clue with whom or where to even begin. Please guide me & direct my steps. I desire this. In Jesus’ name, Amen.” If you are hesitating because of perceived inadequacy, “God, please forgive me for avoiding it because of my own lack. Help me better trust Your sufficiency. Lead me as I point others to You. In Jesus’ name, AMEN.”

THEN, ask someone. Maybe you feel a little nudge toward a younger lady who seems to crave learning about God & His Word… maybe you notice a young woman who seems a little on the outside, disconnected… maybe it’s someone who just got saved. No matter where we are on our faith “journey,” we ALL need growth & encouragement.

Maybe all it looks like is meeting for coffee, reading a chapter in the Bible & discussing it. Maybe it looks like sitting at a kitchen table & talking about life, looking up verses that speak to what you’re facing, reminding each other of truth when satan would rather you drown in lies or discontentment or fear or whatever. Maybe it looks like having a prayer topic sheet list where you take turns praying over each thing, seeking Him together.

Seeking Him Is Our Greatest Reward

(***If you would like an accountability partner guide that you could use for this, I have produced a free printable download in the resource tab of my website. This is something God encouraged me with when I prayed for help in this area. It is not the “holy grail” of guides, because God knows each individual’s specific needs, but it can provide a starting point as you learn & grow. It’s been helpful to me anyway, so feel free to check it out, download it for free (no strings attached), & use it as you get started. You can find that FREE download, here: www.MichelleHydeOnline.com/abiding-in-Him/***)

What holds you back? Repent of fearing that over trusting God, trust Jesus paid for it, & ask for a way forward, trusting He will provide. Because He will.

Shine HOPE by determining to live a life of consistent discipleship, always pointing others to your hope in 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 SIX years now! THANK YOU for your continued support & encouragement. <3

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

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

Fashion as a Force for GOOD:

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

Sicilian Grove Lumbar Pillow Cover (INDIA

Traditionally block printed, this beautiful bright yellow and deep-green floral Sicilian Grove Pillow Cover is the perfect addition to your summer home decor. Blending ancient Artisan traditions with modern function, women in India handcraft this beautiful block-printed design of birds, pomegranates, and florals.

***Purchase the Sicilian Grove Pillow Cover to create necessary jobs for women in India to rise out of the grip of poverty to impact the lives of their families and their communities.***

How You Can Help:

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

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

A Topic Worth Revisiting

This is something I have definitely talked about before, but because I am currently feeling I need reminders in this area, I thought it would be good to revisit it, even if just for my own sake.

Oh, anger. It’s so easy to justify sometimes, isn’t it? Holding onto it, I mean.

I feel emotions strongly…. I don’t do small emotions. It annoys people sometimes & I get it… it annoys me sometimes, too.

And growing up, I always believed, whether it was implied or told, that “good Christians are not supposed to feel big emotions—especially ‘bad’ ones like anger.”

But telling someone not to feel anger is like telling someone not to feel physical pain when injured… it’s silly, lacks any compassion, & just is not realistic or reasonable. And it is certainly not kind.

Anger just sort of shows up, whether you want it to or not.

Minimizing Wrongs Is Not the Same As Trusting God with It (Read That Again)

Well, I didn’t know how to just not be angry in order to “be a good Christian,” but I felt I had to avoid or deny or stuff feelings if I were to show I “trusted God,” so I would usually cry about it & then convince myself of all the many “reasons to not be mad”:

Like, “I’m sure they didn’t mean it,” or, “they’re probably just having a bad day,” or “they’re a sinner, what do I expect?” Or, “maybe I just deserve it.”

So, what was I doing? I was making excuses FOR their wrong choices. I was JUSTIFYING their wrong choices. I was convincing myself that their wrong choices weren’t all that wrong if I thought hard enough about it.

Wow. NO. Wrong way to deal with it. Don’t do that.

God doesn’t do that (He sent Jesus to DIE for those very wrong choices), (Isaiah 53:3-12) Jesus didn’t do that (He paid for it with His life—WILLINGLY), & even the human authors inspired by God to write the Bible didn’t do that.

So do NOT minimize sin/wrongs in order to manage your anger.

Anger Is Not a Sin… It’s What You DO with Anger That Can Turn It Sinful

Anger is an emotional response to something. It is not a sin. Let me say that again for those who missed it: ANGER is NOT a SIN.

Emotions are not sinful. They are how we were made to feel & connect with the world around us.

The problem comes when we take matters into our own hands. When we determine to HOLD ON to our anger. THAT’S when the red flags start waving & the warning bells start ringing.

Our Anger Is NOT a Valid Excuse for Our Own Sin

I am not endorsing retaliation, vengeance, “them getting what they deserve,” lashing out, bitterness, slander, or any other sinful ways God warns us not to engage in when we’re angry, either. (Read that list here: Colossians 3:8 & Ephesians 4:31-32, even taking a minute to look up what each word actually means, like malice is ill will toward someone & clamor is shouting/making loud noises in anger—taking time to look these up in the dictionary individually will really help that truth settle in your heart.)

So what then? If stuffing it does not prove we “have faith” & reacting the way we often feel like reacting is sin against God… how are we supposed to deal with anger then?

Have You Ever Read through the Psalms?

Well, I get to reading Psalms for the whateverth time & something new starts to dawn on me as I read: David & the other authors of the Psalms did NOT sugar coat their prayers or water them down or “Christianize” them.

Their prayers are raw. Many are ANGRY. Some are even violent. (Read Psalm 143 for an example of big, unfiltered, raw emotions with ANGER involved, too.)

But how do most, if not ALL of these prayers end? … In PRAISE to God, almost a: “THIS IS HOW I AM FEELING!!! … but… God, I trust You because You know what You’re doing & You’re bigger than me & I know I can trust You no matter how awful or out of control things may look right now.

Wow. True FAITH is NOT stuffing emotions or sugar-coating them away… it’s being raw & real with God about said emotions & then remembering all the reasons God is good for it & can be trusted with it.

Not Only Are Feelings Okay… Let’s See How to DEAL with Them

And considering the context of other instances/verses about anger that I had read, it started to all come together with both the angry Psalms & 2 other main verses I noticed:

1. Be angry & don’t sin—being careful not to give room for the devil to exploit it. (Ephesians 4:26-27)
2. Love your enemy & pray for those who spitefully use you/persecute you. (Matthew 5:43-44)

Take Stock: What Triggers Your Anger?

Maybe it’s from feeling misunderstood or having your character questioned from said misunderstanding.

Maybe it’s from someone being unkind, aggressive, or ruthless toward you.

Maybe it’s from witnessing a gross injustice.

Maybe it’s from something not going your way or hours of planning & preparation just ending up doing zero good for the situation at hand.

Maybe it’s trauma related & you are cut deeeep.

When Does It Feel Like You Have No Choice but to Steam or Scream?

Maybe it’s watching political parties & so many news channels act more akin to schoolyard bullies rather than grown, professional adults as they represent our country.

Maybe it’s seeing the awful, terrible, long-reaching effects of sin in our world & how ugly it is to watch unfold.

Maybe it’s a diagnosis.

Maybe it’s the death of someone you love.

Maybe it’s birthed from life just being out of your control, like a storm destroying everything around you & you can’t seem to be able to do anything to stop it.

What Makes You So Angry You Forget to Pray about it First?

Maybe your kids back-talked one too many times or a car road-raged against you one too many times or your spouse made a stray stinging comment one too many times.

Or feeling unappreciated, neglected, bullied, ostracized, criticized, alone, wronged, cheated, cheated on, etc.

There’s a lot to get angry about, isn’t there?

And with all of that, I had learned this idea that I am not supposed to feel any of it?

How?!

Anger Is So Tempting to Hold onto, Isn’t It?

I have talked a lot recently about people criticizing & judging & making you feel small. I have experienced all of that, whether intended or not. It hurts… & anger can definitely spring up with hurts like that, along with your gradually shrinking internally.

And anger can feel good, can’t it? Like validation. Like, “yeah, I have a RIGHT to this!” All the while rehearsing the situation over & over & over again in your head?

Anger can feel like control… like we’re taking the control back.

It can feel like if we don’t… they get away with it… like the wrong never happened. And it feels a little bit like: “I can’t ever let that happen.”

But, God warns us not to hold on to our anger. (Hebrews 12:15)

It Comes Back to This Pesky Little Truth: We Need Surrender

Well, this isn’t always the most comfortable or popular answer—& it certainly is NOT a NATURAL response—because refusing to release anger, holding onto it toward bitterness & MORE feels like it’s justified & validating… but the answer is one word that just keeps on coming back up: SURRENDER.

Taking a deep breath… or two… or three…. Closing your eyes….And turning your heart & hurt toward God:

“God, I can’t. I can’t love them. HOW am I supposed to love them? HOW am I supposed to thank You in ALL circumstances? Please forgive me for being so tempted to hate. To rage. To just scream & wish them to get what they ‘deserve.’ I will not avoid or minimize this feeling or deny it happened or justify it for them, because what happened WAS wrong. But I also know that this anger I am feeling, as natural as it is to feel it, ought to be a trigger to pray for the situation… a reminder that I need You & that this person or this situation needs YOU. That’s what the anger should trigger in me rather than me taking control in it. Help me give it to You. Help me to enTRUST it to You. Help every rightful spark of anger lead me back to You for help. Thank You for not holding my own wrongs against me. Jesus paid for this, too. It was no small sacrifice because it was no small wrong. Please help me to also not minimize the sacrifice You gave with Your life, like a lamb to the slaughter… for me… & even for this. Help me to love like You love—even when it is undeserved. Help me let go of needing validation or control, trusting that holding onto it versus trusting You with it IS sin. Help me trust You with it even when it really, really hurts. You are God & I am not. In Jesus’ name, AMEN.”

I’m not saying it’s easy. I’m not even saying it feels good. But it’s what we NEED when we are angry.

Am I Willing to Make the CHOICE?

When I feel angry oh boy do I want to STEW. I want to rehearse. I want to replay it in my head a thousand times to see what I could have done to prevent it or where I messed up or how they could have ever done something like that to me. I feel HURT. I take it personally. I cry & sometimes want to scream. Profanity even slips into my thoughts where I have to lay that down immediately & repent sometimes several times in a row if I am provoked several times in a row. Clenched fists & jaw & sometimes I just want to give up & say, “God, I am ready, bring me home!” When I am hurt, I hurt big sometimes. I feel too weak for this world sometimes because of it.

Responding rightly WHEN we are rightfully angry IS NOT EASY.

But it’s how we ought to respond to our anger nonetheless. It’s a choice we have to CHOOSE to make. We need to INTENTIONALLY turn it over to God & ask for His righteous judgement & able hand to take it from there… to ask for help in learning to thank Him even when everything seems awful, & for help trusting that He really is enough & though anger can feel good, it’s not worth holding onto.

CHOOSE to Praise Him & Trust Him

Shine HOPE by being a quick repenter when your anger tempts you to respond in a way that dishonors or displeases God, choosing to trust God to help you even when everything just feels plain awful.

(***Need a song to help you go from expressing your hurt to God to praising Him for all the MANY reasons you have to trust Him through every bit of any type of anger you may be feeling? Go have a listen to CeCe Winans’ “Goodness of God.” What a humbling song of surrender, washed in His wonderful goodness through ANY trial.***)

Coming Next Week

Join me every Monday morning, EST, for more encouragement.

As God grows me, may it encourage you to seek Him & know Him & love Him more every day.

Share with friends & Subscribe by Joining My Tribe, so you never miss a week.

A Note from Michelle:

This blog/website has been running for almost THREE years now! THANK YOU for your continued support & encouragement. <3

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

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

Fashion as a Force for GOOD:

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

Independence Bracelet Set (UGANDA)

LIMITED EDITION – While Supplies Last! Purchase the Independence Bracelet Set to receive the Star-Spangled Bracelet from India and the Firecracker Bracelet from Uganda!

Star-Spangled Bracelet is a fun addition to your festive look, featuring half gold-tone beads and half silver-tone beads. The Firecracker Bracelet is handmade using handmade red paper beads strung by women in Uganda earning a fair wage for their work. Each design is creating safe, fair paying jobs for women in two countries! What a beautiful way to celebrate independence!

How You Can Help:

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

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

It’s Not a Matter of Just “Try Harder”

So, how do you get back your zeal for God when it has waned?

And this isn’t a “10 steps to be a better Christian” blog, so I am not asking this question to encourage us to pretend or self-will force zeal or excitement for God. This is not something we need to force ourselves to do to be a better Christian.

But it IS a symptom that something is not right… a symptom we ought to pay attention to.

Two Things to Look Out For

For example, at church today, we talked about Hebrews 12:1-2. In these verses, the Bible (God’s Word) instructs us to “lay aside every weight & the sin that so easily ensnares us.”

This really stood out to me, because I feel like this may be my problem. Aside from looking around me for the approval from others as my gauge versus looking to God & His Word (the Bible) as I have been talking a lot about lately, I have recognized some compromise I have allowed to slip into my heart & life.

How can I expect to be excited being in God’s presence & spending time with Him & praising Him if I have done as the Ephesians were chided for in “losing their first love”? They were praised for doing all of these wonderful things for the kingdom of God, but following all of that praise, they were still chided for “losing their first love.” (Revelation 2:1-5)

(***Read more about the dangers of losing your “first love” aka Jesus Christ: “Keep Your WHY in Life Fresh—Don’t Lose Your First Love”***)

And when I start trusting in things other than God as my hope & help (stronghold), or allow myself to excuse that which God condemns (sin), I can expect to not feel that same joy with Him.

“All the Right Things” & Still a Lack

I have let my focus slip from eternally-focused to right-now focused.

I have let my focus slip from turning to God as my hope in all things to trying to just fix it myself with distractions & avoidance.

I still serve Him in prison ministry, children’s church, discipleship, choir, my website/blog, etc.

I still turn to Him in prayer for wisdom & help & direction throughout each day.

I still live to try to point to Him & give Him glory in all things big & small that I may face.

And yet… this consistent symptom of apathy speaks as an annoyingly loud, ringing alarm in my heart that something is not quite right.

What Else Do I Turn To?

So, laying aside every weight, as Hebrews 12 says… what is holding me back from Him? What else do I find myself turning to when I need help? (*And this, I believe, can also include distractions in life that we allow to drown out any chance for time with or for Him.*)

Honestly, when I am stressed or feeling overwhelmed… I just want to feel comfort… or to avoid said feelings altogether. I want to mask over it & make it all just go away.

That’s a major stronghold that I have built up in my life. And it should not be there. It shouldn’t be there because it speaks to a deeper problem—I don’t trust God to be enough for me there.

I am clinging to & turning to something other than God as my help when I do that. In other words, my hope & trust is divided between me & Him.

And if I continue to insist upon that… eventually God will do the most loving thing He could possibly do in that situation… let that crutch fall out from under me & let me fall so that I can grow & learn that it is weak & that He alone is the One in Whom I really ought to trust.

How can I really expect to feel absolute joy in His presence when I don’t really trust Him with EVERYTHING in my life? Holding back & turning to something other than Him?

Compromise Is NOT Okay… No Matter How Easy It Can Feel to Justify

The other problem that can stifle a zeal for God is sin.

I’ve talked over the years about my lifelong battle with fantasizing. (*Read about it in “Lust: The Secret Sin”*) It started when I was very young, seeing a bad scene on a tv show as channels were being flipped through & it led to years of addiction my whole life, justifying it that “if I wasn’t watching real people & it was just made up in my head with made up people, it ‘couldn’t’ be wrong.” But I will tell you right now that after about 30 years of this addiction & the destruction it caused me—it is far from harmless & it is still SIN.

But I didn’t grasp this until the damage was done & I started to learn that the destruction I recognized was rooted in that habit I had had since I was so young.

But a 30-year habit is one hard to root out because by then it is almost second nature… a habit you don’t even have to think about, it just seems sort of natural.

But it is still sin.

The Wretchedness of Sin Must be Recognized

How can I know this about my lust being sin & still have excuses for it at times versus treating it like a deadly disease that MUST be killed off in me?

How can I expect to feel zeal for God when my heart is divided by sin? Allowing something in my heart to exist for which Jesus had to DIE? “Deep-rooted” isn’t an adequate excuse for sin.

Imagine you got caught robbing the king of a country & the penalty is a beheading, but someone offers to take your place, is killed brutally, & then you go back to trying to rob the king again. Like WHAT?!

That’s what I am doing when I choose to allow sin. Jesus already paid for it with His life & I mock that tremendous generosity & love & sacrifice when I make excuses for it & continue to do that for which He has already paid.

Why I Have Lost My Zeal for the Lord

So, I ask myself why I have lost my zeal for the Lord…? Let’s see… People (versus God) pleasing attitude, strongholds present, & excuses made for occasionally allowing sin to exist in my heart? No wonder my zeal for God has waned.

Maybe next week we can talk about how we can weed that stuff out with a good ol’ heart checkup & start growing again in our zeal for God…. But for now, let’s take stock. What are your strongholds? Are you feeling that little pang of guilt? Did something come to mind? What do you need to ask God to forgive you for clinging to in place of Him?

And what about sin habits? Bad attitudes? Yelling at your kids when you’re angry? Lust? Hatred/bitterness/unforgiveness? 

Take inventory. Lay them down as offerings at His figurative feet & ask Him for forgiveness.

My Prayer

Dear Lord, I don’t deserve You. You are so faithful to me & yet I am so wretched. Thank You that Your faithfulness does not depend on mine. Thank You for sending Jesus to pay for my sins. I have nothing of value to offer the God Who made me & Who gave His all for me. You are so Good. Thank You for loving me. Thank You for never ever giving up on me, even though I give You so, so many reasons to choose to do so. Help me to love You better & to live for You better… worthy of all You gave for me, through Jesus. In Jesus’ name, AMEN.

Shine HOPE by recognizing that a lack of zeal for the Lord is usually a SYMPTOM of something that’s not right. Pray about it, don’t excuse it… get rid of it with God’s help. Now.

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

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

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

Fashion as a Force for GOOD:

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

Sandstone Crossbody (INDIA)

This genuine leather woven Sandstone Crossbody from India is both practical and stylish with its adjustable strap, interior zipper pocket, exterior slip pocket, and zipper closure. Keep all your essentials safe and secure anytime you’re on the go. This soft, comfortable, and versatile light camel/beige colored bag with cotton lining will be adorable to style this season.

*****Purchase this crossbody bag & help provide safe jobs with fair wages for women in areas of extreme poverty in India.*****

How You Can Help:

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

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

True Humility Breeds Confidence

I have talked about this before on my blog, but, considering last week’s topic of “How I Let My Light be Dimmed,” I thought it was appropriate to talk about it again because it seems to be something that is quite often confused.

Confidence is NOT the opposite of humility. In fact, true humility will breed confidence.

Pride is the opposite of humility. Timidity is the opposite of confidence. But humility & confidence, in their truest sense, will always exist harmoniously.

Why is that? Because true humility recognizes that we deserve nothing, that anything good in us is of Jesus Christ–not us, & that our true strength & worth come from Him alone.

And when you recognize that very true fact, it breeds true confidence, because true confidence is knowing that because all of that is true, even if you feel completely unfit & incapable, you know that He can do all things, so anything HE calls you to, HE will get you through. (God didn’t tell Moses to brush up on His turning water to blood skills… He told Him to be His mouthpiece & to let HIM do the miracle.) (Exodus 4:21)

I Don’t Handle Stressors Well

I became timid, more & more timid, over the last 10 years. And, as I mentioned, timidity is not the opposite of pride, but of confidence. Timidity says my faith in what God is capable of has waned. And that’s not a good thing.

No wonder I am so whiny all the time. No wonder I feel like I have to “self-medicate” my way through stress by turning to anything that makes me feel a sense of comfort, like binging tv, games, etc.

No wonder I often feel so beat up by life.

Honestly, I have been struggling. It’s come in waves… Guam last time… Hokkaido… healing beginning in Misawa… then a very rough year all around last year. Life has beat me up quite a few times over these past 10+ years.

Life Beat Me Up, So I Chose ME–Wrong Move

I have become terrible at dealing with stress. I feel like a weak, broken version of myself sometimes & it just feels upsetting. Tack on there my bad back & waves of really low energy days sometimes… & I just so often feel like a victim rather than a VICTOR in CHRIST.

I cry a lot more than usual. I feel despair & to be gruesomely honest, some hard days I just dream of having a heart attack so my weak self doesn’t have to feel so weak anymore & I can just enjoy heaven already. I feel too weak for this world sometimes. Too frail.

But doesn’t that really speak to the fact that my humility isn’t quite where it ought to be? My confidence is so frail because my humility is not right. I am thinking I need to fix it, but can’t… versus trusting His provision, care, & strength to be sufficient, even in the even if.

Because, if I better recognized where my true strength comes from, I wouldn’t be so sniveling & ready to die. I would be confident because I would know my strength is not determined by my strength, but by HIS.

Of Course I Need Him

It is true. Some circumstances, I have prayed & had the wisdom to see my need to call out to Him & He has helped me & I have sought to share testimony of that publicly whenever possible so that He may receive the glory & so that others may be reminded of their mutual need of Him.

It has not all been woe-is-me awful… but the general sense of me is almost this beating up of myself over & over again for always needing help-–as if reality for all of humanity is not all about needing His help every moment of every day, always.

When Life Hits Me Hard, I Just Want Heaven

Now, before you go worrying about me, I am not thinking about dying every day, all day. But when hard, stressful, or hurtful things slap me out of nowhere, through my secret, hidden tears, all I can think about is, “God, can I please just have a heart attack, die, & go to Heaven to be with You? I don’t want to feel this broken anymore.”

I’m not suicidal. But sometimes I really want to die. So morbid, I know… but it’s the truth. Not all the time, but when life hits me hard, I just want Heaven. That’s “my truth.” (If you were hoping to read my blog this week for a quick pick-me-up, well, I’m really sorry.)

My Prayer

“God, forgive me. My pride really has snuck up on me slowly & taken way too much from me. I actually have had the audacity of believing that because I don’t measure up… because people have been really critical of me… because others made me question whether or not to worship You because I became too afraid of ‘what if I’m doing it wrong’… because life was really hard & didn’t stop being hard… because others were unkind & hurtful to me… because life hit me hard with a brutally hard move & a super typhoon… that because of all that, I really thought I needed to take the reins of my life back, that maybe I wasn’t the “enough” I was supposed to be.…

… It wasn’t a conscious decision… it wasn’t a choice I mulled over & decided on… but I made the choice all the same…. I chose to trust me. What I could see, the hurt I felt, the confusion I felt, the hopelessness I felt. I chose to trust me.…

… Please forgive me, LORD. Please help grow my confidence through humility. Help me to rest in You so much that I have the confidence to face ANYTHING, knowing YOU are the reason for that confidence—not me. In Jesus’ worthy name, AMEN.”

Bye-Bye Humility Leads to Bye-Bye Confidence

Well, there it is. Now I know why I have felt so weak & fragile & broken so often lately.

Because I am… & because I have been trusting in what I thought I should be able to handle… trusting in me instead of Him.

Bye-bye humility leads to bye-bye confidence.

“Lord, I need You, oh, I need You… every hour I need You. You’re my One defense, my Righteousness… Oh LORD, how I need You.” (“Lord, I Need You” song by Matt Maher)

Shine HOPE, by breeding TRUE confidence in your life… confidence bred from a humility in recognizing that anything good or strong in you is from HIM, & because that is so, you can do & get through ANYTHING a VICTOR rather than a victim.

Coming Next Week

Join me every Monday morning, EST, for more encouragement right here on my blog/website @ www.MichelleHydeOnline.com.

Share with friends & family… & SUBSCRIBE by “Joining My Tribe,” so you never miss a week!

As God grows me, may it encourage you to seek Him & know Him & love Him more every day.

A Note from Michelle:

(***Check out my FREE Journal Printable Resources: “Accountability Partner Guide + Question Prompts” & “Bible Study Question Prompts ,” as well as “Prayers of Surrender” prayer guides!***)

This blog/website has been running for over 5.5 years now! THANK YOU for your continued support & encouragement. <3

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

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

Fashion as a Force for GOOD:

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

Desert Sage Studs (INDIA)

LIMITED EDITION – While Supplies Last! These dainty Desert Sage Studs from India feature a topaz circle set in a silver setting. Perfect for everyday wear, the adorable studs create lasting change for families in India. Every purchase provides safe jobs with fair wages for women in areas of extreme poverty where vulnerable women are often exploited by sweatshops.

How You Can Help the Artisans & Support My Website:

#1 is PRAY. Financial help is great & helps pay my website fees & helps support these women artisans… but God’s help is always needed most… both for encouragement & for spiritual hope, through Jesus, for the women we support through our ethical fashion purchases. Always PRAY first.

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

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

Love ya lots! Have a wonderful week!

Your Personality Is Not Your Own

Okay now, get ready… because I may be about to ruffle some feathers.

Or maybe you’ll flow right with me on this… we’ll see how it goes.

Your personality is not your own. And I know it really feels like it is because it feels like a defining factor in describing who you are as a person.

Now, I know that when I add—“God’s workmanship,” after saying it’s “not your own” can come off as, it’s not you, it’s how God MADE you…. But no, that’s not at all the direction I am going with this, so let’s talk about it.

He Made You. He Gets to Say “Who You Are.”

If you think about it… have you ever seen someone have a complete personality change? Maybe they became a Christian & they just didn’t act the same anymore afterwards? Maybe they just grew up? Matured?

Our personality, from my observation, is usually built up over time & it can change or shift over time as you mature.

It’s sometimes built on necessity… saving face or trying to not get picked on or look like you stand out too much… or maybe you WANT to stand out. It’s defense mechanisms & how we learn to fit in & find our place in the world around us.

Now, I don’t deny that there are probably certain things you may be more prone to lean towards because of how God wired you… but we need to be careful not to cling to “our personality” so much that we deny God access to change anything about it that may not particularly please or honor Him.

(You can read more about that in a previous post: “What Do Star Signs, Enneagrams, & Mental Disorder Labels Have in Common?”)

Because, when it all comes down to it… HE made you… so HE gets to say what “your personality” is. We can’t use “it’s just the way we are” as an excuse, basically, versus being willing to be changed from the inside out.

Using It as an Excuse Not to Grow

I see this type of excuse when I hear women say, “God says to be meek & mild, but He just didn’t wire me that way,” followed by a shrug.

But, if God says it… then He knows it IS indeed possible… which means that when we say stuff like that, we’re honestly just excusing the OPPOSITE of what God calls us to while also blaming it on Him.

God made you. You are (under all you have grown up used to) the way He made you. Everything else is subject to change.

Don’t limit God based on what you feel are your own limitations. He made you & He can change you. So, let Him.

God’s Workmanship & Shaping to His Likeness

And when you feel up against a dead-end because of “how you are” clashes with how He says you ought to be… well, be willing to say to Him in prayer: “God, this is not at all natural to me, but according to Your Word (the Bible), it’s what honors You most, so I want this to BECOME natural to me. Please change me to better honor & please Your will, LORD. Change the ME I believe to be, to the me YOU created me to be. AMEN.”

Shine HOPE by always staying moldable… allowing Him to shape you into HIS likeness, versus clinging to the “you” with which you feel most comfortable.

Coming Next Week

Join me every Monday morning, EST, for more encouragement right here on my blog/website @ www.MichelleHydeOnline.com.

Share with friends & family… & SUBSCRIBE by “Joining My Tribe,” so you never miss a week!

As God grows me, may it encourage you to seek Him & know Him & love Him more every day.

A Note from Michelle:

(***Check out my FREE Journal Printable Resources: “Accountability Partner Guide + Question Prompts” & “Bible Study Question Prompts ,” as well as “Prayers of Surrender” prayer guides!***)

This blog/website has been running for over 5.5 years now! THANK YOU for your continued support & encouragement. <3

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

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

Fashion as a Force for GOOD:

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

Vintage Vines Oven Mitt Set (INDIA)

LIMITED EDITION – While Supplies Last! Add a touch of artisanal inspiration to your kitchen decor with the Vintage Vines Oven Mitt Set! Every detail is block printed, a traditional way to stamp and print ink onto fabric. The set includes one oven mitt and one potholder with a slit, both featuring a beautiful vintage-inspired floral design in light pink, orange, and brown colors.

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

How You Can Help the Artisans & Support My Website:

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

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

Love ya lots! Have a wonderful week!

Doesn’t Make Any Sense Logically… & Yet

It’s funny that this is my topic this week because last night I couldn’t manage to sleep at all. I ended up falling asleep around 8:30am & getting up around 12:30pm. I wanted to sleep so much longer, but was afraid it would mess with my sleep tonight, so I decided I would just get up.

Last year, there was something I learned about God that makes zero sense to me… through a time period of consistent sleeplessness. Really, it isn’t logical, seems “overly spiritual” & just something you say to SOUND super spiritual… but I have actually, surprisingly found it to be 100% accurate, as make believe as it sounds.

This concept I’m talking about is that of considering God AS my strength. Not just that you might feel a little boost of strength when you pray for strength, but that even when you have absolutely no strength, He can be your strength for you.

I learned this truth pretty clearly last year, although definitely against my will.

2 Months of Torture

You see, I went through 2 months of sleeplessness. Maybe a night or two a week, I would sleep a whole 5-7 hours, another couple of nights, maybe 2-4 hours… but the other 2-3 nights I would get about 0-2 hours.

As you can imagine, I was WEAK. Physically, mentally, emotionally… WEAK. And I cried a lot. A LOT.

It felt like torture. Legitimate, actual torture.

I called it “the princess & the pea syndrome” because it would seem that even the littlest crease in my sheet beneath me would make me acutely aware of it where I absolutely could not ignore it… like my senses were always on high alert every single night.

And this wasn’t anxiety-induced. I wasn’t tossing & turning analyzing every aspect of my day or every word out of my mouth.

And it wasn’t restlessness either… no pent-up energy keeping me from settling down to rest.

No. I would be clear-minded, body limp with tiredness… & yet any little thing would jolt my alertness up several notches & the cycle of drifting off to jolting awake & back again would happen over & over & over & over & over & over again.

Talk about MADDENING.

I Didn’t Always Handle It So Well…

Now, I would like to sound super spiritual & say something like, “you know what, when I realized I wasn’t going to sleep each night, after 1 whole week of it… 2 weeks of it… 4 weeks… 6 weeks… EIGHT WEEKS OF IT… well, each time I just closed my eyes & thanked Jesus for some extra time to spend with Him in prayer & then I went & got my Bible & spent each night praising Jesus!

But that didn’t happen.

Some nights I did spend some time talking to God about it & about life & about other people in my life… turning to Him in it.

Most nights I just tried everything in the world I could think of to keep myself from legitimately going clinically insane as a result—snacks, tv, phone videos, games, ANYTHING to make myself not want to pick up each individual shoe in my closet & chuck them all against the wall one-by-one.

And there were ALSO nights where I would roll to be face first into my pillow so I could silent scream some of my frustration into it or get up to sit at the dining room table, bury my face in my hands, & just SOB for a good hour or more.

And some nights I just resigned to it, like, “Okay, we’re doing this again? Okay. Sure. Here we go again, I guess.”

It was awful. Quite literally awful.

Consistent Physical Discomfort… BLEH

I hate discomfort & let me tell you that being super tired & yet any little thing being enough to keep you from treasured sleep as it keeps jolting you awake… yeah, it was quite literally awful.

Headaches. Grogginess. Low energy. Low ability to focus. Sometimes even nausea because lack of sleep does that to me.

Some mornings I was “just” a complete zombie & other mornings it seemed I had a permanent scowl burned onto my face like you should probably clear a path & stay out my way unless you wanted to start a fight. It wasn’t pretty.

But as God tends to do… promises to do… he used this awfulness for my good.

I’m a Slow Learner… I Want Comfort

Sometimes I wish I could just learn lessons a teensy tiny bit faster. Anyone else? Like, let’s speed this lesson up because BOY is it not fun.

I feel like Paul handled his “thorn in his side” thing way better than me… or maybe he felt just as miserable, just with recognizing the value that comes from it, because he DID use the word “DISTRESS” & I have personally never heard of an enjoyable, non-painful/uncomfortable type of DISTRESS. (2 Corinthians 12:7-10)

But his perspective stayed true in understanding that God always had a plan & would use it for both his good & God’s glory… ALWAYS. (Genesis 50:20; Romans 8:28)

And so God did with me in my sleeplessness.

I learned several clear lessons:

1. Quick repentance is necessary & freeing in our very human weakness reality.
2. God very much can BE my strength when I have NONE.
3. My excuses that kept me back were all unnecessary because God can help me.

The Freedom Clean Slate of Quick Repentance

Having a “Jesus paid for that too” type of mindset is such a valuable thing… trusting that Jesus’ sacrifice was sufficient for all of it, come what may. What a freeing thing that is!

Quick repentance is something I talk about a lot, but it is basically the idea that any time something crosses your mind that dishonors God, whether it be temptation to be bitter at someone, have ill will toward someone, just wanting to quit, or whatever else… realizing that my humanness is trumping what God is capable of… in other words, I am leaning on my limitations so much that I refuse to submit to the fact that God has none… that no matter what it is, I need to ask for forgiveness for that from God & ask Him to help me change it moving forward.

How I Often Respond Versus How God Responds… & Repenting of the Difference

Bitter? Is that how God responded to my sin & His need to pay my debt through Jesus on the cross? I don’t think so. Love compelled Him, not bitterness. (John 3:16-17)

Ill will? Nope, God, through Jesus, sacrificed willingly versus retaliating. (Isaiah 53)

Just wanting to quit? Why? Because I can’t handle it? Or I don’t want to? Then I am discounting what God is capable of & my real complaint is my lack of self-sufficiency & not wanting to have to rely on my need for Him over myself.

Quick repentance takes those situations & thoughts & “takes every thought captive” by turning it right away to an apology to God because He knows our every thought… asking Him to change us from the inside out. (2 Corinthians 10:5; Psalm 139:23-24)

Sample Prayers of Quick Repentance

“I’m sorry I am so tempted to feel bitter. Please forgive my bad attitude & help me have a better attitude about this… one that better pleases & honors You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

“I’m sorry I am feeling this angry toward that person for such & such. You made them, love them, & died for them, too. Please forgive me for my bad attitude toward them & help me to let You love them through my life. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

“I’m sorry I want to quit. I am frustrated at how difficult this is & I am wanting to be able to do it but can’t. Help me instead to trust You to be enough for me in it. Help grow me in that reliance on You instead of myself. In Jesus’ name, AMEN.”

These are obviously just a very few examples of the many scenarios that can arise, but you get the point: surrendering every thought that doesn’t please or honor God to Him & asking for His forgiveness & His help moving forward & changing perspective &/or patterns.

I Needed Quick Repentance EVERY MORNING

This became my every morning because in my sleeplessness, the morning grumpies were almost always a big problem for me. (I laugh a little as I write “big problem” because this sentence really makes them seem far more pleasant than they were in reality.)

Groggy, frustrated, tired, headache, AND needing to get ready for work. No, ma’am, my attitude some mornings was pretty not great.

And quick repentance became my morning ritual.

“Yeah. It’s me AGAIN. I’m so tired. I feel incredibly icky physically. My brain is a foggy mush. I just want to throw stuff at the wall, throw a fit, quit my job & all my responsibilities & live in my bed for the desperate off chance that MAYBE, JUST MAYBE I CAN SLEEP. I DON’T want to be doing anything right now. All of this sucks. I hate it SOO MUCH. But I know that my main frustration here is rooted in me wanting control back… me wanting to feel SELF-capable again… me idolizing comfort rather than wanting to depend on YOU for that. So please forgive me. Please change me heart because I just can’t. I want it so badly I could just scream… or cry… or both. Please help me depend on YOU. To remember YOU are what I NEED. Please help me trust You to BE my strength FOR ME. I’ve got nothin’. I NEED YOU. Please help me. In Jesus’ name, AMEN.”

This was basically my EVERY morning for 2 months. Same grumpies. Same frustrations. Same physical weakness. Same craving to be self-sufficient again. Same asking for forgiveness & a changed heart & attitude.

It was an everyday thing that He was faithful in every day.

God Is My Strength

He WAS my strength. God is my strength. EVERY DAY. Without fail.

I had to feel wretched & humble myself every stinking day. But He was faithful to provide every single day right along with it.

Some days were like when you miss one night of sleep & adrenaline just kicks in & you still have a great, productive day. But others were me feeling so weak without a break from it through the whole day, begging God to help me in every single step of it… & it was like He would highlight ONE SINGULAR TASK in my mind to do just that one thing. So I would chip away at it mindlessly until it was done & He would highlight the next step for me until the day was done.

And I got to see Him BE my strength when I had NONE.

The Big WOW Moment

I’ve always had a strange relationship with sleep. Some seasons are easy breezy. Others leave me desperate to fall asleep but failing. I never know when it will switch… when it will be good… or awful. And as a result, I have ALWAYS set my alarm to the last possible second.

Have I wanted to have a quiet time with God to start my each & every day with a focus on Him & surrendered heart to Him & His will for my day? Sure. But HOW?!

And then, it all became so clear to me.

If, when sleep would just refuse come despite every strained effort of mine… God was my sufficiency in my complete & utter lacking….

How much more so if I CHOSE to give up some extra sleep in order to spend time with Him to honor His value in my life? That excuse of squeezing out every minute of sleep kept me back for SO LONG. And now I was set free from that fear holding me back again!

How Often Do I Underestimate the God Who Made Me?

God was able where I was not. God would supply where I could not.

And if something honors & pleases Him… knowing He is infinite… I can trust 100% that I can count on His help in that sacrifice for His glory.

Quick repentance… clean slate… He is my strength… even when I have zero… He will help me honor Him… even when it feels impossible.

God is good all the time. All the time, God is good. EVEN IN THE HARD.

Shine HOPE by looking to Him as your strength, by being a quick repenter, & by trusting Him to help you honor, please, glorify, & obey Him even when you feel you just absolutely cannot, knowing HE CAN.

Coming Next Week

Join me every Monday morning, EST, for more encouragement right here on my blog/website @ www.MichelleHydeOnline.com.

Share with friends & family… & SUBSCRIBE by “Joining My Tribe,” so you never miss a week!

As God grows me, may it encourage you to seek Him & know Him & love Him more every day.

A Note from Michelle:

(***Check out my FREE Journal Printable Resources: “Accountability Partner Guide + Question Prompts” & “Bible Study Question Prompts ,” as well as “Prayers of Surrender” prayer guides!***)

This blog/website has been running for over 5.5 years now! THANK YOU for your continued support & encouragement. <3

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

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

Fashion as a Force for GOOD:

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

Patina Earrings, Patina Clay Bracelet, Golden Orphan Prevention Necklace (HAITI & INDIA)

*****All of these pieces are handcrafted in Haiti & India, & every piece that you purchase empowers these women artisans out of extreme poverty, helping with orphan prevention in these areas!*****

How You Can Help the Artisans & Support My Website:

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

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

Love ya lots! Have a wonderful week!

Too Afraid to Pray?

Have you ever felt intimidated by something that seemed too far out of your comfort zone, so you were afraid to even pray about it because you felt like God would then toss you in headfirst? I have.

Cleaning my house was one of those things. I know, I know. For some of you, it’s like, “how old are you, Michelle? You’re an ADULT.” While others may be like, “AMEN!”

Well, I had never maintained a house before I got married. A bedroom? Yes. A dorm room? Yes. A rented room? Yes. But a WHOLE HOUSE? NO.

And it was never something I was very good at.

1. I didn’t have any kind of routine to know how often to clean what & what products to use, or how, etc.
2. I struggle with depression, so some days I go completely numb & checked out & have about zero physical/mental energy to do anything.

So how was I supposed to take this on?

I Thought God Was Going to Guilt Me into Just “Being Better” but I Was Wrong

Now, with this specific recap of a way God worked big in my life, in showing Himself to be a gentle guide, we’re taking a little time machine back to when these chapters began, because it’s not something God just -BAM! Now you’re good at it!- It was an area where He gently led me little-by-little every year. An area where He is STILL growing me.

I got married in 2012 & as I mentioned, had never maintained a house before. It felt so overwhelming because I didn’t know what I was doing & had such low energy days sometimes, as I also mentioned above.

Praying about it was even hard because I was honestly afraid God’s answer was going to be completely unhelpful & just make me feel guilty about my very obvious lack of measuring up. Like–“just try harder, duh.”

I thought God would lead me in the way of: “You are a house-wife now that you have moved to Guam with your husband & have left your budding career behind. So, whether it’s hard or not is irrelevant. Just DO IT.” No compassion, just commands. I was so completely wrong.

You can tell I trusted God a WHOLE lot 12 years ish ago. (*Note the sarcasm.) But, if you feel that exact way, too… I GET IT.

The Pressure I Felt to be the Perfect Wife… & Never Feeling Like I Measured Up

Well, I felt a lot of internal pressure to be the perfect wife back then. Not that I don’t want to strive for my best now, but more that I grew super insecure as a newlywed, thinking the “jig would be up” at any day & my husband would think, “is this really who I settled for?” (Partly because of the lesson God had not yet grown me in with regards to LAST chapter: Read that, here: Chapter 21-Weight Does Not Equal Worth.)

So, I felt extreme pressure to prove my worth by being a “good wife.”

And I was failing at that miserably because I felt like I was drowning in incompetence when it came to house upkeep. It was overwhelming.

But, I decided to pray about it anyway, knowing God knew better than me… & I am SO glad I did.

It Was Slow Progress… But It Was Still Progress

It wasn’t an all-at-once situation, where God pressured me to be the ideal wife or otherwise I was a failure… it wasn’t a grand list of expectations that left me swirling in new habits I couldn’t nail down.

No, it was baby steps. Just an idea at a time.

I don’t remember each baby step along the way, & probably best not to share those anyway, because honestly, I want to be here to encourage you to seek Him. Your areas of feeling intimidated or overwhelmed will be different than mine & God is wise enough to help you with the baby steps tailor fit for you specifically. So, ask Him!

He has grown me from having no clue where to start to having a system down that works for me & one which He is still helping me build upon.

God Gave Me Framework to Build Upon as I Grow

As I mentioned, everyone’s schedule is different & everyone’s weaknesses will be different & everyone’s needs will be different, so please don’t take my schedule as your model, but instead, look at it as a testimony to how I went from nothing to this… aka how God was able to grow me, gently & little-by-little (NOT all at once) to this. He. Is. Able.

• Mondays: Wipe down entire kitchen (including microwave/toaster oven) & gather/take out trash.
• Tuesdays: Straighten up & do laundry.
• Wednesdays: Clean bathrooms.
• Thursdays: Clean the kitty litter & sweep/mop the house.
• Fridays: Vacuum.

I can’t stress enough to you how overwhelming this schedule would have been to me as a newly married woman. But now, it’s actually almost second nature to me because God has used gentle building blocks over a decade to get me to this.

My Daily Building Blocks

Another struggle of mine has been surprise plans… aka things that come up that are unplanned or spontaneous… it would throw my whole routine out of whack & I would end up getting nothing done.

So, I prayed about that, too. And God gave me a system that works with how my brain works. Items are broken down into 30-minute, doable increments. That way, if something comes up, I know I will miss this chunk & can move that chunk to a different hour of the day or switch it with something less urgent.

Every morning, in 30-minute chunks, I start with Bible time at the kitchen table, then make a nutritious breakfast, then do my day’s chores, then do an extra task like shower, pay bills, organize a closet, etc. After that is a 30-minute break, then some time to work on a hobby/other, like my blog, website/resource building, crafts, sign language, or piano… & finally, I do a workout video, make the bed, hang up draped-over-the-bed clothes, & get ready for work.

It’s become so engrained in me that it just sort of flows now. I used to have an alarm set for every half hour to help me stay on track… but I have deleted all except the ones on the hour because my system feels so natural to me now! That would have felt ABSOLUTELY IMPOSSIBLE even 5 years ago!

God Knows What I Need… He Is My Gentle Guide

God has helped me build a system that works well for me. It has shifted & changed over the years to fit my schedule… & tasks have increased as I grew more comfortable & confident with one habit or another to the point where it felt second-nature.

But most importantly, it has been something God grew me up in over a decade’s time. Not all in year one of marriage… & not without prayer for help with each new step.

And even ON TOP OF all of the habit-building growth… He has helped me develop in making tasks more manageable if they were extra intimidating to me or if back problems made them extra challenging… so I would pray that type of way as well. And He was faithful to help me find alternatives!

Whether it be a mop system I felt worked easier/better… cleaning cloths that made it much easier to get up grime… a cleaning brush on a long rod to help me clean the glass shower walls & bathtub without having to strain my back leaning & reaching to scrub it… etc. God has given me so many personalized “hacks” along the way to help me feel each task is more manageable for me personally. What a caring, loving, wise GOD!

It’s Not Just with Cleaning the House, Either!

This same concept of praying & trusting God over things that feel intimidating can be applied to any area of life… being willing to say, “if I ask God for help with this, I can trust Him to know my limits (even fears) & to help me walk through them in His wisdom to help me.”

God cares enough about us not to guilt or shame us into action.

He gently guides. He knows He is sovereign in our lack. So, He gently, patiently, kindly guides.

A Personalized Plan

It makes me think of the beginning of this school year. I had felt burdened/encouraged by the word “support” for my team, but didn’t really know how I could flesh that out. Beyond doing my job, it felt intimidating.

But it was on my heart, so I prayed about it, asking God to help me flesh that burden out to know how I, personally, could manage more without it becoming a nagging burden or something I couldn’t maintain. I trusted Him to know the how better than me.

And He was faithful. He encouraged me to make little notes to leave in the teachers’ mailboxes each first Monday of the month.

Striving to be a Support… As I Pray… & As God Leads Me Personally

Sometimes the teacher notes were a call to remember their true ‘why’ in being a light for Jesus. Others were more of an encouragement to keep going, resting in God through every hard day. And some were a reminder that God was ready to be their sufficiency where they feel they lack.

Each have a verse that corresponds to it on the reverse side of the note.

Each month, I pray & ask God what I should write in my little paragraph worth of space… & I write what He puts on my heart.

Some months feel shallow or repetitive from a previous note… but even when I am feeling that way, God shows me how it was no mistake & that the words were meant for someone specific even. God always knows what’s needed better than I do.

I just have to be willing to trust & obey His lead.

(Eventually, when the year is over, I plan to upload these teacher notes as a FREE download in the resource section of my website, so whether you’re a teacher or you know a teacher, you can print the notes to build them up & encourage them each month—or use them as a springboard to make your own as God leads you! Check out what else I have created with God’s help & have made available for FREE downloads in my Resource tab @ Resources for You | Michelle Hyde Online.)

What About You?

So what task, mission, etc. might you be avoiding or trying to put out of your mind because it feels too overwhelming & you’re afraid that if you ask God, He may pressure you to do something you feel you’re incapable of?

Try asking Him anyway… try trusting that He is a gentle, loving God Who cares for you. You can trust Him. He is a gentle, sovereign Guide.

Shine HOPE by being willing to trust God with the things that feel too hard or too overwhelming or too intimidating for you to overcome.

Coming Next Week

Join me every Monday morning, EST, for more encouragement right here on my blog/website @ www.MichelleHydeOnline.com.

Share with friends & family… & SUBSCRIBE by “Joining My Tribe,” so you never miss a week!

As God grows me, may it encourage you to seek Him & know Him & love Him more every day.

A Note from Michelle:

(***Check out my FREE Journal Printable Resources: “Accountability Partner Guide + Question Prompts” & “Bible Study Question Prompts ,” as well as “Prayers of Surrender” prayer guides!***)

This blog/website has been running for over 5.5 years now! THANK YOU for your continued support & encouragement. <3

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

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

Fashion as a Force for GOOD:

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

Patina Clay Bracelet (HAITI)

This ethically made Patina Clay Bracelet features handmade, painted clay beads to replicate a patina style accented with smaller brass beads. The handcrafted Haitian clay beads make each stretch-to-fit Patina Clay Bracelet unique!

*****Every purchase provides jobs for women in areas of extreme poverty in Haiti and helps mamas keep their babies out of poverty orphanages.*****

How You Can Help the Artisans & Support My Website:

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

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

Love ya lots! Have a wonderful week!

God Always Has a Plan

I was humbled so much during my time in Hokkaido, Japan.

In fact, coming through my loneliness in Guam & then on to the immense strain my brain experienced in Hokkaido (mixed with even deeper loneliness because of the great language barriers), is what pushed me to start this journey with my website & blog!

God showed me firsthand that not every person, whether missionary or expat or even living in certain areas or families—not everyone has Christian fellowship, support, encouragement, & testimonies of His HOPE around them to encourage & edify them every day.

We NEED each other. God made us for community. We are weak, fleshly humans with a tendency to stray after shiny things that look great but have nasty consequences either immediately or eventually.

So, here I am. I’m not perfect. I’m not the shining example you should strive to emulate. But I AM a woman who understands that the God of the Bible, the One TRUE God, is WORTH showing up for & pointing to through all of MY inadequacies & failures.

Zero Times

Speaking of me NOT being the shining example… Do you remember reading that I accepted Jesus’ FREE gift of salvation, Him paying my debt to God by dying in my place… at FIVE years old?

Guess how many times I had read the Bible all the way through by the time we were living in Hokkaido, Japan, 30+ years later?

Zero. ZERO times.

I had read the Bible, of course. I knew a lot of the retelling stories written about in the Bible. I could quote quite a few verses by then. (Sans the references because I am terrible at remembering those!)

I had listened to HUNDREDS of sermons at church in my lifetime, done a TON of devotionals & gone to a TON of ladies Bible studies.

But I had never read the Bible through, cover to cover, in all its entirety.

The Guilt, the Failure, the Shame… the Unwillingness to Change

That’s a LONG time to avoid reading through the whole Bible, don’t you think?

Maybe you’re sitting there thinking, “I can for sure relate!”

Or, maybe you’re sitting there thinking, “Are you SERIOUS? How can you call yourself a committed follower of Jesus???”

I definitely had some guilt floating around in my head over this that sounded much like that… but I honestly believed that because I read the Bible at church, in devotions, at Bible Studies, or when I searched for God’s wisdom relevant to particular struggles I faced… that it was enough.

I Was Fooled

The other stuff in the Bible just seemed like a long, drawn-out history lesson & I will tell you right now that history was never my favorite subject in school (it seemed so tedious trying to remember a million names of people & places & battles & bills & dates, etc. etc. etc.).

I ALSO realized that my attention span was not up to snuff when it came to sitting down to read more than a chapter or so of the Bible at a time. How was I supposed to read when I would get a headache or a ton of stuff was on my mind or I was tired & groggy or a lot was going on when I sat down to read, etc.?

I thought I just wasn’t good at that & that it wasn’t my fault I couldn’t read it more.

The Book That Changed My World

But I read a book that changed my world: “Andrew Murray on Prayer,” a compilation of works written by the late Andrew Murray, translated into English.

(You can find the link to this book, as well as many other book titles & Bible Studies that God has used to personally & strongly influence my life on my website @ www.michellehydeonline.com/recommended-by-michelle/.)

I went into reading this book because I didn’t really understand some things about prayer, like how I am supposed to pray or what I can pray for or how I know God will answer me, etc. & this book has some great help with that, but what I didn’t expect, was learning how I could read my Bible on a regular basis.

Where God Commands, God Provides

You see, one of the things that Mr. Murray addressed was that we are not meant to obey God strictly through sheer willpower, but with the help of God.

He walked through many a verse that share commands from God, pointing out a common thread in many of them… the words: “by faith,” “through faith,” “by God,” & “through God.”

In other words, when God commands, He also lets us know we need His help to do it!

Mr. Murray goes on to say that so many Christians end up burnt out or fake it because they’re trying to be good Christian people in their own strength & know-how & willpower, versus asking God for His strength & know-how & POWER to empower them in their obedience.

I don’t know about you, but I consider myself infinitely WEAK when I consider how great God is, so hearing that I can rely on HIS versus my own was mind-blowing & life changing.

Unnatural & Impossible to Me… But God Isn’t Limited

Mr. Murray continues by demonstrating how, when we seek to live in obedience to God in anything that feels absolutely unnatural to us in any way, whether due to upbringing, personal weakness, etc., that instead of avoiding said obedience, or justifying it because “we just can’t do it,” we ought instead to PRAY & ask for God’s HELP.

So, I took that to heart, recognizing for once that if it is God’s will for me to do something & He holds absolute power that is infinite in nature… He WILL help me. I can count on that 100%.

Then my Bible reading attempt scenarios began to shift from failure to prayer: “God, I [have a headache, feel distracted, feel tired, don’t WANT to do it, etc.], but I know this honors You & pleases You, so I want to do it anyway. Please help me make it happen despite _________________________. In Jesus’ name, AMEN.”

And I wouldn’t wait until I “felt better” before I began… I would trust God would fill in because I knew this request honored Him. So, I would just start reading.

God Doesn’t Always Answer the Same Way, But He Always Provides

Sometimes the obstacle didn’t go away, but I would somehow have a strange sense of concentration & focus regardless.

Sometimes God would whisk away said obstacle altogether & I would read with ease.

Sometimes God removed the obstacle while I read & yet it returned when I was finished.

But EVERY time, God enabled me to read & stay focused on what I was reading.

God Can Even Help with the WHEN

And before we become tempted to believe it’s only in the want-to or the ability to do it… He ALSO helped me when TIME was the issue.

For example: “God, I know I promised to read tonight, but this thing came up & now I don’t have time. What do I do? I want to honor You most. Should I cancel? What should I do?” And then this urgency would come over me as if saying, “Read NOW.” I would argue, “But I have to be downstairs ready to go so I don’t hold people up if I am to go….” Again, “Read NOW.”

So, I would get out my Bible, open it up & begin to read. And wow, as I closed my Bible upon finishing that night’s reading, my hubs came running down the stairs saying, “Sorry! I had to finish something real quick that I forgot! Now we can go!”

Did I know that delay would come up? Nope.

Did God? YES.

Praying & bowing that to Him, allowed Him opportunity to reveal the WHEN, too!

God Helps Grow the Desire to Obey Him, Too

God helps us to obey Him! WOW! It’s not up to my flimsy willpower or desires or even having to know if I’ll have the time!

And let me also say that an embarrassing amount of obstacles were just me not wanting to do it… & He helped me with that, too.

I’m not saying I all of a sudden had a change of heart sometimes, but rather that I would bow that selfishness & unwillingness to Him, too, ask for His help to obey anyway, & would just sit down & read through my bad attitude, determined I would honor God even on the days when I didn’t necessarily feel like doing it.

What Side Are You Watering?

You have probably heard the saying: “the grass is always greener on the other side,” but I have also heard, “the grass is always greener on the side you’re watering.” In other words, if I am romanticizing NOT reading because it seems so much easier, takes less focus, doesn’t impede on what I’d rather do, etc., then it will be going against my downstream ease to instead do it. It will take practiced determination.

I had to pray about 90% of days the first year I determined to read my Bible daily, it seemed like… but then, the next year? Maybe only 80%, then maybe 50%… & so on.

And now, I read every night without hardly any resistance. Maybe down to 5% now?

I have been watering the side of finding joy in what God instructs… of finding joy in obedience to Him through honoring Him. Of learning to lean on Him on the days when I “just don’t wanna.”

I Am Not Made for This… & Yet… GOD

You know, the same is true for running this blog every week. I’m not fit for this. Some days I just feel so numb & checked out. Some days I just want to throw on sweatpants, plop on the couch, & binge tv. Some days I feel stubborn & selfish & don’t want to encourage anyone.

How could God call me to this when I am the way I am?

Because He knows HE is capable when I fall short. He knows He is sufficient where I lack. He knows HIS strength can more than cover my weakness. He knows HE can overcome & help me through every bad attitude & use it for my good even in showing His faithfulness when I’m least deserving.

God calls me… God calls you… not because we’re deserving… but because He is our Enough in & through it all... come what may… even on our absolute worst days… even when it’s our fault completely.

So, how do I do it every week? When I am the way I am? I PRAY. I trust He will be my HOW even when I can’t seem to muster a bit of it on my own.

God Can Help Us Obey Him

Where is this a struggle for you?

What have you convinced yourself that it’s not your fault that you’re just not good at something God calls you to do? Of what honors & pleases Him?

What side are you watering?

Do you struggle believing that the God who made you & this whole world can handle helping you through your insurmountable unwilling heart or obstacles that seem to tower too far above you?

God tells us to desire His Word (the Bible) as a newborn babe desires milk. (1 Peter 2:2) Do you have that same craving for His Word in your life? Do you need His help to grow this desire? Because, if it honors & pleases Him, you can be absolutely positive that He will be right there willing to help you do it.

Shine HOPE by turning your unwillingness, bad habits, lack of good habits, disobedience, obstacles, unwatered grass areas of your life… to the God Who is infinitely, absolutely, & completely ABLE.

Coming Next Week

Join me every Monday morning, EST, for more encouragement right here on my blog/website @ www.MichelleHydeOnline.com.

Share with friends & family… & SUBSCRIBE by “Joining My Tribe,” so you never miss a week!

As God grows me, may it encourage you to seek Him & know Him & love Him more every day.

A Note from Michelle:

(***Check out my FREE Journal Printable Resources: “Accountability Partner Guide + Question Prompts” & “Bible Study Question Prompts ,” as well as “Prayers of Surrender” prayer guides!***)

This blog/website has been running for over 5.5 years now! THANK YOU for your continued support & encouragement. <3

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

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

Fashion as a Force for GOOD:

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

Patina Earrings (INDIA)

Make a fair-trade fashion statement with the Patina Earrings! These gorgeous earrings feature a gold-tone hammered stud with a patina circle. These unique artisanal earrings are handcrafted in a workshop in India that’s committed to fighting child marriage and helping women become financially independent as fair-trade Artisans. Every purchase empowers these women out of poverty!

How You Can Help the Artisans & Support My Website:

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

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

Love ya lots! Have a wonderful week!

Relationships Can Be Hard Sometimes, Can’t They?

If you have ever been in any long-term relationship, or even just consider the family you’re born into (your God-given long-term relationships), you know good relationships take work. They’re not easy.

We can be tempted to look at really happy couples online or celebrities or friends even, & think they must have it all together all the time, but I will tell you this right now… I guarantee you with absolute certainty that they don’t have it ALL together ALL the time.

Because good relationships require that you work on them.

There will be days where you feel at each other’s throats because you’re both in a bad mood. There will be days when you have pretty opposite opinions you both feel very strongly about. There will be days of misunderstandings & hurt feelings. There will be days where past trauma is triggered, even when it has zero to do with that other person.

Strong relationships are definitely worth it… but they’re definitely not always easy.

It All Felt So Easy in the Beginning

Well, we’re no different. Our marriage takes work. It takes loving through each other’s bad moods or bad attitudes, mistakes, & shortcomings. It takes prayer & trusting God’s way forward.

When we were dating, it felt so easy to be together. My husband was waiting on his job clearance & I was working parttime at the church where we met. Low pressure. Low stress. Few obligations &/or distractions. Just the two of us. (Who else sang that just now?)

We spent most of our free time together, not to mention that any church event or service found us side-by-side.

I was still working out my commitment fears as for a potential future together, but in each individual moment together, it felt easy.

We laughed a lot together. We had fun. We were silly & ridiculous. We went on long walks, played card games & board games together, we went out to eat together, we would sit & just open up about any & everything together. And we prayed together. It felt so easy to be together.

First Few Years?

We got married in May 2012, enjoyed a beach honeymoon in Mexico, & just 3 months later, packed up from our small apartment & moved to Guam.

Our new adventure awaited us as a newlywed couple.

I was wide-eyed & teeming with HOPE for our future together.

I had heard that the first few years of marriage were notoriously some of the hardest to go through, but I thought that was for sure not true for us. We were in love & happy & full of joy & bright expectations.

Bring on the Hard

But reality started to settle in… My husband’s job was demanding of his time & energy. I couldn’t seem to get a job anywhere. Friends were so hard to come by because of certain circumstances–I couldn’t get too involved in anything regularly because with hubby’s schedule, I could potentially miss my only chance to see him that week.

Then the fact that smartphones weren’t as common then.… (We had an international calling plan that allowed a 3-hour window & if my family wasn’t free during that specific 3-hour window, I had no other time to hear their voices or chat.)

I was far, far away from any family & friends. I had a hard time being able to plug in anywhere. My husband worked an insane amount of hours & was always exhausted when home. I couldn’t find a job. I was home… ALONE… all… the… time.

I felt like I had nobody. (Even now as I type, thinking back on that time in my life breaks my heart a little bit & gets me a little choked up because the hurt was very real.)

I had never known loneliness like I felt during most of my time living in Guam back in 2012-2015. From growing up around all my family & long-time friends, to a teeming social life in college, to this…. To say it was hard is a huge understatement. It was like life whiplash.

I Just Wanted to Go Home

Here we were, on the other side of the world from everything we had ever known & the first few years of our marriage indeed got very hard. Not bad, but hard.

My loneliness put pressure on my husband when he was already feeling enough pressure with his job. It seemed easier to argue than I ever thought could be possible for the two of us. It seemed easier to hurt each other than I ever thought could be possible for the two of us. And we never meant to do so, but it happened all the same.

I wanted to run back to my family in the states & pretend that season in my life never began. I wanted to go back to the easy happy. I wanted to go back to feeling I had a place to belong.

And this season lasted for about 1.5 years.

Amazing Things Happen When You Let God be in Charge

I was feeling some resentment, honestly, as wrong as that is. I didn’t know if I could ever get through or past the hurt I was feeling. I felt trapped by the hurts I was experiencing so often back then.

But then, something amazing happened. We started praying about it together whenever the circumstances were frustrating us.

We poured out our frustrations & hurts to God & asked Him to give us wisdom & a way forward… to the togetherness we so enjoyed & that came so easily before.

And you know what? God provided. God showed the way. God broke down walls I had built up in my heart. God eased my tensions. God filled me with impossible peace. God cared & God provided the bridge back.

God AS Our SOLUTION

God taught us how to direct our eyes back on HIM versus any problem that may arise.

He was our solution.

He was our glue.

He was our wisdom.

He was our help.

He was our bridge back.

God Is the Bridge Back in Relationships

What situation are you facing right now that just feels impossible?

What hurt in your heart seems to cloud everything you face?

What circumstance seems unsolvable?

Where in your life feels like there is no possible way forward?

Don’t believe that mumbo jumbo phrase: “where there’s a will, there’s a way.” You can have all the WILL in the world, & sometimes it just won’t do diddly squat.

What you need is PRAYER. What you need is the One Who holds the POWER behind PRAYER. What you need is God Almighty’s HELP. What you need is the grace of Jesus to wash over anything you may come across. What you need is the wisdom & way forward that only the Holy Spirit can provide for you.

When you face even the “unforgiveable,” take a minute to remember what Jesus gave for your “unforgiveables.” His LIFE.

We Need His Help to Forgive & We Need Him in Order to Love Well

What I need is prayer. Every single day. Even writing this today, I am convicted about two relationships in my life that hold some brokenness because of a misunderstanding or difference of opinion & I realize this isn’t just for marriage relationships, but I need to be praying for those relationships & a bridge forward all the same, because God is the solution there just as much.

Don’t let Satan tear apart relationships in your life. Don’t let him have the final say. Don’t let him distort & grow discontentment or resentment. Stand firm against it & PRAY OVER IT! God’s power trumps ANYTHING Satan can try to destroy. So–PRAY!

“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” (Ephesians 6:12-13)

Shine HOPE by trusting God to be your bridge back, no matter what seems to threaten your way forward. God. Is. ABLE.

Coming Next Week

Join me every Monday morning, EST, for more encouragement right here on my blog/website @ www.MichelleHydeOnline.com.

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As God grows me, may it encourage you to seek Him & know Him & love Him more every day.

A Note from Michelle:

(***Check out my FREE Journal Printable Resources: “Accountability Partner Guide + Question Prompts” & “Bible Study Question Prompts ,” as well as “Prayers of Surrender” prayer guides!***)

This blog/website has been running for over FIVE years now! THANK YOU for your continued support & encouragement. <3

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

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

Fashion as a Force for GOOD:

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

February 2024 Hope Mail

FOR A LIMITED TIME – Only available during the month of February! This exclusive February Hope Mail package makes a great gift for any occasion! Receive free shipping on this February Hope Mail package that includes our Midnight Tassel Bracelet from Uganda, Midnight Raffia Earrings from India, and our adorable Darkest Night Sticker mailed in a stylish Fashion as a Force for Good envelope.

How You Can Help the Artisans & Support My Website:

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

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

Love ya lots! Have a wonderful week!