Something Missing

Have you ever felt like something is missing? Like you are scrambling through life, trying to be a good person, trying to please God with your life, but still feeling like you don’t even come close?

Especially for those of us who are Christians (those who have accepted the free gift of Jesus’ sacrificial grace), it can seem exhausting trying to keep up.

But what if that’s because we are missing something?

Is “Being Good” Good Enough?

Most of us want to believe that we’re good people, or at least that we try to be.

And for those of us who have accepted Christ’s gift of grace, having the understanding that we are free from the consequences of our guilt & shame, knowing that, after death, we will have the blessing of eternal love & joy to replace the eternal torment that we so deserve… we can sometimes think His help stops there.

When Jesus Left Earth, God Sent a “Comforter”

But God’s involvement in our lives is not just offered as a future hope from the debt we owe being covered by Christ’s sacrifice… It is offered right now, in daily life.

You see, despite this broken world preventing us from seeing the full vastness of God’s glory during life on this earth, God is with us.

If you remember, Jesus told us in John 14 that He was sending (& DID send!) a Comforter, the Holy Spirit.

So Much More Than Grace

God offers us Himself daily, through the workings of the Holy Spirit.

He offers comfort, strength, love, wisdom, guidance, & so much more.

As we seek to honor God with our lives, we will discover that we are frail & prone to temptation.

But God is infinitely strong, wise, powerful, gracious, loving & able.

The Daily Grind, With God’s Help, To Give Him Glory

As you reach each hurdle or obstacle in life, instead of agonizing over how to honor God or how to live for Him or how to be “good enough”, stop & ask for God’s help in doing those things. (*But, Hint: We will never be “good enough”, that’s why Jesus came to die in our place.)

Ask Him for peace, calm, comfort & wisdom when the kids are unruly (or when they’re driving you to hide in a closet & stuff chocolate in your face, as desperately exhausted tears roll down your cheeks–I get the feeling that every Mom faces these moments).

Ask for His wisdom & guidance before the tears even come.

Ask Him for strength, courage, & wisdom to do the right thing in a tough situation.

Ask for His peace & wisdom to guide your decisions when you’re in a tough spot & even before you’re in a tough spot.

Let God into the Conversation

That’s what “pray without ceasing” in 1 Thessalonians 5:17 is talking about… make God part of your inner conversation. Invite Him in.

Instead of mulling over, agonizing, fretting, plotting, brooding, moping, worrying, fearing, straining, guessing, or winging it… invite God in & ask what He would do instead.

God Is Our Victory, Not Us

He doesn’t expect us to be warriors for hope & truth in the darkness of this world without HIS comfort, courage, power, strength, & wisdom giving us the resources to make it happen.

I see you… maybe you’re like me & you drove yourself out of reading the Bible & praying & other things because it felt impossible.

But that’s because it is. For us. In our own strength.

But it’s not impossible for God. EVER.

Stop. And Pray.

So, before you throw in the towel, before you storm in to a situation or run away from it, before you rely on yourself to be the only way to make something happen… Stop & invite God in to the conversation.

Crawl, fall, or step into His loving & willing embrace & say something like this to Him:

“God, my [personality, upbringing, understanding, natural instinct, desires, fear, anger, hurt, etc.] is telling me to react like this, but God, You are greater than I. Your wisdom & knowledge & power & strength & courage & love & patience & graciousness are far more vast than my own. Help me to see it Your way. Help me to do it Your way. Help me to honor You. Give me what I need to walk this path the direction & way that gives You glory. You know what’s best for me AND for this situation more than I ever could, so help me to trust in You & rest in You. Guide me. Enable me to do Your will. HELP me to trust You & know You & love You more every day. Amen.”

There is no magic formula or magic set of words. He is waiting & willing to help you as you put your trust in Him.

Let God Do the Change in You As You Put More Trust in Him

Do you have doubts about Him? Ask Him for truth.

Do you have fears or shame that you hide away? Ask Him for His courage & grace.

Do you have worries & confusion that plague you? Ask Him for His wisdom.

Do you feel tired as a daughter, mother, employer, employee, wife, friend, etc.? Ask for His peace & guidance.

He is listening. He is waiting.

Crawl, fall, or step into His waiting embrace. Lean into Him. Trust Him.

And let Him in.

He is waiting for you, Lovely.

Coming Next Week

This week is our Special Feature post, every last Thursday of the month. So, stay tuned for something fun or different than our usual!

Make sure to join me next Monday morning EST, as I do my best to encourage you with the hope that only comes with trusting in Him to be your all, in this life & eternity to come.

Happy Easter (aka Resurrection Day)! He is risen! He is risen indeed!

A Note from Michelle:

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

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

Weekly Special Spotlight:

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

Restoring Hope Necklace

This versatile necklace features mother of pearl in hues of black on one side and off-white on the other, hanging from an antiqued brass chain.

Artisan Information:

In Asia, poverty leads many women to be sexually exploited in brothels. These women want to provide for their families but have so few options. But through your purchase, women are being rescued from these brothels & rehabilitated. Holistic care is given to these women, including a shelter, job training, healthcare, counseling, & educational grants for themselves & their children. You can help these women experience restoration for their future!

Purchase this piece & empower a woman in Asia!

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

He Knew. He Planned. He Created. He Gave Grace.

It’s easy, even for Christians, to read the Bible & forget this very important fact—God created us… knowing we would reject Him… knowing we could never measure up to what He requires of us… knowing He would have to set a plan in motion to save us Himself, through Jesus… And He still created us.

… Because He loves us that much.

We Can Miss Out, But We Can’t Ruin God’s Plan

You see, it’s easy for us to interpret the Bible in a way that says, “Oh you dumb, rebellious humans, you went & messed up everything & now God is so mad at you that He had to send Jesus to fix everything.”

Now, don’t get me wrong, we are often compared to sheep for the very reason that we can quite certainly be pretty dense in missing the fullness of the love & power & deserving of reverence & awe that God is….

AND, we all are rebellious & definitely have a choice to either obey or rebel, in which if we’re completely honest with ourselves, we quite often rebel (because how many of us can say that we are completely & totally trusting of & in surrender to God’s will & way one hundred percent of the time? I know I certainly can’t claim that!)

But even though we are dense & rebellious in nature, we cannot “mess up” God’s plan.

He Knew

He knew, before time began, that He would need to make a way to pay our debts for us, so that we could be provided a way to come running back to His loving arms, wiped completely clean of the wrongs that separate(d) us from His glory & complete holiness.

You see, we could never blindside God. We can’t catch Him off-guard. We can’t surprise Him.

He already knew.

And He already provided a plan & a way back to Himself—through Jesus’ sacrifice for our wrongs. (Read about how I fell to the feet of God & allowed Jesus’ sacrifice to heal me & how He can heal you just as well, on my “Hope Is Found” page on this website.)

Not Shame, But PRAISE!

So, the next time you are feeling the shame &/or guilt pile up on your shoulders, turn those torments into praise!

Thank our wonderful Father God who made a way back to grace possible.

Thank Him for His love & patience & gift of grace.

Thank Him that although we are completely & utterly undeserving, He still offers us His grace so willingly & so lovingly, if we just trust in Him enough to accept it!

He paid the price, knowing we could never make it right on our own.

His Power & Grace Makes Us Whole!

We owe Him our all & yet, all He asks is for us to trust Him enough to love Him back.

He accepts us as is.

He knows our flaws & sin & rebellion, & yet His hand is ever-outstretched, waiting for you to take hold & be whisked into His embrace.

He shapes us & molds us as we give Him more of our trust.

Judgment Day Will Come, But Grace Is Offered Now

Judgment day will come, but right now, we all have equal opportunity for grace, no matter our degree of “unworthiness”.

Because it’s about Him being so great that He can cover anything & everything if we but surrender ourselves to live in His love.

He lifts us up.

He makes a way.

Let Him make a way for you.

I love you, Beautiful! And so does He!

Shine Hope, because the world needs it desperately–& yes, I speak from personal experience!

*HUUUUUG*

Coming Next Week

Check back with me next week, on Monday, for some more regularly scheduled encouragement & show me some love by joining my tribe, by leaving your email in the popup at the top of your screen! Or send your email address to me @ michelle@michellehydeonline.com, if you would like me to add you!

A Note from Michelle:

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

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

Weekly Special Spotlight:

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

Sea Glass Necklace

Artisans recreate the look & feel of sea glass by upcycling glass bottles from local hotels & restaurants that would otherwise be discarded, & tumble the broken glass with water & sand from the Red Sea until it is smooth & resembles the beautiful pieces once commonly found on their beaches. Sizes & colors may vary.

Artisan Information:

Many Jordanian women have their lives controlled by their closest male relative. They balance many customs at home, creating a lack of independence. Some of these women are divorced, widowed, or married to a man who may already have many wives. But amid struggles, these women we work with arrive to a family-like workplace. They can be seen & heard singing, laughing, & drinking tea while creating our unique jewelry made from upcycled glass bottles. Your purchase empowers them with bold confidence & financial independence for the first time!

Purchase this piece & empower a woman in Jordan!

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

Us or Him?

So, here’s a charge to my Christian friends….

God has burdened my heart with an analogy that I would like to share, in hopes that it will encourage you to change how you interact with those around you on a daily basis.

As Christians, we hear a lot about, “let us glorify God today.”

… Sounds pretty holy & GOOD, doesn’t it…?

But do we ever really stop to consider what it is we’re saying when we pull out that little phrase, to “glorify God”?

Most Christians would agree that to glorify God, you should be kind to one another, be friendly, & try not to mess up (SIN) today. But is there more? Is there more to giving God glory than pleasantness of character?

What it Really Means

In reading Beth Moore’s “Breaking Free,” she challenges us to look at Scripture to see how IT describes the process of glorifying God.

Do you know how God describes the act of giving Him glory?

It says:

• … to make God known
• … to make God famous
• … to show HIM off [His love, His power, His forgiveness, and His might–not ours] to a hurting world

So let me ask you this, does being a nice person, smiling, being kind, being “good” & trying not to mess up do those things?

Do your good behaviors glorify HIM or do they glorify YOU?

What Do Others Say About You?

Let’s use this measure to help us determine the answer to that question... Do you typically hear these  responses when you do those things?

• “YOU’re such a nice/good person!”
• “Well, of course that would happen for YOU, YOU’re a good person.”
• “YOU’re such a strong person.”
• “YOU always seem to have your life so together.”
• “YOU have a perfect marriage.”

Hmmm….

Maybe There’s More

So that got me thinking….

How does one ACTUALLY bring GOD glory??

Now, I definitely do not have an exhaustive list of ways one can glorify God, but here’s a start… God brought an analogy to mind that I will call “The Tale of Two Cakes.” (I love food, so this worked well for me [Insert Your Laughter Here]).

The Tale of Two Cakes

The analogy’s foundation is that everyone eats ONE of two cakes. The FIRST cake will kill you. But it won’t JUST kill you. It will be a disgusting, bloody, terrifying, painful, excruciating, shameful, and unending (sounds awful, I know–but it is) DEATH.

The second cake will give you LIFE, HOPE, meaning, purpose, strength, PEACE, forgiveness, & LOVE.

Christians are eating the LIFE CAKE. They’re no better than anyone else, but they have discovered it’s life-giving ability through Christ’s sacrifice for our: sins, debt of wrongs, & shame–to give us new life in its place.

Everyone else… well, you get the idea. (HINT: They’re NOt eating the LIFE CAKE)

Our Efforts Can Fall Short

We all have had a friend come to us with a trouble, pain, hurt, trial, worry, affliction, confession, etc. And since we don’t want to come off as too “preachy”, we do what ANY “good” friend would do. We support them, of course!

I am sure most of us have said things like these:

• “You’ve got this!”
• “You can do it!”
• “You’ll be better next time!”
• “You don’t need that mean ex!”
• “Just try harder next time!”
• “Everyone fails & messes up, but you have to pick yourself up & try again!”
• “Just keep swimming! Just keep swimming!”
• “Never give up! Never Surrender!”
• “You got this, girl!
• “You’re tough!”
• “You can do it!!”

Aww, we’re SO nice…. Or ARE we???

The Truth Behind the Curtain

Where is the emphasis placed in each of those phrases as the source of their hope for change or for salvation out of a horrible situation or for redemption from shame or regret?

On THEM.

But you & I both know that we are limited. We are fallible. We have weaknesses & shortcomings & temptations. We fail. We don’t have infinite strength, wisdom, or will to carry on through trials & pain. We are only human, after all.

So, by placing all of their hope (or rather, pressure), on their shoulders… are we really helping them at all? Or are we making it worse… feeding the lie that if they just try harder next time, everything will work out?

Point Back to the Source

Are we pointing them to the true source of HOPE, by pointing out how ABLE GOD IS?

We are taught early on to give that “Go Team!” encouragement in times of trouble, but do you know what we’re doing when we give our “Go Team!” pep talk to encourage friends to pull themselves back up & try harder next time–without adding CHRIST as the true source of that hope?

Favorite Frosting? Mmmm.

Well, let me take a detour & describe it this way…. What is your ABSOLUTE FAVORITE frosting?

• Chocolate glaze?
• Whipped cream frosting?
• Buttercream icing?
• Homemade Cream Cheese Frosting? (I’m starting to drool a little, so I better stop, haha.)

So, imagine that you choose this favorite icing of yours… make a big, YUMMY batch of it, (since you feel so bad for them & want to make it all better, of course), & you lather it ALL OVER that DEATH CAKE of theirs.

**Ouch.**

Make it Matter

Because, without pointing them to the source of TRUE HOPE, do you know what you did for them with that pep talk? Absolutely nothing.

… Except to maybe make it easier for them to swallow their portion of their “Death Cake”.

… Because in saying those things, you are propelling the lie that we were made to & should be able to do this life on our own... That if we just try harder… That if we just try again… That if we were only smarter, stronger, wiser, etc. etc. etc., then maybe it will get better next time….

Bring It Back to HOPE

Did you warn them? Did you tell them about the LIFE cake? Did you point them to the FREEDOM of grace & the HOPE found in giving our cares to an able God who loves us & can set us free from the bondage of our wrongs?

Nope. You just hugged them & handed them back an even tastier DEATH CAKE & sent them on their “merry” way.

You (maybe accidentally, unintentionally) lied to them.

But God Forgives

I am sure we have all done it… With great intentions… But the truth remains that we sent them on without the hope that we hold in our own hearts.

It’s true… It’s a lie that Satan has been feeding us for ages past. The lie says,

• “You’ve got this ON YOUR OWN!”
• “You don’t need that ex (or CHRIST) because YOU’re tough!”
• “YOU’re enough (on your own)!”
• “You can do it (ON YOUR OWN–WITHOUT Christ)!”
• “YOU are strong! YOU are a warrior!”

But the Truth is, they can’t… They aren’t enough. And that’s okay. God can fill in the gaps as we entrust it to Him.

We Need a Savior–& It’s Not Us

On our own, there will always be another sin. Another failure. Another hurt. Another wrong done to us or done by us. Sin & Satan will still be in control–on our own.

BUT, please realize another important piece of Truth–God gives victory & He forgives US in OUR shortcomings as well. So if you’re guilty of turning friends away with a smile full of false hope… repent of it, ACCEPT God’s FORGIVENESS, & move FORWARD!

We have hope in Christ! Hallelujah!

How to Give “Life Cake” Instead

The important question moving forward is this, “How can you transform this “DEATH CAKE-DELECTABLE ICING PEP TALK” into a LIFE-GIVING message of actual, lasting HOPE?”

The simple answer? By giving God the glory He deserves!

How can we start offering our friends the “Life Cake” instead of trying to make their “Death Cake” taste better?

When You Grow, You Can Help Others Grow

Well, one way that comes to mind is making efforts of memorizing Scripture. That’s right, it’s not just for your OWN personal battles!

Truth is Truth.

The more our focus is set on Truth & the more Truth that we are consistently absorbing through the reading of God’s Word, the Bible, the more prepared we will be on the fly, when a friend approaches us with a problem, to tackle that problem with grace, Truth, & love.

And Pray, Always Pray

And pray! Pray with your friends when they come to you with a struggle–even if they don’t know Jesus. Because Jesus knows & loves them just the same, & He died for their shame & guilt as well.

God loves them, so let your friend know that fact & pray with them through it.

Making a Change

Now, say that same friend came to you, & during your encouragement pep talk, you threw in some Truth (AKA Scripture) along with it & then prayed with them.

Try something like this, “It’s okay to not have it all together! That’s why we need Christ! The Bible says that He is our refuge and our strength–a very present help in time of trouble. Put your trust in HIM as your hope & He will give you the strength & peace you need to get through it! Let’s stop & pray right now. You don’t have to if you don’t feel comfortable, but please allow me to pray for you.”

OR “God tells us, in the Bible, that His love covers a multitude of offenses. That’s why we need Christ. Trials are a way to show us how much we need Him in our lives. He gives hope! Let’s pray about it!”

Now don’t get me wrong, you MIGHT get an eye roll or two–I know I have given plenty on the downlow.

But Truth is Truth. Be encouraged & stand for Truth, because it’s WORTH IT–And, they are destined to die without it.

Be a Living Testimony

And in the future, when you face a trial of your own & YOU are the one struggling & you share with THEM, you can cling to the TRUTH & say, “but I am so glad I have Christ, because His promises stand true,  one of them says “He is my refuge and my strength–a very present help in time of trouble. I need to stop & pray & ask for His help.”

Be a living testimony of how much God loves us & how He interacts in our lives during times of trouble.

So, when they see God work that very Truth in YOUR life, they will maybe want to start questioning that little eye roll they gave you before.

Sorry, But Our Goodness Can’t Save Us

You see, our goodness can’t save us long-term–eternally or otherwise, only God’s perfect goodness can do that for us & for our friends, through His gift of Christ’s payment. (*Read more on my Hope is Found page, here.)

I heard a quote once that said, “The way we, as Believers, live ought to cause Unbelievers to question their unbelief.”

Join Me in Giving God the Glory While Offering Others “Life Cake”

So join me in this movement to PRAY on ways to bring HIM glory & not to live for our own glory! To make God known! To make HIM famous! Not for MY glory, but for HIS glory alone, forever & ever, AMEN.

Shine HOPE.

Coming Next Week

A new post goes live every Monday morning! See you next week!

A Note from Michelle:

If you want to hear more of my story, check out the “About Me” & “Hope is Found” pages, 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!!

Weekly Special Spotlight:

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

The Imani Necklace

Representing & Empowering Women in Uganda & India!

This stretch cord necklace carries cream and aqua paper-rolled beads.

Artisan Information:

We partner with the ministry founded in 2008 by then 19-year-old Katie Davis Majors (author of Kisses from Katie). This ministry feeds, educates, & encourages vulnerable children & families in Uganda. Katie goes into a slum community once a week to meet with artisan women, build relationships, lead them in a Bible study, & provide job training. Your purchase of this paper bead jewelry gives a bright future for women!

Purchase this piece & empower a woman in Uganda

Shop Here, OR, Email me at michelle@michellehydeonline.com, & I will message you personally with more information!! Thank you for inspiring HOPE, Lovely!

Sounds Good to Me…

We all like to think of ourselves as good people, don’t we?

Except for those low days that we may feel self-loathing, we generally feel like we are pretty good.

At least I do.

Maybe it’s because we help others who are hurting. Maybe we give money to people in need. Maybe we are generally pretty kind with others. Maybe we’re good at forgiving others. Maybe a million other things that are good things in & of themselves… But do they make US good?

I Like to Think of Myself

I like to think about my good qualities, & ignore my bad qualities. Weaknesses are a different thing altogether—I can acknowledge those pretty easily—but “badness” or evil or sin? Nope… I like to justify those into oblivion.

Are you with me on that? Do you also try to excuse your own bad behavior? Bad thoughts? Bad past (or present)?

Sometimes we are too busy comparing the bad with the good, feeling the latter outweighs the former.

Sometimes we are too busy comparing our badness with someone else’s whose is “worse.”

Sometimes we are just plain ignorant.

Sometimes we are too busy justifying our own actions to see there actually was a better alternative.

We all have our own personal ways of covering up the less appealing sides of ourselves.

The Pressure to “Be Good”

We sometimes feel pressure from others who expect better or seem better than we are, & we fake a façade to fit in or be liked.

But count on this… that evil is there.

I grew up in a Christian home & was taught from a young age all of the right things to say & all the right things to do. I was pretty much taught how to ACT good. But on the inside, I was just like anyone else. Rotten.

Growing up, knowing I knew all of the “right” things to do & say, I began believing that I was a pretty good person, compared to the world, at least.

I grew accustomed to subconsciously conducting a goodness check on myself, realizing that I at least wasn’t doing “that.”

But all of that was a lie I used to make me feel good about myself… justified… deserving of the grace God had given me.

HA.

Anyone else fool yourselves into thinking such things?

We Can’t Earn It, Sista!

Like we could ever earn the grace of God?

God tells us in the Bible that there is none who is good, no not one—[including myself—Michelle Hyde].

He tells us that our righteousness is like dirty rags.

He tells us it is by Grace that we are saved, through faith, so that no one may boast.

You see, when we believe we are generally good people, we are lying to ourselves. Flat out lying.

The Missing Piece

We are also depriving ourselves when we tell ourselves these lies.

How are we depriving ourselves? Because we are placing the weight of our redemption on the measure of our own goodness—continually falling short, of course.

There is freedom in recognizing our evil condition. There is freedom in realizing our complete depravity.

There is freedom in recognizing our lack of goodness because instead of trying furiously to maintain the right to grace, we can fall on our face before God & fully accept His free gift, knowing His love is so great that even though we don’t even come close to deserving it—He still offers it to us, even knowing us better than we know ourselves.

A Rocky Road with Zero Marshmallows

I have mentioned before that God has been taking me down a path of learning, to learn to rely on Him more than I rely on myself.

It’s been hard. (Hard is a huge understatement, by the way—imagine instead, me crumpled on the floor in tears some days).

It’s been hard because He has been revealing my own depravity to me. And that’s never fun. He has slowly been revealing my inward, hidden & excused-away SIN.

It’s a comfort to us, to feel like we somehow deserve the grace God offers us & to feel like we can somewhat control each situation on our own, without His help or guidance… But when God takes that lie away, it’s not so fun–trust me.

He has let me wallow in it at times, merely to show me that it’s not my own goodness or strength or wisdom that gives me victory over it—it’s His alone.

On My Own is Not Where I Want to Be

If He left me to myself… I would be just as capable of doing the worst things as anyone else… Things that would ruin me.

I am naturally a sinful person. We all are.

I like to look out for myself first. I like to think I’m great. I like to hope everyone believes I am so, so good.

But the reality is? I am just as depraved as the “worst” of us. And I am just as undeserving as the “worst” of us.

We All Need It

God is revealing to me my inward struggle. He is letting me see the shameful temptations & the awful, selfish attitudes that live in me. He is letting me see the NEED I have for HIS GRACE.

The even more beautiful truth behind this self-revelation is how wrong it is for me to gauge how deserving certain people are of God’s grace compared to others.

I don’t do this consciously, mind you—I am not a heartless, uncaring person—but it’s a natural thing to see certain sins or wrongs & wonder if they could ever submit to the grace of God–or maybe they just deserve it less than others.

But God…

But God does the saving, not us (Thank God!!!), & His redemption & grace covers everything, without discrimination of our past (Again, THANK GOD!).

Take Saul, in the Bible, for instance. He murdered Christians. A LOT of Christians. He was infamous for it & just his name alone could scare people to the core.

But God spoke to Saul, humbled him, & changed the course of history through his life. God gave him a new name—Paul–& Paul became one of the absolute most influential ambassadors of hope to the world.

God Does the Changing in Us

God changes people.

Let me say that again, in case you missed it… GOD. CHANGES. PEOPLE.

Not us. Not our goodness. Not our efforts. GOD’s. HIM, ONLY.

All we are asked to do is to take our sorry state of depravity, bow before His HOLY throne, & pour it all out at His feet.

We don’t have to become perfect first. We don’t have to prove our goodness or worth. We don’t have to offer sacrifices & earn our way into grace….

He Sees Us… All of Us… And He Loves Us

He looks at us. He sees our depravity. He sees the helpless attempts to hide our sin. He has compassion on us. He reaches out His hand & draws us to Himself. He changes us. He saves us. Him.

You see, He created us. He gave us free will to choose Him or reject Him. He never wanted to force us against our will to love or obey Him—that wouldn’t be love. But He knew before He created us, that this would create opportunity for sin—a rejecting of His ways for ours. He knew the hurt this would cause. He knew that we wouldn’t be able to fully ever wash ourselves from that sin & depravity to enter again into His HOLY presence. He knew all of that before He created us.

He knew that we would need a Savior. He knew He would have to send His Son, Jesus, to cover what we could not, in order to pull us back into His HOLY presence.

And guess what? He still created us. He watched us fall. He watched us try & fail at redeeming ourselves. And He sent Jesus to save all who would come asking.

We are lost without Him… Every single one of us.

God is Enough

We have shame.

We have guilt.

We have stains we cannot wash away.

We have hurts.

We have scars.

We have a “ME” we hide away.

But God is enough.

God is enough.

God is ENOUGH to wash it all away.

So, come to Him.

Lay it all before Him.

And let HIM be the Goodness & Redemption that your hungry heart craves.

Lay It All Down

We may be REALLY good at hiding our sin & our depravity—even to ourselves.

But God sees it. He sees it all.

And still He holds out His hand to us, an open invitation for Grace & Redemption. To become His beloved children. To be freed from the chains of our sin & shame. To live in His LOVE.

So, Lovely, take a moment to consider your own depravity.

You don’t have to cover it or hide it, because God already sees it & loves you anyway.

Just come to Him with it all.

Say something like, “God, I can’t. I just can’t. I try so hard to convince myself & others that I am so good, but we both know it’s a lie. I am so selfish, so proud, so undeserving. Please forgive me for my wrong attitudes, my wrong thoughts, my wrong choices, & the wrongs I have done to others whom you also love. Please forgive me. Change me. Help me become the woman you created me to be. Help me see the me You intended me to be. Wash me clean. Change me. Shape me. Forgive me. Be my Lord, my Savior, my Father, my HOLY GOD. Amen!”

That’s all we have to do to receive God’s grace. Lay it all before Him & allow Him to work in & change you into His beautiful vision of you. The old you washed away. The new you just beginning.

God Doesn’t Discriminate

God doesn’t discriminate based on “severity of sin” but rather loves us all indiscriminately.

So, come to Him, depravity & all, & let Him be the change you seek.

Let Him have the GLORY, forever & ever, AMEN.

Shine His Light of HOPE to the world, Lovely—SHINE HOPE.

Coming Next Week

To be honest with you… I don’t know.

I had a plan, but God seems to be washing that away, whether to show me that I need to lean on Him, or whether He has a different plan than I do, I don’t know. But I had nothing to say today, other than a prayer that God would use me as a vessel of hope somehow in the blankness of my mind today, & this is what came of it.

Stay tuned & pray for me. Pray that I don’t hide away from the hard lessons I need to learn. Pray that I don’t put on a façade of perfection, but rather bare my soul & weaknesses to the world, so that others may see His HOPE & not me.

Love you, Lovely!

A Note from Michelle:

If you want to hear more of my story, check out the “About Me” & “Hope is Found” pages, 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!!

Weekly Special Spotlight:

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

Willow Necklace

Representing Women Artisans in Haiti!

Wear this hand-rolled clay and paper bead piece as a double strand necklace or detach one strand for a matching bracelet. Accented with micro paper beads.

Artisan Information:

Haiti is home to almost 500,000 orphans. The majority of these orphans have not been orphaned by parental deaths, but by parents who had to give them up simply because they could not afford to feed them. No mother should have to give up her child. Through your purchase, you provide parents with a sustainable income, so they can keep their children with them! Be a part of families stepping into bright futures together!

Purchase this piece and empower a woman in Haiti!

Shop Here, OR, Email me at michelle@michellehydeonline.com, & I will message you personally with more information!! Thank you for inspiring HOPE, Lovely!