If… Then…

I have heard it asked, more times than I can count, that “if God allows people to go to Hell, how can He be a good God?”

They also tend to follow that question with: “If God isn’t good, I don’t want to follow Him.”

The above declaration is also often preceded with God allowing the presence of evil in this world, so let’s address both concerns today.

Who Are We Compared to Him?

First of all, let’s get the “If God doesn’t [fill in the blank], then I don’t want to follow or believe in Him” claim out of the way.

If God IS real & He DID create the world & everything in it. If God DOES have complete control, power & dominion over it all… I would think our opinion of His deserving our respect should not matter so much. In fact, to risk being blunt, our opinion would be completely irrelevant.

He doesn’t have to get our stamp of approval for Him to be real & for His righteous punishment for the rebellion of sin to be real.

He Is “I Am”

And reality check, He IS real, He DID create the world & everything in it. And He DOES have complete control, power, & dominion over it all.

I feel that it’s important to start there because we are not dealing with a Someone whom we can shape to our liking or decide whether or not they are real or deserving… That’s not up for debate.

The consequences are real.

But so is His grace.

How Is God Good?

So, let’s get to the “God is Good” part, in light of sin & the consequences of that sin (Hell) as a reality we must accept.

So maybe you decide God could possibly be real. Maybe you feel that little tug on your heart, beckoning you to accept His grace & be welcomed into His haven of love & comfort & hope, even on earth.

But maybe you’re stuck on sin… & on Hell.

Maybe you question God’s goodness & therefore doubt whether you can put your faith & trust into Someone you feel afraid of or defensive of in light of what you believe about yourself or the world.

Completely understandable. I have BEEN there.

Even after I got saved, I grappled with this for a while.

It’s scary.

But…

Digging Deeper

God IS Good, & so let us dig a bit deeper than the surface.

Oftentimes, we hate this idea about God because we either see our own good intentions or the good intentions of others, when thinking about our sin.

Or maybe we feel haunted by a decision we made or something we did & now we feel trapped under the wrath of God, afraid to accept it as a reality rather than an imagined construct that we can just dismiss & figuratively run away from (or try to).

But God’s wrath is real.

BUT, His grace is just as real & it covers your worst when you bow it all to Him.

We Choose to Choose

You see, if you caught my blog post a couple weeks ago, “Garden of Eden: What Was So Wrong About Eating That Fruit?” then you know that we were never intended to be in this mess of a world & life in the first place.

God’s intent was for us to stroll with Him in the perfect Garden of Eden without fears or worry, pain or strife, living in a trusting relationship with our Father God in control of everything in this world that would otherwise cause us lasting &/or immense pain.

But Adam & Eve rebelled, wanting to make those calls for themselves, thus dooming us with that same knowledge of good & evil, brought on by eating that fruit.

And not only that, but we choose to eat of that fruit every day, don’t we?–in the way that we live, choosing to supersede God’s will & way so that we can do it our own way (& inevitably screw something or someone up).

We Have the Knowledge, But Not the Infinite Wisdom

You see, we have the knowledge of good & evil, yes, but we DON’T have the capacity to see every ripple effect of every choice. We DON’T have full wisdom to see all pieces in play past, present, & future. We DON’T always know all the details involved or the subconscious trauma that our decisions cause ourselves & others simply by essentially shoving God out of the way to run things ourselves.

Even as a Christian, I am guilty of living like this, despite my intent, every single day.

It’s too easy to go based on habit, cultural norm, how I was raised, my own perceptions, my self-protection mode, good intentions, pride, fear, insecurities, doubts, uncertainties, etc., before stopping to realize I have done it again—I have acted without stopping to ask God for guidance on how to do it best.

No One Good But God

You see, we mess up every day.

No one can call themselves Good. Even Jesus said, “there is no one good, no not one” (paraphrase Romans 3:10-12) & that our “righteousness is like dirty rags.” (Isaiah 64:6)

Only God is good because He is perfection. He is lacking nothing.

He doesn’t make mistakes. He doesn’t act out of fear or hate or pride.

He just IS. He is the great I AM.

All God Asks…

And all God asks of us is to trust Him to do the hard stuff, to protect us from the painful things, & to guide us in the way that will bring us & others the most joy, fulfillment, & peace.

But we still rebel.

God Also Made a Way Back for Us

And THEN, we have the audacity to shake our fists at God for sin on this earth… for not allowing entrance into heaven for those who do not accept His grace offered through Jesus Christ.

Because He offers that grace to EVERYONE, without exception.

God Makes All Things New

Paul murdered countless Christians, BUT when he surrendered his wrongs to God, God restored him & gave him a new purpose (his originally designed purpose) to encourage countless more to find hope in Christ.

David was called a man after God’s own heart when he repented of his own guilt & shame of sleeping with another man’s wife & then sending that man to the frontlines so that her pregnancy would not be found out. But God redeemed him & used his life for wonderful things, washing his slate clean.

You see, the people written about in the Bible aren’t even “good” people.

They are REDEEMED people. Redeemed through the blood sacrifice of Jesus Christ, for even them.

And for you.

He Gives Hope Despite What We Really Deserve

THAT is why we can easily call God our GOOD God, because despite the fact that the perfect life of trust & peace & joy in Him, that He intended for us to have was spit upon by Adam & Even eating that fruit… And EVEN THOUGH we make that same decision daily by bypassing His help to do it our own way… & even though we have pasts that make us cringe in the sight of God’s righteous judgment upon our sin….

God… Offers… GRACE.

HE made the way. He paid the price. He invites us back to Himself. He bridged the gap. He beckons us home.

Run to Grace

He forgives. He guides. He loves. He protects. He listens. He gives Himself as a Comforter through the Holy Spirit. He gives HIS grace to all who seek it, through Jesus’ sacrifice on our behalf.

Don’t live defending your wrongs, in the sight of God Almighty. Run to Him.

Don’t live running from His righteous judgement. Run TO Him.

Don’t be content avoiding God in fear. Run to Him.

He Gives Grace & His Grace Is FREE

He is beside you, waiting with open arms to welcome you home.

No questions asked… No lecture awaiting your return… No crossed arms or glaring gaze.

Just GRACE.

Celebratory dancing & singing, twirling around with joy, hands reached out to pull you into a loving, joyous embrace, an “I’m just so glad you’re HOME!” type GRACE.

Let Him…

Let Him love you.

Let Him shower you with His goodness.

Ask Him to show you, personally, His love & forgiveness & hope & GRACE.

It is so, SO worth it, my friend!

Always Learning, Always Growing

Even I have to constantly grow & learn new ways to submit my ways to Him, so that I can experience His presence & goodness more thoroughly in my life.

I will forever need to grow, but His grace is once & for all.

I am forgiven. I am set free. I can look forward to heaven with full assurance that the grace of God covers even me.

And it covers you as well.

Will you answer the call?

Coming Next Week

Join me next Monday morning EST for more weekly encouragement!

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 for women around the world. These hand-crafted pieces are offering job creation opportunities for women artisans in impoverished nations all around the world! Check out this week’s featured beauty!!

Nairobi Necklace

Small hammered ovals & ethically sourced bone shapes adorn this golden necklace that shimmers in the light. Crafted in Kenya.

Artisan Information:

In Kenya, where many people struggle with starvation & poverty, the women we partner with are defying the odds! Your purchase empowers these women to earn an income, overcome physical disabilities, & become important parts of their communities!

Purchase this piece & empower a woman in Kenya!

(*Also Pictured: Grace Earrings, made in the Philippines!*)

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!

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!

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

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!