Truth Over Culture

We need to step out & be a little counter-culture here today. We need to recognize that just because something is permeating culture–no matter how “church-y” it may sound–it doesn’t make it true.

Have you ever heard someone quote the saying, “God would never ask you to do something unless He knew you could do it” or maybe “God asked you to do it because He knew you could do it”?

While well-meaning, these statements couldn’t be further from the truth. Let’s talk about it.

“My Grace Is Sufficient”

Even in dealing with a thorn in one’s side that you can’t seem to get rid of, as in 2 Corinthians 12:7-9, God asks us to do & face things all the time that we cannot possibly do… without Him.

And even things we THINK we can do just fine, are usually not done to their potential because we’re trying to do it withOUT Him… in our OWN strength or our OWN wisdom.

He wants us to recognize His help in our lives. He wants us to see our real need of Him.

And when we face seemingly impossible things, we are often forced to reckon with the fact that we CAN’T… & we’re given a beautiful opportunity to see His CAN.

When we stop relying on ourselves & our abilities, we see how much greater He is than us… How infinitely capable, even of the “impossible.”

God Knows That HE Is Able

The God-asked-you-to-do-it-because-He-knew-you-were-able lie is so prevalent on social media, seeing it on cute graphics shared even by Christian sources & can sometimes be heard in churches because it SOUNDS so true, but the important distinction to be made here is this:

God asked you to do it because He knew HE was able, NOT because you are.

We need to stop basing our lives on what we are capable of & begin framing everything around that of which HE is capable.

When I Face a Dead-End in His Lead… He Has a Plan

For example, I had no experience designing a website before this blog came to be, but I felt God’s nudge in this direction, & so I prayed & asked Him to provide the guidance & help I would need to follow His lead. And soon after, I came across an ad for training for just such a thing & in a budget with which I was comfortable!

God knew I couldn’t—I had no experience, no know-how, no means of carrying out His plan… But because I knew He had asked it of me, I knew also that He had a plan in place to make it happen.

Avoiding God’s Lead Because I Am Not Able

Another example… I have been avoiding helping with childcare at our church. First, it was because the monthly disappointment of no pregnancy, after months of working with a doctor toward that goal, was still fresh in my heart & working with others’ children felt like fresh jabs at still-healing wounds… but then it just got easy to avoid the uncomfortable… it became my cop-out.

I no longer felt the fresh sting of the childless hurt, but had grown so comfortable NOT having the task of childcare in my life… it almost became a “well, if I can’t have children, at least I don’t have to face any challenges of raising, teaching, or disciplining them (or changing diapers).”

Not having children became my excuse to not try intimidating-to-me tasks involving children.

Trusting God in My “But I’m Not Good At That….”

Mamas may not get this, but for me, I haven’t had to change a diaper in over 25 years maybe & have never had children of my own, so the idea of doing it for someone else’s kids just feels cringy & uncomfortable for me. I feel awkward. I feel out of place. I feel like passing the child onto the parent & saying, “it’s your kid, you do it.”

And when discipline becomes an issue, going from silly playtime to actually having to be the responsible-for-a-child adult, well, I freeze in very uncomfortable anxiety in my lack of experience with them.

But God has been nudging my heart, revealing this refusal-to-serve to me… showing me that I am hiding behind an excuse that no longer bothers me just to avoid doing something that is uncomfortable & awkward for me.

And He is asking me to trust Him in the gaps where I lack… To step out in faith that if He has asked it of me, He will also help me along the way as I ask for it.

Stop Avoiding the Hard… Stop Plowing through the Hard

I know maybe those may sound like silly, inconsequential examples in regards to your own life, but have you ever stopped to consider whether there is any area where you are digging in your heals because you think, “if I don’t feel capable of this, it must not be from God,” or maybe trying to plow through all of the discomfort, exhausting & straining yourself because you think, “God asked me to do it because He knows I am able”?

Let those thoughts go.

He DOES Ask Us to Do Things We CanNOT Do, Because He Knows HE Can

He does ask us to do things we feel are impossible for us.

He doesn’t ask us to do things just because He “knows we’re capable.”

He asks us because He knows NOTHING is impossible for HIM.

He asks us because He knows that HE is capable—even when we ourselves are lacking.

The God-Asked-You-to-Do-It-Because-He-Knew-You-Were-Able Lie

So, take a moment & ask God to show you where you may be sticking your palm to His face unknowingly because you feel incapable. And ask Him for help in trusting that HE is enough for any path down which He may lead.

Shine HOPE by doing as He leads, trusting that HE is ALWAYS able, EVEN when you’re NOT.

Coming Next Week

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

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

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A Note from Michelle:

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Fashion as a Force for GOOD:

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

Silver Medallion Necklace

This textured silver-tone chain from India can be worn separately or layered with other necklaces from our One World Collection. The uniquely textured pendant adds the perfect artistic touch. Three length options allow you to choose your comfort & style.

Every purchase provides fair-trade jobs in areas of extreme poverty in India.

How You Can Help:

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

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Love ya lots! Have a wonderful week!