FROG

Well, as I’m writing this blog post, I’m just starting my third social networking break; only this time, I don’t know when I’ll really come back.  I stayed up the night before and thought of all of the schoolwork that I needed to get in.  I really had no idea just how far I was behind until my 22nd coaching call; then my eyes were opened.  Looking at everything in my schedule, I knew I couldn’t take out work, piano practice, or eating.  I couldn’t even really take off sleep either, though some days it already feels like I’ve taken sleep off my schedule.  In the middle of this mess that was going through my mind, I knew only one thing kept me from accomplishing my goals: and that was social networking.  I hated the thought of it, but I knew I had to find a schedule that I could get both schoolwork and work in.  Skype, Google+, and Gmail was staring me straight in the face; and that's what was hindering my view from my college courses.
In the midst of this though, the Lord touched my heart.  I had to trust in Him to help me make this decision.  It wasn’t one I could make on my own, though I could have tried. I was left with one choice: trust Jesus.  He knew what I wanted. He knew what I needed to do for awhile.  And I felt Him leading me to go on this break.  
As 2 Samuel 22:3 says: “The God of my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, My stronghold and my refuge; My Savior, You save me from violence.”
I was not sure what to do, but He led me.  I may not like what I had to do, but in trusting God, I knew I had made the right decision.
Is it always easy to trust God? No, definitely not.  Like this example, we know what we want, but God knows what’s best for us.  David had to trust God when he confronted both Goliath and Saul. Noah trusted that God would really send the worldwide flood.  Mary trusted God to give her the strength to carry the Son of Man in her womb.  Everyone has to deal with putting trust in someone at some point.  But as Christians, we know better than to put our trust in things or other people to meet all of our needs.  God is our sole Provider, Protector, and Guide.  We aren’t lost like the thousands of others who rely on their money, friends, cars and trucks, or even food and tv to give them everything that they need.  Putting our trust in material things will only give us more grief and will never result in true happiness nor will it result in what God’s perfect plans are for us.
Is it even possible to, as Proverbs 3:5-6 puts it: “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” all of the time?  No, as fallible humans, we will always stumble and forget.  But God’s always there to pick up the pieces and put us back on the path that He knows will be the best for us. (Jeremiah 29:11)  
Will God fail us if we put our trust in Him?  Never.  We may feel that way when He prompts us to make a decision that we would rather forget; but in the end, He proves to us that the choice He wanted us to make, was for our own good.  
If you’ve ever heard of F.R.O.G., you’ll know it stands for Fully Rely On God.  An easy reminder of what we should always do: tough or easy.  Food, cars, or computers may seem like great things to lean on for when we are going through difficult times, but God will always be there to see us through and will never let go. (Psalm 118:8-9)
I know this may seem like a simple message, but it really spoke to me this week and my hope is that it’s something that will bless you in the coming weeks as you “Fully Rely On God”.


Blessings,
Anna

His Reasons!

Person: I don’t even know why it has to be like this.

Me: It’s for a reason.

Person: Yeah, what reason?

I have a bad habit of replaying my conversations with people. I think through them, analyze thoughts and motives, and realize what could have been said (or added) instead. I do it all the time, and these lines from a conversation these past two weeks are no exception.

I know now how I could have answered that question. I didn’t then. I’m not an “on-the-spot” answer-giver. I like to think through my answers (especially long ones), and sometimes by the time I do that people are onto something else.  I didn’t know what to say in answer to “what reason?”, and they didn’t expect me to. It was more of a rhetorical question.

As I was thinking about how to write this week’s posts, I came across some of my quotes that I have collected over the past couple years from people, blogs, sermons, or anywhere I find them. Many of them speak on this subject, and I will do my best to incorporate them here.

Why are things the way they are? In your home, at work, in society. There are many reasons perhaps, but this one I know: it is for our growth and strengthening of character.  Each circumstance and situation God places in our lives is for our maturing of character. Because His thoughts are not our thoughts, we may not immediately see His plans, but often times later in life we can look back and view the whole story as one who has been carried through it. Our growth is what God desires of us, and like precious metals in the fire, we cannot be purged of impurities until we have passed through the fire. We don’t often understand reasons for each trial, but we can remember the past and see that God did carry us. He never forsook His children, and when they needed Him most He was already there. “The blow at the outward man may be the greatest blessing to the inner man”: the maturing of our character.  God’s reasons always have a purpose; He does not call us to futility.

Sometimes God calls us to a seemingly impossible task. A task we could not accomplish in our own strength. That is when we realize that we need Him most, because “the task ahead of us is never as great as the Power behind us”. It is through His strength, and only His strength that we accomplish His calling and purpose. His power enables us to live for Him, to complete His tasks, and to shine our light in a dark world in every situation. Sometimes we feel like giving up because it’s so hard. But “when one must be forsaken, let not that one be Christ”; give up yourself, rather than leaving the One who gives you true strength. With Christ, the only way to fail is to quit, so don’t give up, because what God calls us to do, He will give the strength to accomplish. “When we are weakest, He is strongest—and when we step far out of our comfort zones, we step right into the comfort of Christ.” Whatever impossible obstacle God places in our journey, He will also provide a way over it—your good work will be rewarded either here or when you see Jesus face to face. One of God’s reason for each and every situation we face is to show His power—not ours—in our helplessness.

The wise will use the events God gives us as instruments in our life, to advance His character in our lives. Taking advantage of each difficulty and seeing how we can grow from it will mold us constantly to His image. God doesn’t give us impossible tasks, trials, or temptations. In each one, He has provided a way of escape, promised His faithful care, and given us Christ’s strength. And when we come to the end of our weakness, and see that we can do nothing, then we will more fully understand that “in our weakness, He is strong.” “God doesn’t call the qualified: He qualifies the called.” He knows we aren’t perfect, but through His strength He can accomplish anything in us and we can still fulfill His will. His good work in an imperfect people will be perfectly completed when He comes for us. Don’t lose hope when everything seems to stand still, when it seems that God is not listening, when it seems like you’re going backwards and not forward—don’t let those waves wash away your hope. My dad said this to me not that long ago: “Dark clouds aren’t always bad. Sometimes they bring a little rain which is good for growth. It’s when it’s thundering and lightening that it can cause the damage. But usually there is always sunshine after a storm. …always hope for that: the sunshine.”  There is a reason. We cannot often see it, but when we pass through (yes, through; even if we are stuck in it for the present), we will see Christ waiting on the other side where He was all along, guiding us, sustaining us, and carrying us when we needed Him most.

His reasons? To show His strength. To further His purposes. To increase our likeness to Him. To demonstrate His power. To testify of His glory. To give us a hope and a future. It is all His, and no glory belongs to us.

Jude 1:24-25

To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy—to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power, and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen. 

In Christ,

Kaleigh