Encouragement from the Studio: Trust and Contentment

Exodus 14:13-14 Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again.
The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.”

At the start of this New Year, 2019, God gave me two words, trust and contentment. As I thought about those two words I realized that to trust God I must know and understand His character and look for it displayed in my life. Then as I learn trust and more about his character, contentment will develop because I will be able to see him working in my life. I will be able to see his plan and be content that it is a good plan.

Exodus 14 is the story of the Israelites leaving Egypt and being trapped between the Red Sea and their attackers. A story most of us feel we know really well. But as I read this story the day God brought trust and contentment to mind, three things stood out to me. In verses 13 and 14 Moses tells the people “Do not be afraid,” and “stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring to you today,” and “the LORD will fight for you; you need only be still.”

I believe these calls to action are paramount to displaying our trust in the Lord and our contentment with his plan. To not be afraid when adversity is coming at us from all sides, to be content to stand firm and be still in the place God has put us. If we continue to move, run or hide from adversity then we won’t get to experience God’s complete character. We won’t get to see how He plans to deliver us and fight for us and we will miss out on a large part of God’s character, His faithfulness to His people!

My desire to put these two word into action this year is leading me to search the bible and my life for areas where the Lord displays faithfulness, love, protection, holiness, sovereignty, control, power, compassion, mercy, grace and forgiveness in my life.

The more we look for God’s character qualities displayed in our life, the more we will be able to trust Him as a God who desires our good and His glory. Trusting him will allow us to be content with where he has us, even if its in the middle of a storm.

Whether you are in the storm or in the calm, take a moment each day to look for the ways God displays His character in your life. The more you look for it, the more you will see it.

Encouragement from the Studio: God’s great love

As I look back across 2017 and reflect on all that God has done this year, I am amazed. There were lots of ups and downs throughout the year, but today I am rejoicing in how God has brought my husband Michael and I through 2017 to head into a new year together.

We didn’t have any major life changing events in 2017, but can I still look back and see God’s hand on everything that happened last year.

About this time last year we were living in a rental house that was put up for sale, Michael’s overtime at work was practically nonexistent and we were told if we wanted to stay in our house that the rent would be increased. This news added to the stress of the holidays by 100%! There was nothing we could do except look for a new rental house.

So we started the search and we looked and we looked and we looked, we were beginning to give up hope that we were ever going to find a place we could afford and we started making a plan to live in the apartment above my parent’s garage and in our travel trailer. Not ideal to say the least! Then all of the sudden, when were about to give up hope, there it was listed for a rent, a small but doable duplex in a country setting! It was perfect and God provided it at the perfect time and the perfect price.

As I look back though I remember feeling unsure of what was going to happen. I questioned everything and everyone, I didn’t think we were going to find a place to live; I couldn’t trust that God would provide. The truth is, I still see that same pattern in me today, but why? When time and time again I can see where God has provided exactly what we needed when we needed it! Why can’t I trust him with the unknown, instead of waiting to trust him after the fact?

I don’t know that I have the answer to this question. I just know that this is something I struggle with and that I want to work on throughout next year.

This morning God brought this verse to my attention from Lamentations 3:22. Its says, “Because of the LORD’S GREAT LOVE (emphasis mine), we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They (his compassions) are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”

God continues to love us even when we doubt Him, even when we don’t trust Him. We don’t have to wait for a new year to embrace his compassion and love! Its there for us each and every morning, each and every day of each and every year for the rest of our lives! He loves us, he wants what is best for us and he accepts us just as we are.

So as we head into 2018, why not embrace God’s compassion each morning and live life like his promises claim we can? There is no reason for us to be consumed by our doubts, because his love never fails us. He is there each day just waiting for us to run to him and let him embrace us. He is faithful, lets live 2018 in the light of his faithfulness!

How has God been faithful to you this year? I would love to know. What can you use prayer for this year? Leave a comment below and I will be praying for you. I truly believe God blesses us when we walk through life together by praying for and sharing our prayer requests with one another.

Happy New Year! May God’s faithfulness exceed your wildest dreams this year!