I’m gonna be honest. This week SUCKED.
My phone broke, so I had to wipe it clean, and by clean i mean delete over 30,000 photos, 404 tik tok drafts, all of my contacts and all app data. Let’s just say, it wasn’t my day. I thought as the week went on, maybe I would see some better days. Wrong. Then i got banned on Tiktok for taking a stand and choosing to love someone despite what they believe and for having a Christian account. Needless to say, my week wasn't great, so my attitude wasn’t either. I started having this mentality of “nothing ever goes my way” or “of course this happens to me”. That’s a DEEP place to sit, and girl am I pleading with you to stand up and walk away from those thoughts today. I have come up with my top 3 healthy habits (whatever suits your fancy) to deal when life just doesn’t go your way:
Fully understand and realize the purpose behind your suffering. Praise even though it’s uncomfortable. Walk in the fact, you are a vessel.
Let’s dive into what these healthy habits look like and what the outcome of practicing them are. Starting off with the first one, you have to fully understand and realize the reason why you are getting tested during this season you are walking through right now. In John chapter 9, He comes across a blind man, and one of the disciples asks “Why was this man born blind?” and Jesus responds by saying “..This happened so the power of God could be seen in Him.” Like WHATT? So, what Jesus is telling us here, is that the reason we were born different, the reason our lives look different or the reason we sometimes suffer in this life, is so that others can see God’s power working through us. Now, thinking of a time where you were extremely mad at life, your parents or someone that altered plans in your life. If someone was to look at the way you handled your anger or the situation, would they see Jesus? Would they see the Power of God through you? The next time something doesn’t go the way you wanted, I challenge you to take a few deep breaths before you get angry, and remember that God has a purpose for this pain: for others to see Him through you. “As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man who had been blind from birth. “Rabbi,” his disciples asked him, “why was this man born blind? Was it because of his own sins or his parents’ sins?” “It was not because of his sins or his parents’ sins,” Jesus answered. “This happened so the power of God could be seen in him. We must quickly carry out the tasks assigned us by the one who sent us. The night is coming, and then no one can work. But while I am here in the world, I am the light of the world.” John 9:1-5 Secondly, we should be PRAISIN’ and RAISIN’ our hands during this hard season. My first thought, much like yours, is: “Why would I praise or be happy when everything sucks”. Our human gut reaction to anything we don't like or don’t want to do, is to pout, get angry or cry. If you're a crier, SAME GIRL, I feel you. But I’m here to tell you, joy CAN healthy co-exist with other emotions. If you are a crier (ME), you can still cry with joy in your heart knowing full well that the Lord is hard at work in your life. Trusting in God’s faithfulness, teaches us to respond to all of life’s ugly twists and turns with joy. Why? Because I know that God is good and that He has already won this. He has victory over every. single. battle in your life, because He chose to die for our freedom and our redemption. WALK IN THAT, SIS. I challenge you the next time you feel like cursing at the world or even becoming angry with God, to turn on some worship music. Kari Jobe, Sean Curran, Elevation Worship, Tauren Wells and Steffany Gretzinger are some of my favorites for those harder days. Leave your anger at His feet, and watch Him cover you and fill your heart with joy. “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds...” James 1:2 Lastly, when life just isn’t going the way we wanted, walk in the freedom that you are a vessel. As we read in James, He talks about how when our faith IS tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. Funny he didn’t say “if” but “is”. When life doesn’t go your way or people don’t treat you like they should, you have the opportunity to grow your character, aligning it with Jesus’. Instead of the typical gut response of complaining, we should see them as great opportunities for personal growth. God may seem distant during these valley seasons, I know how it feels to be going through absolute crap and feel so alone. But here’s the thing girl, God doesn’t leave, He hasn’t left and He won’t ever leave. Instead, when welcomed, He will come alongside you and help you navigate these hardships while pruning you and helping your produce more of Jesus’ character. My challenge to you when you have that stomach flutter, heart race kinda anger the next time, I challenge you to simply invite Him to walk with you in this season and choose to see this hardship as an opportunity for personal growth. Even though it hurts, girl I know it does, I encourage you to walk hand in hand with your Creator. He’s the only one that knows the words to ease your soul and heal your heart, because HE MADE YOU! “For you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” James 1:3-4 I know these may seem huge, intimidating and impossible, but I KNOW you can do it. How? Because the Holy Spirit WORKS and is for you always! I am in your corner too, and I hope some of these habits can help you, like they did me! With all of this being said, I love you BIG & am always praying for you, cass b. Reflection Questions: 1. What is one thing that has made you really mad or angry recently? How did you handle it? Could you have handled it differently? 2. Have you tried any of these habits yet? Do they seem intimidating? Have you ever thought that the Lord may be allowing these things to happen so others see His power in you? 3. Ask God today to walk with you hand in hand during these hard, ugly and uncomfortable seasons you may be walking through!
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