If you joined me today from Encouragement for Today, welcome! In today’s devo I shared about “gathering peace”. I invite you today to “gather peace” as you depend on God right where you are.
I also invite you to join me for daily encouragement in Live Free, a Facebook group with a weekly video Bible study, community, and daily encouragement.
I was talking with my sister-in-law and friend, Sherri. We reflected on the years when we became new mommas. We were comprades of sort. Ne
w babies were arriving constantly. She, one year. Me, the next.
“I wish you would have let me help you more,” she said.
She was right. I was so independent. I had three babies in less than 19 months (twins!) and was overwhelmed. We had a farm and as a city girl turned country girl, I was over my head in that department too.
I can do it myself.
Sleepless, sometimes irritable, determined, happy, in love with my babies but exhausted, I just plowed ahead.
How much easier would it have been if I had waved the white flag and asked for help on occasion?
Sometimes we do that as believers. We put on our happy face, our determined face, and we plow ahead. Sometimes that works. Other times it fails miserably.
We were never expected to live our faith life alone.
To live free: In our culture dependence is seen as weak, and yet in God’s economy, depending on God is a measure of maturity. #strength
Scripture: Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand. Isaiah 41:10
Quote: Don’t trust to hold God’s hand; let Him hold yours. Let Him do the holding, and you the trusting. ~ Hammer William Webb-Peploe
Just you and God: Today, it’s okay to depend on Him. It’s okay to say it’s bigger than you. That’s not a sign of weakness, but honesty, and a signal to God that you trust Him, rather than feelings. His plan doesn’t go away because we feel overwhelmed. It doesn’t go away because we need Him. It’s saying that I fully believe and trust in You, and what You see in me.
Today one person will receive an audio CD of a message titled Dancing Shoes: Turning Crossroads into Turning Points, a message that reveals how our uncomfortable moments can become pivotal moments.
I’ll choose the winner from the comments below and share the person’s name on Monday! I’m so glad you dropped by today. ♥
Our leader is leaving today for a much needed and deserved vacation, leaving a few of us in charge of getting the Art and Drama camp ready for the children of our church. I have been feeling so stressed and overwhelmed. I kept telling myself that I put it in Gods hands. I realized after I read this that I hadn’t. If I had I would feel at peace. So I pray now that I may be filled with the peace of the Lord knowing that it is His will that is being done. Amen!!!
Good Morning,
This devotional spoke right to me this morning. With my mind racing with thoughts I woke up 4am. Disappointed with myself for “failing” on my personal faith walk. With three children under 5, going through a divorce, a threat of not being able to finish my last two semesters of nursing school, attacks on my health, I needed this RIGHT NOW! At the breaking point I just needed to remember that I can not handle it on my own. All I have to do is surrender my burden to Jesus, who is just
waiting for me to give Him permission to intercede on my behalf. That just because man
has let me down & made me feel as
though I can’t depend on anyone,
that I have to do
everything on my own, He has reminded me
through your devotional of several things. 1…
“He is not a MAN that He should
lie”(Exodus 23:19), that I
need to stop comparing Him to man.
2… I will
never be able to handle life on my
own, “I can do all things THROUGH
Christ who strengthens
me”(Philippians 4:13). 3… “For my
thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,”
(isaiah 55:8) “For I know the plans I
have for you, declares the Lord, plans
to prosper you & not to harm you,
plans to give you hope & a future” (Jeremiah 29:11). All of that to say what I think is going on, how I feel doesn’t matter because His thoughts and plans are superior to mine! I thank God this morning. I praise His Holy Name & worship Him for just being God!
“BE STILL AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD” (PSALM 46:10)
Thanks for this reminder. On Monday my oldest son was diagnosed with Asperger’s Disorder, then we spent 24 hours in the children’s hospital for an EEG to determine if he has epilepsy. We thought life would calm down yesterday only to bring our youngest to the dr. for some swollen lymph nodes! I know that I couldn’t have made it through this week without our amazing family and friends but it is tempting to just buckle down and “do it myself!”
How funny that after relying on the Gospel for my salvation and very life that I then believe I can do the rest of life on my own. Ironic! Thanks for speaking the truth I needed to hear.
Peace is something I really need to seek right now as I continue struggling with the challenge of raising a young daughter with Autism (so I can related to Christine!) I also work part-time in a stressful job in order to have insurance to cover her therapy. I had a rough day yesterday and this message has encouraged me. I am the oldest in my family and have always tried to be independent and “do it myself” – tried to control it all. IN the past that led me to way to many bad decisions and life choices. At 40 I found myself unmarried and pregnant with my daughter. I married her father but I was still living outside God’s will. When Maddie was diagnosed with autism at age 18 months that turned my world upside down. I have learned I MUST depend on God for my strength, direction, peace.. I cannot do it alone. He has taught me so much through Maddie and despite the struggles God has brought so much joy through that beautiful little girl. She just walks into a room a lights up the world.
I’ve been reading through Isaiah this past month in addition to your daily readings and it has provided so much needed encouragement. I need those daily reminders to keep my eyes on Him! He will sustain me!
I have always thought that I needed to reach up and find God”s hand to hold…but to realize that he is WANTING to hold my hand makes me look at stress points in a whole different light. Today’s early morning reminder that I was never meant to live my faith life alone, but that HE is here,in my middle of my messy life, wanting to hold my hand, not waiting for me to ask for HIS hand, brings a smile to my heart. I will go out today knowing that GOD is not only holding my hand but guiding me toward the plans HE has for me, even when I forget to ask for HIS hand!
Thank you for the timely reminder which I greatly needed at the end of this week!
Is. 41:10 is one of the first scriptures that I learned. I love the reminder that we are never really alone and are not expected to go through this life alone. He’s always with us!
Wow! I am in this deep valley feeling horribly sorry for myself. Then I read these comments. The peace of God is so hard to find when all you can see is your problems. But if all these woman can find it I should be able to too. I’m not sure how it works, but I guess after I hand all the problems and requests up to God, I need to remember all the blessings that I do have. This is just so hard to do. Thanks for the devotional. I will try to find this peace today which I so desperately need.
This was just what I needed today! As I drifted to sleep last night, I asked God to give me peace for this weekend (a family trip away). I’ve been feeling stressed just in preparing, the warfare has been raging- successfully creating division, and the effort for the trip seems greater than the promised rest. In packing and straightening, I have been spouting that line all week “Forget it! I’ll do it myself!” Yet, all I do myself is make a mess. What a relief that He carries us, that He has experience in the peace department- we just have to let Him have control. So thank you! You have typed out a love letter from the Savior today, a sweet reminder of His presence in the midst of this life.
I certainly needed this reminder today. I have been at a point in my life for a very long time in which I have learned to depend totally on God and put all my circumstances into His hands. I praise Him and thank Him for my many blessings and even though there are things going on in my life that I so much want to change and have differently I place them in His hands and hold to my faith and trust in him…for He and only He knows what is best for me and my family.
By the way, Suzanne. I love red! So I smiled when I saw your red couch and your red top! Swell!
It is often hard for me to balance dependence and independence. I have been learning to depend on God and allow others to help me at the same time. God’s helps have come in different ways, many times through other people with a definite knowledge God was the only one who orchestrated it!
I am grateful I am never alone for “He is our present help in times of trouble.” Thanks for your wonderful site.
Thank you for reminding me of God’s peace. I am on vacation, surrounded by my family. What a great reminder to me! Today I will not worry about anything. I will stop and enjoy my grandkids and the peace of knowing all is in His hands.
We have several moms on Moms Together, and one of our hosts, who have children with special needs ranging from autism to bi polar to sensory issues. I hope you’ll connect with us there at http://www.facebook.com/MomsTogether because feeling alone can be the hardest aspect of being a mom to a beautiful special needs child.
Your words ring so true. They are also very timely, especially for all of us who forget we don’t have to go it alone. Thank you.
Your message this morning ministered to my heart so much. It was just what I needed this morning when I woke up. God is so good to use others like you to show how much he cares for us and hears our prayers and knows what we are going through. Thank you…
I love your post today! This is something that I have truly experienced in the past few days! It has been a very rough few weeks for our family with my sister-in-laws cancer diagnoses and with my husband losing his job. But, I have taken it all to God and have surrendered it all to Him and I have found such peace with Him the past few days!
Suzanne: Thank you so much for your message of peace and of dependence upon others. I am also an independent type and God has had to teach me about depending upon others, but mostly upon Him. He is giving me a lot of reminders about that lately, and thanks for being one of them.
Mary
i think its definately a pride thing- i want to be able to do everything, when i know i can’t. ican’t take on the whole world on my own….i need his help! god has definately beenhelping me with this.
Peace. I thank God for it. Thank you for reminding us it is there for us. He is there – here – with me, with us. Thank You God for the peace in the midst of chaos.
God is so amazing! This was just what I need, exactly when I needed it. My world may be topsy turvy right now, but its in God’s hands. Always has been, always will be. All I can do is, be still and know that He is God.
I am a Suzanne too!! Thank you so much for your devotion this morning! It spoke directly to my heart and was just what I needed. God is so good! He always knows what we need before it is even in our thoughts!
I just had 2 mini-melts earlier this week that were brought on by feeling overwhelmed. I love how the Lord jumps out at you to encourage you and remind you of His truth’s, when you (finally remember) to turn to Him. Thank you for your words of encouragement!
I love how you contrasted the world’s view of dependence vs. dependence as seen in God’s economy – so true!!!!! Thanks for entering me in your giveaway. Jenny C.
What a wonderful reminder! I have just recently been learning to let go of trying to control everything in my life and trying to shape it into what I want it to be. God is teaching me that His love is so deep and true for me, and His desire is to always hold my hand; no matter what. Love that about Him.
I also really needed to hear this message. My husband has been unemployed for 6 months now and is not even really trying to find a new job. I am supporting 7 people with my accounting salary. One of my teenage daughters has two young children that we are also helping to raise/support.
I have been feeling very alone and that I can rely on no one but our Savior to help me though. I have been very down as I feel like I have lost control of my life.
Meanwhile, I am realizing I never had control. Telling myself that this is where God wants me to be right now and he sees the bigger picture while I do not, has helped my mental outlook. I have been praying not just for changes with my family members, but more importantly, changes for myself to lean even more on my God and Savior and to feel the peace only he can provide to my chaotic life! 🙂
Thank you Suzanne and all the ladies for wonderful heartfelt moments. I am in a dark corner of my life right now and after nearly seven months of illness, being rejected by the insurance company and feeling let down in every way; I am so doubtful of every choice I make and every choice I have made. I would love to enter the contest and hear some of your positive writings on choosing as the crossroads. Thank you.
Thank you for this. As I’ve received some news that, even though I saw it coming, it was hard to hear, hard to accept as truth, I needed to hear this today. Thank you for being a faithful vessel. For being willing to have God speak to me through you.
Admitting we need help is one of the hardest things to do. IF we were more honest it would take a lot of pressure off ourselves and allow others a chance to serve and be blessed also.
I appreciated your message today. I am mindful of an acronym that my friend shared with me. BUSY
Being
Uner
Satan’s
Yoke
Many times we are so busy we can’t seem to get off the crazy gerbil wheel long enough to ask for or to give assistance. If we would let God’s peace reign-rain over us….we would then be able to see the help he provides us.
Oh, how this spoke to me. Just today while driving down the road, my eyes filled with tears before they spilled over and I cried out to God, “Maybe I just don’t know how to surrender, Lord. I just can’t take anymore and I don’t know what to do.”
It’s how I felt. Overwhelmed and frustrated. I’m a take charge-get it done myself kind of person as well. It’s gotten me in a lot of hot water with the Father before.
Peace did come today after the tears were spent and the conversation was finished. Thank you, Lord!
What an amazing post!! Peace…I search…earn for it everyday. I take anxiety meds to try and find it and now am trying to turn to God to find it. I am a mother to 7 children and am blessed beyond belief…but when 7 mouths are asking for you to give..give…give of yourself and also then a husband that has things he want you to do….it is hard to find that peace. So as I write this I take a deep breath…let it out and pray that I can find peace within me to handle the daily demands that are upon me. I am thankful for my world around me…but at times….it is just simply a bit much!!
I’m struggling with making a decision to divorce… this is the third time being cheated on… I have prayed and prayed for God to give me signs of my husbands adultry and it always comes out but now Im praying and praying for God to tell me if divorce is the right decision. We have a six year old daughter. I need to know how to listen to the lord and know its from him and not the devil playing with my mind.
I love this site. My daughter just came home from a very challenging week at camp. God is speaking to me through what happened there. I need to depend on God . I need to rely on Him instead of trying to control things in my life. I need to prioritize my life to make God time my first responsibility. Please pray for me.
I too needed this. I am a single divorced mother raising two daughters that God has blessed me with. I have been struggling with the fact of trying to carry allot on my shoulders. My ex-spouse is struggling with drug addiction and I worry about my daughters and instead of trusting by faith I find myself worrying allot fear. I should not compare God to man (Ex:23:19) and pray without ceasing. Thanks for sharing :0)