Category: Waiting

Purposefully Equipped

In our culture, I think we have a lot of ways to compare ourselves to one another. We have magazines, tv shows, social media, books, etc. to where comparison can come in and steal our joy. This comparison can cause us to question our physical appearance, our unique personalities, our strengths, and our skills.

I think it can be easy as Christians to fall into this thinking of “God’s going to pick someone else to do this task because they will be more obedient and more skillful than me”. Comparison can come in and not only steal our confidence, but it can also slowly destroy our perspective of God’s character and power.

I was reading about Abraham and Sarah in the book of Genesis. Normally, when I think of Abraham, I think of how God used him in amazing ways. Abraham was obedient towards God when asked to sacrifice his son, Isaac. God also used him to be a father of many nations and be a leader to the people.

But, I want to focus on Abraham’s life before all of these things happened. Specifically, I want to focus on Abram and Sarai’s story.

Before the Lord changed their names to Abraham and Sarah, they were called Abram and Sarai.

The Lord promised Abram that he would have a son. However, Sarai, Abram’s wife had not borne any children so far after God spoke with Abram. Sarai wanted Abram to be able to have a son and decided on a plan of doing so. She asked Abram to take her servant, Hagar so that she could give Abram a son and fulfill God’s covenant. Abram did exactly what Sarai had asked of him.

After Hagar bore a son, the Lord spoke to Abram again. The Lord explained that Sarai would bear a child. (The Lord also gave Abram and Sarai new names at this point.) This time, Abraham doubted God because he did not believe Sarah would be able to bear a child at her age. However, the Lord confirmed to him again that she would bear a child and they were to name him Isaac.

Then the word of the LORD came to him: “This man will not be your heir, but a son who is your own flesh and blood will be your heir.” – Genesis 15:4

After Sarah overheard the Lord speaking to Abraham, she laughed and doubted God’s power. God then reminded both of them of His power and His promise that He would make. After this reminder, Abraham and Sarah decided to have full faith in God and as always, God kept His promise.

Sarah and Abraham doubted the Lord at first. Because of how old Sarah was at the time, it scientifically would be very difficult, if not impossible, for Sarah to be able to have a child. However, the Lord promised He would make a way.

By not trusting in the Lord’s plan, Abraham decided to take control of the situation to have a son with Hagar. However, even though Abraham and Sarah doubted the Lord, God still appointed this family to make nations of the world. They both went on to fully trusting and having faith in God because they knew how great and mighty He truly is.

God chooses people for a purpose. He equips the called. If God wants to use you in some way, He is going to do just so. He will forgive you when you doubt Him and still work in you to fulfill His great plan.

You are on this earth for a reason. God has called you and chose you to fulfill a unique purpose.

You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. – John 15:16

With love,

Claire

Full of Faith

Trust. It’s something I’ve been struggling with lately. Trying to trust what’s going to come next in my life. Trying to trust my decisions. Trying to trust others around me.

I think fear can creep in real easily when we don’t have plans set before us. When we can’t see the road up ahead and really don’t know what is next for us. Sometimes, it can feel like your just sitting at a red light for a long time, waiting for a turn signal or a green light saying go. 

And when fear creeps in, the ability to trust sneaks out. The devil is tricky like that. He wants us to be full of fear. He wants us to feel overwhelmed and uncertain about everything in our life. But God wants us to be full of faith. 

That’s something I’ve been praying lately for. To be full of faith. Not just half full, or 3/4s full. But FULL of faith. All the way.

“Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.” – Hebrews 10:19-23

To be full of faith, you have to be full of the truth that God is faithful. You have to remember the times in your life where Jesus didn’t fail you. Where He stood with you and helped you through your struggles, your doubts, and your anxieties. When you can remember the past faithfulness of God in your life, you can believe the future faithfulness of God. Why is that?

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” – Hebrews 13:8

You’ve seen Him make a way for you before. So be full of faith and believe that He will do it again.

With love,

Claire

Bloom Where You Are Planted

The other day, my friend told me something that really hit me hard. She said “even when we are waiting for the next door to open in our lives, we still have to praise Jesus in the hallway”. Not gonna lie, that is something I have not been doing a great job of lately.

So far, my senior year has been super focused on what is gonna happen next. Mainly because I have to do an internship next semester, so a majority of my classes are very focused on being in the field next semester. But also because my thoughts keep asking the same question. “Claire, where are you gonna be in a year?”

It’s a question that I can’t seem to find the answer to yet. I have a few possibilties but not anything certain. I think the main reason that this question keeps coming to mind is because I know where I’m most likely not going to be. I’m not gonna be in this apartment that I am in currently. I know I won’t be going to the school I currently am (hopefully I will actually graduate but we shall see lol). So where am I going to be, if not here?

As I am continuing to try and find the next door and waiting for it to open, I’ve been unhappy with where God has planted me currently. Many of my friends have already graduated and moved away while most of my other friends are overwhelmed with school work. However, I just keep sitting here begging for God to show me His plan. For Him to reveal what the heck is going on in my life right now and for what purpose.

Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. – Ephesians 5:15-16

Each person should remain in the situation they were in when God called them. Were you a slave when you were called? Don’t let it trouble you—although if you can gain your freedom, do so. For the one who was a slave when called to faith in the Lord is the Lord’s freed person; similarly, the one who was free when called is Christ’s slave. You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of human beings. Brothers and sisters, each person, as responsible to God, should remain in the situation they were in when God called them. – 1 Corinthians 7:20-24

Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. – Romans 5:3-5

I’ve been thinking a lot about these verses above. They remind me that it’s okay for me to not understand everything God has planned for me at the moment. Because His plans and His thoughts are wayyyyy better than mine. And it’s okay to be upset during the season you’re in. Maybe it didn’t look a lot like you thought it would. But through the suffering, we are producing perseverance, which produces our character. So while, you really may not see the big beautiful picture God is painting, He is still painting away at it. He hasn’t left you. Nor will He ever. And He is shaping you and forming you to become better than you were 3 months ago.

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your way, and my thoughts than your thoughts. – Isaiah 55:8-9

So whatever season you are in. Whatever that season looks like for you right now. Know that there is a purpose for this time. You may not know what exactly that purpose is, but He does. And His ways are always better than our ways. Make the most of this season. Grow where God has planted you.

With Love,

Claire

Don’t Worry, Instead Worship

Something that I have learned about music, is that everyone in the entire world loves some genre of it. Whether it’s latin, country, pop, rock and roll, christian, or any other type, music has this ability to open up our soul and make us want to dance around the room.

Recently, I went to a Christian concert, and it’s SO incredible to see the sight around the room. People are clapping, dancing, raising their hands, and just all around worshiping. It’s a sight that I’m sure will be found in Heaven.

“Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.” – Psalm 100:1-5

The speaker, at the concert, said something, and I freakin’ love it now. He said, “Don’t worry, worship”. He said that we are all going through our own lives, some of us may be carrying some battle with us, but for us to be truly thankful, we need to praise God for the things we have received, and also, the things that have not yet been received.
Oooh that just stuck with me. I have always thought about thanksgiving meaning to being thankful for what you have. But, it is ALSO for the things we do not yet have, the things to come.
It’s so easy for us, as human beings, to be so caught up and worried about the things to come. It’s easy for us to have those freak out moments. But we have to walk by faith and praise God for everything that has and is to come (aka, don’t worry, but instead worship).
For we walk by faith, not by sight. – 2 Corinthians 5:7
Sheep do not have very good eyesight. They basically have to rely on their shepherd to move by listening to his voice. The shepherd protects the sheep and watches the sheep to make sure no harm comes to them. The shepherd guides the sheep throughout their life and he cares so much for his sheep.
You see, God is our shepherd, and we are His sheep. He cares for us. He provides for us. He watches us and protects us. He leads us and He guides us.
He wants to reach us and for us, to reach Him. We may not know what the future holds, but God wants to walk by our side and lead us the whole way through. If we seek Him, praise Him, worship Him, pray to Him, we can follow His voice through it all.
So next time, you’re worried or stressed, remember this. Don’t worry, instead worship. The Lord is going to lead you and have your back through it all.
Love always,
Claire