Category: Waiting

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

Search for Significance

“I, the Teacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem, I applied my mind to study and to explore by wisdom all that is done under the heavens. What a heavy burden God has laid on mankind! I have seen all the things that are done under the sun; all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind. What is crooked cannot be straightened; what is lacking cannot be counted. I said to myself, “Look, I have increased in wisdom more than anyone who has ruled over Jerusalem before me; I have experienced much of wisdom, and also knowledge.” Then I applied myself to the understanding of wisdom, and also of madness and folly, but I learned that this, too, is a chasing after the wind. For with much wisdom comes much sorrow; the more knowledge, the more grief.” – Ecclesiastes 1:12-18

Solomon was the richest and highest person in all of Jerusalem during the time period that he lived in. Other people envied him for all the fame and wealth that he had. The man had everything he wanted, but it was all still so meaningless to him. Maybe, on the outside, he looked like he was living the best life, but Solomon wasn’t satisfied.

Sometimes, I feel like I fit in with the “other people” category in this story. I want things that other people have such as grades or fame. Maybe, you can relate. But we have to remember that even when we have those things, we still won’t be satisfied. Solomon had all he wanted and still wasn’t satisfied because the only thing that can satisfy us is Christ.

Jesus is the only one who can fulfill us. It’s pointless to try and find that fulfillment in other things. Jesus knows that we are hungry and He tells us that HE is the solution.

Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” – John 6:35

Jesus sees that we are hungry. He knows that our desires are real and wants the absolute best for you. He wants you to spend your life well, but sometimes, this causes us to settle for less. Sometimes, we are searching for all the wrong things, like Solomon. We want the fame and the wealth, but Solomon knew it was all meaningless.

The Bible tells us that the only thing that will satisfy you is Christ. If we fulfill our lives with things or activities that don’t put Jesus first, then we will never be satisfied. You won’t be pleased and you will have lost more than you actually gained in those things.

Jesus came to give you life and He won’t stop looking for you until you are for Him. He is the bread of life that was broken for you. You don’t need to have this constant search for significance because it is found in the one that has saved you.

Love always,

Claire

 

Living the Life You Didn’t Plan

Do you ever feel that somewhere down the road, life took a sharp turn in the wrong direction? Like you had all these ideas and plans that you wanted to happen, but they didn’t. Maybe you didn’t get the job you always wish you had, lost some of your really good friends along the years, didn’t fit into the whole popular group, or ended a relationship that you thought would last way longer. We all have probably had a few bruises along the way of life and wish we had a better and fuller life. We sit here and wonder ‘what did I do wrong’ when you probably didn’t do anything wrong.

“He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.” – John 15: 2-4

Jesus tells us straight and clear that He removes the branches in our lives that are not good for us according to His will that He has for us. He wants us to constantly grow in Him and have a good relationship with Him, even if that means removing the things that the world says you need in order to have a good life. Sometimes, we think certain things will make our lives better, but they don’t help us in our relationship with God. That’s why they don’t happen or are removed from our lives.

“If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.” – John 15: 18-19

Our happiness lies in the one true God, not the world. We get so caught up in earthly things, and we forget to keep our eyes on what really matters, the relationship we have with God. He wants our attention on Him, not on things that society tells us we need in order to be happy. We must live the way He wants us to live. He wants us to enjoy life by loving others and obeying His commands.

He has so much planned for you that you don’t even see yet. He wants the best for you and has so much in store for you. Wait and seek the Lord, even when things don’t go the way you plan. Its not easy, but He has greater things planned for you.

Love always,

Claire

Waiting For God’s Perfect Timing

You feel like you’ve been waiting on the street light to turn forever. You think “How much longer am I going to have to wait for this?” You want to run that red light, but you don’t move. You just sit and wait and wait. Is it ever going to happen?

If there is anything I have learned in life, it’s that having patience is a TRUE skill. Some people have that skill. Others (aka ME) do not. I am terrible when it comes to being patient. I just want everything given to me at that moment and I don’t like to wait. But God makes us wait for things all the time. He makes us wait for the right partner. He makes us wait for our food. He makes us wait for our grades to be posted. He makes us wait for our story to unfold. He makes us wait for everything.

But do not refer this one thing, dear friends: with the Lord, a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years is like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. – 2 Peter 3:8

Why? Why do we have to wait for things? What is the point? What is He teaching us with this? How is this helping me at all?

But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. -Isaiah 40:31

I am guilty of questioning God’s way sometimes when it comes to patience. I get confused and I don’t know why He makes things frustrating. I wish He would just tell me what is going to come out of this. Its like watching a 5 hour long movie and waiting for the ending. There is a quote that is very overstated a lot of the times, “Good things come to those who wait”. You have probably heard this quote a million times, but honestly, this quote is so true, and it’s actually what God wants to teach us.

Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord. – Psalm 27:14

When dealing with patience, the Lord does want to teach us to become more patient with Him, but there’s something more to it than just that. Sometimes waiting is better than giving it to us right away. Sometimes, we aren’t ready for what is next in our life. Maybe, He wants to teach us something different, before something else comes into play. We might think we are ready for what the future holds, but God truly knows everything that is happening now and going to happen, and His timing is always perfect. He will give us what we need at the right time when we need it.

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens. – Ecclesiastes 3:1

Waiting is not fun. Trust me, I know. But we can’t have everything given to us right away or we won’t want to rely on God. We have to trust Him. I know that is way easier said then done, but when our life gets shaky and we don’t know where He is or what He is doing, we have to pray and trust that He, the creator of the world, is doing what is needed to be done. He doesn’t like watching us suffer, but He knows something amazing is going to come out of it all. Talk to Him. Trust Him. His timing is perfect.

Love always,

Claire