Initially posted: November 18, 2024.
Generally you’re feeling on their lonesome. Such as you’re the one particular person in the entire world. You don’t have any assist, nobody cares.
You’re feeling just like the chips are down and also you’ll by no means make it by way of this.
THIS is the one factor that’s going to destroy you.
THIS is that one factor you’ll by no means make it by way of.
It appears hopeless.
What’s the purpose of occurring?
You’re feeling like you must simply hand over.
You cry at evening however the place is God? He appears so distant. So far-off. You’re not getting any solutions and also you don’t perceive why.
I do know precisely how you’re feeling. As a result of I’m penning this from a homeless shelter!
Nothing Can Cease You
With tears streaming down my face, not figuring out precisely what God is doing or the place He’s taking me, I hear infants down the corridor screaming and throwing matches. Good mothers telling them, “It’s good to sit there till you behave”, so kindly and lovingly. So patiently.
Everybody right here is hurting. Everybody right here has been abused in a method or one other. Everybody right here wants assist.
Together with me.
Nevertheless it wasn’t at all times that approach. I used to be making hundreds of thousands of {dollars}, doing so properly. And all the things crashed, and whereas it’s not vital to say specifics right now of why or how, when the chips ARE down, and they’re, I do know my God is STILL with me!
I don’t really feel His presence, I can’t inform you what He’s doing at this second in time. I can’t inform you why He’s permitting this. I can’t even say with certainty that I’ll get by way of all this.
However I do know a number of issues.
Right here’s what I DO know…
1- My God (and yours) is value worshipping at ALL occasions.
We’re so fast to worship God when issues are going nice, and when issues aren’t, we begin to query Him. I do know as a result of I’m questioning Him proper now. “What are you doing, Lord?”, I feel to myself, “Why is that this taking place? Why are you permitting all this?”
However Jesus is sweet within the good occasions and the dangerous. God continues to be God, it doesn’t matter what! He’s nonetheless in management, absolutely sovereign, absolutely God.
2- He has a plan for you
Jeremiah 29:11 says He not solely has a plan in your life, but it surely’s a GOOD plan…and…it’s possible you’ll not know what it’s proper now. That’s okay. It’s solely vital we proceed to belief Him within the good AND the dangerous occasions.
As a result of let’s face it, there’s so many dangerous occasions in life the place we’re simply holding on by a thread. He’s there too!
3- Generally He’ll take a look at you
Possibly He’s testing me proper now. Possibly He’s testing you. Possibly He needs to see your religion exhibited to the world. Possibly He needs to know you’ll comply with Him…NO…MATTER…WHAT.
I’m prepared to comply with Him by way of homelessness. Are you? What are you prepared to comply with Him by way of? Are you prepared to place confidence in Him that He is aware of what He’s doing, even when issues SEEM fully hopeless?
This week, I lived in my automotive, bouncing round from motel room to motel room, not getting any sleep. As we speak, I’m in a homeless shelter, having a heat room, a comfortable mattress, and I really feel very blessed to have that and to be right here. Reward the Lord!
Coming from the place I got here from, making hundreds of thousands, having over $400k in my financial savings account as a single mother, I by no means imagined myself right here.
It wasn’t imagined to prove like this. This wasn’t imagined to occur, and but, it did. The very actual scenario is that it did. That is the place I stay for the following 30 days.
I feel God is testing me. Will I nonetheless serve Him once I don’t have a soft checking account, a secure roof over my head? How far will I am going to CONTINUE penning this Christian weblog as a result of I KNOW it’s what He’s known as me to do?
Is He testing you?
Does He need you to proceed to carry onto Him it doesn’t matter what? Does He wish to see your religion in motion?
4- God loves you
It sounds so trivial while you’re in a scenario like this. Folks say it so flippantly. However right this moment I would like you to let these phrases resonate in your coronary heart. God loves you.
He cares about you.
He died for you.
He loves you so intensely. A lot greater than you’ll ever notice.
And though it could not seem to be it proper now, He’s holding you within the palm of His very succesful arms. He’s bought a plan and in time (Ecclesiastes 3), it’ll unfold.
5- He gained’t allow you to be examined past what you’ll be able to bear
I chuckle to myself a bit of bit. God thinks I’m WAY stronger than *I* assume I’m!!! 🙂
Possibly you’re feeling the identical approach.
It’s tough, proper? There’s a lot to bear.
However He provides energy to the powerless, consolation to the abused, hope to the oppressed.
As we speak, I discover consolation within the small issues: I’ve my very own, heat room with a comfortable mattress. No, it’s not my $5,000 natural Avocado mattress, certain, but it surely’s not a automotive both.
What are you able to be pleased about right this moment? What do you could have right this moment? Simply right this moment. How has He blessed you TODAY?
6- God’s will gained’t change
Irrespective of what number of prayers I’ve prayed for God to avoid wasting me from this taking place, to bypass it, to keep away from it altogether, He didn’t. He gained’t. It’s one thing I’m satisfied I’ve to stroll by way of, although I don’t know why simply but.
Generally, we’ve to undergo issues as a result of on the opposite aspect is one thing we wouldn’t have if we DIDN’T stroll by way of it. No matter it’s that I’ll get on the opposite aspect of this, no matter jewel, I do know that my character is being perfected and I believe, in your sake. In order that I can minister to your coronary heart, in an entire new approach as a result of I AM the place you’re, devastated, but nonetheless holding on.
I’ve been there.
And I don’t assume God goes to vary this case for me. I feel it’s one thing I’ve to stroll by way of, and you could have to stroll by way of what you’re going by way of too, for a time, to be able to have some jewels additionally.
7- To throw it in Devil’s face
Devil would love nothing greater than to destroy me now, to destroy you. Oh, how he needs to! However nothing can cease you. Not in case you’re dedicated to doing the desire of Christ at any price. It might BE painful. It might be excruciating. I get it.
However he can solely cease you, in case you let him. And perhaps, like Job, God needs to shove that is Devil’s face and say, “Look, this Christian will comply with me to the ends of the earth and hold going, even once they don’t have anything.”
Can He say that of you?
Pay attention, you’re liked greater than you’ll be able to probably know by the One who created all of it. He holds you in His proper hand, He gained’t allow you to fall previous what you’ll be able to bear, He’s holding your hand, strolling by way of this with you.
Whether or not or not you’re feeling His presence proper now, I promise you, He’s there. He’s near the brokenhearted (Psalm 34:18), He binds up our wounds (Psalm 147:3). Our valuable hearts are valuable to Him.
Via tears I ask you this easy query…
Do you consider that?
Do you consider His phrase?
Do you consider His guarantees?
I do.
Let His peace and love encompass you in your struggling. Let His righteous proper hand maintain yours. Allow you to fall in His grace and know that He. IS. THERE!
It doesn’t matter what, He’s there, and nothing on this world, can cease you (Romans 8:38-39). Why? As a result of nothing can separate us from God.
He’s our energy, our energy, and our pleasure, even within the midst of such horrible disappointment, ache, and worry.
What does Romans 8:38-39 imply? It signifies that God’s love for you by no means dies. He’s constant in that.
You’re liked! You’re valuable. You’re wished.
Maintain on tight to the One you realize and don’t ever let go!!!
The right way to get by way of this…
What is going to get you thru this excruciatingly attempting time for you is to focus on His everlasting attributes because it’ll offer you hope and encourage your soul. Assume on issues which are true, the Bible says (Philippians 4:8-9).
Likewise, once we take into consideration God and all that He’s, how nothing surprises Him, how He’s there for us, eager about all of His attributes, it instantly correlates to our perception system.
For instance, if God is genuinely loving and He is aware of we’re struggling, will He go away us right here ceaselessly to anguish in our distress or will He save us?
The extra we all know God (not simply figuring out ABOUT Him, however figuring out Him in an experiential approach), the extra we will belief Him and His guarantees and know that this isn’t the top, even when it feels prefer it.
Since my God loves me, He’ll save me. Interval. And since He’ll save me, I can have full hope that He’ll do it. Whereas I could not know when or how, I do know that, in His timing, He’ll and I can relaxation in that and discover consolation and peace in figuring out that God WILL do it.
The perfect factor you are able to do proper now, in case you are struggling, is to get to know God extra. To consider that He’s who He says He’s and to carry onto that hope that may ONLY come from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Learning out His attributes, who He says He’s, all that He’s finished for His individuals in historical past, must be, for the struggling saint, your precedence and that’s precisely what this publish has been about. To REMIND YOU of His goodness, grace, mercy, and love as a result of proper now, THAT’S what you must concentrate on!!! <3 Proper now, all of your consideration MUST be positioned on that, so that you stay in your steadfast hope.
You WILL get by way of this. To the Christian, that’s promised (Philippians 1:6).
UPDATE (12/12/24): “Now that it’s been some time, do you remorse giving all the things up? Isn’t it laborious?”
Nice query! With a view to reply this, I really feel prefer it’s vital so that you can perceive what I DID hand over for the glory of God. I didn’t hand over some rinka-dink trashy residence within the dangerous aspect of city and me sittin’ right here saying, “Oh, I gave up all the things for God.”
I really gave up fairly a bit.
God didn’t need me to promote my residence, which in flip, made me hand over an excellent $300,000 in earnings. That’s fairly some huge cash by anybody’s requirements.
I gave up my residence, a stunningly beautiful $1.5 million greenback residence, and I would like you to get the total gravity of this.
My home was in-built 2013, a 5 bed room, 4 bathtub place with a 3 automotive storage on almost half an acre of property. It was within the nicest, most prosperous neighborhood within the wealthiest of cities within the space.
My unique dream was that earlier than I met my future husband, I’d shock him on our marriage ceremony day and inform him that I had $20,000 in financial savings that we might do with what we wished. Journey, put it aside, no matter he needs. It might be my reward to him. And I labored actually laborious for years to avoid wasting up that $20k.
I handed that quantity and I simply stored saving, considering that I’d have an excellent chunk of cash in my financial savings for once I bought married, as a gift to my future husband. In order that I may very well be the Proverbs 31 girl and he’d be so joyful to know the way laborious I’ve labored for our future marriage and to alleviate stress on him that he wouldn’t should work so laborious (we might spend extra time collectively 🎉) as a result of cash was within the financial institution to assist funds.
It got here to be, that I labored so laborious (and God blessed me SO abundantly!) that I had over $400k in my financial savings. God then directed me to purchase this home. I assumed to myself, “Okay, I can provide my future husband this residence, as an alternative of cash within the financial institution. I’ll give him this residence, I’ll embellish it completely so he feels so blessed and cherished of all of the laborious work I’ve finished for him BEFORE I even met him”.
It was one thing I actually wished to do for him. So, below God’s route and steering, I purchased the home and spent 3 years adorning it so completely, to make my future husband joyful in a mode I feel he would have liked.
I wasn’t all the best way completed adorning it, however most all the items had been there and it was cozy and homey. Right here’s so far as I bought…
Entrance of the home (per realtor web site).
Entrance of the home (per realtor web site). It had a basketball courtroom, in-ground trampoline, and delightful yard. I imagined internet hosting many capabilities there (Bible research maybe, get-togethers with church buddies, and so on. and utilizing all of it for the glory of God). I ran the gifting group out of the house and actually used it for His functions.
Yard in the summertime.
Yard dealing with the neighbor’s residence within the snow. I needed to share this pic. – the snow is beautiful, even to me (and I’m not a fan of snow; I’d a lot slightly have rain!!) ❤️
Entryway the primary Christmas (predominant front room furnishings shouldn’t be there but) and I ended up altering out that decor within the ending.
Most important front room (my favourite room of the home).
Formal front room.
Media room. I had decorations for white/silver and white/pink as a result of I didn’t know which shade scheme my future husband would like. 😊
Media room. White/pink Christmas decor.
Visitor room.
Examine (second office- the primary workplace that I had arrange for 2 individuals (me and my future husband), you’ll be able to see on the steps pic on the left).
Vacation entertaining (fall). I had simply purchased the serviette ring holders.
Vacation entertaining (Christmas).
As you’ll be able to see from the photographs, it was an amazingly beautiful residence that I labored extremely laborious for each for the house and all of the decorations/furnishings.
After that (after I gave up all the things for God), I bounced round motel to motel (metropolis to metropolis) and lived in my automotive (just a few days) until I bought to a homeless shelter. Within the shelter, I continued to weblog, which is the place I wrote this publish you’re studying now and this one…
Proper now, I’m in a nicer place that I discovered off Furnished Finder…
However it’s colder than ice right here. I’m getting sick as a result of it’s so chilly, there’s no washer and dryer (it’s a one room residence over a storage with a rest room. Assume: a motel room). It’s laborious to sleep due to the chilly and laborious to work while you’re shivering and your fingers and toes are icepops.
The landlords have given me a number of extra heaters and added a little bit of insulation to the storage to assist, however actually, it’s only a freezing chilly place within the harsh winters. Even after the insulation and added room heaters, it’s nonetheless very chilly as a result of all the nice and cozy air simply escapes (by way of the entrance door, home windows, and so on).
The non permanent housing I’m in now could be $1,200/month (together with utilities). I can afford $1,000/month (together with utilities).
Within the metropolis I really feel God main me to (Albany, Oregon), the most effective I can discover is $1,400/month (together with utilities), which is much more cash than the ice field I’m in now. 😆
I’m having a very laborious time discovering a secure place in my worth vary wherever close to Albany, however the place I’m at now, there’s not something in that worth vary both, at the least not proper now.
With Christmas proper across the nook, most individuals aren’t transferring. After the brand new 12 months, if I don’t freeze to demise and die earlier than then 😛, I could possibly discover one thing, as extra individuals may be transferring after the vacations.
My greatest prayer is that I discover one thing secure and heat, even non permanent is okay, to stay at for a short time as a result of I’m actually struggling and have been struggling since giving all the things up for God. I both want my revenue to extend by $200-$400/month, relying on what I can discover, or have to discover a inexpensive place that’s round $1,000/month.
Now that you’ve an excellent understanding of the place I used to be, all I had, and my sufferings now, the query is…do I remorse it?
Nope. Not one bit.
If that is what He’s known as me to do, and it’s as a result of it’s taking place, then I’ll gladly stroll by way of no matter He needs me to, figuring out that He has a plan (no matter it could be) on the opposite aspect of issues.
Whereas I don’t know His actual plan but, I’m assured that it’s one thing nice and no matter it’s it’s for my very own profit (Romans 8:28) and for His glory.
HE alone sees all. We solely see a portion of issues. I don’t see all the things. Our human imaginative and prescient is marred.
So, the one factor I can do is resolve if I’m going to belief the God of the Bible, the God I’ve come to know and serve all these years or not and I select to belief Him.
Fully, absolutely, wholly.
And if I freeze to demise and die (haha), it’s higher, for I be with Him (Paul will get it: Philippians 1:23), and if I stay by way of this, then He provides me the energy to make it by way of every agonizing day. His energy is ideal (2 Corinthians 12:9).
Do I pray He hurry up and save me from all this? Completely!!
However I don’t remorse obeying Him and I feel that, when all that is over, once I’m by way of this, we’ll ALL see, why precisely He allowed this to occur. Until then, I belief, I obey, I comply with, I lay down my life for the One in whom I like. Interval.
It jogs my memory of one in every of my favourite motion pictures, Labyrinth.
The character within the film, Sarah, says, “Via risks untold and hardships unnumbered, I’ve fought my approach right here to the fort past the Goblin Metropolis to take again the kid you could have stolen…”
If she is so prepared to combat so laborious for her child brother, how far more ought to all of us be prepared to put our lives down for the love of Christ and to combat for Him, even once we don’t know what He’s doing.
So once more I’ll repeat the identical reply as earlier than…I’m not sorry. I don’t remorse my determination. ❤️