Tag: Encouragement

After the Prayer

Prayer is a good first step, but when is it time to take action?

Prayer is the most important spiritual practice you can take part in. However, it can be misused in a way that actually harms you. Often, we say we’ll pray about something, and that’s wonderful. But then we can use it as an excuse to not take action. If things don’t happen related to the issue, we blame God instead of ourselves.

I know that I’ve done this before. If I’m afraid, I’ll just tell myself that God will handle it for me once I pray. Of course God should be a source of comfort and peace. Yet, He does not want us to sit idly by and not do the work to make progress.

I know this might be a tough love moment, but in the end, your relationship with God will strengthen if you are willing to do more than pray.

Instead of praying something specific, pray that God’s will can be done and that God will give you the strength to do the hard thing. We should ultimately want God’s will to be done because, as I talked about in my most recent post, we can either choose to accept what’s happening and trust God or begrudging stomp our feet and refuse to move forward in life. Then we miss out on the many blessings God has in store for us.

Today, reflect on areas of your life where you may not be putting in the work. Perhaps the conflict could be resolved through you talking to someone. Perhaps you are actually being called to give up something in order to help someone else. Perhaps you are meant to take that risk you’ve been worrying about.

There are certainly situations in which we simply can’t do anything but pray. And that’s okay. But just take the time to figure out whether God is calling you to take action.

Ultimately, it is crucial to pray in order to strengthen our relationship with God and to have peace about situations. But nothing can be done if we aren’t willing to follow God’s call on our lives.

You can certainly pray for strength, perseverance, and clarity. That’s a wonderful thing to do. But after that, just go for it! You can do this, I believe in you. And most of all, God is with you, so you have nothing to be afraid of ❤

If God is for us, who can be against us?

Romans 8:31

The Message We Ignore

If you need a sign of confirmation that you are exactly where you need to be, this is it. God loves you so much. I encourage you to read this and realize you are not alone in your struggles.

I’m going to say something now that you may not want to hear. But believe it or not, it could also be a message that encourages you.

Our faith was never supposed to be easy. Following Jesus does not mean happiness on Earth or that every prayer is automatically going to be answered the way we want it to be.

A couple days ago, my pastor preached about Jesus calming the storm. She said something that really stuck with me, and I thought I’d share with you.

A common misconception is that when things go wrong for people, it’s because they are not following God’s call. That is completely a lie that the enemy wants you to believe in order to give up on your faith.

“The disciples weren’t going against God’s call. Rather, they were doing exactly what they were supposed to do. That storm was a part of their path, despite how difficult and frightening it was.” (paraphrased)

You may be struggling right now about how to make sense of your current situation. You may feel like God has turned His back on you because things are spiraling out of control.

First of all, I’m so sorry for whatever you are going through. But God has not abandoned you no matter how alone you feel. God loves you and He is bringing you through this in order to make you stronger.

It’s okay to be upset. It’s okay to be disappointed with how things turned out. But you don’t have to just sit in those sorrows and isolate yourself from others or more importantly God. He is the one that can bring you back. He is the one that can heal you, restore you, sustain you. Even if you don’t receive immediate physical healing, turning to God will bring you peace.

God uses other people to speak into your life and encourage you, too. Listen to the ones who love you. Listen to the ones who want to encourage you. Let them support you when you can’t support yourself.

Because you are loved. You are needed. And you are cared about.

Every time I hit my personal rock bottom (it looks different for everyone and that’s okay), I realize that I have experienced this loneliness because God wanted to refocus my attention on what really matters.

I have been in one-sided relationships and it hurts so much. But we have to realize that when we ignore God, when we don’t allow His grace and love to be enough, we are that person in the relationship that isn’t doing their fair share. Who isn’t reciprocating the love. Who isn’t accepting the fact that they are unconditionally loved.

And obviously God has the most perfect love in the world that is so much greater than we can reciprocate. Than we have experienced. If you are reading this then you haven’t died for someone else. That is the ultimate sacrifice that God was willing to make for you because He loves you that much. You are worth saving. Repeat it after me: you. are. worth. saving.

Imagine that pain that I mentioned before about those one-sided relationships. You probably sacrificed a lot for that other person. You may have even given your heart to them, knowing that you wouldn’t get even an ounce of that love back.

But just realize that despite how much you cared about them, God cares about you a billion times more.

A lot of the advice we receive tells us to turn away from those relationships where the other person doesn’t reciprocate. But God will never turn away from our relationship with Him because He is unfailing and completely faithful.

You may have never experienced such loyalty before. That’s probably because as humans we have been taught to always put ourself first. But that’s not the way God works.

God puts His love for you above everything else. And I hope today that you can begin to put your relationship with God above everything else too.

Faith is scary. Faith is hard. But faith is the the thing that completes and establishes our relationship with God. There is no relationship on our end if there is no faith.

So today, even through all your painful struggles, remember that this is not the end. This is not a sign that you are doing the wrong thing.

Listen up. If you feel like God called you to be where you are right now, then you are doing the right thing. If you were looking for a sign saying that you are supposed to continue what you are doing, this is it.

You are beloved. You are treasured. You are loved.

Go out now and spread that message to the world.

You are never going to encounter a greater love than this.

For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, for whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.

John 3:16

What to Do with Regrets

It’s okay to have regrets. Wait–what?? Read on to find out why.

I’m going to say something that people who know me are going to be shocked by.

It’s ok to have regrets.

You’re probably like, uh…then why do you talk about taking risks? Stepping out of your comfort zone? Emphasizing a life WITHOUT regrets?

Well, regrets are a part of life, and pretty much unavoidable. Of course I don’t like regrets. You shouldn’t just get comfortable with constantly having them. But they are not something that we should necessarily dwell on if we can’t do anything more about the situation.

That’s not to say that we shouldn’t learn from our past mistakes– of course we should reflect on them enough to not repeat them.

But everything that happens is part of God’s greater plan for our lives.

That job you turned down. That date that didn’t happen. That class you decided not to take. That conversation that wasn’t had. That missed opportunity.

Those didn’t happen because something better was in store for you.

Back when I started this blog, I was dealing a lot with my own past regrets. I even have a blog post in my drafts that is titled “How to Live a Life Without Regrets”. I wanted a second chance. I thought it was too late. But it wasn’t.

God gave me a second chance to do what I had longed to have done before.

It didn’t go the way I had imagined before. I wasn’t actually missing out on such a big opportunity after all.

Yet, I’m very grateful for that second chance. It gave me confidence, helped a relationship, and brought some truth to the surface. God loves giving us another try.

But whether or not you find out from experience that perhaps what you regretted was not as great as originally thought or you never know what it could’ve been, just remember that your past doesn’t define you. What your life looks like now is what it’s meant to be. You can work hard to prevent having regrets, like taking risks and going for new opportunities, but if you don’t have to beat yourself up over what’s been said and done already.

You are here for an incredible purpose and nothing you can do will change God’s plan for your life. God is here in the seasons of waiting. The seasons of lonliness. The seasons of questioning. Be willing to listen to His still, small voice. Even in the dark, when you’re alone with your thoughts. God is there, working in your life.

The plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of His heart through all generations.

Pslam 33: 11

Stuck

This morning, I was changing my daily calendar next to my bed, and I noticed an old clock that has been sitting there ever since we moved into this house. When I was a kid, I thought it was antique by the way the numbers are still Roman numerals and the clock is protected by a glass covering.

But the thing I noticed today was that the time had stopped working. The little second hand was ticking repeatedly between 11:27 and 11:28. This got me thinking a little bit.

I’m the sort of person who relives mistakes, embarrassing moments, and even good ones over and over again. That keeps me stuck between my 11:27 “past” and my 11:28 “future”. That isn’t a place where I can grow or move on.

Moving on is really hard. It means we have to let go of not only past mistakes, but past dreams. It means we have to be willing to face new challenges instead of harping on the old ones. It means we have to have the courage to say “yes” to God.

But I think that if we ask God for that courage, He will give it to us in a heartbeat.

Be gentle with yourself as you try to move on. Don’t rush the process, because then you will only have a temporary solution, not permanent peace and contentment. But be willing to take a look at what you do have in the present instead of worrying about what you missed out on in the past. That way, you won’t make that mistake again.

No matter how long it takes you to move on, you are not a lesser person for having doubts, making mistakes, or having trouble with change. Everyone is different, and when we compare ourselves, we will only feel worse about ourselves.

I may have shared this quote before, but it’s important.

The fastest way to ruin something beautiful is to compare it with something else.

Remember that you are a beautiful creation, and nothing you do or think can change that. You may not have been made for a specific person, situation, or opportunity. That’s okay. You were made for something even greater that needs YOU. Not the person you think is better looking, more successful, or more talented. The world needs you.

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.

Romans 8:18

Change

Normally I start out with a story, something I’ve learned that I hope encourages you, or a piece of advice. I’m not going to do that today.

I’m just going to be real with you. I’m exhausted.

I don’t know about you, but life has been pretty crazy, and it’s just super hard seeing all that’s going on in the world, not to mention our own personal battles or the ones those close to us are facing. For me, the hardest part is feeling guilty knowing that so many people out there are suffering much more than I am, yet even I am overwhelmed.

A lot has been going on in my life the past few months that has brought change. Some of my relationships have changed, there’s been loss, there’s been new adventures, and it’s just a pretty strange time to be living in the world right now.

I’ve seen a lot of posts and articles calling out the people who are resisting change right now. “Don’t get used to normal!” “Normal HURTS others!” “It’s time for growth!”

I agree with those statements, but I can also empathize with any of you who just feel confused about what to make of the new normal. We need to embrace these challenges to examine ourselves and see how we can be more accepting, more willing to do what’s right and just, and more concerned with others’ well-beings, especially the marginalized. But it’s okay to take a social media break and to just breathe.

I don’t have some super powerful solution to any of this. But I hope you know that you’re not the only one out there who is feeling tired, discouraged. I’ve seen a lot of encouraging things, such as protestors and police officers kneeling together in unity, counties opening up finally, people being there for each other.

All of this news intake needs to go through a filter, and that filter should determine whether or not you can do something about it. Yes, educate yourself. Yes, don’t support injustice. Yes, be there for people. Yes, serve in practical ways.

But don’t tear yourself apart and put the entire burden that our society needs to take as a whole onto your shoulders. God is your refuge. He is there when you need to pour out your heart about all your concerns. It worked for King David, and look, the Psalms came out of it! Those have been encouraging people for centuries.

You can use this time when you may be feeling at your lowest in order to inspire others later. You can use this time to be growing closer to God by supporting His way of treating others– as purposeful, equal, incredible human beings who are unconditionally loved. You can use this time to feel God’s presence as you journey through new seasons and experiences.

But just know that if there’s a little ache inside that misses comfort, stability, and hope, there will be a time for that, I promise. It’s not wrong to miss those things, but it is wrong to not make the most of the time we are living in.

I am praying for you, and I hope you know that you are never alone.

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.

Psalm 46:1

Filling Up From the Well

There is so much for us to think about as we grieve how our nation has treated people with injustice and without understanding. These days may feel dreary for you, whether you are personally affected or joining in the grieving. Today my pastor spoke on this issue, and how the most important thing we can do is listen to those who are hurting right now.

A lot of us are going through different seasons in our lives, whether we are dealing with issues related to what’s going on in the nation or not. I’m sure that you have people in your life that need to feel God’s unconditional love from you. But the hardest thing to do is give out that love when we have the wrong priorities.

Sometimes we give so much because we feel like we have to. God will equip us with everything we need, but we have to spend time praying, listening to God, and resting before we can give out that love to others. We need to drink from the well before we can give the living water to others.

There is so much I could say. There is so much I want to say. But instead I would like you to reflect on whether or not you are effectively showing God’s love to others. Have you been able to feel nourished too? Take care of yourself as well as others, but remember that everyone comes from different situations. Everyone has a different past. Everyone is a precious human being created in God’s image and deserves life and love. Whether or not you can relate to them doesn’t affect whether or not you can be an effective brother or sister in Christ to them. If you respect them and are there for them, then you can make them feel seen and loved.

The best thing you can do right now is to demonstrate God’s unfailing love without judgement. Listen, pray, and take time to just sit in God’s own love for you too.

And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.

-1 John 4:16

Seasons Don’t Last Forever

I have resolved to live, not just endure, every season of my life.

~Anonymus

I’ve been thinking a lot lately, and I’ve realized how easy it is to get stuck in our thoughts. We can be stuck in the past, present, or future.

Past

A problem that comes up when we are stuck in the past is that we torture ourselves by reliving things that can no longer be changed. We are embarrassed, worry about whether people remember certain things, and are just simply harming ourselves.

However, it is important to use the past to help us not repeat mistakes. It is also wonderful to reflect on how far we and others have come, and how God has answered prayers. When we feel bored or drained, it can be beneficial to remember the good times and feel hopeful for the future.

Next time you feel stuck in the past, I suggest looking ahead towards the future. Start planning out your goals and think about what you can do instead of what you can’t. If you are feeling reminiscent, then focus on how you can learn from the past instead of just beating yourself up on past mistakes.

Present

Being “present” is vital, but there are issues when we get too focused on only the present. It can makes us feel stuck, hopeless, and unmotivated. Especially during a time when we are experiencing new things that are not all pleasant, it’s easy to feel like this time will never end.

However, I promise you, it will. Make the most of the extra time you have with family, and see if there are ways you can reach out to others. We don’t have to let ourselves get stuck. We can change our lives no matter what stage we are in!

Good things about being present in every season is that you are aware of what’s going on around you and you are able to live fully. Enjoy every moment and appreciate all the things that God is doing in your life.

Future

Future thinkers are often either praised or scolded for being too prepared. It can be easy to stress about the future and forget about the present, or even the past, when God has been there for us. It can be hard to pay attention to what’s going on around you when you’re solely focused on what’s next.

Slow down and smell the flowers! Think about what God is doing in the present season, not just the next one. There’s nothing we can do with just worrying. Instead, we need to take action to make the now better for the future.

It’s important to plan and be prepared, but it’s also important to relax and remember that you can’t control everything that’s going to be thrown your way. We don’t have to just accept what happens to us, though. We can use it to help us grow into the people we are meant to be. So if you are busy planning ahead, that’s okay, but also take some time to remember to enjoy the moment before it passes you by.

Seasons

For me, I’ve had some issues being stuck in the present lately. It’s hard to know when this will all be over. But I’ve been trying to use my time in a way that I won’t regret. You may have related to one or more of these ways of thinking, and I know it changes throughout our lives. Just remember that no matter what season you’re in, God is always working, and there are things you can do to improve it if you aren’t feeling satisfied. Don’t miss out on the life God has for you by focusing on what you can’t control.

There’s a season to move on, which can be really hard to do. I often struggle with this, wondering if by moving on, I’m missing out on something. But sometimes God is calling us to do that, because He has something even better waiting for us. Listen to His voice, read the Bible, and see if this is a season of waiting or a season for change.

If you’re going through a rough time right now, I hope you can feel God’s presence today. People care about you and love you. This will not last forever, I promise.

For those of you thriving right now, that’s wonderful! I hope that you are able to spend time enjoying this season and don’t worry too much about when it will end. All good things do have to end, but that’s only so that we can move on to something even greater.

So, make the most of the season you’re in! It’s a gift from God, whether it be fond memories or a time to learn.

“For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven. A time to be born and a time to die. A time to plant and a time to harvest. A time to kill and a time to heal.”

Ecclesiastics 3:1-8

Amazing Grace

“People start to heal the moment they feel heard.”

Cheryl Richardson

May, as you probably know, is Mental Health Awareness Month. So, I thought I’d share a little bit of what I’ve gone through and maybe it will encourage you.

I’ve always been a pretty optimistic person, or at least trying to keep a smile on my face. I may not be the loudest or most outgoing person in the world, but I’ve always tried to not bother people with my problems. I’ve never been super popular, but I had a pretty wide range of friends growing up.

Last year, though, a lot of my world fell apart. And I’ll admit that I didn’t handle it in the healthiest way. I turned inward instead of reaching out because I didn’t want to be seen as someone different. Everyone expected me to be the person who was cheering them up, not being cheered up. And as many of you probably know, when you are feeling low, you don’t always want to have someone trying to make you laugh. You just want someone to listen to you.

Over time, I forgot what I was feeling and thinking about myself last year, because this year I’ve been able to put myself together with the help of God and loving people. But since I’ve had more time lately, I’ve gone through some old journals from last year, and it made me begin to think.

I used to think that I was actually helping myself by pointing out every little flaw and imperfection, using names towards myself that I would never call anyone else. I saw myself as inferior and not worthy of what every human is worthy of. We all have value. You have value. I have value. But we can’t always remember that.

It hurts us when we treat ourselves any different than how we would treat a friend. It hurts us when we pretend like God’s words for us, such as being His beloved child, worthy of salvation, are not applicable to us. We are one of the ones He is referring to. We are worthy of love and grace.

I just want you to know a few things because I wish someone had told me this last year. You are not a burden to the ones who truly love you. You have so much in store. You are beautiful and you don’t have to change to become worthy of these true statements. You are God’s beloved child and nothing can change that. Not even if you have lists of regrets, past mistakes, or perhaps did the one thing you thought no one could forgive. God’s just pretty cool like that; He’s going to forgive you. And chances are, other people who value you will see you in a way you can’t even imagine. Don’t give up.

We all have highs and lows when it comes to how we view ourselves and the world. I know that so many of you out there are either suffering in silence or you are getting help, but every day is still a struggle.

For those of you out there who don’t deal with this every day, please just extend abounding grace to those out there. Everyone is going through something hard, even if we can’t see it. I can slip into forgetting how my words and actions may affect others, and when we aren’t in a super difficult season ourselves, it can be easy to forget what it’s like. But just try to remember what you would’ve told yourself during your rougher days and if someone else needs to hear it, share it.

Tips for Giving Yourself Grace

I just wanted to share a few reminders with you when you are feeling upset with yourself:

~ The present isn’t forever. One mistake isn’t going to ruin who you are in God’s eyes.

~ You are your harshest critic. Chances are, others were not noticing that little slip up that you’ve been replaying in your mind.

~ You may not be able to take it back, but that doesn’t mean the journey is over. This is only the beginning. You don’t have to let this stop you from making up for it or moving on.

~You can do this ❤

Ways of Connecting with God and Resetting

Oftentimes the best way to feel better is to be able to rest in God’s presence and process our emotions. Here are a few ways you can give back to yourself:

~Journal daily

~Read encouraging devotionals

~Keep up a short, daily Bible study (I highly recommend checking out the Bible app for some free daily studies!)

~Reach out to a couple close people in your life that fill you with hope and love

~Draw or paint (You don’t have to be “good” at it! You can just see what happens and enjoy the process!)

~Listen to calm music or your favorite tunes, as long as they are uplifting

~Look up a favorite speaker or singer and hearing their encouraging words

Final Thoughts

I hope this has encouraged you! Please, no matter what, just remember that you are never alone. God is always with you, you can always reach out, and people love you.

Also, the best way for me to remember that this isn’t the permanent situation is to look past myself. See others’ needs and help them. Reach out and be the friend that I love and need.

We don’t have to let one another suffer in silence. We can be united. We can be there for one another.

I’m praying for you guys, and I hope you all are able to have a restful weekend 🙂

“For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope.”

-Jeremiah 29:11

Seeing People as People

“Everyone of us needs to show how much we care for each other and, in the process, care for ourselves.”

Princess Diana

I think that it’s easy, especially because we are social distancing and doing most of our interactions online, to forget that people are really people. People are human beings, created in the likeness of God, and have a purpose. Every single one. And that includes you.

I have a relative who does not live near me, and he has often done things that would seem very self-centered. In fact, that’s been his trademark his entire life. I think that would be a fair accusation to make, too, considering his high expectations of others yet his own failure to live up to those expectations himself. I’ve never felt the “love” or concern from him, even though I should, and my family has made considerable more effort to reach out than he has. It’s easy for me to think poorly of him and forget that he is a person. Yet…

I talked to him on the phone today for the first time in months. And I remembered that he is a person.

Sometimes it takes reaching out and hearing someone’s voice or seeing someone’s face to realize how they are just as important as the person who shows you God’s love. I hope you have a community full of people that make you feel appreciated and cared for. But it’s still important to take the time to love even the difficult people who have let you down because perhaps it will help them change. Even if it won’t, you will have made them feel the way you wanted to feel.

However, don’t rely on those people or really anyone to tell you how you need to feel about yourself. Extend yourself the same grace and compassion that you want to experience. God made you very special and He wants you to not doubt yourself, or who you have become. You need to remember that you are your biggest advocate to others and you if you see yourself the way God sees you, then you don’t have to worry about the things that you compare yourself to. You should use opportunities to grow to become more like Jesus, but you should also feel satisfied where you are right now, because God’s love will sustain you.

Anyway, whether it’s an annoying coworker, a frustrating family member, or a person who has disappointed you, I hope you can see them the way God sees them today. And more importantly, I hope you can also feel God’s presence in your life and feel just as worthy and valuable as you are. ❤

“A man who is kind benefits himself, but a cruel man hurts himself.”

~Proverbs 11:17

Driven By Fear

“Too many people are thinking of security instead of opportunity. They seem to be more afraid of life than death.”

— James F. Byrnes

You don’t have to be afraid anymore.

You heard me right. Repeat it. Write it on your hand, a piece of paper, your journal. You don’t have to be afraid anymore.

You’re probably thinking, “Hannah, we’re in the middle of a global pandemic right now. Remember?”

Yeah, it’s painful obvious to me. But I also have found through this time in quarantine that the quote “the only thing to fear is fear itself” is literally one of the most accurate things ever.

Fear is what holds us back. Let me prove my point.

We get angry at other people and that ruins relationships, right? It’s because we are afraid of what would happen if they won or if they didn’t get what they “deserved”.

We worry about people and end up criticizing them because of that fear that they won’t turn out right. Again…fear is the driving force behind breaking the relationship or straining it.

We don’t do things that could build others up, strengthen us, or give us new perspective, causing us to feel trapped. We regret things because we give into fear and let go of trust.

We need to flip that around. We need to give into trust and let go of fear.

Of course I’m saying that we should be careful and mindful of others. We shouldn’t just allow people to do whatever they want when they are hurting others or themselves. But we need to realize that we aren’t in control of anything except our mindsets. And if we trust God, we can have hope, joy, and peace. We don’t have to be afraid.

Fear has caused me great grief in the past. But I’m learning alongside you to let go.

Today, let Jesus’ love be enough. Let yourself realize that you are protected. Nothing happens without it being meant to happen. You don’t have to be afraid anymore.

Freedom sounds so fresh. We long for it right now. So take a hold of the driver’s seat and push fear aside. You’re in control of what’s going on in that head of yours, not fear. Don’t let fear win. Let love win. And I guarantee that you will suddenly feel a burden lift and the skies opening up for you. We can get through this together.

“There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.”

1 John 4:8