He’s turned 2, that age when “I do it!” is heard more times than I pick up toys from the floor on a typical day. {in case you’re wondering…that’s a lot!} His normal modus operandi is to charge forward in life, feet ahead of him at times, full speed ahead.

On this day though, he grabs my hand…and the handrail. We’re in a new place and he’s unsure about the steps and the rocky gravel below. I’d offer even that he’s a little scared of the path ahead.

But holding my hand?

He’s willing to try something new, knowing that I’m there to steady his walk, unwilling to let go and allow him to stumble.

And this, like so many other pictures of His greatness God gives us in the everyday, is a reminder of God’s love for us as our Father.

So why, dear friends, do we flail in the unknown, uncertain places of our lives?

Instead of grasping God’s outstretched hand when we’re afraid of the path ahead, we, in our own fleshly wisdom, march down those uncertain stairs, determined to do it on our own, but wobbling and fearful the whole way down.

Holding God’s hand, we can release fear and walk confidently forward, even in the uncertain places. {Isaiah 41:13}

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Today, let’s instead remember God’s faithfulness to stand with us in the hard times {and the good ones too!}. He offers His hand and reminds us we have nothing to fear. As our creator and our daddy, He’s here to help us on the journey. We just have to take His hand and walk the path laid in front of us.

Reflect on the truth shared in Isaiah and be encouraged of God’s presence in your life today and everyday.

Isaiah 41:13

For I am the Lord your God,
who takes hold of your right hand
and says to you,
Don’t fear; I will help you.

photo credit: Charlotte90T via photopin cc

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Sharing today with Scripture and a Snapshot, Sunday Stillness, Give Me Grace, and The Weekend Brew.

It was a small, thin book. I’m not sure where it came from but I remember clearly the words on the front: God’s Promises for Women.

As a teenager in high school, every few weeks when I was feeling insecure about something I’d pick it out from among the various books piled indiscriminately on my bookshelf. A quick flip to the topic list would send me meandering down the path of figuring out my confused, hormonally driven feelings.

God’s promises. They were the list of things I could count on. I read slowly and my heart centered on promises of security, safety, strength, and salvation.

God’s Promises – photo credit: 55Laney69 via photopin cc

Each time after closing the little book’s pages, my heart was filled with confidence that God would take care of me, that He loved me, and that his son Jesus offered the promise of salvation and a home in heaven.

Oh, how I wish now I could go back to my insecure 14 year old self and offer a new perspective on the Christian life. One that reflects a truer picture of the scope of the daily experiences we live through as disciples of Jesus.

Although maybe it’s good that I didn’t fully understand.

Maybe by God’s grace he protected me from comprehending that growing as a Christian, the working out of our salvation, doesn’t always feel secure, safe, or full of strength.

But now. Now I am beginning to understand.

Understanding for me has been delivered to the doorstep of my heart, wrapped up in diverse packages.

Understanding has looked like:

Wandering through the process of developing my own faith in college
Suffering a miscarriage at 12 weeks with our first baby
Undergoing emergency surgery while 6 weeks pregnant with our second baby
Living under crippling anxiety for months while pregnant with our third baby
Learning how to trust my husband after years of struggles with pornography
Planting a church and the ups and downs of ministry in a church setting
Experiencing financial instability for the last two years as my husband has started his own business

While I truly now treasure the growth these situations have provided, I don’t know that I realized that this life of struggle and pain was what I “signed up for” when I decided to become a Christian.

I was a mere 10 years old and while I knew the right actions to take and the right things to say to make that decision, I certainly didn’t fully understand the calling of a Jesus follower. And maybe that was okay too since we all have to start somewhere on the path.

But as I move forward in my Christian walk, I want others to know that there are things that God does not promise and while confusing, they are the true blessings that offer opportunity for growth and development not possible any other way.

3 Things God Didn’t Promise

1. God did not promise days without pain, but he did promise strength for the day.

Isaiah 41:10

So don’t be afraid. I am here, with you;
don’t be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you, help you.
I am here with My right hand to make right and to hold you up.

2. God did not promise laughter without sorrow but he did promise comfort for the tears.

2 Corinthians 1:3-4

All praise goes to God, Father of our Lord Jesus, the Anointed One. He is the Father of compassion, the God of all comfort. He consoles us as we endure the pain and hardship of life so that we may draw from His comfort and share it with others in their own struggles.

3. God did not promise sun without rain but he did promise light for the way.

Psalm 119:105

Your word is a lamp for my steps; it lights the path before me.

My prayer today is that we will all recognize and embrace the potential for growth and spiritual maturity that comes through suffering and challenges instead of seeing them as merely obstacles.

Don’t run from tests and hardships, brothers and sisters. As difficult as they are, you will ultimately find joy in them; if you embrace them, your faith will blossom under pressure and teach you true patience as you endure. And true patience brought on by endurance will equip you to complete the long journey and cross the finish line—mature, complete, and wanting nothing. James 1:2-4

What experiences have you had that have allowed your faith to “blossom under pressure”? Did you ultimately find joy in them? Share in the comments and let’s encourage one another!

Scriptures are taken from The Voice translation. The above image is a vinyl decal I found on Amazon.

This post contains affiliate links {full disclosure}. Sharing today with Sunday Stillness, Inspire Me Monday, Mommy Monday, Titus 2 Tuesday, Unite, Titus2sday, Teaching What is Good, and Fridays Unfolded.

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