Initially posted: November 18, 2024.
Generally you are 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 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.
It appears hopeless.
What’s the purpose of occurring?
You’re feeling like it’s best to simply quit.
You cry at evening however the place is God? He appears so distant. So distant. You’re not getting any solutions and also you don’t perceive why.
I do know precisely how you are feeling. As a result of I’m penning this from a homeless shelter!
Nothing Can Cease You
With tears streaming down my face, not understanding 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, “You have 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.
But it surely wasn’t all the time that means. I used to be making tens of millions of {dollars}, doing so effectively. And all the things crashed, and whereas it’s not necessary to say specifics presently 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 let you know what He’s doing at this second in time. I can’t let you know why He’s permitting this. I can’t even say with certainty that I’ll get by all this.
However I do know a couple of issues.
Right here’s what I DO know…
1- My God (and yours) is value worshipping at ALL instances.
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 believe to myself, “Why is that this occurring? Why are you permitting all this?”
However Jesus is sweet within the good instances and the unhealthy. God remains 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 on your life, but it surely’s a GOOD plan…and…you might not know what it’s proper now. That’s okay. It’s solely necessary we proceed to belief Him within the good AND the unhealthy instances.
As a result of let’s face it, there’s so many unhealthy instances 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
Perhaps He’s testing me proper now. Perhaps He’s testing you. Perhaps He needs to see your religion exhibited to the world. Perhaps He needs to know you’ll observe Him…NO…MATTER…WHAT.
I’m keen to observe Him by homelessness. Are you? What are you keen to observe Him by? Are you keen to think about Him that He is aware of what He’s doing, even when issues SEEM utterly hopeless?
This week, I lived in my automobile, bouncing round from motel room to motel room, not getting any sleep. Immediately, 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 tens of millions, having over $400k in my financial savings account as a single mother, I by no means imagined myself right here.
It wasn’t speculated to prove like this. This wasn’t speculated to occur, and but, it did. The very actual state of affairs is that it did. That is the place I stay for the subsequent 30 days.
I believe God is testing me. Will I nonetheless serve Him after I don’t have a comfortable checking account, a steady 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 referred to 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 whenever you’re in a state of affairs like this. Individuals say it so flippantly. However in the present day 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 might not look like it proper now, He’s holding you within the palm of His very succesful fingers. He’s acquired a plan and in time (Ecclesiastes 3), it’ll unfold.
5- He received’t allow you to be examined past what you possibly can bear
I chuckle to myself a bit bit. God thinks I’m WAY stronger than *I* assume I’m!!! 🙂
Perhaps you are feeling the identical means.
It’s tough, proper? There’s a lot to bear.
However He offers energy to the powerless, consolation to the abused, hope to the oppressed.
Immediately, 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 automobile both.
What are you able to be glad about in the present day? What do you might have in the present day? Simply in the present day. How has He blessed you TODAY?
6- God’s will received’t change
Irrespective of what number of prayers I’ve prayed for God to avoid wasting me from this occurring, to bypass it, to keep away from it altogether, He didn’t. He received’t. It’s one thing I’m satisfied I’ve to stroll by, although I don’t know why simply but.
Generally, we have now to undergo issues as a result of on the opposite aspect is one thing we wouldn’t have if we DIDN’T stroll by 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 think, on your sake. In order that I can minister to your coronary heart, in an entire new means 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 alter this example for me. I believe it’s one thing I’ve to stroll by, and you might have to stroll by what you’re going by 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 when you’re dedicated to doing the need of Christ at any value. It could BE painful. It could be excruciating. I get it.
However he can solely cease you, when you let him. And possibly, like Job, God needs to shove that is Devil’s face and say, “Look, this Christian will observe me to the ends of the earth and preserve going, even once they don’t have anything.”
Can He say that of you?
Hear, you’re cherished greater than you possibly can probably know by the One who created all of it. He holds you in His proper hand, He received’t allow you to fall previous what you possibly can bear, He’s holding your hand, strolling by this with you.
Whether or not or not you are 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 treasured hearts are treasured to Him.
By means of tears I ask you this straightforward 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 unhappiness, ache, and worry.
What does Romans 8:38-39 imply? It implies that God’s love for you by no means dies. He’s constant in that.
You might be cherished! You might be treasured. You might be wished.
Maintain on tight to the One you already know and don’t ever let go!!!
The best way to get by 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 perpetually to anguish in our distress or will He save us?
The extra we all know God (not simply understanding ABOUT Him, however understanding Him in an experiential means), 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’ll 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 understanding that God WILL do it.
The most effective 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 carried out for His folks in historical past, must be, for the struggling saint, your precedence and that’s precisely what this put up has been about. To REMIND YOU of His goodness, grace, mercy, and love as a result of proper now, THAT’S what you have to deal with!!! <3 Proper now, all of your consideration MUST be positioned on that, so that you stay in your steadfast hope.
You WILL get by 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 exhausting?”
Nice query! With the intention to reply this, I really feel prefer it’s necessary so that you can perceive what I DID quit for the glory of God. I didn’t quit some rinka-dink trashy house within the unhealthy aspect of city and me sittin’ right here saying, “Oh, I gave up all the things for God.”
I truly gave up fairly a bit.
God didn’t need me to promote my house, which in flip, made me quit a great $300,000 in earnings. That’s fairly some huge cash by anybody’s requirements.
I gave up my house, a stunningly attractive $1.5 million greenback house, and I would like you to get the complete gravity of this.
My home was in-built 2013, a 5 bed room, 4 bathtub place with a 3 automobile 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 authentic dream was that earlier than I met my future husband, I’d shock him on our wedding ceremony day and inform him that I had $20,000 in financial savings that we may do with what we wished. Journey, put it aside, no matter he needs. It will be my present to him. And I labored actually exhausting for years to avoid wasting up that $20k.
I handed that quantity and I simply saved saving, considering that I’d have a great chunk of cash in my financial savings for after I acquired married, as a gift to my future husband. In order that I may very well be the Proverbs 31 lady and he’d be so comfortable to know the way exhausting I’ve labored for our future marriage and to alleviate stress on him that he wouldn’t must work so exhausting (we may 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 exhausting (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 may give my future husband this house, as an alternative of cash within the financial institution. I’ll give him this house, I’ll enhance it completely so he feels so blessed and cherished of all of the exhausting work I’ve carried out for him BEFORE I even met him”.
It was one thing I actually wished to do for him. So, below God’s path and steering, I purchased the home and spent 3 years adorning it so completely, to make my future husband comfortable in a mode I believe he would have cherished.
I wasn’t all the best way completed adorning it, however most all the items have been there and it was cozy and homey. Right here’s so far as I acquired…
Entrance of the home (per realtor web site).
Entrance of the home (per realtor web site). It had a basketball court docket, in-ground trampoline, and delightful yard. I imagined internet hosting many features there (Bible research maybe, get-togethers with church associates, and many others. 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 going through the neighbor’s house within the snow. I needed to share this pic. – the snow is attractive, even to me (and I’m not a fan of snow; I’d a lot reasonably have rain!!) ❤️
Entryway the primary Christmas (most important lounge furnishings is just not there but) and I ended up altering out that decor within the ending.
Fundamental lounge (my favourite room of the home).
Formal lounge.
Media room. I had decorations for white/silver and white/crimson as a result of I didn’t know which coloration scheme my future husband would favor. 😊
Media room. White/crimson Christmas decor.
Visitor room.
Research (second office- the principle workplace that I had arrange for 2 folks (me and my future husband), you possibly can see on the steps pic on the left).
Vacation entertaining (fall). I had simply purchased the serviette ring holders.
Vacation entertaining (Christmas).
As you possibly can see from the images, it was an amazingly attractive house that I labored extremely exhausting 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 automobile (just a few days) until I acquired to a homeless shelter. Within the shelter, I continued to weblog, which is the place I wrote this put up 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 house over a storage with a rest room. Assume: a motel room). It’s exhausting to sleep due to the chilly and exhausting to work whenever you’re shivering and your fingers and toes are icepops.
The landlords have given me a couple 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 the entrance door, home windows, and many others).
The non permanent housing I’m in now’s $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 very best 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 exhausting time discovering a protected 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, a minimum of not proper now.
With Christmas proper across the nook, most individuals aren’t shifting. After the brand new 12 months, if I don’t freeze to loss of life and die earlier than then 😛, I might be able to discover one thing, as extra folks is likely to be shifting after the vacations.
My greatest prayer is that I discover one thing protected 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 earnings to extend by $200-$400/month, relying on what I can discover, or have to discover a cheaper place that’s round $1,000/month.
Now that you’ve a great 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 referred to as me to do, and it’s as a result of it’s occurring, then I’ll gladly stroll by no matter He needs me to, understanding that He has a plan (no matter it might be) on the opposite aspect of issues.
Whereas I don’t know His precise 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 loss of life and die (haha), it’s higher, for I be with Him (Paul will get it: Philippians 1:23), and if I stay by this, then He offers me the energy to make it by 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 believe that, when all that is over, after I’m by this, we are going to ALL see, why precisely He allowed this to occur. Until then, I belief, I obey, I observe, I lay down my life for the One in whom I really like. Interval.
It jogs my memory of considered one of my favourite motion pictures, Labyrinth.
The character within the film, Sarah, says, “By means of risks untold and hardships unnumbered, I’ve fought my means right here to the citadel past the Goblin Metropolis to take again the kid you might have stolen…”
If she is so keen to battle so exhausting 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 battle 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 choice. ❤️