Apr 08
Today’s Truth
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
James 1:2-4
Friend to Friend
I can be pretty wimpy sometimes. I thrive on routine, and I don’t like change. Which means I have a difficult time dealing with trials as well. Often times I just simply shut down.
But recently I faced a situation I couldn’t wimp out on. I found out I was pregnant just three months after a traumatizing miscarriage. I was so unbelievably thankful for a baby I could hopefully hold earth side. However, this time I faced different complications, and the news that my baby could likely have disabilities. I found myself driving to a specialist every few weeks, feeling terrified all the time, and honestly, barely functioning.
It all felt like way too much, and I let it completely debilitate me. I didn’t face it with faith, praying and hoping in the Lord. Instead, I worried, and lost sleep, and let everything around me crumble. Yes, I prayed often for the health of my baby, but I didn’t let my faith lead me, I let fear rule my thoughts instead.
And at 29 weeks, after several long months of panic, I was told my baby was 100% healthy.
Wow, looking back I now realized how much time I wasted worrying and panicking and not trusting the Lord in His plan for all of this. But despite my lack of faith, God still used that experience in amazing ways.
He strengthened me in ways I never thought possible. He got me through, day by day, even when I thought I couldn’t make it another minute. He was with me through all of the ultrasounds, ER visits, blood tests, and scary appointments. Though I didn’t call on Him as much as I should have, He was still there, making beautiful things according to His plan.
And on May 6, late in the night, my beautiful, perfect son was born after 24 hours of hard, anxiety filled labor. It was such a visual picture of how we never know exactly what God is making of something when we’re in the middle of the trial. And oftentimes, we even doubt that anything is coming of it at all. But after all of that struggle, I was given the gift of being a stronger mama to this boy whom I love so fiercely.
Throughout my pregnancy, I had 2 Corinthians 4:18 as the wallpaper on my cell phone:
“So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”
Looking back, that was so fitting. Because we know that in the end, whether we see it or not, God is working towards finishing His work in us. Had my son had the disabilities they told me he did, I would have loved him 100% as much. But I let the fear of the unknown terrify me rather than trusting in the Lord that he had amazing, eternal plans for my son no matter what.
So if you’re facing a tough situation, and you just don’t know how any good can come out of it, know that you are trusting God who has a perfect plan and a perfect track record.
He is making beautiful things.
Let’s Pray
Dear Lord, I know that I fail to trust you too often. I face hard times and I lose sight of what you’re doing in my life. Help me to turn to you first before letting the fear set in. Help me to turn to your word before turning to the scary thoughts in my head. Fill me with your peace and the promise that you work everything for Your good. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Now It’s Your Turn
Keeping Scripture at the forefront of our minds during times like this is essential. What pieces of Scripture have comforted you during times of struggle?
More from the Girlfriends
I got married in 2012, at the age of 19, and found that marriage didn’t come as easily as I thought it would! My mom had been married over 20 years and felt the same way. Out of this, our marriage ministry, Nitty Gritty Love, was born. We blog about the tough things we face as wives, and how the Gospel should shape our marriages. We’re currently working on our first devotional, which will be published in early 2017.
Thank you so much for your honesty!!! It is vital to have someone to help us see the truth during the hard times – but – sometimes, for me, the biggest encouragement comes from knowing that other Christians wimp out and shut down too. Hearing that helps me push off the “good girl guilt” that the enemy loves to heap on my heart in order to remember and focus on the truth that God IS making beautiful things.
Oh, and I need to change the wallpaper on my cell phone. 🙂
This is a beautiful message and prayer. I am going through some trying times. I know God is faithful and that He loves me. He is indeed making beautiful things. ❤️
Hi Taylor
Wow! Our God is sooooooo wonderful as your devotion for the 21st of October was so needed as my friend Shanice is going through the very same difficult pregnancy and same circumstances
She lost her first baby too but blessed three months later with news of second wonderful pregnancy for their baby who is now 3 but now recently told at three months wonderfully pregnant again but diagnosed with possible disabilities. Among this trauma His blessing of reading your devotion was so amazing to remind how wonderful our God is and it’s in His plan and he is making a beautiful baby and to have strength of going through all the tests and not gv up hope Also to trust in Him and not caught up in ‘why?????’ Clinging onto proverbs 3 v 5,6
Trust in the Lord and lean not on your own understanding Acknowledge Him in all your ways and he will make your paths straight.
I Pray for Gods loving healing upon Shanice and her baby and for the following months ahead
Again thank you so much Taylor for your wonderful work and blessings for the future for you and your ministry.
love Leni
It is so very true and I often tell myself that I’m not worried but deep down I am because I’m trying to figure out what next. I pray and I hope but still there is a little bit of fear and worry that creeps up on me from time to time or try to remind me of something from the past. I am determine that I will not worry and I will trust God because his word tells me to be anxious for nothing, and to trust in the Lord and lean not to my own understanding but to acknowledge him in all my ways. My determination is to trust God. Thank You
I was just thinking about Proverbs 3 v.5,6 when I read Leni’s story about her friend’s pregnacy. I am past that part of my life, I was blessed with 2 pregnancies and 2 daughters whom I love with all my heart(next to God!). But I just think about how the Lord works because you told us to share scripture and a difficult time in our own lives. I am disabled, from a vehicle accident in 1999. My world and life was turned upside down since that accident but I can look back and see where the Lord was with me all thru everything I experienced, hip replacement, knee replacement and even as recent as 2015 when my husband and I went to the emergency room and he was told that most people who come to the emergency room with very high potassium and my kidneys were shutting down that it was usually fatal. The Lord was not finished with me here on this earth yet and I have days that look so dark but always it seems when I read stories and devotions like yours it gives me reason to keep on keeping on and trusting the Lord no matter what lies ahead for me. Praise the Lord for people like you who have the gift of putting things into words on paper for people like me!!
how did you know when it was the right time to stop worrying? did God remove the fear and the worry and then that’s how you knew?
Hi, Ana. You know when you feel a peace in you inner spirit person. Being still and waiting on God. Peace be with you, sister
Thank you for sharing , I feel like a looser, I can’t sleep, I just keep crying out to God for help, for Hope , for answers! We found out we need to move out of our house , cause our landlord is selling it, we have no lease , so he told us to be out in 3 weeks. We have no place to go and we have a small child, so it’s not like we can just sleep in our car. We have no family or friends who can take us in. My husband was sick this spring and summer and we depleted our savings so we have no money for first month rent or security deposit ! We need like $3,500. I fell like I let my husband down cause I couldn’t keep us afloat in just my salery when he was sick and now we have no savings, I feel desprate and I want to keep a roof over my families head! So thanks for this reminder that God will never reject us and that , he Some how will help us. I’m trying to have faith and not fear
I am waiting on results regarding metaatic cancer. The timing of this devotion is no coincidence. Thank you so much!!
Early in the day, I seek the heart, the direction, of God for my life. He always wraps me in a soft holy, heady blanket of His love. His instructions are essential for us, as we wonder the highways and byways searching for those who need Him.
Words aren’t available to express my gratitude, to you girls, for allowing the Lord our God to speak through you into the lives of His people.
In sharing your devotions with my husband, each morning, he has come to know the Lord as his personal savior. I have grown into a more adept prayer warrior and minister to hurting women , somewhat through your tutelage.
I wept sobbing tears of the relief i didn’t know I needed experienced due to reading this message today.
For some time now, I’ve had the future written on my heart. I see the battle field, the storm clouds. The coming of our Lord is at hand. And he’s calling His servants to gather His children.
You all are in my prayers as you obediently pour out, on your audience,His message to the masses.
Until we see JESUS…
…Carla