Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.

Hebrews 10:23

Have you ever caught yourself questioning God’s faithfulness? Maybe it was an unanswered prayer, a series of unfortunate events, or unresolved personal turmoil. Whatever caused it, I’m sure it left you feeling raw and perhaps even a little uneasy.

That happened to me this fall. I can still remember feeling physically whiplashed when God responded to a thought running through my mind.

A couple weeks after Jason’s accident I was exhausted for a variety of reasons. Not only was I processing my husband’s injury and trying to maintain normalcy for the kids, but my dad was also in and out of the hospital. 

There was the upcoming school year to prepare for, vegetable produce to gather, beef harvest to coordinate, and several outdoor projects that needed to be wrapped up without my strong hubby’s help.

During that time, there were moments when it was difficult to talk with friends and family. I felt joy for their successes, fun trips, and beautiful renovations. Honestly though? It was hard to stomach those moments when I was thankful to make it through the day without breaking down in front of my children.

One morning, after hearing about another answered prayer for a friend, these words flashed through my mind: Well, even though our life is a gigantic mess right now, at least God is faithful to others.

When God is Faithful to Everyone Else

If you’ve walked through a situation where you felt gutted and left wondering what’s next, you might be nodding your head right now. 

As someone who’s known about Jesus her whole life and lived through His redemptive work, I immediately felt chastised for my thought as God stirred uncomfortable emotions.

“Do you really think I pick and choose who I am faithful to? Do I have favorites? Or only have so much faithfulness allotted? Are you sure I’m only faithful to you sometimes? Perhaps in your exhaustion, you’ve stopped noticing me.”

I’m thankful God’s reply was cloaked in love. There was no guilt trip. Just a feeling of warmth and comfort, as if a parent was tipping their child’s tearstained face up to theirs.

My Heavenly Father expanded my tunnel vision to see the extraordinary ways He was and is providing for us. 

1. Jason’s hand was still attached. Amen!
2. Although there was much work to be done, Jason’s parents live nearby and stepped up in big ways to help.
3. The windows may not have gotten replaced, but they still kept the rain and snow out.
4. My dad had more testing to do, but each one got him closer to a diagnosis.
5. The gardens looked a little wild, and also like nutritious homegrown produce to fill the cellar.

For each groan I lifted up to God, came a gentle whisper of provision and assurance.

He hadn’t forgotten me, or my family, at all. It wasn’t that He was only faithful to some and not others. In the busyness of those days, I had forgotten how to fight for sacred time with God in His Word.

My prayers were still being delivered, heard, and answered. I just didn’t have a clear vision of how God was working for our good – because it looked different than how I pictured it.

Ways to Recognize God is Faithful to All

It can be hard to drown out the distractions that attempt to block our direct line of sight with God, especially when life is chaotic. Many things that truly need to be tended to, demand our time and attention.

This is why it’s so important to carve out time to seek God. Especially in hard seasons. Even more important, is to make a point to be still and listen for God’s response.

As Christ followers, our Heavenly Father desires to lavish us with love. (I John 3:1-2) He does not withhold faithfulness on purpose. He waits in the heavenlies, for us to look up, call out, and surrender ourselves to Him.

Part of surrendering to Him requires us to lay down what distracts us from Him.

Scripture offers the following encouragement when we wonder if God is faithful.

Those who know your name trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you. Psalm 9:10

Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:21-23

Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments. Deuteronomy 7:9

How I Remind Myself God is Faithful

I am certainly not perfect, but here are a few helpful habits that help keep my mind and heart in check when I start to doubt God’s faithfulness.

Morning devotional time

Full disclosure! These are simply my goals. As a busy mom, I have had to adjust priorities and responsibilities to make this happen. There is grace on the days I’m not able to fit this in. However, I am deeply blessed and feel a God-given readiness on the days I can. An added bonus is the example we set for our children when they see us making time to know God intimately.

• Let the Bible/devotion be the first thing I read for the day
• Spend time in prayer, starting with praise
• Allow a few quiet moments after reading and praying to hear God

Practice Gratitude

This may seem like a given, but as I shared above, sometimes our vision of God gets clouded when under great pressure. When this happens, grab a sheet of paper and a pen, and come up with 3 things you can be thankful for. 

Consider how you’ve seen God provide:

• resources (financial/material/connections)
• health (healing/diagnosis/forward movement)
• Family, friends, community
• Knowledge, wisdom, peace. laughter

Keep A Soft Heart

If we read further in Deuteronomy 7, we see another way to keep our eyes open to God’s faithfulness. 

Verses 11 and 12 say, “Therefore, take care to follow the commands, decrees and laws I give you today.  If you pay attention to these laws and are careful to follow them, then the Lord your God will keep his covenant of love with you, as he swore to your ancestors.”

I have learned the following “states of heart” are a surefire way to miss God’s grace and goodness: 

• Distracted
• Hardened
• Unrepentant
• Disobedient
• Ungrateful

Oftentimes, this looks like praying specifically to confess. When we choose to live apart from God, we don’t see His faithfulness as clearly. Sin, no matter the type, equals separation from our Heavenly Father. I’m so thankful for John’s words in I John 1:9 that remind us God is faithful to forgive and cleanse us when we approach Him with a contrite heart.

Father, I pray you be with the ones who are feeling weary and wondering where you are. I know you will meet them in sacred spaces to reveal exactly how you’ve been faithful. Thank you for grace and mercy undeserved as we walk this world trying to stay in step with you. We praise you for being the one and only faithful God, who answers our prayers. Please keep our tender hearts soft and our vision clear as we seek to know you better. In your name we pray, Amen.

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Have you ever had one of those moments where you thought, ‘I couldn’t make this up if I tried’? I had that happen a couple weeks ago when some neighboring cattle broke out of their fencing around midnight and wandered over to our farm.

I kept replaying that morning, and the more I sat with it, the more God used it to point me back to the book of John and the way Jesus cares for us. 

Papa as the Cattle Leader

Let me start with a bit of backstory. Naturally, that night was extremely foggy and you could hardly see a foot in front of you. It was thought the cattle meandering down the road in front of the farm were ours, so they were ushered back into the pasture. 

A quick perimeter check showed no broken fencing. There has been an uptick in coyote activity lately, so perhaps the cattle got spooked and bolted. We didn’t know for sure. 

Come daybreak, still just as foggy but lighter out, Jason went to count the herd. After some walking around, a big black bull head roughly a foot taller than the rest, stood out amongst our reddish brown and gray herd. So did two other little black bull yearlings. 

There is no easy way to sort cattle in an open field, so our only choice was to move the whole group, visitors and all, down to the barn. Whenever there is a cattle drive, our herd knows the routine. Papa leads with the fourwheeler while calling them, and I push from behind. 

But this time, we had neighbors helping. They started walking right into the middle of the herd. I stood dumbfounded for a moment as the cattle became unsettled and spread out. I started cooing to the girls, “it’s ok, it’s ok,” trying to calm them down.

We regrouped, got them down to the barn, and hoped like heck the two bulls (ours is kept in a pasture right next to the barn) wouldn’t start fighting. The visiting cattle were picked up within an hour or so and we went on with our day.

Jesus as the Good Shepherd

The entire debacle was a reminder of how quickly animals grow uneasy when someone or something unknown steps into their space. In the same way, sheep become wary of a voice they do not recognize.

In John chapter 10, Jesus talks about a stranger entering a sheep pen. He is addressing the Pharisees’ unbelief that He is the long awaited Messiah.

Here is part of the picture Jesus gives them:

Very truly I tell you Pharisees, anyone who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber.  The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” Jesus used this figure of speech, but the Pharisees did not understand what he was telling them.

Jesus tried again specifying that He was the gate and anyone who entered through His gate would be saved. He called himself the Good Shepherd. The Shepherd who does not run away but lays down his life for his flock.

In verse 14, Jesus reiterates a third time:

Just as our cattle trust and follow Papa because they know his voice, the sheep trust and follow their shepherd because they recognize his voice.

As believers of God, Jesus Christ is our Good Shepherd and we are the sheep. The Good Shepherd offers protection, healing, tender loving care, a sense of belonging, and most importantly salvation. 

All we have to do is listen for our Shepherd and follow His voice.

How do we hear the Good Shepherd’s voice?

Just like our cattle recognize Papa’s voice because they are used to hearing it, we grow more familiar with Jesus’ voice the more time we spend with Him.

So maybe a better question to ask is how do we tune out worldly noise that interferes with the Shepherd’s voice? Life is chock full of good and bad distractions like cell phones, social media, jobs, raising families, caring for loved ones, etc.

It’s tempting to overanalyze and/or overcomplicate the answer to this question. However, I’m learning the best way to make sure I’m hearing the Good Shepherd’s voice is simply this: spend time with Him.

For me that looks like prioritizing time to do these things: 

• read Scripture
• pray honestly
• confess and turn back quickly
• bring everything to God first

In turn, I’m better able to do these things:

• be alert and sober minded
• hold still and listen
• maintain a soft heart
• be obedient
• fall deeper in love with God

Importance of Training Our Ears to Listen

Speaking from experience, if we don’t make a point to recognize the Good Shepherd’s voice, several things might happen. We might assume he’s stopped talking to us. Perhaps panic starts to set in. Trust starts to erode. Belief turns into doubt. 

Before you know it, you’re off the beaten path, lost in a sea of fog, calling for help and unable to discern whether the voice you hear is for you or against you.  

Sometimes, the noise around us hardens our hearts without us even realizing it. Sometimes, when we choose not to prioritize time with God, our hearts become deaf to His voice. 

Jesus reiterated his status as our Good Shepherd to another group of Jewish people, in verses 27-30: “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.”

God is always available to those who call on His name. He is trustworthy. 

Will you in return, fight through the fog and surrender whatever distractions have been pulling you away from the Shepherd’s voice?

Heavenly Father, thank you so much for the gift of your Son and eternal life. Thank you for leading, protecting, healing, providing, and loving us. We praise you for knowing each one of us intimately. Help us train our hearts to hear your voice and tune out that which leads us away from you. In your name we pray, Amen.

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The post When Cattle Wander and The Good Shepherd Speaks appeared first on Blooming Rock Homestead.

Have you ever heard the common saying, “The good, the bad, and the ugly”? I saw it three times in five minutes the other day and it got me thinking.

What if, instead of “the good, the bad, and the ugly” we reframed it as “the good and the growth opportunity?” Hear me out. 

I’m not saying bad things don’t happen; they do. I’m not saying we ignore injustice; it should be addressed. I’m not saying we skip grieving, it’s necessary for healing. And I’m not saying trusting God in hard times is easy; it isn’t.

But I am saying, maybe we need a mind shift and a softened heart.

Even in the bad and ugly moments, God is still with us. Jeremiah 29:11 reminds us, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

When Trusting is Hard

I will be the first to tell you I question those words at times. 

While I was waiting in recovery after Jason’s surgery, the surgeon told me, “I’m sorry, surgery took longer than expected. Unfortunately, there was more damage than we initially thought.” In that moment, I wasn’t sure what God’s plan for Jason’s or our family’s future really was. It certainly didn’t feel prosperous.

That’s why the Lord’s words after verse 11 are so important. In verses 12 into 14 we’re also reminded, “Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity.”

Did you notice how many verbs are in those verses? 

We’re called to take action: to call, come, pray, and seek Him with our whole heart. And in response, God listens, reveals Himself, and leads us out of captivity.

Before we label something as “bad” or “ugly,” we can pause and ask: What part of this situation is holding me captive?

Then we need to decide if we’re going to let it refine or ruin us.

Trusting God in Hard Times

In order to draw closer, truly trust God in hard times, and fully surrender our plans, we need to work through the things holding us captive until we see the good, see God.

And if we look back, and can’t find any good, then perhaps our whole heart is not truly seeking God, but rather some earthly, temporary fix, that allows our flesh to feel better in the moment.

Jason’s hand hasn’t regained full mobility or strength yet. I pray it does every day, but it’s not my plan, it’s God’s plan. 

My job in all this, is to keep calling, coming, praying, and seeking God with my whole heart. 

Once I decided Jason’s accident and all the what-if’s weren’t going to hold me captive, God started revealing himself in so many unexpected ways. My faith has been stretched thin, but my love for God has grown deeper.

God certainly had and has much good planned for us.

Praying God  touches your heart and walks with you through whatever in life has you bound in captivity. He hears and responds to even the faintest whisper with a strong love.

Father, help us to surrender, break down our walls, set aside appearances, give each and every thought up to you, and allow ourselves to be found by you. Help us to break the flesh patterns telling us Your good doesn’t exist. Thank you for being our Healer, Provider, and Strong Tower. Thank you for being Love itself and for breaking through the darkness to bring us Light. We praise you and love you Abba. Amen.

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The post Trusting God in Hard Times: A Path to Growth appeared first on Blooming Rock Homestead.

I saw my phone light up from across the room. I’d been waiting for a notification and yet dreading it. As I tried to stay focused on my current role as teacher to my squirmy kiddos, a nagging in the back of my head just wouldn’t let up. 

It sent worrying thoughts, anxiety, and a million “I told you so” statements flooding through my body. Before I knew it, my skin turned hot and clammy and morning snack rolled in my stomach. 

The waiting message told me nothing new. It confirmed what I already knew, or at least strongly suspected, after an encounter with the Holy Spirit the previous week. Yes, my loved one was hurt again. Yes, I would rally again. But Lord, how many more “agains” are going to be necessary? And what if the next again is the last again?

The feeling of fear, of being scared, was becoming a fast friend, and I didn’t like it.

Have you ever found yourself in the same situation? Wanting to trust someone, something, or God, but finding it difficult to? Wondering why the same thing is allowed to happen time after time? Trying to figure out just the right words to say or pray to ignite change? Doubting God’s love in the midst of heartache? Living scared of what might come next? 

I’m guessing your answer might be yes, so I’d love to share something I recently read that led to an “Aha” moment with this!

In Lysa TerKeurst’s book, I Want to Trust You, But I Don’t, she talks about needing to press into God when doubts creep in. Things like being in His Word, talking to Him, and/or remembering His past faithfulness and that He Himself is good are all helpful. She also shares:

“If I don’t feel like God is coming through for me today, it’s so hard to trust that surrendering my future to Him is a safe thing to do. I’m scared to fully trust Him. I’m scared to fully surrender my efforts to fix things and instead cling to His promises. So I hold on to my fears and doubts, I build safety nets in case He doesn’t come through.”

That six letter word, scared,  resonated with me. I could one hundred percent relate to how Lysa felt. As I read the paragraph a few more times, I thought of something I’d been practicing from Ann Voskamp’s book, Waymaker. In it she unpacks, “a SACRED Way of living. A practical daily way of life that drowns an army of fears, reshapes, and directs her days, and offers her a fresh revelation of hope.”

God was showing me, reminding me, how to move from a self-centered scared mindset to a Christ-centered SACRED mindset.

Throughout Waymaker, Ann weaves her own personal struggles with the following:

S – Stillness to Know God

A – Attentiveness to Hear God

C – Cruciformity to Surrender to God

R – Revelation to See God

E – Examine to Return to God

D – Doxology to Thank God

When we are faced with difficulties that seem impossible to overcome, shake us to our core, and leave us wondering “Where are you God?” or “Why God?” – will we turn inward and rely on our finite understanding of how things work? Or, will we extend our arms wide in surrender to God, who infinitely knows all? Will we take the time to train our minds to process what’s scary through a SACRED lens and let God shape our view of the situation?

Friends, these are heavy questions. Is our faith strong enough to weather the raging waters and blazing fires? And what does it mean if it waivers?

I want you to know, these are not questions we should feel ashamed to wrestle with.

Last year, the constant barrage of doubt, fear, and anxiety really tested my faith. I was afraid to voice where I was at, because as a woman who professes faith, I shouldn’t have those thoughts and feelings, right?! 

But once I decided to be honest with God, true healing began. I’ve worked through the SACRED Way of living numerous times when doubt and fear surface. Through that, God continues to peel back the enemy’s lies, remind me of His inherent goodness and past faithfulness, offer forgiveness and grace, and draw me closer to Him. 

God will do the same for you. In fact, He’s waiting right now to wrap you in His loving embrace, gently wipe your tears, and whisper assurances to your heart. 

The storms will still come, but just like Isaiah 43:2 states, God will not allow us to be swept away or singed by fire.

Abba Father, Fear and uncertainty are sometimes part of life. Help us not to let them become life itself, but to shift from scared to SACRED. Lord, help us to bow in humility and let You be the Good Father who reigns over every aspect of our lives. Sustain us, when our souls are weary and it seems like there’s no end in sight. We are so thankful for Your grace and how You continue to love us despite our insecurities. In Your Heavenly Name we pray, Amen.

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10 NIV

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9 NIV

They will have no fear of bad news; their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the Lord. Psalm 112:7 NIV

He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name. Great is our Lord and mighty in power; his understanding has no limit. Psalm 137:3-5 NIV

So God has given both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us. This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. Hebrews 6:18-19a NLT

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Did you know there is more life in a teaspoon of soil than there are people living in the United States today? Between 100 million and 1 billion living organisms are brimming with activity in that small clump of dirt on your kitchen spoon. 

I was thinking about this while walking the other day. How from an outside perspective, not much seems to be happening during winter. The trees have lost their leaves, colorful flowers and gardens were laid to rest months ago, grass is no longer growing. Winter is not all that visually appealing to the naked eye and everything appears lifeless. 

What if we brought out a microscope though? Or considered the animals hibernating? And what about those chipmunks and squirrels who’ve been stuffing their cheeks stockpiling nuts?

Even in winter, when fields lay barren and the earth takes on various shades of brown, life is still bustling. It’s just not as noticeable.

Winter is necessary in nature. The plants and animals need a season of rest. Numerous mammals have new life developing in their wombs. Other mammals go into hibernation as a way to preserve their body during harsh conditions. 

As humans, we are not so different. We can only operate at high levels for so long before a crash becomes inevitable. And how do we (or should we) recuperate when that happens?

We require rest, a stillness in activities, time to boost our bodies nutritionally. A slowed down pace of life so we can recharge. It can be hard to remind ourselves, there is purpose in every season. Even the ones that set us back and seem long, dreary, and lifeless. 

Friends, God has blessed us with these seemingly barren seasons so we can learn to rely on Him for our sustenance. Just like nature does.

I know how hard these seasons can be. Been there, done that, will be there again.

But how much more hopeful would the barren appear if we chose to look for the beauty within it? If we reminded ourselves that even though things feel and appear dead, life still abounds underneath it all.

Sometimes, our biggest breakdowns will lead to our biggest breakthroughs.

We can choose to let these seasons wear us down even more or we can choose to let God show us what He has for us. 

Maybe He’s been trying to grab your attention for a while. Perhaps He closed a door and wants you to use the waiting period till the right door opens for reflection. It may be something big is coming up and He knows you’ll need extra rest to gear up for it.

We need to use these seasons to wrestle through the enemy’s lies and our doubts and fears, and replace them with renewed faith, hope, and trust in God. 

Ecclesiastes 3:11 reminds us, “He has made everything beautiful in its time.” (emphasis mine) Even the dreary, dreadful, and desolate will return to a beautiful work teeming with life and growth. 

Loving Father, Help us to remember You yourself are good and that You want good things for us. As we wait and wade through the barren seasons of our lives, provide us with strength, perseverance, patience, and a firm faith. Let us not grow weary and resentful towards hardships but to consider how we can grow in You instead. Thank you for always watching over us. We praise You for knowing what each and every one of us needs and for working all plans out with our best interest at heart. Amen.

“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens:

a time to be born and a time to die, 

a time to plant and a time to uproot, 

a time to kill and a time to heal, 

a time to tear down and a time to build, 

a time to weep and a time to laugh, 

a time to mourn and a time to dance, 

a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,

a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, 

a time to search and a time to give up, 

a time to keep and a time to throw away, 

a time to tear and a time to mend, 

a time to be silent and a time to speak, 

a time to love and a time to hate, 

a time for war and a time for peace.

What do workers gain from their toil? I have seen the burden God has laid on the human race. He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.” 

Ecclesiastes 3:1-11 NIV

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Have you ever found yourself in a prolonged season of darkness where feelings of doubt, anxiety, and loneliness grow stronger with each passing day? I think it’s safe to venture we all have!

At the beginning of each year, I recall saying something like, “This past year has stretched me in ways I didn’t think possible!” Maybe you feel the same. And maybe, like me, you also wonder how much more you can possibly be stretched.

I’ve been pondering this the past week. Here we are, the start of a new year again, and as I look back at 2024, I can’t help but say woah! A loved one battling addiction, a child with flared food sensitivities, another loved one in a building with an active shooter, a month lost due to illness, a fight to maintain hope and trust in God, a business begging to flourish, a spring full of flooding waters, a devastating calving season, a home with expensive repairs, and a toddler to potty train. Ok that last one was for giggles to lighten the mood, but the struggle is still real!

There were times I laid in bed not wanting to face the day. I didn’t want more bad news, heartache, stress, or discord. I wanted to evade the dark things creeping in. So, I pretended I could hide in the dark recesses of the room.

Seems like an oxymoron doesn’t it? I didn’t want to be surrounded by more darkness, so I hid in the dark?!? Hmmm.

I wonder how you would answer these questions from Ellie Holcomb’s devotional Fighting Words:

• “Why do you think it’s sometimes so hard to believe that light can overpower darkness?”
• “In what certain situations do you sometimes choose to dwell in the dark instead of walking in the light?

Perhaps the first question is due to exhaustion, repeated failure, habitual heartache, broken trust, or hearing the answer we didn’t want to hear yet another time. Hope equals risk, which can be downright scary. But we must continue to hope, no matter how small a seed, that light will penetrate even the darkest caverns of our souls.

There’s one word that caught my eye in the second question. CHOOSE. When do I choose to sit in the stink? I had to swallow some pride as God gave me a pretty clear three letter answer. SIN. As much as I tried to explain my away around it, refute it, and blame it on something else, my heart kept circling back to sin.

Where does sin hide? In the dark.

So why am I purposefully CHOOSING to dwell in the dark when I could turn my face toward heaven instead? I need to be reaching up, not down. I need to consider how much power God has verses how much I have. I need to rebuke the devil and tell him to bugger off. I need to learn to dance in the rain. I need to remember that just because I’m exhausted in every way possible doesn’t mean I can’t lift up a simple hallelujah or praise God.

I find this verse in 1 Corinthians 10:13 very encouraging, “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.”

First, it acknowledges we are all going to be tempted at one point or another. No need to compare highlight reels, we’re all on the struggle bus.

Secondly, He wants to give us every chance to succeed, which is why He provides a way out of our temptation. Most likely, it won’t look like flashing neon signs. But it may look like doors closing, delays, the end of a relationship, repeated prompts from the Holy Spirit, etc. Or in my case, the sound of children’s laughter in another room, which reminds me they can often be the biggest source of God’s light in a dark and weary season.

Embracing this mindset doesn’t mean problems will magically be solved, the heartbreak will go away, the prodigal will return, or the sick will be healed. But it does mean building hope, accepting God is working even if we can’t see it, and letting the Holy Spirit fill us with peace.

Even if all we can offer is one small step towards the light at a time, it’s a start that will lead to a firm foundation.

Heavenly Father, We come to you hurting and seeking. Thank you for illuminating our paths and giving us promises of hope in your Holy Word. Empower us to boldly step out of the darkness and choose to seek You first. May we learn to lean into the presence of the Holy Spirit dwelling within to lift us up and carry us when life seems too heavy. And Lord, help us to look at those around us and see how we can shed Your light on them too. In Your name we pray, Amen.

Whatever your answers to the above questions might be, here is some additional encouragement:

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. John 1:5

Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,” even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you. Psalm 139: 7-12

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It was just like any other afternoon as I laid down with our youngest while she fell asleep for nap. I opened up my Bible app to continue reading through Psalms, listening for her breathing to calm.

A scant moment later; however, silent tears trickled down my cheeks.

Part of me wonders how I’ve ever doubted God and the other part is glad for periods of uncertainty. For without the uncertainty, my faith and trust in Him might not be as strong.

God answered a pretty lofty prayer of mine with these Bible verses. A while back, I basically begged Him, to show me in a tangible way, that He was still listening and attentive to some big things going on in my life. I know I can trust Him, but the connection between head and heart seems a million miles away at times.

Here’s what God reminded me of:

• It’s ok to mourn what never was and never will be.
• It’s ok to press pause and acknowledge hardship.
• It’s ok to weep.
• It’s ok to feel like you don’t belong, like you’ve lost yourself.
• It’s ok to not immediately know the way forward.

God was showing me He sees me and the struggles, the desires, the longing, the fear, the shame. His presence swept around the room and straight through my heart. It’s as if he said, “This is for you Peggy. I’m *still* right here. Don’t forget you are my beloved daughter and what pains you, pains me. I’ve got you and will *continue* to hold you up as you lean into me.”

Shortly after I flipped to Psalm 138. In verse 3, David states, “When I called, you answered me; you greatly emboldened me.”

More tears.

I paused to think about how often phrases like, “Praise the LORD, unfailing love, His love endures forever, Give thanks to the LORD, He will deliver, hear my cry, wait for the LORD, put your hope in the LORD” appear in the book of Psalms.

Really, I shouldn’t be one bit surprised God would place on my heart to read the entire book the last couple months. He knew I would need it! A book I could connect with via lamenting and questioning. A book that would remind me to get through those times with praise, patience, and encouragement.

Dear friend, you’re no stranger to hurt. Your heart might feel bruised and tender this very moment. You may be facing mountains there seems no way to climb. I’m sending you the biggest hug possible and have been praying for you the last three days. I may not know your face, but I know without a shadow of doubt, God knows every freckle, wrinkle, and scar.

Abba Father, Thank you for remaining steadfast when we are not. Thank you for weeping when we weep. We praise you for knowing what we would need and when. May we live “greatly emboldened” through the power of your Holy Spirit, stepping out in big faith. In your name we pray, Amen.

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The post Weeping For Big Faith appeared first on Blooming Rock Homestead.

One of the most commonly asked questions in regards to religion is, “Why does God allow bad things to happen?”

I’ve wrestled with those very words myself.

This past year has stretched me in ways I didn’t think possible and highlighted several weak areas.

It’s made me question if God is really listening or if He forgot I’m still down here asking…waiting…growing restless.

The unnerving silence and continued heartbreak left me wondering if I could still trust God.

And *that* rattled me to the core.

So when I was recently pointed to the first part of Ecclesiastes 7:14; I sat motionless, contemplating the psalmist’s words.

I read a little further in the book and was asked to recall ways I’ve seen God provide in the past. A few things came to mind.

After reflecting on my list for a few days and chatting with Jason, I realized a key commonality.

My scribbled notes revolved around prayers for situations that took months, but mostly years, to come to fruition and healing.

No glamorous journeys, easy roads, or instant answers. Instead tears, set backs, trauma, counseling, betrayal, doubt, and frustration.

I don’t know about you, but when I’m waiting on something from God for extended periods of time, it can start to feel like He isn’t working.

I’m so thankful for the prompt to write down God’s provisions in the past. Something about seeing them in sloppy, blue ink on a lined paper helped trigger hope that I can trust God. Even when I don’t see, hear, or feel it.

Abba Father, today I’m praying for my friends wading through their own moments of doubt and despair. God you know exactly what ails them. Help them to remember You love and have not forgotten them. Please show them a visible sign to spark hope. May we wait with expectation, praising You, even when times are bad. Amen.

Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy. Those who go out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with them. Psalm 126: 5-6 NIV

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Earlier this month I huffed, “I’m just waiting for things to implode,” which is the total opposite of having a steadfast heart.

There have been a lot of big, moving pieces to juggle this year. I’m no stranger to balancing what seems like an overly busy life to some. But the particular puzzle pieces of 2024 seem different.

They’ve carried more weight, effected my heart deeper, and left me waiting with bated breathe.

I’ve known about verses like Psalm 112, and others such as Proverbs 3:5, Isaiah 12:2, Psalm 28:7, and Joshua 1:9 for over twenty years. All excellent reminders to trust in God, not be afraid, gain strength from Him, and be strong and courageous.

But honestly, it’s really hard to do at times.

Do you ever feel the same way?

Stuck between wanting to place complete faith and trust in God by handing any and all situations over to Him, yet holding on tight because the outcome might be scary, painful, and the complete opposite of what you hoped for?

If so, I pray these three words written over and over throughout the book of Psalm helps you like it has me lately.

“Praise the LORD.”

Oh I know! Super easy to do when life’s puzzle pieces fall into place.

However, I’m convinced we will constantly fear bad news and let our hearts beat erratically wild until we learn to “Praise the LORD” over every single detail of our lives.

And sister? I am right there learning with you. I don’t do this perfectly. I’m just clinging to Bible verses I shared last week, that assure me with God, it is possible to learn to praise Him even in the scary and unknown.

Will you practice with me?

Heavenly Father, Thank you for holding us so gently in the palm of Your hand. We praise You for caring for each one of us and catching every tear that slips from our eyes. Help us train our minds and hearts to look up to You, to acknowledge Your goodness, to express gratitude for Your power, and to sing a song of praise in the midst of hardship. Abba, trust is hard for so many of us. Thank You for being patient with our baby steps towards faith. Amen.

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Encouragement for Faith & Everyday Life

Life can feel full with faith, health, home, and all the small things in between. The newsletter is a simple way to stay connected through new blog posts, encouragement, occasional shop news, and free tools that support intentional, everyday living.

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The post A Steadfast Heart appeared first on Blooming Rock Homestead.