Encouraging Note

I count on one thing
The same God that never fails
Will not fail me now
You won't fail me now
In the waiting
The same God who's never late
Is working all things out
Is working all things out

Yes I will, lift You high in the lowest valley
Yes I will, bless Your name
Oh, yes I will, sing for joy when my heart is heavy
For all my days, oh yes I will

Yes I will by Vertical Worship 

In the process of creating this post, I initially was writing to encourage myself. I have been frustrated with this season of life that I am in. This is also, somewhat, why I have been so MIA from my blog, but I know I cannot be the only one who feels this way. This post is for the person who is going through a difficult or a hard season of life and has been asking the question, “Why God?” I hope that what has begun to bring me encouragement will also begin to bring healing and reassurance to whatever battles you are currently facing :) 

 At the beginning of 2018, I listened to a message by Sadie Robertson at the Passion conference and she talked about God being a radical God and she said this, “If you want to see God be a radical God be a radical person and be radical for Him and He will show up in radical ways.” For example, by praying boldly and specifically you will see God move. In 2 Timothy 1:7 he says, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” This message really spoke to me, because I never really prayed specifically before. So, I began to pray really specifically. I began to pray for dog sitting jobs, I absolutely love dogs and with my own dog passing away last year I was really missing her. Also, it was a great way to make money. I started to see God literally answer my prayers. Last summer the Lord provided me with a job and currently I am taking care of a couple more dogs with hopes of another job this summer. By praying specifically, I could see God answering my prayers; instead of, praying generically and becoming discouraged when I thought I heard no response.   

I also began to pray for people to ask me to hangout; instead of myself having to ask people to get together multiple times. I met a new friend, this year, and she has asked me to hangout several times. This is a new friendship, we are getting to know each other. Even though I don’t feel like my prayer for a solid friend group has been answered, I know the Lord is still working. It felt so amazing to know someone else wanted to hang out with me. If you want a healthy relationship/friendship it has to be two sided, everyone wants to know that they are of value. Even though this is not exactly the way I wanted my prayer answered. The Lord answered in His timing in His way, so the Lord is faithful! 

If you’re reading this and are like that’s great Natalie, but I have been praying for stuff for years and God hasn’t answered it. Well, I am still praying for some pretty big things in my life and for things I do not understand why they are happening or even why God hasn’t answered them already. But through this season of waiting, I know I am learning God’s truth. Sadie points to Hebrews 10:35 in her message, “So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you!” I know God will answer your prayers the way HE wills it to not the way WE want them answered. That includes the time in which they are answered.

I think something society needs to re-learn, myself included, is patience. We have lost touch with it, because we are moving so fast in today’s world. I must remind myself constantly that God looks at time so differently than we do. There are many people in the bible that waited so long for what they were longing for. For example, Abraham and Sarah wanting to have a child. “So Abram went forth as the Lord had spoken to him; and Lot went with him. Now Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran.” (Genesis 12:4) Abraham was first promised a child at 75 years old, but He and Sarah didn’t have a child till 99 and 100 years old. So they waited 25 years for a child, that is longer than I have been alive!  “Now when Abraham was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to Abraham and said to Him, I am God Almighty; Walk before Me and be blameless. I will establish My covenant between Me and you, And I will multiply you exceedingly.” (Genesis 17:1-2)

Whether you have been praying for something for weeks or years on years, you have to make the decision to either believe that God is who He says He is or not. If you trust that, then you believe that God is good and He wants good for you. Not that this statement makes everything automatically better, but you are believing for something better and you are putting your trust in God’s, who is in control. Whatever you are going through God will use your trials for good, you just have to allow Him to. Just know you are not alone and if no one understands what you are going through God still does. Go to Him, rest in Him because He wants to hear from you.

“If we trust that God is good, then He can use our trials for our good.”- SoulScripts 

Let me know in the comments below what you would like to see for my next post and if you like these faith related posts? I really value your opinion and it really helps me, so please don’t hesitate to leave a comment! Also, DM me on Instagram or Twitter I would love to chat with you!