Happy Wednesday!

Today, our linkup features the winner of this month’s Guest Contributor contest, Lorraine Reep. Lorraine’s blog is a beautiful place of encouragement for so many of us, and it is a true blessing to feature her on our website! You will love this post about surrendering our fears and doubts to our loving Father.

Thank you all, for Recharging with us!

In His wonderful Love,

Patricia

I tend to view every glass half full and look for the bright side of most situations. If I can’t find a bright side, I will take a steel wool pad to it and try to scrub enough gunk off to find a shiny spot. I’m more prone to working it out than clutching my pearls.

Recently I’ve had my pearls in a death grip.

A situation popped up and in a matter of minutes we were reeling in shock and moving toward terror. It was the sort of thing that comes out of nowhere.

Life demands that we keep putting one foot in front of the other, and we have, but I am keenly aware that I have a death grip on those pearls. One hand reaching toward God and the other firmly attached to my fear.

Where do we find courage to move forward when the ground is shaking under our feet and the future is uncertain and in the hands of strangers?

For weeks, I have feared the worst and trembled at the thought of the potential damage. I’ve yelled at God and asked him how dare He allow it. And in case you’re wondering, He’s okay with that. He can handle my anger, frustration and grief. If you aren’t convinced, check out David’s rant:

How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me?
How long must I take counsel in my soul and have sorrow in my heart all the day?
How long shall my enemy be exalted over me? Psalm 13: 1-2 ESV

He listened, I’m sure of it, but I wasn’t hearing much from Him. Crickets. There were accusations from a dark place: “He’s forgotten you and your loves. He’s turned away – you are on your own and this is hopeless. This will not end well. You’d better start working on Plan B.”

[bctt tweet=”When you walk with Jesus, there is no Plan B. Faith is like that. It’s either all in or all out. You can’t just sprinkle a little faith over a situation. @lreep ” username=”PatHolbrook”]

I have a great analogy that involves a litter box and a sick cat, but let’s just go with we either allow Him to replace our unbelief with absolute faith in Him or we wallow around in doubt while clinging to a skinny thread of faith. The latter stinks.

Around the same time, I began studying David’s life. One of my favorite stories is of David defeating Goliath, that giant who terrified and taunted the Israelite army. David, a mere boy, saw past the Philistine’s threats and insults against the power and promise of God. David didn’t have confidence in his abilities or in the armor his brothers tried to drape over his slight frame.

David’s confidence was in God and he put every bit of his trust in Him.

The massive Goliath taunted and threatened the young boy, but David stepped forward in confidence that God had prepared him for this. Those long nights protecting and defending the sheep were his classroom and he was ready for what could be his final exam.

David was fearless because he remembered God’s faithfulness.

I loosened the grip on my pearls. Really, God? You’ve got this? Because from here it doesn’t seem like You do and I’m terrified.

It’s okay, baby girl. I know you are afraid. When you gaze at the world that wants to destroy you or the ones you love, you will always be afraid. Look at My face. I’m right here.

Fear always has its roots in unbelief.

Only God, when we remember His faithfulness, can make us brave. And until we are brave, we can’t hold space for hope for others. We choose to believe Him.

I don’t know how this will work out, but I know this much for sure. God sees my family. He sees every one of us, from the oldest to the youngest. He is alive and pressing into this situation even when it feels like He’s looked away. He has not turned his head; He is right in the middle of all of it.

Let go of those pearls, He says. I’m going to show you a better way than steel wool and pearl clutching.

I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord
in the land of the living!
Wait for the Lord; be strong,
and let your heart take courage;
wait for the Lord. Psalm 27:13-14 ESV

[bctt tweet=”Wait for the Lord; then you will have courage and hold space for hope, for yourself and for the battle-weary all around you. @lreep” username=”PatHolbrook”]

His promises are true, friends, even when all we can see is a loud-mouth giant; when the noise of his threats and taunts wants to discourage and defeat.

Wait for the Lord.

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Lorraine lives in the growing yet quaint town of Winter Garden, Florida. She and her husband are celebrating forty-six years of marriage this summer.  She’s mom to two daughters and nine children call her Grandma. When she’s not working at her technical job in the banking software industry she loves spending time with friends, watching the sun set from her golf cart and writing grace stories. She and her husband serve in the local church, mentoring young couples and ministering to senior adults. Lorraine would love to connect with you on her blog: Gracengraffiti.com and her Grace and Graffiti community on Facebook.

 

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Christian Bloggers, come share your Blog with our audience below:

1. Add your Link.

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[bctt tweet=”LINKUP PARTY is open! Today, our guest @lreep shares a challenging post about trusting God when life turns upside down all of a sudden. JOIN US and share your blog with our audience!” username=”PatHolbrook”]