Encouraging Women to Walk Deeper with God
Don’t you love free stuff? I do and especially when it comes to God’s Word. Feel free to download, print, or share this week’s graphic.
You’re welcome to join us at any time. For more on this month’s memory verse, go here:
Thunderstorms cause it.
Rejection, too.
Physical harm spins its angle, death as well.
Not being enough or failing in life holds hands with this emotion.
Call it ugly.
Call it knee-knocking.
Call it FEAR.
Jot down several situations which bring rise to fear.
Got ’em?
Study your list. Note beside each situation or emotion what your automatic reaction tends to be. Here’s an example:
For instance, a fear of failure is one of mine. (Such as in this story on 2 Steps to Remember in the Face of Rejection.)
The reaction?
I typically turn from the situation, hiding or running away, hoping never to face it again.
Call it a solution, a poor one at best.
David fought fear well. I’m convinced God hand-picked our familiar king in order to offer us sound counsel and an example for beautiful, spiritual success.
The key?
David ran to trust in God.
When afraid, he chose to place his trust in our Father.
According to the Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible (Complete)¹, David found himself in imminent peril when Psalm 56 was penned. There’s nothing like fear for our physical well-being to bring rise to a little knee-knocking, is there? Yet, in the midst of arrows flaming his way, David chose to trust God.
I’m alongside you, asking this very question, especially lately. Because ultimately, we have freedom of choice as to where trust lands.
Flip through a few pages of The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible and land on the definition for trust. These words and phrases might dance in front of your face:
to hasten for refuge
bold (confident, secure, sure) ²
As David did with his simple turn in trust, placing our hope in the strength of the Lord opens a credible, strength-offering, secure pathway past fear.
Now, when fear of failure begins to blaze, and I know forward motion is God’s absolute will, I purposefully continue the journey ahead, praying and gathering strength from Scripture, trusting God. (And often even reassuring myself of that trust and saying it out loud. I figure if it’s good for David, it’s good for a girl in Oklahoma as well!)
We’re memorizing Psalm 56:3 this month. Previous September WORD17 posts can be found here and here. Trust well, my friend, and keep His Word deep within the heart.
¹ Bible Study Tools. 2017. “Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible (Complete).” www.biblestudytools.com/commentaries/matthew-henry-complete/psalms/56.html
² Blue Letter Bible. 2017. “Strongs Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible.” https://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=H982&t=KJV
There’s a new painting on our wall. A similar one dangles in homes of many mamas near and far.
Its subject? The college scene.
There, on that cloth, is the spitting image of our young ones. The Master Artist brushed their lives stark onto a college canvas, their life details noted with precision – regardless of whether or not we mamas tapped the “ready” button. After all, we’re not the ones pouring life’s paint, are we? (And sometimes I simply bite my lip on that one!)
Many of us are dropping our babies at college, leaving them to the void, cold concrete walls called home. Their new scene dances to life with many new faces. The canvas finds itself cluttered with vibrant colors of new experiences, splashed with opportunities to grow in unfamiliar yet enticing ways.
And then there’s us.
Here – not there. Somehow missing in the composition.
Worrying about our babies.
Fretting over their ability to live life alone.
Missing the comings and goings of daily life involving our college student.
After dropping Joel at college nearly three weeks ago, the Lord blanketed my heart with peace. Mamas – my family and I drove away, hands waving in the air and my heart steadfast when I thought it impossible.
Peace.
Nothing is impossible with God, right?
Our faces may not be visible in our young adult children’s lives day in and day out, but our voices resonate. Don’t forget that, mama. Keep praying for your “little one.”
Even better, the Master Artist stands at the canvas 24/7, His face evident to those who simply look to Him. On His smock, scripted in cursive, are the words, “Trust me with all your heart.”
Shall we?
Even though we’re releasing our children, influence remains. As daughters of the King, our voice resonates in the spiritual realm.
Our Father longs we come to Him, setting our all at a palette called trust. He is trustworthy. (And really, can’t our Lord take better care of our children than we can? Why not offer them to Him in prayer and trust?)
For the remaining Tuesdays of August and into September, look for posts with prayers for our students and scriptures for our hearts. We’ll be looking into the eyes of our Father, bringing our needs, concerns, and celebrations to Him. And maybe, just maybe, we’ll set aside the worry and fret, picking up and running instead with trust.
Soak in these scriptures. Offer the prayers as often as you like. Pass it on to a mama in need or pray them for your neighbor’s college kid, okay?
Small groups often help us through life events such as releasing a child to college. They’ve made an impact in my life, and I hope they have on yours. Click here for a small group piece on Crosswalk.com that might make you nod your head, cock it, or simply set the idea in prayer.
(On a side note, I’m hooting a hearty “praise God!” Just as the Lord opened doors monthly at iBelieve.com, He has also opened them at Crosswalk.com this month. I’ll be sharing a piece once a month and will be sure to link the pieces here as well. I’d love your prayer for me as I write at both places. Thanks!)
I love and appreciate you guys dearly!
