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Life used to be so simple, didn’t it? Ten years ago, we simply did not worry about the things we worry about today. In preparation for Women’s Month, our newsletter will highlight a series of articles. These articles are meant to help us reflect on our theme for this year’s Women’s Day, “Forward”. None of us want to be stuck in negative patterns or stuck in discouragement with no way out.
We want to encourage you to look forward to the days to come. There is so much as a Christian we have to rejoice in and celebrate. Each week in our online newsletter, we will be hearing from different sisters about how God’s promises helped move them forward through the storms of life.
THE WAY FORWARD
Voice of Reason in the Midst of Chaos
By Jacqueline Guthrie
“FORWARD!” -it seems like that is what every woman longs for, to just move on from the craziness of the past two years. Wouldn’t it be refreshing to move on from Covid, isolation, masks, not to mention homeschooling and just the ever-changing world? Nothing seems consistent or reliable anymore. So how do we move forward without being trapped in the past? Or trapped by anxiety and fear? For me, sometimes the emotional and mental turmoil within can be even more challenging than all that is going on around me. Sometimes, I find that the internal struggle actually is THE PROBLEM.
I recently went through my own inner battle and struggle to keep facing forward and not glancing back. I had just experienced an amazing time of fasting and felt like I was soaring through one of my best times spiritually in a while. Then suddenly, the spiritual high began to waiver as I questioned, why is God blessing everyone else but me? I knew I had a lot to be grateful for. I knew I should have felt grateful but I just felt stuck. I couldn’t muster up a grateful heart. I began feeling guilty and upset with God. But every day I just had to begin praying my heart out consistently: "God. help me to hold on to what is true," (1 Thessalonians 5:21).
God met me where I was. He helped me hold onto what is true: Romans 12:9 says "Hate what is evil, cling to what is good." How did I move on from the negative voice speaking lies, trying to make me doubt God‘s love? By clinging to what is good and listening to God‘s voice. Life on earth wasn’t meant to be perfect or easy but that is what we have to look forward to as we walk through the storms. God wants us to learn to dance in the rain, not when the rain has passed!
After much wrestling in prayer, I could hear God's voice much more clearly. So much of what has inspired me to face forward is what I have learned from Jesus in the Garden.
From Jesus, I am reminded that:
- Vulnerability is not weakness
- Being open with friends and telling others when your soul is overwhelmed is a strength
- It’s okay to keep praying the same thing over and over until you experience internal peace
- Peace comes from surrender to God's will
- Sometimes the only way for the cup to be taken away is by drinking it; not running away, but choosing to walk in obedience is the only way out of the chaos
- God is faithful!
God’s faithfulness to Jesus resulted in the resurrection and our salvation. God will prove faithful to all who trust and obey Him and only by listening to HIS voice in the midst of chaos, will we ever find our way FORWARD.
