Remove the Me

November 15, 2012 By
carrying the cross

Photo via DiscerningHearts.com

In Luke 9:23, Jesus says, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” Notice Jesus says we must take up our cross daily. Suffering and hardship He guaranteed. In fact, He said in John 16:33, “In this world you will have trouble.”  Each day will provide its own burdens, and each day we must choose how to handle them.  Jesus tells us if we desire to follow Him, we must surrender to His plan, difficulties and all. Our burdens bear a purpose, and we must bear them with full devotion to the Lord.

A particular cross I bear is the chronic illness I developed at the age of 26—Rheumatoid Arthiritis (RA). The disease has no cure and progressively worsens over time, causing permanent, irreversible damage to joints, connective tissue, and potentially to the body’s organs. My RA has been relatively tamed for several years, but because I am in the process of changing medication, it is flaring fiercely. My thumbs have swollen to twice their size, my knees won’t bend, I cannot grip things, my ankle won’t flex, even my throat aches. And there’s really not much I can do about it.

Except hand it over to God to do with what He will.

I received a parable by email.  Its message reinforces the importance of bearing the cross God has given us.  In the story, a man walks along a path carrying a large cross upon his shoulders.  He complains to God that it is too heavy and asks Him to shorten it.  God complies.  The man carries it a little further and again complains.  Once again God grants the man’s request.  The man comes to a great chasm.  Others lay their crosses down and cross over, but this man’s is too short.

The man in the story was too concerned with his own comfort.  He did not devote his life to the Lord, but expected the Lord to conform to his own desires.  In the end, the man fell short of the glory of God, literally.

You may be familiar with Elisabeth Kubler-Ross’s five stages of grief. Well, I have grieved my former self in relation to my disease. I spent many years in denial until RA began to show itself with disfigured joints and unending flares, and I have spent time in denial that maybe I could live without treatment. I was and am angry at the RA for what it does to me, and I am angry at the pharmaceutical companies for producing products that may soften symptoms, but have the potential to kill me in a dozen other ways. It depresses me to have days when I can barely move or function, and it frustrates me I can’t find a therapy to make me healthy. I have tried to bargain with God. “Rid me of this disease in this life, and look at the testimony I’ll have for you!” I offer Him, but He doesn’t accept. I’ve bargained with the treatment options, looking for a way to stifle this monster. And, finally, I’ve arrived at acceptance.

I have a disease that has no cure.  It will not go away, and the treatment options aren’t great. I could ask God to remove my illness, and He could agree, but I would miss tremendous growth opportunities if He did. Instead of growing closer to Him, instead of deepening my spiritual relationship with Christ, instead of becoming a sharper tool in the Master’s workshop, I would be short-changing myself—or short-crossing myself—and I would be preventing others from following this path to salvation.

To complete the Kubler-Ross final stage of acceptance, I must surrender to God’s will. I must look beyond my physical discomfort. I must overcome my frustrations. I must get past me if I am to arrive at hope. I must remember that this affliction is not about me. Isaiah 43:7 says we were created for God’s glory.  It is about humble servitude and faithful obedience to the Lord’s will.

Lord, please help me to know your will. Guide me. Please give me your wisdom. Speak through me. Work through me. Help me not to resist you, but to give in to you wholeheartedly and let you use me. Help me to “Serve [You] with a perfect heart and with a willing mind” (1 Chronicles 28:9).

“Remove the Me”

by Jodi Whisenhunt

Lord, remove the Me.

I

Just fail.

I

Am in the way. Lord, take

Me

Away. Remove

Me.

Speak through

Me.

Live through

Me.

Flow from

Me.

So

I

Cease to exist.

Don’t make Me your instrument.

I

Am yours already, just

Remove the Me.

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Celebrating Besties & Day 8 Giveaways!

August 15, 2012 By

Today’s Great Giveaways!

Unshakeable Faith By: Kathy Howard

Jesus called this ordinary man for an extraordinary purpose. Simon the fisherman would become Peter the Rock. This outspoken Galilean would lead Christ’s church, stand strong in the face of persecution, and even refuse to waver when faced with death.
Unshakable Faith is an eight-session Bible study that explores the life and teachings of the Apostle Peter. Participants will be eye witnesses to Peter’s spiritual growth as God strengthens and matures his fragile faith. They will discover eight key “faith traits” God developed in Peter as he followed Christ and learned from Him.

The Man You Always Wanted Is the One You Already Have By: Paula Friedrichsen

Transform your marriage with the realization that the man you always wanted is the one you already have. Striking biblical insights, combined with Paula Friedrichsen’s candid revelations about the inappropriate relationship that nearly destroyed her marriage, will help you see that no man compares to the one you have.

Blue Like Pay Dough By: Tricia Glover

In the squash and squeeze of a mommy’s day, could God be shaping something beautiful? In this spiritual memoir, Goyer invites women to discover the extraordinary in the ordinary! Learn to see God’s hand lovingly at work in every aspect of your life—from laundry-folding to the umpteenth reading of Goodnight Moon.

 

 HOW TO ENTER: SUBSCRIBE TO WEBSITE, COMMENT ON BLOG, SHARE FB POSTS, TWEET, RETWEET & COMMENT ON BLOG (NEW SUBSCRIBERS WILL RECEIVE OUR NEW BOOK, “FACING OUR FEARS – 31 STORIES FROM M.O.M.”)

Celebrating Besties

 

best friends

My daughter, Chloe, was born a very girly girl. Blonde hair, blue eyes, porcelain skin. I have never had to teach her how to be feminine—the love for all things pink and sparkly is innate. As a preschooler, Chloe donned a different princess costume every day, complete with tiara, slippers, and cape. When she outgrew them, she transitioned into play cosmetics and developed a lip gloss obsession (I think she has about 30!). She spends her spare time viewing YouTube hair and makeup tutorials or fashioning duct tape accessories. Her nails are always colorful and her ears adorned with bling. And she is only eight.

Yesterday was Chloe’s best friend’s birthday, and the two little fashionistas spent the day celebrating their friendship in a particularly girly girl way—with a birthday/spa day/tea party! My daughter planned the day for an entire week, counting down the days and adding must-do’s to her checklist. When she went to bed the night before, she said she couldn’t wait to hurry up and wake up again!

The first thing Chloe did when she got up Tuesday morning was frost and sprinkle the cupcakes. She then hung the birthday banner and set up other decorations, arranged the gifts, and readied the spa. Then she had to wait. And wait. And wait. “I just can’t wait for Hannah to see this!” I heard her say. “What do you think Hannah’s going to say?” she asked me more than once. “Can we spray glitter in our hair? Can we spray it on over the fingernail polish too? Do we have stuff to make bath foamers? Should we have cupcakes before we do the spa? I want Hannah to feel special. Can we make lip gloss?”

Those two girls spent the entire day doting on each other, blessing each other with their love, their generosity, their devotion, and oh yeah, their sparkle! They certainly did not “withhold kindness from a friend [or] forsake the fear of the Almighty” (Job 6:14), but rather, they proved that “a friend loves at all times” (Proverbs 17:17). They have truly found what the Lord has established in a best friend relationship.

Jesus calls us His friends too: “Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you” (John 15:15). Daily He showers us with His blessings, His love, His generosity (known as grace and mercy), His devotion. “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends” (John 15:13, NKJV). Because of Jesus’ sacrifice for us, we sparkle white as snow—not with makeup and bling, but with the hope of salvation found only in Christ Jesus.

My daughter prepared a special place and a special day for her best friend. When we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior—as our best friend—a peace that transcends all understanding guards our hearts in the knowledge that He will never leave us, will always dote on us, and has prepared a special place for us by his side for all eternity.

Jodi Whisenhunt’s MAGICAL MOUSE SCHOOLHOUSE: Learn While You Play at Walt Disney World Resort is now available in print and can be purchased at CreateSpace and Amazon. (Kindle version also available!) Come, think outside the textbook and stretch the walls of your home classroom with Walt Disney entertainment!

 

We’re linked up with WomenLivingWell today:

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It’s Not Often We’re Missed

July 16, 2012 By

hugAwhile back Facebook, in its infinite wisdom, recommended I reconnect with a friend I hadn’t heard from in quite some time. It turned out my friend’s family had experienced some tough times. When she thanked me for my prayers, her comment caught me off guard. She said, “It’s not often we’re missed.”

My heart broke for my friend, not just because of her difficult circumstances, but because she seemed alone in her struggles. I was reminded of Philippians 2:4, “Each of you should look not only to your own interests but also to the interests of others.” How important that message is to remember!

In my experience I have noticed sometimes when a friend or a loved one goes through a difficult circumstance, like a prolonged illness or a death in the family, we don’t hesitate to reach out to their immediate needs, but then as time goes on we get uncomfortable and we no longer know the right thing to say or the right thing to do. I think that’s natural, because we know that nothing we say or do will make that particular heartache go away. In an odd conundrum, we’re afraid both to bring up happy memories and to speculate about the future, because we’re afraid either position could upset the person. And so what happens all too often is that we say nothing at all.

Don’t let anyone fall through the cracks. Don’t leave it to Facebook to nudge you to minister to those in need. In truth, looking to the interests of others is really quite simple to do.

First and foremost, pray. Pray that God would reveal to you who has a wounded spirit. Ask Him to show you to whom you can be His hands and feet and how to go about the task.

Pray some more. Pray God’s guidance over the situation, that He would give you words to speak and help you know exactly how to minister to those in need.

Keep praying. Pray that the other person be receptive to your offering. Sometimes people are so hurt they trust no one, even those with sincere intentions, or they are so angry with God they reject help of any kind.

Once when I went through a loss, my brother told me, “I’m sorry I’ve been so quiet. I just didn’t know what to say, so I didn’t say anything. But I’m here and I love you.” Sometimes words fail us. My brother didn’t have words to make it all better, but he did let me know he was at my side. Simple little acts of compassion can lift someone from the gutter. Smile when you greet him or her. Text a word of encouragement. Call out of the blue. Drop off a sweet treat.

Remember others. Be receptive to God’s whispers and hear broken hearts crying out. Let those who are struggling know they are loved. Don’t let them feel that it’s not often they are missed.

By: Jodi Whisenhunt. Come think outside the textbook with me! Expand your home classroom and learn while you play when Disney IS school at Magical Mouse Schoolhouse!

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To Homeschool or Not to Homeschool in the Summer

June 15, 2012 By

homeschool summerThe theme song to a popular kids’ television show sings, “There’s a hundred and four days of summer vacation and school comes along just to end it.” That may or may not hold true for us homeschoolers. Since we have freedom to work with a much more flexible schedule than those in traditional school systems, we have a choice: to homeschool or not to homeschool during the summer months.

I have been homeschooling since 2000. Over the years, we have worked our calendar a variety of ways. In the beginning, I worked an office job, so our dedicated school days were only two to three days a week. To make sure everything was covered, we continued through the summer. However, as the years have passed and things have changed, we’ve discovered that a six-week-on/two-week-off schedule works pretty well. It allows us to have several terms and frequent breaks. It prevents burnout (for the most part!) and includes extended holiday and vacation time. It does mean, of course, that school goes on even during those hundred and four days.

Homeschooling during the summer can be a challenge, especially if, like mine, your kids have friends in the public school system—kids who are outside playing, swimming, riding bikes—while your kids are stuck inside doing math and phonics and spelling. I have found some proven ways to prevent distraction and keep my kids focused on their work, even when the warm summer sun is beckoning.

1)      Heed the sun’s summon. Take the classroom outdoors. Younger kids especially enjoy this. Many science projects can be performed outside, like the Mentos-in-cola fountain and up-close insect inspection. You can even turn a day of weeding the garden into a lesson on photosynthesis.
2)      Get an early start. My younger kids are up with the sun. If we get our work started and completed early, they’ll have the rest of the day to play with friends. That’s good incentive to get to work.
3)      Have night school. Pitch a tent in the backyard. Rent or borrow a telescope if you don’t already own one and study the constellations. Remind kids God made those pictures in the sky and has counted all the stars. Listen for nocturnal creatures. See “Hooo” is out in the dark.
4)      Include summer snacks in your curriculum. Make icepops with a variety of juice drinks and experiment with freezing points of various liquids. Make fresh lemonade. Discuss fractions while preparing ingredients. Add baking soda for a bubbly effect. Grind watermelon seeds finely, place in a tea strainer, and steep in boiling water to make tea. Research health benefits of drinking tea as opposed to drinking sodas.
5)      Get out of town! Take a vacation. Now, I don’t mean for you to sit your kids down for textbook work while the rest of you see the sights, but there’s lots to learn wherever you go. Visit a historical landmark. Examine sealife at the beach. Study fossils in a cavern. Believe it or not, kids can even gain understanding of aviation, pyrotechnics, animation, foreign language, and much, much more at Walt Disney World Resort! Be sure to take lots of pictures (as if you wouldn’t) to incorporate into lapbooks and unit studies later on and collect brochures and postcards for research resources.

Will you be homeschooling this summer? If so, just keep it light and fun, and your kids won’t even realize they are learning while they play!

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Abide in Me

April 16, 2012 By

Close up of baby's foot in mother's handWhen I am asked, “How many children do you have?” I don’t know how to respond. “Three,” I answer, while I finish the sentence in my head, “…here with me and one in Heaven.” I will never forget my daughter, Rachel Faith, even if the only life she experienced was in the womb. She is always with me. As beautiful as she was at birth and at death, those images are not what flutter through my mind. I imagine her dancing with her sister. I twirl her dark curls. I embrace her, though she’s not physically here. Rachel died at birth and age stopped counting, but to me she’s almost 10.

Rachel lived in me. Her heart beat loud and strong while she stayed with me. But she left my body, and our hearts no longer beat in harmony. She was here. Then she was gone. About a week before Rachel Faith was born, I felt a sharp pain on my lower left side. I feared its significance; I knew her birth was near. By this time, the trisomy 18 had been confirmed, and the grim outlook bore gravely down upon me. I fell to my knees and wept. Through tears, I whispered to Rachel, though she could not hear or understand, “Stay with me! Don’t come out! Don’t go!” As long as she was in me, her heart beat. In me, she was alive and strong, vital. Apart from me, her imperfect body could do nothing.

Jesus says in John 15:5 (NKJV), “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.” The Greek meno (abide) means to stay in a given place, to continue, endure, or remain. Jesus tells us to stay in Him. In Him, we are alive and strong, vital. In Him, we bear much fruit. Apart from Him, we wither. Apart from Him, we perish. Now, my Rachel could not physically remain in me forever. Her departure from this world was an act of the Father pruning my husband’s and my branches. We faithfully allowed God to work His will in our lives out of obedience to Him. “By this My Father [was] glorified, that you bear much fruit” (John 15:8 NKJV).

Losing Rachel evoked desperate emotions. My thoughts echoed Job’s, “May the day of my birth perish…That day – may it turn to darkness…May darkness and deep shadow claim it once more; may a cloud settle over it; may blackness overwhelm its light. That night – may thick darkness seize it; may it not be included among the days of the year nor be entered in any of the months…for it did not shut the doors of the womb on me to hide trouble from my eyes” (Job 3:3-10 NIV). The pain was so intense; I felt it would be better never to have existed at all than to experience such heartbreak.

Though I lingered awhile in the darkness, I could not wallow forever in my misery. I emerged from the pit despair plunged me into, “And I declared that the dead, who had already died, are happier than the living, who are still alive. But better than both is he who has not yet been, who has not seen the evil that is done under the sun.” (Ecclesiastes 4:2-3, emphasis mine.) Rachel existed, but she did not live to “see the evil that is done under the sun.” I know she is truly happy, for to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.

From time to time, I gaze my affection upon memories of Rachel. She was here so briefly, they are but few, so I hide those treasured trinkets away in my heart. Often in regard to writing, I tell people I know it’s a God thing when my writing goes a completely different direction than the one I had planned. The same is true in life. I had plans for Rachel. Big ones! But what God had planned for her was so much better. Better than both is he who has not yet been! All Rachel has ever known is Glory. I rejoice in God’s plan. Sure, I cry tears of sorrow from time to time, but I long for time without end when I join her in God’s presence and see what she has always seen.

Jesus wants us to produce fruit for Him. The type of fruit we produce by remaining in God’s love is what results from our example of faith, things such as reaching the lost, drawing His children closer to Him, and exemplifying His gentle mercies. We must continue in Him. We must remain attached to the vine in order to bear fruit. He tells us this 10 times from verses 4-10 of John 15!

If I abide in Christ, and He in me, I am vibrant. As Rachel was alive in me, I am alive in Jesus! Remain in Jesus, dear sisters. “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full” (John 15:11 NKJV).

By Jodi Whisenhunt

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Stop. Breathe.

March 15, 2012 By

pink clouds sunsetA misty drizzle spritzes the window while I relax in the recliner and listen to my children’s laughter. When what to my wandering eye should appear, but a miniature sleigh and…Oops! I guess I got too relaxed for a moment.

It’s a rare occurrence these days to have time to daydream. I’m a freelance writer and editor, but I also homeschool my children. School’s in full session, as is all the busy-ness that accompanies this season of life. We have classes, gymnastics, Taekwondo, baseball games, church events and sleepovers. Not to mention deadlines, doctor appointments, Bible studies and holidays. Complicate matters with each family member’s unique frustration level and nerves can quickly fry.

My daughter tends to be overly dramatic. Why, just today she threw a fit at Academy Sports & Outdoors because she did not get a soccer ball like the one her brother has. Even with Mom and Dad’s assurance of, “Maybe you’ll get one for your birthday,” she insisted she never gets anything she wants and whined and moaned all the way home.

My husband was tempted to react. He sternly reprimanded her a couple times, but then remembered to stop and breathe. Acknowledging her tantrum rewarded her and encouraged her to continue, whereas stopping to breathe allowed Daddy to maintain self-control and assert his authority more effectively.

First Peter 5:8 (NIV) advises, “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” The enemy prides himself on the inevitable disasters that loom over the most carefully organized schedules and the conflicts that lurk on every page of the calendar.

And so each day, when you set to task and havoc threatens peaceful productivity: Stop. Breathe. Such restraint improves discipline, both the discipline of our labor and the discipline of daily structure. It curbs anxiety and allows God to order our days. By practicing self-control, we resist our enemy the devil and he flees from us, freeing us to go about our busy-ness in a civilized manner.

The clouds have given way to the setting sun, weaving hues of lavender and azure amid soft pink billows…A Happy Christmas to all and to all a good night! Sorry, I’m getting ahead of myself.

By Jodi Whisenhunt

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Love on Display

February 15, 2012 By

REW luvs JLW candy heartYesterday was what my husband and I refer to as a “Hallmark holiday.” Don’t get me wrong, I applaud the efforts of the greeting card industry to help people communicate their feelings, but I believe expression of our love and affection for our loved ones should not be limited to one day on the calendar.

Love doesn’t just happen. It needs to be nurtured if it is to grow into something beautiful and lasting. Marriage relationships especially require daily attention to develop and mature. Often that means you make an intentional choice to show your husband you care, a deliberate effort to give of yourself.

What are some ways to let your husband know you love him every day? Put your love on display.

  • “Greet one another with a holy kiss” (Romans 16:16). Start each day anew by letting him know he holds your heart.
  • “Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart” (Proverbs 3:3). When he has steamed the mirrors after a shower, leave a message in the mist.
  • “Prepare me the kind of tasty food I like and bring it to me to eat” (Genesis 27:4). Surprise him with his favorite meal or a special dessert.
  • “May your fountain be blessed, and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth” (Proverbs 5:18). After the kids have gone to bed, instead of asking about his work, reminisce on your dating days. Maybe pull out some old photos and cue up a special tune.
  • “Do everything without complaining or arguing” (Philippians 2:14). Let him control the television remote without protesting. It’s alright to watch yet another sporting event.
  • “When he cries out to me, I will hear, for I am compassionate” (Exodus 22:27). Tend his wounds. Be it physical or emotional injury, respond with compassion and care.
  • “Listen carefully to my words; let your ears take in what I say” (Job 13:17). Listen when he speaks. Remember what he says and converse about topics of his interest.
  • “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen” (Ephesians 4:29). Affirm him. Compliment his strengths and complement him in front of his peers.

And of course, tell him you love him! Many years ago, when my husband and I were teenaged boyfriend and girlfriend, we saw a movie in which the main character, played by Keifer Sutherland, falls in love with a deaf girl. At the end, the girl jets off to Paris. As Keifer rides his motorcycle alongside her airplane, the two wave to each other the sign language gesture for “I love you.” Since seeing that film, my husband and I have waved “I love you” whenever parting ways. The gesture was also one of the first things we taught each of our children, and our goodbye tradition continues to this day. Even when words won’t work, you can still put your love on display!

I wish you a very happy Un-Valentine’s Day every day of the year, dear Moms!

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Rest

January 10, 2012 By

Hammock on Beach

And on the seventh day God rested.  Hebrews 4:4

My mother passed away ten minutes before Easter, April 11, 2009. To say I was close to my mother is an understatement. We spoke on the phone daily. She taught my son Latin; I took her to Disney World. Even during my tumultuous teen years, Mom and I were tight. I was there at her side with my stepdad Easter eve. We had to tell the EMTs to stop the CPR and let her accept heaven’s beckon.

Life hiccupped but kept moving. My daily tears ceased after about a week, and images of that night slightly faded from immediate memory. My children, though enamored with Grandma, were surprisingly resilient. I’m so thankful for that! Everyday activities resumed. I dove into work and took on every editing job I was offered.  I thought I was being surprisingly resilient too.

Then Satan started kicking me while I was down. He threw other concerns in my face. I panicked over finances. I dropped editing jobs. I lost inspiration to write. I couldn’t keep a schedule. One day I took my son to the orthodontist only to be told his appointment was two weeks away! I’m still wondering where I was really supposed to be that Wednesday at 9:50 a.m.

I felt scattered, confused, lost. I’d been trying so hard to carry on in my new normal that I caved under the weight of the burden I didn’t want to carry. My heart hurt. I confided to a friend that although I’m nowhere near as righteous as Job, I could certainly commiserate. It seemed to me that Satan kept approaching God saying, “Well that didn’t turn her away from You, but let me try this!” And God kept saying, “OK.”

In 1997, I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis. Over the ensuing twelve years, I lost twelve loved ones, including both parents and a daughter. I’ll be honest. I’m tired of God allowing me to hurt, both physically and emotionally. I’ve learned not to question His methods, though. After all, Job got blasted when he did that. “Then the Lord answered Job out of the storm. He said: ‘Who is this that darkens my counsel with words without knowledge? Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer me’” (Job 38:1-3). Yikes! Brace yourself. God went on, “Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation? Tell me, if you understand. Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know!” (Job 38:4-5).  Now, I know we are to “approach the throne of grace with confidence,” but some reverent reservation is required as well if we want to “receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).

A friend of mine, Kathi, posted a blog entry that helped restore my clarity. As the full-time caregiver of her elderly mother, she too had experienced life’s challenges. At one point, her mother lapsed into a critical medical condition. Amidst this stress, my friend was trying to meet deadlines and manage a multitude of other responsibilities. Kathi wrote that her soul was at peace despite her dire circumstances. She reminded the reader—me—that sometimes heartache is necessary for the fulfillment of God’s purpose, and she presented Queen Esther as an example.

In her blog post Kathi pondered, “If [Esther] had perished in the attempt [to save the Jewish people], would she have failed? Would she have wasted her life?” In answer to the questions, Kathi said, “Not if that was God’s purpose for her being here in the first place!”

I realized I should be happy about being sad. Well, not necessarily chipper and bouncy, but I should smile when I hurt if my hurt is accomplishing the Lord’s plan. So what if I suffer if it’s for God’s glory?

As a sinner, I deserve nothing good, so why do I expect never-ending rainbows and terminal sunshine? A garden doesn’t flourish without stinky fertilizer or decomposing compost. Diamonds don’t sparkle unless they’re cut and polished. Gold doesn’t shine unless it’s mined and refined. I cannot be what God needs me to be if I reject the bad and accept only the good. After all, “He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous” (Matt. 5:45).

I realized I was focusing too much on myself and allowing my sorrow to hinder God’s work. I was stopping Him by feeling sorry for myself. Not that I shouldn’t grieve, but I should embrace it for what it is: a way for God’s light to shine to those around me. My attitude must reflect that of Peter and the apostles when they were ordered not to teach the name of Jesus. They replied, “We must obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29). Yes, even when it hurts—especially when it hurts.

When I stop stressing myself out, when I get myself out of God’s way, when I start letting His work be done in me even when it hurts me, I can rest in Him. I am relieved of my worries, because I’ve allowed God His control. I don’t have to wonder if I’ve made the right decision when God’s already made it for me. I find peace, because I know I’m participating in His strategy. That also brings me joy to know He found me worthy of the task. I want to do all I can to honor my Father. In return, He “Let[s] the beloved of the Lord rest secure in Him, for He shields him all day long, and the one the Lord loves rests between His shoulders” (Deut. 33:12).

By Jodi Whisenhunt

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