At Just the Right Time

           

I’ve wept countless times over the last few months.

            Some tears have been of joy, such as when my best friend welcomed her little girl into the world, but many of these tears have come because of uncertainty and hard change.

            I recently graduated from college and left a whole town that I had grown to love. My church, community, friends, mentors, and most of my supports were there, and I had to leave them behind.

            At graduation, my pathway wasn’t clear yet (not even the next step). So, this past summer, I headed home to my summer job with no church and no community and no plan. Don’t get me wrong I had a great family waiting for me and even a few great friends who are here for me even now, but I still felt lost for some reason.

            So, I wept. Every time I listened to a song that reminded me of the people I felt like I was losing, I cried into my pillow. Night after night, I woke up to nothing but my aching heart wanting what was behind me.

            So, I prayed. Realizing that going back is impossible and that God has me here for a reason, I gave up my fight for the past to God and prayed for a new community. And guess what? Four months went by, and I didn’t have the answer to my prayer.

            Since that night I prayed, I did start graduate school and a new job where I have met some lovely people who I even call friend, but community? Well, that’s a different story.

            I’ve discovered some things: not having fellowship with other believers is hard, especially when you’ve experienced it. Standing alone makes it so much easier to be attacked by lies. Being on my own, I’ve realized just how much this world is not a friend of Jesus, and for a while, it felt like I was all alone in the fight. For the first time in a while, I knew that I can’t stand on my own—I need others.

            So, I prayed again and even told a friend about my struggle, and she prayed for me, too.

            And this time, at what I know is at just the right time, God answered. How do I know that this is the right time for God to answer? Well, in the time of being by myself and with God, I discovered how much I need to be in His word and that I cannot do this on my own, which is big because I always have tried to stand on my own, but now I know that I desperately need other believers to hold me up.

            At just the right time, after I had learned God’s lesson, He sent a fellow believer to walk beside me and pray with me as we fight the good fight.  

            So, today, I want to encourage you with the truth that even when it feels like God is being silent, He’s not. During these past few months, God has been refining and strengthening my heart. In reality, He’s always been answering my prayer. His answer was to wait and listen for a season so I could be stronger and know that in my weakness, He is strong (2 Cor. 12:9).

            I don’t know what prayer you’re praying, but I do know that God is listening and answering in just the right way, at just the right time.

            He’s always on time, and His answers are perfect. Never cease to trust Him, and remember He is near to those who call on Him (Psalm 145:18).

Living Life Together,

Rebecca Thomas

Being Still in the Middle of Chaos

            Today, we have the world at our fingertips and that comes at a price.

            We’re constantly in motion and bombarded with news stories, such as the shootings that happened in Chicago, Kenya, and D.C. this past week or all the latest info on what happening in Hollywood (even if we don’t want to hear it). Not only do we have access to knowledge about everything that’s going on in our world, we have phones that keep us connected to people 24/7. Everything from Facebook to Twitter to Instagram to Tumbler allows us to tell others about our lives and read about others’ at lightning speed. Now, I not only get assignments during class at my school, I also get them by email on the weekends and my boss emails me, too.

            In addition to staying in touch with the world news and the various people in our life (or at least “friends” on social media sites), we have the ability to listen to music no matter where we go and not to mention the wide variety of TV shows right at our fingertips.

            My point is that with so much “stuff” going on in our lives it’s easy to get distracted from what’s important. It’s easy to run through our days without noticing the elderly lady who’s lonely or in need of help crossing the road. It’s easy to forget to spend actual time with the people who are with us in the flesh. It’s so easy to not even realize that the sky was crystal clear today because we constantly go and we’re hardly ever 

still. We hardly ever rest, and this constant motion many times keeps us from the life source:

            God.

            Our God, our refuge in the storm, in the chaos, in the everyday rushes of life, wants us to be still and know that He is God (Psalm 46:10, NIV).

            He is still God. The never changing One who is the Great I am. He is the One who never changes, who sustains life, forgives, loves, and brings justice.

            For all that He has done for us, He deserves to be recognized everyday as we’re still before Him and acknowledge that there was never and never will be any God beside Him.

            He is the One who was and is and is to come (Rev. 4:8).

            Be still today and know Him. Know that He is still God even when we fail to be still before Him. He never fails and never changes. He knows you and longs to be known. 

Living Life Together,

Rebecca A. Thomas 

Quit Calling God a Liar

            Yeah. I said it. Quit calling God a liar.

            I’m not just saying this to whoever is going to read this post. I’m saying it to me—to my soul because about a year ago (and again yesterday), I realized that I was telling God that what He said about me was wrong.

            No. I never said those words, but when I read Psalm 139:14-15 and let the words “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well” sink into my soul, I’d spew out thanksgivings to my faithful God, but then the next day, I’d look in the mirror or weigh myself and tell myself that I’m too skinny. Shame and self-pity would seep into my soul and, most days would win out over the absolute truth spoken by a loving God. Not only would I down my looks, but I’d down my worth, thinking that I’m not good enough to be used by God—that I have to try harder.

            I’d let lies of insecurities whisper to my soul until I turned up their volume and down the volume of truth, and I realized why. For some reason, I had let myself believe God didn’t mean what He said.

            The problem with that mindset is that it’s  a big lie.

            If God has told me that He counts me worthy, that I am loved, and that I am fearfully and wonderfully made, who am I to question that or spit out reason after reason that that just cannot be true?

            No, I never told God He was a liar, but my life and my mindset did (and sometimes still does). It’s time to stop believing the lies of the enemy and silence them for good. Believe that God created you fearfully and wonderfully. He has made you beautiful, ladies. He has made you handsome and strong, gentlemen. 

God created a masterpiece when He designed us. His masterpiece isn’t a big mess, either. It’s beautiful. When God told us that He’d send the Spirit and give us power, He meant it. We don’t have to make ourselves up or gather accomplishments to be valued and useful because in reality, nothing we do in our own power can compare to His ability and power to do the impossible.

Quit calling God a liar, and claim what He has called you as TRUTH.

You are fearfully and wonderfully made. You are coheirs with Christ. You are loved. You are worthy. You are whole. You are His child. You have nothing to fear. You are HIS.

Living Life Together

,

Rebecca Thomas 

Identity Crisis

           We all find our identity somewhere.

            It could be found in our academia, friends, family, money, job, clothes, self, or even the media, but wherever you find your identity, if it’s not in Christ, you’re probably believing a lie—actually, let me rephrase that: you are believing a lie.

            Recently, I realized how I’ve fallen for the wrong identity. Being the people pleaser that I am, I discovered that I find my identity in what others say about me and what others believe about me. Through this belief, I’ve become crippled and at a loss for who I am. Am I this, that, or that? It was all so confusing, but then, God intervened and righted this wrong way of thinking.

            Here is who God reminded me that I am:

            I am loved (John 3:16)

            I am fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139: 13-16).

            I am fully known and yet, fully loved (Psalm 139).

            I am chosen (1 Peter 2:9).

            I am fully forgiven and therefore, can do nothing to sever my relationship with my Savior (Colossians 2:13-14).

            I am a child of God, a daughter of the King (John 1:12-13).

            I am a friend of God (John 15:15).

            I am set free from sin (Romans 6:18).

            I am a new creation and don’t have to worry or feel guilty about my past (2 Corinthians 5:17).

            I am Christ’s ambassador; He chose to use me to spread His name (2 Corinthians 5:20).

            I am His beloved and bride (Isaiah 62:3-4).

            It is refreshing to know my identity is not found in what others think about me but in what God knows about me. I am God’s creation and therefore, He knows me; He knows you.

            Today, remember where your identity comes from. Those verses are just a few examples of who we are in Christ. I encourage you to read for yourself.

            Remember: you are loved, counted worthy, a child of God, and a beautiful creation. You do not have to be perfect or successful or anything else because you are already God’s.

            Listen to Him. He calls you beloved. He calls you His own.

            Living Life Together,

Rebecca Thomas

Surrounded by Lions

            Their eyes were glued to him.

Daniel’s blood pulsed through his veins faster than before as he stared into the hungry eyes of lions. He brushed off the dirt on his skinned-up knees and hands as the last bit of daylight was sucked from the dungeon.

No longer could Daniel see the full body of the beasts. Only their glowing eyes were visible as he gazed into the darkness. The king was punishing Daniel.

And, Daniel had done everything right.

            He prayed to God daily, obeyed His laws, and loved God even when the government told him that doing so would bring death. Three times a day, Daniel knelt and prayed to his God despite the decree issued by the king, and now, Daniel was paying the consequences of following God unashamedly—the lion’s den. (Read Daniel 6 for the full story).

            What amazes me about Daniel’s story is that he wasn’t caught off guard by the consequence of the lion’s den. King Darius didn’t hide the fact that anyone who bowed or prayed to a god other than King Darius himself would be ripped to shreds by the teeth of ravenous lions; Daniel knew the truth, the risk, yet he prayed to the Great I Am just as he had before.

            He was willing to lay everything down for God.

            One day, the risk became a reality as Daniel was arrested and brought to the lion’s den. King Darius ordered him inside and sealed the exit hole so that no one could enter or exit.

            Whether or not Daniel would stay true to God came down to this moment. He could deny God and beg the king for forgiveness or Daniel could trust God and be cast into the lions’ den. Daniel chose the second option despite impending death.

           

           How could Daniel make this brave choice?

            

            Well, Daniel had decided to follow God no matter the cost, and he knew the truth about God: He is our refuge and shield.

Psalm 91 states, “If you say, The Lord is my refuge, and you make the Most High your dwelling, no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent. For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. You will tread on the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent” (NIV, Psalm 91:9-13).

Daniel had put his trust in God and knew that God would protect him even in a lion’s den. Nothing could touch Daniel that God didn’t allow. No, the Bible doesn't tell us that Daniel absolutely knew that God would save his life, but that obviously didn’t matter to Daniel; he served God no matter the cost and so should we.

Like Daniel, are you willing to serve God no matter the cost? 

Living Life Together,

Rebecca Thomas

Steadfast Peace

            Sometimes, life can really stress you out. 

            Maybe tomorrow seems uncertain or a person in your family is sick or some circumstance has you worried. Whatever is going on, the fact is that we all have troubles, even Jesus agreed with that (John 16:33). But when we face these troubles, we have a choice about how we’re going to react and who we’re going to trust. 

            Many times when I face uncertainties or stressful circumstances, I first try to figure out a solution on my own or I pray and then instead of relying on God for the answer, I rack my brain for the much needed wisdom. The problem with that way of fixing a problem is that I’m not equipped to figure things out on my own—I need a Savior. 

            When I realize that I am not fully equipped, my mind starts churning and most nights, I have trouble sleeping. My life is chaotic—the opposite of peaceful. 

            The truth is that when we don’t rely on Jesus, we will stumble and our lives will be full of chaos and uneasiness, but life doesn’t have to be this way; we can have peace. 

            Isaiah 26:3 declares that God “will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in [God]” (NIV). The key to having peace is trusting in God. When storms arise, remind yourself of the truth: God provides (1 Timothy 6:17), we are loved (John 3:16), He is our refuge and shield (Psalm 119:114), we will never be alone (Hebrews 13:5), and He is our strength (Philippians 4:13). Those truths are just a few of the promises God has given us that we can trust God for. I challenge you to mine through God’s Word for yourself and discover that numerable promises God has for us. 

            When we trust in the Lord, He gives us peace, even that is a promise. One of my favorite passages is Isaiah 40:30-31, which reminds us that “even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”

            Today, whatever you’re facing, trust our faithful God. Even if you have to say His name over and over or repeat biblical truths in your mind until you remember to trust Him, do so because we desperately need Him.

He is the only one who can give you peace. 

Living Life Together, 

Rebecca Thomas

Rainbow Promises

            Over forty days and nights had passed since the door of the ark was sealed shut.

 Where dry ground used to be, roaring water now resided. All life on the earth was gone. Only Noah, his family, and the select animals survived. Noah and his family were sick of the stench from the animals and ready to breathe fresh air again, but the possibility of that happening any time soon seemed impossible.

Finally, God gave Noah the command to send out a bird to find dry ground, but no grass was found. So, he sent out another. After many grueling days and hours of waiting, dry land was finally found.

As Noah and his family stepped out of the ark, a rainbow of beautiful colors stretched across the vibrant sky. God had fulfilled His promise to save Noah and his family, and now, He was making another—to never cause a flood like that again, and God kept that promise.

(**Read Genesis 9**)

—˜™–

            I imagine Noah and his family kissed the ground as they stepped off that ark. Before they went into the ark, they had never seen water fall from the sky, and then, all of a sudden, rain comes pouring down and their world as they know it drastically changes. I bet some days Noah and his family wondered if the rain would ever stop, if God would keep His promises. However, in the end, God did keep His promises and restored the earth again.

Then, God promised never to cause a flood like that again, and to remind Noah of that promise, He painted a rainbow in the sky. Even now, when we see the rainbow, we can be reminded of that promise God made to Noah all those years ago, and not only that, but we can also be reminded that God keeps His promises, even today.

Maybe you’re going through a tough time in life or your future seems uncertain. Maybe your financial situation is bleak or you’re enemies are coming against you and you can’t stand any longer. I want you to be reminded today that God keeps His promises. The rainbow reminds us of that.

God has promised to provide all of your needs (Philippians 4:19). He has promised to have a good plan for you (Jeremiah 29:11). God has promised to work all things for the good of those who are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:29). He has promised that we may be persecuted, but we will not be abandoned (2 Corinthians 4:9). Not only has He made all of these promises, but He has made so many more. Search the Bible; it’s full of great promises.

If today, you’ve lost hope and are wondering if God will come through, remember the rainbow. Thousands of years after God made the promise to Noah never to destroy the earth again by flood, God is still keeping that promise and proving to us He remembers.

Every time you see a rainbow, remember God keeps His promises, so you don’t have to fret.

Living Life Together, 

Rebecca Thomas