It was Lisa Bevere, Sheila Walsh, and me – sitting down together, having a conversation. Only I wasn’t doing any of the talking. I was listening intently, with tears running down my cheeks.
That night, I’d gone to bed early because I wasn’t feeling well. An hour after lying down, I woke up with severe stomach pain. I took a dose of Pepto Bismol, hoping it would help.
Since I couldn’t sleep, I went into the living room. I should pray, I thought. Or read my Bible. But I didn’t. Instead, I turned on the TV and watched the 10pm news.
Once the news was finished, I turned on “The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon.” Jimmy made me laugh, which helped me to forget about my stomach pain. After the show went to commercials, I started flipping through the channels, thinking I might find a good movie or something.
And there she was – Lisa Bevere. Looking right at Sheila Walsh on “Life Today” but talking directly to me.
“He {God} really loves to make us face what we fear because he knows that it’s going to actually position us to be fearless.”
Immediately, my eyes welled up. I knew God wanted me to hear this message. My stomach pain wasn’t random.
Lisa went on to say, “I think there are people out there right now that they’ve been going through hardship….”
Yes. That’s me.
“And they’re looking at their past to figure out what’s going on and it’s not about their past, it is about their future.”
Lisa began talking about destiny and how we can’t live out God’s plans for us if we pray small, safe prayers or live small, safe lives. And then she said four words that are still emblazoned on my heart: “Struggle can be strengthening.”
For the past year, I’ve been in a spiritual wilderness. Never have I experienced such an arduous season of emptiness, dryness, and hopelessness.
Satan has successfully trampled on me. Beat me down. Fed me lie after lie that I’ve willingly believed. Filled my mind with fear.
Fear has been a problem for me since childhood. I’m not sure where it took root, but, from a young age. I thought I had to be perfect. I believed that if I lived by God’s rules, I would somehow earn His love. That by doing good I was good.
Even though I know that isn’t true, I sometimes default to that line of thinking. But God – my gracious, tender-hearted Father – wants me to accept His unfailing love. A love that isn’t conditional on how well I write, how many books I sell, how patiently I parent, or how fit (or unfit) my body is.
More than anything, I want to fulfill God’s plans for my life. I don’t my failures, insecurities, or fears to hold me back from all the Lord has for me.
Today I choose to believe God so I can move forward in His purposes.
Today I receive God’s healing from past hurts and present fears.
Today I trust God to use my struggles to make me stronger in Him.
What about you? Are you with me? Are you ready to pursue your God-given destiny?
Today let’s choose to stand on God Word and expect Him to help us. Let’s say together: “I prayed to the LORD, and he answered me. He freed me from all my fears” (Ps. 34:4 NLT).