"And the king and his men went to Jerusalem against the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, who spoke to David, saying, 'You shall not come in here; but the blind and the lame will repel you,' thinking, 'David cannot come in here.'
Nevertheless David took the stronghold of Zion
(that is, the City of David)."
~2 Samuel 5:6-7
“If I could go back, I would have focused more on the awe and successes we experienced instead of the lack and struggles”
These were the words I said to myself and a couple of folks about a year after the last major life transition I had…my move to Iowa. I had fasted and prayed and prepared for more than a year, and knew without a shadow of a doubt that mid-America with sub zero temps and multiple feet of snow winters was where God wanted us to be. In spite of the doubt, criticism, and sarcasm of almost everyone I knew, I had not a single doubt…before we moved. The transitional test that followed was an epic personal failure, in spite of the fact that God provided every step of the way and took care of the greatest concern I had: my youngest daughter’s adjustment to a new place where we had no family or support.
She was there with me as I felt called to be closer to my very sick mom, complete my education, and take on a new style of ministry – working outside of the church. She was leaving all of her lifetime friends, all of her siblings, all of the plans she had made for middle and high school, and the home that she loved. We hit the ground in this new space with a barrage of struggles that she helped me pray through all while making new friends, joining show choir (which would quickly become her first love), and making good grades…as usual.
I, on the other hand, stressed and complained for a full year until financial doors began to fly open. By then I had so many opportunities that I literally had to turn down four job offers in one week. Not only was I being paid to work with youth – remember that “‘working outside the church” ministry I mentioned above? – but I was being paid to teach courses that I had fully designed and developed. So I was growing my gifting while getting paid to do so! I was ashamed to recall how much and how long I had stressed and complained about the challenges of that transition.
Well, here we are once again, in the very heat of another transitional test. I am being given a chance to honor the words that open this blog. Transitions are challenging, even with the best laid plans. And when God is trying to get us to pass a test, like all good tests, things will come with challenges. How have I approached this test? How will I pivot so that I endure the training and pass the test? What words do I speak to myself, my family, my friends, God’s people?
I’ll be transparent, I’ve made some missteps already this time as well. But next month’s blog will be a bonus part 8 of “How Words Work” that will explain how God and the prayers of His people helped me snap out of doubt and get back on the battlefield. I’ll share how the next step in How Words Work – Challenges – fit into the bigger goal of 1. complete trust in God and 2. victory through obedience and endurance. I’ll share how remembering and speaking what God said is more than just an act of faith but is also a battle cry against Satan’s age-old tactics; and, how sometimes we so easily get lured into cooperating with his tactics and manifesting his will simply by the words we speak.
Hear it. Speak it. Seek it!
Living Always With Great Expectation,
Dawn~
These were the words I said to myself and a couple of folks about a year after the last major life transition I had…my move to Iowa. I had fasted and prayed and prepared for more than a year, and knew without a shadow of a doubt that mid-America with sub zero temps and multiple feet of snow winters was where God wanted us to be. In spite of the doubt, criticism, and sarcasm of almost everyone I knew, I had not a single doubt…before we moved. The transitional test that followed was an epic personal failure, in spite of the fact that God provided every step of the way and took care of the greatest concern I had: my youngest daughter’s adjustment to a new place where we had no family or support.
She was there with me as I felt called to be closer to my very sick mom, complete my education, and take on a new style of ministry – working outside of the church. She was leaving all of her lifetime friends, all of her siblings, all of the plans she had made for middle and high school, and the home that she loved. We hit the ground in this new space with a barrage of struggles that she helped me pray through all while making new friends, joining show choir (which would quickly become her first love), and making good grades…as usual.
I, on the other hand, stressed and complained for a full year until financial doors began to fly open. By then I had so many opportunities that I literally had to turn down four job offers in one week. Not only was I being paid to work with youth – remember that “‘working outside the church” ministry I mentioned above? – but I was being paid to teach courses that I had fully designed and developed. So I was growing my gifting while getting paid to do so! I was ashamed to recall how much and how long I had stressed and complained about the challenges of that transition.
Well, here we are once again, in the very heat of another transitional test. I am being given a chance to honor the words that open this blog. Transitions are challenging, even with the best laid plans. And when God is trying to get us to pass a test, like all good tests, things will come with challenges. How have I approached this test? How will I pivot so that I endure the training and pass the test? What words do I speak to myself, my family, my friends, God’s people?
I’ll be transparent, I’ve made some missteps already this time as well. But next month’s blog will be a bonus part 8 of “How Words Work” that will explain how God and the prayers of His people helped me snap out of doubt and get back on the battlefield. I’ll share how the next step in How Words Work – Challenges – fit into the bigger goal of 1. complete trust in God and 2. victory through obedience and endurance. I’ll share how remembering and speaking what God said is more than just an act of faith but is also a battle cry against Satan’s age-old tactics; and, how sometimes we so easily get lured into cooperating with his tactics and manifesting his will simply by the words we speak.
Hear it. Speak it. Seek it!
Living Always With Great Expectation,
Dawn~
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