Beauty from Ashes

Friendships.

I’ve been overwhelmed with both the trials and blessings friendships have brought me the past two weeks. 

I have caught up with my closest friends from high school. I have fought with my best friends here in college. I am rebuilding a friendship with someone dear to my heart. I’ve been spending time with friends that live off campus. I have distanced myself from some friends. I just got off the phone with a friend that lives far away from me. Friends. Friends. Friends. 

It amazes me to see what the Lord teaches me throughout each of my friendships. I see His hand throughout each of them. I know through these friendships He is teaching me to work hard and do what’s best for me when it comes to the people in my life. We have to let go at times and hold on at times. There are times where people leave and people come back. But no matter what I need to trust God with each of them. I need to remember that these friendships are gifts from Him and I need to allow Him to do what He wants. 

I’m blessed though. I have amazing people in my life at the moment. Be jealous. (: 

Prayer for February 17th.

God, I know that I can’t control everything, so I will do what I can and trust You to do what I can’t do. The storms of life do not control me. I trust Your plans for me. 

Amen. 

Scripture: “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling.” Psalm 46:1-3

I am not in control. He is. Trust Him. 

Prayer for January 31st.

God, Your Word says that You direct the steps of the godly. I trust You to guide me on the journey You have for me, and I know that when I get off track, You will always be there to help me recover and keep going. 

Amen. 

Scripture: “The steps of a man are established by the Lord when he delights in His way.”  Psalm 37:23

Allow the Lord to direct you. Trust Him. 

Prayer for January 26th.

God, I know that You have overcome any and every obstacle, so I ask You to help me live in the peace that You’ve provided for me. Show me how to trust You as I live in the now. 

Amen.

Scripture: “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

He has your future in the palm of His hands. Allow Him to give you the peace you need right now. Trust Him. 

Prayer for January 7th.

God, You are all I need. Help me not to trust in myself, but to put my trust in You and to rely only on You. 

Amen.

Scripture: “So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” Galatians 5:16

Be encouraged today.  

Learn to love the journey, not the destination.

That’s my motto for life. haha…

I had a good talk with a friend last night. She just encouraged me to surrender. Surrender my heart, my issues, the things I really have no control over to God. And along with surrender, I need to completely trust the Lord with all those things. Now, that’s the hard part. It’s so hard to trust Him. Which in my mind is so stupid because it’s not like the Lord is ever going to hurt me or break that trust. I should be able to put my full and complete trust in Him, but I just can’t sometimes. In my heart I just don’t let things go. It’s completely normal though. In life we’re constantly having to go to God telling Him, “okay, I trust you now.” But I hadn’t been trusting Him. So God pulled the rug from under me. He told me, “chris, to get your attention I need to take some things away from you without any explanation so you’ll wake up and trust me.” 

And that’s where I’m at. Lost in confusion, but so thankful to God for it. Because it’s an issue of mine. I can be real right?… I need to have control. I need to know what’s going on all the time. But God doesn’t want that for me. HE wants to be in control and HE does know all that goes on. So I just need to trust Him.

This is all part of this journey I’m on. My friend told me there is never an end. There is never a point where I’ll finally be good and happy. It all just comes and goes. I know it sounds cliche, but life really is a rollercoaster. You have your ups and downs, your highs and lows, even some loops and twists thrown in there. But all the while it’s enjoying the ride. There’s no end to our life, even after I die and go to heaven. I get to spend eternity with my Savior. So I’m learning to not think ahead in terms of, “I can’t wait till this trial is over so I can finally be good.” Cause it doesn’t stop there. God has so much more for us then we have for ourselves. So why not trust Him with that journey? 

trust&surrender. you won’t regret it. 

Okay then.

What do you do when left with no explanation? You’re told something and you’re just supposed to understand. Supposed to accept it even though you don’t know why it is the way it is. 

I hate that. I hate when I’m just supposed to take something as it is without understanding what I’m even accepting. I get frustrated with the situation, the person, the entire problem. That in all honesty, doesn’t even need to be a big deal, but it just sucks. Was I not worth just an explanation for your actions? I just want to understand. The someone told me today… 

Maybe you’re not supposed to understand, maybe you just need to trust.