This is a picture of my current “favorite” coffee cup. I have lots of favorites, and choose them daily by my mood or by my need. I’ve been drinking out of this one A LOT lately!
Trust. It’s a HUGE concept when you really think about it. For years, I’ve “trusted” the Lord, but I’ve always kept my hand in what He was doing, trying to “help” Him along. But for this season of our lives, every time I extend my hand in to try to help Him, it NEVER works out! (Shocker, I know!)
For instance: Every time I’ve thought we found a part time job to carry us through as we “wait” on the Lord, it has slipped through our fingers. I’m tutoring some students after school, but they’ve been canceling more weeks than they’ve been coming. We’ve both applied to substitute teach, and haven’t worked a single day at that job…
I can not tell you How. Many. Times. The Lord has said to us – “Stop fretting and Trust ME. I WILL take care of you!”. He has led us down some paths of trusting Him during these past 9 months that, to those who are watching our lives, seem almost illogical and irresponsible. But we have obeyed Him and (I’m ashamed to insert here the words: timidly more often than boldly) walked those paths. And not to our surprise, we have found Him to be faithful with every step.
Sometimes I still think I have to repeatedly remind him that He promised to take care of us. Actually, I’ve been drinking out of this cup and reminding Him a lot this week! God has asked us to trust Him in some BIG ways within the past week. But we both know that it’s not God that needs the reminder… it’s me!
In processing all of this, and deciding to rest in the fact that God will do what He says He will do…I had a “light bulb” moment. At exactly 11:13am, Wednesday, April 07, 2010, I realized that
There is such peace when you finally surrender to trust God with something you can’t control in the first place.
I felt like knocking myself upside the head and saying, “Wow, I should have had a V-8!”
OF COURSE there is peace when we “Let go and Let God!” So W.H.Y. don’t we? I honestly don’t know the answer. I’m sure it has something to do with our sin natures and our desires to be the bosses of everything!
Anyway, my heart is at rest today, and I just wanted to share this little nugget of truth with you.
“If you decide for God, living a life of God-worship, it follows that you don’t fuss about what’s on the table at mealtimes or whether the clothes in your closet are in fashion. {Ouch!} There is far more to your life than the food you put in your stomach, more to your outer appearance than the clothes you hang on your body. Look at the birds, free and unfettered, not tied down to a job description, careless in the care of God. And you count far more to him than birds.” Matthew 6:25-26 Msg.
A men?
I have one more happy thing to share: Urged on by faith, The Lord has shown us where we are going. Yeah with clappy-hands!!! We just don’t know anything else about getting there! One piece of the puzzle is back in place – a different one than before – but if I know anything about the Lord, I know that in His PERFECT timing, He’ll place every single piece right where they need to be – and we’ll all look at it in amazement and praise. Wish I could spill the beans, but I’ll be able to tell you more (or at least what I know) in about two weeks.
Until then, I’m resting in the Lord and having a V-8 out of my Trust cup!
You will keep in perfect peace the mind [that is] dependent [on You], for it is trusting in You.” Isaiah 26:3 (HCSB)
Thanks for being a special part of our journey, “urged on by faith”. Much love to each of you!
(And if you’re new to Smelling Coffee, and are wondering what in the world I’m talking about, check out the tab at the top of my blog, “Our Journey: Urged on by Faith.)
****Edited to add:
This was from the Devotional “Jesus Calling” on March 30, 24, and April 9 – I was catching up when I read this and for my own sake, had to add it here…
” I am taking care of you. Trust Me at all times. Trust Me in all circumstances. Trust Me with all your heart. When you are weary and everything seems to be going wrong, you can still utter these four words, “I TRUST You, Jesus.” By doing so, you release matters into My control, and you fall back into the security of My everlasting arms.” {How AWESOME is that!!!!?}
“Stop trying to work things out before their times have come. Accept the limitations of living one day at a time. When something comes to your attention, ask Me whether or not it is part of today’s agenda. If it isn’t, release it to my care and go on about today’s duties. When you follow this practice, there will be a beautiful simplicity about your life. A time for everything, and everything inits time.”
“When your mind goes into neutral and your thoughts flow freely, you tend to feel anxious and alone. YOur focus becomes Problem Solving. To get your mind back into gear, just turn toward Me, bringing yourself and your problems into My presence…
Each moment you can choose to practice My Presence or to practice the presence of problems.”
Today I declare that I’m choosing the Practice of God’s Presence over the practice of the problem’s presence!!! 🙂
Wow! I needed to hear your the words in your post today. This is the first time I've been to your blog and my goodness, I am for sure becoming a follower!
I feel after reading your post that we just sat and had coffee together and you encouraged me. I needed to be reminded to quit trying to help God out with the plan he has for me. I tend to trust and then put my hand in to make things hurry along to the victory line. I love the verses and devo quotes you shared here too.
I am so pleased to find you and look forward to getting to know you better.
Lee Ann
Hi Jennifer! Loved this post & looking forward to continuing to read of your adventurous journey. I love the way you share your heart! You challenge me so! The verse you've shared from Isaiah is one of my absolute favorites and one I ponder often! Trusting right along with you (and praying your next move might bring you close to the Northern Kentucky/Cincinnati area!)
Sweet blessings,
Tracy
Hey Jen,
Continuing to pray for you and James as you wait and watch. We are in a bit of a waiting room ourselves in so many areas. It does seem that life is full of many of these seasons, doesn't it!
Thanks for the reminder to only trust Him!
You are a blessing…
Melanie
Jennifer,
This reminds of a an old song…can't remember exact words but the end says..I'll just keep Trusting My Lord, He will never fail!
Blessings my friend.
Oh goodness – I am so excited to hear the "rest of the story"!! How wonderful for you:) and I just love your mug!! My mugs are not nearly as uplifting or encouraging!
Hey friends~ Thanks so much for your comments and joy for our family. I can't wait to share everything with you!!! Love to each of you~
Jen
Hi, Jennifer,
Oh, how silly we sometimes are when we think we need to "help" God…thank you for this powerful post and for the good reminder to me!
Praying for you~
I LOVE you…and I LOVE this post!
I'm so thankful…that along this journey…I have you…walking with me…
Love ya.
Kim~
Good Morning Jen! I love you and appreciate your sharing this. I'm going off for time with the Lord now and I'll be praying for you all. Love and Hugs my Dear Friend…
What an encouraging post this is Jennifer. I too have been in that place of trying to help God along. Trusting Him completely is tough in our humanness. But I too have found Him to be faithful.
I love your TRUST cup. And I'm going to have a V-8 along with you friend.
Love you,
Debbie
LOVED this post…when I experience moments of doubt in the midst of my faith…I find myself repeating over and over… "I TRUST GOD." I try to drown out all other thoughts…including the enemy…by just standing on those three words. That's what walking by faith is all about…faith doesn't include "ifs" and "buts"…it simply rests in God's care. Thank you for sharing your heart sister!
Fighting the good fight with you…
In Him,
Cherie
Oh please LORD, move Jennifer and her family here near me (smile, tears and the whole nine yards)…but LORD wherever You have for them to go I know it is perfect and so Your will be done.
Sweet sister, I love you and thank you for sharing your heart with us. You know I walk with you in my heart of prayer. I have the privilege to pray for many but there are some that the HOLY SPIRIT just keeps bubbling up in my heart and YOU have been one since we found each other in blogging. I just love you to pieces!
I'm excited about what's coming…
the next of you, your hubby and kids…
I'm rejoicing already and praising the LORD…
Keep standing by faith!!!
I love you!
By the way, I do the same thing with my mugs. All of them are Christian mugs and I select them by what I feel.
This moment I have my:
"Strength for the Journey, Joshua 1:9" mug in my hand. Earlier when I first woke up and had coffee and time with GOD, I had my "LOVE" mug in my hand.
I love you. Sorry for the LONG comment. We really have to phone chat one day.
It's HARD to let go and trust God! But you're right, there is amazing peace in it. Thanks for the reminder!
Funny you should say that, Melanie… because several months ago that's exactly "where" we thought God was sending us. I couldn't wait to be close to you and Lisa Shaw!!! But, no… it's somewhere else, and it's the perfect spot for us (even though it's not Fla!) 🙂
Jennifer
The "where" wouldn't happen to be on our little peninsula in the Florida tropical zone, would it?
; ^)