These Verses Got Me Through The Toughest Times of Life

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Mid-life crisis should not be confined to mid-life, as we all seem to have some kind of crisis at various points in our lives. Whether it seems big or small is no matter, comparison is a killer. If it bothers you, it bothers you, and no one else can impact how something affects you. Hiding your problems for fear of judgment or being viewed as self-centered, weak, or arrogant because your problems aren't "that bad" can lead you to getting in a deeper hole than the one you started with. Trust me; I know. This world can be full of so many burdens, it may seem at times that we are stuck in that hole with no way out in sight, but it is there where faith and strength grow the most. Through the most recent trial in my life, there were some verses that I went back to every day pushing me through and keeping me from losing hope, so I wanted to share them for anyone else who may be in a wreck on the interstate of life (because it goes by so fast, and who uses speed limits anyways?--jk I am a good driver) or to anyone to keep them for a rainy day (as we have a lot of those lately, literally and figuratively..).

Looking back I can confidently say that I see where God was at work and came through every time.

Hebrews is full of faith-strengthening verses for when my soul is struggling.
"We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, in order to make your hope sure...through faith and patience inherit what is promised." Hebrews 6:11

"Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful." Hebrews 10:23

"So do not throw away your confidence, for it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised." Hebrews 10:35-36

"Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe He exists and rewards those who earnestly seek Him." Hebrews 11:6

Psalms are some of the most encouraging passages in the Bible, coming from both triumph and trouble, as well as finding joy in the valleys. Sometimes when I don't know what else to do, I just open up to a random Psalm and start there.

"I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong, and take heart, and wait for the Lord." Psalm 27:13-14

"For His anger lasts only a moment, but His favor lasts a lifetime. Weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning." Psalm 30:5

"Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones You have crushed rejoice...restore to me the joy of Your salvation and grant me a willing spirit to sustain me." Psalm 51:8, 12

"In my anguish, I called to the Lord, and He answered by setting me free." Psalm 118:5

Psalm 25 is a prayer from David, but I used it as a prayer from myself. When at a loss of words ourselves, who better to connect with God than David? 

"To You, O Lord, I lift up my soul; in You I trust, O my God. Do not let me be put to shame nor let my enemies triumph over me. No one whose hope is in You will ever be put to shame...Show me Your ways and teach me Your paths; guide me in Your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in You all the day long. Remember, O Lord, Your great mercy and love, remember not the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways...Good and upright is the Lord, therefore He instructs sinners in His ways. He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them His way. All the ways of the Lord are loving and faithful. For the sake of Your name, forgive my iniquity, though it is great...Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted. The troubles of my heart have multiplied; free me from my anguish. Look upon my affliction and my distress...Guard my life and rescue me...my hope is in You." (verses 1-11, 16-21)

Another prayer from David is in Psalm 31.

"In You, O Lord, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame. Turn Your ear to me, come quickly to my rescue; be my rock of refuge, a strong fortress to save me...Free me from the trap that is set before me, for you are my refuge. Into Your hands I commit my spirit...I trust in the Lord. I will be glad and rejoice in Your love, for you saw the anguish of my soul...Be merciful to me, O Lord, for I am in distress; my eyes grow weak with sorrow, my soul and body with grief. My strength fails because of my affliction, and my bones grow weak...But I trust in You, O Lord; I say, 'You are my God. My times are in Your hands'...Let Your face shine on Your servant; save me in Your unfailing love...How great is Your goodness...Praise be to the Lord for He showed His wonderful love to me...Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord." (verses 1-2, 4-5, 7, 9-10, 14-16, 19, 21, 24)

"But if it's true that You use broken things, then here I am, Lord, I'm all Yours." -Broken Things by Matthew West

There is no shame in human weakness. God wouldn't use us if we were perfect. He uses hard times to make us stronger and bring us out to have a story to tell to help others.

Like a Baby Shower, and College is the Baby + Ethos Message

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After finally deciding that I was going to accept the offer to run in college at Lipscomb, I signed during the early period in the fall to make it official!

I also will use this post since it's all about Lipscomb, to go back to what I wanted to share from when I went to Ethos church on my visit!  It was the perfect message for me at the time, so I can't help but share.  

One of the greatest feelings in life is experiencing God at work.  It's one of those things that just blows your mind and leaves you in awe, yet longing for more.

After a tough race on Saturday and a long run the next day (an hour or so before church), I was feeling so tired, sore, weak, and just in pain from all the business life had thrown at me!  During the opening part of service, God brought the words of Matthew 26:41 to my mind, so I looked it up and wrote it down.  "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.  The spirit is willing, but the body is weak."  Not even five minutes later, the speaker started preaching on the exact same passage, just the version by Mark in chapter 14.  Now, if that wasn't God at work, I don't know what is.  That is no coincidence.  (Mark 14:38, "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.  The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.")  Starting in verse 32, Jesus was praying in the garden of Gethsemane.  The sermon was focused on the model Jesus set here of how to approach The Father. 

1) His Preface-Though His circumstances were overwhelming--He was about to be killed!--Jesus still had unwavering faith.

2) His petition-Because He knew it would be such a terrible death, He asked God to let it pass if at all possible.  Even more than that, He asked that God's will be done in any way.

3) His posture-totally submitted, humble, and trusting

This was really motivating for me because I could feel God comforting me in my stress and uncertainty.  I was encouraged remembering all that my Savior has done for me.  I can't waiver when God's will conflicts with my ways.  Jesus didn't die the death of a martyr; He died the death of a Messiah!  Because he died in agony, we can live and die in joy!

Another thing that really stood out to me was a picture frame over my host Clare's bed.  It said Embrace the Journey, which combines two of my favorite sayings:  Joy in the Journey and Embrace the Race!  (That also goes with something else in my life that is a secret until May, but just know that it correlates!) 

These small signs from God are everywhere.  Pray for you eyes and heart to be opened to them in your own life!

One of my friends Will signed to play baseball at UT at the beginning of early signing period, and they almost like a party with cake and pictures and people got out of class and off work to come!  I talked to his mom, and that gave me encouragement to celebrate, too!  A couple friends and I got to talking about it, and we described it like a baby shower, a small party to celebrate something that isn't quite here yet.  It's like college was the baby!  We're celebrating it, but I'm just not there yet.

 

After state we went to Lipscomb to buy some shirts to wear until I actually got to college and they give me all kinds of gear.  This is the sweatshirt I got, so it's kinda dressy,too.

I was so excited once we got things planned, and I invited lots of people from inside and outside of school.  Even though some people had to work, a lot got off to come!  Mom and Dad both did, of course, and all my coaches came.

I wanted to have little snacks too, since it was around lunchtime, so we decided on some that would match the Lipscomb colors!  We ordered some dark chocolate truffles with a couple different fillings--peanut butter, hazelnut, or espresso--from Yummy Cakes in downtown.  The grapes and pineapple were my color coordinating colors, too!

Thanks for the sweet snapchat, Emily.

It was really last minute, but they pulled it off just in time!

I think truffles are some of the prettiest little treats.

They were a hit, too!  I barely got any myself!  We didn't have any left to take home.

I've always been a daddy's girl.  Only now I have more hair.

Thanks to Matt Daniels who came to do pictures and a fantastic interview for the newspaper!

I really mean it when I say that I wouldn't be where I am without the people around me.  All the prayers, support, laughter, encouragement, and bits of grace that I've been given so often mean so much to me, especially looking back.  I love these people so much!  God has worked wonders in my life, and I've changed so much, but I'm so thankful for it.