I think we have all been here in our walk with God as young women. Sometimes something bad happens and we turn our backs on God because we think, “How could God let this happen to me?” Or we just slowly slip, without even noticing, away from our faith. Whether intentionally and unintentionally, when we open our eyes, we find ourselves farther from the cross than we ever intended to be.
When you take your eyes off the cross…
The people around you start getting louder and louder in your ears. When there are too many people in your ear, you can’t hear God trying to lead you in the direction required to fulfill your purpose. You can’t hear him talk to you and it causes your thoughts to get really muffled. Sometimes you even get really confused about what is right or wrong, what is benefiting you and what is not.
I went to King’s Church in Cleveland, Ohio this Sunday and the pastor talked about the importance of being mindful of who you abide with. In fact, he said, “Where you abide in is who you become.” Yes, God wants us to be in fellowship with people, but I also think he wants us to be mindful of who and what we are choosing to abide in. Are you abiding in your anxiety, inadequacies, or test scores? With people who aren’t helping you become a better person, who are tearing you down, or making you feel uncomfortable in your morals and values? Or are you choosing to abide in God’s Love, positivity, and peace?
When the world gets just a little too loud for me, I like to listen to calming worship music, write an honest letter to God about how I am feeling, and pray out loud.
You can start to lose the vision and purpose God has given you. When you lose your focus, you step farther and farther away from the joy and happiness God has intended for you. Yes, even in this season of your life. Stop buying the lie that you can’t be happy right now. Fulfillment doesn’t just come with that job, that man, or that degree. It is already within you.
When I start to lose my focus, I like to say some of God’s promises found in the bible out loud. Here are my favorites:
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.
Isaiah 43:2
But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
Isaish 40:31
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.
Joshua 1:9
You start questioning the things that used to give you peace to get the instant gratification of worldly things. When you sacrifice your peace for worldly gratification, you become diseased and addicted to trying to find fulfillment in things and people who (I promise you) will not fill and sustain you. Yeah, I know, it feels good now. But girl, I know you know that he or it is toxic to your soul. Your relationship with God is not just going to give you a quick fix. His love for you is not going to fade. Your relationship with God and the peace that you deserve to live in will sustain you. Don’t do things for the image or those likes because it will not last and when it fades, you will be left empty. That is not God’s will for your life. Patience truly is a virtue and never let anyone take away your peace.
Feeling like you’ve lost your sense of peace? Whenever this happens to me, I usually like to do a bible study. I love Well-Watered Woman’s Redefined Study.
You start thinking your will (not His) be done. When you think your plans are better than His, you sell yourself short. Have you ever accomplished something in your life where you had to look up to God and say, “I know it was you” because you couldn’t have even dreamed anything like that? Well, don’t sell yourself short by trying to do your own thing because His plans are always right on time. Everything in your life right now is right on time. And if you are going through a tough time, know that he has to bring you through it to bring you to. Keep the faith.
Not my will but Yours be done.
You turn to an unstable world for stability. Everything about this world is always changing–the policies, trends, your friend circle, your interests, etc. Turning to an unstable world for stability is like going on a scavenger hunt in the dark and blindfolded to find the back of your earring…Like sis, it ain’t gonna happen and you’re just going to be frustrated with one earring left in your ear. Walking with God is like constantly walking with a flashlight. In the light, we don’t notice it so much because everything is all good, right? But as soon as the lights go out, when we are alone, and our hearts get heavy, we look down and see His light directing us and guiding us out of the darkness and right back into the light where He wants us. Stop trying to find that earring back in the dark and take the flashlight out of your pocket.
The sun shall be no more your light by day, nor for brightness shall the moon give you light; but the LORD will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory.
Isaiah 60:19
You become “okay” with things that do not honor yourself or your God. Each time you become “okay” with things that you KNOW are just not serving you, you lose a part of yourself over and over again. In your core, you know who you are and morally, you know the woman you strive to be. Maybe you don’t know all the details and that’s okay, but in everything you do, every word that comes out of your mouth, every goal you write down, every tweet you post, should honor that Godly woman. Do you have to be perfect or have it all figured out? Absolutely, not. But to respect and love others, you must first respect and love yourself.
Listen, the beautiful thing about our relationship with God is that he gives us grace. But just like any healthy relationship, it can’t all be one-sided. We have to be responsible for our actions in (and out) of faith. So keep your eyes on Jesus,
To wrap it all up, here are ways I get myself back on track when my eyes have lost sight on the cross:
- Pray
- Spend intentional time with God
- Listen to worship music
- Go. To. Church.
- Call up a friend who you look up to because of their faith
- Journal
- Write letters to God
- Get quiet
- Cut out things that are not serving the woman I strive to be
- Bible study with Well-Watered Woman
- Read a book
- Give yourself and others grace
- Be honest with God
As always, be gentle with yourself and remember that your faith will never be stable. My prayer for you is that you choose to be intentional and proactive about your faith and when you feel like you are wavering, you choose Him. No matter how many times we turn our back on Him, God will always be there.
Check out my favorite Worship Playlist!
You are blessed, brilliant, and beautiful.
TD <3
