“Behold, I will do a new thing” (Isaiah 43:19).

The snow globe enclosed a peaceful landscape. Serene and still, everything was perfect until I picked it up. The slightest movement created a snowstorm.

My world feels like that at times. I try to maintain a modicum of control. It works well until the unexpected happens. The balance shifts and suddenly all I have organized is slipping and sliding.

“A place for everything and everything in its place,” has been my life’s motto. But just when I have it all together, one challenge collapses my carefully erected world. I prefer the accustomed, habitual, and business as usual. However, safe, comfortable, and predictable are not God-words.

Letting go is never easy. A phone call in the middle of the night, a dreaded diagnosis, a toddler’s first steps, the first day of school, handing a teen the car keys, relocating to another city, a new job, or different ministry responsibilities are just of a few of the pivotal points in life.

Change is often fraught with emotion, worry, fear, and dread. How will I go on? What will happen next? Will my children be okay? How are we going to make it? I never asked for this!

We live in a changing world. Family dynamics evolve, friends come and go, and health issues are inevitable.

The Scripture repeats, “And it came to pass.” It is one thing to read about changes in the lives of others but something else entirely to face our own. However, change is unavoidable. All that comes into our lives will pass in time. Nothing ever comes to stay.

Our past experiences may leave us apprehensive about God’s desire for change. When we read of His promise to do something new, we may wonder, “And what does that mean? Is it something I will enjoy?”

Perhaps the “new thing” He refers to is whatever we need. Do you need healing? Are you emotionally battered and scarred? Are you looking for answers? Does your family need a divine intervention? Are you struggling in your walk with God? Does your faith need a boost? What is lacking?

Throughout the Word of God it is confirmed, He will be — He will do whatever we need. It is the loss of control and right to dictate these changes that is unsettling.

Indeed, God is always at work in the world. He is creating new lives, new hearts, new beginnings, and His mercies and compassion are new each morning. Yet we are reluctant to trust Him.

An aging friend related to me the grief process following a diagnosis of congestive heart failure. At first she behaved as if it were not happening to her. She ignored it. But when it did not go away, anger replaced her denial. She felt betrayed. It took time, but she realized that while her life had changed, it was still good. Her life had value. She had significance.

We grieve over many things besides the death of someone we love. Events transpire in our lives that leave us shattered. Loss of control is never easy.

Why do we resist change? The unfolding of the seasons confirms life is about change. The stillness of winter erupts into sunshine and blossoms, increasing heat ushers in summer, summer fades into autumn, and fall foliage heralds the coming cold.

Some changes blindside us, and leave us reeling. The stages of life are inevitable, and we prepare ourselves as they approach. Other alterations we dare not avoid, not the ones God has planned for our lives. Missing out on anything He has for us is dangerous and not an option.

God is a God of change. He wants to remake us inside and out. This transformation began with repentance, when we turned away from our old lifestyle. It continues each day with a commitment to become all He desires.

We prefer to linger in secure places. However, for God to give us something new, we must be willing to let go of what we now grasp. This new thing God is doing in our lives is a process that will last a lifetime.

For us to receive more from God we must be willing to let go and let God have His way in our lives.

Lately God has placed a few loved ones in my path who are feeling low and defeated; their dread and anguish crushing my spirit and breaking my heart. The best and only thing I could do for each one of them was to say – “Give it to God” because I know with all my heart that He is the ONLY one who can help them where they are in their journey.

If you are also feeling this way, rest assured that our Lord is there for you too. Here are some things you can do to strengthen your faith and hope in tomorrow.

Pray and read His word daily

Start each day with a short Bible reading and meditation before you begin your day. Just dedicating 5 minutes to God each morning will radically change your day. (Do it every day and you will start to see a noticeable difference in your life within a very short time.) Pray more than once a day, as often as you can and everytime you feel down or sad, alone or defeated. Read not because you have to but because you long to know Him better, the King you serve, the Creator who crafted you, the perfect Father who loves you unconditionally. Even when He is correcting you He loves you because that is what perfect fathers do.  Do not say that you are being punished! Those are lies created to hurt you and keep you down. Instead, Rejoice! In the midst of your tears, in the core of your struggles, Rejoice that you are being lifted out of the valley and into the light.  

Love. Joy. Peace. Warmth. Grace. Mercy. Comfort. These are God.

Use and post these words in full plain site where you will see them often. Print them out and put them on your wall, near your computer, on your fridge, by your bed, where ever you can. Then anytime you look at them you can smile and rejoice because He is all of those things – and YOU dear one are his pride and joy, a son or daughter of the King in whom He is proud. The Bible says that you are "the apple of His eye" (I like that thought too . He is proud of you and only wants the best for you. He loves you. If you want out the valley and into the light then DO THESE THINGS. Trust me…. trust God… you may have lost the fight but the victory was won by God long before you and I were even born. The valleys can be dark and lonely but we all go thru them. There is no need to go through them alone when He is there, waiting for us to reach out to Him. We can sit and cry to no avail, or we can stretch out our arms and cry ‘abba, father” and surrender it to God, then allow Him to carry us through – but understand that He will do so only on His terms, or not at all.

It's not about being perfect.

Of course you’re not perfect. No matter how hard we try, no one can be perfect, that's why Jesus died for us. Mankind could not measure up to the rules of God. He had to die. He was the sacrifice that washed our sins away but in order to be cleansed we must first confess them with our mouth in total and complete honesty and in all humility, and then offer them up to Him.

Honesty is never easy.

It took me a year of being angry, hating my boss (and struggling with the feeling of such hatred) while I was enduring physical pain, suffering the loss of my father, battling a family court custody case, and resenting being squeezed out of a company I had devoted myself to, to realize the part I played in the bigger picture and my contribution to it all.  Not standing up for myself for fear of losing my job, the fear of losing my kids, my fear of this and my fear of that, I was choking and drowning in fear! I was crying out for God to help me but I was drowning in my own dread and emotion that I could not see Him standing right in front of me. I thought my prayers were going unanswered and I wondered about God..nearly doubting Him. The struggle seemed long and hopeless until one day I realized that it was me who was keeping myself locked up in my own fear.  Fear is NOT of God. Fear is the enemy's lie to knock us down and keep us off track. The Bible says that “the Devil is a thief and a liar”! Do not believe his words, he will do and say things to make you feel worthless, hopeless, sad and defeated. The longer he can keep you down in the darkness, the longer he can stifle the true light inside you that could be shining on others. Don't you see????? It's a trick. It's all a game to him.  “Fear not, for I am your Lord.” Says God.  God could not help me before because I was asking for His help but then I was going ahead and doing things my way, complaining and crying to others, my eyes were down in sadness and sorrow yet I wondered where He was and why He wasn't there to help. It was only after I was able to look up and beyond my own fears that I could see the Hand of God, waiting to lead me out of the valley and into the light of His love. My role was simply to follow and trust in Him.

"You ARE more valuable than gold or silver" says the Bible. Believe it.

If you want out, there is a way out, you just can't see it but it's not your job to see it. It's only your job to have faith and believe it to be true … to give it up to Jesus and allow Him to steer you out of it. The hopelessness I hear in others can only be mended by the true love of Christ, who is waiting for you to totally give it up to Him.

Keep eyes and ears open to Him.

 GGodGod speaks all the time, but our eyes, ears and hearts must be open to hearing Him and receiving His message. The Bible illustrates that God can speak to us in many different ways, thorough dreams like Joseph, visions like David or even thorough a burning bush like Moses. Other times he will place people in our lives, who have the words to encourage us when we are down. As Christians we are each a very important and special part of God's family. Spending time with other Christian brothers and sisters will strengthen you when you are down. But even if God was to shout out to you from the tallest building in your neighbourhood, the message will do you no good if you do not stop to listen for it and obey.  If you keep your focus on Him, He will take care of the rest – His promise, not mine.

Peace. 

“Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their masters … so our eyes look to the Lord our God…” (Psalm 123:2)

Our spiritual strength begins to drain when we stop lifting our eyes to Him. Our stamina is sapped, partly from external troubles surrounding us but more through problems in our own thinking. We have to realize that no effort can be too high. God will make good in all things we do.

Father God in Heaven,
Thank you for this day. Thank you that you are the All Mighty, the Creator of Heaven and Earth, and that you love me. Your Word is Truth. As your Word commands, I look to you oh God to direct my steps, shield me from my enemies while you light the path under my feet. Dress me in the armor of God and set me on the path that you have laid our just for me. I pray you open doors I am meant to walk through. Lead me not into temptation and close those doors I am not intended to venture into. I place my faith and trust in you oh Father. In Jesus Holy name I pray. Amen.

Hey you who calls me a ‘Bible Thumper’, a ‘Born Again’ , a ‘Jesus freak’ ….or whatever (you know who you are – and so do I), I have ONE question for you to ponder…

I believe that when we die, we are either saved (through salvation in Jesus) or if not, then we will burn in the eternal lake of fire (hell).

You believe that when we die, we die. 

But one thing we can agree upon is that both of us can’t be right. There can only be one answer - the TRUTH, right?

Or maybe you believe that we are reincarnated or that our spirits live on to haunt and dwell in this life or elsewhere? Or maybe you believe in something altogether different again. But even still you must agree that we can’t both be right, there can only be one answer – the TRUTH.

Are you with me so far? Ok, good. We won’t know for certain what the TRUTH is, until that time comes.  Sure we hear stories but we won’t really know until it happens. All we can do is wait until we die to find out. 

If you are right, then nothing happens or at least, nothing bad or within our control.

So my question to you today is;

If I am right … where does that leave you? Your family? Your children?

My guess is that your ideas and judgements on this subject are not based on research or gathering up the facts. They are based on what you’ve learned, what you were taught, what others have told you and maybe even from what you see around you and your experiences, but they are not from studying or really looking for truthful answers, right? Would you buy a house, drive a certain make of car, take a vacation, or do a certain job solely based on what someone else says or thinks? Of course not! These investments are for you to decide upon. Afterall, it’s you who will pay for them and it’s you who will suffer if they dont turn out the way your want, right? Well then don’t you think that something as important as ETERNITY – suffering forever – not just you but your whole family, your children, your parents, grandparents and friends, warrants a little checking into before you make the decision of a lifetime and choose not to believe?

I CHALLENGE YOU – right here, right now, to put aside your fears and consider that maybe, just maybe, I may have found the “truth”.  Fears? Did I say fears? Yes I did.  Because if you were not afraid, and you really did love your children (which I believe you do), then I don’t understand why you would not seek the truth, if not for yourself then at least for them. I understand the fear you are feeling because I felt it too for a very long time – fear of rejection from friends and family who don’t believe (just think about all the names you’ve called me!); fear of the unknown, fear of having to change your lifestyle or lose out on fun stuff, fear of having to give things up, fear of this and fear of that…so many fears.  It’s funny that the Bible talks about this type of fear as being from Satan, because who else but the devil himself would not want to see your soul saved? Afterall, as long as you are blind to the truth and refuse to open your eyes to at least looking for the truth, you belong to him.  And I’m not talking about church or religion. I’m taking about the God of the Bible and the sacrifice He made for You, for me, for each and every one of us, so that we may be set free from the eternal pit of fire simply by acknowledging Him and receiving His salvation.

I love you too much not to at least ask you to open your eyes and look for yourself.  You’ve looked at other religions; the New World Religion of inner power and secrets, the Occult with its Tarots, horoscopes and spells, you claim you want peace, order, prosperity and harmony in your life… so why not at least look at what Jesus Christ has to offer?  What are you really afraid of? I’m not asking you to go out and preach the Gospel or scream it from the rooftops; no one even has to know…no one knows you are reading this right now and no one has to know that you’ve decided to at least consider that this may be the answer.  But whatever you do, I implore you, I plead with you as someone who cares about you, to open your eyes and at least look for yourself.

If you have any questions or wish to talk about it, my door is always open to you. You can leave a comment on this post or if you’d prefer to keep it private, give me a call but whatever you do, do something! We never know how much time we have in this life, please don’t wait until it’s too late – for your sake, for your kids sake.

Wishing you much Peace xo )

Sally aka @IAmZelda

P.S.: And as for calling me those names, I forgive you.

Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace;
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.
Oh Divine Master,
grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood, as to understand;
to be loved, as to love;
for it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Amen

Saint Francis of Assisi