Finding Faith in the Mess
Being a mom is the greatest gift. It can also be the most difficult task you’ve ever faced. From joy to frustration, excitement to panic, pride to worry, motherhood brings so many emotions. I watched some mama’s send their kids off to a weekend away. …
Ever been in a funk? Everything in life is fine. You are chugging along nicely. Kids are doing well. Family is in good standings. Your job is moving in the right direction. But, something doesn’t feel right. You can’t pinpoint exactly what is going on. …
Have you ever questioned whether you were on the right path? Do you wish God would come down, sit next to you, and tell you your life plan? You have your map all laid out and then the road starts to curve. Better yet, there’s a fork in the road and you don’t know which way to choose. As Christians, we question if we are charging ahead on the right road. We wonder what God’s will is for our lives. We want to know the game plan and He only gives us one play. How do we know we are in God’s will? It isn’t as hard as we make it. We may not have the top ten next steps for our lives. But, we do have a game plan. Here are some ways I keep myself in check and know I am walking in His will and purpose for my life. I hope it is helpful to you.
Love & Blessings,
Meg
I have faced many “no’s” along the way. So often, those “no’s” hurt. I didn’t understand. I couldn’t see past the disappointment. I was blind to the future and what was waiting for me on the other side of that no. I felt like a …
This has been a rough week. Every day seems to have it’s own overwhelming struggles. Have you ever had a week like that. It all seems a little too “lifey.” It’s one of those weeks where you wish you could be a toddler again and …
Oh, 2018.
I could write an entire blog post just about the bad things that have happened this year. Floods. Illness. Death. It seems especially difficult on the back side. But, there is a part of me that wants to hold onto you for a bit. There is something about taking you all in, 2018; even the tough stuff.
There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace. Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
Every year matters. Every day. Every moment. They matter. If I wish them all away, then I am saying they don’t matter. And if I say they don’t matter, than ultimately, I am saying God doesn’t matter.
A few hours after we told the boys about our dog, he couldn’t sleep. My eldest came down and asked me to pray for him. He had some questions first.
Why do bad things happen to good people?
Is it okay to question if God is real?
What if I don’t feel Him?
Tough stuff. But, such GOOD stuff. We talked through his questions and then we prayed. When I was done, he asked me if he could pray and add onto what I had said. Of course I told him yes! He let God know that he didn’t really think He was real for a moment. But, this trial, the pain of losing his dog, led him to press into his faith a little more feeling God’s presence in the pressing.
This right here is why I can’t wish away 2018.
I can’t always answer the “why’s”. I honestly don’t think we are always supposed to know why. What I can do is look for the nudges. Every time we have received or experience some terrible no good news in a terrible no good situation, God has met me there. Every time.
When my dad had a stroke earlier this year, I prayed on the way to the ER letting God know He was going to have to show up for me. I told Him I wasn’t going to be able to do this if He didn’t show Himself to me. And you know what? He showed up. He showed up in a peace that I could not explain. He showed up in sweet time with my sister where we could just be together with no agenda. He showed up in my husband jumping in and doing what needed to be done so I could be there for my dad. He showed up.
God showed up when Charlotte started struggling. She waited for us to get home so that our friends who were watching the boys while we were away did not have to deal with such a horrible situation. He kept the boys asleep so they didn’t have to see the horror of their dog suffering. He let the situation to be quick and not drawn out.
He gave me friends who have loved on us deep and wide and big. He gave me a big huge bright blue sky and a beautiful day to enjoy. He gave me time away with my husband and rest.
Without the bad, there wouldn’t be any of the good.
I don’t want to wish 2018 away. I don’t want to wish any of it away. My life wouldn’t be as full and rich with a piece of it missing. The good sustains me. The bad helps me see and appreciate the good. It helps me realize my need for Him.
As 2019 nears, don’t wish 2018 away. Relish in all its messy beauty. That’s the thing about life, faith, and their messy mingling. It’s complex. Disheveled. Scruffy. Tousled. Tangled. Beautiful. It’s all necessary. Every moment. Every breath. All of it.
Rest in the story. Let it press into your soul even when it stings. Because that pressing leads to the glorious.
Love & Blessings,
Meg
“For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.” 1 John 5:4 Are you living from a place of victory or victimization? When someone or something wrongs you, where do you stand? Where do you …
I don’t know about you, but I do not like empty space. I am a filler. Hand me an empty calendar, and I will write in all the things for all the days with color-coded pens. Give an empty schedule and I will fill that …
Have you heard???
The Messy Mingling is now a PODCAST!!!
I have NO idea what I am doing, but I took the leap of faith anyway.
Y’all know I go live on Facebook and Instagram every Wednesday at 12pm central. Well, that time slot and that forum doesn’t work for everyone. So, I listened to you, dear community, and decided to record those session and put them out into the podcasting universe.
For now, the podcast will sound a lot like our live chats. Who knows what the future holds. I am excited to take you on this new journey with me!
Happy Listening!
Meg
You can listen to the podcast on the following platforms…
The Messy Mingling on Google Podcasts
The Messy Mingling on Stitcher
