Get Out of the Way!

As I was taking a shower this morning and listening to my favorite Christian radio station (K-LOVE), God spoke quietly to my heart: "Crystal, I can work now. You got out of the way!"

I have been struggling with depression since losing my job recently, and have spent a lot of time sleeping. I didn't see how my husband and I were going to pay our bills without my added income. I also was not optimistic about finding a new job. However, the Lord challenged me yesterday to get up in the morning along with my husband, and to not get back in that bed during the day! It was difficult, and necessitated three cups of coffee, but God enabled me to succeed. I awoke this morning again with my husband, and I am just amazed at how much better I am feeling.

I'm not out of rough waters yet--it will take some time to establish a better routine. However, God has given me a more positive outlook. What did it take for things to begin to change? My letting go of bad habits. My obedience to the Lord, even though it was challenging. My getting out of the way, so that God could move and work!

A song was played on K-LOVE this morning that reiterated what God has been teaching me. It's called "In Better Hands," by Natalie Grant, and part of the lyrics are:

I am strong, all because of You. I stand in awe of every mountain that you move. I am changed, yesterday is gone. I am safe from this moment on. There's no fear when the night comes round. I'm in better hands now!

Contrary to what we may think and feel sometimes, God doesn't need our attempts to work situations out on our own. He often just wants us to trust and obey Him--and get out of the way so that He can move mountains for us!

Joy in the Journey

In my parents' garden

Today was a rough day. I started out by oversleeping, getting stuck in traffic on my way to work, and arriving at my little cubicle with a feeling of defeat. If this was how my day was beginning, who knew what the remainder of my shift would be like? Nevertheless, I asked God for help and settled into my routine.

It just kept getting worse. I had leftover work from the day before, more work given to me in the morning, and before I was able to make a dent in any of that, even more kept piling on top. I started feeling anxious. How was I going to get all of this done? Would I be able to complete each of my tasks with excellence? I worked right through to the mid-afternoon mark without stopping, but finally realized that I was so overwhelmed that I needed to take a break. I heated up my frozen meal and headed out to my car. Blasting the air conditioning and getting comfortable in my car seat, I was at long last able to relax a little. I said a prayer: God, I can't do this. Please help me! I'm trying my best, but I feel like that's not enough. Thank you that it IS enough for You, and help me to continue to work at it with all of my heart, in order to please You, and to not worry about what other people think. I called my husband--he told me to take a few deep breaths, and he read to me a devotion from Our Daily Bread. What an amazing husband I have! Even though his day wasn't going any better than mine, he took the time to encourage me. I texted my mom to ask for her prayers, gobbled down my food, and headed back inside.

The afternoon proved to go better than my morning. I focused on my work, knocked a good amount of it out, and even though I didn't get everything done, I felt like I could breathe again. As I walked out to my car that at the conclusion of the day, I thanked the Lord for--once again--carrying me through.

Our God is good! In the difficult times, He teaches us to rely on Him more fully. He shows His strength in our weakness. He displays His glory through our feeble attempts at obedience. And all the while, He shapes us more and more into the people that He wants us to be.

There is joy in the journey!