Believe Again

Posted on by goldenlifemusings

Ever notice the longer you live, the less you dream?

You would think that someone who has lived long enough to witness miracles, experience God’s unexpected provision, and see Him make a way out of seemingly no way would believe bigger with every passing year.

But sometimes, the opposite happens.

Life happens. Disappointments pile up. Prayers seem to go unanswered. Doors we were certain would open remain firmly shut. Dreams we once talked about with excitement slowly become things we rarely mention at all.

And somewhere along the way, we stop expecting.

Admittedly, I’ve started to let my faith slip. Somehow, I’ve managed to focus more on unwise decisions, closed doors, unmet goals, and unfulfilled dreams, and I’ve let those things have the final say subconsciously. Like many others, fellow Christians included, I’ve allowed what I see to overshadow what I believe.

But here’s what I’m remembering: what I see right now is not the whole story.

I serve a “suddenly” type of God. A God who is on His own time. A merciful, gracious God who loves to provide generously for His children. And I am indeed a child of God!

Maybe the dream hasn’t happened yet. Maybe the prayer hasn’t been answered the way I hoped. Maybe the door I’ve been standing in front of hasn’t opened. But not yet doesn’t have to mean never.

And disappointment doesn’t get to have the final say.

This is why it’s so important to hide the Word of God in our hearts. The Bible is full of reminders of God’s goodness and the power of our belief and trust in the One who is most faithful.

My faith was highest when I meditated on Psalm 27:13-14 and had it on my tongue every day:

Somewhere along the way, I stopped saying it as much. Maybe I stopped expecting it as much, too.

So, I’m getting back to that.

I’m believing again in those dreams and desires I placed on the shelf. I’m believing again in myself. I’m believing again in possibilities that life convinced me were no longer possible. And most importantly, I’m believing again in the God who said He has good plans for me,  and trusting that those plans are still intact.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”
Jeremiah 29:11

Believing again doesn’t mean I know how everything will work out. It doesn’t mean every dream will unfold exactly as I imagined it. It simply means I refuse to let what hasn’t happened yet rob me of hope for what still can.

There are still dreams worth dreaming.
There are still prayers worth praying.
There are still things worth believing God for.

And maybe there are a few dreams sitting on your shelf, too.

Dust them off.

It’s not too late to believe again.

For more golden life ventures, visit www.goldenlifeventures.com.

How to Lose Well

Posted on by goldenlifemusings

Nothing lasts forever. All (good) things come to an end. The only thing constant in this world is change. These are common phrases we’ve all heard that attempt to explain the transient nature of this earthly life. These statements are all true, but they don’t always provide comfort.

Whether it’s the loss of someone’s spirit and personality due to a debilitating illness, a shift in circumstances, a failed relationship, or death, loss hurts. And many times what makes it hurt more are the feelings that remain. 

As I took time to be still and process the homegoing of a loved one this week, I pondered…what do we do with the hope, love, and faith that previously filled us up when we experience loss? Where do we place the hope that our loved one who battled an illness would recover? How do we carry the love that remains after the object of that love passes on? What happens with the faith in one more tomorrow when tomorrow ceases to exist?

As Christians, if we are suffering from the loss of a loved one to death, we are supposed to find comfort in the fact that our loved one is in a better place. We are to find solace in that they are no longer suffering and are resting in the loving arms of our Father. It sounds good and we believe that to be true. But, the reality is our hearts still hurt from the absence of their physical presence.

The Bible tells us in Psalm 147 verse 3, “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” That means we can bring our pain to our loving Father, trusting Him to heal us when we experience loss. That doesn’t mean we won’t feel sorrow for a time – after all, Jesus wept too, even though He knew about the miracle He would perform that would shortly bring joy to the brokenhearted.

The Word also tells us in 2 Corinthians 1:3,4 “God is our merciful father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others.” This verse answers, “What do we do with the hope, love, and faith that previously filled us up when we experience loss?” We pass it on to those who need it.

How do we lose well? We pay forward our hope, love, and faith to someone who needs it. And there is ALWAYS someone who needs it. 

I love the sovereignty of God. We may not understand His timing or every move He makes, but we can trust His ultimate plans for our good. 

If you’re uncertain about how to pay the hope, faith, and love forward, be sure to ask. Another promise found in Matthew 7:7-8 is “Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.”

For more golden life ventures visit www.goldenlifeventures.com.