What's the Difference?

I have been struggling with a very strong thought in my head. There is this picture I have outlined in my head of a brand new and beautiful relationship.

We all know that in the beginning of these kinds of relationships, everything seems like it is the best thing ever and nothing can stop the love flowing between the two people. A few months later, this shift in the atmosphere hits and the two lovebirds are not as close as they were in the beginning. You hear things like "I trust you but you are testing my trust", or "I trusted you and you hurt me". Even in friendships, we see people hurt and torn apart because "trust" was broken. Is this pain really necessary to keep carrying around or allowing to continue happening?
My thought is this (and it may be strange):
What if we are NOT supposed to trust each other? What if God designed us to have faith in one another?

Like we see a chair, we know we can sit in that chair and not fall to the ground. We can see that this chair has 4 legs and looks pretty sturdy. We have faith that the chair will hold us when we sit down. The chair could be faulty, yet we take a risk anyways. Well, what about humans? We see each other. We know a thousand percent that we all have faults and flaws. Is it fair to say "I trust you" in knowing that the faults and flaws of that person can hinder the results of that trust continuing to hold strong?

Trust requires every fiber in our being to rely on the thing in which we place our trust. God is perfect. He will not fail us. I think it's a safe bet to say that I can put my trust in God and know I will not be disappointed. This does not mean that God will answer my prayers according to my means or my timing. So what may seem like trust is broken when God does not come to my calling according to how I THINK things should be handled, does not mean He has failed me. I am stronger (you are stronger) because when we fully put our trust in God, we can rest assured that HE is either working behind the scenes or working ahead of us for our benefit.

Why put our full being into a faulty person who WILL, not MIGHT, let us down?

With faith, there is that room for growth. We can have faith as small as a mustard seed and still move mountains (Matthew 17:20). With this thinking, we can know that the faults in the chair that we hope will support us, or the character flaws in the person we devote ourselves too, or the best friend that will say harmful things will sustain us in those times.

IT IS NOT THE REJECTION THAT HURTS, IT IS THE EXPECTATIONS.

In Psalm chapter 1, it says "...His delight is in the law of the LORD and on HIs law he meditates day and night..." A few months ago, my Daddy sat down with us kids and talked to us about this verse in Psalms in relation to trust/faith. The word 'Delight' is used in reference to the Psalmists entire being processing and hoping and devoting himself to the words of God. This is TRUST. You do not heavily meditate and study something you do not trust is accurate or reliable.

If we are trusting people, 1) we will be disappointed, and 2) we are pulling the power from God in our relationship with Him and focusing our attention on a human who will be born, live, and die. These people around us cannot give us the support, and love that we need and are searching for, but God CAN and SHOULD be demonstrated in our relationships/friendships with people.

With this thinking, I go back again to my original thought: Does this mean we are not to trust people but to trust God and to have faith in people?

I know that for me, I will keep praying and studying on this topic because too many times I allow my expectations and trust of people to hurt me and hinder my growth.

Rest in this: you will never regret fully placing your trust in God.

Much Love,

Stevie Rae

Suffering to Victory

The hardest experiences that a person can endure involve suffering. There is a difference between pain and suffering. We remember pain, but we live suffering. The anguish of soul, mind, and body is the embodiment of suffering.

Interesting way for me to start this post out right? You could be thinking "Stevie, that's a bit depressing".

I have a point to make though. It is so easy to mentally check out, physically cancel pain, and turn life. I want to be vulnerable in this post because I have reached the point of apathy and numbness when it comes to many situations in my life....and that causes a hardness of heart and a dullness of senses.

I am not going to sit here and list everything I think is unfair or wrong in my life, but I will say that I thank God that He is JUST and not FAIR. He doesn't treat me according to how I deserve and if I received half of what I thought I wanted from Him, my life would be a mess.

I hurt inside. I hurt physically, emotionally, spiritually, and emotionally. And if you will be honest, you will say you are too. Not one human being is exempt from the pain and suffering of this world. Once again (as I have stated in a previous post) "Your Focus Creates Your Feeling". I am still stuck on that.

I have chosen to numb myself to most of my past situations or emotions, and I find it hard to be sensitized to my current ones, and even to those around me!! The thing is, there is release inside of us when we pay attention the hearts and the minds of those around us and extend a hand or word to lift them up.

God is our ultimate Peace, and when we seek Him, we will find Him when we seek Him with all of our hearts...

When you are suffering, what do you do? It is so easy to say "let it go, just surrender and you'll be fine". Those words are not always the most comforting to hear though. When in the middle of your suffering, it is hard to find answers, it is hard to find healthy ways of escape, it is hard to cope. I want you to know that God desires for us to not be in bondage or pain, but to feel light, love, and security.

I find unhealthy ways of my escaping is to cut the people closes in my life out completely, and to retreat in solitude. We need a support system, though not everyone needs to know our business. I am aware that it is hard and sometimes very nerve wracking to find that "one" particular person to open up to, but pray about God leading someone into your life that can keep you accountable through your pain and suffering. Use discernment with the people you speak with and do not divulge to much information to everyone around you.

Healing takes time. It is a choice, and wholeness of mind, body, and soul comes from God. He is our healing in our bones, our rest when we are weary, and our comfort in the darkest of times. I do not know if you are going through a tough season in your life right now, but I want you to be reminded that you are not forgotten, and you can choose to come out stronger in the end, or let it crumble you.

Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight". When we focus on our problems and turn our senses inward instead of Christ working outward through us, we become victims of self pity.

 We were created in the image of God, and therefore are created to be overcomers and conquerors. The reason we as humans have a hard time being victorious over our circumstances is because we continuously like to talk about our pain with whomever will listen. We continue to relive our pain in our minds and create a "safe zone" that no one can penetrate or reach and we harden our hearts. I know I am guilty of this!! I hope/know I am not alone either.

There comes a point when we have to choose to move past our 'past' and work through and not around our hurts.

There is hope and light at the end of the tunnel and no matter where you are at in life, God always has His hand extended.

Much Love,

Stevie Rae