Trusting God…
When you don’t feel like it
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Hi Friends,
I got the call from my boss telling me that the summer teaching schedule I’ve had for the last 7-8 years wasn’t going to work this coming summer.
She quickly outlined that I was going to have to work all summer, instead of just half the summer, and teach an extra class that I wasn’t expecting.
I was not happy.
On top of that, I realized the next day that our school’s entire summer schedule had changed, so that I would only have three holidays off with my sons all summer long. Since I’m faculty, taking a week or two off while I’m teaching isn’t a great option.
As I was processing all the frustration and anger, I saw the lock screen on my phone. The one I had downloaded the week before from Dwell for my monthly memory verse.
”The Lord goes before you and will be with you. He will never leave you or forsake you. Do not be afraid, do not be discouraged.” Deut. 31:8
I chuckled to myself and prayed, “God, you’re funny.”
Then I whispered the promise found in that verse to myself as I went for a walk and took deep breaths to calm myself down.
Throughout the week, God reminded me through music, devotionals, and podcasts that he was in charge and in control. He calmed my heart and reminded me of what is true.
As of this writing, the situation isn’t resolved, and I’m still not sure what my options are, but I’m choosing to trust God with the outcome. I’m choosing daily (sometimes hourly) to not stress out or stay upset, but to trust God and look to him for possible solutions.
This outlook would not have been easy had I not already been abiding in him, practicing simple spiritual disciplines. Yes, I’m sure God could have calmed me in other ways, he is God–Lord of Heaven’s Armies–after all. However, the simple spiritual disciplines I already set in place during the good, predictable times have helped me focus on him and given him greater access to my heart and mind.
Abide ideas like:
Memorizing one verse a month and posting it where I can see it throughout my day
Attending my Heartfelt Small group at church
Texting friends to pray
Listening to Christian Music
Listening to podcasts
Reading the Bible daily
Attending church on Sunday
Choosing godly friends and mentors who point me to Jesus
Constant prayer
God spoke into my situation through all of these in the past week.
You might be thinking, “I can’t do all of those!” Or “I’m not able to abide in Jesus in that many ways!” Or “Where did you find the time?”
These didn’t all happen at once. They were layered day by day, year by year, as I’ve sought to abide in Jesus and sit in his presence. I built a lasting relationship with him.
Let me give you a rough timeline:
Childhood
Attending Church on Sunday
Listening to Christian music
Pre-teen/Teen
Memorizing verses (sometimes–not regularly)
Reading the Bible Daily
College Years
Constant prayer
Choosing godly friends and mentors who point me to Jesus
20’s (Young adult)
Attending small groups at church
30’s
Memorizing verses regularly with kids
Late 30’s, early 40s
Texting friends to pray
Listening to podcasts
These and other ways to abide have developed over time, layer by layer.
If you would like to learn how to spend time with God by abiding in him daily, take the 5 Day Abide challenge. It will give you 5 days of different Abide ideas to help you get started. Or if you’ve completed the challenge and want more ideas, consider picking up a copy of my book Abide: 40 Ways to Focus on Jesus Daily. All 40 likely will not work for you in every season, but hopefully, you’ll find a few to get started or to add to those you’re already doing.
That way, when storms hit or unexpected decisions come, you’ll already be abiding in Jesus and be firmly rooted in a relationship with him.
Want to invite friends to join you? Send them here to get signed up!
Podcast+
“A Prayer for Wise Friends” - I cannot overemphasize the importance and value of wise friends as you and your children learn to trust God. They are vital to you staying connected when you’d rather walk away. In this podcast episode on the Everyday Prayers podcast, I share a prayer you can pray for you and your children.
“A Prayer to Share Our God Stories” - When we open up and share our stories, we are able to encourage and instruct those who are a little further behind us on the path. We leave reminders for ourselves in times of trouble that say, “God was faithful here, and he will be faithful again. On this Everyday Prayers podcast episode, I share what one friend’s God Story meant to me.
“Surprise! You’re Pulled Over for Speeding in a School Zone” - Yes, you read that right. This story took place many years ago, but I didn’t know what grace felt like until that morning when I experienced it with skin on. This month I was a guest on Twila Franz’s blog series “Begin Within: A Gratitude Series” and shared the full story. Find it here!
Tara’s Treasures
Instagram - Lately, I’ve started sharing pictures of what abiding looks like in the middle of a crazy, busy life. If you’re unsure of where to start, you might check out my Instagram channel for ideas.
Dwell Differently - I’ve been subscribed to them for about two years. Every month, they send a memory verse with a keychain, temporary tattoo or sticker, and graphics for your devices. I love that I don’t have to think about what we’re going to memorize each month, and I have tools I need delivered to me each month. They also have a podcast where they do a deep dive into the monthly verse.
Let’s Pray…
Father, thank you so much that we can come to you and sit in your presence moment by moment. Thank you for your promise to never leave us or forsake us. No matter what we’re going through right now, good, bad, or in the middle, help us to look to you and trust you with the outcome. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Grace and Peace,
Tara L. Cole
The layered timeline showing how spiritual habits developed over decades is really helpfull. Most people expect instant results but this shows the compound effect of consistent pratice. That lock screen timing with the Deut verse is wild, those moments when Scripture meets real life stress are powerful reminders.