Doing the same thing will get you the same results
Depending on our goals and aspirations, the way we go about things may vary. The process we take in achieving where we want to go and what we want to do in life leads us to the results we ultimately have. Results may vary also. Some of us are ruled by anxiety; we allow overthinking and the enemy to take our minds captive. We feed our insecurities and long for others to nurture and actress them, all the while trying to achieve a particular goal that is particularly related to the particular anxiety we are facing. Others wrestle with melancholy and settle on the facts of what we’re going through; we rationalize and try to make it make sense, yet it sends us in cycles of hope and hopelessness. No matter how we deal with the circumstances of life, if we want better, if we want to see God’s better, we have to take time to ourselves and assess how we are going about the situation. Has what I’ve been doing helped thus far? If not, what has my focus been on? What are practical ways I can shift my response?
No matter what we are doing or what we believe we all have faith in something. Our faith—our trust— is evident in our actions. Believing in our hearts is fine, but whatever is in the heart flows outwardly. Faith is not something we have, it’s the life we do. It was not credited to Abraham as righteousness until he took the first steps away from his father’s house in obedience to the word of God. Trust makes a way for us to do things differently. Trust in the right source can lead to different results. Abraham could have thought God was truthful in his heart, but ultimately not trust Him by staying where he was. The results of our faith are the fruit of what we think is true in our hearts. What are the results of your faith? How have you trusted God in 2022? How have you distrusted Him? Doubt is not the enemy of faith—not once did Jesus condemn Thomas for not believing— sometimes the facts are our biggest enemy. Sometimes our minds, anxieties, stressors, and moving without the guidance of the Holy Spirit are our biggest deterrents.
My prayer for us today is that we would take intentional time to ourselves, in the face of our biggest fears and doubts, in our frustrations and anger. and for some, even in the face of loneliness itself and reevaluate how you have been trusting the Lord and ways you can mature that trust. Personally that’s involved confessing my feelings, thoughts, and most importantly, my sins to the Lord and to others who can hold me accountable. It looks like taking baby steps with God and journaling again. It looks like discerning constructive criticism from condescending critique. I pray this is the year our results change in our favor.
Until next time, continue to stay guided by grace,
Tra
Epilogue: This week you get a double header. I hope you enjoy both posts!
Guided by Grace 