October 21, 2014
by autumn macarthur
Comments Off on On Hope, Expectations, and Trusting God
Guest blog today at International Christian Fiction Writers -on hope, expectations, and trusting God.
But those who trust in the LORD
will receive new strength
They will fly as high as eagles
They will run and not get tired
They will walk and not grow weak
Isaiah 40:31 (NIRV)
September 24, 2014
by autumn macarthur
Comments Off on Hope
September 17, 2014
by autumn macarthur
Comments Off on On patience
You know what I’m being like with my life right now?
A little kid on a long car journey.
The first few miles are great because they’re going somewhere and it’s all new and different and exciting and there are things to see out the window.
Then the “Are we there yet?” whining starts and there’s still another 100 miles to go.
Until even the most loving parents are ready to scream.
They can try and show the child the route on the map, try to make them see where they are on the journey and how far there still is to go.
But the child, all she knows is that she isn’t there yet and she wants to be there, not here. Those lines on the map don’t mean much to her, she doesn’t have a grown up enough mind to imagine yet what the map means in road travelled and road still to go.
She still can’t understand why they aren’t there yet and why they have to stay strapped in their car seat and why they can’t stop and play at every pretty destination along the route. Only the parent knows where they are going and why and how long the trip will take and the reason the route is the way it is.
I’m that little girl.
God says, “Trust in Me. Trust that even if you don’t understand, I do. I’ve give you a road map. Travel my route, and you’ll get there faster.”
Thankfully, He never gets impatient when I ask Him for the hundredth time today, “Are we there yet?”
September 16, 2014
by autumn macarthur
Comments Off on Learning to trust God in testing times
Ooh boy! I’m being tested, and I’m flunking the test big time.
So many things aren’t going the way I’d like them to, the way I thought God promised me they’d go. I’m an instant gratification kinda gal. I want results and I want them now.
But in so many areas of my life, I’m not seeing results. Instead, I’m being told wait, wait.
First He whispers. He tells me to trust Him. He tells me to be still.
But I don’t want to be still. I want to be rushing around, pushing things, making it all happen.
I’m not so good at trusting someone else will do it for me, even God. I have do it all. I have to make it happen.
Then, he tells me louder.
I stop pushing, but I worry the whole time.
And things fall apart even more.
See, Lord, I was right. I do have to do it myself. Subtext- I can’t trust You. I can’t trust anyone.
I go back to pushing, push harder, break myself with exhaustion.
Things fall apart worse.
This time, He thunders.
Then He takes me in His arms and rocks me as I cry, a good Daddy comforting His rebellious daughter.
“I can’t do this Lord. I can’t,” I wail. “I need You to show me proof. Make it all better, now. Then I’ll trust You.”
He whispers again.
“You were never meant to try so hard, precious child.
Listen this time. Stop asking Me to prove it to you.
I want you to grow. I want you to grow in faith.
It will happen when you trust Me. Trust that I will give you what I’ve promised.
Be still and rest in Me.”
So I ask him to help me to stop fighting Him. I ask Him to give me faith. I ask Him to keep holding me.
And this much I can trust. He will.
September 6, 2014
by autumn macarthur
Comments Off on On waiting… and trusting
I’m not a patient person.
But it feels like on so many things in my life now, God is asking me to wait.
He keeps reminding me, He keeps his promises.
I just need to wait, and do what He gives me to do in the meantime.
Like the Psalmist says:
But as for me, I trust in You
Oh Lord, I say, You are my God.
My times are in Your hands.
I need to learn patience!
I’m more a rush into action person, jump first, think second. My old way would be to forget waiting, think I know better, to go it alone.
But He is God. My times truly are in His hands. All our times are. If I stick with His plan, the outcome is sure. Go it my way, who knows what might happen? The blessing and curve of free will is that we can mess up, and God can’t stop us.
I’ve messed up way too many times. I’ll try patience.
What is God asking you to trust Him on today?
