I have a question for you – have you found yourself somewhere between where you once were and where your heart longs to be? I have and you may have too. Sometimes we feel stuck between a rock and a hard place, yet in-between times can also challenge us to act according to God’s word and grow.
How did you feel?
Unsettled
Discontent
Anxious
Irate
Flat out MAD
At God…or someone else?
Or were you content in the midst of the:
Mess
Move
Reconstruction
Disease
Diagnosis
Treatment
Semester
Job change
Job loss
Pregnancy
Barrenness
Fertility treatments
Adoption process
Your kiddo’s childhood
Your kiddo’s teenage years (yikes!)
Oh Lord! How long is this list? Endless…
Our varied situations are just that – unique to each one of us, yet so similar in the thoughts, feelings and actions produced in us.
Anxiety
Or calm acceptance
Anger and animosity
Or peace in His presence
Bitterness
Or recognizing His blessings and faithfulness
Backbiting
Or do we share words that soothe souls
I wonder if a list of A to Z is possible to produce here?
YES! Possibly more than one list actually, yet K, Y, X and Z were challenging words.
May I ask a question? Where have you settled in the midst of challenges? How about in life?
This is NOT settle as in, “OK, God, if that’s all I get, I’ll settle for it.”
This word settle is like a mother hen that settles into the task at hand – her God-given purpose. Mothering, protecting, covering, warming, feeding, and giving life to her little ones.
13 As for the rest of you, dear brothers and sisters, never get tired of doing good.
2 Thessalonians 3:13 (NLT)
Never tire of doing good. Thank You for the reminder from Your Word, Lord!
I wonder. Am I doing good and giving life to others? Are you?
Please tell me how, I want to know!
A little about Susan:
With over 2 million airline miles under her belt, an MBA hanging on the wall and 2 Christian Literary Awards on the shelf, Susan B Mead shares her expert teachings on business, grief and relationships. A master storyteller and award winning author, Susan leaves audiences motivated to live a life free of regrets even though she has done the hardest thing any parent can do – bury her youngest son, Kyle. Susan has been described as a solid, comforting voice in a messy world. Whether speaking to business professionals, women’s conferences, industry leaders or writer’s workshops, Susan’s insightful wisdom inspires audiences, empowering them to make healthy mental u-turns.
Connect with Susan on her website where she writes each Friday, on Facebook and Twitter where she posts scripture graphics and daily inspiration or on Amazon where her book, Dance With Jesus: From Grief to Grace, is available.
Never tired of doing good to others! Can’t agree more 🙂
Great list! Very encouraging to remember.
that left list is EXACTLY how i’m feeling this morning – in between i don’t even know what! Thanks for this worthy encouragement – i’ll go tend my chickens or nest or whatever you said about the hen right now and do good. God’s got it and I need to rest in that. amen. thanks for hosting.
So creative, Susan. 🙂 Nice way to make you think beyond the surface. (I had to look up knavish and xenial, so it was a language arts lesson as well. 😀 ) I hope I’m serving in a life-giving way. All of this is just chasing after the wind, if not. (And, sometimes I can definitely get caught up in this crazy-busy thing that is my life–and temporarily lose sight of what it’s all about–Who it’s all for.) xoxo
I love this list. I really do. Sometimes I wonder how it looks practically during those hard times. When it feels like things are spinning out of control or when fear is creeping up your neck threatening to strangle…how do we get to a place of settled when our circumstances don’t change? I want to be there and live in that place, but it feels so hard sometimes.
This is great Susan! Love the X words!! So often I find my most meaningful and close moments with Jesus are in the in-between times. It’s an overlooked time, but so much of life is spent in these moments. Great post! Love #DancingwithJesus and you!
Susan, how clever!! What a great list! Thanks for sharing! xo
Hey Susan,
I’m in one of those in-between times too. Thank you for the reminder that we can gracefully move through these frustrating stages in life, and still be settled ourselves, in the midst of the unsettled. I sure appreciate the encouragement, and thank you for hosting too!
What a wonderful list…convicting for sure…and so helpful to see them side-by-side like this. Our life of faith really does require intentional living, intentional seeking, choosing to behold the One who holds out these beautiful things you list each time our feelings pull us into the deceit in our hearts. Thank you for your encouragement, Susan.
What a helpful list to spark meditation on all that God wants us to be, and contrition over all that we miss when we don’t let Him help us. Thanks, Susan, for your thought and sharing.
Hi Susan, the in’between times can be so hard! I’ve been in a season of waiting for 11 years now and I have been a complete mess about it at times. I’ve been unsettled and discontent to say the least. Eventually the Lord had to deal with my heart regarding contentment, but it’s still a continual struggle.
Kudos to you on your k, x, y and z words. And I love the “settled/unsettled” list! Thank you for hosting and have a blessed week!