trusting god Archives - Page 6 of 7 - Daily Thoughts about God

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.” Matthew 7:7-8

There was a time not so long ago when I let the doors that slammed shut in my face slam my self-esteem with crushing blows. I had not learned yet that closed doors were simply part of God directing my paths.

I had not learned yet that closed doors were an integral part of God’s design to lead me to the plans He has for me. It was God’s way of saying, “No, don’t go there. That’s not part of my plan for you. No, don’t go there either, it’s not time yet.” I eventually learned when God put a stop in my path that He was sometimes doing it to say, “No, don’t go there, I am preparing you for something else.”

The Lord reminded me to trust Him and to keep asking, keep seeking, keep knocking. He promised me a time will come when a door will be opened, and then I will understand why He had to close a few other doors before opening the very special door He had prepared for me. My heavenly Father reminded me over and over that I must completely, wholly trust Him. He repeatedly reminded me—because I was guilty of being a slow learner—but I did gradually learn this important truth He was teaching me.

He also reminded me to look beyond the closed doors, beyond the circumstances that confused me, and look ahead and know that what lies ahead was appointed for His purpose to be accomplished in His perfect time.

When we believe that God has a plan for our lives, it is easier to understand the doors He closes for reasons we may never be made aware of and watch for the open doors He has waiting for us as we continue to live our lives fully surrendered to His ways.

There comes a day when we are glad for the doors God has closed, and He shows us once again how perfectly He orders our steps to fulfill the plans He’s made for the open doors.

Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

By Kathy Cheek
Used by Permission

Devotions from the Heart
www.kathycheek.com

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“But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence. They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit” Jeremiah 17.7-8

I’m right smack dab in the middle of fundraising so I can travel the world and share the love of Jesus with women from all different walks of life and empower them with the gospel.

It has been one of the hardest and most rewarding seasons of my life!

I have never felt more like I’m on a roller coaster ride than now (and that’s saying something since we had four teenagers!). One day I’m UP because I have had a friend I haven’t seen in a long time commit to partnering with me and the next I’m DOWN in the dumps because another friend who I’ve poured my life into has opted out. One minute, I’ve experienced God throwing open wide the doors and the next minute it seems like they’re all closed.

Sometimes, I feel like I’m just going AROUND and AROUND– trying to set up appointments and rescheduling cancellations. UP and DOWN, AROUND and AROUND, never knowing what might happen next. I’ve seen huge answers to prayer and then experienced the silence of God. I have wrestled with disappointment and been amazed by His works! It’s exciting and yet completely terrifying!

But in the middle of it all, I can feel God deepening my faith like never before. I can feel my roots growing deep into the water, finding life and love and joy! I’m discovering He is ALL I need. I find my heart rejoicing in the middle of my struggle. Words like fortitude, tenaciousness and strength have become my prayer as I ask God to do His work in me. I feel Him preparing me for what is to come. Chiseling me into His masterpiece. I’m realizing I need Him like I need air to breathe. I’m learning what it means to place my complete trust in God and I want Him to be my hope and confidence! He is who I look to, He is who I depend on and He is where I put my hope – a hope that, Paul says in Romans, DOESN’T DISAPPOINT! (Romans 5.5 NLT)

I want to be this tree, Jeremiah speaks of . . . to be planted by the river of LIFE, so my roots will grow down deep into the water. I long to be healthy and fruit producing regardless of my roller coaster journey.

This is what I want!

So when someone sees my life, they don’t say, “Wow, look at Kristi.” They say, “Wow, look at her God and what He can do with a life!”

By Kristi Huseby
Used by Permission