This past week I’ve experienced just about every emotion known to man. I faced fear, discouragement, sadness, happiness, glee, you name it. Why? I was facing some things regarding my son’s health that I’ve never experienced before. Some would just chop that up to, “young/new mom jitters.” I won’t downplay that, yet I think it was something more as well.
You see, there’s a verse that’s been on my heart for a while,
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. –2 Tim. 2:15
You might be wondering what does that have to do with your son and why is that relevant to me? I’m glad you asked. To know how it related to the test with my son, a revelation of what that verse means is necessary. Recount that this was a letter written by Paul to Timothy to encourage him in the faith, to be bold and follow the example that Paul lived (read chapter 1). After reading the groundwork as well as the entirety of the second chapter, we can understand what this verse is encouraging.
Paul admonished Timothy to let his diligence with attending truthfully to the Word of God to be acceptable in the sight of God. It wasn’t so others could praise him but so that others would see Christ in him and want to receive Him. Think about it. There’s only one audience that will make an eternal difference, and that is keeping an audience with the Lord. Let Him deem that what you say, do, and think is well pleasing and acceptable in His sight.
With that being said, the Lord called me out on some things. No, it wasn’t wrong for me to experience the range of emotions I did when my son was fighting the flu, but it would have been wrong to approach the fight from a place of defeat and no faith. I’m always telling others about the goodness of God but what do I do when the going gets tough? Do I stand on the Word of God (aka, showing myself approved unto Him by believing and acting on what I tell others) or do I cower and faint?
What about you? What do you do in seemingly impossible situations? You claim faith and to have knowledge of the holy, but the test is the application of what we claim to believe. Remember y’all, faith without works is dead. Mamas, I know it’s tough, but we have the blessed opportunity to show our kids what a life of faith looks like by embracing the Word of God and applying it to every part of our lives.
Yes, even the parts that our instincts and protectiveness find so hard to surrender. We don’t have to perform or fake the funk. Be genuine to the Lord, open about your feelings, while reminding yourself that faith trumps feelings. Link up with like believers and, of course, Holy Spirit so you won’t have to feel like you’re doing this alone. And when you think the intensity of your test almost overwhelming you, ask is my faith alive?
Love,
