Tag: peace

encouragement, inspiration

Finding My Faith By Tammy Nicole Glover

by balm4thesoulLeave a Comment on Finding My Faith By Tammy Nicole Glover

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1 KJV

I know it has been a while since I last posted something. The end of last year and continuing into this year has been quite the roller coaster. I’ve had to face the death of a sister and sister-in-law, caring for an elderly parent alone and relationship issues, personally and professionally. Not to mention adjusting to life during a full blown pandemic. I admit I have been tremendously overwhelmed trying to juggle everything while keeping the façade of being completely in control and calm. If you would have asked me how I’m doing, I would have convincingly told you, I’m fine but all the while I would be in full panic mode because I know at any point one of the balls I’m juggling is going to drop and shatter into a million pieces that can never be put back together again. And one of those balls could very well be my sanity. I found myself angry, depressed and asking God why was He allowing these things to happen to me. Couldn’t He see me drowning out here? Does He love?

It says in Hebrews 11:1 that “faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” I realized that I was no longer hoping and I wasn’t alone. It seemed like a lot of people around me were no longer hoping either. We were all scared and instead of sitting on the edge of our seats for something amazing to happen, we were bracing ourselves for the next storm. We were losing our faith.

Faith isn’t ignoring or wishing our problems away. It’s not even faking it until we make it. It’s saying, “yes, I see the problem. I see the mountain. It’s scary and painful but God is bigger and I’m going to trust Him to get me through this. It’s probably not going to happen the way I want it to or even when I want it to.”

Faith takes patience and courage but more importantly, it takes humility. I had to admit I wasn’t in control. I was overwhelmed, scared and yes, even angry. I realized that God did see me drowning and His hand was there but I had to let my pride drop and shatter into a million pieces, in order to grab hold of His hand.

Sometimes, I look back at the water below and see sharks swimming towards me because it doesn’t feel like He’s lifting me out fast enough. I may be tempted to let go and figure out a way to get away faster but I have to lift my head back up towards Him. It has taken continual prayer from friends, family and myself to stay in faith. It has also taken spending time alone with God and reading His Word in order to even distinguish His voice from my fears. It has been a difficult and unending journey.

I know I’m not the only one on this journey. We all have moments where our faith may waver. Please feel free to share how you stay in faith. I’m praying for you.

“But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” Hebrews 11:6 KJV

encouragement, Uncategorized

Questions That Can’t Be Asked: A Prayer By Tammy Nicole Glover

by balm4thesoul1 Comment on Questions That Can’t Be Asked: A Prayer By Tammy Nicole Glover

Heavenly Father,

I thank You for Your mercy and patience with me. As I sit beside my sister’s hospital bed, watching her fight for her life, I have questions but I can’t ask them. I know that You are able, faithful and good. You are a miracle worker and a way maker but I still have questions that I can’t ask. I know Your Word. I know the elements of faith but in this situation I have questions that I can’t ask.

If You, My Almighty God, would indulge me and allow me to ask, I would of course ask why. My sister gets up at 4:30 a.m. everyday to spend time praising You, praying for others and studying Your Word. I’m ashamed to say but sometimes I get annoyed by how loud she gets when she’s praising You. If this can happen to her, what am I in for? I would ask when is your miracle going to kick in. I would ask, why is it that even though I know how to pray confidently in Your Word, in this situation, sitting beside this hospital bed, my words stumble out or don’t come out at all. I got serious questions, Lord, but I can’t ask them.

I’m supposed to write this blog to encourage others who have questions that they don’t dare ask. I feel like I’m failing in this assignment. Lord, Your people, Your sons and daughters, Your beloved ones have questions that we can’t ask. All we know is that we look to You, the Most High, the Lord Almighty, for strength, comfort and wisdom. We seek Your voice, waiting to hear, “peace, be still,” in our storms.

Thank you, Lord, for hearing and answering our prayers.

“I call on the Lord in my distress, and he answers me.” Psalm 120:1 NIV

 

 

encouragement, Uncategorized

When It Hurts to Walk in Love By Tammy Nicole Glover

by balm4thesoul1 Comment on When It Hurts to Walk in Love By Tammy Nicole Glover

“Do everything in love.” 1 Corinthians 16:14 NIV

Love is a vital part of being a Christian. Walking in love is one of those things we’re taught a lot about in church. Jesus commanded us to love our neighbors as we love ourselves. We are also commanded to do everything in love.  We forgive because God forgives us. Why, because He loves us. We give because God gives. Why, because He loves us. We have compassion for others because God has compassion for us. Why, because He loves us. Love is the currency with which everything works in the Kingdom of God. Walking in love seems like such a simple thing yet it is the most difficult things to do when we’ve been hurt. Our spirit wants to bless them and embrace them with love but our flesh wants so badly to retaliate and make the other person feel as much pain, if not more, as they have caused us.  We are constantly in a battle between our spirit and our flesh. It’s a painful battle.

We may start out walking in love with ease but as the betrayals, insults or lies increase, the more difficult our walk becomes. We may even be forced to see the person that hurt us everyday. They may constantly talk about or undermine us and hurts so much that we may want to just give up, even on God. We may think, if we could just let them have it one good time all our problems would be solved. But we don’t because it would probably get us fired or arrested. Frustration builds up and it can even become physically painful. So what should we do when it hurts to walk in love? I have five tips to share with you.

  1. Pray immediately: Prayer isn’t just asking God for things, it’s having a conversation with Him. We may be tempted to talk to our friends and that’s not necessarily bad but sometimes we go to the friend that will fire us up to respond in a way that will get us into trouble. When we pray to God we can receive the help we need to forgive, wisdom to deal with the situation and peace.
  2. Study and meditate on the Word of God: Whatever is in our hearts flows out into our lives. If we haven’t read about the love of God, that love won’t come out. We learn how to act and think by learning what God says about it, which is found in His Word. Yes, it’s great to go to church and watch ministers on TV but we need to read the Word of God for ourselves. The Word of God is our weapon against the attacks of the enemy. If we don’t study it, we have no real weapons in our arsenal.
  3. Don’t dwell on the past: Have you ever forgiven someone but find yourself later thinking about how they hurt you? You find yourself telling them off in a conversation that has only taken place in your imagination. Just me? Well, if that does happen to you, cut those thoughts off with something positive. Remind yourself that you have forgiven them and pray that they be blessed with the knowledge of God’s love for them. This requires us to pay attention to our thoughts.
  4. Surrender: This really goes along with prayer. 1 Peter 5:7 NIV says, “cast all your care on Him because He cares for you.” God doesn’t want you to carry the burden of anger and bitterness. Sometimes the only way a situation can be turned around is by God. It takes longer for Him to resolve an issue when we keep jumping in to fix it ourselves. We have to acknowledge that we don’t know what we’re doing and let Him take over.
  5. Forgive as soon as possible: In Ephesians 4:25 NIV it says, “do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.” The longer we hold on to our anger, the more it grows. Eventually, it will consume us mentally and physically until it takes us out completely.

You’re probably thinking, this is a lot of work. Of course it is, nothing worth having is easy. Our peace is a precious commodity and worth more than anything on earth, so guard it well. Remember God loves you. He hears the cry of His people and He is willing and able to move on our behalf. Forgiveness is hard but God would not have commanded it if He had not placed inside of us the ability to do so. He is our strength when we are weak and He is inside of us.

“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” Psalm 34:18 NIV

encouragement, Uncategorized

Count It All Joy

by balm4thesoulLeave a Comment on Count It All Joy

Thank You, Lord, that even in the midst of our trials, we can have joy because we know that we have an Almighty God beside us. You give us peace that surpasses all understanding because we know that in our weakness, You are our strength.

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds.” James 1:2 NIV

encouragement, Uncategorized

WHAT DID I FORGET? By Tammy Nicole Glover

by balm4thesoulLeave a Comment on WHAT DID I FORGET? By Tammy Nicole Glover

I’ve done all that I can do. I’ve prayed, I’ve fasted, I’ve immersed myself in the Word of God but still nothing has changed. It actually feels as if things have gotten worse. I’m afraid this is too much for me to bear. I don’t know what else to do. What am I forgetting?

Yes, I remember. I forgot to give the Lord Almighty praise. I’ve been so caught up in my problems that I forgot that God has been carrying me all along. When I didn’t know how I would make it out of the bed and carry on, it was God that gave me the strength. When I didn’t think I would ever stop crying, it was God who comforted me. When I was so afraid that I couldn’t think clearly, it was God who guided me.

Lord, You are the source of my strength, comfort and wisdom. I will trust You and praise You. Thank You for seeing me through every situation I face. Thank You for the encouragement to continue to press ahead. Thank You for loving me and providing for all my needs. Nothing is too hard for You and nothing is greater than You. This battle has already been won. All I have to do now is to thank You for the victory.

“Why my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him my Savior and my God.” Psalm 42:11 NIV