Last night I found this little snail on our sidewalk. I couldn’t help but kneel down and take a few pictures of him. How cute is he?! Jonathan said it looked just like the snail that he and Liam saw on a rock all the way on the other side of our condo the other day. My what a journey he has had! As I watched this little guy slowly make his way to his destination (the mulch next to our door), I was reminded of Philippians 3:13-14.

“No, dear brother and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead. I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.” - Philippians 3:13-14

Letting go of the past can be hard to do (sometimes it feels near impossible), but it is so important in order for us to step out into the amazing destiny God has for us. You cannot move forward into the new while simultaneously holding onto the old. It just isn’t possible.

In order for us to move forward into the new, amazing things that are in store for us, we must let go of the old. We cannot make progress if we are holding onto past hurts, things people have said or done to us, failures, or disappointments. We need to forget these things, and move forward, pressing on!

Sometimes I think it would be nice if we could literally wipe clean the memory of every hurtful thing that has ever been said or done to us. And maybe, even, to completely forget hurtful people who have been a part of our lives at one point or another. But so far, I haven’t found that to be the case. And maybe that is by design. After all, isn’t it the good and the bad that make up a compelling story or adventure? We would never have a victorious ending if there was never anything to overcome.

I’ve found that forgetting what is behind us is a continual process. It’s not just a one-time thing. Whenever those negative thoughts or feelings creep in, choose to cast them aside and focus on the truth of what God has said about you and the hopeful future He has for you.

Forgetting what is behind can also mean letting go of the “good ‘ole days.” I don’t think we should forget good times in our past, no, we should celebrate and be thankful for them! But if we continually live our lives longing for what used to be, then we will never experience the even better days that are in store for our future!

Just like the snail in front of our doorstep never would have made it there if he was fixated on his past (that rock on the other side of our condo), we will never make it to our amazing future if we are continually holding onto what is behind us.

So, friend, let’s let go and move on! **Cue “Let It Go” from Disney’s Frozen**  Even better days are ahead of you.  

One thing that God has been teaching me lately is to fully realize that He loves me for me, not for what I do for Him. Too often I have attached my worth to my accomplishments or to how much I was pouring out and helping other people. But during the past few months especially, I have been learning what it means to just abide. To rest. To be. And to know that God loves me just as much when I’m not able to do much, as he does when I am working myself to the bone.

This is something I’m still in the process of learning. It is something that I still struggle with at times for sure. But this realization is truly transforming me in ways I never knew possible. What I do doesn’t define me.

I’ve been on modified bed rest off and on (mostly on) for a while now. This pregnancy has been so different, and has challenged my way of thinking in many ways. There have been many days when I haven’t been able to take my son, Liam, to the park to play. Or days when I haven’t even been able to make dinner. Or do the dishes. And many times I have been overwrought with guilt and felt like I was less of a mom and wife because I was falling short in these areas.

Then this morning, when I was wrestling with some of these same thoughts, I read this…

“So then, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you may do, do all for the honor and glory of God.” – 1 Corinthians 10:31

Doing all things for the glory of God isn’t just referring to the seemingly “important” or “sacred” things. It may simply mean resting, or eating your lunch with your toddler, or giving yourself enough grace to just be you without all the crazy expectations from other people or yourself.

Your striving for significance and acceptance is only doing more harm than good. You do not need to earn God’s approval or love. He gives it freely. And it makes His Father heart sad when we do not understand this. He is not keeping a scorecard of all of our accomplishments to see if we’ve done enough on any given day. He simply wants a relationship with us. He cares more about the contents of our hearts than the contents of our to-do list.

Remember this, friend…God loves you for you, not for what you do.

Naturally, I would say that I am not a very bold and courageous person. I crave safety and security, and I love to follow the rules. It took me years to overcome my shyness, and I often still have to work at being outgoing rather than reverting to my introverted and reserved ways. One of my favorite things to do is have a chill, relaxed night at home with my family. You could say that I am a homebody. Being around large crowds of people can make me nervous and stressed. The thought of the unknown can be terrifying–I love to plan and know what to expect, and prepare for it, and then decide if I want to step out into it. Criticism has been my worst enemy, and the thought of others disapproving of me has often left me paralyzed. And if someone had told me when I was in middle school that I would end up speaking in front of large groups of people, I would have laughed and run as fast as I could in the opposite direction (and sometimes that’s still my gut reaction if someone asks me to do just that).

“Brave” is not a word that I would use to describe myself.

But you know what, God is calling me to be just that. He is calling me to be brave. He is calling me to be bold, courageous, and confident. And I believe this call is not just for me…it is for all of us.

I love this quote by Lara Casey, “Dear Self (and everyone everywhere!), your playing small is not serving the world!”

I don’t want to live a small life. I don’t want to only accomplish small things. I want to accomplish BIG things that glorify God and change the world! But none of that will ever happen if I allow the things I listed in the paragraph above to restrict me and put me in a box. God wants to free me (and you) from the box!

If we keep our focus on ourselves and the circumstances that surround us, any ounce of courage that we do have will quickly disappear. But when we focus on God, and know that he is always with us and that he is for us, then we can have boldness like no other!

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” – Joshua 1:9

“Jesus looked at them and said to them, ‘With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.’” – Matthew 19:26

“I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father.” – John 14:12

“What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” – Romans 8:31

Today, I want to tell you–God is FOR you! He will never leave you! Those dreams in your heart that he’s given you, they ARE possible. The negative comments that other people have said about you? They have no merit! The opinions and approval of other people? They don’t matter! The ways you have been mistreated, hurt, and abused? God will take the burden of those things and bring healing. The failures and mistakes of your past? They are forgotten, forgiven, wiped clean. Your fears, insecurities, and shortcomings are NOTHING compared to the strength and ability God gives you. He has a purpose and a plan for your life that is bigger and greater than anything you could ever imagine! Your best days? They are not behind you! They are yet to come!

Don’t we all want to see the impossible take place in our lives? I know I do! But in order to walk on water, we must take that first step. Step out, keep your eyes on Jesus, and don’t look back. Be brave!

What are some ways you need to courageously step out in? What has been holding you back?

(If you need some inspiration to be brave, bold, and courageous, listen to this song below! It is so good.)

You Make Me Brave by Amanda Cook, the title track off of Bethel Music‘s upcoming live album (releasing April 22nd, 2014).

LYRICS
I stand before You now
The greatness of Your renown
I’ve heard of the majesty and wonder of You
King of Heaven, in humility, I bow

As Your love, in wave after wave
Crashes over me, crashes over me
For You are for us, You are not against us
Champion of Heaven,
You made a way for all to enter in

I’ve heard You calling my name
I’ve heard the song of love that You sing
So I will let you draw me out beyond the shore
Into Your grace

You make me brave
You make me brave
You call me out beyond the shore into the waves

You make me brave
You make me brave
No fear can hinder now the Love that made a way

You make me brave
You make me brave
You call me out beyond the shore into the waves

You make me brave
You make me brave
No fear can hinder now the promises You’ve made

Some of my favorite memories from when I was a little girl were the times my Dad came home from work and I ran up to him and hugged his legs, and then we would have an impromptu dance session right there in the kitchen. He grabbed my hands tight as I stood on top of his shiny black dress shoes, and we danced around the linoleum floor as Dad sang or hummed a little song that he made up on the spot. I smiled and laughed and leaned back to look up at my Daddy’s face as we stepped and swayed this way and that together. He led, I followed. I wasn’t straining my neck to see where we were going and I wasn’t worried about which direction the next step would take us. I was having fun and was full of joy as we danced together.

When I think about trusting God, this is the picture that comes to my mind. He has a safe grip on my hands and with each step taken, He is leading me somewhere beautiful. He is my Daddy, smiling down at me as I gaze into His face. I don’t need to turn my head to see where we are going, or try and guess what step He will take me next, all I need to do is hold on tight, keep my eyes focused on Him, relax, trust, and enjoy the dance He’s leading me in.

Trusting isn’t always easy. It doesn’t always feel like God is with us or that we are doing a beautiful dance together. Often it feels like I am going to fall and I get scared or worried by the circumstances that surround me. But I’ve learned that I cannot rely on my feelings. My feelings do not equal truth.

The truth is, God is a rock. He is constant and never changing. Even when our surroundings are uncertain, God is not. He is firm and always present.

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” - Deuteronomy 31:6

“Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD, the LORD, is the Rock eternal.” – Isaiah 26:4

When we trust God, life is actually easier. In our minds it often seems like trusting makes things more difficult, because we have a desire to understand and to be in control. But when we surrender our lives to Him completely, He lifts the burden of having to figure everything out. We can relax and find rest while He does the heavy lifting.

The key is to keep our eyes set on God, and only glance at our problems–even when our tendency is to do the opposite.

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” – Matthew 11:28 NKJV

“Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insight or understanding.” – Proverbs 3:5 AMP

It’s easy to trust God when things in our life are going well. But what about those other times? My desire is to be consistent in my trust…to trust Him at all times, not only when it’s easy. God has never let me down, He has always taken care of me and my family, so I have no reason not to trust that He will continue to do the same.

Even when life’s circumstances get tough and undesirable, I choose to hold onto God’s hands, step up onto His feet, look at His face, and let Him lead me in this dance called life.

I Will Trust You by Bryan & Katie Torwalt

Though I walk through the valley
Of the shadow of death
I will fear no evil things
In this life I have seen your faithfulness
In this life I have found your grace, God

I will trust You
All my hope is found in Your love
I will trust You
My whole life is found in Your love

Though my eyes cannot see every single step
And my heart feels unsure again
I’ll remember the strength of your love, oh God
I’ll hold onto the peace you bring, yeah

Your goodness, kindness, faithfulness
Persist through the night

Last week I was reminded of a dream I had a couple of years ago, and I want to share it with you in hopes that it will encourage you.

I was trying to cross a river by jumping from one rock to another. The water was high, and the current was very strong. I kept slipping and cutting my hands and knees, and I was crying because I felt like I was never going to get to the other side safely. Then, my perspective in the dream changed and I was looking at the scene as if from the view of a third person. I saw myself there, looking down at the rocks and the river and struggling to keep moving, but I also saw another figure–Jesus. He was directly in front of me, holding out his hand to help me. But I was too busy looking down at myself and my circumstances to even notice he was there.

How often in life are we too focused on ourselves and the situations we are going through to even recognize the One who can give us strength and help us through it? I know I have been guilty of this on multiple occasions! It’s an easy thing to do, especially when life gets HARD.

I am thankful that I have the memory of this dream as a reminder for myself to always look up and keep my focus on Jesus. When I do that, I am filled with the hope, joy, and peace that only he can bring…and suddenly my circumstances don’t seem as bad.

“I took you from the ends of the earth,
from its farthest corners I called you.
I said, ‘You are my servant’;
I have chosen you and have not rejected you.
So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” 
- Isaiah 41:9-10

I Can Feel You by Bethel Music

The wind and waves surround me
And I’m tossed, feel like I’m drowning
I am tired, I am weak
I need You here with me

‘Cause I can feel the rising tide
But I don’t have the strength to fight
I feel clouded and confused
I need You here with me

In the chaos of the storm
I have drifted far, far away
But I call out Your name
Cause You are just a breath
A breath away

Then through the shadows
Your light appears
I’ve known You’re with me
But now it is clear
I can feel You, Jesus all around

Like sun on my skin
Warm to the touch
Here You surround me
I am held by love
I can feel You, Jesus all around

Now hope is rushing through my veins
With everything You’ve rearranged
I am peaceful, I am brave
When You’re here with me

All my questions find their answers here
When You come You change the atmosphere
I am focused, I am clear
When You’re here with me

There is nothing in this world
That will satisfy my soul like You do

Though the storm it rages
I won’t be moved, I won’t be shaken
I am anchored in You
I can feel You, Jesus all around

Some days are hard. There are many times when you may feel like giving up. Honestly, I’ve had numerous times like this myself. Probably too many to count. Moments when I just feel weak, tired, alone, and like I don’t have the strength to continue.

[Photo from Pinterest]

It is in those moments that I am reminded…I can’t do this. Not on my own. It is in those moments that I am reminded of my great need for God. And then I am thankful. Not thankful for the hard times, necessarily, but thankful that because of them, I am drawn closer to God. And that is right where I want to be. The cry of my heart is that I become so consistent that I remain completely dependent on Him, whether in the lowest valley or on the highest mountaintop. I never want to come to a place where I feel like I can do it on my own. That is a dangerous place to be. I always want to be 100% reliant on God.

This morning I woke up feeling defeated. Have you ever had one of those mornings? The day hasn’t even started yet, and you feel like you’ve already lost. That was me this morning. As soon as I opened my eyes, my mind was flooded with things I had to do, things I wasn’t doing well enough, negative comments that others had said about me, and negative thoughts I had about myself. Even the dreams I had in the night, as silly as they were, were of me failing. I realize this was an attack, it was spiritual. But boy, it is hard to press forward when your morning starts like that.

And then I spent some time with God, and everything I read and heard was a reminder that He is with me and here to help…

“Thank Me for this time of neediness, when you must depend on Me more than usual. Do not waste this opportunity by wishing it away. Trust that I know what I’m doing–that I can bring good out of everything you encounter, everything you endure.” Jesus Today by Sarah Young

“Those who trust in the Lord will find new strength.
They will soar high on wings like eagles.
They will run and not grow weary.
They will walk and not faint.” - Isaiah 40:31 NLT

“We know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” – Romans 8:28 NLT

“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.” – Jeremiah 29:11 NIV

“So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you! Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised.” - Hebrews 10:35-36 NLT

“So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.” – Galatians 6:9 NLT

I am so thankful that God encourages us, right when we need it most. I share all of this with you today with hope that it encourages you too. I know that I’m not the only one who deals with discouragement and struggles with wanting to give up at times. We all have moments like those! And I’m sure today won’t be the last time I deal with this. The key is not to avoid these moments (because I don’t think that’s possible), but when they do come, to set our eyes on the One who gives us strength and to continue and persevere knowing He is by our side!

“Never give up! Never surrender!” – Galaxy Quest