I am participating in an online Bible study on a book by author Lysa TerKeurst called “What Happens When Women Say Yes to God.” I am only in my first week, but am so enjoying it so far.
We are doing a blog hop today, and were asked to answer one question out of a handful to talk about on our blogs. The theme for this week is #PalmsUp. Basically, the idea here is that sometimes we hold ourselves back from receiving all the things God has for us and to do because we have our fists closed. We hold SO tightly to certain things that we aren’t willing to surrender, that our hands are not open to RECEIVE blessing or instructions from God.
This week we are focusing on keep our #palmsup so we have open hands to grow into a deeper relationship with God, and not let our fears hold us back.
This got me thinking to what I am most afraid of when it comes to saying yes to God. If I am being honest with myself, I am afraid that He will ask me to do something that I flat out just don’t want to do. I can be quite the control freak, and so when things don’t go the way I planned, I can get unhinged. I have been trying to remember out verse this week (Deuteronomy 6:5 “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.”) and the rest will follow.
I have to remember that my perspective and vision is SO small compared to ALL that God can see, so while I may get angry and feel like He is holding back something from me or leaving me in the dark, He really could be protecting me from something I just can’t see. It’s a hard pill to swallow and something that has taken me a LONG time to really grasp, but if I truly DO want God’s best for me, I have to get to the point where I can say YES to God even before I know what He is going to ask me to do, with my #palmsup!
QOTD: Ok, so I was just brutally honest about what is hoping me back from going deeper with God and keeping by #palmsup, what do YOU feel is something that is holding you back? Lack of confidence? fear of failure? Share! You will feel better getting it off your chest, and then you can work towards a solution.
Probably the same as you – afraid God will ask me to go through something uncomfortable or even painful for me! But I know He would never ask that without offering something better as the end result. Great post!
You are right but it’s so hard when we can’t see that end result!
Glad to see you doing this study… I follow you anyways with the running & now we’re in the same study 🙂 Its gonna be interesting. I’m glad to see I’m not the only one a little fearful of saying “Yes” … never know where God will lead us…
so cool you are doing it too!
Great post!
I also have similar fears, particularly as a Father… that I may be placed in difficult, unplanned situations involving my children or future children. And as I think of the possibility of facing such challenges, my fear quickly becomes… will I be good enough? can I succeed or will I fail? With that, I would say my biggest fear is failure.
Not only is this true in my relationship with God, but it tends to arise in my relationships with other people. Too often I create distractions for myself simply to avoid the potential of disappointment or failure.
I am sure I will feel the same way when I have kids!
Heather,
Thank you for sharing today! I needed to read:
I have to remember that my perspective and vision is SO small compared to ALL that God can see, so while I may get angry and feel like He is holding back something from me or leaving me in the dark, He really could be protecting me from something I just can’t see.
Love how God works like that! Feeling encouraged today!
yes! I feel the same way
I have the same problem; trusting that God knows what’s best even if I don’t!
I’m a part of the OBS too and am really enjoying this blog hop! I am pretty sure that every blog I’ve read today could have been written about me. i am totally with you with being afraid that God’s going to ask me to do something I don’t want to do. Thank you for the reminder that God’s perspective is bigger than mine! I like to have control but I guess if I have to give that up, giving it to the Creator of everything who loves me is the best option.
amen!
Heather I agree sometimes God may be protecting us when we just don’t understand why something is happening. I think right now nothing is holding me back. Last year I was fearful when I was asked to lead a facebook group. I prayed, I did and now am so glad I let that fear go. God equips us even though we are not qualified. Thanks so much for sharing. Loved it! Debbie W. (OBS Facebook Group Leader)
I just wish He would let me know why I am having to wait so long in this valley, even though I know He is protecting me, but not sure why ;(
Hi heather! I found you blog ages ago when I was searching for disney race info (I ran the Disney princess half marathon in February too! Although……mmmmuuuccccchhhh slower then you 😉
I still read because I love when you write blogs like this one 🙂
you are so sweet thank you
I can totally relate!! I’m a control freak too. Unfortunately, a lot of my job involves reacting to things that pop up during the day… can’t tell you how many times I’ve planned on doing these three things & by the end of the day, I’ve done 5 completely different things & never touched the original list. I’ve gotten completely bent out of shape because of it, too!! But I’ve learned that by simply “going with the flow” & not letting myself stress over it, I’ve been able to do so much more (not only those last minute things, but even some of the planned stuff!). I think saying “Yes” to God is the same way… if we’d just trust Him, He’ll handle the details. If He provides money & resources, why wouldn’t He resolve the “time” issues as well? 🙂
oh the dreaded time issue. It’s a struggle for me!
I feel the same way! I think we are all afraid of not being in control. I know I am, but what has made this first week so sweet is that I’m truly realizing how often my palms are closed and what I can do now to keep them open. I sometimes feel like it’s my job to fix everything because no one else will, when really if I just lifted my problems up to Jesus, they’d be taken care of so much better than I ever could. I’m so glad that we’re able to be so honest and share how God is working in our lives!!!
love the honesty! Thanks!