I’m so excited to introduce you to my sweet friend, Sally. She’s here on the blog today with an inspiring blog post and a beautiful giveaway! Welcome Sally!!
When I was younger I played softball. I loved it. As a true tomboy, it was my excuse to get dirty, yell loud, and act not so lady-like.
But something unfortunate would happen if I ever felt pressure. If my friends came to watch me or my coach reminded me how important of a game this was, I would step up to the plate, wait for the pitch, swing and miss.
I would hear my dad yelling from the fence, “SALLY, OPEN YOUR EYES!” to which I would respond in a typical, sassy ten-year-old fashion, “MY EYES ARE OPEN!”
I had this terrible habit of falling victim to the pressure, trying way to hard to impress or win, so I would close my eyes and swing blindly. Only to miss every ball thrown my way until the dreaded strike out.
There’s a man in scripture who I think gets me. Better yet, I get him. Because as much as I would like to say I left my habit of closing my eyes when the pressure builds back in the dugout, the reality is I still carry it with me.
We meet this man in 2 Kings 6:17.
Elisha is a prophet who is receiving messages from God on where this enemy army from Aram is going to be. He’s got the inside scoop and He’s giving it to the King who is using it to elude and outsmart them. But the king of the Aramaeans finds out what’s happening and he orders his men to storm the city and take Elisha captive.
Here enters my guy. This stubborn, scared man, whom if he were a woman, I would call my soul sister because something engrained within my soul identifies so deeply with his. He is Elisha’s servant and I get him.
Elisha’s servant looks out over the hills of his city and sees a full fledged army. Men upon men, horses upon horses. Chariots upon chariots. Fire, weapons, warriors. An impressive fighting force. And the pressure is building because as a servant, his role would also be a protector. This is a ride or die relationship. So if an army is coming for Elisha, it’s coming for him.
He looks to Elisha, panicked. “What will we do?”
Elisha immediately identifies the problem as well as a solution.
But let’s first look at what he does NOT do.
He doesn’t look to the hills and say, “This army is the problem. The solution is to fight them.”
He doesn’t look at the king and say, “You made me tell you their secrets, this is your problem, you fix it.”
He doesn’t look at God and say, “You put me in this position, why God, why?”
No.
Elisha identifies the problem as his servant looking at a terrifying, desperate situation with “closed eyes.”
See, Elisha now has a sacred secret with God. He can see something that his servant can’t. I imagine Elisha steady handed with a side smirk as he looks at his servant, then looks to the Heavens and says “Lord, will you open his eyes.”
At this point, if Elisha’s servant and I are really as similar as I feel like we are, he’s thinking to himself, “MY EYES ARE OPEN. I see the hills covered in armored and weapon yielding warriors! We’re doomed!”
And don’t we do the same thing?
When the pressure builds, we fool ourselves into thinking our eyes are open.
We scream, “MY EYES ARE OPEN!”
I see my bank account
I see the symptoms of my diagnosis
I see my teenager acting out
I see my husband pulling away from our marriage
I see my coworker who clearly doesn’t want to work with me
I see the mounting responsibilities at my job
I SEE IT ALL. MY EYES ARE OPEN.
We actually wish someone would just tell us to shut our eyes and go to sleep because open eyes are not the problem. Our eyes are TOO open. We are painfully aware of the mess we are in, aren’t we?
But immediately, the servants spiritual eyes are opened. I imagine him slowly turning his head, surveying the hills and peace falling over him because there’s something different about it now. The warriors have nearly tripled in number. But these new warriors, they are God’s angel army. There were there all along and sent by God to protect the ones He loves.
I think in the face of terrifying and pressing situations, God is asking us to let our spiritual eyes be open. Though we most definitely see the things that could overwhelm us, would we also be willing to see the things that can overwhelm our situations?
Would we see that He loves us?
Would we see that He protects us?
Would we see that He heals us?
Would we see that He provides for all of our needs?
Would we see that He holds the hearts of the people around us?
Would we see that He’s actively fighting on behalf of us?
Sweet friend, if I could encourage you today I would ask that you wouldn’t swing blindly at your mounting pressures today. I would ask that you wouldn’t look at your situation today as if it is the be all and end all. I would ask that you would open your spiritual eyes to see that God is FOR YOU and He’s doing things behind that scenes that you can’t even imagine yet. You are not doomed. You are not alone. And your scary circumstances won’t win.
Lean into your Creator today and trade in your worry about the physical things for peace that comes from knowing that God fighting for you.
I’m so beyond giddy to be giving away these products from my store! The winner will get a tall tumbler that says “You refresh my soul” and a sermon journal I created to help you keep track of apply principles from all of the sermons and messages you hear throughout the week at church, in small groups, or at events! Enter below by commenting what God is asking you to trust Him with today!
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Right now I feel that God is asking me to trust Him with a lot. My son’s autism diagnosis and his venture into kindergarten; my husband’s retirement and our subsequent move. But I know that the Lord is in control!
To persevere in the family relationships that erupt off and on. To stay strong and not to give up. To be supportive to all involved. Talking to them with kindness and love not harsh words, but also pointing out facts that need to be brought up.
My son has made some very poor choices the past few years. They have caught up to him, and he’s now having to face very stiff consequences. My heart hurts as his Mom, but there’s nothing more I can do. I know God is with us and will use this for good. I’m trusting in Him to get us all through this, and for my son’s eyes to be opened to the One who is truly carrying him through. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
Praying for you Phyllis. My son had some hard consequences withe choices he made as well. He just returned home after being in jail for 3 1/2 years. Oh how my heart broke but as I leaned on the Lord, He gave me the strength to go on. I pray both our sons turn to the Lord to see all that He has blessed them with, even during the tough times. Just know you are not alone!
Thank you for your words and prayers, Jennifer. Our kids, no matter how old, will always be our hearts….walking around in this world. Giving it to God daily. Sometimes minute to minute. Praying for you and your son right now!
God is asking me to trust Him with the salvation of our adult children. I clearly see Him working, but I continue to step right back in and “worry.” You see, we have 5 adult children, and until 1 year ago not a single one of them knew the Lord. Within one year, He has successfully reached two of them, one of which I was even beginning to wonder if he even believed that we have a God I heaven. God is so good, and like I said, I CLEARLY see Him working in our family. Why do I continue to step back into the situation and worry myself to a frazzle some days? I am a work in progress!
Thank you for your beautiful blog post today, and thank you for the chance to win these awesome gifts!
God is definitely growing me to trust His outcome more. There are a couple of looming situations that are totally out of my control. I’m a jump in and get it done and over with girl and the waiting is about to kill me, lol. BUT I know that however HE works it out is the best way and DO trust Him ultimately. The flesh is weak!
I feel God is asking me to trust him with His timing. I struggle with worrying over every little detail and I know that’s not right. I can’t play God, only He knows the outcome of His plan for our lives and for those around us.
I have been going through some financial difficulties and need to make car payments, etc. There have been a lot of struggles in my life and I feel that the Lord is reminding me that He is faithful and that He has a good plan and purpose for me. I am so thankful that He is in control, because I could really mess things up! This is a time for me to draw closer to Him, eliminate the distractions, and seek His will for my life. I know that there are many things that I need to let go of, or lay at the cross, so I am taking the opportunity to clean out the attic and basement physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually to make more room for Him in my life!! Glory to God in the Highest!!!
I really needed this word today! He is asking me to trust Him more with every aspect of my life. We are in process of moving and selling our house. I have seen His hand on everything, but it is still difficult for me to relinquish full control. Thank you for this today Nicki and Sally!
I believe God is just asking me to slow down and enjoy the moment. Take care of myself.
God is asking me to trust Him to validate and affirm me. To trust His Word above every other word.
I needed to read this so badly. My health issues, ministry, family…it all seems to be too much. I really just want to close my eyes, but I can’t… Thank for this reminder of who’s really in control of all this. I sooooo needed it!
To trust Him to always provide for me. Being single with no family is hard sometimes. I worry about finances & making the right choices.
Thank you for this opportunity Nicki!
xoxo,
Melissa
God is asking me to trust him with my marriage problems. To let go of the hurt and the anger, the rejection and the bitterness, and to allow God to do His job.
He is wanting us to trust Him with my husband’s work future!
God is asking me to trust in Him in my finances and really in everything, to give Him control.
I am trusting the Lord to protect me from all the evil in this world; to help me to stay on the right path, His path, doing His will in this world even when it is hard; to always help me to know what is right and what is wrong in my life; not to judge others but to help them, if I can; and to spread the gospel of Grace to anyone who longs to hear it.
Thank you for this beautiful reminder. God is asking me to trust Him with the health of our family.
God is asking me to trust Him that the years the locusts have eaten will be restored. That somehow what doesn’t make sense to me will be that beautiful fulfillment of His plan for me.
Right now, He is asking me to trust Him with my finances and a job. I have been unemployed for six months and I was not eligible for unemployment benefits so we are to the point that I *have* to find a job very, very soon. I have faced unemployment several times throughout the 12 years I have been in the workforce but this is the most worried I think I have ever been. Still, I know that even when I don’t understand His ways, He is faithful and that lifts the burden immensely.
He wants me to trust him with my new identity as a stay at home mom and no longer a teacher. He has great plans for me and my identity is not tied to my job.
Loved reading this this morning. Thank you so much for the encouragement. My favorite line was that last line…”Lean into your Creator today and trade in your worry about the physical things for peace that comes from knowing that God fighting for you.”
God is asking me to trust Him with my daughter and her health. Her health took a turn and my fear over it is crippling, but God is asking me to abide in Him and let Him be God.
This is actually one of my fav. Bible stories of all time! How could I forget this story! Thanks for your post as encouragement and reminder! I believe the Lord leading me to trust in Him and not the outcomes of my mistakes. That i should instead learn from them. Also, i am in a total new season, and because it is so different, it took a while for me to embrace. He showed me to embrace it I nees to trust Him. Anytime something new begins to sprout, it’s as Fear begins to pop his head up. But i thank God for always whispering the words “Trust Me” so that I could see that I need to shift my eyes, or open them, to see Him. Its a challenge, but a challenge thats needed lol. Thanks again foe your post! God bless you both!
What a timely message for me! God is asking me to trust Him with our finances (2 in college, one getting married, a fixer-upper house, a car that needs repairs, etc…), health issues, kids who are not walking with the Lord, strained family relationships, a ‘desert’ season in my life (moved a year ago and have zero friends due to health issues that cause me to be home-bound), and situations at my husband’s work. Thank you for helping me to open my eyes to see God is with me and for me and is fighting my enemies on our behalf 🙂
thank you for posting this story, in the Last 2 years I have learned to renew my trust in the Lord as a recently divorced woman ( after 34 years of marriage and not by my choice) and He has showed himself faithful over and over. The pain is very real and I am very broken. but the Lord uses broken vessels. I KNOW He has a plan for me, I will wait for HIS timing ( as not to mess things u if I run ahead of him) I am sooo happy He never gave up on me when I had already given up on myself..MY hills are filled with HIS soldiers to watch over me !!!
God is asking me to give myself fully to him…he loves me and wants t g email best for me. Let go of the past and start fresh with his many blessings that I have gone blind to.
I’m trying to trust God with my health and direction during this season of my life. It’s so easy just to move ahead of Him but I pray I’ll open my eyes to what HE wants me to see.
God is walking with me through the teenage yesrs with my son. It is a wonderful and challenging time. I continually pray that I put Him first so that I will love my son the healthiest ways.
I ask our Lord to help me be wise and discerning as I come to him with the cares of my marriage and my older children. Also with the things in my life that may not be God honoring like adult coloring books, contemporary Christian music, denominations, and bible translations. They’ve bee issues between me and my husband. I need clarity from God. God, open my eyes to your truth I. These matters.
I needed this post for some many reasons today. I need to trust God in matters of family dynamics and homeschooling. He holds it all.
I am trusting God through my separation. I am seeing how He is helping me be a single mom, raising 2 children. It is hard, especially when he is not involved in their lives. God has helped me be a strong woman with many challenges and He is the only way I have been able to get through it all.
I feel God is asking me to trust Him with the care of and provisions for my aging mother and mother-in-law. The health of both is rapidly deteriorating with age and it seems there are constant needs arising. I am so thankful to still have them here with us. I want to serve them and Him well during this season of life.
I feel God is asking me to trust Him with my life and my marriage. Yesterday, I was a mess. I kept thinking, What is wrong with me? I talked to God a lot. Today, I know that I am wonderfully made–holy and dearly loved.
God is asking me to trust him to restore the fractured places in my journey, as He leads me in a new direction.
Psalm 32:8 ~ “The LORD says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you.” – God led me to this verse at She Speaks and said, “I will give you the guidance and advice you need, but you must take the steps to make it happen.”
I don’t really know where I am going, but I’m trusting my guide! 🙂
I loved this post. It is timely for sure. God is so good and I am so grateful.
Lord, lead me and guide me and keep my spiritual eyes opened. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.
Thank you so much for this wonderful post.
PS I wanted to leave a comment on the entry but it wouldn’t let me. Must be because I was using my phone.
Be blessed.
I need to learn to trust God to provide for me and my family. It’s the one thing I worry about all the time, but he still continues somehow to provide.
Learning to trust God in work issues. I love my job, and it’s easy to just go through the motions. I want to not feel so defeated at times. I feel God doesn’t want me to move on, but I often feel like I’m ready to. I need to trust that God will guide me in what to do and where to go if that’s what He leads me to do.
My children. <3
Our finances & my adult son who has walked away from the Lord……my heart aches.
God is asking me to trust Him with our finances and my daughter who has completely shut me out of her life(at age 15). Thanks so much for this post!!!
God is truly asking me to trust and put him first in my life. Some days are harder then others. And there are times I just want to give up and stop fighting …but I know I can’t.
I recently had a miscarriage, and I know that God wants me to trust Him throughout our grieving process/moving on. Sometimes it’s hard not to get overwhelmed, but I know He is with me, and will NEVER leave me.
God is asking me to fully trust Him with the lives of our four children. I know that He is in control of all, yet, as a mom there are times that I want to help Him fix things. I trust you Lord with the lives of our children.
God is asking me to trust Him in leading me to where He wants me to serve Him not where I am comfortable serving Him.
God is asking me to trust Him with my writing. I am a newbie to writing and am working on my first inspirational fiction story.
Thank you, Sally for this awesome message today! As I write this my husband and I,after months and months of trying to work with our tenants,, have gotten to the point of legally evicting them. The situation is very complicated and God is working through me to help my husband extend grace and some compassion as they remove their belongings. It’s been a long process but God has been opening my eyes to so much and I know the greater issue is that they don’t know Jesus, don’t want to know him and all I can do is pray that the grace we’ve extended will plant a seed.
I went through a traumatic marriage and divorce. Only God was there to lead me closer to Him and to protect my kids from the monster I had married. The ex is never allowed the kids so they are safe but I still think about him and our supposedly normal life which was a cover for his double life. I put my total trust in God to help my kids and me stay focused on Him.
God is trying to help me trust him with my health. I need to open my eyes and know he has this.
We are in a tough ministry position. Praying for guidance and our future. Also praying for God to be glorified in all situations.
We are in a tough ministry position. Praying for guidance and our future. Also praying for God to be glorified in all situations.
I have felt overwhelmed with the added responsibilities of moving my parents… on top of the gazillion and one other family and work responsibilities, but God continues to OPEN MY EYES to the blessings in all of it…by His Grace I am seeing and believing….hopeful and optimistic….and knowing that when I start to feel overwhelmed, I need to OPEN MY EYES and see life with the gift of perspective. This post has given me the words for all that has been going on. Thank you Sally and Nicki! God bless!
God is teaching me to pray and be conversational in my prayers to him – even if it is asimple God Thank you- ….God knows….and wants it for us!
“Everything” It’s hard & a couple things like finances stand out, of course, as I search for a new job. But my whole path isn’t what I thought, so the journey is tough, & I’m having to hope in Him for the future.
What a perfect connection to scripture ~ I definitely need to continue to trust God with my husband’s job situation which of course affects everything in our lives. Now, I can do so with renewed peace.
God is asking me to trust Him with my fears, worries, anxiety, and doubt. I have a lot of it right now. And I need to give it to Him and trust in Him.
God is asking me to trust Him with my brother who is not walking with Him.
I need to trust Him with my finances as I’m a single parent.
Very encouraging post! Thank you for sharing!
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