Stop.

When was the last time you stopped to smell the flowers? And I mean literally stop to smell some random flower.

We are surrounded by such beauty, but we are too lazy to see or acknowledge it.

I get it, life gets busy.  We have so many responsibilities.  We get tired. But taking that walk, even a short one, helps.  It helps to clear our head, we can breathe, we can just be.

I have always loved nature.  It is peaceful and gorgeous, but for many years I didn’t ‘stop to smell the flowers’.  I moved to a farm nearly a year ago, and my daughter and I walk often.  She is only 7, and much closer to the ground than I am, so she sees all these beautiful things.  She sees the smallest flower and bug.  She will always stop to smell the flowers, which makes me smile every time, and then I am commanded to smell too.

And it is in these moments where I see how great our God is.  There is so much detail in every tiny flower.  Some flowers are probably 5mm in diameter and He cares for them.  He gives them what they need to blossom at the right time.  He looks after them in every way, and while looking after the flowers, He is looking after the bees and butterflies.

I have been going through a not-so-nice season, and at times I have felt abandoned.  I need to remind myself that I am valuable to God, that He loves me, and that He will help me, and provide for me.

Matthew 6:26

Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?

When going through tough times I am all over the show, it is really terrible and embarrassing to admit.  At first, I stay strong, I pray, I believe, I have faith.  Then as the weeks go on, I start getting fed up.  Then I start shouting out to God.  I try to control situations (even though I know I can’t).  I pull away from people, and I feel myself pulling away from God.  I struggle to pray, I struggle to be still.  Even though it difficult to pray, I do.  Even though I feel myself pulling away from God, He is still number 1.  Even though I really want to give up at times, I won’t. 

We go through trials in life, and it sucks!  It is horrible.  It feels like there is no direction, no help, no one that cares. We feel like throwing in the towel.  We feel like we are drowning.  It feels like we are destined to be stuck in the deepest, darkest valley with no hope in sight.

It is okay to feel this way.  We are human, and we have emotions.  BUT we should never give up hope, we should never stop praying.  At times when we can’t find the words, tell God you can’t find the words.  Just tell Him that you need help.  Ask Him for help.  After all, He knows you better than you know yourself.

We will experience different seasons in our lives, and I believe that we need to look for the lesson, and always turn to our Heavenly Father. 

No matter what is happening in your life, there is always something to learn.

No matter what is happening in your life, there is always something to be grateful for.

No matter what is happening in your life, know that you are blessed.

No matter what is happening in your life, know that God sees you and loves you more than you will ever know or understand.

No matter what is happening in your life, never stop praying.

It is in times of delay, doubt, or a not-so-nice-season, that we need to remember what God has already done for us and choose to be grateful. We need to remind ourselves that He has gone before us. Those delays fulfill God’s purpose in your life.  I know that is a bitter pill to swallow, but we will eventually understand, probably only in hindsight.

Keeping it simply raw & real.

Your sister in Christ.

Ecclesiastes 3:1

There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under the heavens.