Where Is Jesus During Our Storm?

Many times we find ourselves suffocated by this little event we call Life. Life is not fair. Life is rough. Life is a pain in the batootie, and Life is very frustrating and very confusing. Being young ladies, we are faced with many emotions that come naturally to us. We are emotional creatures. We are sensitive by nature, and being sensitive doesn't really help us tackle life head on. Although, we should not let our emotions run our lives. We are supposed to live by the Spirit and tell our emotions to take a seat and shut up. But, sometimes that is not always the case BECAUSEEE life can simply get you down, and it's hard. Very difficult.

Everyday, we encounter many giants and quite frankly, some giants are a lot bigger and meaner than other ones, and we're left trying to figure out how to fight these giants when our world seems to be falling apart or when the tidal waves seem to get more violent and they're threatening to drown you...

So, where is Jesus when we've found ourselves in the midst of a big storm and darkness surrounds? I know you've heard many people say that God never leaves us, that God is always there for us, and when you're going through something no one else in the world can understand, those words can be very frustrating to hear because you feel like God is no where around. You feel as though God doesn't care about you and your problems, and it feels as though God will never rescue you from the very thing that is suffocating you and threatening to take your life.

Many times God remains silent during our storms, that doesn't mean He has let us go because He hasn't. Yes, God is here for us, but we also have to remember that when we find ourselves in the midst of the storm that God may be trying to show us something. God may be trying to make us stronger, and or maybe He just wants us to learn some things we may not have learned or discovered had we not been in a storm. Most times, we won't even know why we were going through what we were going through until AFTER the storm is over and the rainbow has appeared. (It's just like that sometimes *shrugs*) lol. Even though going through a storm can seem very long and it hurts, and it's lonely, and it SUCKS. BUT, Jesus is STILL with us. Jesus is our peace and calmness in a storm. You know how the eye of a hurricane is very calm and peaceful? Well, just think about Jesus as the eye of a hurricane. Yes, we may have so much mess and hurt and pain and chaos surrounding us, but we know that Jesus is in the middle of it all, and that He will gladly hold our hand through the WHOLE storm. I assure you of this. (personal experience. lol)

It is by God's grace, mercy, and love that after the storm, we are able to say that we are still standing and that we made it out alive. At the end of a storm, our faith is made stronger, we're made whole, and we have gained so much more understanding and wisdom than what we have had before. And by using what we have been equipped with during the storm, we are then able to go out and serve God. We obtain the confidence of going out and sharing our testimony and just what God has done in our lives.

It's not easy being a young lady trying our best living for Jesus. It's not easy at all because we have many things that we go through, and it's really tough. But I proclaim to you, if you hold on to Jesus' hand during your storm and you keep putting ALL of your trust and strength in Him, He will take care of you and blow your mind away!
Romans 8:28-30, "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified."

Don't ever feel like you're alone and that you have nobody. Jesus knows that you're hurting. He knows where and how you're hurting. And the great thing about it is that He KNOWS how to fix your hurt. He knows how to make it okay, and most importantly, He knows how to make you smile again. I promise, it will be just fine. You will get through this life, because Jesus has overcome this world and that makes you MORE than a conquerer! Exciting right? lol.
Keep your head up love.

Don't ever forget that you are BEAUTIFUL just the way you are!
Ayanna

Has Your Thirst Been Real?

Sooo...I've been doing ALOT of thinking these past couple of days, and I feel like the Lord is trying to either teach or show me something....but that's a different story...
I was thinking about what the Lord would want for me to share with you guys this time, and the word reignite came into my head.

What does reignite have to do with anything? Well, I'll tell ya!
There comes a time in our lives where we go through a dry place or a dry season and it seems as though you're not producing any fruit. You cry out to God, but it seems as though He isn't there. You try to pray and seek God buttt it just doesn't seem to be happening and you feel as though your faith is stagnant.
I can personally testify to those many, many dry seasons, but I'm not here to talk about me; I'm here to encourage you through this dry season or post-dry season.

So, it's been a couple months since you've felt a deep connection with God. It's been a while since you really prayed and you really opened your Bible and really spent time with God. And that dry season seemed to be eating you alive...well, what happens when you feel and know that the Lord has finally brought you out of this dry place? Where do you go with your faith now? I suggest you go nowhere but up and forward.

After our dry season is over, we feel like it's been ages were we've truly connected in a deep, intimate worship with God, and of course you miss that personal time with God, and you want to get back into that routine, but you want things to be different than what they were and you want to be reignited with that passion for God you once had before.

Here's a few suggestions...:
1.) THINK: 
go back and reevaluate the things you did BEFORE you entered your dry season and WHILE you were in your dry season. In hindsight, were there somethings God was trying to get your attention on? Are there somethings you could have done differently that would have equipped you while you were going through your dry season? Think on those things that you did that were not so productive and pleasing to God...and once you've thought about all of those things, make a mental or physical note on what YOU ARE, not what you might, but what you are* going to do different that will help you get and STAY closer with God. A lot of times we can prevent issues from happening if we go back and think about the issues we went through before. It's like a mind map that helps you get around all of the obstacles...or a GPS, either one will suffice. Once you've figured out all of the errors that were made, if Satan ever tries to tempt you or if God decides to put your faith to test, you will know what to do this time because you've thought about how to triumph and not repeat the same things to put you in a desperate situation. Study & pass the test the FIRST time around!
2.) Chit-Chat:
Yes, have a little conversation with God about your heart's desires, dreams, and ambitions. Tell the Lord what you want to do for Him. Tell God how you feel and tell Him that you want to do what He has called you to do. Ask God to help you to stay strong and persistent and consistent through trying times and even the casual-flow times. Constantly talk to God. It is important that you daily build your relationship with Him...after all, He is your heavenly Father and friend! take advantage, He's got your back!
3.) Worship:
Worship has always been a very great thing for me that helps me feel close to God when I have no words to say in prayer or when it just seems like I can't read my bible. I always turn on some worship or praise, depending on the atmosphere, and I just sing to God. I just open my mouth and just sing how amazing and awesome God is. Victory is in your praise. Worship connects you with your Savior...it's intimate and personal time between you and Him. It's not like you're at church with other people. It's just you, God, and your personal space. Worship will help ignite that passion that you once had when you first became saved or when you had that encounter with God.
4.) Stay Aware:
A good preventer in not letting you stray away from God or for letting your fire dwindle inside is simply staying aware of what God has done for you. Staying aware of what He's doing in your life, and staying aware of all of the dreams, passions, and desires He has placed in your heart to do great things for Him. Make sure you also stay aware of when Satan is trying to tempt you and lure you aware from the good things God has surrounded you with. It is very easy to become complacent and let things sly by you when you know they shouldn't be sliding by. In both aspects, we have to stay aware because it is very important in our walk. Proverbs 4:23 says, "Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life."We always, always, have to stay watchful and alert and guard our hearts from the things that could potentially tear us away from God, or from the things that are trying to put our lights out.

Every once in a while, we always have to reignite our flame within, and that passion. We always have to stay thankful for what God has given us and I think that will help us stay where we need to be as well as putting in so much time with God so we can follow His direction.
Sometimes, we will go through dry seasons and our prayer, spiritual, or personal life will become very thirsty, but always remember that God is the River of Life...let Him flow through you and you'll never have to be thirsty again!

Always know that you are beautiful!
Ayanna

There's MORE

One thing for sure: There's MORE.

what does that mean?

Many times, I see young people, as well as myself, sometimes get stuck just going through the motions of life. I see them get lost in the shallowness of the world, because they mistake it for something eternally deep that will only get them transient satisfaction. It's very easy to get bombarded by the chaos of the world. I know it's easy for us to get lost in all of this madness because sometimes we go through an identity crisis. Many adults may say or think that young people have no clue what it's like to go through an identity crisis or that we're still young and we don't know what we're feeling or thinking. Maybe sometimes, that statement is true, but for A LOT of us out there, we know exactly what we're feeling and thinking and many times we feel like our backs have been pushed against the wall. We end up not knowing which way to turn, so we choose to go down a path that feels good, a path that may seem easiest, but in reality just harms us and doesn't help us for our future.

Before I go on, I just want to state that if anyone who is reading this is going through a time or season where they feel like they have no idea who they are. They feel like they don't know what there life is for or where they are headed. I just want to say that...

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1.) You are a child of God
"How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!" 1 John 3:1

This might sound cliche but we are made in God's image. God knew you before your parents knew you. He was the one that formed you in the womb. You came from the Most High God. He is your Father. God blessed your parents with you as a gift and a blessing to take care of, but ultimately, we all belong to God...our Heavenly Father. Whenever Satan tries to get to you and tries to tell you that you're nothing, that you're nobody, you just look up to heaven and proclaim that you are a child of God and that God has a perfect will for you that will not harm you but to prosper you. Never forget that you come from the Lord. Don't let anyone ever think that you're anything less than heavenly royalty. We are children of the KING OF KINGS which makes us princes and princesses (:

2.) God is in control
"For I know the plans that 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

Let me tell you, It is OKAY to not have it all together. It is OKAY to sometimes feel like you don't know what you want to do with your life. You want to know why it's okay? It's okay because you can then put your life into God's hands and let HIM take care of YOUR life and YOUR future. Once we learn how to stop stressing and actually trust God with our lives and the desires of our heart, we will find that we are able to enjoy life a lot more and we will see that our life is actually starting to line up the way it was originally intended before we tried to put matters into our own hand. Don't think that you have nothing to live for because really, you have EVERYTHING to live for, and that everything is Jesus. You already know. lol.
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So, when we get caught up in not knowing which way to turn, and we're just so desperate for something or someone to love us, and we're desperate for something or someone to fulfill us, to give us something to live for, to give us purpose because we feel so empty. There is more to live for than just going to parties and getting drunk and high. There is more to live for than just hooking up with random people and having relationship after relationship. There is more to live for than just crying yourself to sleep every night. There is more to live for than having to take to cutting yourself because you just want to divert the pain because it's easier to deal with. There is more to live for than starving yourself because you don't feel like you're "perfect" enough. (There's no such things as perfect. We're made perfect and righteous through Christ.) There's more to life than hurting people because you just want someone to feel the pain that you're going through. THERE IS MORE to life than all of our hurt, pain, sorrow, tears, abuse, and misuse! There is more! And I'm here to tell you that Jesus, that relationship with Jesus is that MORE that will fill you up on the inside. He is that more that will help you learn to see yourself as beautiful. HE IS that more that will take away your pain and your burdens.

It all stops with Jesus!
you probably aren't believing what I am saying to you.
But it's all true, Jesus is the one that can make you feel so wonderful and so giddy inside. No, I have not always done what I have supposed to do. No, I have not always been obedient to God's Word. I sin everyday. every single day and yes, I have to constantly ask for forgiveness, but what I'm trying to prove is that no matter what you're going through, no matter what you've done, Jesus will still love you just the way you are in spite of your mess and your heartache and heartbreak. God will come through for you.

If you're looking for something more to this life that will give you everlasting, unconditional love...if you're looking for something that will give you fulfillment and joy...if you're looking for something that will pick up the pieces to your broken heart...JESUS will do all of that.
He wants to be our friends. He wants to be our provider. He wants to be our protector and our stronghold. He wants to do all of those things. He wants to take away your heartache and your pain, but you have got to let Him in. Jesus will never force Himself to make you do anything you don't want to do, and when you decide to come (I hope you do) He will be right there waiting on you, and He will never leave you. I promise. God is not a man that He should lie. (Numbers 29:13) He loves you. You will have more with Him.

There's more to life than this...there's more

Never forget that you're beautiful! Always!

Ayanna

Going Through A Bit Of A Storm?

Ok. Here's what I have come to learn...

The work of the Lord still goes on...

You're probably thinking And? So?

Well, I say this because sometimes in our lives we will have situations or circumstances that will completely break our hearts and discourage us from moving forward and discourage us from ACTIVELY reaching out to God for help, and discourage us from allowing our faith to grow stronger. As a witness, and a continuing witness from my life, there have been times and days and weeks and months lol, where I have seemed to completely lost all touch of reality. I was tempted to give in. I wanted to throw in my towel because it felt like my situation that I was going through was just too tough and I couldn't get through it. And of course, I knew God, I had a relationship with God, but I did not take advantage of that relationship that I was so blessed to have with Jesus.

I responded in the wrong manner. Instead of getting on my knees and giving all of my cares to God, and trusting God that He will get me through, I instead, put matters into my own hands. When I say I put matters into my own hands, I mean that I stopped trusting that God could do it. I stopped trusting that God could make my situation better, that He would help me and guide me in the right direction. Instead of taking advantage of the opportunity of getting the chance to grow my faith, my faith was stagnant. Of course, I would pray and cry out to God, but I wasn't consistently doing those things because it "hurt" to much to do anything at all. I couldn't "focus" because the pain was just too deep.

I have learned that when you have a relationship with God and you actively seek Him when everything is full sailing, that you shouldn't stop and give up just because your path gets a little rocky, or you find yourself in some stormy weather. We, as children of God and ambassadors for Christ, have got to learn to put our strength in God and PERSEVERE when times get tough. Just because our personal lives might get a little shaky does not mean that we stop praying, going to church, living our lives for Jesus, and stop sharing the Gospel.

The Bible tells us to rejoice in our hard times...Jesus has our back. Our struggles and our hard times develops our testimony that will one day be of a GREAT help to someone in need.
Titus 4:5 says, "But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry."

The times where it seems like we can't go on...those are the times where we should be desperately on our face and knees making our relationship with Jesus stronger. Because, also, during those hard times, we become vulnerable to Satan's tactics. We cannot afford to let our guard's down even when the pain runs deep.

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28

If you're going through a storm, a struggle, or just a life-shake, and you just want to give up, I beg you not to give up on God because He won't give up on you. God hasn't forgotten about you. When it's the hardest to live for Christ, then that's when we keep pushing the most. It's only a storm, and the storm will pass. Jesus will take care of you...give everything to Him and He will work it out. I promise. Jesus has our best interest at heart, and even when the pain is coming through, God will hold your hand every step of the way. He won't leave you. Ever. That's His promise you can be secure in when all else fails.

Never forget that you are beautiful!

Ayanna

Pain & Love: Universal

I have come to realize that pain is universal. Love is universal. No matter who a person is, we all feel pain and we all feel love. The thing about pain is that everyone handles pain differently. Some are stronger than others. Not to discredit the ones who aren't able to endure pain as easily as others, I'm just saying that we all deal with certain situations differently.

What's my point?

My point is that someone could meet a total stranger on the street, but would be able to connect with them instantly if they knew each other's testimony of one of the many painful situations they had to go through or may be going through at the present moment.
We have to remember to love everyone as God loves us. We have to remember to show love because we don't know who in the world is at their wits in end.

How do we show love?

We can show love in many different ways:
1. Giving a smile
2. Holding the door open for someone
3. Encouraging someone
4. Being kind
5. Praying for someone who is in need
6. Serving others
7. Giving to one another
...
The list goes on and on, but when we go through this life and we find ourselves hurting and we find ourselves filled with so much pain and discouragement, we should be quick to find someone who is in as much pain or even worse pain (physical, mental, emotional, spiritual) and try to be a helping hand to them. Because when we try with all of our hearts to encourage and help someone else, we end up encouraging and helping ourselves out of our dark tunnel.

We all can relate to pain, but we can also relate to love. It's worth the effort to show someone that you care, because in the end, you could be the very person that changes that one person's life for the better...forever.

True story: it's happened to me before. (:

Never forget that you're beautiful!

Ayanna

Feeling...Suffocated

 FEELING...SUFFOCATED?

I think we've all had a point in time where we have just felt so overwhelmed by the pressures, decisions, or whatever else this world has to throw at us. And most times, it leaves us feeling like we can't breathe. Like we feel suffocated.

As growing young adults, especially being ladies, it seems as though we are faced with so many options and decisions. It is already overwhelming enough trying to behave like a classy lady for Christ, but adding pressure and decision or whatever else from outsiders makes things get a little tough even bothersome.

I know a lot of us have come to the point where we feel like our parents, authority figures, or even older siblings are trying to make the decisions for us. It's like they want to tell us what and how we are going to live our lives, and what we are going to do with our lives. This I know is very frustrating. As young ladies, we are starting to develope a mind of our own, and we are searching for some type of freedom where we are able to excercise our thoughts, feelings, dreams, desires, visions caustiously but on our own. But, it seems like no one agrees with what you want or someone always tries to take over your dreams. It's like you can live out your dreams or you can do this or that as long as it is in the vicinity of what THEY want for you.

It seems like no one gives you a chance to voice your opinion, because no one ever asks you what you want right? It seems like they are trying to control everything you do right? It seems like they are taking away the options they said they were going to give you right?

So, how do we deal with the frustrations of trying to grow up, trying to spread your wings, when someone is always telling you to do opposite of what you want. How do we express our visions and our feelings without being disrespectful of the ones who have sacrificed the most for you?

First of all, I'll tell you this. Whatever worry or concern you have, ALWAYS give it to Jesus. Give whatever you desire, whatever situation you are going through, whatever frustration you have...give it to Jesus. Because when you give your concerns to Jesus, it allows you to act in freedom. You are not in bondage to the very thing that was frustrating you. And when you acknowledge that Jesus can take care of any problem you may face, it allows your faith to grow because you are believing and trusting God for what might seem like the impossible. Never doubt God's ability to take care of a situation for you. Becuase when you put your cares in God's hand, you will find yourself with a joy you never would have been able to experience if you were bogged down with worry.

Second, pray. Whatever is concerning or harboring on your heart and mind. Always pray. In all things, pray. Ask God to help you deal witht the current situation you are facing. Ask Him to give you the strength that you need so you can boldly voice your opinions. Ask God to be with you as you go about things. Ask Him to give you a peace of mind and a soul that can rest in the midst of the storm. You don't receive from God, because you don't ask. Ask and you shall receive. Knock and the door shall be opened."For everyone who asks receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened." Matthew 7:8. Ask God when you pray that He will show you what His will is for that situation that you have been praying about. Seek God's guidance in all things. Because in reality, you could be praying about the wrong thing. So, as Christians, we always want to have discernment to determine whether our motives are right or not.

And Thirdly, just rest and be patient. People are not perfect, and there will be many times where the very ones closest to you will make you feel suffocated, and they will make you feel like you can't voice your opinion. But don't fret. If you prayed, God heard you. Have faith to know that God is working in your life and that He is going to fix every single thing that is concerning you. Trust God and WAIT on His perfect timing. No, we don't always get what we want, but if God told YOU what HE had for YOU, then no one can stop you. If God wants it to happen, then it will no doubt happen. Be confident in that. Be confident in your Savior. He's got your back. He won't let you fall. "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him who have been called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28.

So, I charge you today, if you feel pressed down by frustrations, worries, fears, realize that God is in control and you can give your cares to God, and that He will always come through on His word. Remember, to rest in Christ and pray in all things. Worry does no good to the soul. So, while you're waiting on God's PERFECT timing, give thanks for what He has already done. Give thanks for what He has given you already. Better yet, give thanks in ADVANCE for what He is going to do. Have faith love. Have faith.

Always remember to keep it calm, cool, and collected...for Jesus!

Ayanna