Two years into our unexpected journey of self-employment, simple answers have felt just out of reach.
God’s never left us or forsaken us, although there are days we have felt a bit lost. Like we are wandering on the back side of a wilderness and we can’t find the pathway out.
Doubt can settle in if your relationships disappoint or fall a part, you experience loss, sickness, if your bank account reflects uncertainty, or opportunities turn out the opposite of what you plan, pray, and have faith for.
I have found that it’s okay not to be okay.
It’s okay to question, work through our messy emotions, tell God and trusted people in our lives what we’re walking through. Facing and feeling what is rumbling within is part of processing in this life.
The fact is, there are twists, turns, bumps, detours, delays, and off-roading experiences in life that we never intend to happen, much less understand when they do transpire.
The unexpected can cause us to question all the things we thought we knew about God, life, those we love, and ourselves.
Whether you lead and serve others on your job, in your church, community, home, or all of the above, leading does not insulate us from the pits and potholes of life.
God is not uncomfortable in our unresolved situations, even when others are.
People do not always know what to do or how to be there for us when life makes no sense. When tension rises from knee deep to neck deep and we feel like we may drown. God is not repelled by our “not being okay.”
Not being okay, doesn’t mean we don’t trust God. It does mean we are human.
Not being okay, doesn’t mean we don’t have faith either. You can believe what God says in His Word, have faith, and walk through a long desert experience simultaneously.
Anyone can handle discomfort, pain, and disappointment in small increments of time. It’s when the labor pains of our difficulties stretch on and on that we get weak, tired, and often need help to sustain our ability to push through.
God knows. He’s been there too. He endured it all for us on the cross.
Rough roads can break us and make us, all at the same time.
Uncomfortable places stretch us. They show us what we are made of, expose weaknesses, and reveal to us more of who God is and how much we need Him.
They can grow us in ways we never expect and strengthen us to succeed and grow in places we may never imagine for ourselves.
They often force us to turn in new directions or try things we may never have had the courage to try otherwise.
It’s where our faith is tested in every way.
It’s where we can discover new joy in the simplest of ways that can become profound in our lives. Yes, joy is possible even when…
It’s where we find that the favor of God sometimes is the spiritual strength He gives us to endure. Favor is not always the miracles we can tangibly see coming together just in time.
If the heat is turned up in your life, it’s okay not to be okay, because God is okay! God is God and he can work with our “not being okay” if we learn to depend on him in every way.
He takes brokenness and uses it to make-over people and situations until what we once called broken and messy, we now refer to as strong and beautiful.
Fighting a battle is not pretty and why would we think otherwise?
There will be pain.
There will be wounds.
We may fall down.
And we may need help getting back up again and that is okay.
We were made for community, not isolation. We were made to make ourselves vulnerable at times so that we can experience the beauty of others stepping up to make a difference in our lives, even if that is hard and we’re not used to having help.
We need people that will pray for us, love us, encourage us, and just be with us even when it’s awkward and words feel pointless.
We need people who are further down the road than us, to be transparent about the tough roads they have walked and the faithfulness of God. Knowing we are not alone and hearing how God works in their lives, can shift our perspective.
We need people who listen to the voice of God and step out in practical ways as God leads. You never know when that crazy thing that God has spoken to you and asked you to share with someone, can literally be a lifeline of hope.
You will not always get it right, but God can make right what we get wrong.
God calls Abraham the father of all who believe, a friend to God, and a man of unwavering faith in believing God’s promises would come to pass (Romans 4:16-25 NLT).
Yet, if you read the whole story, in Genesis, you find that Abraham had weak moments, he made mistakes, and even tried to force God’s promises to come to pass in his own way and timing.
Abraham did not have it all together all the time and neither do you and I. That is okay, no one does.
God can handle the uncomfortable tension when we are tired, weak, and make mistakes. He can still work with that. Our limitations do not limit God!
Let’s keep lifting our eyes to a God who keeps His promises and calls out the greatness in us, so we can rise up and believe again.
“O Israel, how can you say the Lord does not see your troubles? How can you say God refuses to hear your case? Have you never heard or understood?
Don’t you know that the Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth? He never grows faint or weary. No one can measure the depths of his understanding.
He gives power to those who are tired and worn out; he offers strength to the weak. Even youths will find new strength.
But those who wait on the Lord will find new strength. They will fly high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint” (Isaiah 40:27-31).
There is a rumbling from within, a rising up, a deep tenacity and strength being born and built within the souls of those who wait on the Lord. No matter your age, socioeconomic status, ethnicity, or your current stage or status of life, let’s stand firm in our faith together.
Let’s link arms and encourage one another.
Let’s break down the walls of isolation and be in community.
Let’s refuse the enemies tactics and attacks with our shield of faith.
Let’s be on alert, and use the Word of God as our sword.
Let’s be expectant to hear and see what God is working out in our lives for His glory!
It’s okay not to be okay, because God is okay.
Love you friend!
I’m rooting for you and cheering you on!
With lots of love and grace,
Joelle Povolni
P.S. As long as we are alive, our stories have more chapters to live out. For encouragement to stay the course and keep on asking you may enjoy reading, Your Story Has Another Chapter.
