When the Timing Seems Wrong, By Miranda H.

When the Timing Seems Wrong

By Miranda H.

God’s “timing” is something that comes up frequently during conversations among Christians. You know how it goes…you will often have an area of life in which you need guidance or understanding, such as school, family, money, or boys. When you need advice or answers, the first thing you tend to do after you pray is go in search of a fellow believer who can help you make sense of whatever hardship you are going through.

You will tell them, “I got an F on my paper and now I’m at risk of failing the class. I may never get into my dream college. Now what?” or “My parents are getting divorced and my boyfriend broke up with me on top of it. Why is this all happening at once?” The answer almost always seems to hold similar information. Something along the lines of, “I know it doesn’t make sense now, but it’s all a part of God’s plan for your life. One day the reasoning will seem perfectly clear.”

I personally, sometimes have a hard time accepting this advice as accurate, even though I know in my heart that it is 100% true. It’s difficult not to think, “Why does God want to see me in this much pain?” I’m sure you can all relate. It’s not hard to remember a time in your life where you have felt this way. When life gets tough, we don’t want to think about the future reasons that will help the situation to make sense. We want to understand WHY, the exact second that the hardship occurs.

We, as Christian women, have so much more strength within ourselves than we like to think. Why? Because we have something that cannot be shaken. We have a weapon that will allow us to stand up to any tough time. What is that weapon? Our FAITH. Our awareness for how much God loves us is an advantage to us during hard times. We know that we have Him to lean on. We know that He will get us through. Why is it is a struggle to KNOW that what we are going through is for reasons greater than we can imagine? Why is it easy for us to become angry with God and tell Him that His timing is terrible?

Isaiah 40:31 says, “But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” This verse tells us to “renew our strength,” NOT to fall victim to weakness. It tells us to “not be weary,” NOT to be doubtful. It says to “walk and not faint,” NOT to curl up in the corner and turn your back on God.

Take a look back at the beginning of that verse. What does it say? Does it say to be impatient, and question everything? Absolutely not. This verse tells us to WAIT for the Lord. Don’t forget about him, or assume that He has nothing to do with what is going on. He always knows what He is doing, and He will provide you with peace when the time is right and your heart is ready to receive it.

Don’t doubt God in the hard times. Instead, love Him more than you ever have.

Glorify Him in everything…even your Facebook status, By Miranda H.

Glorify Him in everything…even your Facebook status

By Miranda H.

Just like any other young woman in this day in age, I spend a decent amount of time on social media websites such as Twitter and Facebook. There are many positives that come from using these sites…you are able to keep up with old friends, you can stay updated on the lives of family that live far way, you can easily view pictures of your loved ones…so on and so forth. However, there is one major negative issue that I am noticing more and more each day, and that issue is the way that young Christian women often contradict their testimony through the use of vulgar language and rude comments.

I’m sure many of you have witnessed this. Most of us are familiar with this type of social media user. They will post a status meant to glorify the Lord, such as scripture or a verse from a Christian song. Then, a few minutes later another status from that same person will pop up on your feed. But this time it’s full of unsightly language and hatred, often towards another person. Not only is this worrisome for fellow Christians, it also ruins that person’s witness to their Facebook or Twitter friends who may not be believers in Christ.

As Jesus loving young women, we should aim to reflect Him in all that we do. 1 Corinthians 10:31 says, “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” It is not our place to pick and choose when and where we “act like a Christian.” We have to aim to live out our belief in God all day, every day, through every action. Will we make mistakes? Of course. We know that we are human, and it is impossible to be perfect all the time. However, there is a major difference in accidentally thinking or saying something wrong, and blatantly filling you words or Twitter feed with cussing and slander.

When I mentioned this thought once in a group of believers, I was told by someone that I was being judgmental and hypocritical. This person believed that I shouldn’t be so worried about the actions of others. At first this upset me, but then I realized that there is a huge difference in being judgmental and looking out for fellow believers. As Christians, one of our duties is to encourage our brothers and sisters. 1 Thessalonians 5:11 reads, “Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.” Wouldn’t you want a fellow believer to encourage you and pray for you if you were having a difficult time spiritually? Why is it any different to do the same for someone who may be struggling with their words and actions?

In so many ways, posting something negative on a social media site is even worse than saying it to someone’s face. That status update or Tweet is going to stay on your timeline for a long, long time. Therefore, glorifying God is just as important when you are virtual. Use those written updates to share something positive and be a light through your online profile!