Tag: fear

Even In the Unknown

Even In the Unknown

by Nikki Rich Writes ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

How do you respond when God asks you to do something? Are you someone who meets His commands with quick obedience or are you someone who can confidently tell Him no? If I’m honest, for the vast majority of my walk with Christ, I was “no” leaning. On a good day, I met God’s commands with hesitancy and contemplation. On a regular day, I met His commands with a litany of reasons why I couldn’t do what He asked. While I knew, intellectually, that God was wise and that His instructions were profitable and protective, I didn’t actually believe it in my heart. I filtered every request and command from God through my feelings first. If I felt that the command was too hard for me to do in my own strength, my list of excuses to back out was ready. If I didn’t feel safe or sure, I didn’t move forward. In fact, it was only when I felt qualified enough to do something, had enough external encouragement from others, or clearly saw how an instruction could benefit me, that I obeyed. It really wasn’t obedience at all.

As we talked about last week, fear and self-perception can also be idols. When it came to walking in obedience, I often failed because I let the idol of my feelings have the final say. And while this went on for years (we thank God for His mercy, grace, and long-suffering), something shifted in me, within this last year, that caused me to no longer feel justified in my disobedience. As I got more familiar and more intentional with the Word of God, my idol suddenly came under attack. Could I still hide behind those fears and excuses when I now knew God was greater than any obstacle or opponent I faced? Could I still deny the Lord when I now truly knew how deeply He loves me? Could I still practice self-preservation when I now knew that only God could actually keep me safe? While I’m sure you already know the answer to these questions, I want to spend some time talking about how I got (and am still getting) there. I want to share more about the conviction I felt, the concerns I had, and the God who lovingly understood. I want to encourage and hopefully empower you on this walk of obedience because I know, firsthand, that it’s not always easy.

“‘Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.’ An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.” – Luke 22:42-44 NIV

Jesus is our ultimate example of living an obedient and submitted life. From putting on flesh to show us the way of His Father (Philippians 2:5-7) to sacrificing His body for the sins of the world (Isaiah 53:5), we constantly see Jesus operate from obedience. Of all the moments that showcase Jesus’s obedience and surrender, the moment that has always affected me most is Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. Deep in prayer and full of anguish, we see Jesus, awaiting the gruesome death planned for Him, plead with His Father for another way to bring forth salvation to His people. We see the Father express, even without words, that there is no other way. The crucifixion is the cup Jesus must drink. We see Jesus submit even though the outcome is not what He would have preferred. And from that moment forward, we never see Jesus ask the Father again. He is wholly obedient until His last breath.

When I reflect on this, I’m filled with immense gratitude. Jesus’s obedience literally saved my life. He put aside His fears, His will, and His comfort to ensure that all of us had a way to be made right with the Father. With us in mind, He gave up His life to ensure we could have one. There are no words to articulate how beautiful Jesus’s moment of obedience truly was. And yet, Jesus’s submission is also deeply convicting. God has never asked me to do what Jesus did. No matter how scary a command of God might have felt or how frustrating it was when asked to give up something I loved, I have never had to lay down my life for the entire world. God has never put the weight of all our sins on my back to carry. Though we are called to take up our cross (Matthew 16:24), I have not had to do so while also being whipped, mocked, and tortured like Jesus was. His sacrifice was beyond compare yet, for us, He agreed. If Jesus could follow through on something so great, so terrifying, and so consequential, why was I stuck on obedience at such a small level? I soon realized that Jesus was operating from a fundamental truth that would take some time for me to understand and wholeheartedly believe.

“If God is holy, then He can’t sin. If God can’t sin, then He can’t sin against you. If He can’t sin against you, shouldn’t that make Him the most trustworthy being there is?” – Jackie Hill Perry

Being, Himself, one with the Father, Jesus knew the character of His Father very well (John 10:30). He knew that His Father was righteous, just, and full of love. He knew His Father delighted in Him and would reward Him for all He had done while on earth. Jesus was rooted in the goodness of His Father despite all the difficulty He had to deal with. Unlike Jesus, with a background of performance, shame, and lacking biblical foundation, I wasn’t always super confident in God. Though the Bible may have had stories that shared His faithfulness, I didn’t always believe they were applicable to me. I wasn’t certain that God was truly safe or trustworthy. I wasn’t convinced that His instruction or command would lead to something positive. I operated in a lot of fear and self-reliance when it came to the Lord because I feared that God wouldn’t come through. I was afraid of trying and failing and reaping harsh consequences. I was afraid of experiencing His anger, disappointment, or even disgust. Unlike Jesus, I didn’t have joy set before me (Hebrews 12:2). I didn’t see how my obedience could be beneficial to others. I only focused on myself. I couldn’t see anything beyond hypothetical failure, mounting fear, and my inadequacies.

For a variety of reasons, ranging from original sin to difficult life circumstances, there appears to be a natural human bent towards not trusting God. Many of us, if not all, experience moments where we’re just not sure if God is as good as He says or if He’ll actually do what He promises. Sometimes we’re not sure if obedience is worth it. We’re not always sure if God, Himself, is worth it. The above quote, however, forces us to really consider the God who calls us to obedience. This quote highlights the fundamental truth that I believe Jesus knew to be true when He prayed in that garden: God is holy. As we recall, God calls us to be holy because He is holy (Leviticus 20:26). And if He’s holy, we must then know, and come to believe, that God’s holiness makes Him perfect. God’s holiness doesn’t give Him the ability to sin. God’s holiness doesn’t give Him the ability to lie. God’s holiness doesn’t give Him the ability to act deceitfully or with malice towards His own. This God, our God, holy and pure, is the One who requires our obedience. It is this God, our God, who calls us to do something beyond our natural ability because it’s an opportunity to see His hand and love, through the Holy Spirit, at work. It is this God, our God, who calls us to lay down that sin or idol because it’s an opportunity to find true fulfillment, joy, and healing in His presence. It is this God, our God, that calls for forgiveness because it’s an opportunity for freedom and healing. It is this God, our God.

When I think about Jesus submitting to His Father and accepting the cup of death, I see that He clearly knew all would be right in the end. Though Jesus would have to deal with hard and horrible circumstances that we can’t even begin to fully understand or grasp, He knew victory from sin and death was right around the corner. He knew that the restored relationship between Creator and creation was right around the corner. He knew that His status as King, sitting at the right hand of the Father, was right around the corner. And while that’s wonderful for Jesus, many of us, myself included, don’t always have that same assurance right away. When God tells us to put ourselves out there, we often don’t know how others will receive us. When God tells us to give up something that brought us joy and happiness, we often don’t know whether God can really fill that void. When God calls us to bear our cross, we often don’t know whether we’ll be able to stand under the weight. And, in truth, those feelings of uncertainty are the absolute worst. Obedience can be really difficult, scary, and uncomfortable. I do not want to minimize or ignore that. And I don’t believe God wants to disregard that either. He knows that we are flesh. He knows all about the weaknesses, fears, concerns, and wounds that make us question Him (Psalm 139: 1-16). He’s not going to beat you up for that. He operates in patience and bestows wisdom, encouragement, and power to help you through it. I’m a witness. But, it’s on us to want to believe He is who He says He is. If we desire to know Him more fully, He will be made known to us (Luke 11:9-13).

For all that’s unknown, there’s one thing we know for sure–we belong to Him. And if we belong to Him, He will take care of us (Isaiah 46:4). He will be faithful to keep us and present us as faultless (Jude 1:24-25). He will be present with us no matter the circumstance (Joshua 1:9). So, with every call for obedience, I encourage you to think on these things. Think on His holiness. Think on His inability to sin against you. Think on His role and responsibility as your Father. Think on His promise to be with you wherever you go. Even in the midst of fear, discomfort, and difficulty, we can still trust our lives and our surrender to the God who is holy, pure, good, and committed to us. Give Him your yes…even in the unknown. He will take care of you.

Until next time, be ye holy…authentically ❤️

Trust God With Everything

Trust God With Everything

by Nikki Rich Writes ♥ 1 Comment

“And God spoke all these words: ‘I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.'” – Exodus‬ ‭20‬:‭1‬-‭6‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Many of us, whether we’ve grown up in the Christian faith or not, have heard of the Ten Commandments. Of the ten, the commandment related to idolatry always stood out to me because it felt very “Bible days” specific. It didn’t feel relevant to me. I had no crafted image in my home nor was I laid prostrate on the floor praying to some golden image at an altar. I was chilling. I went to church. I confessed Jesus. I couldn’t have idols in my life. And like me, I’d venture to say many of you probably feel the same. That feeling, however, is often deceitful. Idolatry is still present in many of our lives because it doesn’t look how we expect it to. While we expect some crafted image, idols can often be the family we have, the material things we love, and the feelings we possess. Many of us, me included, unfortunately operate in idolatry often. We put our various affections above God, be it our relationships, finances, or even fears/self-perceptions, and let it have the final say. Our yielding and obedience, then, follow the way of the idol. If not confronted by God, in His mercy, to address and remove the idol, we risk living lives less than God’s standard. We risk limiting or even completely missing the power, victory, and freedom that God ultimately wants to give us.

“Ignorant are those who carry about idols of wood, who pray to gods that cannot save.” – Isaiah 45:20b NIV

For me, idolatry started pretty early. Growing up, a certain celebrity (if you know you know lol) was my idol. I knew everything about her. I studied every move. I spent my money (or my parents’ money) on things she was a part of. I looked to her as the ideal of beauty and success. Whatever she said was Bible as far as I was concerned. As an adolescent, I didn’t really understand or see the severity of the issue. Being a big fan was fun. It was exciting. It was fulfilling and fruitful. It made me happy. It produced, in my mind, good things. When I got to college however, I felt my first bout of conviction. In God’s mercy, He made me question this idol’s role in my life. Why did I need this person to feel happy or excited about life? Why did I critique myself because I didn’t look like her or have her talent? Why did I know everything about her but didn’t know much about myself? Why could I spend all my time engulfed in her world but couldn’t give myself, let alone God, that same effort? The red flags multiplied to a point that I realized I needed to back away. But with over ten years wrapped up in that idol, during that time, the transition was not smooth. I went back and forth for a long time. I grieved. Despite the instruction not to, I still found myself listening to and watching that idol’s work. I was sad. It felt unfair. The process of tearing down the idol was messy, but I eventually got there. And though letting go of that particular idol was successful, it wasn’t long before I picked up another one.

The cycle of dropping and picking up idols has followed me up until present day. It was just three weeks ago that God confronted me about another celebrity I admired. And within this past year, more generally, God has highlighted social media distraction as another preferred idol of mine. For me, it’s not necessarily that these celebrities are bad or that wanting to scroll on social media is inherently sinful; rather, it speaks to the larger issue that God wanted to address: escapism. In my life, I’ve used idols to run away from myself. I’ve gotten engulfed in other people’s worlds because I wasn’t content in my own. It was easier to root for the success of my “faves” than it was to do the hard work to find my own success and satisfaction. God made clear to me that I chose to busy myself in other things or with other people because I didn’t trust Him to handle me or help me through my struggles with discontentment. I felt more comfortable running away than sitting with Him. I was looking to those idols to save me from myself, and it wasn’t working. And while I recognize that many of you aren’t dealing with celebrity fandom or mindless scrolling as your idols of choice, the issue still affects many of us. What are the things you consume yourself with because they make you feel good, give you power or worth, or even provide the comfort your heart really needs? Have any of those things taken the place of God in your life? Do you think God is even able to meet those needs for you? Do you even want Him to? Honesty is key here. I had to be honest and admit that I didn’t think God could fix the problems I had. I had to be honest and say that I loved spending time with those idols more than I did spending time with Him. God’s confrontation was an invitation to see myself and my need for Him. God’s confrontation provided an opportunity for God to show me who He is and who He has always been.

“The holiest people are people that just trust God with everything.”1 – Jackie Hill Perry

Since committing to reading the entire Bible in a year, which I started this January, God has intentionally highlighted His trustworthiness to me. At the same time, He’s pinpointed the areas where I lack belief and trust in Him despite the Bible I know. Last year, I wrote about fighting the devil’s facts with God’s truth. I’ve realized that it’s not just about fighting against what the devil has said about me, but it’s also what he’s said about God. As discussed in my last post, I’ve battled with performance and perfectionism since what feels like the beginning of time. It was from these places that I crafted my view of God. Like parents, like teachers, and like friends, I believed that God was pleased when all was well and annoyed or disappointed when I fell short. Why would God want to deal with me? How could He even help me? I felt beyond repair, beyond love. The sadness was high, the shame was high. Of course it seemed better to go somewhere else and trust something else. But as I read through Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, and onward, one theme was consistent — God’s goodness. The Israelites failed and God stayed committed to them. The Israelites turned away from God and God called them back home. The Israelites sinned and God provided atonement. The Israelites lost hope and God comforted them. As I saw these examples reinforced over and over again, something shifted. If I could identify with the ratchetness of the Israelites, then I could receive the love, help, and comfort that God gave them too. If God met their needs and fulfilled His promises to them, then I could believe He’d do it for me too. If the Israelites trusted God with their lives (even if they struggled along the way), so could I (struggle and all). 

Idolatry is such an important topic to me because it really has the power to destroy you if you let it. With its seemingly harmless nature, it easily slides into your life, your thinking, and your heart. It allures you with quick fixes, power, acceptance, love, and comfort. It tells you that it’s safe and worthy of your trust. It plants seeds of doubt towards God. It causes you to think the ways of the world aren’t really that bad. It causes you to falsely assume that you know and can handle it all. And even if you can’t, it tells you that God can’t do a better job. It’s a liar and a fraud. Unfortunately, I was deceived for years. I gave my youth to an idol that didn’t actually help me. I left her more broken and lost than when I found her. I’ve given so much of my time to the idol of distraction with nothing to show for it. Though idolatry might have affected me in ways that you may not relate to, at the core, no matter what your idols may be, idolatry gives you a false and unfulfilling substitute for God. That bank account you set your focus on can be wiped out with a few emergencies. That relationship you chase can’t heal the heart wounds you’re running away from. That job you give all your energy to can still fire you at the drop of a hat. Those kids you pour your entire being into will one day grow up and move out of the house. The idol can’t love you, sustain you, free you, care for you, or save you. Only God can do that.

The process of completely removing idols has been difficult for me. Idols have always felt comforting and numbing for me. They also often work a lot quicker than God seems to (though their “benefits” are short lived). Believe me when I tell you that I understand your hesitancy to drop that “thing” for God. In the thick of hardship and pain, the last thing you want to do is pray to God and wonder if He hears you or even cares. The last thing you want to do is stop entertaining that person that makes you escape from the depression you’re in, if only for a few moments. The last thing you want to do is give up that leadership position or that status at your organization when it was the thing that made you feel purposeful and worth something in this life. I understand. And yet, I really want to challenge you to try God out. I want to challenge you to run to Him first. In moments of temptation, sadness, or cries for comfort, I want you to talk to God first. Let out your frustration to Him before you vent to a friend or binge that TV series to escape your reality. I challenge you to find a Bible passage to read for a few minutes to focus your mind on something higher. I challenge you to give God a chance. I want you to leave space for Him to answer you, show you that He can handle your situation, and reaffirm how deep His love is for you. And maybe it won’t “work” the first time. There have been plenty of times I’ve gone to God, didn’t feel anything after, and watched hours of YouTube instead to numb my emotions. I get it. But I implore you to keep seeking Him. Continue to be open and expectant. Find scripture about what God did or promised and call Him out on it. Ask to experience the fulfillment of His Word in your life. He will show you. He will reveal Himself. He will bring that comfort and support. He will give peace even if the situation you’re in doesn’t change all at once. He will do what He said. I know this because the Word says He doesn’t lie nor does His Word return to Him void (Numbers 23:19). I know this because He’s done it for me.

My final ask is that you’ll watch the video I’ve linked below from Jackie Hill Perry on this topic. I encourage you to take inventory of the idols in your life, get to the heart of the issue, find scripture that addresses those deep needs, and go to God with His Word. I pray that you’ll give Him a chance to show Himself strong in this area of your life. I pray that you’ll be gracious with yourself in this process. It’s hard out here but you’re not alone. I’m here with you, and most importantly, God is here with you. He’ll never leave nor forsake you (Deuteronomy 31:8).

Until next time, be ye holy…authentically. ❤️

1 https://youtu.be/3jk_WwdZhO0?si=NwE2PRkK9C4D_BDK

Hey Mighty Warrior!

Hey Mighty Warrior!

by Nikki Rich Writes ♥ 4 Comments

Fear.

This invisible giant taunts and threatens many of us day after day. We’re not good enough. We’re not brave enough. We’re not strong enough. We’re not capable enough. How do you handle these attacks? Do you shrink back or rise up to the occasion? While I’ve shrunk back more times that I’d like, this current pandemic has felt like a personal challenge from the Lord to step up to the plate for His kingdom.

Admittedly, this challenge hasn’t been the most pleasant. While I have spent some days in the calm of hope, the majority of my days have been in mental fights against forceful waves of frustration. Why can’t I rise up in faith? Why do I keep meeting God’s calls with hesitancy, or worse, paralysis? Is God going to dump me in irritation and move on to someone more willing? In one of my more recent moments of frustration, God, graciously, provided me with some encouragement that I want to share with you. Let’s dive into the story of Gideon: a guy very much like me and probably a lot like you too.

“The angel of the Lord came and sat down under the oak in Ophrah that belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, where his son Gideon was threshing wheat in a winepress to keep it from the Midianites. When the angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon, he said, “The Lord is with you, mighty warrior.” “Pardon me, my lord,” Gideon replied, “but if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all his wonders that our ancestors told us about when they said, ‘Did not the Lord bring us up out of Egypt?’ But now the Lord has abandoned us and given us into the hand of Midian.”The Lord turned to him and said, “Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian’s hand. Am I not sending you?” “Pardon me, my lord,” Gideon replied, “but how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.””
‭‭ – Judges‬ ‭6:11-15‬ ‭NIV‬‬

When we meet Gideon, he is hiding in a winepress to avoid the oppression of the Midianites. Midian, an enemy country of Israel during this time, was known to destroy and steal the food and possessions of the Israelites. It is surprising then, as Gideon hides in fear, that the angel of the Lord greets Gideon with the name “mighty warrior.” Not missing a beat, Gideon looks at his fear, his current circumstances, and his overwhelming inadequacies and immediately rejects the title. Have you, like Gideon, ever disqualified yourself when God tried to give you a new name? He may have called you something spiritual like righteous or worthy or forgiven. He may have called you something natural like business owner, first generation college graduate, or mommy. Whatever it is, how did you handle His name for you? Did you look at your lack of a spouse, your lack of mentorship, your constant mistakes, or your innumerable flaws and tell God it wasn’t possible? If so, trust me, you’re not alone!

While our automatic disqualifications may seem sensible, they’re nothing more than detrimental and stifling. Furthermore, in the act of disqualifying ourselves, we end up committing an even greater offense. Look again at the angel’s declaration. What’s the critical piece of information Gideon discredited? The Lord is with you. Can we talk about the ease in which we also disqualify God because we don’t understand His plans?
God put me here but…
God gave me the desire but…
God told me but…
It’s the “but” that often keeps us stuck in the paralysis of fear. Take a second to think about your excuses. What would happen if we actually put respect on God’s name and track record? What would happen if we finally saw the value in His presence? What would happen if we actually gave Him a fair shot to prove Himself true? God tells Gideon (us) that He’s the one initiating the sending. If He’s sending then He’s implying that we will be victorious. Unfortunately, many of us shut Him out before He can even finish the sentence. When did we become too big for God to handle? When did our situation become too complex for God to understand? When did the power of our fears trump the all knowing and all powerful God of the universe? Many of us need to re-evaluate our view of God. He’s the God who caused the planets to be, who gave you breath, and who saved your life. When did those things become common? When did those things become not enough? I pray that as we meditate on His word we would rekindle our reverence and awe for Him. He’s big enough to carry us through our fears. Will we let Him?

“Gideon said to God, “If you will save Israel by my hand as you have promised— look, I will place a wool fleece on the threshing floor. If there is dew only on the fleece and all the ground is dry, then I will know that you will save Israel by my hand, as you said.” And that is what happened. Gideon rose early the next day; he squeezed the fleece and wrung out the dew—a bowlful of water. Then Gideon said to God, “Do not be angry with me. Let me make just one more request. Allow me one more test with the fleece, but this time make the fleece dry and let the ground be covered with dew.” That night God did so. Only the fleece was dry; all the ground was covered with dew.” – Judges‬ ‭6:36-40‬ ‭NIV‬‬

I’m currently learning that the call God has for each of us is truly a journey. There will be moments of great confidence and great fear all along the same path. This truth is not something we should shy away from but rather embrace wholeheartedly. One of the most beautiful things about God, as shown in this passage, is that He is more gracious towards us than we sometimes give Him credit for. While He can often be no nonsense, He can also be extremely gentle and patient. Take a look again at Gideon. Despite Gideon’s acceptance of the call (Judges 6:24), he later suffered another moment of fear. With a need for reassurance, Gideon asked God to perform a miracle as confirmation of his victory. Though God didn’t have to, without fuss, He performed the miracle. Still unsure, Gideon respectfully asked God to do another. Clearly, Gideon was scared. He needed to be absolutely certain that this was really what God called Him to before confronting the battle head-on.

How did God react when Gideon requested the second miracle? Did God rebuke him? Did God get annoyed, change His mind, and not use Gideon? No! God performed the signs Gideon asked. Because God is a God of love, of empathy, of grace, and of comfort, He met Gideon where He was. This exchange helped me to realize the power of dependency. As shown through Gideon, God honors our need for help. He honors our need for reassurance. He honors our desire to please Him even in our fears. He wants us to come to Him for strength so that our trust and confidence in Him can grow. Moreover, because of our dependency, when the victory is won (and it will be!), there will be no doubt as to Who gets the glory. I plead with you to never feel ashamed of or shrink away from your need for help. Remember, God can’t help someone who thinks they don’t need it. Let the pride go. Pastor Steven Furtick said it best: “The end of yourself is the beginning of grace.”

“Gideon and the hundred men with him reached the edge of the camp at the beginning of the middle watch, just after they had changed the guard. They blew their trumpets and broke the jars that were in their hands. The three companies blew the trumpets and smashed the jars. Grasping the torches in their left hands and holding in their right hands the trumpets they were to blow, they shouted, “A sword for the Lord and for Gideon!” While each man held his position around the camp, all the Midianites ran, crying out as they fled.” – Judges‬ ‭7:19-21‬ ‭NIV‬‬

The victory belonged to Gideon the moment God called him a mighty warrior. Though God knew it, Gideon needed to see it for himself. Through this journey, full of bold steps of faith and cries for reassurance, Gideon was able to see that God could be trusted not only for this battle but for anything Gideon would need in his life. Similarly, in whatever we’re called to do, God knows our true name. He’s willing to go through the journey with us as long as we’re open enough to let Him in. As I continue to walk on this journey of faith over fear, I pray that you would join me. We’ve got work to do for the Lord and it is only by the strength of God that we will get it done. Take the first step and let Him tell you your name without interruption. Be open enough to accept it before you understand how it could be accomplished through someone like you. Remember, His strength is made perfect in your weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9). I can’t wait to see the fullness of your name realized.

Keep fighting for the true you, twentysomethings ❤️

P.S. If you ever need reassurance about God’s devotion to your victory, mediate on Isaiah 41:13-16.

Don’t Mind the Wind

Don’t Mind the Wind

by Nikki Rich Writes ♥ 2 Comments

Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw Him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear. 

But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

“Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to You on the water.”

“Come,” He said.

Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”

Immediately Jesus reached out His hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” He said, “why did you doubt?”

Matthew 14:25-31

My favorite person in the Bible is Peter. I’ve always identified with his zeal for Christ coupled with his overwhelmingly flawed humanity. The way in which Jesus so deeply loved him, despite his mistakes, always gave me hope. Currently, God has been pushing me to truly conquer fear with faith. He has put me in situations that require my yes even when it’s terrifyingly scary to do so. In the middle of one of these fear provoking situations, God drew me to this particular passage about my favorite guy, Peter. When I usually read about Peter, I read the words with a smile, understanding his flaws and extending my sympathy towards him. As I read this passage however, I immediately felt sad and convicted. It was something about Peter starting to sink that really messed me up. 

What’s particularly convicting about this passage is that prior to this moment, Jesus had just finished performing the miracle of feeding thousands with only two fish and five loaves of bread. Peter saw and was an active participant in this miracle. Despite that, in this new situation at the lake, the evidence of Jesus’ power meant nothing.  Why on earth did wind frighten Peter when God clearly called him forward? Wasn’t it obvious that Jesus would make sure the wind and waves didn’t hurt Peter? Ready to call Peter out for his foolish doubt, I realized that I am no different than him.

“You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.” – Isaiah 26:3

As I reread the passage, I began to focus on the moment where Peter looked away from Jesus and focused on the wind. It was when he changed his focus that he ultimately began to sink. Aren’t we the same? Don’t the winds of life change our focus too? The wind, though different for all of us, tends to be centered around those “what if” taunts. For Peter, the presence of the wind reminded him of his humanity and  made him question if he could actually stay afloat. For us, the wind may be negative self-talk, life experiences that tell us we can’t succeed, or even the devil whispering lies in our ears that seem too true to negate. The presence of the loud and threatening wind makes us look inward and focus on our inabilities. Keeping our focus on God, however, reminds us that we aren’t doing life alone. In every way that we are inadequate or unsure, God is there with strength, boldness, confidence, purpose, and peace.

We are called to be a light. We are called to be positive. We are called to have hope. We are called to stand strong in the face of fear. For us to have these qualities, we must believe in the foundation and covering of God in our lives. We have to choose, no matter how scared or even stupid we may feel, to believe that the character of God is true. It is faith that moves God (Hebrews 11:6). It is faith that helps us fight against the constant attacks on our lives (Ephesians 6:16). It is faith that renews our strength when life seems overwhelming (Isaiah 40:31). All Peter needed to do was keep his eyes on Jesus. Jesus was a solid and steady foundation amid the tumultuous winds and waves. 

The most beautiful part of this passage is how Jesus responded to Peter. Despite Peter’s actions, Jesus still, immediately, reached out His hand to save Peter from drowning. Jesus called Peter out on his doubt but still held onto him with love. Thank God for all the times He still held onto us, doubt and all. I pray that the next time we are faced with winds that threaten to steal our peace, we won’t need to be rescued from the water. I pray that we will continue to walk forward, trusting that if God says come, we don’t need to worry about anything else. 

Eyes up, twentysomethings ❤️

You Scared or Nah?

You Scared or Nah?

by Nikki Rich Writes ♥ 4 Comments

Fear is one of the primary emotions that us twenty-somethings feel, at one time or another. We may be afraid to start a career (or switch careers). We may be afraid to step into adulthood, leaving our parents/support systems behind. We may even be afraid to put ourselves first, going against the requests and requirements of others. No matter the situation, operating in fear is immobilizing at worst and a short-lived thrill at best. It is no surprise then that God urges us, constantly, not to operate in fear. The problem is, unfortunately, we tend not to listen.

Fear has been a mainstay in my life since the beginning. As someone who would often be labeled as a shy perfectionist, I constantly over analyzed everything and never spoke up for fear of rejection or disapproval. While God has challenged me, in the past few months, to see fear and move pass it, I can see it manifesting once again as I enter a transitional period in my life. During this period so far, I have seen many constant and secure people, opportunities, and beliefs change and evolve. Though these changes are good, the fear of the unknown or the “how to” is often paralyzing. As I’ve prayed about it, God has begun to open my eyes regarding this fear. I hope that as you read on, you can see yourself in me and use the revelation I have found to guide you into greater strength and renewed courage.

“So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” – Matthew 6:31-33

This is one of my favorite scriptures for various reasons. When I think about having fear as a result of being uncertain, this scripture succinctly explains how foolish that fear is. Jesus, immediately, equates asking questions about your basic necessities with being a pagan or an unbeliever. If you’re honest, initially, Jesus sounds dramatic. We are humans with needs. Of course we would be concerned about our next meal or the clothes we need. Maybe, more personally, it could be questions about how you should approach your boss about an injustice or how you can start the business without any money and/or investors. You may have questions about where you’re getting your money from to pay your tuition for the next semester. You may even ask how you will be able to help others with your limited resources. No matter the question that comes to mind, it is real and valid. Even still, Jesus let’s us know that these questions show unbelief.

The purpose of His statement was to put forth a challenge for us to consider. If we claim we are believers, what exactly are we believing for? Who exactly are we believing in? Jesus goes on to tell us that we need not worry because the heavenly Father already knows that we need these things. Do you trust that God knows what you need and will provide for you? If you did, what would be your reasoning for fear? Wouldn’t you feel confident, knowing that God already handled it?

Jesus ends by urging us to seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all those things we need will be added to us. This is critical to the Christian faith, as a whole, but more intimately, for our level of peace in times of fear, difficulty, or transition. To seek His kingdom and righteousness is to seek Him. It is us desiring to know His word, to know His promises, and to test Him in the things He has said. It is submitting our will to His and allowing Him to have reign over our lives, from decisions to actions. It is desiring and making actionable steps, with His help, to grow our faith, to carry His character, and to be a light and example to others. God isn’t a genie. He doesn’t just do at our command. On the contrary, He is moved to act by our faith. He is moved by our love for Him. If we love Him, we seek Him. If we seek Him, we love Him even more. The more we love, the more we trust. The more we trust, the more that fear dissipates. God has us. Period. He will always take care of His children.

“Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you until all the work for the service of the temple of the Lord is finished.” – 1 Chronicles 28:20

Fear also, often, resembles feelings of inadequacy. We are often scared to try or scared of change because we believe we can’t do it. Not only did Paul say that we could do all things through Christ (Philippians 4:13), but King David reminded his son Solomon, in this scripture, that God won’t leave Solomon by himself to complete the work set before him. Not only would God not leave him (forsake), God would also not fail him. David, in essence, reminds Solomon that God is constant, steady, and dependable. God won’t suddenly change His mind and no longer support us. We can trust in Him because He promised (and He doesn’t lie) that He’d stay right with us. This brings comfort because it brings forth confidence. Because we’re not alone and because we’re supported for the long run, we can step forward with assurance and take the leaps of faith God has called us to take.

“I lift up my eyes to the mountains -where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip– He who watches over you will not slumber.” – Psalm 121: 1-3

I wrote this as encouragement to continue on in the pursuit of your dreams and passions. As life changes and things become uncertain, stand on this solid foundation. God knows exactly what you need. God provides. God doesn’t fail. God doesn’t forsake. God helps. God sees you. God understands. God will be with you wherever you go. I pray that you all sit in those truths and begin to believe them. I challenge you to repeat them in times of fear. I urge you to seek Him and grow your faith in Him. Ask Him. Challenge Him. Let Him know that you’re down for the ride.

Fear not for the Lord is with you*, twentysomethings.

*Isaiah 41:10

Closed Mouths Don’t Get Fed

Closed Mouths Don’t Get Fed

by Nikki Rich Writes ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Making bold requests to God has always been an area of struggle for me. While I have no problem asking for help in my attitude or that He protect me in my travels, asking for life altering things causes me anxiety. I feel both conflicted and stressed when I desire to ask Him to make an impactful shift in my life, such as in finances or creating opportunities to grow in my passions, because it feels disrespectful. Not only does it feel disrespectful to seemingly order God around, it also feels like I have no trust in His plan. Because these were my views of asking boldly, I simply never prayed those prayers. It wasn’t until a few weeks ago that a pressing to open my mouth and ask really hit me. The beliefs of distrust and disrespect held me back before, but now, beginning to explore the truth about bold requests, I wanted to share this with you. My hope is that you get the confidence to ask God soon! Blessings and breakthroughs are waiting for you to open your mouth.

“Whatever you ask in My name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in My name, I will do it.” – John 14:13-14

This particular scripture was placed on my heart a few weeks ago when the initial pressing to ask came over me. Without forcing itself on me, the scripture laid there waiting for me to interact with it. I heard it. I read it. I smiled at it. I didn’t, however, act upon it. While the scripture was beautiful, full of Jesus’ promise to glorify the Father through our requests, it sounded too good to be true.  Jesus starting with “whatever you ask” immediately made me cringe. How could Jesus say “whatever” as if we actually know what’s best for our lives? If I asked for something crazy, I thought, would God still honor it? Were there rules and guidelines to this? Were there any limits I needed to know about? It felt like a trick or a scam. Jesus wasn’t specific enough. Besides, who was I to even approach God like that? Wasn’t I, as a Christian, supposed to just trust Him and let Him do His thing?

Believing I had a right to approach God with requests was my biggest hurdle. It wasn’t that I thought I wasn’t His child. It wasn’t that I was afraid of God. To me, it went back to respect. As a mere human, it felt rude and extremely cocky to think I could just tell God what I needed Him to do. Again, why would He even listen to me? I wasn’t on His level and I definitely didn’t know myself or my life course better than He did. Sit down and shut up, I thought. God had it covered just fine without my two cents.

“In Christ and through faith in Him, we may approach God with freedom and confidence.” – Ephesians 3:12

“Until now, you have asked nothing in My name. Ask and you will receive, that your joy may be full.” – John 16:24

These two scriptures above serve as rebuttals to my thought process. Ephesians 3:12 speaks directly to the belief of inadequacy and lack of rights. It is true that I am a flawed human whose sin makes me unworthy to stand face to face with God. It’s also true, however, that I have a new status because of Jesus. Having faith in Christ and the debt He paid for us on the Cross, I do have the right to approach God freely and confidently. I don’t have to be scared or feel unworthy. I no longer need to shy away from asking Him because I don’t know everything like He does. He told me to come boldly before Him. As His child, His job is to take care of me and lead me.

John 16:24 speaks to what we gain when we use our right to ask. Not only do we have a promise to receive what we are requesting, we also have a promise that our joy will be full. The promise of joy particularly touched me because joy can get pushed aside by life’s lows. Specifically, when we feel like our lives aren’t everything they could be, our joy tends to diminish. Joy grows as the feeling of His constant presence grows.  Asking allows us to be in fellowship with God, to grow in our knowledge of Him, and to see His faithfulness at work. That’s what He’s desiring for us.

“If you remain in Me and My words in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given to you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.” – John 15:7-8

Remember when I told you that the “whatever you ask” in John 14:13-14 stressed me out? God provided a response to that as well. Requests do indeed have guidelines. Jesus precedes “ask whatever you wish” with “if you remain in Me and My words in you”. What I learned from this is that as you continue to grow in God and seek to do His will, your desires naturally begin to line up with His. You won’t be asking for outlandish things when your heart is set on glorifying Him. Everything that you begin to ask will be for His glory and His purpose. He will be delighted to give you your heart’s desires because it was His plan for you all along.

I share all of this with you simply to encourage you to open your mouth and boldly start making your requests known. The devil is set on making us think we’re too shy or too unworthy. On the contrary, God is excited for you to approach Him and He tells us to do so with freedom and confidence, no matter our history. We are redeemed because of Christ and we need to start acting like it, in every area of our lives. Let’s start today by boldly approaching His throne and receiving the promises He has been waiting to give us.

Be bold about it, twentysomethings! ❤️

Mind Your Business

Mind Your Business

by Nikki Rich Writes ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

“Then I observed that most people are motivated to success because they envy their neighbors. But this, too, is meaningless—like chasing the wind.” – Ecclesiastes 4:4

There is nothing that defines adulthood quite like working. For me, just starting almost a year ago, adulting really began to settle in as soon as I started punching the clock. While working has been a great experience, with a lot of professional and personal growth, there’s one thing that really annoys me about it: its spirits of competition and envy.
As someone who has battled deeply with comparing myself to everyone else and feeling like I never measured up, I believe I’m sensitive to these spirits now. I can spot them a mile away in myself and in others around me. I’m hoping that this post can shed some light and help provide you with a new perspective on how to overcome this battle within yourself and how to ignore it from others. This is a how to guide on minding your business!

“For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.” – 1 John 2:16-17

I think one of the biggest lies we all accept is that we have to prove ourselves. It starts from childhood. We have to get the best grades and hang with the coolest kids. As we get older, that turns into having the best car, going to the best college, and making the most money. We are constantly trying to meet these standards to assert our importance and value. While there may be nothing inherently wrong with attaining these things, the problem lies in your motive behind it. What/who are you doing it for? Why are you striving for it? God didn’t tell you that you were worthy or shined bright because of what you did or attained. You shine and you slay because of Him and His spirit within you. The first step in minding your business is realizing that this life and its standards are problematic. I’m not telling you to be lazy and complacent. I hope that you continue to grow and prosper. That being said, please pay attention to your reasons why. The world is passing away and all that work and struggle to outshine someone else won’t matter in the end.

“Stop regarding man, whose breath of life is in his nostrils; For why should he be esteemed?” – Isaiah 2:22

Other people can really shake you if you let them. Speaking for myself, when I was younger and heavily trapped in the spirits of comparison and envy, I was miserable and literally sick at times. It was hard for me to feel like I mattered and had value because I wasn’t like “them”, doing what “they” were doing. I thought that I would fall by the wayside, never seen, never heard, and never cared about. Even now, I feel those spirits try to creep back up in me. Thankfully, it doesn’t have the same effect on me anymore (shout out to the pruning process). Whereas before I was terrified that I would be forgotten and deemed unimportant, now I know that I matter regardless of whether or not someone affirms my value. I am God’s child and I’m here because He has found me valuable. He has given me a specific destiny to walk out. He has given me certain tasks to complete. I am in the mindset now that what’s happening in the world can’t and shouldn’t affect me. God’s hand is on me so what am I tripping for? Whether it is you dealing with envy or someone else is envious of you, remind yourself that we are all on our own paths. God’s purpose for us is unique. You can never be them and they can never be you. The sooner you release the fear associated with not measuring up, the easier it’ll be to mind your business and stay in peace.

“If you fully obey the LORD your God and carefully follow all his commands I give you today, the LORD your God will set you high above all the nations on earth.” – Deuteronomy 28:1

My hope for this post is to have you begin to see yourself as already of greatest importance and value. The spirits of competition and envy, rooted in our feelings of inadequacy, have no place in you as a child of God. If you didn’t have purpose and power, you wouldn’t still be here. I encourage you, in the workplace, at school, or wherever else, to shine on. Continue to operate in the gifts that God has given you, constantly learning and growing along the way. Do this for God. Honor Him with your knowledge, your skills, and your attitude. In the middle of all the competition for the promotion, accolades, praises, or anything else, don’t be bothered. Be still and know that God already has you in His hands and will elevate you in ways that baffle others around you. Stay the course and God will show out on your behalf. Watch Him work!

Mind your business, twentysomethings.