Tag: waiting

Overwhelmed

Overwhelmed

by Nikki Rich Writes ♥ 3 Comments

“If I could speak honestly, it don’t feel good. But growing never does. It don’t seem fair for You to call this love. But if necessary pain is the ingredient for change, even when life may be bittersweet, it’s working just for me.” – Kirk Franklin

As a twenty something, I know you’ve felt overwhelmed at least a few times in your life. You may have felt overwhelmed by work deadlines, bill payments, school assignments, business plans, or even just what to eat for dinner. Likewise, I’m sure you’ve been overwhelmed by your dreams more than you can count. Think about it. How many times have you seen yourself in the position you desire, living a life that currently seems unattainable? How often do you space out from the real world and instead fill your mind with creative ideas and plans to propel your career? Despite your dreams and aspirations, admittedly, it can be a real disappointment to look around and see that life appears to be stagnant. While you’re sincerely grateful for what you have and who you currently are in this season, discontentment can still easily creep in when everything you dreamed about seems light years away. What do you do to cope? How do you endure when you don’t really see the light at the end of the tunnel?

This is me. Every morning, I wake up thinking about the hopes and dreams I have for my life. Despite my faith, the gaping holes between my now and my hope to be still feel overwhelming. Though I make attempts toward my goals, I find myself unsure and slow moving, not nearly as graceful as others around me seem to portray.  I hear tons of advice from family, friends, and spiritual leaders but still feel a void, wondering how, if, and when it’ll all apply to me. I feel tired by my exertion while simultaneously annoyed by my rest. I’m in the middle of this thing, trying to fight for the dream, while resistance around me taunts me to settle. The hike is all uphill and if I don’t make it to the top, I’ll succumb to the land of complacency. Overwhelmed.

I’ve recently been obsessed with Kirk Franklin’s new song “Just for Me”. He asserts and assures the necessity of the fight, of disappointments, and of dreams deferred. What I love most about the song is the declaration that everything is working out even though the process is tumultuous and unnerving. As a Christian, I’m often tempted to operate out of a false righteous strength during more overwhelming seasons. This “strength” disregards real hurt, pain, and disappointment and replaces it with a smile unaffected by affliction or heavy pruning. The strength asserts that everything going on is fine and dandy because in time, God will make it all better. Though it is true that God will make everything right in its time (Ecclesiastes 3), that doesn’t mean I enjoy the waiting and wondering. I’ve learned, especially during difficult times, the importance of being honest about your stress, worry, and weariness. God cares when you hurt. He doesn’t want you to try to figure it all out on your own. He isn’t interested in you being tough and unbothered. What He really wants is dependence. He wants you to lean on Him not just for direction but also for perspective and revelation. It is only when you rest in Him, away from your plans and schemes, that your mindset starts changing and you experience real strength.

God’s revelation and perspective will change your outlook on slow-moving and difficult times in your life. You will be able to admit how painful the feelings of insufficiency and inability are while simultaneously using those feelings as the motivation necessary to keep fighting for the dreams you know God placed down in you. You’ll acknowledge how tiring it is to constantly hike uphill yet still see the hike as an endurance builder, preparing you for the more you’ll have to conquer at your next level. Simply, you will no longer see yourself as a failure. You’ll see every struggle, every overwhelming moment, and every mistake as preparatory steps. You’ll realize that you had to go through those situations in order to become better equipped for when your time actually comes. Though overwhelming moments will continue to threaten your peace, the change in your perspective will be the way you push pass them and continue believing. Remember, God called you for His purpose. He will make sure it gets done. The key, then, is really to hold on and trust God’s timing with your life. You need to relax. You already know God works everything out for your good (Romans 8:28). You already know that God will give you everything you need to fulfill His purpose for your life (Philippians 1:6). Don’t give up. Your dreams are not in vain.

Its working out for you, twenty somethings 💕🙏🏾

Success Through the Storm

Success Through the Storm

by Nikki Rich Writes ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

BE GRATEFUL.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. – Philippians 4:6

“Say thank you” is a phrase we’ve heard since childhood. Though gratitude should be ingrained in our psyche and apart of everything we do, oftentimes, it is the first thing that jumps ship during a trial. The storms of life can often produce stress and strain so intense that we’re too preoccupied with staying afloat to even consider our blessings. No matter the severity of the storm, it has the potential to throw us completely off track, if we allow it to overtake us. How then do we stay strong and keep focused? How do we cope when we’re fed up, stressed out, and worn down? I challenge you to look up long enough to say thank you to the One keeping you above water. Your gut reaction may be to roll your eyes or sigh in frustration. You may question if you’re even above water or rather drowning deeper into despair. Looking up, however, quickly determines your placement. Coming to Him with thanksgiving, even over the many small blessings we take for granted, reinforces the truth that you really aren’t alone. Your gratitude points to God’s hand in your life, especially when it feels like everything is falling apart. God promised that He wouldn’t leave or forsake you.* When you begin to tell Him thank you, you realize that the promise is true. You may be fighting for your life, peace, and purpose, but you definitely aren’t fighting by yourself. Spend some time saying thank You and allow yourself to be comforted by His presence.

STAY FAITHFUL.

Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love Him. – James 1:12

Faithfulness, mastered beautifully by Christ, is often a struggle for many of us. Jesus remained faithful to the will for His life, even in the midst of persecution, rejection, and death. How can we emulate Jesus in this way? The answer is in our tenacity. During the most difficult parts of your storm, it is easy to succumb to the hopelessness of it. You may push away from the persecution and dissatisfaction in hopes of finding peace elsewhere. What if the breakthrough, however, is in planting your feet into the ground and holding on for dear life? God rewards those who hold on. Staying planted, even when difficult, is what builds the determination and focus necessary in preparing you for what God has next. Faithfulness not only prepares, it refines. Character is refined in faithfulness because there is no choice but to cling to God when everything in you wants to run. The clinging produces dependence. Dependence produces expectation. Expectation produces strength. Strength produces greater faith. No longer is it you fighting to stay alive but rather God working, through you, to put the storm under your feet. It all starts with simply sticking with God, no matter what y’all go through together. The reward is coming. Keep those heels dug in.

YOU’RE OKAY.

Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest? – Luke 12:22-26

Believing you’re okay, even when life tells you different, has been the hardest truth to grasp, personally. It sounds cute, simplistic, carefree, and even kind. I’ve found, however, that this truth is extremely deep. So deep, in fact, that it can only be accepted as fact once you’ve harnessed the power of gratitude and faithfulness. Life’s storms have a way of making you feel like it’s the end of the world. No matter how many trials God has brought you through, each new one still feels like a major crisis (at least for me!). You feel like you can’t do this anymore. You want to quit. You want to cry. You’re tired and restless. You’re confused and misunderstood. Everything is in shambles yet God continues to whisper “you’re okay”. How is it even possible to believe Him? Jesus made it plain and simple when He told us not to worry about our life. You’re okay because God calls you valuable. If you are valuable to Him, He promises to meet every need. Your value is shown in your gratitude, reminding you that God has never left your side. Your value is shown in your faithfulness, seeing God’s sustaining power hold you steady even during the heavy winds. If God says everything is fine, trust that simplicity. He’s handling the hard stuff. All you need to do is hold onto His hand and His word. You’re okay.

Be grateful. Stay faithful. You’re okay.

This has been my anchor for months now, as God has held me through many of life’s storms and transitions. I pray that you will take some time to meditate on these words and find your strength to keep fighting. God’s got it. God understands. God is taking care of you. Don’t let your hope go. The storms can’t defeat you.

Keep holding on, twentysomethings!

 

* Deuteronomy 31:6

 

You or Him?

You or Him?

by Nikki Rich Writes ♥ 5 Comments

I’ve been feeling uneasy. Fearing complacency and desiring a higher calling, I’ve come to God boldly with prayers for change, opportunities, and influence. I’ve asked God for financial increase, for mentors and coaches, and for new placements to make the most impact. Though I knew God was happy that I started to practice praying boldly, He didn’t want me to stop there. He challenged me with the simple question: What’s your motive?

The question took me aback. Was it necessary to have a motive? Weren’t my desires automatically going to be aligned to His will, because I sought after Him? As an example, let’s take my prayer for financial increase. I asked God to remove my student loan debt and to increase my salary so that I could pursue and acquire more than I was currently able to.  This wasn’t a malicious request. I had no desire to flex for Instagram or put others down for not having the finances I had (hoped to have). I simply wanted a relief from the weight of debt and bills on me. “That’s great and everything, but what do you need the money  for specifically?” He responded. As I thought about it, the only things that popped into my head were vacations, lack of stress, and more freedom. With God nowhere on the list,  I knew that my answer wasn’t enough.

“When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.” – James 4:3

The ‘flex’ is one of our biggest enemies, today. Everybody posts their highlight reels. We’re flooded with pictures and stories about people traveling across the world. We’re informed about the latest person who quit their job to start a successful business. What we don’t see, at least not often, is the person who went out for a dream prematurely and fell flat on their face. We also rarely see the insecurity and fear that many people who post these highlights actually have. As it relates to motive, many of us find ourselves asking for or pursuing things for our own gain, for our own ego, to fulfill a drought in our life emotionally, or to follow the trends. How often do we, if ever, ask God what He wants us to do? Does God want you to start the business this year or does He want you to wait another year? Does God want you to spend your savings on vacations or does He want you to use it for a different purpose? Is flexing what God wants you to do or is He trying to mature you in the areas of humility and responsibility before bringing you a great opportunity? These are the things that we need to stop and think about. These are the things that matter most. Are we seeking alignment with God or are we here to run our own life?

After a few weeks, praying specifically about how God wanted to use my desires, I received the beginning of a breakthrough. I found myself in a situation where my gift of encouragement really shined through. As I helped someone I loved with their sadness and confusion about life, I suddenly began to receive visions about who I was and what I was supposed to be doing. After I got off the phone, I immediately took out a notebook and wrote down everything that came to me. The more I wrote, the more revelation I had. I began to see how other people around me played a role in my vision and how my desires for opportunity, mentoring, and finances fit in the puzzle. When I finally put the pen down, I smiled with excitement. Was this it?! Was I ready?! Was it time?! I knew God had answered my prayer and gave me His perspective on what it was I desired. Full of joy, my desire to reach that vision strengthened.

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, that He may lift you up in due time.” – 1 Peter 5:6-7

There was a major problem, however. Though I received a glimpse of what would come from my life, I had no indication that it was time to pursue it. I couldn’t tell if I was ready for it or not. I wasn’t sure if things would line up as I stepped out on faith or if I had to have more preparation first? This standstill became extremely frustrating. While I don’t doubt God’s plan to give me a future and a hope (Jeremiah 29:11), the waiting required to see that plan is what’s difficult. How can I stay where I am when I’m fired up for the next thing? How does the puzzle come together when I don’t see any of the pieces on the table yet? These are the types of questions that feed the temptation to walk in front of God. These are the types of questions that bring motive back to the forefront. A wrong motive will have us ready to show out, ready to quit, or ready to tell everyone before it’s time. We may want to boast or brag or we may want to get out of the pressures that we are facing. If God tells us to trust Him through the process, no matter how difficult, murky, or time consuming it is, will we obey and wait for Him?

“Everything is possible for You. Take this cup from Me. Yet not what I will, but what You will.” – Mark 14:36

Jesus spoke these words before His impending crucifixion. No matter what He felt like doing, He still submitted to the will of God the Father and died for our salvation. While, thank God, nothing we have to wait for or endure is this difficult, the concept is still the same. Will we let God reign over our ideas of time, opportunity, and ability or will we overstep Him? Don’t let your rush to escape, flex, or even to do great work supersede the timing and instruction of God. He doesn’t make mistakes. Submission is difficult, painful, and frustrating but it builds character, strength, and faith. Hold on and stay in alignment.

It’s not always about you, twentysomethings.