A Note from Kelly King: Trust and truth. Those are two really important words for women in leadership. Our new contributor, Whitley Tracey, will encourage you today as she shares her personal journey of trusting the Lord with her future and resting in the truth of God’s Word.
My little sister got married this last month, and it was easily one of the best weekends of my life. The months of planning paid off and everything was perfect, not the least bit stressful, and simply incredible. Everything from the flowers to the dancing, the family and friends who drove from near and far, the food, the sometimes crazy Oklahoma weather, my dad’s teary-eyed speech, sweet conversations and laughter through the night, and of course the bride and groom. It was all so perfect, and I was overcome with joy.
Then Sunday afternoon came.
As I packed my bags in my car, I could feel the sting welling up in my heart. I barely made it onto the interstate before the tears started coming down. All I could think about was that suddenly it seemed as though everything had changed, but I was the same…my passenger seat was still empty for the remaining three-hour drive back home.
Fear of missing out. Fear of missing out on a good thing. It’s real, and I was consumed with it.
Being the oldest, I have always gone through seasons of life before my sister, being able to guide and help her, but now in her new season of marriage, I suddenly don’t have that experience anymore. Fear of missing out. Missing out on that opportunity.
You see, I very much have the desire to be married, and as of my last birthday, I am now closer to 30 than I am 25, and there are days that I wonder “is this marriage thing ever going to happen for me?” Missing out on a good thing.
Do you know this feeling, friend? The feeling that you are missing out on what everyone else has? Maybe it isn’t marriage for you. Maybe it is that desire to be a mother, and that fear of missing out spills over after leaving yet another friend’s baby shower. Or maybe you feel like all that hard work and extra time at the office deserves to be rewarded, but all you keep seeing are your colleagues moving up the ladder to bigger and better things. Whatever your circumstance, we can all relate to feeling like something we desire and long for is happening for others, but not for us.
As I sat at my kitchen table that next morning, continuing to focus on these things that haven’t happened for me, the Lord softly whispered to my heart: Focus on Me. He led me to a verse in Psalm 62, where David is crying out to God.
“He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken. On God rests my salvation and my glory; my mighty rock, my refuge is God. Trust in Him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us.”
This was the complete opposite of my thinking. I was believing the lies of my circumstances, while this verse showed me the truth. I love when God’s Word grounds me and causes me to confront the lie and return to Him. David was not depending on himself, his circumstances, or his own resources, but on the Lord God Almighty. When things are not going as planned, it can be difficult to navigate those circumstances when our focus isn’t on God. God’s delays are not always God’s denials. However, our lack of patience can be a tool the enemy uses to lead us on dangerous and devastating detours.
It is easy to focus on ourselves; it’s our sinful nature. This lack of faith—keeping my eyes on what I don’t have—has kept me from experiencing God’s presence in my life and all that He is doing in and around me. However, when I focus on the Great I Am, the Creator of the Universe, the One who came to save, my perspective on everything changes. It’s no longer focused on me; it’s focused on God.
The Lord has been so sweet to take me on this journey this past month through Scripture directing my focus to who God is, His promises, and His truth. This journey has led me from fear, discontentment, sadness, and discouragement surrounding my circumstances to a mind and heart that is focused on a Heavenly Father who is a promise keeper, a life giver, and who is always faithful.
I don’t know about you, but I needed this reminder. Now, I’m not saying there won’t be days when I won’t still look over at my passenger seat and long for it to be filled, but I am saying that now my focus isn’t on what I’m missing, but what I have with Jesus—a foundation that will not be swayed by circumstance.
A mentor of mine once told me, “Trust is not in your ability to endure, but in your ability to rest in God’s ability to carry you.”
Trust is not-so-coincidentally my “word” for the year, and just like an onion, the Lord has been peeling back the layers, revealing yet another layer that lacks trust.
When we trust the Lord, when we read His truth, it changes our thinking, our focus, and our thoughts. All the lies of our circumstances are replaced with truth. That is what I want. Truth, not lies.
My prayer is not that we would just “endure” this season when things aren’t going like we thought, but that we would be so focused on praising our Father that it changes our thinking completely. So join me friend, in looking at the following Scriptures this week. Let’s commit to focusing on the truth that we do have, rather than be discouraged by our circumstances and what we don’t have. Let’s focus on our relationship with a heavenly Father, who is the master planner, the one who provides dreams greater than our own. Let’s focus on the Faithful One, the God of Peace, and the One who is worthy of our praise simply because of who He is...
- Jeremiah 29:11-13
- Matthew 11:28-29
- Isaiah 40:28-31
- Ephesians 1:3-10
- Philippians 4:19
- Romans 8:37-39
- John 14:27
- Romans 5:1-5
- Daniel 2:20-23
- Deuteronomy 10:21
- 1 Kings 8:54-61
- Exodus 15:1-2
- Isaiah 63:7
- Psalm 62
Whitley Tracy is a small-town farm girl from Oklahoma who is thankful for God’s plan being better than her own. Whitley has been the Girls Minister at Trinity Baptist in Ada, Oklahoma for the past five years. She graduated from Oklahoma State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders, and is now continuing her education at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary in Girls & Women’s Ministry. She has a heart for girls to find their true identity in Christ, discipleship, and to help young women to grow in their relationship with the Lord. In her spare time, she loves living life with her two roommates, DIY projects, laughing, a good hole-in-the-wall restaurant, spending time with family, drinking coffee, and eating ice cream.
