5 Certain Truths for When the Future Feels Uncertain

At some point in everyone’s life, we will be sitting in a waiting room – where things could go either way.  Maybe you’re there today — waiting on a phone call with test results, a pregnancy test, a college acceptance letter, a job relocation, a prodigal child’s return home.

If you’re not in the waiting room today, I promise, you will be at some point.

A hard thing happens while sitting in this waiting room, when the future is difficult to foresee, and things could go one way or another.  The “What-Ifs” grab hold of your mind and drag your thoughts down dark, worst-case alleyways.

In these times, we need certain TRUTHS to keep us rooted, to keep us upright and unswayed by the emotions that come through mentally walking through a what if reality that we may never face.

Unfortunately, the reality in this broken, imperfect world is that you might actually get bad news.

I’m an optimist, and for most of my life I had operated in the place that HOPE equals the belief that I wouldn’t  get the bad news I was dreading.   Bad things like that only happen to other people.   It’s fine….it will be fine.

Years of infertility, and then breast cancer have redefined hope for me.

What we need most is a hope that doesn’t disappoint. Romans 5:5 tells us that “hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”

That’s the kind of Hope we need in this “things could go either way” waiting room.  There exists a hope that is steadfast no matter the circumstances you’re facing. What kind of hope is that?  Hope that can’t be dashed when you get the news you are fearing.  When I think about hope, that’s the kind of hope I want.

Earthly hope does disappoint.  You might not be pregnant.  You might go bankrupt.  You might have cancer.

There is only one Hope that does not disappoint – and that is Hope in Him.  The secret is in the next phrase – “the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.  The steadfast love of God, that we experience through the Holy Spirit is our hope. Our Hope has to be planted firmly in HIM; not the outcome.

We need truth that is CERTAIN, when the future feels UNCERTAIN. In those times, I’ve written prayers, acknowledging these truths and asking God to restore my hope in Him.  If you’re in this difficult middle place today, cling to these truths, get quiet before the Lord, and pray these prayers with all your might – ask God to restore your Hope in HIM today.

bjhwjeihfhc-jeff-king

  1. God is good, and His plans for you are good.

Heavenly Father, my soul is in turmoil today as my future feels uncertain. You are a good, good Father and I’ve seen your faithfulness throughout my life. Thank you for your unfailing love for me.  Lord, give me eyes of faith to see that what I’m facing can actually be GOOD, although it feels so very BAD.   I cannot understand your ways~ Lord help me to believe that whatever comes into my life you can work together for good, even when things don’t seem good or feel good.    Lord you are faithful, your very character is steadfast Love.  Help me to hope in you, not in the outcome of my circumstances. 

2. God isn’t surprised

Father, before you even created me, you authored my days.  Before I even lived one, you knew every single thing I would face. You are the same yesterday, today, and forever.  You are sovereign and in control.  You’ve numbered and ordered my days;  help me to trust you.  I see so imperfectly, yet you see my life through your perfect eyes of love. 

 

3. God will give you grace to endure.

You O Lord, are a God of endless grace.  You graciously provide just enough grace for each day.  If my journey takes me into the valley, I know you’ve gone ahead of me and proivded all that I need in advance.  Help me to confidently walk, even through darkness, toward Your light, and pick up Your provisions along the way.  Your mercies are new every morning.  Help me to see these new morning mercies each day, and praise you for them.  When you created me, you had two purpose for my life. To glorify you and enjoy you forever.  I pray you would enable me to both bring you glory, and have joy in the midst of whatever faces me.  

4. God is with you. 

Jesus, you promised us that you would be with us, even to the end.  Fellowship with you in the midst of uncertainty is one of your sweetest promises.  Because You endured the cross, bearing my sin and shame, you will never forsake me.  You draw near to the brokenhearted, as a compassionate friend who understands suffering.  Even when I cannot formulate a thought or a prayer, You’re there,  at the right hand of God the Father, interceding perfectly for me.  Help me to fix my eyes on you, Jesus, who endured the cross for the joy set before you.  Through my relationship with You, infuse unshakable joy into my soul.  Use this difficult time to draw me even closer to your heart, as you deepen my roots of faith in you.  

5. Eternity is everything.

Father, this life is broken, but I’m so thankful that this isn’t all that there is.  Thank you for granting me the Hope of Heaven.  Thank you, Lord, for your covenant with me, that is an everlasting covenant.  Please give me a heavenly perspective, and remind me that my future is secure in you; bound up in heaven.  This life is just a mere breath, where I see glimpses of the beauty that awaits me in heaven.  Lord help me to steward my time here on earth well, as I keep my eyes heavenward.  Lord give me faith to believe “the best is yet to come”. 

In Jesus name,

Amen

How are you encountering God in your waiting room of uncertainty today? 

How to Cultivate Gratitude in the Midst of the Mess

photo-1456404823214-a69ef7a1fae5

The children shoved closer, unbothered by the sticky wet flour-caked countertops.

A familiar wave of anxiety started to rise within me.  This was supposed to be fun. I knew this moment (in theory) was precious, but in that tiny kitchen, the moment didn’t FEEL especially precious. It felt chaotic.  Honestly, it felt a little stressful.

The littles were helping me make surprise cupcakes for daddy’s birthday, but mostly we were making a mess.

In the midst of the madness, I took a couple of pictures to document our day.  The moment captured, a slice of life frozen in time on my iPhone.

image1

Today, as I look back on those memories from 2 years ago with a smile, all I feel is grateful.  Time smooths the rough edges of reality.

It’s hard to be grateful in the midst of the mess.

What if, in the middle of messy moments, we could look past the mess, and look into the memory?  What if we could appreciate the worth, without the passing of time?

Thankfully, with three little ones, I’ve had many opportunities to practice the habit of seeing past the mess into the memory.  Life brings many opportunities to practice gratitude when it’s not my natural go-to response.  I’m learning gratitude is a discipline and habit I can grow in with practice.

I’m learning that  gratitude is possible in the midst of the mess by looking through the mess to the memory.

Cultivating gratitude in the middle of the mess means changing how we see; a change in perspective.   It’s changing HOW we see, and WHAT we see.

Instead of the mess on the hands, it’s seeing the tiny fingers that will never be that small again.

Instead of the sticky countertops, it’s seeing the kitchen where I cook dinner to nourish my family, and the memories we have around the table.

It’s looking at the moment as we will look at it when days have passed, and time has smoothed the sandpaper grit of the present.  It’s intentionally looking for the beauty that we will remember in the middle of every mess.  Sometimes we just need a new way of looking.

This week many of us will make precious memories with loved ones.  But as we gather together, there is mess all around us.  Our country; our world is in a bit of a mess. And really, we’re messy people.

Friends, let me encourage you to not let the negative political atmosphere seep through the cracks of your Thanksgiving celebration.  There is much to divide us, but let’s look through the mess to the memory.   Gratitude has the power to change us, as we fix our eyes on the gifts and the giver of every blessing.

Imagine, if, just for a day, we could see all that is RIGHT.

Imagine, if, we could “Set our minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.” (Col 3:2)

Snap a photo, capture the faces of the family and friends you hold dear.  Without a doubt, someone will look on that photo with a smile – one year, ten years, fifty years down the road.

Even, if just for a day, let’s choose to believe that there is beauty here, in the midst of the mess.

A few favorite of my favorite memories from Thanksgiving past.  When I snapped these, most of these moments were messy, imperfect moments. But there was SO much beauty there. 

file0109

2010

img_3088

I love making Pumpkin Praline Cheesecake on Thanksgiving

img_3093

2012

img_3105

2013

img_3141

2013

img_7688

2014 with Grandma Cleo – on her last year with us here.

———————-

Free Gift 

To help you cultivate gratitude in your hearts and homes this Thanksgiving, I have designed a pdf printable  with 12 Questions to ask around the table this Thanksgiving. Print it out, put the questions in a basket and have each family member draw one.  Then watch and be amazed as God changes your heart through gratitude.    I offer this gift to my email subscribers, to thank you for connecting with me through email.  If you’d like to join my email list and receive this gift, you can enter your information in the sidebar. New subscribers will also receive my Prayer & Gratitude list printables.

To receive the free, full size “12 Questions to Ask This Thanksgiving” pdf, please join my email list, to the right. 

thanksgivinggratitudequestionssmall

 

Encouraging Women to Encounter God

Over the past several months, I’ve been working with Julie Ross Design on creating my new online home.   Today, as I launch my new website, Brooke A Turner, I would like to say welcome, friends!  I hope you will make yourself at home here, and return frequently.   I highly recommend Julie if you are looking to build, upgrade, or grow your WordPress website!

My desire is to Encourage You to Encounter God in your days, not just your Sundays.  I write from a position as a sister on the journey, not an expert, and I’d love for you to join me on the journey to see and experience God in the midst of daily life.

You see, I’ve been desperate to encounter God on the highest mountain, and in the darkest valley. Over the last decade of my life, God has walked with me through infertility, three children in 19 months, birthing a ministry, and breast cancer.  (Click here to read more about my cancer journey).  I write as an overflow of what God has done in my life during these seasons of pain and joy; hands-empty and hands-full.

Through this new blog, I will help you encounter God in your days by:

~ Joining you on the journey to CONNECT to God through HIs Word

~ Resourcing you to CONNECT your story to His Story and

~ Inspiring you to CONNECT with others on the journey.

I pray that God will use this blog as an instrument of grace in your life!

———————

Join my email list to receive weekly encouragement right in your inbox! It’s easy! Simply fill out the information in the sidebar.  I promise to never scam you, at least not on purpose!

As way to thank you for connecting with me, I’ll email you the link to download my custom designed Prayer and Gratitude List printables.  

resources

These resources will help you connect your story to His story, as you see God’s fingerprints through your daily life.