Liz Blog, Faith

How God Uses Hard Things

“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.”

(Romans 8:18 ESV)

“I didn’t know it was going to be this hard.”

Throughout my 20s, there were specific seasons of life when this thought came up for me. It was often in the middle of an unforeseen circumstance: an unwanted transition period, an unexpected change, a sudden loss, or any difficult time of waiting without an answer.

These seasons often felt painful. I knew that in this world, there would be trouble, but I didn’t realize just how close, how devastatingly personal trouble could be. And when it came, it was almost never expected. Nobody warned me of the trouble to come. Nobody could tell me how hard it was going to be, why it happened, and how long it would last.

Trouble came in suddenly, interrupting peace and stability, leaving me feeling unprepared and vulnerable. 

I knew God was good no matter what, and I knew He was with me, but in these times, I often could not see where God was leading in it. It felt unfair. 

These are the hard things. And I know that you’ve encountered hard things in this life, too.

Continue reading “How God Uses Hard Things” →
Liz Blog, Faith

God Knows the Full Story | Peace in the Storm (Part One)

Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel.

(Philippians 1:12 NIV)

God has always known the full story.

In January, I challenged myself to read the full Bible, cover to cover, book to book, over the course of the year for the first time in my life.

Trust me, it hasn’t been easy to be consistent! A few short weeks later, I started a new job. My day-to-day life drastically changed, becoming busier than ever, and I’ve rarely had time for myself. 

But little did I know, just as my world had changed, the rest of the world would soon change. The coronavirus outbreak arrived. A storm that no one anticipated. Many plans have been cancelled. Fear and worry emerged. Sickness. Unemployment. An unknown future for many, and for others, perhaps just an inconvenience that they’re waiting to be over.

Either way, for the first time — in my limited perspective — I have seen the world stop. 

Or, at least, being forced to do so.  

Now, there’s something that has struck me in the past months of reading through the Bible that I can’t ignore.

No matter what has happened in this world, God has always had a plan and a purpose.

Continue reading “God Knows the Full Story | Peace in the Storm (Part One)” →

Liz Blog, Faith

Your Status Doesn’t Matter: God Can Still Use You

And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.

(2 Corinthians 9:8 ESV)

What’s holding you back?

Too many times we believe the idea that we need to “level up” before God uses us. That we need to look a certain way first, make a certain amount of money first, figured out this or that first, get (insert a major goal of yours) first.

And trust me, I’ve been there, too. We live in a world that demands certain qualifications before the job, the school, the opportunity, the next step. We often base our value on our resumes or the amount of likes we get on Instagram. 

But what if none of these things really mattered?

Continue reading “Your Status Doesn’t Matter: God Can Still Use You” →

Liz Blog, Faith, Trust Series

Stop Being Afraid of Ruining God’s Plan for Your Life | Trust Series (Part One)

We often say we want God’s plan for our life. God’s best for us. God’s purpose for us. God’s blessing for us.

But when it comes to actually discerning His will, things can feel a little blurry.

We easily can fall into the trap of overthinking God’s plan. Feeling confidence one day about a new direction, then complete confusion the next. Asking countless questions without finding peace in answers. Being so hard on ourselves that we think we’re not good enough for what God has for us.

Whether we realize it or not, we may be approaching His will wrongly. Making it an option over a command. Making it a complicated mystery over a practical lifestyle. Making it about fearing irreversible mistakes over embracing growth and truth.

Over the next few weeks, we’ll learn how to understand and follow God’s path for our lives in the Trust Series. This three-part blog series will cover:

  • Having the courage to GO when God says, “Yes” (Part One)
  • Discerning God’s true gifts when they appear (Part Two)
  • Examining our lives to know whether we’re walking in obedience (Part Three)

Today, in Part One, we’re tackling the fear of taking steps of faith. This part is for those with the willing heart. Those who are ready for obedience and who are walking in it, ready for God to move.

Continue reading “Stop Being Afraid of Ruining God’s Plan for Your Life | Trust Series (Part One)” →

Liz Blog, Life

3 Ways to Be More Financially Confident

We all want to be confident. From faith to relationships to everyday life, having a sense of confidence propels us to live the purpose we were created for with boldness. But if there’s one area that can be challenging to gain that security, it’s finances.

Whether you’re in college or tackling the post-grad world, these early stages of adulthood are the best times to organize your financial life! Like confidence, financial peace is a process. However, if we want to improve our relationship with money, we must learn to approach finances with the right mindset.

By adjusting our perspective and making small steps, we can easily build money confidence. Money confidence is having a healthy, realistic outlook on your finances and the knowledge and tools to handle them wisely. With time, we will find freedom from fear and build smart habits that can change our lives.

Continue reading “3 Ways to Be More Financially Confident” →