LIFE IS HARD ON YOUR OWN...LOVE, LIFE, FIRE, & GOD ARE "BEAUTY'...

"Depression knows no name, race, or gender...it shows up slowly and stays too long." Andrea  Williams

Life has it challenges.  It trials and tribulations.  I remember several years ago thinking if only I gave myself to the Lord the problems of life would somehow cease to exist.  Maybe that would be the answer to any pain I would experience.  Maybe if I gave it all over to the Lord like the Preacher said that it would wipe away all the sins of my past (and even the sins I can't seem to stop leaving alone).

They were right...it wiped them away.  But, the problems, shame, pains, and issues of my life didn't stop.

I know Saints stay with me, I'm going somewhere with this one.

So when you go through something EXTRA hard, you begin to think stupid, irrational thoughts.  My moment--while I actually had more than one--seems to come around when divorce happens.  I don't know what it is about the death of a family hurts me like crazy.  I can grieve the death of loved ones, because I know they are going to be with the Lord.  But the separation and divorce trials I guess is the upset trigger for me.  

So much so that suicidal thoughts crossed my mind...

Where am I going to go?  How am I going to handle this now?  How did I fail this marriage?  Why I love someone that I can't stand now?  You go through all these emotions and you still have to work, be Mommy, and keep your head on straight while going through the most emotional rollercoaster on a DAILY basis.  Trying to be strong and hold it in is a dangerous place to be emotionally.

The major factor for even thinking those thoughts were the loss of my husband and family unit as I believed it to be.  The loss of love that I thought I had forever.  The pain of trials and tribulations.  In some odd way, the loss of my identity.  Total overwhelm where I thought I wasn't strong enough to handle it.  It's just too much.  "Just pass me over...till my Savior Comes."  Lyrics from Anthony Hamilton in "Pass Me Over."

But God. :)

You are NOT promised a life that won't have problems, trials and tribulations, and let's face it fire that burns so that you want to escape it all.  You don't escape sin at all times because you are now saved and forgiven.  That's almost like saying I'm a believer now, so I will kick my feet up and enjoy life.

Even Jesus suffered, was persecuted, tempted, faced rejection from people who He loved and even people who didn't even know Him!  Jesus performed miracles and was doubted that He was the Savior.  Jesus had to lead people who was deep in sin and loved it there.  Jesus went hungry while fasting 40 days that would sure to tempt His flesh.  Talk about overwhelm!  Lemme grab some Scripture...

After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.

The tempter came to him and said, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread."
Matthew 4:2-3NIV

The more I read this Chapter of Matthew, the more I realize that the key is that God is WITH YOU AT ALL TIMES...even in the fire of life.  I began to realize that I am forgiven, but it keeps me HUMBLE before the Lord.   It reminds me that I can't do this on my own and I don't want to do life on my own.  Giving your life over to God gives you the grace, love, and covering of forgiveness that you can't get from man or self.  It opens up a prayer line of intimacy of the Best Friend Ever!  You get the covering of the Lord who is your strong tower.  You get the covering of the Holy Spirit that leads you wisely.    Let's see how Jesus handles that temptation...

Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'" Matthew 4:4 NIV

POWERFUL! :)  What if we rebuked every negative thought that entered our mind.  What if we kept standing in faith no matter how hard life gets like Jesus did.   What if we held on to that word and walked in it especially when we don't feel like it?  How different would your life be?  How beautiful would your life be?

Trust God with all aspects of your life.  Trust God with your hurt and pain even when you feel like you can no longer handle it.  You are meant to be here.  Your life is beauty to God-He created you!  Your life is NOT in vain.  God didn't create you because He had nothing else to do, HE WANTED YOU. :)  Hold on to that on the days you don't feel worthy enough.  Hold on to that when you feel like you are so far removed with your sin.  Hold on to the Word of God when you feel like you are overwhelmed, because from what I hear...

From what I know...God's Word doesn't return Void. :)

ACTION STEPS:
1.  Fire always Births Beauty.  God always trades beauty for ashes.  Here is some word: "To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified." Isaiah 61:3 KJV

God proved this to me by restoring our marriage to even better than it was before the fire.  I just look in awe.  I also have scars of pain.  But the joy overrides it all.  The oil of beauty gives me the joy I have been searching for the whole time. You learn things in the fire that you can't learn on your own.  I heard T.D. Jakes say that this morning and it's the truth times 10! :)
Your Action Step is to just TRUST the process even in the midst of it!  
Don't give up!  Don't shut down and build up the wall to resist love.  Don't run from God to escape because God wants to help you no matter how far gone you are.  It's not the end.  On the other side of the fire is beauty!  Get ready to see some beauty!

INSPIRED BY:  
Actually two songs, one by Anthony Hamilton called "Pass Me Over," and another favorite Dru Hill in "Beauty."  Support our artists by purchasing your favorites!

See you Next time Under the Myrtle Tree!

 









Andrea
 

Why Do Things Keep Happening To Me? Where Is My Valentine? (The Questions Post)

I felt it so heavy on my spirit tonight to talk to those who have been through so much emotionally, physically, and spiritually.  So, if you are reading this right now, this is a perfect time for us to talk.

First, you must know that God wants you to have a life of ABUNDANCE for every part of your life.  There is no lack with God.  There is no lack of love, peace, joy, finances, provision, favor, healing, sound mind, sound emotions, and any other thing that you may be searching for tonight.

WHY DO THINGS KEEP HAPPENING TO ME?

But Andrea, what if you have been searching for this Abundance your WHOLE life?
What if things always keep happening to me?  What if faith and abundance seems to work for everyone else but me?  What if I have been too hurt beyond repair-who is going to save me?  What if love never seems to work out for me?

STOP IT RIGHT NOW.

Stop it.  In order for things to turn around in your life right now, you have to STOP going back to your past and laying down in it.

You have to stop making excuses for reasons why you can't love.  The excuses must stop for what you think you can't have.

All those who violated you on any level-physically, emotionally, spiritually, mentally has NO MORE power over you.  Yes, I said no more power.  No matter who comes against you, they can't touch your soul.  Your spirit.  Your desire to live and be loved.  Your desire to be here.  GOD still has you here and you are important.  Your life is so valuable that God wants to restore your healing.  God wants your strength to shine through in order to be a witness to someone else looking for a way of healing too.  It's no over baby.  No.  You are still here.  You have a story to tell.  You have a voice.  A voice that desperately needs to be heard by the world.  You have a GOD ordained assignment here in the earth.  God loves taking the messed up and using their message to change the world-to heal the world.

If you are reading this and tears are coming to your eyes, I want you to know there is a place where you can go.  There is a strong tower in Jesus.  There is a friend in Jesus.  Don't be afraid to cry.  Don't be afraid to talk it out or walk it out with the Lord in your secret place.

Because everyone don't need to see all the scars of your soul, only God can heal that.

It's a private matter.  It's an intimate place of love and healing in the secret place.

Give your burden-no matter how many-over to God.  Do yall hear me tonight?

It's time you run back to the Savior who LOVES you so much to Live for you, Die for you, Shed His Blood for you, and Save you.

WHERE IS MY VALENTINE?

For the lonely, broken-hearted soul reading this right now who is WEARY of the love thing, don't give up on love.  God is love.  God wants you to experience love in ABUNDANCE.  Don't believe the lies of the enemy.  Don't let your past dictate what you are meant and desire to experience.

I can't imagine a God who is Love blocking Love from flowing in your life.   I just can't believe that.  Even though you may be alone right now, don't you give up on love.  Don't get upset and depressed about Valentine's Day.  You have a Valentine in the Lord. 

You have needs.  You have desires.  You have passions stored up in your soul for your special someone.  But trust and believe they are trying to get to you as bad you are trying to get to them.  Sometimes love takes time and Luther Vandross sang that so well in that song.  Sometimes love is a process of you getting your stuff together and him getting his act together.  You have to go through tests and pass.  You have to give up the ways you may have lived out in your earlier days of singlehood.  You have to give up childish things.

Love is sweet. It's complicated.  It's beautiful.  It's dramatic.  It's sacrifice.  It's compromise. It's process. It's to be treasured.  Love is to be valued.  Love is to be protected.   Love is peace.  Love is joy.  Love is all this-the good the bad.  The sad and the joy.  All of it is yours and his to mesh into one, so it can come forth as pure gold.  Valuable!  Precious in the sight of God.

Love operates and THRIVES on your faith.  It thrives on how much you love the LORD and how much you want to Honor God in that love.  That is the real right there.  That is so real.

So if you don't have a Valentine this year, don't worry.  Don't rush it.  Because the perfect, divine fit beats a forced fit any day of the week.

My birthday is on Valentine's Day, and even though I celebrate it, love should be celebrated EVERY day.  Love should be honored.  We should be grateful for love all the time, and not just on February 14th. (Happy Birthday to me! :) 

ACTION STEPS:
1.  Start speaking the promises of God over your life.  Your greater is ahead!  Your greater is for good from now own-just work on your mindset, your spirit man, and your relationship with God. Whenever you have negative thoughts or emotions, stop it right then before you start to meditate on it.  If you can't seem to breakthrough, ask the Lord to help you.  Lord God, I need help really bad right now.  I can't seem to get passed this pain, but I know that you are a healer of my heart.  Lead my steps.  Create in me a clean heart.  Thank you Jesus for a sound mind.  Amen  (Speak it and meditate on what God wants for your life)
2.  Start walking and breathing in victory-even if you don't have it yet.  God's Word won't return void.  God is not a man that He should lie.  God loves you and created you to be victorious!  Though he sleigh me, yet shall I trust him.  (Job 13:15)
3.   The Most important of all.  GOD DOES NOT WANT TO HURT YOU.  He doesn't ever want to Hurt you.  God is not mad at you, no matter how far down you have gone.  Everything God does is FOR your good.  So if a door closes, if you face rejection, God is protecting YOU.  God is not like man.  His thoughts are above our thoughts.  So no matter what you face, God's love is perfect.  Perfect love drives out fear. (I John 4:18)

I love yall!  Let me know in the comments what you will do to change your life around for the better.  You have the power!  The pain has no more power here.  The past has no more power.

Talk to you soon.  Your favorite Life Coach,

Andrea