Blog by Alicia Moore
Too often we can walk into church and see smiling faces, pretty outfits, people who look like they have it all together. We fail, in that moment, to see what’s behind the outer appearance. Yes, the outward can be a reflection of what God has done and is doing on the inside but never forget that we all have a story.
Part of my story is that we adopted a young girl, 4 years old, who dealt with developmental delays. We spent years working on speech and cognitive development, dealing with the school systems and Individualized Education Programs (IEP), etc. After moving to Virginia Beach I attended Wave Women (now known as Sisters) one Wednesday morning. I took a moment to write a prayer request down for my daughter. We just moved to a new state, a new school, a new church and the changes in her life were weighing heavy on me that day. Pastor Sharon was reading the requests from the stage and prayed specifically for my daughter. Though I had not written all of my concerns, Pastor Sharon prayed over the concerns I had for my daughter as though she knew what I was feeling.
Being a part of a community of women who have faith to believe for the impossible has helped me walk through the tough moments of being a parent. We often question our abilities and wonder if we are doing all that we can. We just need to be faithful and trust that God is continuing to work on our behalf. Even when we don’t see immediate answers to our prayers, know He is still working.
Psalm 37:4 NLT
“Take delight in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart”.
I can tell you from experience that taking delight in the Lord is MUCH easier when you’re plugged into a church, when you have women around you who are there when you’re weak and when you’re strong. Don’t assume that just because someone looks all put together that they have the perfect life. They are just trying to live out the “delighting in the Lord” – and He’s giving them the desires of their heart.
God has done amazing work in my daughter. Now in 7th Grade, she is excelling in every area of her education. She was recently released from her IEP as the Special Education teachers as well as Administration and general classroom teachers do not see a need for her to be in the program any longer (none of the teachers have ever heard of this happening and didn’t know how to release a student from the IEP)! She has caught up and surpassed all expectations and is even taking High School level classes and is on the A-B Honor Roll. I attribute this to being plugged into a great church, having great women of faith in our lives as well as God being true to His word that when we delight ourselves in Him, He gives us the desires of our heart.
You too may be facing a difficult situation. Can I tell you – You Belong! You belong to a God who cares, who sees, who does miracles!
A prayer for today – God I thank you that you’re always at work my life. Even on the days that seem so hard, you’re always close; you know my thoughts and desires. You are a BIG God who cares about the smallest of details. I pray that you would make yourself more real to me so that your desires become my desires. Remove the distractions that keep me from seeing others and the encouragement they need. Bring one person across my path today that I can get to know and share you with. In Jesus’ name, AMEN!
YOU BELONG at Devoted Conference 2017
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