There’s a hurricane growing in intensity in the Atlantic, if it passes over cooler waters before making landfall it’ll lose power.
Yesterday, I shared that the better “quality of life” the doctors promised, through medication, didn’t happen. And the voice that whispers,
“Things won’t work out!”
It gains power with this – or does it?
Why allow the voice to make the wild leap from “many things don’t work out” to “all things” won’t?
And even if nothing “worked out”…
all of the “not working out” will “work out”…
and be used to change me into the image of God. (Rom 8:28)
The negative voice loses steam.
And so I pray a bit…
“Father, what if I make a change…
what if I, whenever I hear this voice,
I replace it with “things will work out”?
And these words hit my mind, “Lord I believe. Help my unbelief.”
Oh.
On the most important thing, faith, the voice has always been wrong.
Hmmmm.
So Lord, since my history proves I’ll continue to try regardless of this voice anyway. Why not replace it with the confident expectation that things will work out? Why not replace it with Love?
But the negative voice defends itself, “If you expect success – and fail – won’t that make the failure much more difficult?”
And I close my eyes, and invite God into thinking.
And the thinking is this…
Have I expected success before and met failure? Countless times.
Has it discouraged me? Absolutely.
Has it once been my end? Never once.
So the worst thing that will happen if I enter something new…
expectantly, thinking “things will work out.” – and they don’t…
is that I’ll be disappointed or even crushed…but not destroyed.
Deflated maybe, but not destroyed.
And this thought hits.
Why begin a hike, and before beginning, place a sharp pebble in each shoe?
What if I just choose not to insert the pebbles….
but maybe, instead, those soft cushy Dr. Scholl’s paddy things.
It may or may not be a good hike,
but I’ll enjoy each step more.
And it’s just a stupid negative voice anyway! What does it know?
Is it God, and knows the future?
If the negative voice is just me then clearly the answer is no.
If the voice is from the Evil One or his minions then clearly the answer is no.
And the voice is definitely not from God.
So clearly the voice is as uncertain as I might ever be.
So whenever I hear the voice, I’ll simply repeat, verbally, because that’s stronger than just thinking…
“Things. Will. Work Out.”
And they may or may not – but at least the pebbles are gone from the shoes.
And the horse in the training pen…
finally settled and ready to be ridden…
it has a new name…
it’s old name was Borúlátó – Portuguese for pessimist…
The new name is Emellett – it even sounds nicer – it’s Hungarian for optimist.
And I survey the holding pen for the next wild stallion…
and I find I’m expecting to succeed with it’s training.
{ 14 comments… read them below or add one }
Craig, this post was so full of positive confirmation, new insights, and victory flags!!!!! Your title grabbed me today and I had to come right over and read about pebbles in my shoes. I remember as a kid always getting those nasty things in my shoes. The only trouble was, I had those saddle shoes, and they had laces, and I wasn’t good at tying my shoes. So I would try to walk and run and play with that pebble there until I couldn’t stand it any longer.
The biggest insight for me here today was your statement that these voices are not God and don’t know Him or His ways. I knew that, but I didn’t KNOW that. They only know ME. And they don’t know my tomorrows. They only know my yesterdays. And for the first time, I feel more powerful, more victorious, and that I know more than they do because God told ME the outcome of “all things” and NOT my horses!
I’ve come to know a lot of people through your blogs, Craig, and through the grapevine of other blogs. One theme runs through everyone of their lives —– this horse is alive and active in almost everyone’s life. It’s strange that we do not see it sooner, this promise (or testimony) that the “things won’t work out” is just a lie. I’m with the blind begger on this one: All I know is, once I was blind but now I can see!
I love your horse’s new name, Craig. Ride him victoriously today!
so you left the pebble in because it wasn’t convenient – or it was too difficult – and you just suffered until you finally removed it – if that’s not a spiritual metaphor I don’t know what is! I think that’s full of awesome – 100% full of awesome! And I’m smiling – thank you for that! I’m glad I can hear victory in your words Cora – it makes me smile too. And now that my world is enlarged – through the inter-webs – and the people we “bloggy” share – I’ve noticed the same thing too – we are all so different – and all so the same. God bless you Cora!
Such a fantastic life viewpoint – terribly inspirational.
thank you Megan – one of the things I’m trying to change is being a “glass half empty” person. And I hearted your comment – although I’m not quite sure that the words terrible and inspirational are really the best possible match ツ just sayin. Bless and keep you Megan.
I agree with all the above. . .this is wonderful and inspirational and I am going to come back here later when I get back and read it again, even slower and take it all in. Thank you again for sharing your insights, you teach us all!
please come visit me today and rejoice with me and others! 🙂
thank you Kristen – on the way over now – but the time you read this I’ll already have been there ツGod bless!
I’d say, “Things are working out.” instead of “Things will work out.” because, from a Kingdom perspective, they ARE. God is always present: in tense, in timing, in compassion, in love, in us. We are the ones who deem things past and future. Let the great I AM be present in you, with you and through you.
Things ARE working out and the light that flooded your soul as you broke this horse is not the headlight of a train at the end of the tunnel, Dear Craig!
He’s all about walking on those soft cushy Dr. Scholl’s paddy things no matter where the day takes us,
Dawn
Dawn that’s a little bit of theological brilliance. God is working – it is always present for him – so things ARE – and HAVE BEEN – and WILL BE working – worked – and having worked – and are working – it’s a little mind boggling – but true. And the shoe thing – I wish I had remembered when I wrote the post – and I would’ve put it in – what I learned just the other day – that Cinderella is proof that a really good pair of shoes can change your life ツ God bless you Dawn – and thank you for this – it was awesome!
Loving the learning I’m getting here! 🙂 The idea of putting Dr. Scholl’s in instead of pebbles . . .wow! That God IS working things out . . .more wow! I’m smiling and excited and saying, amen!
Thank you, Craig, and God bless your upcoming training times!
Dr. Scholl’s is better than pebbles – and God is better than not God – and I heart Dawn’s comment, that God IS working things out – I heart my comments section! (◠‿◠)
You know, I love reading what you have written, Craig. But also really love the conversation that follows. There is so much wisdom amongst your readers (and I guess I have to count myself in that as well ;)) that enriches my knowing the Lord.
And also makes me forget what I was going to write after reading you. Just a minute, going back up to re-read you ………………………………… Oh yes. “And even if nothing “worked out”…all of the “not working out” will “work out”…and be used to change me into the image of God. (Rom 8:28)” A reminder to me that man may have his plans but God has His ways, that His ways are higher than my ways and He knows what is ahead of me. That one day I will look back (maybe in Heaven) and say “Of course! That’s why……”
(◠‿◠) – that is all
Love this post and the pebble wisdom, and the new name for the horse! I wonder how it is pronounced. 🙂
A. Thank you – I guess pebbles in the shoes are bad enough – it’s even worse when we put them in ourselves. And I think the horses name is pronounced pretty much as is – it’s pretty. anyway – it’s my horse – my name – I get to pronounce it anyway I want ツ God bless you A.