Hey Girl, God’s Got This!
Posted April 11, 2023 by Theresa Miller
Categories: Featured, Sister Post, Theresa
“The heart of man plans his way,
but the LORD establishes his steps.” Proverbs 16:9 ESV
You don’t got this, girl. God does!
I was sitting next to my husband across the table from Ryan Avery, the 2012 Toastmasters of America champion. He was in town as a keynote speaker for my husband’s workplace. Given I was a Toastmaster member at the time, I had much to glean from this champion. At one point he directed a test on success: “Think about the last time you truly felt successful.” I did. “Now think about the three key ingredients that contributed to your success.” Done. “This is your personal formula for success,” he announced. It worked.
I had thought about my last Toastmaster speech. My reasons for why I felt successful were simply, 1) I did not overthink it, 2) I was passionate about what I spoke on, and 3) I used material I had already processed rather than starting from scratch. Easy-peasy.
I could see how this formula was personal to my success because I tend to overthink things. Passion drives the things I do well. Sometimes I think I have to do things the hard way, such as not asking for help or starting new every single time. I was impressed by this simple test that offered a picture into my personal success.
Part of the Picture
Yet the truth is, in God’s economy, this fun little formula is only part of the picture. What worked to make that speech successful wasn’t just about me getting it done. (Woot! Woot!) It was about trusting that God was working out far more in me than that 5–7-minute speech.
You see, God is in the big picture. From the moment I considered joining Toastmasters, God was in it. He opened that door, and I relied on His strength to overcome the discomfort of public speaking. Each time I prepared and presented a speech, even when I was tempted to quit, I persevered for a greater purpose: obedience to God’s prompting. I learned an incredible amount about myself in the process. I knew I was supposed to be there, and I trusted God with the details. That’s right, God is also in the details!
In God’s economy, we cannot measure success based on what comes easy to us. We must measure it by the way God works through us, as we trust and obey Him. We shortchange ourselves when we muster up the resources according to our own limited economy that can only push us from Point A to Point B. In God’s economy, He is the point. That is the whole picture.
When we expect our abilities to be enough, we disqualify God’s ability to do immeasurably more than we can imagine (see Eph. 3:20–21).
I can make my own plans, but truth be told, if my heart devised each step, I would quit as soon as discomfort kicked in. It will. Therefore, trusting God will direct our steps is essential.
Isn’t it just like God to call us to something beyond our comforts so we will fully depend on His power and strength to see us through?
Trusting God
Sister, you have incredible worth and value simply because of how God uniquely created you. You are God’s masterpiece, made anew in Christ Jesus, intended for the amazing things God planned for you long ago (Eph 2:10). Understanding this helps us embrace that when it comes to eternal value, we don’t “got this.” We can do a lot of good things, but we can do nothing worthy of eternity without God’s divine power. We must remember this. Any real and lasting success we have is by God’s grace. It is in remembering His power in our weakness that strengthens our faith and kindles hope for the future (see 2 Cor. 12:9).
Are you sensing God is calling you to something that feels a bit scary or out of your comfort zone? Do it. God’s got this!
It’s your turn to take the test:
- When was the last time you felt successful?
- Consider three ingredients that contributed to your success.
- This is your personal formula for success.
How do you see God in the big picture, as well as the details when it comes to this formula of success? In your success scenario, do you view it by God’s grace alone?
“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.”
Ephesians 3:20–21 NIV
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Beautiful post packed with truth! I love when we trust Him that He takes our offerings and abilities and adds His supernatural power to “do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine”. I’m so thankful that He’s got this and we don’t have to do it all.
Yes, amen, Traci! Thank you for stopping by. We appreciate you.
Theresa, this is a powerful testimony to letting God be in charge of our lives instead of ourselves. I love the lessons He is taking you through. I will be pondering this.
Thank you , Deborah. I appreciate you stopping and commenting here. You are an encouragement!
Thank you for this timely post! I love to see where He takes us when we let go of “control.”
Thank you, Mysty. I also love to see how God works when we release control. Thank you for your encouragement!