Mustard Seed Reads

He Hears Our Hearts

It has been four years since I began this blog. Shortly after embarking on this new adventure, I met my husband in September 2019 (and this blog was pushed to the end of my to-do list). At the time, I felt as if I had truly given up on the idea of love ever happening for me, but as I lay in bed sick one Sunday afternoon, I decided to give swiping on Bumble one more try. I came across Jerrad, recognized him from high school (even though he’s MUCH older than me… this dorky 7th Grader knew who that Senior on the state basketball team was) and swiped right. This little bee buzzed right into his beehive, and every prayer I’ve ever prayed has been answered since that moment.

To give a quick rundown… We got engaged in February 2020, married in August 2020, pregnant in January 2021, and welcomed our sweet baby girl into this world on September 11, 2021. I can’t believe she’s about to be TWO! Talk about a WILD few years!

In my last post, less than a month before meeting Jerrad, I included the scripture from Psalm 37:7 – Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him. My oh my, did He show up or what?! ALL of my prayers, ALL of my tears, everything I had ever dreamed of… He heard my heart. This family He has blessed me with is everything.

My prayer is that this post would inspire you to not give up hope. God turned my life around just like THAT (snap)! Whatever it is burdening you today, lay it down at His feet and find peace in knowing He hears your heart.

In the Waiting

Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him. – Psalm 37:7

I don’t know about you, but I am not very good at waiting. Just last week, I was sitting in a doctor’s office (for what seemed to be an unreasonably long time), and I began to feel a bit frustrated. We’ve all felt it at some point. Waiting forever in a line at the post office, at a red light, on food to come out at a restaurant… surely this isn’t just me?!

In life, we are ALWAYS waiting on something. A 5-year-old is excitedly waiting to start Kindergarten. A high school senior can’t wait to graduate. A college graduate anxiously awaits their first job. Becoming a homeowner, falling in love, starting a family, a healing, retirement – it’s never-ending.

As an educator, I can attest to the fact that, if we’re being honest, we are usually always on the countdown. I have been counting down the weeks until school starts again because I love my job and the promise of a new beginning. But…I also know there are 78 school days until Christmas break (Where my teachers at?!).

What is something you are waiting on in your life right now?

It can be disheartening to feel like I spend my life waiting for the next great milestone or promise of God, instead of just appreciating where He has me RIGHT NOW. No, I am not married yet, and I haven’t started my own family – I am still waiting on those desires of my heart to be fulfilled. But God did not intend for us to live like this, wishing our lives away, full of worry and “what ifs.” There is SO MUCH He has for me RIGHT NOW, and I can have peace in knowing He is in control.

No matter where you are in life or what you’re waiting on, God has a plan for you. He wants to use this season to grow your faith and strengthen your relationship with Him. Waiting doesn’t have to be a bad thing! Enjoy the valley because there is a great mountaintop up ahead.

Patience is a Virtue

As the oldest grandchild on my mom’s side of the family (and the only girl), my Grandmother was constantly telling me to have “the patience of Job.” When I was younger, this would annoy me – I did not want to wait for my little brother to stop nagging me… I wanted to put him in a headlock. But, as an adult, my Grandmother’s words have been written on my heart. Job faced unfathomable trials and yet persisted through the valley to the other side. His faith was unshakable. Patience in the waiting draws us closer to the Lord as we learn to depend fully on Him.

How do you wait?

Because waiting can be so difficult, sometimes we wait by filling our lives with things to take our minds off of the stress – reality TV and social media scrolling are just two of my guilty pleasures. But is this how God wants me to wait? I have a feeling the answer is probably no. Instead, I can focus on spending more quiet time with Him through prayer, journaling, and reading His Word.

The Bible also says to praise Him, even in the waiting. When I am upset or feeling stressed, one of my favorite things to do is go for a run, play worship music, and praise Him. It is amazing what some Jesus jams can do for the soul! Watch the sunset, mow the grass, volunteer, star-gaze. Spend your wait glorifying Him and appreciating all of His amazing creation! I promise you won’t be disappointed.

Let’s Do This

Teachers and Librarians, I am praying for you at the start of this new school year! Don’t wish away this first semester waiting for Christmas break, but instead, pour into every child God places in your path. Use this time to plant mustard seeds and make a difference for His Kingdom.

Then Jesus asked, “What is the kingdom of God like? What shall I compare it to? It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his garden. It grew and became a tree, and the birds perched in its branches.” Luke 13: 18-19

He Alone Is Able

Photo by Ben White on Unsplash

As I was spending time with God in His Word this week, the same idea kept popping off the page to me – “He alone.”  Just like everyone else in this world, I struggle with different issues, and, by nature, I try to control them.  I worry.  A lot.  

What are some things you worry about?

No matter what it is, He tells us in Matthew 25:34, “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.  Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

And so, even though I’ve known it my entire life, it hit me – He alone is able.  The same God who performed miracles in the Bible is still our same God today. He can calm my fears, give me strength, and fill my heart with peace.  He alone will direct my path in the most perfect way.  

Unfortunately, I won’t be able sit on my throne and have all of my dreams handed to me on a silver platter.  He alone is ABLE to do that, but it doesn’t mean He WILL.  God calls us to be active participants in following our dreams. Sometimes those dreams may not be part of His plan for our lives, but His plan is ALWAYS greater! Although I WANT Pilot Pete to randomly come knock on my door and sweep me off my feet (and God is certainly ABLE to do that for me), I have a feeling I should probably be doing something more realistic on my end in the meantime.  Maybe I’ll apply for The Bachelor…

What can I (really) do?

So, I know one thing I CAN do right now is pray for my future husband every day, and trust that God is preparing us for and leading us to one another.  I can: focus on ME and loving myself, continue working towards my independence, strengthen my personal relationship with Christ, explore different churches, and meet new people.  All of these things are things I can do in the waiting, and God is able to give me the hope and patience I’ll need as He leads me.  He alone is able, and He alone is all I need.  

He alone can move mountains and part waters! Even if we can’t see it in our lives right this second, we can know everything that happens is all part of His greater plan.  Continue to trust in Him, have faith (even if it’s as small as a mustard seed) and always remember…..He alone is able.