Jul 25, 2017 |
Welcome Beckie Lindsey to Frankly, My Dear. I’ve known this strong woman since she messaged me three years ago. “Can I pick your brain on writing? I’ll buy you a Starbucks.” I pretty much offered to let her move into my study if she supplies coffee regularly. Our friendship developed and is still maintained through a mutual bond of writing, God, cats, and yes, coffee. I’m pleased as punch to have been the first editor on her soon-to-be published Beauties for Ashes, and invited her to share her faith with us.
By Beckie Lindsey @LindseyBeckie
I have a confession to make—I have experienced seasons when I don’t hear from God. Yes, I mean complete silence for an extended period. At first, it was disconcerting, especially when other Christians seemed to have a direct hotline to God at all times. What’s wrong with me? I questioned.
Have you noticed Christians are quick to share stories of answered prayers ladened with all the feel-goods and warm fuzzies? But we’re not nearly as vocal about the desperate times we persisted in prayer and were met with silence. However, I think these stories might be just as important. So, if your prayers seem to be echoing off the walls, don’t lose faith.
Frankly, My Dear . . . So, if your prayers seem to be echoing off the walls, don’t lose faith.
You are among good company. Job was well acquainted with God’s silence. Abraham was met with silence as he planned to sacrifice his son. There’s no mention of Joseph hearing from God while in prison either.
In my own life, God’s silence has tempted me to doubt. I think most of us can relate.
What Can We do During the Periods of Silence?
Examine Your Life
Make sure nothing is blocking you from being able to hear God’s voice. We must begin with asking ourselves these questions:
- Is there someone I need to forgive?
- Do I have wrong motives?
- Have I put anything above my relationship with God?
As God brings things to mind, be quick to ask for forgiveness.
Please understand, God’s silence does not always mean we have unconfessed sin. Job was righteous and yet went through many trials while God remained silent.
Keep Talking
God’s silence doesn’t mean we should turn our backs and stop praying. Don’t give up! The Psalms are a great example of crying out to God.
“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from my cries of anguish? My God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer, by night, but I find no rest.”
~Psalm 22:1-2
Recognize that Silence Creates Hunger
When God is silent, it can lead us to a richer, deeper experience and hunger for more of Him.
Let’s relate this concept to our diets. Last summer I did a dietary cleanse, eliminating refined sugar, processed foods, bread, grains, and red meat from my diet. The cleanse was very restrictive and specific in what I could and could not eat. After several days, I was allowed to slowly add certain foods like grains back into my diet. I cannot tell you how great that quinoa tasted! If we allow it, spiritual hunger can cause us to be grateful for every opportunity to hear from God.
Wait
Waiting means trusting. Can we trust God even during the silence? Job did, Abraham did, Joseph did, Mary did, Paul did—and so can we!
So, if you are in the midst of a season of silence, remember that God has not left you. In fact, if you are a Christian, His Holy Spirit lives within you. He is as close as your breath. Throughout the Bible, we see God’s desire to be known through relationship. We must trust if He is silent, He has a good reason because He is good!
Hold on beloved, the Lord is near to those who draw near to Him!
TWEET THIS: Frankly, My Dear . . .: When God is Silent. @RealMojo68 @LindseyBeckie #franklymydear #faith
And Frankly, My Dear . . . That’s all she wrote!
Beckie Lindsey is an award-winning writer, poet, freelancer, and blogger. She is the editor of Southern California Voice, a division of One Christian Voice, LLC., a national news syndicating agency. She is the author of devotions, a devotional study journal, and the upcoming YA novel, Beauties from Ashes. She and her husband Scott have three adult children, two adorable cats and live in California. Learn more about Beckie at https://beckielindsey16.com/
Aug 9, 2012 |
Yup. I had an interview. A real, in-person, we-think-you-could-benefit-our-business job interview today. [I also had a call to join an insurance team about an hour’s drive from home and work for commission only… had to turn that one down. Darn.]
I had been referred to today’s Real Interviewer through mutual contacts. A year ago, I wouldn’t have considered it: part-time. Small office.
And today, it felt like a perfect fit. Because it’s a nice atmosphere. Because they’ve been in business for over a decade and are still growing. Because any job is better than no job. Because a pay check is still a paycheck. And because every little bit helps.
Whether or not I get the job, I’m glad I went to the interview, which was more of an informal get-to-know-you meeting. Mostly because I don’t get out much these days. Also because it was nice to see new faces. I love meeting people!
The office manager was encouraging. She was excited about the marketing/advertising background I naturally come by on my resume, through my blog and just because I’m a naturally chatty person (go figure!).
But the absolute best moment of this meeting was when she said, “I heard you’re a great writer and want to make sure this job wouldn’t get in the way of those goals.”
Uhm…. NO. I will gladly work for you part time until it turns into full time, and in the meantime I will continue to write and blog and write and cook and write and review and write. You’ll just be helping to pay the bills until the write check comes along.
But thanks for asking.
And Frankly, My Dear… that’s all she wrote!
May 31, 2012 |
I know, I know… life is most certainly going to get in the way…
But still…it’s nice to have a few things on the To-Do List, right?
Here’s the start of my List for June, 2012:
- Celebrate Dot & Friends’ Graduation.
- Blog every day.
- Write at least an hour every day on the Big Projects.
- Get a job. A good job. A really good, permanent, well-paying, room-for-advancement job.
- Cook each day from The Unemployment Cookbook.
- Order the next print run for The Unemployment Cookbook.
- Write at least three short stories to submit to contests, competitions, and magazines.
- Get caught up on The Bookshelf.
- Deep clean the Master Bathroom and Master Bedroom.
- Make chocolate treats for every day.
- Walk a little, every day.
- Pay off at least one bill. In full.
- Wake up Will Power and get him back into the World at Large.
- Study photography. Really study. Learn tips and tricks with my camera, and go on photo shoots with professionals.
- Get my next assignment submitted to ICL.
- Smile more than I did in May.
- Appreciate every single apple.
And Frankly, My Dear… that’s all she wrote!
Jan 23, 2012 |
I still don’t have a day job. It’s been just over six months since my boss decided he couldn’t afford to keep me. And since I don’t publicly vent, that’s all you get on that subject.
I’ve been unemployed before. I’m a legal secretary. A licensed insurance agent. I’ve worked for large corporations and sole practitioners. I’m excellent at sales, customer service, administrative duties and, no surprise, communications.
But I can’t seem to find a job. So I’m praying for income. Which is not the same thing.
A job is something you do to earn a paycheck. Income is money you earn. A job typically requires you to put forth constant effort. Income can be residual funds after the effort has been completed.
I want to provide for my family through income. And I’d of course love for that income to come through writing and publishing. Of course, for me, that would be an ongoing effort. I could pick and choose which hours of the day to work. I could work Saturday at midnight or 6 a.m. on Tuesday. As one effort pays off, I could be working on the next. A regular office job doesn’t offer that flexibility. But it does offer stability (or so it should). I’m willing, and looking for, any kind of income/job that will accomplish my financial tasks.
I’d love to have a savings account again some day. I’d love to take a real vacation again this year. Those things don’t look too promising, right now. But I figure as long as each month I can take care of my mortgage, car payment, utilities, fuel, and groceries… anything else is a bonus.
I’ve been blessed to be able to use this time to head toward that goal. I’m working on the final drafts of the Unemployment Cookbook. Megan and I have ideas to grow our one story into at least a nine-book series. And my house gets cleaner and more organized every week.
I’ve spent this time learning: Learning discipline to sit and write. To cook better. To take care of myself and family better. To clean and not let things stockpile. Learning what works for me and my household, and what doesn’t. Learning to learn: researching recipes and writings and crafts and any- and every-thing that needs researching.
I’ve spent this time developing my drive: Driving around town to accomplish errands. Spending quality time with friends and volunteering my abilities to help when I can. Developing that inner drive that pushes me to accomplish goals instead of keeping them on the To-Do List.
And I’ve spent this time enjoying this time. Not having a paycheck is stressful, but it doesn’t mean my entire life is. I’ve enjoyed having coffee at Mom’s nearly every morning. I like the quiet time I have in the middle of the day with my Bible. I look forward to being creative with whatever foods are already in my pantry.
I may be unemployed; but I am certainly not out of work.
And Frankly, My Dear… that’s all she wrote!
Nov 18, 2011 |
1. Movies will never be as good as books.
2. Friends are as important as family.
3. There’s more to life than a paycheck, or lack thereof.
4. However, a paycheck can make life a little easier.
5. God is in control. Always.
6. God may not provide in the way I want, but always in the way I need.
7. Some of my most important friends are the ones I haven’t physically met yet.
8. It’s always colder in winter. This should not be news.
9. Laptop chargers are awesome.
10. Social media should not be a place to publicly vent a private matter.
11. Books are best in hardcopy.
12. Deep red is one of the best colors ever.
13. Classical music will never go out of style.
14. Christmas Spirit should be year-round. Christmas decorating, apparently, should not.
15. Thanksgiving is an attitude, not a day.
16. I may not be perfect; but I’m the perfect Me at this moment in time.
17. Chocolate covered orange jellies are bliss.
18. Crescent rolls are very versatile.
19. Midnight movie premieres are incredibly fun.
20. The morning after… notsomuch.
21. Blogging is a job.
22. Sometimes this job doesn’t pay enough.
23. Sometimes this job pays bonuses.
24. My child will always be my child, no matter how old she gets.
25. My mommy will always be my mommy, no matter how old I get.
