Prevail, – Tattoo It On Your Heart

When Failing Wins

Rachael-M-Colby-blogs.capecodonline.com-When-Failing-Wins

Challenges are more often like marathons than sprints. We’re most spent as we near the finish line, and when I can’t see the end, sometimes I falter and it’s tempting to quit rather than carry on.

“God,” I said, “I’m not entering any more writing contests if I don’t win something this time.” —I almost didn’t enter, but I figured entering my article on failing was appropriate since I’m so adept at it. Besides, the road to success is often paved with failure.

Rachael-M-Colby-Tattoo-It-On-Your-Heart-The-road-to success-is-often-paved-with-failure

The best will fail the most.

George Washington lost more battles than he won. Thomas Edison scrapped more “great ideas” than he ever saw come to fruition.

The well-played life is not about never falling.

Continue reading “When Failing Wins”

Good God

Everything that happens to us isn’t from God. When I am hurt by others’ sin, or bombarded by trials, I can choose to blame God, or navigate the storm with Him. When I stumble and reap the consequences, I can either make excuses, or take responsibility for my sin, repent, and let Jesus help me. I choose; bitter or better.

We live in a sin filled, fallen world. I have been through some deep waters. Everything is not as it ought to be, or as I wish in my life. Much of my circumstances are out of my control, but I can take comfort knowing nothing can happen that God doesn’t allow. God isn’t in Heaven saying, “Oh my God! I can’t believe this! Now what?” Life can blindside us, but nothing takes Him by surprise. He has a plan.

“These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” ‭‭John‬ ‭16:33‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Notice, Jesus says, “…in Me you may have peace.” He is our refuge, our comfort. His peace is not contingent on circumstances; it is there for us when we hide our hearts in Him.

We use manure to enrich the soil. It nourishes plants so they flourish and bear fruit. God also uses the “manure” in our lives, the trials, in the same way, when we yield to Him. God works everything for our good and His glory in the end, when we get our hearts right and wait on Him.

“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28 NKJV

Lord,

When life is more valley than mountaintop

More potholes than open highway

More stormy sea than smooth sailing

I will

Cling to your promises

Cleave to your word.

I crave Your presence,

Lord.

“For you are the fountain of life, the light by which we see.” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭36:9‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I have found, it’s by way of the place called broken that I am mended. I am made whole as I place my battle weary, sin scarred heart in the hands of my Maker.

To console those who mourn in Zion, To give them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they may be called trees of righteousness, The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified. ‭ Isaiah‬ ‭61:3‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Rachael_ M_Colby_Tattoo_it_on_Your_Heart_That's_What_Heaven's_For

This world is not my home. It’s just the road to where I’m going. Death is just the door to eternal life. Heaven is my home. I’m His ambassador on Earth, but a citizen of Heaven.

“For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” ‭‭Romans‬ ‭8:38-39‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

***This post was written in response to a message someone sent me on Twitter. My hope is this post will help bring them, and those facing trials and heartbreak to The One who can comfort, restore and redirect their lives.

Below are links to my friend Robin Farnsworth’s site, spencersmom.com. Robin is a fellow writer, sister in Christ and one of my heroes. She is currently in the process of writing her memoir. The posts contain her stories of and resources for dealing with:

Loss of a child Battling cancer If someone you love has dementia or Alzheimer’s. The Greatest Hope of All

Shut Up, Satan! (Overcoming Writer’s Doubt & the Voices in My Head)

I am participating in the Writing Contest: Writers Crushing Doubt, hosted by Bryan Hutchinson of Positive Writer. To Visit Bryan’s blog and read more entries in this contest click here.

Oh, the angst over writing this essay, and how I have procrastinated. Yes, life is like a steamroller lately, but reasons aren’t excuses, right? For me, writer’s doubt is an everyday wrestling of the mind and soul.

“You’re out of your league. You don’t fit,” he said.

Well, that’s exactly where I need to put myself. If I am to get better and figure out where I’m going, I need to have someone ahead of me who knows the way. Sometimes if something doesn’t fit, it needs trimming, right? Which is why I joined The Jerry Jenkins Writers Guild, and I follow his blog too. Yes, #JerryJenkinsIsMyMentor. I also fill my mind with the doctrine of other writers by following Positive Writer, Writer’s Digest, The Write Life and I’m a member of a local writer’s group. Jerry taught me, “Show, don’t tell.” So, here goes.

“You don’t have what it takes,” the accuser says.

Who God calls, He equips.

“Who is going to read your words? You will never get the attention, the amount of followers, you need to be published.”

For now, I will write for the one heart who is listening and needs to hear what I have to say. “God, give me a word in season for someone.”

“Who do you think you are? You are nobody. You are no Super Woman, Super Christian, mom or wife!”

You are right. But I am Jesus’ nobody, and He specializes in making nobodies into somebodies. What I am is super ordinary. I’m done with waiting for perfect. I am weak, but His strength is made perfect in weakness.

“There are others far greater than you who are qualified to speak.”

For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. I Corinthians‬ ‭1:26‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

So, I qualify. “God, breathe on my words; let them be like arrows, piercing hearts and infusing life and hope.”

It is not that we think we are qualified to do anything on our own. Our qualification comes from God. ‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭3:5‬ ‭NLT

“You don’t have the time. Look how far behind you are, all the other things you have to do. If you put your heart out there, and your children do foolish things, everyone will know what a failure you are. By testifying about Him, you are setting them up as targets. I will attack them.”

“Shut up Satan! I don’t write just to fill pages. I don’t write for myself. This is my legacy for my children. I write for them, to bring glory to God, and so others may know Him. I don’t negotiate with terrorists, and I am not responsible for others’ decisions. I am responsible to obey God and speak the truth.”

“This is hopeless, too hard. Just quit. You can’t attain such lofty goals.”

Jesus, give me a teachable spirit. Help me to hone the craft you have gifted me with. Excelsior! Ever higher! Ad astra per aspera. Through difficulties to the stars, to excellence. With God all things are possible.

“What if you run out of words to say? What if you have started something you can’t finish with this site of yours?”

I won’t pursue inspiration. I will pursue You, Jesus.

As the deer pants after the water brook, so my soul pants after You, oh God. Psalm 42:1 NKJV

rachael_m_colby_tattoo_it_on_your_heart_looking_for_inspirarion “Give me words to praise You, Lord; speak to me, so I can speak to them. Jesus, I want to shake the world, show them Your love, and who You are. But I am so small. Here’s my five loaves and two fishes, Lord.”