That Time I Lost My Footing

Have you ever had a season where you felt like you were drowning? Where you felt like you completely lost your footing? Where life seemed confusing and you began to question everything you were doing? That is the season I have been in for the last 8 weeks. Needless to say, this "happy little headquarters" hasn't been so happy!

Since our Vision Retreat, we have had a ridiculous amount of obstacles head our way. And I’m not one to blame the devil for every bad thing that happens in life… but what’s been happening sure makes me wonder if he’s got anything to do with it!  We’ve had tough times in our finances and tough times in our health, but the worst thing for me has been what’s been going on up in this brain of mine.

Indecisiveness has plagued me. Every time I sit down to write, I question what I’m writing. Every time I tell my kids no about something, I question if that was the right choice. And lately, every time I feel like I have a firm stance on a social issue, I question if that’s the right stance.

In 1 Corinthians 14:33 (KJV) we see that it says, “God is not the author of confusion but of peace.” In 2 Timothy 1:7 we learn that God gives us a “sound mind.” In Galatians 5:22 we see that peace is one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

So why have I had such a lack of peace then? Why has my mind been so confused? Why have I been living in such a fog?

In 1 Peter 5:8 we see this warning, “Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.”

Guys, if I can be completely honest, I have not been alert at all. After the financial woes and health woes of the last few months, I got really lazy in my faith. I left my first love. Instead of looking to God’s Word for peace and direction, I began letting the world be my guide. I read article after article on Facebook, looking for direction and peace. But there was no peace to be found. Only confusion and differing opinions. I got so confused. Every time I thought I was doing something right in Mommyhood, an article would catch my eye that would tell me that was NOT right. Every time I thought I knew how I felt about a certain social issue, another article would catch my eye, telling me that a "real" Christian should think this other way. Every time I sat down to write a blog, I closed my computer after writing just a few lines, because I was just so confused. And I honestly didn’t even know what was truth anymore. As my friend Amy told me the other night, it was as if a “piece of me was missing.” She was so right. The PEACE in me was missing!

We are in the age of social media. We are in the age of information and technology. And although these things are GREAT and can be used as such amazing tools, we have to guard our hearts and minds, and understand that the Enemy is prowling around, looking for any open door, trying to confuse us and make us lose our footing. A platform has been given to just about everyone. These days, anybody can post their opinion, and it can be treated as truth. I recognize there is a lot of irony in this, being that you are reading this on a BLOG that you probably used some sort of social media to get to... but just stick with me ;)

We have to make sure that what we are reading on Facebook is not taking precedent over what we read in God’s word. The last few weeks we have been BOMBARDED with status updates and articles on many different and very tough social issues. I have spent hours upon hours on Facebook, reading different opinions and reactions to certain issues. I even came across an article this week written by a self-professing Christian that said the Bible isn’t really true. What?

For the Christian, the Bible HAS to be the sole foundation of our lives. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 says that “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.”

If we don’t believe that the Bible is our true foundation, then there is nothing left to the Christian faith. There is no more hope. No more life. Just utter confusion. The Bible is God’s Words and God’s heart in book format. It is one of the most amazing ways to know and understand God’s heart and purposes. We have to remember that Satan is the ultimate deceiver. Since the beginning of time He has been deceiving. He caused Adam and Eve to sin by first deceiving them about what God had spoken. He caused them to question the very Word of God. He tried to tempt Jesus by questioning the very Word of God. He disguises himself as an angel of light, and sometimes his arguments are very cunning.

This past week, I have taken every question I have and brought it to God. All the things that have been clouding my mind and causing me to be confused I brought to the Lord. I heard Him gently warn me that I was letting too many other voices into my life. He graciously pointed me to Scripture after Scripture teaching me how He feels about the issues circulating in our culture today. He has sweetly shown me what my response should be. He has affirmed to me what my purpose and direction is. He used His Word to pick me back up out of that miry, confusing pit and stand me back on His firm foundation. THAT right there is the hope that is found in Jesus Christ. He loves us just as we are, and when we drift away, He is always willing to help us find our way back to Himself.

Friends, we have to guard ourselves from allowing too many voices into our lives. We have to stay firm on our foundation and never let another person, Facebook status, book or philosophy take God’s place in our lives. We have to take each piece of information we hear and test it against the Word of God and discard what is false while holding onto what is true. God is speaking on a daily basis, but in order to hear him, sometimes we just have to silence the noise.

Do you feel like you have lost your footing recently? Have you found yourself in a state of confusion? Do you lack peace in your life? Do you feel paralyzed by indecisiveness? If so, maybe take a little inventory to see what voices you have been allowing to guide you and lead you. If you have drifted, return to your first Love, and let God remind you of the truth. He is waiting with open arms.

XOXO,

Sarah