Overcoming vs Overthinking : Walking By Faith Rather Than By Emotions

Welcome back to the blog and to another article which I hope will encourage someone and uplift your soul. Today I want to share a little reflection that I had while reading my Bible a little while ago. People might say that it is outdated but I still open it and read it because there are a lot of hidden treasures in it, a lot of stories/ lessons that I find still relevant to the  lifetime and world we live in. And even though the contexts are different, some concepts/ principle still apply to live an abundant life in Christ. 

One of the stories that I particularly like is found in 2 Kings 4: 8-37. The beginning of the story (v8-14) is about a woman who met Elisha as he was passing by Sunem and pressed him to stop by her house to eat. Ever since that day, whenever Elisha was passing by the village of Sunem, he would stop by to eat. But then, that woman went the extra mile and prepared a room for the man of God in her house so that he could dwell there when he was coming. And so one day, Elisha retreated into his room and asked Guehazi to call the woman. And when she came, he asked her what favor she desired he rendered her. But the story started with the mention that she was a rich woman and so she told him that she had all she need and was happy (content) in the midst of her people. Once she was gone, Elisha discussed the matter with his servant Guehazi who pointed out to him that she and her husband didn't have a child. He then ordered Guehazi to called her back and prophesied that by the time he would come back the following year she would have a child. And his word came to pass: the woman became pregnant and gave birth to a son.

Fast forward a few years later (v15-28), the child became sick and died in the hands of her mother. And this is the part of the story that interested me the most : we have all lost someone and we know that this is the most excruciating, soul crushing experience. Even for the best of us, it has happened that losing a loved one as left us sitting on the verge of insanity, unable to snap out of the nightmare. So I could only imagine that woman must have felt watching her son, her ONLY child die in her own hands! BUT here is the plot twist: she took her son to the room of the man of God, laid her son on the bed and closed the door behind her and went to find her husband. She did not break down in tears: she went to her husband and asked for permission to have someone taking her to the man of God. Now back then, families traveled to a man of God only on two occasions: either to celebrate the New moon or on the day of shabbat but in this case it was neither. So the husband surprised asked why she was traveling to the man of God. Her only response was :"All is well". Really?? This is a mother whose son just died!! He is laying lifeless, breathless and she says all is well... Cool.

She took off, and as she arrived to the place where Elisha was dwelling (Mount Carmel), she met Guehazi first. When he saw her he asked her the questions Elisha as commissioned him with: "Is all well with you? Is all well with your husband? Is all well with the child?" and she answered :"All is well". Okay now... She did it not once but TWICE! At first we could have said that it was the shock but a second time?! That woman was up to something. She kept her composure all along but as soon as she found herself at the feet of Elisha, she let it all out.

That woman did not give into her feelings and she did not allow people to do the same by letting them know what she was going through. And perhaps the reaction of Jesus in a story quite similar in Matthew 9 explains why. In this story, a Jew came to fetch Jesus because his daughter had just died and he wanted Jesus to come and lay his hands on her so that she could live again. When he went to the man's house the bible said in verse 23

 

"And when Jesus came to the ruler's house and saw the flute players and the crowd making a commotion"

When I looked up the definition of commotion, it said that it was "a state of confused and noisy disturbance". When we give into our emotions this is what happens: we get confused and the noise of the world and our own thought prevent us to hear God.

 

Just like that woman, Jesus had to keep the crowd at bay because their emotions would be in direct opposition with the miracle he was going to perform and the disposition of their hearts would perhaps not be favorable for a miracle.  The Shunammite woman somehow understood that: she didn't give into her feelings nor allowed anybody to do it because she knew it wasn't the time to let her emotions rule. She didn't want people to transfer their fears, disappointment, sadness to her or disturb her peace and serenity: she knew it wasn't the time to overthink but rather to overcome. She dismissed the world and ran to God because she knew God could do something about her situation. Mountains symbolize the place where we meet God : in the Bible it is usually the place where men of God would retreat to talk to God and the mount carmel was no exception. That woman went to the place where she knew she would find the man of God and thus God Himself. And God did show off and turned things around for that woman through his servant Elisha: he prayed and God answered, bringing that woman's son back to life.

From this story I took away two things that we can all apply when facing adversity or difficulties that turn our world upside down:

a) when situations happen what we need is to stay rooted in faith no matter how difficult it may be. And sometimes it can be really reaaaally hard. BUT! it is what we ought to do for the simple reason that once we are led by our emotions we tend to go astray and lose sight of God's plan for us and what He can do in our lives. We are less inclined to hear his voice and because we are worried and all over the place, we cannot see Him move and let Him do what He has to do. I am pretty sure He could have prevented the death of that woman's son. I am pretty sure she was praying begging God to do something but God let things happen because He had a point to prove. Sometimes there are situations that happen where God has a point to prove. Maybe it was a way for God to make that woman's faith firm by testing it or maybe it was a situation that God created so that she could have a personal encounter/ story with Him. Whatever it was, she overcame and perhaps we should strive to be a little more like that woman who had faith and hoped against all hope : instead of wallowing, panicking and crying, we need to stay collected, focused and trust that "all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." (Rom 8: 28)  

b) We need to seek God's presence. I understand that it feels good to discuss your issues with people. Really... I get it. Been there, done that. But what good is it to only talk about it if you are not doing anything about it? I hadn't always been the one to talk a lot about my issues not to mention to talk to Jesus but let me tell you something: it works out. Call me crazy but I'd rather seek God and tell Him about what I am going through rather than be too chatty and hear about my business in the streets. At worst, if you have to talk about it, I would advice to talk to someone who is going to pray with you and/or pray for you in order for you to get through what you are going through. And once you make God your source, once you mute the noise of the world and all the shenanigans that could interfere with your miracle and really seek Him, things start shifting. I can say it because I have experienced it.

I pray that God grants you serenity to go through what you are going through with faith and courage, knowing that "weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning" (Psalm 30:5)

Until next time,

xo

Don't Stay Stuck When They Leave

“ Life will not stop just because Justin left” ~ Mary Jane Paul,

Being Mary Jane, season 4 episode 20

This has probably been one of the realest episode and season of Being Mary Jane. I have watched that woman grow, struggle, go from heartbreak to heartbreak to finally understand one of the most important lessons in life: you cannot make choices based on your sense of insecurity or your fear of people leaving you. You make choices that you feel are right for you. She stood for herself and dared to go down a route she had never been before. She chose to support her friend and pursue what she wanted even if it meant that she had to do it alone because sometimes you just have to let things/ people go in order to get where you are mean to be. But how many of us crumble and stay stuck when people leave our life because of the choices and values we decide to hold onto? Worst! How many of us hold on to people/things by fear thus compromising our dreams, our values, our future, selling ourselves short in the process?

When Lot and his family left Sodom and Gomorra, Lot’s wife looked behind her and was turned into a statue of salt but Lot did not look behind. He did not stop. He did not stay stuck: he had to keep moving because there was a place he had to go and until he got there he could not stop. And there is no greater loss than the loss of a spouse! But he simply couldn’t risk looking back and stay stuck because it wasn’t worth it. Did he feel sad? Probably. Did he mourn the loss of his wife? It is safe to assume that. But did he let that stop him from going where God had told him to go? No. He kept walking until he got to a safe place where he could look back without risking to be stuck there.
Some people have to leave you and exit your life in order for you to go where you are supposed to go. They have to because otherwise they will slow you down, hinder you in your walk and you might never get to where God has planned for you to be at. And you cannot crumble every time somebody leaves. You cannot fall apart every time someone walks away from your life! The road is still long and you cannot afford to waste time that you do not have.

For serious 😩😂

In Matthew 13:36 which relates the events preceding the crucifixion of Jesus, Peter asked Jesus where He was going and to that Jesus responded:

“Where I am going you cannot follow me now, but you will follow afterward.”

Jesus knew that where He was going not everybody could accompany him. He knew! that in order for the Divine plan of God to take place He had to go through what He went through alone! And sometimes we have those really close friends that have been there since day one and who swear they will always have our back no matter what just like Peter! And they demonstrate a willingness to just accompany us and be there just like Peter but let’s looks at what happens in the following verses (Matthew 13 37 to 38):

“Peter said to him, “Lord, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.” Jesus answered, “Will you lay down your life for me? Truly, truly, I say to you, the rooster will not crow till you have denied me three times.”

Now here's the breaking news: the people walking the walk with you may mean well and speak from a place of genuine feelings and emotions but guess what? Just like Peter they might deny you. Not because they don’t love you, not because they weren’t genuine (but it’s a possibility) but because it is God’s divine set up to get you where you have to go, to propel you into your divine destiny and to allow you to go from the grave to the glory. And if it is part of God's plan for your life there is nothing you can do to keep them. Nothing.  Don’t you think Jesus was bummed out? Crushed and sad? Of course He was! But He knew already that all of this was for a higher purpose! He knew looong before those events that “all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” Rom 8:28. So He knew that eventually He would be alright. He didn’t stay into his feelings or spent days asking himself “why are people leaving me? 😭😭😭” He knew He had to go somewhere and people had to get out of the way for Him to get there in a timely manner.

I want to encourage someone today to keep walking. The road can seem long and lonely, and honestly it sucks when people leave your life but some people simply cannot follow you where you are going. Please overstand that them leaving serves a higher purpose for your life, that will be revealed by God in due time. And it might not make sense now. You might be hurting like hell right now but just know that this too shall pass and all things (all of them) will work together for your good, according to God’s purpose for your life.


Until next time,
xo

Born A Crime

"As an outsider myself, I always mixed myself with different groups…I’ve never been afraid to go into a different space and relate to those people, because I don’t have a place where I belong and that means I belong everywhere." ~ Trevor Noah

New month new challenges and to celebrate this a new book to under the spotlight of Underneath The Cover. Today I am bringing to you Born a Crime, by Trevor Noah. If you're familiar with The Daily show, then you know that Trevor Noah is John Stewart's successor and even though he had big shoes to fill, he hasn't disappointed us yet. He is hilarious and while discussing subjects of the highest importance never misses a chance to put in a well thought joke or a punch line that leaves you wondering if laughing is an appropriate reaction to what should be heartbreaking news. With his constantly growing notoriety and the odds being in his favor, none can deny the fact that it was, without a shadow of a doubt, the best moment to birth one of the best read that you will have, should you feel convinced to order it after reading this review. This book was actually listed on Bill Gates Summer Reads and turned out to be just like its author: full of unexpected surprises and reactions that where somewhere in between a breakup heartbreak, an uncontrollable laugh that might have caused accidental bladder leaks and hope that as long as you're still breathing, there's hope to create better tomorrows.

Trevor Noah was born in South Africa during the time of apartheid from a Xhosa Mother and a German expat father. In this Autobiography, Trevor Noah tell the tales of what it was like to grow up in a society where he was on the fence as a mixed (colored) kid when apartheid only drew a line of demarcation between black and white. He talks about the fight of his mother to give him the things she never had and allow him to see the world outside of the social, racial and ethnical walls imposed by the Apartheid. This story is one of a man who considering his environment and upbringing was doomed to failed but successfully beat the odds and transcended the barriers that existed way before he was even born. It brings out a reality that most people outside of Trevor's world seem to forget, a reality that anyone struggling to get to a better place in life can relate to: success is not straight line. Trevor managed to do an amazing job at telling his story vividly and with emotions, taking you from crazy laughter to tearing up because some of the struggles he went through are relatable and depict the daily life of anyone who's had to make the most out of [almost] nothing growing up. It is the story of every [African] child being whooped out of [tough] love because of our mischief and misbehavior; intertwined with a testimony of how a human being can evolve and adapt in order to stay alive. It is a book full of beautiful lessons and here are the ones that I personally took away.

1- There is nothing like the love of a mother

Trevor's mother did not have much growing up but one thing she certainly had was a fierce spirit that led her to somehow have the things she put her mind on. And that same fierce spirit is was led her to always fight to provide and protect her two sons (Trevor and his little brother Andre). She gave her all to make sure that they did not lack and that they could have the opportunities she didn't have growing up. She is the embodiment of unconditional love and self sacrifice, virtues that every parent [should] aspire to be.

2- Surround yourself with the right people

 

Reading Trevor Noah's book, I realized that to be able to succeed you have to surround yourself with people that will make you better and pull you up. Now Trevor's Friends did not seem like they could do much back then, but he always had that one friends that could find multiple ways to earn money and increase their revenues. He had people with the right mindset around him and it is very important to be surrounded with those kind of people to be able to go far in life and to be successful.

 

3- Prayer works

 

The story of how Trevor's mother escaped death after being shot in the head by her husband is one to read and one that gives you chill. But the lesson in this for me was beyond that. As Christian, we are sometimes (most of the time) being mocked for being zealous and for believing in something we supposedly have no proof of. And on top of this, we Christian ourselves get into our feelings sometimes when we pray for certain things that we do not obtain right away or when we do not see a change in our life. But this last story told by Trevor is a testimony that sometimes our prayers are the reason why we escape certain situations and how we are still alive. And I could relate to it because the reason why I am still here, running this blog, sharing my thoughts and encouraging you is because prayer works.

 

4- See beyond what your eyes can see and challenge the system

 

"Living with my mom, I saw how she used language to cross boundaries, handle situations, navigate the world." ~ Trevor Noah

Sometimes when we are stuck in a place in life, it is hard to see beyond where we are currently standing however Trevor's mother refused to adopt that mindset. Although she had little to offer and was raising a colored child during the apartheid, she gave Trevor the opportunity to experience the world beyond the social and racial barriers that were imposed by the South African government. She didn't know when (and if) the apartheid would end, but one thing she had her mind set on is that she wanted her son to experience the world beyond those limits. She wanted for her son to be adequately equipped to handle the world that he would be given once the apartheid would end. She also learned to challenge the system by finding loopholes that allowed her to live the life she had always wanted and Trevor certainly learned from the best judging by the experiences he relates in his book. Sometimes all we see is not all there is to life: we have to be willing to challenge the system, our beliefs and dare to see bigger, further than were we stand now.

This book is 304 pages of love, laugh and tragedy delivery the gut-wrenching story of one of the most successful host show American has ever known. It is available in Hardcover, paperback and Kindle and you can order online or get it in store ( I got mine from Barnes and Nobles). As I put this book down and started writing my review I was convinced of two things right off the bat: 1) it was easily a five stars rating and b) this book is by far my second best read of this year (first read will be up soon). The way the book is written makes it easy to ready and whenever you put your book down (if you can), your mind is begging for  more and you feel that uncontrollable itch to pick up from where you left at.

If you have to read one book for the rest of the months leading to the end of this year, let it be this one. You'll thank me later!

Until next time,

xo