Judith Evans
There’s Light at the End of the Tunnel
If you’re going through a dark time in your life, I want to encourage you that there’s light at the end of the tunnel.
Back in March, my husband and I took a multi-state road trip. We were in North Carolina and were approaching a tunnel. I took a video of our drive through the tunnel and narrated while doing so – at least I made the attempt. I laugh at my narration. I’m challenged to talk and do dishes at the same time. We made it through the tunnel just fine.
Sometimes when we’re going through a dark time in our lives, we don’t always understand what’s going on. It can be troubling, challenging and tiring. We may get scared and wonder what the outcome is going to be or whether it’s ever going to end or get better. We’re on uncharted ground. It can be lonely. Others don’t understand. We don’t even understand.
But there’s light at the end of the tunnel. Jesus Christ is our light. “The LORD is my light and my salvation” (Psalm 27:1NAS). As long as we’re following Him, He will be our light in the midst of the darkness, and He will lead us out. And even then, life may not be perfect. It may be raining, but at least it isn’t sleeting. It may be 62 degrees, but at least it isn’t freezing. We may not be able to see the sun, but it’s still there behind the clouds.
Father God, for those of us who may be in a dark time in our lives, we look to You who formed us. You know what’s going on. Our eyes are on You. Help us, encourage us, strengthen us, give us hope. Bless us with wisdom and help us to recognize it. Be our light. Lead us out of the darkness. Thank You for granting these petitions and for Your presence with us through Your Spirit. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
Every Little Bit Helps
When decluttering your home, every little bit helps.
Recently my husband and I replaced three roller window shades in an upstairs bedroom with faux wood horizontal blinds. However, the roller window shades didn’t get taken care of and remained upstairs. One roller shade no longer worked properly. Another one still worked but had a flaw(s) at the bottom. Today those two shades got rolled up, rubber-banded and carried out to the garbage can. The remaining third shade, which is still in good condition, replaced a very flawed shade which was in a second bedroom. That damaged shade also got pitched today.
Decisions were made. Four windows and one bedroom look nicer, and three damaged shades are out of our house and in the garbage. Every time I can get something out of my house, I like it.
In the de-cluttering process, don’t be discouraged if you’re not making as much progress as you would like to see. A little progress is better than none at all. Just keep at it.
In all labor there is profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty (Proverbs 14:23).
Father God, thank you for the progress that we have made in going through all the stuff in our homes. Help us to keep at it. Bring simplicity and order to our lives. Help us with the decision making process. Help us, Holy Spirit, to exercise diligence. And help us not to give in to discouragement. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
What Time Is It?
I have a real cute large plastic bag that I purchased from Cracker Barrel quite a while ago. It is yellow (which is my favorite color by the way) with a cute green frog holding up a red flower. The bag has been upstairs. Recently I was looking it over and noticed that one end of a strap had broken loose from the bag. So I carried it downstairs to throw it out, but then decided that maybe I would hold on to it to store loose papers. So back upstairs it went. Well, today my eyes fell upon the bag once again, but this time I decided to throw it away. And downstairs it came once again.
For those of us who have a propensity to hold on to things (aka hoard), we can come up with all kinds of reasons to hold on to something – even as simple as yellow is my favorite color. Haha. It’s pleasing to the senses. We also see the possibilities for the item and the potential for remaining functionality even though it may be flawed. We see value in so many things. I think that’s how God sees us. But there’s a huge difference between people and things.
“There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven – . A time to keep, and a time to throw away (Ecclesiastes 3:1, 6).”
Lord, we need Your help. We acknowledge our dependency upon You. Help us to know what time it is. Help us to know when it’s time to keep something and when it’s time to throw it away. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
Water from a Rock
When the Israelites were making there way through the desert, God provided water for them from a rock (Exodus 17:1-6). Don’t underestimate God Almighty. Don’t attempt to put Him in a box, even in the thinking of your mind, especially in the thinking of your mind. Whatever it is that you may need, He has provision and is not limited to man’s limitations. “For nothing will be impossible with God” (Luke 1:37).
Give It to Him
Whatever it is that’s bothering you, whatever it is that you’re facing right now – whoever, whatever – give it to Him. He loves you more than you know. He’s present. He’s working. And He doesn’t want you anxious or stressed. Release it to Him.
“…casting all your anxiety upon Him, because He cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:7
He’s so, so good! Thank You, Jesus.
Only Believe
Are you facing a situation that seems to be dragging on forever with no end in sight? Or you wonder whether what you’ve been believing for and praying for is ever going to happen? You’ve been believing. You’ve been praying in faith. You’ve been quoting God’s Word back to Him, trusting that He keeps His Word. God has even given you signs along the way indicating that it’s going to happen. But things keep going south. It’s like one step forward and two steps back. At times things look worse instead of better. You get your hopes up just to have them dashed to the ground. You’re getting weary.
That must have been how Mary felt after her brother Lazarus died. She and her sister Martha and brother Lazarus loved Jesus and followed Him. They were friends with Jesus. How could this happen? Lazarus died. There was no healing. Jesus wasn’t even there when he died.
But when Mary did encounter Jesus, He replied, “Did I not say to you, if you believe, you will see the glory of God? John 11:40“ Then Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead.
No matter how hopeless it looks or you may feel, continue to believe. Give God something to work with in the earthly realm – your faith. Continue believing until it’s manifest in the earth. Be encouraged. God always has the final word.
Waiting for God
The story of Joseph in the Old Testament book of Genesis is one of my favorite Bible stories. Joseph went through a lot of unfair hardship. Serious unfair hardship. Although I’m sure that his troubles actually started earlier, from what I can tell, the bulk of the serious stuff happened between the ages of 17 and 30 (Genesis 37:2; 41:46.) That’s a lot of wait time – 13 years! Lord, when it seems long and never ending, help us to wait for You. “Wait for the LORD; Be strong, and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the LORD” (Psalm 27:14.) God is working. He’s always working. We may not see it. We may not know it. But He is working. Be encouraged. He has a plan.
Local Authors’ Showcase
I plan to be at the Local Authors’ Showcase on Saturday, April 29, 2023 from 1:00-4:00pm at Grand Blanc-McFarlen Library at 515 Perry Rd, Grand Blanc, MI 48439. My book Truth Shall Set You Free will be available for purchase. I hope to see you there!
Hope for Tomorrow
At the end of the day when I’m tired and about to lay my head on the pillow is when I tend to be susceptible to discouragement and things bothering me and weighing me down. One of my favorite verses to address this is Lamentations 3:21-25:
This I recall to my mind, Therefore I have hope. The LORD’s lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, For His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; Great is Thy faithfulness. “The LORD is my portion, says my soul, “Therefore I have hope in Him.” The LORD is good to those who wait for Him, To the person who seeks Him.
It’s good to pray these verses at night before going to sleep and also in the morning when starting your day. God is faithful to His creation, particularly to those who know Him as Daddy Abba Father. Be encouraged!
Welcome to my blog!
Welcome to My New Blog!
Welcome. My name is Judith Evans, author of Truth Shall Set You Free. I’m so happy to have you as a visitor to my blog about my new book. This project is very special to me, and I hope to share some of that excitement with you here.
I’ll be using this blog to expand on some of the topics in Truth Shall Set You Free and post on some of the ideas related to my book. I look forward to sharing my heart with you, bringing the joys of life along with words of life, hope and healing.
I’ll be returning here frequently with new posts.
