Journal
Flourish! Just how do we do that when uncertainty and endless challenges seem to be nipping at our heels each day? It doesn’t matter your age, ethnicity, economic class, or location in the world. We are vulnerable to disease, crime, weather, and well… just life.
Here are a couple of things God has been teaching me.
Embrace it. Your attitude and moment-to-moment choices affect you, those around you, and the ultimate outcome. It stagnates your creativity, leaving you stuck and unproductive. Your choice is just to rebound (accepting the ball in your court and holding onto it), or you can flourish (take the ball and run with it). Choosing to flourish will mean accepting, learning, and growing mindfully. It means choosing to see things with a different focus. It allows you to see God’s endless abundant care and love and choose His abundant life. It means you must conscientiously choose to go forward and practice it. Photographers master their lenses and what they focus on. They master the light and what is or isn’t seen, sometimes taking years to become a “master of photography” and continually learning and growing throughout their lifetime.
The word “go” is used 1542 times in the Bible, while “stay” is used only 62 times.
God is always moving forward. Don’t limit God–our Master–to the confines of human thinking. He resides within you, and you have unrestricted access to His divine power, creativity, and resources. You can live in the realm of your divine humanity in Him. You are not just deserving but inherently worthy of His love and attention. You are valued.
Flourishing means you don’t negate your felt needs or emotions—you allow them, but you don’t live in them. It means learning new things, setting new goals, seeing the future, and embracing the truth that God is living in you and will be your Way, your Truth, and your Life.
Finally, don’t isolate yourself. Community and support from others are crucial for progress. That’s why Influence Women events, webinars, and podcasts were created. We want you to connect so you can collaborate and create for Christ – the 4C’s. God created us to be in a relationship, and research tells us that positive change happens in safe, unconditional, and authentic relationships. One of the best aspects of the thriving Influence Women community is the diversity of age. We learn and grow from each other’s experiences and interactions with God. So… connect, engage, and flourish with both seasoned professionals and newbies – all are relevant and valued. For those who feel the industry is only about the “young,” check out this post from Influence Lab co-founder Phil Cooke on how to stay vital in your career and flourish as you age.
Let’s Go!
Journal
I love summer, but not so much when it gets outrageously hot. That’s why the cool Autumn mornings and evenings with its delightful fresh air is so welcome right now. Heat can make me grumpy, discouraged, and depressed. The hot months mean it’s cave time, and it’s easy for me to hide inside in the air conditioning and try not to let my thoughts and emotions take over. Like Elijah, who was running and hid in a cave (I Kings 19:3-18), I know there is only one way out. I must choose to walk out of my cave and move forward.
What causes our discouragement that can lead to depression?
Many different things can cause discouragement and depression. We often hear how health issues or chemical and food imbalances cause it. I found myself in a depressed state many years ago and couldn’t figure out why until I was diagnosed with a thyroid issue that was causing it. Sometimes depression is just the weather, but hiding can also be a choice we make when fear takes over.
What we focus on matters? When Elijah ran for the cave, he left his servant behind. Discouragement and depression make you want to isolate yourself, and that’s the biggest mistake we can make. Many people are still trying to get out of their cave from the isolation they went through during the pandemic. Some live in a cave because they spend too much time on social media comparing their life to others who seem to be living the high life. Sometimes we stay in our cave and hide because of the stigma of being labeled as a failure if we’ve been let go from a job, been caught in an unforeseen economic situation, or perhaps been caught in a challenging family issue. If we hide, maybe it will all just go away. In our “all about me and my influence and success” social media culture today, people back away and don’t want to be associated with someone deemed a loser. It might damage their reputation.
Is the solution spiritual?
(more…)
Journal
God’s plans for us are perfect. But somehow even though we know we can never fully accomplish perfection, knowing that we can’t attain it never stops us from trying. Most who are single want to be married. Yet most married couples, if they are truthful, often wish they could return to their days of singleness when life was less complicated and without the responsibility of a significant mate and added children.
Paul, the apostle, openly shares his thoughts on the cultural issues of his time, and what was best for him and his calling. In 1 Corinthians 7:25-38, Paul explains that he chose singleness as the most favorable choice for him because he believed marriage would divide his thoughts and responsibility. He made the argument that a single person only has to think about their engagement with God, but married couples must engage with God and also leave time for their spouse, thus requiring a division of focus.
We often hear that the opposite sex “completes” us. That isn’t true. God completes us. Our mates, if we have chosen well, complement us. The reality is that marital status is a label depicting a relationship. Couples in long and successful marriages must be secure in their relationship with God first and who they are in Him. They have learned that a spouse will never be able to fulfill perfect love and that only God can bring contentment and fulfill the desires of their hearts.
However, whether single or married, Paul reveals in Philippians 4:12 that we are to be contented in all circumstances. God’s purpose is for us to be in His will. He has a reason for you to be where you are at any given moment. His purpose and plans are perfect for you and will always be far superior. The world says we must follow a certain cultural agenda to be content. The truth is that lots of married people will become single again through various life issues. We are born as an individual into the world, and we will leave single.
Pew research reports that 30 percent of U.S. adults admitted that they are not married, aren’t living with a partner, or aren’t engaged in a committed relationship. It went on to reveal that 63% of men in their twenties are single compared to only 34% of women. Men in their twenties, in fact, aren’t pursuing women as they once did because of the massive consumption of media that is now available to them, which diverts their attention. They are consumed by social media, porn, playing video games, or engaging in online sports gaming.
We often get ourselves “into a dither,” as my granny used to say. When we seek what the world says, we must follow it to be happy. Remember that the world can only bring shallow happiness, but Kingdom choices bring joy. Joy is rooted in our souls and in eternal promises with lasting security and peace in our lives. We will stay depressed, fearful, and emotionally distraught when we unwillingly wallow in our selfish choices. Both singleness and marriage are gifts – but different gifts, each packaged with different challenges and benefits. They both allow us to accomplish the purposes God has for us, and that fact, not whether we are single or married, is what will bring our ultimate joy.
