Sometimes the greatest feedback we can receive is not what someone else tells us about ourselves, but what God reveals to us when we are willing to become still, examine our hearts, acknowledge our shortcomings, and allow Him to make the necessary changes.

Over the years I have written on a variety of topics, trials, tribulations, and failures that I have had to work through or am still working through. In those experiences, I have come to realize that sometimes the very things we struggle to understand are the things God uses to teach us, strengthen our faith, and help us recognize our need for Him. None of us are exempt from difficult seasons, and none of us should ever assume that someone else’s journey is without its battles simply because we cannot see what they are facing.

When I first started writing and sharing what I believed God had laid on my heart to share, it was more therapy for me than it was to be encouragement to others. As I have read through the scriptures, I have seen how many of those who did great things for God went through great trials. I am not trying to imply that I am in the category of being a great warrior as Nimrod, a man after God’s heart like David, a faithful servant like Joshua, or a man of valor like Gideon, or a host of others.

I know who I am and what kind of person I am before God in my moments of weakness and relate more to the words written in Isaiah 6:5 Then said I, Woe is me! For I am undone and ruined, because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips…

In what I write, I never want those who read it to hear ”Oh is me” or “Poor pitiful me.” My prayer is that when others read what I write to the end of each devotional they will be able to hear that when I am in the midst of my trials, that the end of the matter is “But God” and to be able to see that I try to glorify Him in everything that I go through.

I have come to understand that it is not our words, our phrasing, or even the way we pray that matters most. What truly matters is His presence, His grace, and His ability to read the deepest longings of our hearts. Stillness doesn’t come naturally to many of us, and for those that truly know me understand how much I need to be able to do this more now than ever before. Sitting quietly without distraction can feel almost impossible.

I’m learning though, to simply sit with Him—letting Him search me, shape me, and change me. There is something powerful about allowing God to work in the places within us that we would rather avoid, because it is often there that we discover just how much we need His grace. We cannot always change the circumstances surrounding us, but we can surrender our hearts to the One who is able to change us through them.

Certain individuals say that they relate deeply to what I write and say that because of what I share I am more “Approachable” than other Pastors, leaders, and spiritually minded individuals and that is why they endure what they go through. For some though, I realize they will never receive what I share either because they don’t want to, or can’t relate because they just don’t understand what it is like to live in the midst of the trials, tribulations, and spiritual warfare.

My life goal has been to help as many people as I can, to help them draw closer to the Lord Jesus, to help remove the scales from their eyes, and live out what is written in Galatians 6:2 Bear (endure, carry) one another’s burdens and troublesome moral faults, and in this way fulfill and observe perfectly the law of Christ (the Messiah) and complete what is lacking [in your obedience to it].

I believe that living this out requires more than simply telling someone that we are praying for them; it requires a willingness to listen, to show compassion, to extend grace, and sometimes to walk alongside someone when they cannot find the strength to take the next step on their own. We may not always have the answers or understand the depth of another person’s struggle, but we can always choose to reflect the love of Christ through the way we treat them.

There is a quote by Charles Spurgeon that I have come to contemplate deeply. He said, “You may fear that the Lord has passed you by, but it is not so: He who counts the stars, and calls them by their names, is in no danger of forgetting His own children. He knows your case as thoroughly as if you were the only creature He ever made, or the only saint He ever loved. Approach Him and be at peace.”

In closing, my scriptural prayer for you Dear Hearers is written in 2 Thessalonians 3:16 Now may the Lord of peace Himself grant you His peace at all times and in every way [that peace and spiritual well-being that comes to those who walk with Him, regardless of life’s circumstances]. The Lord be with you all. Amen.

Whatever season you may find yourself walking through today, never believe that your struggles make you less worthy of His love or place you beyond the reach of His grace. Whether you are standing strong, barely holding on, or simply trying to find your way back to stillness with Him, there is room for you in His presence, and there is hope in knowing that He has not forgotten you.

Please pray this prayer with me:

Heavenly Father, help us to become still in Your presence, surrender the things we cannot control, and allow Your Word and Your Spirit to shape our hearts and guide our daily decisions. Teach us to extend grace, carry one another’s burdens, and become a source of encouragement and hope to those who are struggling. May our lives reflect Your love in both our words and more importantly by our actions, and regardless of what we face, may our hearts always return to the truth that You are with us and that the final word is always “But God.” Amen.

The purpose of feedback should never be to make us look better in the eyes of others, but to help us become more reflective of Christ in the eyes of God.

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My BeLoved, may the grace and peace of the Lord Jesus, the love of God the Father, and the communion of the Holy Spirit, be with you all. Amen. In Christ Love, douglas. HE>i. pastord.blog

Special Note: I want to thank those who read what I write and are encouraged to support the ministry God has entrusted to me either one time or have decided to give on a monthly basis. I am encouraged to see certain verses playing out before my eyes like what is written in *Philippians 4:16 For even in Thessalonica you sent aid once and again for my necessities. 17 Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account.*

To any who are interested, please feel free to reach out to me with prayer requests, questions, encouragement, or for information on how to come alongside me with financial support at pastord.blog@gmail.com or I do have a Zelle account associated with my phone number, 5202720387 last name Blaser. Thank you my Beloved for your ongoing prayers and support.