Guest Post: Red-Dirt-Mama

Do y'all miss me as much as I miss you?!

 I am excited to introduce this next guest blogger, as she is a very special friend of mine .

April is a real life friend from our college days at ETBU. Though we live hours away from each other now, it has been fun keeping up with her and her sweet family via her blog. (Isn't technology wonderful?!)

When it comes to blogging, April is apart of my "inner circle" because she not only knows me as writer at {All Things New} but she knows me in real life as well. And because I desire authenticity in my writing, I look to April to help keep me accountable to that goal. I love her dearly and I am sure you will too!

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HI! My name is April and I blog over at Red Dirt Mama. I write about my life, crafts, faith, and food on my blog. This may be a little more private than something I would usually write for a guest post, but this was laid on my heart. Thank you, Megan, for letting me share this with your friends!

 When I found out I was pregnant with Bluebelle, it was the most terrifying day of my life. Minutes before I took that test -- the one that blinked "Pregnant" in mere seconds -- I was printing a letter announcing my resignation. The situation was dire enough that I didn't think I could remain, no matter how mournful I was over leaving some of the most cherished people in my life. Then I took that test. What were we going to do? How would we survive? How could I bring a child into this world this way? Two weeks later, I was no longer employed, and this time it was not of my own choosing. A month later we were living in a terrible housing situation. Two months after that, I was home in my grandparents' house, seeking humility and assistance and feeling lower than the lowest creature on the earth. I was terrified at a time that I was angry with God. I felt lost. Abandoned. Forgotten. When I first held Bluebelle in my arms, I realized I had not been forgotten. He gave her to me. To us. This perfect, sweet little bundle of joy, the culmination of all our hopes and fears wrapped up in a package more perfect that I could have ever imagined. I look back on that time, now in the realm of being years ago, and I see how we were being carried through. I don't remember having anything more than a weak faith, but I remember the fear. I remember the reassurance after we had passed through it, and we learned so much about ourselves in the process. I've learned to try to not take anything for granted. I try to remember that every day. Lately I've been reminding myself of these times. I have fears, I really do. They are almost crippling to me. However, at this stage in my life I am trying to see the faith in the midst of the fear. I am remembering past promises and clinging to them with the hope and knowledge that He has gotten me through things before and He will be there again. I believe that God is with us even when our faith is weak. I am thankful that He loves us and carries us even when we can't see anything more than the smallest glimmer of hope. For the past several years my favorite passage has been the entirety of Philippians 4. Below are verses 10-13.

¹⁰ But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at last you have revived your concern for me; indeed, you were concerned before, but you lacked opportunity. ¹¹ Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. ¹² I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. ¹³ I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.

I spent many years visually burnt out on Philippians 4:13, but I believe today that the verse is far more powerful in context than it ever is alone. Paul is saying that he can do anything in Christ, but only in the light of having both NOTHING and EVERYTHING. God can work through us in the midst of terrible loss. He is there when we have nothing of the world's value. God is God of the blessings, as well as the times of great need. Recognizing His sovereignty in every situation brings peace and contentment in any circumstance. I am so thankful for His peace. When I remember these things - His past faithfulness, His truth -- I have faith no matter how afraid I am. It doesn't stop the waves of fear from hitting me unexpectedly, but I can give those moments away to Him and experience His peace and know that I will be okay, even if I don't know what lies ahead. Faith in the presence of fear. It's a powerful thing.

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Thank you for sharing your heart with us April. I praise God that He is Faithful despite our doubt and fear and that He chooses to reward us for even the smallest steps of faith! 

What an encouragement you are to me!

Have you ever experienced a time in your life when God blew you away with His faithfulness?