October 3, 2024 While We Wait on God's PromisesLYSA TERKEURST Lee en español "Blessed is the man who makes the LORD his trust ..." Psalm 40:4 (ESV) Are there deep disappointments in your life that seem to be lingering? Do you feel like you've prayed the same prayers with little to no change? I understand how hard that is. And although the circumstances of your life may be different from mine, we all have our middle-of-the-night moments wrestling through tears. Some memories still hurt. Realities that make you wonder if you'll ever feel normal again. Sufferings that seem forever long. And you're disappointed that today you aren't living the promises of God you've begged would come to pass. In your most private moments, you want to scream at the unfairness of it all. But then there are more hopeful moments ... when you want to turn up the praise music, lift honest prayers, and declare God is good even when the situation doesn't seem good. Hurting but still trusting - that's the human journey. And that's where we find David in Psalm 40. In the first 10 verses, David praised God for delivering him, but in verses 11-17, he cried out for God to deliver him again. Trusting doesn't mean we ignore reality. It means we acknowledge reality in the very same breath that we acknowledge God's sovereignty - His absolute ability and power to work as He sees best. Our trust can't be tied to whether or not a circumstance or another person changes. Our trust must be tied to the unchanging promises of God. We hope for the good we know God will ultimately bring from our situation, whether the good matches our desires or not. And sometimes that takes a while. The process often requires us to be persevering and patient. Honestly, I know that can feel a little overwhelming. I want the promise of Psalm 40:4 - "blessed is the man who makes the LORD his trust" - but I forget this kind of trust in God is often forged in the crucible of long-suffering. God isn't picking on me. God is picking me to personally live out His promises. It's a high honor. But it doesn't always feel that way. I've got to walk through the low places of the process before I'm perfectly equipped to live the promise. We read about this in Psalm 40:1-3: "I waited patiently for the LORD; he inclined to me and heard my cry. He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure. He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the LORD" (ESV). The idea of waiting patiently is incredibly important in this psalm. The Hebrew word for "waited" in verse 1 indicates it's ongoing, and it holds a sense of eager expectancy and hope. So while I want the solid rock on which to stand, first I have to wait patiently for the Lord to lift me out of the slime and mud and to "set my feet" (Psalm 40:2, ESV). That word "set" in the original Hebrew is qum, which also means "arise or take a stand." God has to take me through the process of getting unstuck from what's been holding me captive before I can take a stand. I also want that new song promised in Psalm 40:3. Did you notice, though, what comes before it? Many cries to the Lord for help. The most powerful praise songs are often guttural cries of pain that have turned into beautiful melodies. I know this is hard. So let me be the one to lean in and whisper these words to you as we begin to wrestle through this journey together: God is working things out. He's not far away. He is right here with us. Even if our prayers aren't answered in the way and the timing we want. Even when this process feels messy. We can trust that God is good. Lord God, I know You often work in ways I don't understand. There are parts of my story that feel incredibly hard to live in, but I trust You are making something beautiful even out of those parts of my life. In Jesus' Name, Amen.  OUR FAVORITE THINGS There are only a few days left to preorder Lysa TerKeurst's new book, I Want to Trust You, but I Don't, and receive these FREE gifts: 1) three chapters you can start reading immediately; 2) a special discount on tickets to attend the Trust Again Tour with Lysa and Natalie Grant in a city near you; and 3) access to three never-before-released Therapy & Theology episodes with Lysa, counselor Jim Cress and Dr. Joel Muddamalle on the topic of red flags. These offers won't be available once the book releases on October 8, so preorder now! ENGAGE Find real-life encouragement when you connect with Lysa TerKeurst here on Instagram. FOR DEEPER STUDY Psalm 40:17, "But as for me, I am poor and needy; may the Lord think of me. You are my help and my deliverer; you are my God, do not delay." (NIV) As you experience a delay or waiting season, how are you leaning on the Lord as your helper and deliverer? We'd love to hear from you! Share your thoughts in the comments. © 2024 by Lysa TerKeurst. All rights reserved. Proverbs 31 MinistriesP.O. Box 3189 Matthews, NC 28106 www.Proverbs31.org The post While We Wait on God’s Promises –  Encouragement for Today – October 3, 2024 appeared first on GodUpdates.

Few sounds in life are more universally pleasing than a happy baby’s laughter. Even the grumpiest curmudgeon can’t help but smile when they hear that gleeful sound. Julia Mae Dorriety caught some of her infant son’s first big laughs on camera. Baby Jack’s giggles are contagious, and the video is a must-see. @jmdorriety I was trying to make a wrap for lunch and he though the bag was the funniest thing! #babiesoftiktok #laughingbaby #happyathome #happybaby #memoriesareforever #memories #momsoftiktok #fyp ♬ Wash. – Bon Iver Julia Mae Was Just Making Lunch When The Baby Laughs Began She captioned her TikTok post, “I was trying to make a wrap for lunch, and he thought the bag was the funniest thing!” Julia Mae grabs the plastic bag and tosses it on the counter, delighting her baby boy. Jack lets out a huge laugh, which makes her laugh, so she does it again. The baby is just as amused the second time around and every time after. Jack has his momma wrapped around his finger, and she wants to share his glorious giggles with the world. Her view video has been viewed 766,000 times, with fans unable to stand the cuteness. The laughter brought back a sweet memory for this mom. “I remember my baby girl’s first laugh! I think it releases a special chemical in our brain or something bc I wanted to sob and crack up.” It served as a great pick-me-up for this TikToker: “This made me laugh, and I’m going through a really tough time right now. Thank you, sm.” This mom’s daughter laughs just like Jack when she sees a silly dig. “My girl thinks the dogs are the most hilarious thing! Baby giggles are the cutest.” A keen-eyed TikToker noticed that Jack isn’t the only one having fun. Julia Mae clearly loves it, too. “Everyones only talking about ur baby not to say she’s not absolutely adorable but you two laughing together is just too cute.” Huggies chimed in from their official Instagram, “The gift that keeps on giving.” Thank you, Julia Mae, for sharing Jack with us. His giggles truly made our gloomy day brighter. You can find the source of this story’s featured image here. The post Mom Catches Baby’s First Laughs On Camera— Experience The Joy With Her appeared first on InspireMore.

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