The Go-Go’s latest hit blared in the background. Shimmering lights from the disco ball studded the floor with star-like shapes. This was our Friday night ritual. My best friend and I arrived early, as usual, ready to try out our new skates. Did I mention the cool pink pom-poms with bells tied to the tops?

Five dollar allowance in hand would get us in the door, plus a few games of Galaga or Centipede. And maybe a cola. The best part of the night though was our dare-devil trick.

We started at opposite ends of the rink, and when one of us gave the signal, we raced toward the center circle as fast as our scrawny legs could go. Then as we reached the middle, our crisscrossed arms grabbed hold and began spinning round and round. Fast. If one of us had decided to let go, we would have fallen backward to our doom. We held on with all the strength we could muster.

God’s love for us is a lot like that firm grip.

Click here to read the rest of the post over at Sweet to the Soul.

We are blessed today to have encourager Carmen Horne share her wisdom. (She wouldn't want me to brag about her, but I'm going to anyway.) I know you will feel the sincerity of her heart when you read her words. Welcome Carmen!

2 Ways to Choose Trust

“I don’t think the way you think. The way you work isn’t the way I work. For as the sky soars high above earth so the way I work surpasses the way you work, and the way I think is beyond the way you think.” Isaiah 55:8-9, MSG

Do you bounce back and forth between worry and trust? My word, I do. Recommitting to my decision to trust God in certain situations is not only a yearly thing for me, it’s often daily.

Please tell me you struggle with this too. We are firmly dedicated to letting go of the anxiety that comes with a situation, and before we realize it, our devotion begins to wane.

It’s not like God has abandoned us. It’s not like He has never answered our prayers. We fill journals with thankfulness.

For me, I think part of my distrust rests within my fear of the unknown. I heard one of my favorite Bible teachers say in reference to God answering prayers, “We don’t know if He will, but we always know He can.”

Oh, but we want to know He will. We want that assurance that His answer will always be yes. We know best, right?

How will we ever overcome this tug of war in our souls? Are there ways to make our choice to trust God in the midst of the unknown for real this time?

Here are a couple of things I am trying to remember when I begin to worry and fret. Hopefully you will find them helpful as well.

Remember who God is and what we know about His character -

Scripture is filled with affirmations of God’s love and care for us – Jeremiah 29:11, John 14:27, Proverbs 1:33 are some of my favorites. Not only scripture, but our lives testify to a loving God that is faithful. When I am feeling overwhelmed, I think back on the times God has met my needs, protected my family, and healed my body. I look for truth – not what I am feeling at the moment. Our feelings usually gravitate toward the negative during stressful times.

Understanding that choosing trust is powerful –

There is power in a choice. We decide. It’s an act of our will. Quoting Joyce Meyer, “In Deuteronomy 30:19 (AMP), God says, ‘…I have set before you life and death, the blessings and the curses; therefore choose life, that you and your descendants may live.’ ‘Every choice is a seed you sow, and those seeds produce fruit in your life – either for life or for death. And if we want to have the life Jesus died to give us – an abundant life full of real peace and joy – we need to make wise choices.”

Choosing trust is good seed sown for our peace.

Often, I choose trust with my knees knocking, my voice trembling, and tears flowing. I don’t think trust has to look pretty, I think it just needs to look sincere.

Living with abandon in Christ’s love and care can happen for us. Let’s choose life.

Wife, mom and Jesus girl best describes Carmen. She has been married to her fella, Lary, for 38 years and has one beautiful daughter.

She walks out her calling to women’s ministry as a writer, speaker and Christian Women’s Hope Coach, lending her ear and heart to those looking to find hope in the craziness of life.

Carmen is convinced her home in heaven will be beach-side with a chocolate filled closet, but until that glorious day, her family makes the Bayou State their home. Connect with Carmen here:

Visit my blog at Carmen Horne, Walking With Women, Embracing God's Truth.