Fit For Her Journey
The FIT FOR HER JOURNEY podcast was created to inspire and uplift women on their journey to personal growth and fulfillment in faith, health, and wellness. Through real insight, wisdom and the word of God, join Allie as she shares a bit of church, a bit of life, health and wellness and a lot of the word, God’s Word! Allie deep dives into the word of God and shares with her audience empowering and heartfelt reflections while creating a safe space for women, where vulnerability, truth and growth can exist on their journey. Life comes with its own challenges and setbacks, and Allie invites her audience to draw near to God for hope, grace and restoration. Be encouraged to surrender, abide, and step into the incredible will of God that He created for you. Be her. You are her. Become FIT FOR HER JOURNEY.
Fit For Her Journey
Reflecting on God's Unseen Work in Your Life
What happens when we face loss and hardship, yet still manage to feel a guiding presence? Join me, Allie Gibbs, as we explore this profound question on this episode of Fit for Her Journey. Drawing inspiration from the book of Esther, we uncover how God's providence operates silently yet powerfully in our lives, even during our darkest times. I'll be sharing my personal journey through the painful loss of my mother and how I discerned God's protective care, showing how His invisible hand can guide and sustain us through the most challenging circumstances. Through my story and Esther's, we'll see the importance of recognizing God's sovereignty and faithfulness, even when His methods and timings catch us off guard.
In the second part of our discussion, we delve into the theme of trusting God's unseen work in our lives. Reflecting on Esther's story, we gain valuable insights into how God orchestrates events for our benefit, often working behind the scenes in ways we don't immediately perceive. I'll encourage you to draw nearer to God, finding solace in His constant love and guidance. This episode is designed to bless, encourage, and inspire you to recognize God's hand in your own journey, whether you're familiar with the story of Esther or hearing it anew. Tune in to discover how faith and reflection can illuminate God's presence in our lives.
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You are now listening to the Fit for Her Journey podcast with Allie Gibbs. Hey, sis, welcome back to another episode of Fit for Her Journey, where we have a bit of church, a bit of life, health and wellness and a lot of the word, god's word. I am your host, allie Gibbs. All right, sis, I have to just throw it out there right now. Your girl has been under the weather and my sinuses have been acting up. So please, please, please, forgive me if I sound winded or exhausted during this episode. I just know that God has placed it on my heart to fulfill this moment. But we're going to power through this. We're going to make it through. So I'm believing God for what he's going to do in this episode, so let's just go ahead and continue and get into it. I just wanted to give y'all that disclaimer because whew, sis is tired. Okay, all right y'all. So have you ever just been reading your Bible and been overwhelmingly amazed at how the early stories and word of God in the Bible so profoundly touches your current situations and circumstances today? Talk about the living word. Okay, it is a fact that it remains true through all generations. Reading the Bible and meditating on God's word gives us spiritual nourishment that helps us draw near to God, deepening our relationship with him, and allows us to see his unwavering hand working in our life. The book of Esther speaks to me and my life's journey in many ways, and it is marked with many powerful lessons. Esther has undoubtedly become one of my favorite women in the Bible.
Speaker 1:I know many of you may already be familiar with the book of Esther and may see yourself in her story in many ways as well. But even if you're not familiar or maybe you might want to go back and revisit I encourage you to pick up your Bible. Grab your Bible and just turn to the book of Esther, as it is sure to give fresh revelation. See, the book of Esther is unique as it is the only book in scripture that does not mention God or the name of God at all directly. For those who are visual learners like me, esther is a book that God wanted to use to show us his protective care and spiritual power, which is his providence. He wanted to show us how his invisible hand is at work behind the scenes of our circumstances to bring about his plan and purpose. And throughout it all, we are blessed to see God's sovereignty. So, even though God isn't speaking through prophets burning bushes or parting seas in this particular book, god's fingerprints are all through the book of Esther. His presence is on every page in the book of Esther and he is busy at work behind the scenes. It is clear that the book of Esther wants us to know that God is in control of all things, and his methods in showing it vary, so don't expect God to show up in one particular way, because he has already planned it out, lived it and knows the outcome.
Speaker 1:The goal of the message today that was revealed to me is that we must discern the hand of God and his protective care in our lives. God is always at work for us. He is even present when things seem to be falling apart all around us, when we're often feeling helpless and we see it as God is seem to be falling apart all around us. When we're often feeling helpless and we see it as God is nowhere to be found. I know for me I have been in a season of deep reflection where I have reflected on many times in my life, where I've experienced traumatic or painful circumstances throughout my life, from as early as I can remember that may have someone from the outside, looking in, questioning where was God in that?
Speaker 1:How and why would God allow those things to happen to someone who he loves and cares for? See, I remember praying, asking God what he was trying to reveal to me during those moments of reflection, as they were memories and experiences that were painful and I would have preferred to just not think about them or bring them back up to the surface. But no, it was clear. During those times of reflection, I learned something about God. Reflection. I learned something about God. I was able to see and discern his invisible hand. Throughout every situation that I initially did not see or encounter at first sight, I was able to see how God kept me throughout my life in various ways. God is not predictable, but he is faithful and keeps his promises. This is why I love God's sovereignty and providence, which are just a couple of God's many characteristics and attributes that I know and love. We see it in Esther, I see it in my life and I'm certain if you give your life a glance and reflect with God, you will see it in your life, and I'm certain if you give your life a glance and reflect with God, you will see it in your life too.
Speaker 1:Even as I was preparing for this episode, I was convicted to share a memory of loss and how God kept me. It stems from the passing of my mom. Experiencing a loss of a parent, a child or loved one is tough for anyone to bear, and for many it leaves confusion and a wondering thought as to what was God's plan for this. Now, my mom's passing was sudden and a complete, utter shock to us all. As her daughter, I didn't have any warning. We lived in different states so I didn't have time to get to her. There was nothing I could have done to intervene. However, the day I learned of her passing, she was heavy on my mind and I felt in my spirit something wasn't well. So I followed that notion. I called her multiple times that morning and throughout the day, with no answer or no response, reaching out to my sister and my aunt. Neither of them heard from her that day either.
Speaker 1:That evening was life-changing Receiving the news that my mom had passed in her home, knowing that just earlier that day, I called because I wanted to talk to her. She had been on my mind. I wanted to see how she was. I wanted to hear her voice, knowing she was going to ask what the latest and new things her grandbabies were up to, especially my youngest, but it wasn't going to happen. My heart was broken. That pain, that hurt, that loss and sense of failure was overwhelming. It struck me hard. Okay, it was hard, but the Lord promises to be close to the brokenhearted and he rescues those whose spirits are crushed, as we know in Psalms 34, 18.
Speaker 1:I would imagine Esther felt all the emotions that comes with loss and helplessness. The emotions that comes with loss and helplessness knowing that there was a soon-to-be annihilation of her and her people, heartbroken and confused. God still had a plan. Because of God's providence, his providential power, god is our source of strength, courage and wisdom, helping us navigate through life's troubles. Matthew 5.4 tells us God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted. We are not exempt from facing hard things and experiences in our life. No matter what's before us, god will see us through it. He'll never leave us nor forsake us.
Speaker 1:I wasn't able to see it all in that moment, but as I reflected on this time, it was only by God's hand and providence, his protective care, that kept me so that I was able to have strength, courage and wisdom as I planned and spoke to everyone deemed necessary, from the coroner to every family service advisor at the funeral homes, with the details to sit and plan my mom's final homegoing arrangements. It wasn't an easy task by any means. I knew it needed to get done, but God's sovereignty was in full effect and he placed everyone where he needed them to be. I didn't know how I got through it. My husband and my sister were alongside me, but God was too. He was present through the whole process. He kept my mind. He gave me courage, he gave me wisdom. He was at work behind the scenes when I didn't know how things were going to happen or where the support was going to come from. He ensured that I was not consumed by the process.
Speaker 1:My faith is in Jesus, knowing that my security, protection and healing rest in the Lord, my God. Don't be of little faith and believe that you won't recover from loss and tragedy. The Lord knows when we are suffering. He knows when we are dealing with grief and loss and need His help Because of how much he loves us. When we feel pain, his heart hurts as well. God sees you, cries with you, but he also set you apart to stand. Stand firm in who he has purposed you to be.
Speaker 1:I'm so grateful to the Lord, my God, for continuing to heal my heart, even though at times I feel the void of being a motherless and fatherless child in the earth. But I have my peace that surpasses all understanding, because I have Jesus who, like no other, fills that void. And my God is a God to the fatherless and my God is a God to the fatherless. See, god restores my broken heart. Anytime I'm feeling heavy and missing my mom.
Speaker 1:I sometimes hear this verse ringing in my ears Peace I leave with you. My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled. You as the world gives, do not let your hearts be troubled. John 14 27. I have joy and peace, knowing that God still protects and covers.
Speaker 1:I feel that for somebody, anyone who has experienced loss and grief in any way, rather in the past or currently, trust that God will see you through it. It may just be you and God for a season, but it is worth it for your healing, it's worth it for who you will become. On the other side, the world needs to hear and see your brokenness transformed into glory, if God did it for me, he will do it for you. God doesn't pick and choose who he wants to be close to. His promise is for everyone. If you allow him, I want to encourage you to go before God and lay down your struggles. Surrender it to him. And lay down your struggles, surrender it to him. It's not always easy, but the outcome is worth it and the overflow will be passed down as great service to God and his people.
Speaker 1:Esther's pursuit to save her people, knowing she could lose her own life in the process, didn't stop her, because it reveals God's sovereignty. It shows God's absolute power and overruling authority over all things, over all his creation. He gave her courage to be brave. He gave her wisdom. Under pressure, she had faith. We serve a God who doesn't get frustrated when an evil or tragic turn of events come into play. He can save and deliver us from evil. He used what was meant as an evil annihilation plotted against his people, fueled by self-ambition, and made it into a victorious celebration.
Speaker 1:Nothing we face in life goes without notice by God or His careful attention. Everything we go through doesn't always feel good to us when it's happening, but our story shapes us into who God has called us to be, and for His glory, god is in control. We must trust him, and when we do, fear of people, life, circumstances, loss or any other obstacle should not hold us back. God will arrange circumstances and place people into position to reveal his will, because he is that sovereign. God is that powerful. He is that sovereign, god is that powerful. God placed Esther in position to take the throne as queen before the selfish, ambitious plot against the Jews took place. God's favor was with Esther along her journey to becoming queen and in our lives today.
Speaker 1:God does the same thing for us. He can place you in a position to help others. It can come from a change in your life that you have been faced with. Rather, it be a change in your job, a change or shift in your family, a relocation, joining a different church. You may not see God's purpose for any of it right away, but be brave and courageous enough to be obedient anyway, because watch this understand that God is still in control and you may be positioned in that sudden place to help where needed, when the need arises.
Speaker 1:And for that, when the need arises, and for that, just like Esther maybe, perhaps you were chosen for such a time as this, it takes courage and wisdom to discern God's hand in our circumstances. With that comes growth, to understand the providence and sovereignty of the God we serve the providence and sovereignty of the God we serve. With that growth and understanding, you're more able to move through life, even when it seems that, spiritually, god is silent in your life. Because you know that, even though you cannot see, feel or hear God, you know he is busy behind the scenes, upholding you with His mighty hand, working all things together for good, because he is the creator of all things and he is the God who knows the end from the beginning, throughout all time and eternity. He is the same God today, tomorrow and forever, and he holds everything and I mean everything in the palm of His hand, nowhere to be found or that he has become silent.
Speaker 1:It may just be the time God is looking for you to draw near to him as the one true and living God and know that, even though you may not see his hand, you can trust that he is always and I mean always working behind the scenes. Working behind the scenes, my sis, I hope you have been encouraged to revisit the book of Esther when you get the chance and that you're blessed to see the hand of God in your life. I hope this message blesses you and has been imparted unto you with grace and understanding. I love you and God loves you more, and until next time. Peace, love and blessings.