Author: dannithewriter
Being a Bold Believer
Hello, everyone! I pray you have been blessed by the last two blogs. Today, I want to talk about what it looks like to live unashamed and be bold in our faith in Christ. We are living in a time where people are declaring their faith in everything but God. And others are declaring their faith in Him while holding on to practices that are contradictory to the Word. This week’s blog will challenge us to examine 4 areas in our lives to discover if we are truly living unashamed. As believers, we must be unashamed to be saved, to stand out, to be set apart, and to share our testimony.
Unashamed to be Saved
As we navigate our lives as believers, we should not be ashamed to declare and make it evident that we are saved. It is not about telling everyone you come across that you are a born-again believer. But simply, it can be conveyed in our character, conduct, and conversations. The people we encounter can see a difference in the way we carry ourselves. There is a distinction that believers have. I have grown to understand it is not about rattling off scripture to everyone we meet. Instead, it is how we present ourselves to the world around us. Yes, there is a time and place that we need to be prepared to share scriptures and, most importantly, the gospel of Jesus Christ with others.
But in doing so, we need to be led by the Spirit of God to effectively navigate these opportunities. It is not a place of condemnation or bashing people with scripture. Instead, it is leading with love, grace, and the hope of planting or watering a seed sown. We are called to be disciples and follow after Christ. In doing so, we must remember that we represent Him in the world. When the world sees us, they should see Christ in us.
So I pose these questions: Can others recognize that you are saved? Is there a distinction in your life now that you are saved, or have you remained the same in your character, conduct, and conversations?
This is something to think about. When we give the Holy Spirit access, He will reveal any areas within us or in our lives that are contrary to the Word. With His guidance, we are able to live unashamed, to let it be known we are saved. We boldly express our identity as a born-again believer in Christ.
Unashamed to Stand Out
In addition to being unashamed to be saved, we are to be unashamed to stand out. Believers are the light of the world. That means we will stand out in a world full of darkness and wickedness. We are not instructed to hide our light but rather let it shine. And when our light shines, it shows our good works before others. When those good works are evident, it is not for self-gratification or self-exaltation but to glorify our Father. Our character, conduct, and conversations should be glorifying to the Father, not ourselves. We are His children and should be intentional in representing Him well. We should not be fearful to stand out and be the light of the world. We once were living in darkness, but God called us out and brought us into His marvelous light. No matter how we are received by others, we should remember we are children of light.
With that understanding, we should not seek to dim our light to blend in with the darkness around us. Instead, let it shine. So I ask you this: Are you letting your light shine, or are you dimming it just so you can fit in? If your environment or the people around you cause your light to be dimmed, I would challenge you to ask the Holy Spirit for boldness to authentically be who you are called to be in Christ Jesus. Not with pridefulness, boasting, or arrogance but with unshakeable Holy Ghost boldness. In Him, you can completely embrace being the light of the world and do so unashamedly.
Unashamed to be Set Apart
Just like the Holy Spirit gives us boldness to embrace standing out as the light of the world, He also leads us in living a set apart lifestyle. To be set apart means to separate something and keep it for a special purpose. As God’s children, we are instructed to be holy as He is holy. Holy is defined as dedicated or consecrated to God or a religious purpose; sacred. Additionally, it is defined as properly, whole, entire, or perfect, in a moral sense; hence pure in heart, temper, or dispositions; free from sin and sinful affections. We can not serve a holy God but live an unholy lifestyle. We are called to a lifestyle of holiness. It is not something we practice one day and don’t do the next. It is continual. It is not synonomous only with a church denomination or just for a certain group of believers. As a child of God, holiness is a requirement, not a suggestion.
With the definitions provided for set apart and holy, I want to reiterate that there is a distinction among believers. The manner in which we live is different from those in the world. So I ask you, are you committed to living set apart? Have you removed yourself from anything that can be misconstrued as appearing evil or unholy? This is something we must examine. That is why our character, conduct, and conversations should be glorifying to God. With all that was previously mentioned, we are being bold believers when we are unashamed to be saved, to stand out, to be set apart, and lastly, to share our testimony.
Unashamed to Share our Testimony
In this last area, we can struggle with sharing our testimony if we are battling the shame of our lifestyle before salvation. We may easily share our faith and the gospel of Jesus Christ with unbelievers. We may have no problem standing out as the light of the world. We could even fully embrace a lifestyle of holiness. But others of us have a difficult time overcoming our past mistakes and sins. The devil is the accuser of the brethren, who sows condemnation to keep us in a state of fear and shame. While in that state, we remain silent and bound instead of bold and free. Our mouth is muzzled, and the weight of the past weighs us down.
But we don’t have to live in condemnation and be weighed down. We can overcome it when we believe that our Savior’s shed blood redeems us. The mistakes and sins we have confessed and repented of are covered by the blood of Jesus Christ. Our slate is wiped clean, and we are restored. Regardless of the devil’s attacks that will come, we can resist Him. We do not have to accept the condemnation, fear, or shame that he attempts to sow into our lives. And, once we overcome the condemnation, we can unashamedly share our testimony with others as led by the Holy Spirit. The key is to be led by the Spirit of God as He will guide us in what we should or should not share. He will give us the discernment to know the appropriate time and place to share and with whom. So follow His lead, and He will not steer you wrong.
Closing Thoughts
With everything I discussed, it is my hope that each of us can fully live unashamed and be bold believers for Jesus Christ. Regardless of the world and the culture surrounding us, I pray we will remain on fire for Christ, representing Him well from our character to our conversations with others. I hope you can take this information and fully embrace being unashamed to be saved, to stand out, to be set apart, and to share your testimony.
And until next time, have a great day and a blessed week.
**Definitions taken from the Oxford Dictionary and the Webster’s 1828 Dictionary**
**Scriptures taken from the authorized King James Bible**
**Sensitive Topic**
This week’s topic hits close to home for me. Over the last few years, I have navigated through many life transitions. It started in early 2021. In the timespan of two months, my life did a complete 180. What I once considered my normal life took a drastic change. In February 2021, my mom was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer and kidney failure. The day she received the news, I was accompanying her in the emergency room. That day is forever ingrained in my mind. Hearing that information felt like a nightmare. When the doctors gave their diagnosis, I had to be strong for my mom. I had to maintain my composure and keep it together for her. I remember as they explained their findings, the tears began to flow. But in spite of receiving this devastating news, my mom remained even tempered and level-headed. The doctors admitted Mom into the hospital, and she was transferred to the oncology unit. After being moved to her new room, I stayed with her until visiting hours were over. I didn’t want to leave my mom’s side. All I wanted was to support her and be present every step of the way.
That evening, as I left the hospital room, I kissed her forehead, told her “I love you,” and that I would be back in the morning. I remember crying all the way to the parking lot; and as I made the drive home, I just broke down and wept. I felt helpless. I couldn’t believe that it was cancer that caused my mom’s pain, weight loss, and limited mobility. That night, I couldn’t sleep. My mind was racing, and I had so much weighing on me. I could not believe that my mom had received this death sentence. I would not have much longer with her. It shocked me how much life changes with just one diagnosis.
Mom’s hospital stay lasted almost two weeks. During that time, my cousin and I alternated sitting with her during the day. It was difficult to see my mom in her current state. She didn’t look like her normal self. I was used to my mom’s youthfulness and lively spirit. She may have been in her sixties, but before her illness, she was always out and about, going to the gym three times a week. So, to see her in pain and only have limited mobility that broke my heart. I did my best to maintain my composure around her. I had no other option but to keep it together.
Once Mom was released from the hospital, my cousin and I became her primary caregivers with other relatives and healthcare workers assisting when necessary. When Mom came home, it was joyous to see her in better spirits. In spite of the pain and mobility issues, her personality and character remained the same. Thankfully, that part of her never changed. With taking on the role of caregiver, my priorities shifted. I was still working and occasionally participated in activities in and outside of church, but I wanted to cherish the time I had with my mom.
Knowing my time with her was coming to an end sooner than I imagined I wanted to be with her whenever I could. When I think back to that period in my life, I can say without a shadow of doubt that God was keeping me. He gave me a greater measure of strength than I ever had before. Caregiving is not for the weak and faint of heart. It takes a greater level of patience and selflessness. It entails providing a service to someone, ensuring their safety and overall wellbeing.
I will never forget the day I was washing dishes looking out the window into the backyard. I thought to myself, “When I said I wanted to take care of my mom, this is not what I meant.” As soon as that thought came, I heard God say, “This is the way I want you to take care of her.” I had always envisioned that once I was married and my mom was older, I would have her live with me and my family. But at that moment, I knew God had a different plan. I had to accept that my vision for my life with my mom was not God’s.
It was extremely painful caring for a loved one, knowing they would succumb to their illness rather than beat it. Many nights, I cried after keeping a straight face for my mom throughout the day. Even at times when she was at her dialysis treatment and no one else was home, I would just ball my eyes out. When I couldn’t keep it together, I cried out to God, and He gave me the strength to endure. One thing about me is that there are certain situations where crying is my release, and I am unashamed about it. When I get to a place of vulnerability with God expressing this is too much for me to bear, I find God’s comfort and peace. When I choose to be honest with myself and God, not pretending all is well when it really isn’t, I am able to find the strength and peace I need in Him.
While in my role as caregiver, I was intentional with my music choices. I loved playing the Spotify app to hear my favorite artists. And there were times it felt as if the music I was listening to was handpicked by God just for me. It strengthened my spirit and encouraged me that no matter what I may be experiencing, God was with me. And, not only was He with me, but He was with my mom as well.
Throughout the caregiving period, nothing compared to the time of Mom’s passing. Prior to, I had never been present while a person was transitioning. It was extremely difficult to witness. Witnessing that was a different type of pain compared to the day of receiving Mom’s diagnosis. It was a place of confronting and accepting that the end was here. There would be no coming back from this. No matter how painful it was for me, I was glad to have the opportunity to be with my mom in the end. I wanted to be present with her so that she would not be alone. While I was there for my mom, another relative came to support me during that time. I was grateful because I couldn’t imagine how I would have handled it on my own.
After Mom was given pain meds and anxiety medication to ease her restlessness, she was calmer and went to sleep. Once she was more relaxed, I was able to lay my head on her bed and rest my eyes; but I could never fully sleep. Some time went by, and my cousin alerted me that my mom had stopped breathing. She got the nurse, and the nurse confirmed that Mom had passed. I remember crying, but the first thing out of my mouth was “No more pain.” My heart was broken that she was gone; but I could rejoice that she no longer had to endure suffering. She could rest now.
Adjusting to life without my mom was challenging, to say the least. The dynamics of certain family relationships changed. For the first two years, I went through periods of isolation. I didn’t want to do much, and I did not want to be around many people. The person I could always depend on and talk to was no longer here. Her death brought a deep sense of emptiness. I felt lost, hopeless, and purposeless. It felt like grief was suffocating me. At times, I wanted to give up on life. But by the grace of God, I did not go that route. Even in my lowest moments, he kept me from making any decision that would cut my life short. I can look back at certain times in those two years, and I don’t know how I made it through. When I was just existing, God was keeping me. When I was on the floor curled up in a ball crying, He kept me. It was only God who sustained me.
He didn’t just sustain me, then, but He is still doing so now. Even after my mom’s death, I faced the loss of other loved ones that cut in a different way. I have discovered that dealing with death is not a one-size fits all. With my mom, I had a sense of peace that I did not have with the passing of others. From the period of time I learned of my mom’s cancer diagnosis to her passing, I was in a place of processing what is to come. I was not blindsided by it. But with sudden deaths, especially with suicide there is a lot to process. After my cousin’s death, it wrecked me.
The pain I felt was indescribable. There were so many questions that were left unanswered. I can honestly say it was hard for me to make peace with it. I couldn’t believe she was gone until I saw her in the casket. Even in that, I was unable to make it to the front to see her fully. It was too much for me to handle. Before her passing, I had not been this close to someone who had taken their own life. By the strength of God, I was able to make it through the funeral, giving the prayer of comfort and sharing reflections. That day, God was my strength.
After my mom and other loved ones’ passing, it caused me to look at life through a new lens. I realized just how precious life is and not to take it for granted. It made me aware that learning to adjust to transitions cultivates maturity, builds up my faith, and, more importantly, causes a greater dependency on God.
Finding Peace and Strength in God
Throughout the transitions of the last 4 years, I have discovered that no matter the highs or lows in life, there is something to learn. God is always present and instructing. It is up to us to be still enough to recognize what He is teaching. It takes maturity. I know without a shadow of doubt that God was stretching my faith. During this time, I had to depend on Him more than I ever did before. I discovered the truth in Isaiah 26:3-4, “You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You. Trust in the LORD forever, For in YAH, the LORD, is everlasting strength.” To this day, that is one of my favorite scriptures. I noticed that when I intentionally focused on YAH, His peace overtook me. Whatever may have brought stress, worry, or grief was overshadowed by His peace. By acknowledging and exalting God, it allowed the negative feelings to seem minute compared to the vastness of God. If God was able to give me peace, He can do the same for you. That is why it is important to seek Him. Often, when life is challenging, we can stray away or flat out avoid Him. But in seeking Him, we are able to find the peace and strength we need to persevere through life transitions. Do not avoid Him; instead, seek after Him.
Coming to Christ and Casting Your Cares on Him
In addition to Isaiah 26:3-4, Matthew 11:28-30 and I Peter 5:7 also shed light on the importance of coming to Christ and casting our cares on Him. Whatever we are battling, we can bring it to Jesus. Whatever is weighing on us, we can cast it at His feet. We have to unlearn carrying what Jesus told us to cast on Him. He has the capacity to handle our burdens, and in return, we find rest in Him. But in order to obtain that rest, we must believe that when we come to Him, He will provide rest for our souls. We must come to Him in faith, not unbelief.
Apply to Our Lives
I don’t know what life transitions you are having to adjust to. It may be dealing with life after loss: whether it be the death of a loved one, loss of a job, or a relationship ending. It could be a change in marital status going from single to married or married to divorced. You may be entering into parenthood preparing for the birth of your first child. You could be taking on the responsibility of caregiver for your elderly parent(s). Or you may find yourself relocating for a job opportunity moving away from your family and friends.
No matter the life transitions we face, we can find peace in God. When we focus our attention on Him and intentionally seek after Him, we find peace. No matter the uncertainty around us, we find stability in Him. He is our Rock. He remains constant and will not fail us. We may not understand what is transpiring or have the full picture. Even when we do not have all the details, we can trust that God will not abandon us to figure it out on our own. But what’s necessary is belief in Him and His Word. We must believe in our hearts that what He said in His Word is true, and it will come to pass. In addition to believing God and His Word, we must depend on Him. We have to come to a place where we acknowledge that we do not have all the answers and need God for direction. To successfully endure life transitions requires dependency on God.
While we are seeking God, trusting in His Word, and depending on Him, we must come to Christ casting our cares on Him. As I mentioned before, we must unlearn carrying what Christ told us to cast on Him. If it’s too heavy for you to bear the weight of it, give it to Christ. We do not get points with God for choosing to bear what we can cast on Him. So use wisdom, give it to God, and in return, you will find rest in Him.
Closing Thoughts
I hope you are encouraged by this week’s post. No matter what you are facing, I pray that God’s peace covers you and your spirit is strengthened. Lastly, a scripture to mediate on to help as you adjust to life transitions is Philippians 4:8-9 (scripture image posted). I pray you have a great day and a blessed week.
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