I’m really ticked. I just ran into a beloved little sister in the faith on my way to work when I stopped off at a grocery store to grab a few things. She and her family are nearly being eaten alive by the enemy. Honestly, we stood right there in plain sight near the vitamin aisle and ratted on the devil and shook the family tree for some fresh truth. As big tears rolled down those cheeks, she said one thing so emphatically that it seared straight into my bones:
“I was just thinking about you this morning, Beth. And I’ve just gotta know: have you been here?”
Where exactly did she mean by here? In that place where the enemy seems to leave NOTHING untouched. Nothing unmangled by his crushing iron jaw. The scene of the onslaught. Where Satan seems to systematically and patiently and daily and hourly go for you – heart, soul, and body, and for everything and everyone you hold dear, and for all you know – that you know – that you know you believe. That season where you can’t seem to recover because every time you start to get back up, something knocks you down again. That season that you really do begin to believe will absolutely kill you…and, in some respects, it does. It kills the old you. If allowed to, it stones to death the Goliath within every David, one welting throw after another. Welcome to the sifting zone where Satan gets so much leash that he rips to bloody shreds everything he can get his paws on…but what is really real. What is really left behind when we are stripped bare of all our earthly security and fleshly confidence.
Have I been there, my beloved little sister?
Let’s see. How loud can I say this?? I HAVE BEEN THERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! BOY, HAVE I EVER BEEN THERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And part of me survived. And part of me died.
And the part of me that died, as painful as it was, needed to.
And when it tries to resurrect it’s ugly, deformed, decayed head, I remind it that it is dead, lest it need another killing. Because I don’t want another killing.
I don’t mean my baffling tendency to sin is dead. I deal with that old nature everyday. I can still – almost out of nowhere – vacillate furiously between self-love and self loathing until I’m so dizzy I could regurgitate. But that joint victim and victimizer in me, that violent inner working nurtured at the breast of deceit and raised in sickness with a bent on self-destruction, took what still appears over many years to be a fair beheading.
YES. I have been there. And it was so awful I still well remember almost to the detail. And this morning I was glad I did because my little sister in the faith – a MIGHTY woman of God – needed to hear it.
I got in that car so mad at the enemy and at this brazen, hateful world that I made a bee-line straight to work and clicked the words “new post.”
Big sisters, our little sisters need some encouragement. They need to know we’ve been where they are. Even if they’re not in a season of hell on earth. Maybe their house just smells like one huge dirty diaper. Maybe they just need a nap. Maybe they need a job. God alone knows exactly and truly what they need from Him but this WE can know they need from us: encouragement! And, by God (and I mean that), we are going to give it to them.
Here’s what we’re going to do today. You who are 39 and under get to tell us where you could use some encouragement. You who are 40 and older and willing are going to give it to them. Here’s how it’s going to look:
If you are 39 or younger, you’re going to start your comment with “Your little sister here: …”
If you are 40 or older, you’re going to start your comment with “Your big sister here: …”
Here are the ground rules: (I’m going to warn you. When I’m furious, I can get into a bossy frame of mind and I’m there right this second. But, look at it this way. I’m beside myself in your behalf so humor me.)
Little sisters, don’t snow ball with every irritating, annoying, frustrating thing or relationship in your life. Get pretty quickly to the bottom line. I’m thinking about someone I really do love so much and want to encourage and help when at all possible but her emails to me are so long and about so many things going wrong and so many people going awry that by the end of it, all I can do is throw up my hands and say, “I am so overwhelmed, I have no idea where to begin!” Try, as much as you know how to tell us, to articulate what is really wrong. The real bottom line. Also, please look throughout the post for encouragements that may help you and keep in mind that what the big sisters write to one, they extend to all. Don’t be offended if no one speaks directly to you. Every encouragement is meant for every one of you.
Big Sisters, today is for encouraging our little sisters and that’s all. I know you have problems because I’m about your same age and I have a truckload of them. But you and I have lived long enough to know that we’re going to make it and that God IS going to be faithful and He is INDEED going to bring beauty from ashes and He will most certainly, given enough time, work every single detail out for our good and His glory. No complaining from us today. This post is a N0-Whine zone for big sisters. Life and the devil are eating our baby sisters alive. Let’s GET UP in their behalf, encourage them, and draw out our swords and fight for them. As often as you can, make your comment to all of them instead of just in reply to one of them. There will be exceptions, of course, but it’s crucial that we edify them across the board. They could all use it. You can talk to them or pray for them in your comment. Both are so Biblical and so right.
Now, listen, Little Sisters. One more thing from Big Sister with the big mouth. Get your tails in the Word. I mean it. Get your tails in the Word. NO TIME OFF. Read it aloud when you can’t absorb it or concentrate on it. Get yourself some accountability. Call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised and so shall you be saved from your enemies. Every morning.
One last thing. I left my beloved little sister with an assignment this morning and with the accountability to let me know she’s doing it. I’m going to give you little sisters who are feeling devoured the exact same one: memorize Psalm 25. Every word of it. Don’t tell me you can’t. Yes, you can. Get it printed out, laminate it, and memorize it. Say it over and over and over again. Start today. We can cheer you on and we can fight for you but we can’t fight instead of you. This victory is YOURS. The battle is meant to bring plunder directly to your personal life and family line or God wouldn’t have allowed it. Get up and fight.
Psalm 25.
I mean it.
I’m going to be asking you about it.
OK. I’m sorry for the bossy tone but I am so mad on behalf of you, our baby sisters, that I’m bruising this keyboard.
Now get busy, Girls. I have to be out of the office for a little while several times today so if we go a few hours without any comments moderated, have no fear, I’ll get back to it and get your encouragements posted.
I love you.
Big Sister here. To all Little Sisters out there. 3 words, never.give.up. This life that we live is a fight to the finish. I was watching the Olympics last night and they flashed back to 2008 where one of the female runners who was doing hurdles stopped almost toward the end of the race, fell to her knees and cried. She didn’t even finish. I said, “Wow, that is horrible. She didn’t even finish and now she is being ‘glorified’ as a strong runner?” I heard a voice inside. How many times have I fell down during the race to my knees and sobbed? Poor me, I did so horribly, I failed, I didn’t have the victory. And I stop right there in the middle of it all. But God… He encourages us as His children to get back in the race. To train harder for the next go around. To face forward with our eyes on the prize. To be determined. To realize the fullness we have when we are running as opposed to when we are not. Sometimes it takes a coach, an encouraging peer whom God will place in our lives to get us on track. But many times, as I have found in my own life, it is God Himself. He knows it all, He knows us through and through better than we know ourselves. And when we are straining and agonizing as we feel pain and pressure in our race we have to remember the victory in order to press on. The other side of the line. Never.Give.Up.
Psalm 25:14: The secret of the LORD is with them that fear Him and HE will shew them HIS COVENANT!!!!
GRACE Covenant: God’s Riches at Christ’s Expense! He is amazing, awesome and above what I can express!
Little sister here. Going on 31 years old next month. I’ve been married to my husband for 2 years, and the enemy is attacking our marriage. He was married previously and I struggle with insecurities about his past. We just moved to a new country and we are taking our stress out on each other. He gets so angry and it makes me feel so small. We are seeking marriage counseling, but I feel so hopeless and afraid. My biggest fear is that our marriage will end up like his first one… a total failure. I spend the majority of my days crying, and he spends much of his time angry and frustrated. We both feel lonely, despite sleeping in the same bed every night. We need prayers.
Little Sister here at 25…
You ever heard God yelling at you “Trust me!” when it makes absolutely no sense in this earthly realm. I can’t explain in short hand, but I’ll do my best. I was in a relationship I believed was my forever only to be abruptly ended, I felt a heart-string TUG to volunteer at the Hospice, and I felt the need to leave my full time, comfortable job to pursue the medical field. I am ASTOUNDED by God’s hand in it & his provision & timing when I had/have ZERO idea what was/is happening and very much depressed and brought to the bare nakedness of learning to love myself. That said, I am a little ashamed to say.. I am terrified of being completely vulnerable to His plan. In this transition I have to FULLY rely on Him to provide for me with EVERY situation. I have no choice but to yield to His vision for my life. But sisters, I just need prayer in this phase, please. Prayer that I can trust Him fully and His calling. For vulnerability. For yielding. For saying YES, Father, I will go with every fiber of my being.
Little sis here. Age 32…made it through the attack on my marriage, death of my beloved mother, and on the upside of a huge family feud with my in laws…..however, the enemy has been attacking me financially for years. Just when things look like they are improving, something else happens. My husband and I are rallying together, but every day is a huge struggle. I do so want to be a good example for my kids and other who are struggling, but it is so VERY hard. It might seem trivial to some, but to me it is all I can focus on. Please help me pray. Clarity for a job situation I’m in, and strength to continue to look upward. It doesn’t take much for that devil to drag me down daily.
Little sister here transitioning to Big Sister… : )
Health wise, hubby almost died on my for a second time in our short 8 years of marriage. I need him to heal and I need to heal myself. I am growing bitter because I am growing tired of always tending to his medical needs. I know, horrible wife!!! But we absolutely no outside help and he doesn’t see how worn out I am, with his issues, my own, working full time and being the bread winner, our young son and life in general. I am 38 and sometimes feel like I am 78. I pray and pray and pray and things start to go up hill and then SLAM WHACK, we are knocked down again. So tired my sisters. Thanks. <3
Little sister Heather again—one more thing. I love my job but I work with an older woman who applied for my position when it came open. She has been there for 10 years. She did not get it because she lacks maturity and management skills. She is 3 years old than me. She is a very negative nelly with me. She likes to only point out negative things and doesn’t offer any solutions. My problem is people see her as so wonderful but I think it is only because she is technically good. I even work for a faith based organization and she does not even exemplify any of their values though she claims to believe in their beliefs. She is a devil working in my path. New girl vs. established girl who has wool over everyone’s eyes. Help please. Thanks and God Bless.