fulfillment - Loved, chosen, & empowered

Note: This first published, with some adaptations, on February 1st, 2018

Before I launch into today’s inspirational message, two invites! Have you subscribed to Faith Over Fear’s GodTube channel yet? You can do so HERE. And, my Your Daily Bible Verse team and I recently launched a GodTube channel as well on which we discuss truths presented on our podcast that week that most impacted us. Find us HERE.

And now to today’s content. 🙂

If God were calling me to a temporary fast, I could do it. Give up sugar? Ice cream? Television and technology? I wouldn’t forego those things easily, but I could do it. But this, what God’s calling me to release, indefinitely, feels harder than anything He’s asked of me before. This thing cuts to the core of my hopes and dreams, triggers insecurities and fear, and ultimately, reveals in which I haven’t fully trusted God.

So what is this thing that God calls me, persistently, to relinquish?

Control.

My agenda. My time and my to-do list. Whatever I’m striving for that keeps me from saying, at each moment, “Not my will, but Yours, Lord Jesus, be done.”

When I’m sitting with my Bible, reading of His love and care, meditating on all He’s done for me, yielding to the Spirit fills me with a sense of anticipation.

But then the day begins, and pricks of selfishness, doubt, and uncertainty weaken my resolve and hinder my obedience. My prayers sound more like complaints and long-winded requests than commitments to my Savior.

Perhaps because, while stuck in my head, where all the what-ifs run amuck, I forget that, at His core, my God is good. I’m reminded of Christ’s words in Matthew 16:25, when He said, “For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.”

I know, from Scripture and history, that, sometimes, God indeed calls us to willingly give our lives in our allegiance to Him. I won’t deny that this present life can feel hard, heavy, and overwhelming. But I also know that Jesus endured the tortures of the cross for the joy set before Him. This, and everything He preserved in Scripture, tells me that all that awaits us, in Christ, will be infinitely more pleasurable and beautiful than anything we’ve ever experienced on this present earth, a thousand times over. Filled Living FB

But I also believe the Lord leads us to filled and fulfilling life now, and we most experience that life by living it as He knows best.

I’ve discovered, If I want to be used by God and touch lives for eternity, my life must be touched first by the transforming power of God, the God who shows me how to love, and live, well.

This is the call. And it begins with a quiet, yet desperate plea, “Change me, Lord. Help me. Do whatever You need to within me to make me pliable in Your hands, a cleansed and open vessel ready to do Your will and Your will only. ”

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Let’s talk about this! Did anything resonate with you as you read today’s post? Is God asking you to lay down, or perhaps pick up, anything? What makes that hard? Share your thoughts and stories with us in the comments below, because we can all learn from each other!

How to Trust God When Prayers Go Unanswered – Faith Over Fear

(Scroll down to share your thoughts on future episodes!) In this powerful episode of Faith Over Fear, Carol sits down with Chad Roberts to confront one of the most painful lies we believe in suffering: If God loved me, He would stop this. Even more deeply, many of us quietly wrestle with the fear that suffering means God has abandoned us. Through Chad’s personal story of losing his sight, this conversation gently but firmly reframes that lie with truth: God’s presence is not measured by our comfort. Instead of standing at a distance, He steps into our pain—and never leaves. Together, Carol and Chad explore how suffering can distort our view of God and whisper dangerous lies about His character. Rooted in Scripture, they walk through the stories of Joseph, Job, and ultimately Jesus, reminding us that while God may not always provide explanations, He always offers His presence. The cross becomes the clearest picture of this truth—not a removal of suffering, but redemption through it. This episode also unpacks what it means to develop unshakable confidence in God—not confidence in outcomes, but in His character. Chad offers practical insight into what “suffering well” looks like in everyday moments and how to guard your heart against bitterness when life doesn’t go as planned. For those walking alongside someone in pain, this conversation provides compassionate guidance on what to say—and what not to say—encouraging listeners to replace empty platitudes with meaningful presence. If you’re in a season of pain, disappointment, or questioning where God is, this episode offers a steady reminder: you are not alone, and your suffering is not a sign of God’s absence—but an invitation to experience His nearness in a deeper way. Resource referenced: Blind Faith: Seeing God Through Darkness by Chad Roberts Biblical verses and passages discussed: Psalm 118:24 James 1:2 Mark 11:22 Psalm 23:2 Jeremiah 2:13 2 Corinthians 4:17 1 Peter 4:19 Isaiah 40:31 Connect with Chad Roberts: On his website On Instagram On Facebook Follow his work on Amazon Find Carol McCracken: On her website On Facebook On Instagram Reflective Questions: When you’re in a difficult season, what thoughts do you tend to believe about God—and are they rooted in truth or in fear? Have you ever equated God’s love with your level of comfort? How might that belief be shaping your faith right now? What would it look like for you to shift from trusting outcomes to trusting God’s character? In what ways might God be inviting you to experience His presence in your current struggle rather than removing it? How do you typically respond to others who are suffering—and how can you grow in offering presence instead of quick answers? What is one simple, grounding practice you can begin this week to stay anchored in truth when suffering feels overwhelming? We’d love your input on something we're praying through.As we plan our next mini-series for Faith Over Fear, we want to speak into what you’re actually walking through—not just what we think might help.If you have 30 seconds, would you take our quick poll on Spotify? Your responses will guide the conversations we create. Take our poll HERE! Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.