Grace & Salt ink

Sometimes it is really great following what God has called you to, sometimes it can be challenging. Sometimes you feel on fire and like nothing can stop you… Sometimes you feel disheartened and discouraged, maybe because what you feel “called to” seems silly and insignificant to others. [Or compared to what others are doing – “comparison is the thief of joy” is becoming a great ‘memory verse’ as it were for me!] I have had a fair bit of all of the above recently – but every time I have felt discouraged God has sent someone to encourage me. (I’ve been wanting to write a blog post on this for ages but for various silly excuses I not written it until tonight!)

To expand – last year I felt prompted to start sharing some of the verses and things I had done in my journaling on Instagram in order to bless and encourage others. I was amazed by what followed, I should not have been but I was. Every time I felt prompted by the Holy Spirit to share something and was obedient almost straight away someone commented with how much they had needed that verse that day. From short messages to long private direct messages. I guess in a way it has been a bit like ‘blindfold prophecy’ – you know that this is the verse needed, you just do not know who it is for, so you just put it out there and God does the rest.

It has been amazing and has filled me with awe for the Lord, how much his word can speak into someone’s day even via a little Instagram post. Then at Christmas I felt the Holy Spirit say he wanted me to open my account to be public rather than private, to reach more people like this. I was a bit unsure as I do post pics of eBear on there, but I trusted it to God and opened the account to the public. Since I did, things have just grown and grown in this area. It has been amazing [I know I am repeating that a lot, but I am so amazed]!

With all of this, I have had some ups and downs. I had someone challenge me (quite rightly) was I doing it for fame – to see how many followers I could get etc or to share God? I was challenged – when I see 40 people have liked a picture am I excited because 40 have seen a verse that has moved me and God has spoken to them through it, or because 40 people have liked the hand lettering, scrapbook stickers and paint splatters I have thrown at the page? It is good to keep grounded but at the same time it panicked me into thinking maybe I should not be doing it, doubting my own heart as it were. The very next day at church a slightly older “mum” in the church whom I admire who does great works with charity etc came up and said she had just joined Instagram and started following me and wanted to encourage me that what I do sharing my faith and journaling Bible and what God has been saying through this is really great and she could see through the responses people wrote that is was really touching and moving people. She knows how hard it can be as a stay at home mum to feel like you are doing things for the Kingdom but she felt this it was a real ministry for me and wanted to confirm I am ministering to people through Instagram. This made me break down into tears as that is what I felt God had asked me to do and I was trying to do! Real confirmation as I had started to doubt.

This is not the only time, whenever I have felt overwhelmed with doubt or overly challenged and I have asked God “did I get it wrong? Is this not you calling me?” He has sent someone to encourage me after. I have been SO amazed and humbled by the encouragement God has sent my way. People who have taken time out to say how something has touched their day, thanked me for sharing something when they needed it. Wether that is a quick comment below the picture, a long private message revealing their life story or this evening a blog post from the sweetest young lady over in beautiful Northern Ireland inspired by International Women’s Day! Such an unexpected blessing when I am feeling remorseful I have not posted many verses over the weekend and the blog seems a little neglected lately! Laura has also been a huge supporter of Project Lent from the very beginning, when I was excited about something close to my hear but worried it was daft! Thank you Laura 😘

We do not do the things God calls us to for our own fame or glory – we do it because we want to bring Him the glory due his name. It is, however, encouraging to know that what we are working at is succeeding in this which helps push us on to more!! So thank you, all of you, who have and are encouraging me to pursue my callings, dreams, passions… “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works…encouraging one another…” Hebrews 10v24&25 [ESV]

I would like to suggest that this week, you try and take the time to encourage someone in their journey. It does not have to take long, a few words of affirmation, a thank you – try and verbalise your thankful heart for the things they do.