The lie most women believe

Like most women, Christian women are bombarded with cultural euphemisms, well-meaning quotes and worldly motivation that is supposed to guide us in the right direction. Every which we way we look, from magazine covers, to blogs, TV and radio, we are told what the world expects of us. We’re given powerful suggestions on how we should dress, act, work; how much money we should make and how happy, frustrated or stressed we’re supposed to be while trying to do all of the aforementioned. Whew, it’s exhausting just thinking about it. Every time I see another ‘self-help’ infomercial, a celebrity selling age-defying skin cream or hormone replacement ads guaranteed to make your flashes cool rather than hot, I just want to shout “Liar, liar pants on fire”. But hey, I am a little more mature than that. I stick out my tongue, roll my eyes and use the mute button, change the channel or go read a book instead. However, just because we have the option to shut the TV off, click out of a blog or throw a magazine away, doesn’t mean we won’t be scathed or effected by the lies thrown at us every single day in our modern worldly culture.

So, in an effort to keep the seeds of lies from taking root, I’d like to share some things I’ve learned thru the years. Lies tend to belittle, diminish and crush the self-worth, identity and spirit of many women. Even though, as Christians, we know our identity should be sought IN Christ rather than thru the world, when we live in a world tailored to telling us everything opposite of what the Bible tells us, we have to regularly train our brains to combat the lies that cause us to fear, doubt and eventually fall…

One of the biggest lies I see women battle with every single day is: “God will not give you more than you can handle.” First and foremost, this is not a passage from the Bible. Nowhere in The Word does it state this. What the Bible does say is, “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.” 1 Corinthians 10:13

God doesn’t tell us we won’t be tempted; we won’t be stressed; we won’t feel like we’re about ready to go under. He doesn’t tell us He won’t give us difficult challenges or that the world won’t try to overtake us. I see women every week trying to figure out just how they can handle all the stress, the pain, financial problems, marriage issues, addiction, fears about the future and daily gossip in their average everyday lives. Add to that a life and death issue, an accident, or a diagnosis and WHAM, they start to sink and cannot fathom what they’ve done wrong and why in the world God is allowing them to be punished. They question God and themselves. “What did I do wrong? What didn’t I do right? Why am I not strong enough, good enough, smart enough…to be able to handle all that’s being thrown my way?”

Many women blame themselves every day for things that are not their own fault – adding to the already amped up poor image they have of themselves for not measuring up to what the latest, greatest trend or magazine says they should be. I’m not talking about avoiding personal responsibility and consequences for our own poor choices in life. I’m talking about this lie that adds to a woman’s feeling of inadequacy, spurning on feelings of being unfit, unhealthy, not spiritual enough…all because they feel as if they cannot handle one more thing in life.

“What’s wrong with me? I thought God wouldn’t give me more than I can handle? But I cannot handle this! God must not love me as much. Or maybe I’m not good enough…” These are the thoughts inside the hearts and minds of many women who are receiving well-meaning, but false, motivation in the name of God. Toss the lies out ladies. Out with the lie that says “God will never give you more than you can handle.” And IN with the truth: “God will never give you more than He can handle!” 1 Corinthians 10:13 tells us that God IS faithful and he will provide a way so that you can endure it…whatever IT is! When we believe a lie that tells us we have to handle everything on our own, with the unspoken caveat that, if we don’t, then we must have something wrong with us, then we have embraced something that puts distance between ourselves and God. We’re supposed to lean on God. “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” Psalm 73:26

There are many lies being thrown at women that can take root, causing destruction in our faith and walk with God. But not only in us, also in the hearts and minds of the young girls and younger ladies watching everything we do. As Christian women, we must step back, look at how we handle life’s everyday stress and the big challenges that come along. Ask yourself, am I pushing God out? Am I attempting to handle it all on my own? Or am I going to embrace the truth that I’m not actually supposed to handle it all myself? As women in Christ, let us work harder each day to look in the mirror and see the truth. We are human, fallible, and sometimes weaker than we want to be but look yourself in the eye and with boldness and confidence, tell yourself that God IS the strength of your heart. Seek God’s guidance and be determined to show through your actions that you know without a doubt that God is with you. And speak the truth, “God will not give you more than He can handle.”

~ Karen

Karen is a Professional Speaker, Christian Life Coach and published author. She is a former Children’s and Youth Pastor and an avid lover of colorful, crazy socks. Karen is a wife and mom who resides in Kentucky. She is blessed to travel frequently to fulfill her passion of reaching women thru humor, inspiration and Biblical messages. Karen is also a member of the American Assoc. of Christian Counselors, a Chaplain and free-lance Editor.
For info on getting guidance and support thru Christian Life Coaching, go to Life Coach Inspired OR email Karen at lifecoachinspired@yahoo.com

Take refuge and refuel!

“For in the day of trouble He will hide me in His shelter; in the secret place of His tent He will hide me; He will set me high upon a rock.” Psalm 27:5 (NIV)

There are days I want nothing more than to run and hide. Whether due to stress or emotions, there are days I just want to curl up in bed with the covers over my head. Those are the days I’ve learned that I need to seek God even more.

Some days there is no actual trouble I’m hiding from. Sometimes it’s just the world around me and the daily “to do” list that has me seeking shelter. In today’s culture women have even more titles than ever before: home-maker, bread winner, seamstress, maid, taxi-cab driver, Mom, daughter, wife, care-giver, nurse, business woman...add to that the tasks of balancing the household finances, volunteering at church and keeping up with all the little pieces of life that need to be put in to place daily and it’s no wonder so many women are worn out and empty-feeling.

If you’re tempted to retreat from life and all those responsibilities on a regular basis then I encourage you to immediately fall to your knees or rest your head for a moment as you close your eyes and seek God for a place of spiritual refuge. Even if it’s only for a moment or two, God can overcome your heart and your weariness with a fresh message from the Bible or just a small refreshing whisper to your heart.

I encourage you to do what took me waaaay too many years to do: take time for yourself. Set up regularly built-in breaks for yourself. Take time to read, go to lunch, go for a walk or just pamper yourself. God-time and personal respite time will make all the difference in your daily life; whether your hormones are telling you that you do or do not, you DO deserve it. Our culture, perfectionism, obsessiveness, vanity, pride and other people's opinions might try to stop you from taking care of yourself from the inside out but don't let them. Don't let the world take every bit of fuel you have. Make time to refuel and do so by taking refuge in God and His Word.

Feeling like you’re Running On E? Nearly empty from all you've given out or given up? Please check out the following book for inspiration and encouragement on how to fuel up the right way! Running On E’ (Also available on Blurb and iTunes.)

~ Karen

Seeking Christian Spiritual Life Coaching and encouragement along the way? See, send email to Lifecoachinspired@yahoo.com

www.womaninspired.com

For other great blogs, go to: Womaninspired.blogspot.com