How Satan Will Distract Us

    

 Hey guys!! I want to start this post by apologizing for going MIA since February. In that time I felt heavily discouraged in my ability to write this blog. I questioned my writing skills, my content, and even promotion of the blog. I soon began to lose sight of why I started this blog. I realize now that it was Satan's way of pulling me away from God. So, for this blog post, I want to talk about how Satan will distract us and use everything we love to pull us away from God because that is exactly what has happened to me since February. 

    I published my last post in February and was soon overwhelmed with college midterms. I used that as an excuse to not write. Then I went to Mexico on a mission trip with CCH where I experienced new culture, new people, grew in my faith, and got to see God's glory. I thought about how I would write a blog post about Mexico on the trip back, but yet again I was distracted by life when I arrived back in the US. That blog post never happened and my chance to share my experience in Mexico dissipated.

  

    Then finals happened. And of course, I got distracted. Soon after that, I started summer school. At this point in time I started to struggle in my faith. My attitude towards everything was terrible. I complained about everything; including summer school. I dreaded every day of it and instead of leaning on God during that time, I just complained about it 24/7. 

    I told myself that when summer school was over I would write a post, but of course that didn't happen either. Then I packed my bags and journeyed down to Paragould, Arkansas at Children's Home Inc. where I served for a week with my church. I did learn a lot and it was a wonderful experience, but I still found a way to complain. I complained about everything while working. Sometimes the complaints came out verbally and other times they were just clouding my head. 

    After traveling home, I quickly washed all my clothes and packed to go to Little Prairie Bible Camp the next day to serve as a counselor. I came that week dealing with severe sinus problems and debated going home early. I am so glad I didn't. That week taught me so much. It taught me that not everyone comes from the same background. It taught me that some kids need bible camp to get away from the darkness they face at home. I became to close to the girls in my cabin and learned so much from older counselors. I realized when I was about to head home that I felt closer to God that week than I had in a long time. 

       Of course when I got home, though, real life came crashing back down on me. Hard. 

    I never wrote about camp or Arkansas. I never got to share what I learned and the people I met. All because I was distracted by Satan yet again. This time he distracted me with work. Up until this point, I hadn't worked in over 6 weeks, so instead of taking more time to reflect and grow closer to God, I became very anxious and began complaining. Again. This time about work. 

    I complained about the fact that I had to work after taking so much time off. I complained about the heat. The job itself. The people. Everything. But I realize now that I was being ungrateful. I have a job in nature that I love. I get the opportunity to listen to podcasts to grow in ways that I can't any other time. I have the opportunity for so much reflection and prayer time. I also have the opportunity to pray for those at work who I complain so much about. I should have been thanking God for that job because others may not have that opportunity, that level of pay, or that level of independence at work. 

    I complained about work the whole two weeks that I had to work before getting to go on vacation again. 

    For vacation, my family went to Utah to visit Arches and Cayonlands National Parks. The beauty of God's creation there was unlike anything I had ever seen. It felt like I was on a different planet. The sunsets were amazing and all the colored rock was beautiful. However, my faith had been failing after pushing God away for so long that it did not have the impact that it could have had. I wasn't writing, doing devotionals, reading my bible, or praying as much as I should have been. 

    Then it was the same story all over again. I was back to work again and back to complaining. 

    Then when my ingratitude was at its highest and I had spent all day yelling and complaining about my housing for the fall, I went with my mom to bible study. The bible study included many women from my church. From the moment I walked through the door into the bible study, I was met with a peace that I hadn't had in 6 months. God surrounded me with women who had so much wisdom built up from working, motherhood, and marriage. They all had deep connections with each other. I learned about the value of having a mentor to guide you. The value of those Christian connections and reaching out to those who are new and lost. The lesson was about parenting your children in the way of the Lord. For a split second I felt Satan telling me: "This doesn't apply to you. You don't have to listen". But God's voice was stronger. I felt Him pulling on my heart to listen because while it didn't apply to me right then, it will in a few years and I would be wishing that I had listened. And I'm so glad I tuned in. I learned more than just about parenting. I learned more about how to treat others in all kinds of relationships. I learned about how you can love your spouse. I learned that the way you live your life affects others. 

    Then I spoke with one of the women from the bible study in the driveway well after the bible study was over. She had asked why I hadn't written in a while. I gave her every excuse I have listed in this post plus more. Instead of just saying "oh okay" or "I understand that" like every other person had, she instead encouraged me. She encouraged me to write through those stagnant moments in my faith because I'm not just preaching to you all. Writing helps grow my faith as much as my writings help you all. She encouraged me that even if my writing helps reach one person, it is worth it. I don't need to compare myself to my friends who have blogs and small businesses with thousands of views. I needed that reminder that I don't do this for popularity. I do this to reach those who need it even if the one who needs it most of all is me. I want to thank that woman who stayed longer to talk to me and encourage me. She knows who she is :) 

    I went home that evening with a renewed mind and started seeing everything with a mindset of gratitude instead of ingratitude and complaining. I did not realize how much Satan had been messing with my thoughts and making me into a very angry person. While I am not perfect and will continue to slip up, I now know the purpose of this blog and how important it is to keep going in times of stagnant faith. 

    1 Peter 5:8 "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:"

    I want to encourage you to be like that woman I talked to at the bible study and encourage others when they are struggling. And if you are struggling like I was, don't stay silent. Reach out. You need those connections more than you know. I also want to encourage you to stay focused on Christ and be aware of Satan who seeks to distract you. Lastly, I want to encourage you to see how God has provided for you and give thanks to Him for everything. Thank you for reading :)

    Hebrews 12:2 "Fixing our attention on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of the faith, who, in view of the joy set before him, endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." 

                                                                                            -Abby :)