Hearing God

Let God Choose the Next Thing

Tammy M CardwellLeave a comment

Have you ever had a “Must Do” list so long you literally didn’t know what to do first? That’s been me for about the past month. Staring at my list, too often not knowing where to start, I felt so buried I couldn’t begin to prioritize.

I don’t know if I’ve ever mentioned it, but in the past when I got overwhelmed I tended to shut down. It was a stress response, obviously, but a lot of that response came from my brain not working right for several years.

On the outside I seemed normal, but inside I was often hanging by a thread.

I’ve been focusing on getting past that, though. I’ve been actively controlling my stress levels, which is a big factor in brain health. I’ve been taking supplements that support the brain as well. I’ve also been challenging myself with things like puzzles and studying Spanish.

(Don’t ask how well I’m doing with Spanish. It’s embarrassing.)

Bottom line: I knew that, if something didn’t change, I would shut down again.

I wasn’t letting that happen this time.
So, I called on the One who understands priorities better than any other.

For the past several weeks, while keeping a close eye on my list, I’ve been paying even more attention to what God has to say. And I mean that literally. When I finish one task, I turn to God and ask, “Ok, what’s the next thing?”

It makes all the difference in the world.

I might have wasted half an hour trying to decide. But God literally tells me what to do next, and then He helps me work on it.

And yes, I mean He helps me. I rely on God not just to keep my priorities in order, but to help me accomplish what I need to do.

Take TikTok for instance. I told you He urged me to get serious on TikTok – you can find me there @tmcardwell – and it took me way too long to get up the nerve to actually record that first video.

But I lean on Him. I ask Him to guide me, especially when I’m working on particularly challenging subjects like my current “Surviving Narcissism” series.

And He’s right there by me the whole time. As I prepped for a particular video recently, before I could even whisper, “Lord, I need the words,” I could almost feel His presence, as if His hands were resting reassuringly on my shoulders.

Six weeks ago, I would have been near panicking.
In that moment, I was instantly at peace.

Psalm 46 calls God our ever-present help. This is literal truth. If you haven’t experienced this part of having a relationship with God, I challenge you to reach out today. He’s ready to meet you where you are and help you do more than you ever thought possible.

Celebrating Jesus!
Tammy C

What Do I Say?

Tammy M Cardwell2 Comments

I was in an uncomfortable position, recently. (Understatement Alert)

I’d received a message – heartfelt, pain-filled, and laced with anger – that I knew I needed to respond to. But I didn’t know how.

So, I waited.

I’ve learned that, when my heart is stirred like it was at that point, my first reaction is not usually going to be the best one. In this instance I wasn’t even being asked to respond, not directly, but it was clear I was expected to. So yes, I waited.

I waited until I’d had time to step away from it, to breathe, to do other things and give God a chance to speak. Interestingly, He used TikTok, of all things, to remind me of truths I already knew, but hadn’t put together to apply to this moment.

When God nudged me, letting me know it was time, I returned to the message.

Before I started typing, I prayed:
“You’ve got to give me the words. I can’t do this without you.”

I knew the direction He wanted to go. I knew my heart was in the right place. I just didn’t trust myself to get it right.

And God did what He always does.
He gave me the words.

They sounded like me: If you read them, you’d know I wrote them. But I only typed what He told me to say. Even a part I initially left out, feeling like it would be “too much,” He had me go back and add, and I’m glad I did.

Because I waited.
Because I listened.
Because I trusted.
He gave me the words.

I Knew He would.

I learned this lesson long ago, before my first experience as a conference speaker. I’d done everything I knew to do. I’d researched, studied, prayed, outlined… But I was still unsure of myself. 

As I’d talked to Him about it, God had reassured me:
If He gave Moses the right words, He would do the same for me.

And He did.

My workshops went well, and I’d learned something new and vital. What God did for Moses He really is willing to do for me.

And for you.

He created us. He knows our strengths – and our weaknesses. He understands our messy emotions and our tendency to speak when silence is the better choice – or to hesitate, remaining silent when someone needs hope.

He knows how much we want to represent Him well – not misrepresent Him!
He knows we want to make things better – not worse!

The good news is…

He’s willing to help.
Not just with strength.
Not just with courage.
But with the very words we need to say.

Left to our own devices, we might make a tense situation even worse.
We might miss an opportunity to bring peace, healing, or truth.

But with God?

With God, yes.

We can know what to say.

Celebrating Jesus!
Tammy C