Episode # 96 Facing the Here and Now with Hope vs. Comparing Yourself to your Invisible Timeline with guest speaker Shelby Maupin

Welcome to the BE ENCOURAGED! Podcast! I am your host, Jackie Brindle! You are listening to episode # 96! You are all in for a treat, because I have Shelby Maupin, as our guest speaker for today! There are so many mile markers in life that we experience! Sometimes we look to our “invisible timeline” and wonder....  "Are we ahead of schedule, right on time, or does it feels like we may never reach that mile marker that we desire to achieve?" How do we focus on the here and now? How do we take meaning and purpose in the mundane of the day and in the opportunities or hidden seasons we are in?  What do we do when God feels silent, or we feel defeated? This can happen for a lot of different reasons because we can experience a lot of different seasons! Not one person is going to experience the same thing the same way.  We all have desires in our hearts, and that looks so different for everyone.  Shelby talks about her season of singleness and relationships that can be applied to anyone listening who longs to build a relationship with someone. We talk about our desire to live a healthy lifestyle that honors God, and finally we unpack the desire to reach your dreams and ambitions that God has placed on our hearts. Yet, what do we do when we can’t figure out this here and now season, we are walking in? Will the comparison trap win out? Will the desire become bigger than our walk with God and to know him more? Will the desires of our hearts ever come to pass? You are going to be filled up with so much HOPE and practical take aways that will encourage you to not give in to the comparison that holds you back. Shelby speaks about processing through what we are feeling by verbalizing it and building up a community to help you through those seasons of struggle! Love that so much! Shelby is young, but don’t let that fool you! She is full of truth and gives solid advice for anyone who thinks that they are “never” going to reach that mile marker moment! Let this be a light on your path, today! I encourage you to live a life that follows the opportunities of the season you are given, so you can carry out the assignment God has for you! Truth is, God can achieve the desires of our hearts through Christ and on His timing, not on our own timeline. Be intentional — Be consistent in the Word — and Seek Community to help you in your struggles, as you face the here and now! So grab your cup of coffee, get on your walk or run, and most of all — BE ENCOURAGED!