Tag: trusting God

Devotional thought

God’s Embrace

joymargetts

Grandchildren are the best

It is such a privilege to be able to care for my grandchildren. I know we are blessed to have them living close by, and to be a part of their young lives. I don’t take it for granted. It is a real joy to have them in our home, to lavish love on them, to have fun, to even do the mundane things together, and the difficult things. Like nap time. Nap time doesn’t always go smoothly. In fact sometimes it can be a bit of a challenge.

My eighteen month old granddaughter hasn’t been coming to us for long. Her mum didn’t go back to work after having her, so we weren’t needed so early in her young life. Over the last three weeks we have trialed having her for full days with her brother, and it has gone generally well. With our grandson we had ‘cracked’ nap time; we had a little routine of stories, milk and cuddles, and he inevitably settled without much trouble. He now no longer even needs a nap. But his sister does.

Photo of a small child playing in the garden

The first two weeks went actually surprisingly well, but this last week was not so smooth. She objected to everything and there were lots of tears. Now I am generally the one who does the ‘settling to sleep’. I am also the one who does the nappy changes, the meal prep and the telling what to do. Grandad is the fun one who mostly just plays with them! And our granddaughter loves her Grandad and always reaches for him first. So as she is crying because she is tired and yet refusing to sleep, she decides that Nanna just won’t do. Grandad is all she wants.

Close to tears

I admit that in this instance I found that really difficult. Already feeling emotionally fragile because of other things happening in my life, this Nanna found herself close to tears, as her beloved granddaughter rejected her cuddles and chose Grandad instead. It was probably an overreaction – later in the day she played quite happily with me, smiling and laughing. But just in that moment I felt hurt, and that I wasn’t enough for her.

Sharing about this with a dear and very wise friend, she immediately said,

 ‘You’ve got a blog there. How do you think God feels when we go to other things or people instead of Him?’

She was right, on both counts. Here is the blog!

God’s Embrace

I took time to meditate on what she said, and it challenged me deeply. Even in  my  current season, when I have sometimes felt overwhelmed, upset and confused, where have I gone to for comfort? Food? Social Media? TV? I know my weaknesses!

It is not that those things are necessarily bad in and of themselves, but there is One who loves me passionately, who has all the comfort I need. Who is standing there with His arms wide open waiting for me to come into His embrace. Instead I go elsewhere, until finally I realise that the arms I have rejected are the ones I need the most. How often have I hurt God by choosing not to accept His embrace? How many times must I learn that those other things are just distractions, and that His voice, His Word, He Himself are my real places of refuge.

Now I am not God, and my husband is not comfort food! But, yet again, God has spoken to me  about my relationship with Him through the antics of my grandchildren. It is incredible how they are teaching me. How I see in our time spent together powerful representations of how my heavenly father wants me to be with Him. Childlike, trusting, accepting of His loving embrace.

Image shows the text of Psalm 131

Joy Margetts is a published author and blogger. Her books are works of Christian Historical fiction. Set in medieval Wales against the backdrop of Cistercian abbey life, they tell stories of faith, hope and God’s redemptive power. Her debut novel ‘The Healing‘ was published by Instant Apostle on 19 March 2021.

‘The Pilgrim‘, her second full length novel, was published by Instant Apostle on 22 July 2022, and her third novel, ‘The Bride‘, published on 20th October 2023. Her first non-fiction book, an Advent Devotional, ‘Christ Illuminated‘ was published in September 2023.

‘The Stranger‘, her fourth full length novel is coming soon! Due for publication November 2024

More information on Joy, and her books can be found here

Christian blog, Christian faith, Devotional thought, The Word of God

FIGHTING THE LOVE THAT HOLDS US

joymargetts

This last week we celebrated our beautiful Granddaughter’s first birthday. It was a special time, full of love and full of fun. Naturally I love my grandchildren, and love being with them, and I love what they keep teaching me. Any of you who have read my posts over the last few months will know that God often uses my relationship with my grandchildren to teach me about Himself, and myself, and how we relate to each other.

Photo of a birthday cake with white icing and flowers and a sign saying 'One'. The cake is sitting on a table covered with a white tablecloth, and is surrounded by vases of flowers and plates of cakes.

FIGHTING THE EMBRACE

My little granddaughter is different to our grandson. She is much more timid, and wary. Because her Mummy didn’t go back to work after having her, she has spent less time with us, and she is not so happy to leave her Mummy and come to me. We are working on that, and we have had some lovely play times together, but Mummy is never too far away. That does mean that Mummy doesn’t get much opportunity to do some of the things she loves doing, without her little limpet.

On Sundays though, Nanna has to help out, as Mummy is part of the worship band and loves to sing. So Nanna takes the limpet away from Mummy and much crying ensues. But I have worked out that if I hold her very tightly across my chest, with her hands held firmly and tightly, as she struggles. And once I have her held, if I walk up and down, and sing, eventually she will give up and give in to sleep. (I do take her out of the main church sanctuary and into a side room!) We have usually timed it so that Mummy has fed her and she is ready for a nap.

HELD BY LOVING ARMS

Last week she fell asleep in my arms like this. I love it, even though it is a bit of a fight, at least I get to hold her. And while I am holding her, I am whispering to her that I love her, and that she is safe with me, and that she doesn’t have to be upset. And I am praying that she would realise how much I love her and begin to trust me more, so that she wants to come to me and stay with me. And that Mummy can have more time to herself.

A few days later in my time with God He reminded me of this, and this is what I felt Him say to me,

Sometimes you are like that with me, Joy. You refuse to let me just hold you and love you. You let fear and doubt get in, and you might even feel like you can’t trust me. I tell you that I love you, and that you are safe with me, and yet still you fight against my embrace. You want to push away from Me, not realising that I love you just as you are. My safe strong arms are just there to hold you, and my heart sings over you.  If you would just give in and trust me, then you can rest, and we can enjoy just being together. We might even have fun!

LET LOVE HOLD US

I knew Just what God was saying. He has promised to always hold us, to care for us, to protect us, but He also wants something of us in return. He wants our complete trust, our willingness to surrender ourselves into His arms, to trust His ways as being best for us. Sometimes our fears, anxiety and even doubts can make us fight against His loving arms. When all He wants is for us to relax and let Him hold us. We can forget how much He loves us, forget how much we need Him, think we’d be better off without Him. We even think that the mistakes we make put Him off.

Image of a small child being held in a woman's arms
Photo courtesy of Canva

But He has promised to never leave or forsake us, whatever we do (Hebrews 13:5). He has promised to carry us close to His heart (Isaiah 40:11). His arms are everlasting, strong and constant (Deuteronomy 33:27). He loves us and wants us to trust ourselves to Him, just as a small child trusts their mother (Psalm 131:2). Or in my case, their grandmother!

And He wants us not to fight against the powerful, all sufficient, never-ending Love that holds us.

Joy Margetts is a published author and blogger. Her books are works of Christian Historical fiction. Set in medieval Wales against the backdrop of Cistercian abbey life, they tell stories of faith, hope and God’s redemptive power. Her debut novel ‘The Healing‘ was published by Instant Apostle on 19 March 2021.

‘The Pilgrim‘, her second full length novel, was published by Instant Apostle on 22 July 2022, and her third novel, ‘The Bride‘, published on 20th October 2023. Her first non-fiction book, an Advent Devotional, ‘Christ Illuminated‘ was published in September 2023.

More information on Joy, and her books can be found here

Christian faith, Christian Writer, Lessons from life, The Word of God

LEARNING TO TRUST

joymargetts

It is well over a month since I last posted a blog. I have been busy and in a good way. In the last month I have organised and co-hosted a very successful Christian Writer’s Retreat, and finished two book manuscripts, both of which will be published this autumn. But the last week has been dominated by just one thing. Well, one puppy, to be exact.

Image of a small puppy, white with black facial markings, sitting on a small plaid blanket

Puppy Supervision

Those of you who have followed my blog know that we had a dog called Monty, who was a unique character, and was my companion for the last few years when I was stuck at home by myself for a great deal of time. We lost Monty in January, and we weren’t sure if, and when we would replace him. We actually got to appreciate the freedom of not having a dog to tie us down. But then we met out neighbour’s litter of puppies. And we fell in doggy love.

Image of a small puppy asleep in itd bed

Effie came home to live with us a week ago. She is not Monty. She is a Jack Russell cross, as he was, but she is dainty and sweet, and generally well behaved! So far! She has brought much love and laughter into the house. But her needs have meant I have had little time for much else but puppy supervision. Except for when she is sleeping, as she is now…

Learning

We are trying to train Effie. She is responding fairly well. She has intelligence, but is also beginning to display some terrier attitude. The really lovely thing is that, even after just a week, she has attached herself to us, and to me in particular. She follows me about, and loves cuddles, and comes to me when she is unsure of new things or people. She knows I will feed her, and settles down to sleep when I tell her it is time. It made me think about how God deals with us.

Loved

Now of course we are not dogs. We are His beloved children ( I John 3:1) and those whom He delights in (Psalm 147:11, Zephaniah 3:17). I delight in Effie, even when she misses the training mat, or chews the corner of a book. So God doesn’t change the way He feels about us dependent on how well behaved we are. His love for us is unconditional.

Like I want the puppy to learn what is good for her and what is not, so does God want us to learn. He has given us His Word, and His Spirit to help us. Like I do with Effie, God sometimes has to step in with a ‘No’. He moves to direct us away from unacceptable behaviours that can lead us into trouble. We know what it feels like to feel the check of His Spirit convicting us. God also lovingly provides all that we need – food, rest, safety, the feeling of being accepted and loved.

A Love that can be trusted

Image shows the front cover of a book, entitled The Bride: will love's power turn betrayal into belonging? The picture is of a medieval couple holding hands, surrounded by a floral design.

Some of these themes are explored in one of the books I am having published this autumn. The Bride is all about how God loves unconditionally. And how that love has the power to transform lives and heal hearts. I write fiction, but I write out of my own experience of God. I have come to understand that I have a Father who loves me unconditionally, but who wants the best for me. I know that He is the Lover of my soul, my place of safety and the one I have learned to trust.

Just as a certain little dog is learning to trust me.

Joy Margetts is a published author and blogger. Her books are works of Christian Historical fiction. Set in medieval Wales against the backdrop of Cistercian abbey life, they tell stories of faith, hope and God’s redemptive power. Her debut novel ‘The Healing‘ was published by Instant Apostle on 19 March 2021. Joy has also self- published a short novella, ‘The Beloved‘ as both a companion to ‘The Healing‘, and as an easy to read standalone story, which is available to buy on Amazon Kindle.

‘The Pilgrim‘, her second full length novel, was published by Instant Apostle on 22 July 2022, and her third novel, ‘The Bride’, will be published on 20th October 2023.

More information on Joy, and her books can be found here www.joymargetts.com