Grace is Enough by paigetate

COURTNEY FIDELL

A CHRISTIAN DEVOTIONAL TO H ELP WO M EN TU R N ANXIETY AND INSECURITY I NTO CO N FI D EN C E

Copyright © 2020 Courtney Fidell Published by Paige Tate & Co. Paige Tate & Co. is an imprint of Blue Star Press PO Box 8835, Bend, OR 97708 contact@paigetate.com www.paigetate.com Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Versionš, NIVš. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.ª Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The "NIV" and "New International Version" are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.ª All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

T O M Y G I R L S , A N N I S T O N A N D E L L I OT T.

Thank you for being my inspiration. You have taught me the most about the Father’s love through your ability to give and receive grace so freely. I believe in you and I love you.

AND TO WOMEN EVERYWHERE AND IN EVERY SEASON.

You are loved, you are seen, and you are enough.

TA B L E O F C O N T E N T S Let each day of this devotional comfort you and meet you where you are today. You can read the book from start to finish, or select a topic that speaks to whatever you are feeling at this moment.

I N T R O D U C T I O N . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 D AY 1 : U N Q U A L I F I E D. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 D AY 2 : R E S T L E S S . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 2 D A Y 3 : L O N E LY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 8 D AY 4 : I N S E C U R E . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 4 D AY 5 : F E A R F U L . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 0 D AY 6 : C O N F I N E D. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 6 D AY 7 : U N W E LC O M E . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 2 D AY 8 : D I S T R AC T E D. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 8 D AY 9 : J E A LO U S . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 4 D AY 1 0 : C O M F O R TA B L E . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 0 D AY 1 1 : W O R R I E D. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 6 D AY 1 2 : A S H A M E D. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 2 D AY 1 3 : S U R P R I S E D. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 8

D AY 1 4 : I M P E R F E C T. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 4 D AY 1 5 : H O P E L E S S . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 2 D AY 1 6 : S T U B B O R N . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 8 D AY 1 7 : S C A R E D. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 0 4 D AY 1 8 : I N A D E Q U AT E . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 1 0 D AY 1 9 : I M P U R E . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 1 6 D AY 2 0 : D I S C O U R AG E D. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 2 2 D AY 2 1 : U N P R E PA R E D. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 2 8 D AY 2 2 : P OW E R L E S S . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 3 4 D AY 2 3 : I S O L AT E D . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 4 0 D AY 2 4 : C O M PA R E D. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 4 6 D AY 2 5 : E X P O S E D. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 5 2 D AY 2 6 : B I T T E R . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 5 8 D AY 2 7 : I M PAT I E N T. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 6 6 D AY 2 8 : P R AY E R F U L . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 7 2 D AY 2 9 : F O R G E T F U L . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 7 8 D AY 3 0 : F O R G I V E N . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 8 4 AC K N OW L E D G M E N T S . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 9 5 A B O U T T H E AU T H O R . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 9 7

G R AC E I S E N O U G H : D AY 2

RESTLESS M AT T H E W 1 1 : 2 8 - 3 0 Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.

I hate getting my nails done. I don't like the word "hate," and I don't use it very often, but I am using it now. I truly hate getting my nails done. Do I like the way my nails look when they are done? Of course. I love the crisp polish. I love how every nail is the same length. I love how my "done" nails make me feel slightly put together even on my most "undone" days. But do I like the actual process and time it takes to get my nails done? No, I do not. I hate it.

I H AT E S I T T I N G S T I L L .

I'm a multitasker. I feel like I need to be doing at least three things at once to feel accomplished. Even

RESTLESS

when I let myself "sit" at home, I will most likely have a load of laundry going (because when is it not going?), the robot vacuum zooming around, and the dishwasher in full force. Even in moments when I'm supposed to be resting, I feel like I need to give myself some feeling of productivity. Sure, getting my nails done means one more thing I can check off my list, but I am sitting still. I am stuck in a chair with all of my many thoughts and todo lists swirling around in my head, making me feel more overwhelmed by the minute. Instead of leaving the salon relaxed and happy with my new nails, I leave feeling stressed, behind, and frantic. The problem is, I don't really know how to rest. Sleep? Yes, I know how to sleep. I like to say I need at least nine hours to function. I am good at sleeping. But rest? Not so much. And I know I'm not alone. As women, it can be hard to find time to sit still. It's hard to turn off the todo list running through our minds for just a minute and actually focus on reading, praying, and sitting before the presence of God. But God wants us to

G R AC E I S E N O U G H : D AY 2

gift this time to ourselves. This is a gift He calls us to many times throughout scripture. It is a gift we need to take advantage of so that from rest we are able to carry out all the Lord has planned for us. Before Jesus famously feeds the five thousand in Mark 6:31, He first commands the disciples to, "Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest." This is one of many moments where Jesus leads the way in showing us our need for rest and time alone with Him. It is from these moments that we are restored and rejuvenated to complete the tasks ahead of us. But please note that absolutely nowhere in scripture does the Lord encourage us to be lazy. Resting is not laziness. Resting is actively taking time to renew our minds so that we may once again give our all to the work the Lord has called us to do. As difficult as it is to be still, that is my challenge for you today. If this is as hard for you as it is for me, you may even need to schedule time for rest and put

RESTLESS

it on your calendar. These moments of stillness are actually accomplishments in and of themselves, for they are caring for your soul and the health of your future. Take this gift from the Lord today and reap the benefits it provides.

G R AC E I S E N O U G H : D AY 2

F U RT H E R E N CO U R AG E M E N T : D AY 2

Father, I praise you for the gift of rest you so freely give. I am sorry for the times when I ignore your call to be still and fill my time with worldly tasks. Please calm my spirit and remind me to slow down so that I can be in tune with you. I need you, Lord. Your grace is enough. Amen.

READ ON: MARK 6:30-46

Jesus and the disciples are hard at work but notice the times they take to rest.

ASK YOURSELF:

When was the last time you actively rested? How can you prioritize this time moving forward?

CO M E

WI T H

GET

MA R K

SOME

6: 3 1

Q UI E T

RE ST

M E

Y O U R S E LV E S

P L AC E

A B O U T T H E AU T H O R

Courtney Fidell is a wife, mom of two, and creator of the blog “Pastor Wife Life.” She is based in Auburn, Alabama, where her husband, Miles, is the pastor and founder of Auburn Community Church.