Just when you think it couldn’t get any worse, it always does.

At least it seems to at the Cowell house! Sometimes, it’s relatively small things. Like forgetting to put chlorine in our pool all winter and pulling the cover off to find a deep, dark swamp. (Who, me?) Other times, the darkness is life altering. You’re praying for a loved one, asking God to turn them around, only to find out they have gone deeper into the pit of dark living. Discouragement threatens to pull you into the pit as well.

I know this is how Moses had to feel. He had obeyed God; gone to Pharoah and delivered the message. But the entire situation only got worse. In Exodus 6:6 – 23, not only did they have to continue the back breaking work of making bricks from scratch, now they had to get the supplies themselves as well! The people of God were furious with Moses; it was his fault that now the work was harder than ever and they blamed him.

Of course, Moses had done nothing but obey God. Obeying God, though, had made the entire situation worse…at least for the time being.

That’s the way life is sometimes. We sense God calling us, but when we obey, the situation gets worse.

Your child is struggling in public school, so you take him out to home school. For a time, his learning seems to go downhill; your in-laws blame you.

Your family time is suffocating, so you back off from volunteering so much at church in order to invest in each other. For a time, the church staff thinks you’re wrong.

You’ve raised your child to worship and follow hard after God, lived it out too, but now she’s “finding her own way” off at college. Some say you must have done something wrong.

Friend, when you have obeyed God and followed His Word and things only get worse, just know, that like the Israelites, God’s blessings are yet to come! When we make choices that follow the truth God has laid out for us, but it just doesn’t seem to working, we can be confident that God is setting things up to give Himself glory! Our job is to continue to obey; keeping our eyes on Him and His faithfulness and not on the immediate things before us. In Exodus 6:3, God revealed Himself as “El-Shaddai – God Almighty” and He wants to do the same in you!

It’s all about His glory and not our’s. “…Then you will know I am the Lord your God who has freed you from your oppression in Egypt.” (Exodus 6:7)

During this season, don’t be like the Israelites; don’t become so discouraged that you won’t listen to encouragement. When Moses came to give them God’s word, it says, “…but they did not listen to him because of their discouragement and cruel bondage.” Read God’s word, listen to sermons online, spend time with friends who will encourage you when the pit is dark and deep. Know that God is setting the stage for a mighty work of freedom and deliverance in your life!

Jesus, not only does my situation seem deep and dark, but sometimes I feel dark too! Thank you for encouraging me to look to You and know that you are faithful and are at work, even when I don’t see it. I can’t wait to experience your mighty work of freedom for me and my family. Amen

Ooooooo….my girl was mad! Her teacher had called out her mistake in class; making her feel stupid. Already struggling in this subject, her embarrassment just made things worse. She shared with me, “My initial reaction was anger! I wanted to lash out at her. Then I thought, “What is going on in her life that makes her want to pick on little ‘ole me?” and so I prayed for her.”

I could hardly believe my girl’s words…she prayed for her?

Do you know,  her grade in that class has gone from a D to a B in a very short time? I knew God was blessing her but today, through the life of Job, I got why:

“After Job had prayed for his friends, the Lord made him prosperous again and gave him twice as much as he had before.” Job 42:10

After Job prayed. After Job had prayed for the very friends who ground his heart in the dirt during the most trying time of his life. After he had been accused time and time again of having a unrepentant heart. After he prayed for those who had offended him, the Lord gave.

I’d love to say I had taught my girl to do this, but I don’t remember doing that. I know who did; the Holy Spirit whispered to her heart that day and on that day, she obeyed.

Is there someone in your life who has offended you? If not, there is sure to be just around the corner! Let’s learn from the experience of Job and my girl: let’s pray for that one who has offended us and in return, reap the blessings that come!

What terrific encouragement we all shared while in our waiting rooms last Friday. There are definitely times in our lives when all we can do is wait; things are completely outside of our control.

But what about the decisions that are within our control? 

What’s a girl to do when she wants something and she’s prayed, waited and she’s doesn’t have a clear answer? No stop light; but not a clear green one either.

My husband and I have felt in this place…for years! Like you, I want to be in the perfect place God has for me; not ahead of Him and not behind. I just want to be in His will, but I don’t have a clear “yes” or “no”.

Yesterday, I was comforted by His words in Job (I know, Job of all places!)

“God is mighty, but he does not despise anyone! HE is mighty in both power and understanding. He never takes his eyes off the innocent…If they are bound in chains and caught up in a web of trouble, he shows them the reason. He shows them their sins of pride. He gets their attention and commands that they turn from evil.”Job 36:5, 7a, 8 – 10 NLT

When my heart is to honor him through obedience and I am seeking to do that every day in every situation and relationship, he sees that. He never takes his eyes off of me. When I am yearning to stay closely walking with him, he’ll show me if I’m heading in the wrong direction! Pointing out my sin if I am getting stuck; He’ll get my attention so I’ll turn around.

If honoring Jesus is the center of all you are and all you do, you, too can be confidence that he will guide. You can rest assured like Job, “God is leading you away from danger…to a place free from distress.” Job 36:16

Write Job 36:16 out and carry it with you today. When anxiety tries to squeeze your heart, thank Jesus that He is leading you away from danger to a place that is free from distress.

Today I’ve invited my friend and author, Nicole O’Dell to be my guest. Nicole O’Dell, founder of Choose NOW Ministries and host of Choose NOW Radio: Parent Talk and Teen Talk, is a youth culture expert who writes and speaks to preteens, teenagers, and parents about how to prepare for life’s tough choices. She’s just released an amazing resource for girls…Girl Talk. Filled with questions your girl is asking, even if only in her head, she’ll find the answers she’s looking for!

Nicole…introduce us to “Girl Talk”!

Q: I recently lost a lot of weight and started high school at the same time. I’m getting all sorts of attention from boys, and I just don’t know what to do about it because it’s so new to me. I kind of like it. . .but I’m nervous. What should I do?

That’s a question I would have asked if I’d written to Girl Talk at the start of my freshman year of high school. But, I didn’t know to ask. I didn’t know I was facing a challenge. I simply reacted to things as I faced them. And I made mistakes. Many of them.

Each of us has a set of experiences and circumstances, some within our control, and some not, that shapes the way we look at choices, temptation, sin, peer pressure, and everything that comes up along the way. If we can help prepare girls before they find themselves staring peer pressure in the face, they’ll feel more equipped to stand strong. To say NO to whatever life throws at them.

Why girls?

Hmm. What is it about girls? That’s a great question. I guess I relate to them because I am one. But, more than that, I have an ache in my heart that wants to help ‘em out. I’ve said it 1000 times, but I’ll say it 1000 more, I’m sure. It’s the memory of the poor choices I made as a teen, and the results of those choices, that motivates me to help today’s teenagers avoid those same mistakes.

And bad decisions are one thing, but there’s also the stuff girls deal with that they have no control over: divorce, abuse, loss, grief, i