Your Word For 2021

Hi Friend,

I pray you had a Merry Christmas, even if it looked a little different than the previous years. I know 2020 has been unlike any other year, but I also know that this year hasn’t been all bad.

God is faithful, even when our circumstances seem to contradict this truth.

With so much loss, pain, and heartache going on around the country and the world, it may be a struggle to even think about what the New Year will bring. If that is you, I pray that this love letter brings some much-needed light to your day.

As I was lying down for bed a few nights ago, these words started playing over and over in my mind; 

“A crown of beauty instead of ashes. 
The oil of joy instead of mourning.
And a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.”
 

I picked up my phone, opened my bible app, and pulled up Isaiah 61, where this verse is found, and this entire passage in Isaiah blessed my socks off. 

Last year around this time, many people said that the new year would be the year of 2020 vision (how clever, eh).

And while I do believe this year has personally brought me clarity and sharpened my vision, I don’t think any of us were intending a pandemic to be the catalyst for this said clarity.

I never bought into this word fully because I didn’t personally hear God on this.

But this year is different.

You see, when I opened my bible a few nights ago to Isaiah 61, the subtitle of this passage read; 

“The Year of the Lord’s Favor!”

Let’s just say I didn’t go to sleep right away, as I got chills and became excited at what the New Year will bring. I’m always in awe when God speaks in a way that I can’t dismiss.

You see, I didn’t have time to question whether this was a coincidence or not. I simply got into an agreement with the word of God and started declaring that favor will be my reward and inheritance in 2021 and beyond.

Friend. this word is not just for me. It’s for you too. If you will simply agree with God and not with the world, the news, your feelings, or your emotions, I believe you will see the favor of God in every situation you invite Him into. 

So, I hope you will agree with God! Even if it’s hard to get your hopes up AGAIN.

If your answer is yes, I need you to understand what you have agreed to. God’s favor (aka grace) simply means God is giving you the ability to do something which is humanly impossible for you to do.
 
Friend, I believe that this New Year is going to be the year where God does what has seemed impossible for you to do.

Get excited, stay excited, and get ready to see the favor of God all year long.
 
Lastly, I encourage you to read the entire passage of Isaiah 61. I have been reading this over and over because it is that good, and I hope you’ll do the same. That’s how you get to build your faith muscle (Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God). 

Happy New Year, my friend,

Could this be the Reason Why You're Spinning Your Wheels?

On your left is the fitness center. As an employee here, one of the perks is that you have free access to use our office gym. 

I was on a tour of a six-story office building where I was starting a new job in downtown Atlanta. After being dazed by all the offices and conference rooms, I was excited to see the fitness center that was a perk for company employees. I made a mental note to take full advantage of the convenience of having a free gym membership, and I had hopes of working out more consistently.

Fast forward six months of being on the job, and I decided to finally inquire about getting access to the gym. I filled out the paperwork and received a validated card to freely use the fitness center at my convenience. All dressed in my cute workout gear, I skipped (okay I actually walked slowly and grudgingly) to the gym, scanned my card, and pushed the door to get in. However, when I tried to push the door, it didn’t open. 

After trying a few more times, I walked to the security desk to inform them that my newly validated card was not working. The man at the desk took my information and told me he would have the building manager call me back. The building manager called me and asked me to give her the numbers off my card and she would check into it, and give me a call back. 

I was informed to try the card again, and was assured that it should be working. Once again, I went to the gym and still, the card was not working. This time I was really frustrated. I thought, “Is it really that hard to validate a card, I mean!” After going back and forth with security and management for a few weeks, the building manager informed me that she didn’t see any declined attempts at the gym from my assigned card, and she asked me to meet her at the gym so she could see what was going on.

I got to the gym at our appointed meeting time, but no one was there.  Further down the hall from me, I noticed a lady standing as if she was waiting for someone, so I went to ask her if she knew anything about the fitness center door. It turned out that she was the building manager and she was waiting for me, at the fitness center door. Long story short, the door I had been trying for weeks to open was not the door to the gym. The whole time I was trying to use my validated card at a place that it wasn’t validated for. And I was frustrated and mad because of not being able to get in. 

The Lord brought this back to my memory last week, and I knew it was because I needed to share my experience with you, friend. The irony is that this is the exact same scenario I write about in my new book, Peace Stealers. I spent years trying to beat down the door to a full-time acting career, and I was frustrated at all the doors that wouldn’t open for me. I didn’t just want to act for the sake of acting. I wanted to use my platform to spread the gospel and inspire the world. (I had good motivations for my goals!)

But an acting career was not the door God wanted to use to bring me to His purpose. 

Frustration results from trying to force open doors that you were never designed to walk through. 

Friend, have you been trying to go through a door that God hasn’t validated for you? Are you trying to get into the “gym” but it simply isn’t working out (pun intended)? 

Understand that God opens doors and He closes doors, and it’s important for you to meet with Him (as I did with the building manager) to know which door is the right door. Otherwise, you will spin your wheels and wonder why you’re not getting anywhere.

Friend, now is not the time to look at your neighbor, your favorite social media influencer, or your parents to decide which dreams to pursue. What God is calling you to do won’t be what He’s calling anyone else to do. So make sure you take some time to truly reflect on what you’re pursuing, and make sure God has called you to it. If not, don’t be afraid to make a u-turn and start over. One of my favorite coaching clients came to me thinking that she wanted to be a life coach, but as we continued our coaching relationship, she discovered that calligraphy was her heart's desire, and it turns out it was God’s desire for her as well. This reflection and realization resulted in a change of direction for her that was for her best. The rest, as they say, is history, or I should say HIS-STORY. 

When God is in it, the right doors will open, and you will go further faster. His story and purpose woven into your DNA from the womb will begin to unfold in unimaginable ways. 

Until next time my friend,

Tiffany

Book Announcement! Read if You Struggle with Anxiety.

“Tell your story ~ Live your passion ~ Change your world”

Hey Friend,

Today is officially in the running for one of the most exciting days of my life. I cannot even wrap my brain around what I am getting ready to share. 

But you know I have to give a little context first. So, will you indulge me for just a second?!

Years ago I heard this quote while watching television: “Tell your story ~ Live your passion ~ Change your world.” I quickly grabbed a sheet of paper and wrote it down, because it resonated with me so much. I knew that someday I would live this out loud, but that’s all I knew. 

At that time I was still living every single day with debilitating anxiety, and I honestly didn’t know if I would ever know what it felt like to live life without anxiety. 

But I held on to hope. That hope was found in the living word of God and in an inner knowing that God would never waste my pain. So, I am beyond humbled and completely outdone at what God has done with my story and with my life.. 

My pain has become my platform and I can’t believe I am about to say this, but even if I can help just a handful of people overcome anxiety, then it was worth all those days of struggling with anxiety. 

So, without further ado I would like to announce that today I am officially releasing my FIRST book:  Peace Stealers: 21 Reasons Why You’re Anxious, Why It Matters, and What to Do About it!

You may be asking, out of all the books on anxiety, Tiffany, why did you write this book? And I am so glad you asked. I have read many books on anxiety and I have studied this subject extensively, and although most books were helpful to some degree, none of them simplified this complex issue in a way that solved my problem. With anxiety being the most common of all mental disorders, affecting 1 in 13 people, the factor I refer to as “peace stealers” is usually left out of the conversation, so I wrote this book in order to expose and bring to light this concept of “peace stealers.” I realized that the majority of those suffering from anxiety (like myself) did not have a chemical imbalance, but they had imbalances in their everyday lives and in their environments that were contributing to their anxiety. 

The most alarming thing is that most people are unaware of the purpose of these peace stealers in their life. Because everything has a purpose in life, negatively and positively, you have to investigate who sent what, and I can guarantee you that your anxiety was not sent by God. 

The peace stealers’ sole objective is to cripple your calling and poison your purpose. If you want to get to the bottom of discovering the peace stealers unleashed in your life, this book will help you to do just that. If you, or anyone you know is suffering with anxiety in any capacity, I wrote this book for you. 

You don’t have to live with anxiety another day, Friend. It’s time to discover the 21 reasons why you’re anxious, why it matters, and what to do about it!

You can order the book here.

Thank you for celebrating with me, Friend, and just know that God will never waste your pain. The mess in your life can become your message and when you tell your story, and begin to live your passion (because God delivered you and you want to see others delivered), you will change your world and the world of so many others.

That’s my deepest desire, that your world is changed through the words on the pages of this book. Order your copy here.

Until next time,

Tiffany

Re-Introduction + How I Can Serve You Better

Hi Friend,

“Everyday I prayed that God would lead me to my destiny, and everyday I had to face the reality that my life looked nothing like the dreams in my heart.”

You may or may not know that I struggled with crippling anxiety for almost a decade. During that time one of the things I was anxious about was my purpose. I knew that I was called to inspire and encourage others, but at that time I didn’t know exactly what that looked like. The lack of clarity around how to fulfill my purpose created a tension and restlessness that left me mentally depleted. When I looked at the circumstances of my life, nothing made sense. I was stuck in a professional job when I really wanted to be more creative. Whenever I tried to pursue those creative avenues, I experienced a lot of rejection. I felt alone and confused as to why God would put those dreams in my heart, but then close every door that I tried to go through. Everything seemed random. I wrestled with the distance between where I was, and where I wanted to be. Whenever I read back through my old journals most of them are filled with pleas to God for Him to make my dreams come true.

My dreams. 

In hindsight I can clearly see how the dream consumed me. It was no longer about His dream for my life, I automatically assumed that because He had given me a glimpse of my future, that I no longer needed to seek Him for the rest. I started trying to figure it out and I wore myself out when nothing was working.

You see, God was not in a hurry. I was. God politely “left” the throne because I replaced Him with the idolization of that dream. 

No matter how much I wanted to hear God back then, I couldn’t hear Him clearly. The moment I repented for making an idol out of my dream, and prayed for His will to be done, that’s when I found inner peace. I had to quiet my restless soul and find rest in Him. Soon after, I discovered another piece to the puzzle that led to greater clarity. And with more clarity, came more productivity because I was no longer restless from not knowing what to do.

You may be wondering what this has to do with you.

Well Friend, you may find yourself in that place of restlessness and confusion where you are praying for God to help you find your way. You may look over your life and see a bunch of random things that look nothing like the dreams in your heart.

If that’s you, you’re in the right place. 

As you are probably aware, I haven’t been in your inbox for a while now. I took a year-long sabbatical and paused my business to let God speak to me about what’s next for Oh So You Coaching. I didn’t set out to stay away that long, but it was necessary. 

However, I’m proud to say that I am back, with 20/20 vision.

Now I’m ready to re-introduce myself and my brand. 

I am Dr. Tiffany Pierce, Purpose and Alignment strategist at Oh So You Coaching. Everything I do falls under the umbrella of Saving, Teaching, and Reaching Souls (S.T.A.R.S)™.⭐️ One of the ways I live this mission out loud is through my coaching and consulting business at Oh So You Coaching. This is where I help women to gain clarity around their anxiety and other negative mental habits, in order to: 

• Find inner Peace

• Live/discover their Purpose

• Increase their Productivity 

• And Prosper

This is the clarity I have been seeking for a long time, and I am so eager to serve you better with this newfound revelation. I am ready to help you live a life soaked in purpose and peace, and it all starts with connecting you with the missing puzzle piece(s) that are keeping you from living your God-given purpose. I am so excited and I hope that you are too!

Before I let you go...I wanted to let you know that I will be making a big announcement really soon about a new resource that will help you if you are struggling with anxiety. And I am sharing it with you here first before I announce it anywhere else. I cannot wait to share this news with you.

So, keep an eye out for this special announcement, which will be landing in your inbox next week. Ahhhh I can hardly wait. 

I am so happy to be back. Thank you for being here.

Until next time,

Tiffany

P.S. If you feel like the events in your life have been random and nothing makes sense, I believe this video will encourage you to know that nothing in your life is random, and one day it will all make sense. What I didn’t understand years ago, makes a lot more sense now. I pray this video is a blessing to you.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8IdfJyntQU8&feature=youtu.be

You are Being Summoned for Duty

Hey friend,

I know it’s been a while since I’ve been in your inbox. I’m not even going to deny the awkwardness of this moment. Nevertheless, I have missed writing and sharing my heart with you. I hope you’ll forgive me for disappearing.

So much has changed since our last encounter, and sooner than later I’ll get around to sharing that story.

But for now, I really wanted to check on you and see how you’re enduring this year of interruption. It’s been a lot to take in, hasn’t it? I wouldn’t blame you if you were already over this year.

I keep hearing the phrase cancel 2020, and I can’t help but cringe at the thought of letting these next 5 or so months float by while waiting for the new year.

I want you to realize that God specializes in interruptions. That is His sweet spot.

Think about the story of Mary. Mary was in the middle of planning a wedding, picking out dresses, and filling out invitations. Then out of the blue, her plans were interrupted by an unexpected encounter with an angel carrying some heavy news.

That encounter led to a pregnancy that wasn’t on her calendar. This interruption almost cost her her soon to be marriage. It also smeared her reputation. I’m sure Mary was wondering, what in the world is going on God?!

 But soon after, she gave birth, and that birth led to something we still rejoice and celebrate today.

So, friend today I want to ask you, is the Lord speaking to you about birthing something that could change the world forever?

In the midst of what the world sees as a pandemic, I see possibilities everywhere. I see interruptions as divine appointments and if you will lean into God like never before, I believe you will truly discover why you’re still here.

At this particular time in history.

You were created to birth and bring fourth life in whatever sphere you find yourself in. That dream doesn’t have to make sense to anyone else.

That dream doesn’t have to appear big and grand. It could simply be pouring into you children and showing the love of Christ everywhere you go. That may seem small, but raising a child is one of the most sacred responsibilities one can have.

And the possibilities are endless from what could happen through the life of your child.

No matter what God sized dream you’re dreaming of, just know that your dream matters.

You matter.

And nothing that has happened in 2020 has caught God by surprise. That’s where I draw my comfort from.

God has a lot to say right now, about you, your dream, your life, and the events going on around you.

But you’re not going to hear him where there is lots of noise.

So, while everyone else is scrolling, googling, listening to the news, finding new ways to use the word entanglement (giggle), and just trying to get by...I need you purposefully focusing on the next half of the year. Praying about your next steps and waiting in anticipation for an encounter with God.

Friend, you are Mary. Without Mary, there would be no Jesus. She was the only girl for the job. And the Lord is looking for the modern day Mary’s to stand up and give birth to something the world desperately needs.

And you are the only girl for the job.

It’s time for you to report for duty. We’re all waiting on you.


Until next time my friend!

Don't Do This (Part III)

Hi friend,

In case you haven’t been getting all the emails, we’ve been in a three-part series called, don’t do this!

So, far we’ve talked about two out of three things we shouldn’t do when we are in a wilderness season. I’ve been referring to these three culprits as the “deadly trio.”

Culprit # 1 was: Don’t complain

Culprit # 2 was: Don’t compare

Let’s get into culprit number three, shall we?

The third thing you shouldn’t do when life seems unfair and there is a painful gap between what God has promised, and what you see is . . .

COMPROMISE!

Doing these three things will give the devil a doorway into your life and keep you from ever making any significant progress.

Remember we’ve been using our friends, the Israelites, as our example of what not to do in the wilderness.

How did they compromise?
 
They compromised by following other gods.

Let’s look at Exodus 32:1.

When the people saw that Moses was so long in coming down from the mountain, they gathered around Aaron and said, “Come make us gods who will go before us. As for this fellow Moses who brought us up out of Egypt, we don’t know what has happened to him” (Exodus 32: 1, NIV).

After all that God had done for them, their hearts were still far from Him.

As requested, Aaron gave them what they wanted by making them a golden calf and building an altar, for them to worship and praise their god (note little g). In response, God burned with anger and called them “stiff-necked people.

As I was reading this scripture, I felt the Lord saying that His people still worship idols today. Sure, our modern-day idols may not necessarily be made from gold, but we have them.

Our idols take the form of popularity, platforms, prestige, recognition, food, followers, sex, marriage, money, power. I felt the Lord saying that just as the people grew tired of waiting on Moses to come down from the mountain, His people often grow tired of waiting on Him.

In our haste and impatience, we begin to try to create and craft our own lives by striving to obtain things that inadvertently steal our worship and devotion away from Him.

Anything that steals our heart and attention away from God is an idol.

Anything that we want more than God is an idol, and we begin to compromise our faith and morals in striving to obtain that idol.

This is how Ishmaels are created because we grow tired and weary of waiting on Isaac.

Take a moment and think about any ways you have been compromising lately.

Are you single and desperately desiring to be married?

There is nothing wrong with desiring marriage.

However, if not careful, marriage can become an idol in your life that can eventually replace your worship as you begin to covet marriage more than God himself. If you’re not careful you will compromise meeting your Boaz and instead settle for Bubba (giggles).

Are you celibate and growing tired of doing the right thing because your significant other isn’t understanding your Christian morals? Are you tempted every day to compromise, because doing the right thing is running them away?

Are you trying to grow your brand or ministry, and only posting what you think will get the most likes and comments?

If so, then people’s approval has become your God. And if you’re not careful you will begin to tweak God’s original purpose for your ministry and end up with a watered-down version of God’s original plan for your ministry.

Are you at a job that you really don’t like, and you’re depressed about it?

Are you eating your stress away, one donut at a time, instead of praying for God to open the next door, then preparing and planning for that prayer to be answered?

If so, then food has become your idol, and you are compromising your health and wellbeing.

No matter what your wilderness season entails, I hope you understand that what you do during this waiting season, determines the course and length of your stay in this season.

Also remember that most of the first-generation Israelites never made it out of the wilderness.

Friend, I don’t want that to be your story.

{Picture me pulling you close, grabbing your hand and looking directly into your eyes]

I know exactly how hard and how long this season has been. I know how many nights you soak your pillow in despair wondering if anyone even cares.

I know you just want to quit.

But please hear me.

There is a but that will negate everything you’ve ever been through and that but is found in this verse in Proverbs.

It's a promise from God that you can grab ahold of, cling to, and refuse to let go of. 

But the path of the [uncompromisingly] just and righteous is like the light of dawn, that shines more and more (brighter and clearer) until [ it reaches its full strength and glory in] the perfect day [to be prepared] (Proverbs 4:18, Amplified Version).

Your path will get lighter and clearer as you continue to walk in righteousness, and the day of your arrival to that glorious promise is already prepared.

If you’ll continue to fight and overcome the enemy of your soul, you will reach your destination right on time.

Don’t grow weary in well doing, you will reap a harvest if you don’t give up.

If you don’t complain.

If you don’t compare.

And . . . if you don’t compromise.

Keep on keeping on sis. 
 

Don't Do This (Part II)

Hey Friend,

Last week we talked about, complaining, the first culprit of a "deadly trio" that could potentially keep you from reaching your dreams and goals.

Using the Israelites, we learned what not to do when in a wilderness season. And we discussed how this was one of the reasons why they never reached their promised land.

Today I want to talk about the second culprit in this deadly trio that can keep you stuck in a holding pattern. What is the second thing you shouldn't do when life seems unfair...?

Compare

I want to approach comparing in two different ways. 

The first way is what you most likely thought of as soon as you read the word comparing. Because it has become so hard not to compare our lives in the age of social media.

We literally have access into the lives of hundreds, and even thousands of people at our fingertips. And let me tell ya' everybody ain't posting the real details of their life (excuse the incorrect English 😊).

To be clear, I'm a big fan of social media. There are so many positive connections and things I've been able to do through this platform. But if we're not careful, social media can bring about a lot of not so positive emotions. And the enemy can really use it as an tool to steal your happiness and even kill your purpose.

Because comparison really is the thief of joy.

Comparison kills your confidence and clarity.

Comparison is robbing so many gifted and creative individuals of their uniqueness. I can see the enemy and his little demon friends rejoicing and celebrating over the fact that so many gifted men and women are forfeiting their God-given destinies to be a carbon copy of someone they admire from up close or afar.

So, knowing this . . . are you confused about your purpose?

Have you been guilty of looking at the gifts of other people, and then somehow becoming dissatisfied with your gifts?

Have you ever been content with your portion, until you saw someone with more, and slowly started to become discontent with the current season you were in?

If so, you are not alone. So many bible believing Christians are falling into this trap. I'm here to tell you that this is a direct assassination attempt on your purpose. I say this because God will never help you to become who you want to be. He is only obligated to help you become who He created you to be.

I love how this scripture in the message version puts it…

Make a careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given, and then sink yourself into that. Don't be impressed with yourself. Don't compare yourself with others. Each of you must take responsibility for doing the creative best you can with your own life. (Galatians 6: 4-5, MSG)

So, the next time you're tempted to stare and compare…Don't do it! Sink yourself into YOUR work.

Ask God to show you who you are and to reveal His divine plan for you.

Trust me, you want God's plan. It will be better than anything you could ever dream up.

The second way I want to approach this is by continuing our example of the Israelites. Not only do we compare our lives to each other, but we also compare our right now, to our past.

Especially when our present-day reality is disappointing and not what we expected. We often go back and make an idol of our past.

"The good ole days."

We begin to have unhealthy nostalgia where we long to go back to a time when life may have been more predictable, more stable, and more enjoyable.

The Israelites did this often. They questioned why God freed them from bondage only to lead them to die. In Exodus chapter 16 they are complaining AGAIN and longing for the past. 

The Israelites said to them [Moses and Aaron], "If only we had died by the Lord's hand in Egypt! There we sat around pots of meat and ate all the food we wanted, but you have brought us out into this desert to starve this entire assembly to death." (Exodus 16: 3, New International Version)

Man, Moses had a time with these here people (lol)! Have you ever met someone who was never satisfied?

Well before we start shaking our heads at them, we must examine our own hearts. The Israelites must have gotten a severe case of amnesia, because although they had plenty to eat in Egypt, they must have forgotten that they were slaves, under harsh treatment. To the point where they begged and cried out to God to save them.

And now that they are free and on the way to the promise, they are wishing to go back to a time and a place that made them miserable. All because they had to go through a process to get to the promise.

Friend, I pray we all can all learn from their folly and grasp this concept… life isn't going to be easy. The road to increasing will often look like you're declining. But this is not the time to compare your today with yesterday.

Their complaining and comparing were two obstacles the enemy used to abort their destiny.

You also have an enemy who wants to abort your destiny. An enemy who wants you to stay small, stuck, and fixated on the past. But you also have the Lord on your side who wants to see you grow, stretch, and go where He is calling you.

Friend, no matter how hard it seems . . . put your hand to the plow, and don't look back.

Next week we will talk about the last culprit of this deadly trio.

Until then I would love to hear your thoughts on this series. Has the Lord spoken to you through this series? I'd love to know. Leave a comment and let me know!

Don't Do This (Part I)

"This is not the way I thought my life would turn out! Nothing seems to be working out. I’m just really disappointed at my life and how it has turned out.”

I nodded my head in agreement as I listened to my coaching client release her raw, unfiltered truth.

I nod in agreement because I've been there many times and sometimes I still dwell in that muddy land of disappointment. And I’m willing to bet that my client and I aren’t alone in this.

A lot of us wear disappointment like an unwanted accessory that tends to make its way into our everyday wardrobe. And if we're not careful, our everyday conversation topics are centered around this one item we wear daily.

When our experiences don't live up to our expectations, disappointment can set in, and if not dealt with properly, disappointment can turn into depression.

And we begin to unpack our bags - along with our hopes and dreams - and make our bed in the land of defeat.

The land of "what's the point."

The land of "maybe this is as good as it gets."

The land of jealousy and comparison where everybody else life seems to be everything ours is not.

I've done enough coaching at this point to realize that this isn't just an isolated issue, but something so prevalent, I'll be remised to ignore and not address.

If you could be brutally honest, just as my coaching client, you would most likely admit that you're tired.

Exhausted.

And most likely depressed most days.

Life has taken the song out of your heart and the pep out of your step.

I know how you feel, Friend.

I know just how unfair and disappointing life and people can be at times.

The struggle truly is real, but so is our God!

One of the tried and true tired lies of the enemy is to get you to believe that things will never change. That your best days are behind you and that you will never experience true joy and satisfaction in this life.

But I'm here to tell you that not only is that a lie, but it's a trap to get you to start doing three things that will keep you a wilderness season and prevent you from reaching your promise land.

Because when you're tired, you begin to let your guard down, and what was meant to be only a season of growth, turns into a lifetime of disappointment.

Friend, no matter how discouraging and depressing your life seems to be, three things will keep you in that land of defeat, snuffing out any attempt you make to move forward.

Stay away from these three things the same way you'd run away from a burning building.

Let's discuss the first part of this "deadly trio."
 
Complaining.

Complaining is a sin (ouch! I know this is a hard pill to swallow), however, it is one of those tolerated sins, that we tend to brush off in the name of "venting, and being human."

But, if we knew the consequences of complaining, I believe we would be more mindful of turning our complaints into gratitude.

Let’s look at this verse in Philippians:

Do everything without complaining and arguing, so that no one can criticize you. Live clean innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people. (Philippians 2:14-15).

There is one main group of people in the bible who are definitely not known as being bright lights.

In fact, this group of people are still known to this day as complainers.

Yep, you guessed it!

The Israelites!

We can learn a lot from them. They are the poster children for what not to do when life seems unfair.

God gave them a promise, and then they went through a process to get to the promise. But they complained the ENTIRE time.

About EVERYTHING! 

We may think it's not a big deal to complain, however, if we look at the history of the Israelites, we see that they never reached the promised land (only the newer generation did- their parents died before ever seeing the promise).

They couldn’t access the promise due to several factors, one being they were ungrateful and full of complaints.

Let that sink in a minute… your complaining shows God that you aren't ready to handle the promise.

Because each season will carry its own set of challenges, and your complaining with your "little" indicates that you won't be able to handle "more."

Friend, don't allow your heart to stay in a perpetual state of ungratefulness. Don't allow the enemy to whisper lies about how hard your life is, and how things will never change.

Don't allow him to get you to start overlooking and dismissing what God has done and is doing, to only focus on your present reality.

I encourage you to start cultivating a heart of thankfulness, and that will get you one step closer to your promise.

A wise preacher once said, "complain and remain, or praise and be raised!"

Friend, it's your choice.

On the next blog we will discuss the second part of this deadly trio that will keep you from the promise.

Until then,

Tiffany