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March 18, 2026<\/span><\/p>\n When God Leads Us To Face What We\u2019ve Been Avoiding<\/strong><\/span> Lee en espa\u00f1ol<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThe LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name\u2019s sake.\u201d Psalm 23:1-3 (NIV)<\/em><\/p>\n Something in me was screaming for relief. I could see this pattern I felt stuck in: I would feel the pressure of my circumstances, grow increasingly frustrated, and then decide I just needed to do more<\/em>.<\/p>\n But it wasn\u2019t working.<\/p>\n God won\u2019t ever let us outwork our need for healing, and sometimes healing is messy. Instead of letting me take another lap while leaning on my own understanding and creating my own solutions, God allowed everything to come to a point I could no longer ignore. It was as if He whispered to my worn-out soul, Sometimes you\u2019re going to have to trust Me with what I ask you to let go of, even when it hurts and doesn\u2019t make sense.<\/em><\/p>\n So I let go.<\/p>\n Maybe you\u2019ve been there too. You can sense God highlighting things you used to be able to tolerate. What once felt simple now feels impossible. You feel Him inviting you to look at what you\u2019ve tried to ignore.<\/p>\n He doesn\u2019t call us into these seasons because He wants to punish us but because He sees the places in our hearts that need healing.<\/p>\n God doesn’t just prioritize what He wants to do through<\/em> us but also what He wants to do in<\/em> us. He invites us into messy healing, the place where we become sick of our own patterns and realize we\u2019re the common denominator. He asks us to challenge our thinking and align with His Word over our feelings.<\/p>\n God began revealing the fears that had quietly driven me for years \u2026 the fear of rejection, the fear of not being enough, the fear of disappointing people, the fear of being unseen. These weren\u2019t new wounds. They were just finally painful enough that I couldn\u2019t pretend they weren\u2019t there.<\/p>\n Friend, He is our Good Shepherd.<\/p>\n Psalm 23:1-3 tells us, \u201cThe LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name\u2019s sake.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n He makes us lie down because sometimes we won\u2019t choose rest on our own. He leads us beside quiet waters because life gets so loud we miss His voice. He refreshes our souls because they\u2019re exhausted. And He guides us on the right paths \u2014 always for our good, always for His glory.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re in a season where everything feels messy or unclear, maybe it\u2019s not that you\u2019re failing; maybe it\u2019s that you\u2019re being formed. Friend, you can be sure when you say \u201cyes\u201d to God, you will never regret it.<\/p>\n Oh, Lord, help me trust You when You ask me to let go of things I\u2019d rather hold on to. I want to be transformed by Your Truth so I can live in true freedom. Help me come to You for healing, no matter how messy it feels. In Jesus\u2019 Name, Amen.<\/em><\/p>\n What if the words God put on your heart are exactly what someone else is praying for? If you\u2019ve ever felt drawn to write but unsure how to begin, COMPEL Pro makes the next step feel doable. Through the First 5 Writing Challenge, you\u2019ll practice writing a clear, biblically grounded teaching with guidance, encouragement, and purpose. Ready to take a closer look? Learn more about the First 5 Writing Challenge and become a member of COMPEL Pro today.<\/strong><\/p>\n You can find more encouragement from Ashley on her Instagram, where she shares daily reminders about who you are and whose<\/em> you are! And find out more about her book, Tired of Trying<\/em>, on her website!<\/p>\n If you feel stuck in this season, Ashley has a FREE series for you called \u201cWhat if You\u2019re Not Stuck? 3 Days to Uncover What God Might Be Doing When You Feel Like You Can\u2019t Move On.\u201d<\/p>\n Psalm 139:23-24, \u201cSearch me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting\u201d (NIV).<\/p>\n What anxious thought or hidden ache might God be gently revealing so He can lead you toward healing?<\/p>\n What would it look like today to let God care for the part of you that feels most tired or overwhelmed? Share your thoughts in the comments!<\/p>\n \u00a9 2026 by Ashley Morgan Jackson. All rights reserved.<\/p>\n Proverbs 31 Ministries
ASHLEY MORGAN JACKSON<\/span><\/p>\nOUR FAVORITE THINGS<\/h4>\n
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Matthews, NC 28106
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