| Back to Back Issues Page |
 |
|
Second guessing God August 19, 2026 |
August 2026 
Second guessing God: We're all guiltyI do it, you do it, and every person on the planet does. We second guess God.This single life comes with a giant economy-size portion of frustration—but you already know that. Most of our questioning God comes from a burning desire to understand what's going on. Every day we see things that make us ask him "Why?" But there's a darker side to second guessing God. That's when we challenge his authority. Rather than obeying as we should, we go our own way, knowing full well it's contrary to the Lord's commands. That's called sin. God is fine with us asking "Why?", but sin offends him. It sent Jesus to the cross. August's feature article shows what's innocent and what's dangerous when we're second guessing God.
Why don't we?Why don't we rave that our pie is so niceinstead of grouching 'bout the size of our slice? Why don't we clean out our car that's so sorry Why don't we enjoy our spiffy new clothes Why don't we do our work with a smile Why don't we compliment our friends Why don't we give our Mom a hug Why don't we say, "Thank you, God" Why don't we? Yeah. Why don't we? ~ Jack Zavada, inspiration-for-singles.com, 2026 ~ 3 traits of a discerning person
If discernment was praised in the Bible thousands of years ago, it's even more valuable today. Basically discernment is the ability to determine which choices conform to God's will.
When Solomon asked God to give him wisdom instead of wealth or pleasure, God was so pleased that he gave him a discerning heart to be able to pick the best course. You and I need discernment as single Christians. Temptations, blatant and subtle, harass us every day. God will help us cultivate 3 traits to help us be spiritually astute. Check out the 3 traits of a discerning person.
Experience more of God's power in your life
What can you do to see God working powerfully in your life, giving you spiritual insight and answers to your prayers?
For 45 years, Jack Zavada trudged through the single life, riding out highs and lows but always—always—paying attention and taking notes. The result is his book Hope for Hurting Singles, a step-by-step manual on what works and what doesn't. Hope for Hurting Singles is not an autobiography but rather a resource any Christian can use to please God and experience his power. Instead of going it alone, Jack discovered letting God be the boss is the only way to live. You'll find proven tips on managing loneliness, depression, shyness, rejection, fear, low self-esteem, frustration and bitterness. These strategies work because they're biblical. They show that submission and surrender put God in charge, where he belongs, where he can work his unstoppable will. Hope for Hurting Singles shows that when a single person has their priorities right, amazing things can happen. Stop wasting time and energy trying to go your own way! Learn how to follow the Holy Spirit for unprecedented freedom and contentment. Jesus himself revealed this secret when he said, "…apart from me you can do nothing." (John 15:5) Order Hope for Hurting Singles today. The paperback is $10.99 and the Kindle version is $3.99. You'll be glad you did!Uncertainty is the new normal
No wonder stress is at an all-time high. There's so much change and it's happening so fast, we can't keep up.
When the world is so uncertain—and that seems to be the new normal—the only solution is to get our certainty from somewhere else. You've read enough of these newsletters to know I'm going to tell you to look to God. That's because God never, ever changes. When you're perfect, you don't need to. He's reliable and trustworthy. He's not like a politician who says something one day and the direct opposite the next. When you pray, he never puts you on hold. When you're going through turmoil, the sure, certain God takes you through it, holding you securely in his righteous right hand, and bringing you out the other side. He's done it so many times with me I can't count them all. Here are some practical tips to help you thrive through uncertainty.
August QOTM: Scottish wisdomAugust"s Quote of the Month comes from Henry Drummond, a Scottish evangelist, author and lecturer who often toured with D.L. Moody:~ Henry Drummond (1851-1897) ~ It comes down to the toughest challenge in the Christian life: trusting God. That's what makes Christianity the greatest adventure of all time. Look, all of us have doubts. Even John the Baptist did. Jesus is compassionate toward our doubts and works with us, but stubbornly refusing to believe in him is rejecting the greatest help offered to us in life. Ask God for understanding. Search the Bible. Pray with an open heart. Above all, even when life is exasperating, remember that God loves you. Kindness quotes to give you a boost
When you remember the people who have had a positive impact on your life, they all have one thing in common: kindness.
Kindness is so unexpected today, so refreshing that it almost knocks you over when you're on the receiving end. But here's a secret. It's pretty darn exciting to be on the giving end too. Seeing the expression on the other person's face, knowing you have touched something deep in their heart, realizing you have dispensed a sweet dollop of love in that person's life—that's a pretty heady feeling. We need more kindness, lots more. I hope you're inspired by these most memorable quotes about kindness.
Yet another reason to love our GodYou simply cannot invent a God of love. Love is the highest good, and anyone who has experienced its intensity never forgets it. It stands to reason that the smartest being in the universe would make life all about love.Next to human love, God's love is like a steam roller compared to a baker's rolling pin. But instead of flattening you like a tortilla, God's love transforms you into the glorious, selfless person he wants you to be.
What a shock it must have been for a loving Jesus to humanly experience rejection and hurt. He knew loneliness as painfully as we do. That's why, in your lowest times, nobody understands like Jesus. It's breathtaking to learn God loved you before you loved him. How could anyone ignore a love like that? He sought you out. He tracked you down. His Holy Spirit pulled you to him. His love for you started before you were born and goes on for eternity. You can never lose it. God will never walk away. He will take you home to live with him forever where everything is as it should be. He chose you. That's another reason to love our astonishing God! Q. What's better than learning from your mistakes?
Little did I suspect 40 or 50 years ago that my bonehead mistakes would prove valuable to thousands of people all over the world. Yeah, that was before the Internet was invented and before I launched www.inspiration-for-singles.com.
|
| Back to Back Issues Page |
Those of us who have been disappointed in our love for others may approach God with fear, worried we'll be devastated again. But God is so very different—gentle and compassionate, generous and forgiving. As God loves, he heals, and we all need to be healed.
See, if singles can learn from my goof-ups, they won't have to go through the same grief I did. An early motto on the web site was, "My pain, your gain."
I have noticed my prayers for others seem to be more effective than my prayers for myself. That may be because my prayers for others are not so selfish.
