How to Survive Your Dress Being in Your Underwear…

Monday night I had a dream.  I was at church wearing a very short dress and boots — by the way, I looked pretty good in that short dress. It was a dream, and if you’re gonna dream, make it a sweet dream. The horrifying realization came, my dress is tucked in my panties on one side. I frantically rushed to the ladies room and was horrified because well, one, my very short dress (short like long shirt length. I forgot my pants.) was tucked in my panties and two, I couldn’t call for help. Ladies kept coming in, but I didn’t have my cell phone to call Lary, and I knew he wouldn’t have his in church anyway. I pulled and tugged but never could get that dress to the length it needed to be so I could leave the ladies room.

Lary and I often discuss silly dreams and ask each other, “What do you think that means?” I did ask him, but I knew what it meant.

Have you ever been called to do something that you felt unprepared for – entirely unqualified to fulfill the task? That’s where I am right now. I could recount Moses’ story or Esther’s life and death situation. Perhaps talk about how God equips those He sends. Because He certainly does. But, that’s not where I am today. I don’t feel equipped. Do you?

Do you feel up to the task of raising your kids or taking care of your aging parent with Alzheimer’s? When your marriage ended, did you feel ready to face the world single? How about the day you walked into your new job and realized you knew nothing and the one to teach you was twenty-five years younger. Were you full of confidence that day? Let’s don’t even talk about how we feel when we wake after about two weeks of marriage and think, uh, there’s more to this than I thought. 

Do you know the feeling that if God doesn’t go with you, you ain’t going? We want to run, quit, stop. Have you ever wanted to remind God that He thinks we are stronger, wiser, more talented, and more gifted than we surely are? I often think He has way too much faith in us to do this thing.

So what now? I wish I had the answer that would make us all feel brave and strong and confident. You might find someone with better answers but, it’s not this girl. Brutal honesty works best here. We are in this boat together.

How to survive your dress...

Are you willing to just keep getting up in the morning and doing life? Everyday life. Living and loving and crying and pushing ourselves to be who God knows we can be? You want to move forward with me scared, unsure, desperately needing what only God can give?

The only answer I have – the only explanation I give myself – is to keep falling on our faces before God and say as Moses did:

“…If you don’t personally go with us, don’t make us leave this place.” (Exodus 33:15, NLT)

Kari Jobe says it beautifully in her song “You Are For Me, “Lord, I know that you are for me. I know that You are for me. I know that You will never forsake me in my weaknesses. And I know that You have come now even if to write upon my heart to remind me who you are…”

We are right where God wants us to be. Utterly, hopelessly undone without Him. Now, He alone will get the glory for our victories.

Other posts you might enjoy…

Why lipstick ain’t as good as it used to be…

There is no substitute for love…

Going back seems so easy…

 

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40 Comments

  1. I cheer this Carmen. I love the idea that he gets the glory when we don’t know what to do. He always rescues. Oh, how great a God we serve. I delight in this God as I read your words. Well done! See you on the #RaRalinkup tomorrow! XOXO

  2. Have you ever been called to do something that you felt unprepared for – completely unqualified to fulfill the task?

    YES! raising kids, being married for 35+ years to the same man. burying a son, getting out of bed the next day, and the next.etc… Sometimes life just whacks us, yet God steps in and shines the brightest light in our darkest moment. Love that about Him.

    So beautiful Carmen. Thank you for joining the dance this week!

    Susan

  3. At first I was laughing at your dream, and feeling for you, because I have been obsessive about making sure my skirt is not tucked up in my panties for years. A lady at a place I worked 25+ years ago accidentally got her skirt caught up in the back of her hose at work and didn’t realize it till she left work and thought it felt rather breezy… Poor girl quit within a week, although no one was in the office the day it happened so no one saw. LOL

    Anyway… yes, I know all too well the feeling that I’m inadequate and unqualified for the tasks God has put before me. And I am so thankful that Jesus promises to be with me – even to the very end of the age – and that is His response to my desperate plea “God, I can’t go unless you go with me!” But I need to pray that prayer for ME, and acknowledge that it is only through His power and grace that I can do anything worthwhile.

    Glad to be your neighbor this week at The Weekend Brew!

  4. A big yes to this post. I do feel God believes we are stronger than we really are and can do more than we would ever think possible. Thank goodness the Lord is with us and for us every step of the way. I am so blessed you shared this at The Weekend Brew.

  5. Girl, they just keep getting better. These posts of yours…. Yes, better by the day. I totally stood right there with you during the panty predicament. gah! I smiled at the thought of Moses chiming, “We’re not going anywhere without You, God.” Then I smiled even bigger when I realized this was encouragement for me, deep down in, in an area where His strength longs to sweep over my weakness. It’s been a week of battle, a week ending victoriously. Go Jesus. Wonderful read, Carmen.

  6. Carmen, I think we’ve all felt inadequate at times, but thank GOD that when we enter HIS PRESENCE HE reminds us that in HIM we are more than enough. Reading your post just made me praise HIM simply for who HE is. Thank you for sharing this! Infinite blessings to you, Love!

  7. Hello friend! Well at first I was giggling! But then the oh, so, familiar feeling crept in. I’m not equipped to do this, Lord! I won’t go unless You go with me! Great post!

  8. So much good here, Carmen. And the funny thing is, I’ve been the one with her skirt tucked in her panties…wait for it…in Walmart…and it wasn’t a dream. It was a real life nightmare. ;) All that aside, I’m with you for the waking up every day and just doing this life a day at a time, with Him. And I love that song by Kari Jobe…blessed beyond measure that He is for us…and because He is, nothing or no one can be against us. Amen!

  9. Carmen, my eye first went to your radiant smile then to the topic beneath. I must admit to being caught by both. I was relieved to read it was only a dream because I think we all have a fear of walking out of the ladies room with our behind showing. But, after reading your post, I realize we all probably at some time fear more than our behind showing. We fear our fear showing; our lack of confidence; our not knowing how to put one foot in front of the other. Thank you for so beautifully expressing this and for giving us the answer that Moses gave. Lord, don’t let me move unless you are moving ahead of me!

  10. CARMEN!
    I’m here because you said “Underwear.” LOL! I was like what in the world?? Haaa!

    Makes sense though-I’ve had dreams like that except clothing may or may not have been involved and I may or may not have found myself on the toilet in the middle of the MALL!!!

    Yeah, there are some things God has been gracious to encourage me that He has done something to set me apart for a particular task. We’re good there. But that other stuff that He drops in your lap to exercise those faith muscles…whew!!! You feel completely ill equipped, but when He shows UP?? Man is it awesome! Because we know all the credit goes to Him!! :)
    I’m blessed by you Carmen! :)

  11. Thank you for sharing your dream with us, Carmen. I giggled a little, but mostly I felt the seriousness of the message behind it. We may not feel as though we are equipped to do the work the Lord has predestined us to do, but as you so eloquently pointed out, He will be with us every step of the way. We just need to step out in Faith.

    Love this scripture (I can def identify with the heart behind this verse):
    “…If you don’t personally go with us, don’t make us leave this place.”

    So very blessed by your words today!
    Tina

  12. Love this, Carmen! Oh yes, how I feel that every single day. Especially when I sit in front of the keyboard with that blank stare at the screen, my fingers poised over the keys, but my mind in a holding pattern–kinda like that swirly thing when you’re waiting for a webpage to load. (What is that thing called anyway?) LOL. As you can see, I probably won’t get much written today. Anyway…this message is a great reminder that I can’t do it without Him–and He doesn’t expect me to. Thanks for your encouraging writing, Carmen. Love you, girl!

  13. Carmen, this is so fine! Couldn’t help but laugh quietly about your dream…(sorry!!). Yes, I have been an insecure person most of my life. Until I met Jesus…and then He still had to pull me out of that lavatory to get me back on track at times.
    I am nothing without my LORD. NOTHING!
    Thank you for your encouraging words.
    Caring through Christ, ~ linda

  14. Grateful that I came across your post today, Carmen. Self-doubt creeps into various corners of my faith, and I have to remember that I have to be bold, and allow Him to follow through and equip me in ways only He can…
    He is the ultimate provider! Amen.
    Visiting from #Woman2Woman Wednesday :)

  15. I just heard this last night “Courage is not the absence of fear, it’s simply obedience to God in spite of it.” I could so relate to your words today – being unsure, insecure and knowing that you’ve been called, but still shaking in your boots. For me it’s been just walking forward in the process, even afraid, and choosing (cuz it’s a everyday choice) to believe Him for the results. That even though they might not look like my hopes and dreams, in the end, His are always better. So blessed to have stopped by from #tellhisstory.

  16. Carmen, what a precious post – oh my I needed a laugh this afternoon. Love your encouragement in knowing we are nothing without Him – thanks for cheering me on in my faith today #raralinkup. Have a great day! Kim