When I was in my early 20’s I went through a very difficult divorce. Even though I wanted it because of domestic violence it was still very hard. During that process the Lord gave me a verse that became what I called me life verse.

Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in and rely confidently on the Lord with all your heart
And do not rely on your own insight or understanding.
In all your ways know and acknowledge and recognize Him,
And He will make your paths straight and smooth [removing obstacles that block your way].

Over the years I have often said this was my life verse. However, when I started working through the process of deliverance in 2020 God showed me that I knew His Word (this scripture), but I was not applying it. There is a huge difference between knowing and applying.

Let me explain what I am talking about. Since I was abused as a small child I could never understand why bad things happen to children, why God didn’t stop it, and when asked by others why I thought God allowed it to happen I had no idea what to say. I would say all the things church folks say, we live in a fallen world full of sin and people have free will, but it just never sat right with me. I read in the Bible where God shut the mouthes of lions for Daniel and so many other miracles, so I knew that He could do any kind of miracle. Yet children continued to get hurt and abused.

I came to a place in my walk with God that I was telling Him if He would just answer my question then I could be healed. I was leaning on my own understanding and trying to get God to go along with it. I held onto that question so tightly that I had a death grip on it.

During the week I sat aside for fasting and prayer to get set free from the demonic torment (you can read my fully testimony by scrolling back in the archives) the Lord showed me vision of me standing in front of two paths. I knew one led to the same old same old way I had been living my life. The other one was a brand new path, but it would require me to lay down my question. I would have to fully release it—choose to release it, and never pick it up again. When the choice was put to me it was not easy to choose because I felt like I NEEDED to know the answer. I decided to lay it down, release it, and never give it a second thought again.

When I released it I felt a level of freedom that I did not have before and it was a huge step toward total freedom. Now when I am asked why I think God doesn’t stop children from being abused my response is—I do not lean on my own understanding. In all my ways I acknowledge God and I know He will make my path straight. I stand on His character that I read in His Word. That is choosing to walk by faith. I refuse to lean on my own understanding and now I also understand the difference between knowing the Word and applying His Word.

I want to encourage you to make sure that you do not just know His Word, but that you are also applying it to your life. There is a very big difference, but when we are busy living life that difference can be hard to spot.

Blessings,

Nichole Henson

Fullness of Joy Ministry