Amanda White
About the Author

Amanda likes to think up fun ways to tell her kids about Jesus and likes to share those ideas with others. Most of those ideas are on her blog, ohAmanda.com and the new ones she’s trying out usually show up on Instagram @oohamanda. Tens of thousands of families have used...

(in)side DaySpring: things we love
& you will too!
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(in)side DaySpring:
things we love
& you will too!
Find more at
DaySpring.com
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  1. Amanda, what a beautiful post with such good strong words. I am in a situation right now where giving up or going down is probably the easiest thing to do….but because I have faith in Him and trust Him, I am not going down. I know He have great plans fos us and that He loves us. His Great Project in my life is not finished yet, I still have to shine His light he placed inside of me and lead others to Him.

    Thank you for the blessing of this post!

  2. but sometimes we want to go down., don’t we? sometimes we want to run — at least a little. at least to target or starbucks or the backyard. i am confident God has given me a Great Project — raising five kids, loving my man, advocating adoption, surviving cancer, wiping faces and washing dishes…oh yes! and i wouldn’t trade it in for all the tea in china. but whew! there are some days when i do want to climb right on off the horse and head for the border. and then i remember: HE sustains me, holds me, keeps me and meets me right where i am in the middle of my mission and even in the middle of my mess.

  3. Thank you so much for this pep talk! I felt like I was reading Hebrews about the faith warriors! This is a VERY difficult season in my life and at times I wonder if someone could do a better job. Then I wake up, on a day I am starting back up a big commitment the Lord is asking of me, and He brings me a cheerleader! I’m gonna pull out my Bible and renew my mind about Nehemiah and His testimony in Christ. Blessings to you and (in)courage!

  4. I have struggled greatly the past few months with being a stay at home mom. I started off strong in August believing this is what I was supposed to do. By November I was defeated and e hausted. My two toddlerz had fried my brain and I was done. I am just finishing my first trimester with baby three. I have spent the last couple of weeks searching for a way to renew myself and praying for help. This post is a great reminder. I needed to hear it today as daddy has gone back to work and I’m back in the fulltime mommy role all day.

    • Oh, Karen. It’s so hard. But be encouraged–God gave you your children. He made you their mother. Lean into Him. He’ll lead you. One of my fave scriptures is Psalm 25:14, “God confides in those who fear him…” I love the idea of God confiding in me. And I need him to confide in me about parenting! Praying for you today–that God will give you strength to stay on the wall and to confide His plans for you!

      a

  5. This is such a great message and so resonates with me. 2011 was a time of painful transistions for my family. My husband and I are lead pastors at a church and have not had your typical transistion, we are now almost two years in, and the wall has been slow building, but we will not come down. This past six months God has reminded us constantly about two great bible stories – Joshua and the walk around Jericho and Nehemiah building the wall. I, too, will keep this as a mental snapshot – thank you for sharing!

  6. This is so encouraging! Last year was a big year of transition for us, and some days I’ve needed that reminder to remain resolved and to not go down. What a good way to start the year!

  7. I can see you’ve learned a lot from your mom. You are always so quick to encourage your readers through your blogs with a bible verse and a devotional post. I see she has taught you well :). God bless you, Amanda.

  8. I’m just a desk jockey. I don’t have a Great Project. Don’t you? God said he has a plan for your life. He said He prepared good works for you to do–planned them even before the world was formed.

    It might seem insignificant to go to the same job week after week. It might feel trivial to do the same paperwork day in and day out. Oh Amanda–Preach on girl! I’m in a transitional season in my work life. My job description has completely changed in the last few months. I’m considering a new type career/job.

    Thank you for the encouragement and reminder that yes He does have plans for us!

    God bless you!

  9. Amanda,
    I love this post. It is something that I am FINALLY coming to understand at 55, We belong to God and he DOES have plans for us! Sometimes we see other people doing things and helping in places we long to be…….. but God has plans for us! Sometimes in places we don’t suspect at all.
    I recently had to put my mother in a memory care facility. I was so gulit ridden and truely over the past year I have been competely consumed with caring for mother, I was also very excitied about becoming a grandmother myself for the first time in the last few months.
    I have had some really great days visiting my mom and some of the other residents at the care center. It is actually very relaxing to talk with and “play” with the women that my mother gravitates to.
    My granddaughter is now 3 months old and she is thriving and cooing and smiling. Her parents are amazing, and so good with her. Why should I be suprised at that? God put them all in my life and they are caring on the “good work he started” in me 25 years ago. Then, the “Great Project” was Youth Group( with my husband). Now the Great project seems to be the care center ladies.
    I am a “stuck in the middle” person. I know I am not alone but your post really made me see that some times the “GREAT PROJECT” is sometimes the tasks at hand that need tending to. If I can bring some happiness and fun into the end of these people’s lives, through HIM who loves us all , then, This is, perhaps, a worthy “project ” in his eyes.
    Bless all of you who write on (in)courage! Happy New Year!

    • LOVE what you said—“Sometimes we see other people doing things and helping in places we long to be…….. but God has plans for us!”

      Some of our great projects don’t seem that GREAT, but they are b/c He gave them to us. Love hearing about the good stuff God is doing w/your mom. 🙂

      a

  10. Wow! This is so powerful — so beautiful. My Great Project is letting the Father’s love pour into me as I seek to love my siblings well, for the first time in my life. There is much wounding that has happend in our relationships, due to silence and the consequential lacking of trust. Thank you, Amanda! I am standing on the wall, not coming down, this New Year, as I do my part in reaching out, despite whether or not they do.

  11. I love this post! Years ago Andy Stanley talked about Sandra Stanley saying this about raising her kids. Those words have been in my heart since then. But I never really, really thought about the determination it takes to not go down. It was part of it- but I see now that it takes real effort and intention and purposeful direction. This post really brought that home. Thank you so much for writing!

  12. This past year, I wanted to get down and run several times. I wanted to say no, to ask Him to find someone else. But God has given me and each one of us a Great Project–and He doesn’t make mistakes. This year will be a continuation of my Great Project, to continue to say “yes” to God and follow Him to the cross. Thanks for the wonderful words in this post, Amanda.

  13. Bless you for these words! I have been battling a feeling of insignificance for some time now, and your message was so eye-opening. I forget that all the things I do don’t have to be big, because they serve a bigger purpose. Thank you!

  14. […] finally found it online and have been trying to figure out how to put it “on paper.” (this blog post I just found does a much better job than I did at this!)  Essentially, Andy was talking about identifying the “one thing” that needs your […]