A Defiant Faith

She has a defiant faith

One that rests

Not in her circumstances

But in God alone

When her prayers seem to be unanswered

And God is silent

She strengthens her heart mind soul and spirit

In God’s perfect and inerrant Word

When others give way to doubt or fear

She instead sets her mind on Christ

And remembers His benefits

Her soul bursts forth in worship and praise

She knows of her heavenly Father’s great love

Before the foundation of the world was laid

He called her to salvation through His Beloved Son’s sacrifice

He has sealed her with the Holy Spirit

If He has met her greatest needs

Surely, He will care for her needs today

She chooses to trust God as He has revealed Himself to be

Her confidence rests in His unchanging, merciful lovingkindness

She has a defiant faith, a confident faith

One that does not waver

Like a light that does not dim

She rests secure in the Solid Rock of Jesus Christ

By Susan Wachtel

December 19, 2018

To a strong woman of God who is trusting God in her time of waiting upon the Lord. 

Election Confessions

Lord, I confess
As the election begins in earnest
There are times my heart is anxious
My mind filled with worry

I look around and see a nation
Seeped in sin and unrighteousness
Will You rightly and justly
Give us over to the judgment we deserve

Or will You respond with patience
In Your lovingkindness and mercy
Will You raise up a Josiah
Give us a godly leader who fears You

I see candidates of all kinds
Prideful, arrogant, rude
Contemptable, dishonest, liars
Who believe they are above reproach

Yet there are some
Men and women of integrity who fear You
Who desire to be upright and blameless
And humbly serve this nation

I see people deceived
Even believers have been taken in
I ask that You give Your people discernment
Help us to choose wisely

I confess my anxiety and worry are a sin
I have failed to trust You fully
But You are God who is sovereign and in control
You raise up kings and leaders and bring them down

When I feel anxious
Help me to repent and pray
Trust the One True and Living God
To whom we will all give an account one day


by Susan Wachtel
February 1, 2016

Five Minute Friday – Truth Be Told

 LORD, the truth be told,

          I’ve been struggling

                   with fear and doubt

Try as I might

          I can’t control the future

                   or guess what will happen tomorrow

In my fear

          I’ve gotten my eyes off of You LORD

Forgotten

that You are able

          that You have a good and perfect plan

                   which You are working out in my life

I’ve lost sight of the fact

          that You walk with me always

both in the peaks and valleys of my life

You use all circumstances

          To help me grow and change

You expose my sin

          So that I will confess and repent

You buff out that which is displeasing to You

and reveal conduct unbecoming a Christian

Help me walk by faith

          May I not doubt Your goodness

                   or Your ability to accomplish what concerns me today

May I remember that with each step I take

          You are with me

You alone know what my future holds

          You are perfectly able to direct my path

Help me to keep my eyes on You Lord

          Not my circumstances

                   Not the people that surround me

Help me to trust You

          Tenaciously

                   Unswervingly

                             to the end

It’s another Saturday morn and I wanted to participate in Lisa-Jo Baker’s FiveMinute Friday writing challenge.  Head over to her website “Lisa Jo Baker Tales from a Gypsy Mama”.  Be sure to read some of the entries from other writers.  I can promise you that you will be blessed.

"Tude"

I had a “tude” today
I could have given you a laundry list of everything that’s wrong
Lament about things that aren’t fair
Drone on about things that are just not right

I know that there is a fine line
Between a heart that is hurting, sadden and grieved
And spirit of grumbling and complaining against God
I crossed that line today

But my God was patient and gentle with me
I know that instead of whining and complaining
Against circumstances, people and God
That I should go before God with my cares and concerns

Today, He went before me
Offered grace and mercy when I deserved none
He heard my cry of pain
Thinly disguised as complaining

He worked out the circumstances of a busy day
Smoothed out the path before me
Allowed me to accomplish all that needed to done
Showed me that my fear was for naught

He led me to the healing balm of praise and worship
Through hymns, songs and spiritual songs
Reminded me of His sovereignty in all things
Assured me that He is working all these things for good

While I may not know His purpose
In allowing things that are wrong, not fair and just not right
He does have a purpose and a plan
None of it escapes His notice

At God’s appointed time
He will provide deliverance
Work through my circumstance
And bring much more than I could ask or imagine


Susan Bunts Wachtel
October 3, 2009


Yester day my attitude stinketh.  I meditated on everything that wasn’t fair or right.  I mulled over the things that are wrong in my life. 

But I was amazed at how gently God dealt with me.  I know that just like the Israelites grumbling and complaining as they walked through the desert was wrong and an offence to God…so too is my grumbling and complaining.

In the midst of my bad attitude day…God led me to put in a worship CD from Kristen and Keith Getty called “Awaken the Dawn”.  Was a wonderful way to be reminded about the sovereignty of God!  Of His tender loving care even in the midst of difficult circumstances. 

In thinking about the sin of grumbling and complaining…I see that it is simply a manifestation of doubt and unbelief.  It’s doubting God…doubting that He is who He says He is.  Displaying a lack of confidence that He can do what He says He can do.  It’s my failure to trust His goodness and character.  It’s focusing on me.  It’s wanting things my way, in my timing.  It’s having no regard for God’s plan, purpose and timing.

Grumbling and complaining is doing the easy thing.  It’s not disciplining my heart and mind to go to God in prayer and lift up what concerns me. 

When I grumble and complain…there is no room for thanksgiving or prayer for others.  Just as the Israelites complained about the manna that God provided…my bad attitude and grumbling was really a complaint against what God has seen fit to provide me.

When I grumble and complain, I fail to recognize that God is doing a greater work to conform me to the image and likeness of Christ. 

Complaining make my heart hard and resistant to the hands of the skillful, knowledgeable Potter who seeks to form this pot as He sees fit.  The hardness of my heart against my circumstances and God makes the work that God is doing in me, more painful than it needs to be. 

Thank You Lord Jesus for Your mercy to me.

The Road Beyond

I’ve been down this road
So many times before
I ought to know it well

Instead of doubt and despair
My mind should be filled
With excitement and prayerful expectation

The road begins
With a prayer
For God’s soon deliverance

Then the wait begins
Sometimes the delay appears to be a no
For God’s timing is oft much different than my own

He takes me to the brink
Where I feel like I cannot endure
Not even one more day

Then God takes me beyond
To the place where I must choose
To doubt or believe God

In the place of beyond
I wait upon the Lord
With faith look for God’s miraculous deliverance

Oh my soul, take courage
For God will never disappoint
When He takes me down the road and beyond


Susan Bunts Wachtel
August 12, 2009

Dare I?

Dare I let tomorrow
Steal today’s joy

Dare I doubt
Rather than trust and believe God

Dare I hold on to the past
At the expense of today

Dare I hold on to a grudge
While I plead for forgiveness

Dare I esteem the inconsequential
Rather than value that which is eternal

Dare I force my plans
Rather than yield to God’s plan

Dare I?
I dare not!

Susan Bunts Wachtel
June 22, 2009

Far Away

How is it
I feel far away
From the One who will never leave me?

How is it
I feel deserted
By the Him who will never forsake me?

How is it
I feel separated
From God who indwells me with His Holy Spirit?

How can I
Trust my feelings
Which contradict the Word of God?

How can I
Believe the enemy’s lies
Rather than remember God’s faithfulness?

Susan Bunts Wachtel
May 15, 2009


This poem was written on a low day, in which the enemy’s attacks were many. Finally relief came in answer to prayer. I found hope and peace when I encouraged myself with reminders of God’s faithfulness and through the truth found in His word.

Rest in the Lord

When I feel overwhelmed
By the daily pressures of life
Will I find rest in You Lord?

When every part of me
Wants to turn and run away
Will I instead run to You so I can face the day?

When the heavy demands
Keep on coming
Will I turn to You and receive the strength to carry on?

When I’m at my breaking point
Will I fall broken before You
Renew my heart and mind in Christ Jesus?

When the world around me
Has stress at every turn
Will I come to You and take peace?

When I’m looking at my circumstances
Tempted to doubt
Will I trust in the One who is faithful and true?

When the world around me
Changes at a breakneck speed
Will I stand firm in the shadow of my immutable God?

When I hunger and thirst
For truth and righteousness
Will I come to the Holy One of God?

When I don’t know what to do or say
Desperate for understanding
Will I ask for wisdom from God who is all knowing?

When I want to escape
Leave it all behind
Will I take refuge in the Lord?

When I feel like I’m going to drown
Overwhelmed by the flood and darkness is closing in
Will I believe God is able to deliver me?

When I’m downcast
Tempted to doubt, grumble and complain
Will my lips praise and glorify Your Name?

Will I choose a life of comfort and ease
Or choose to endure difficult circumstances
If it means Your presence is with me?

By Susan Bunts Wachtel
May 12, 2009

In the Silence

In the silence
God is at work
Attending to details
Of which I’m unaware

Will I be anxious
Worry and fret…when and how will it all work out
Or will I trust Him
Confident that God is faithful and more than able

Will I try to be in control
Get out ahead of God
Or will I be obedient
Take only the next step that God has directed

My peace during times of uncertainty
Is found in the presence of Christ Jesus
My security is found
When I walk hand in hand with my Savior

By Susan Bunts Wachtel
April 22, 2009

Yet For a Season

In a place
Where I cry out for God’s deliverance
Yet for a season
God’s will is to keep me here
Right where I’m at

When necessary
I put my hand over my mouth
Think a second time
Choose to look on the good that God is doing
In the midst of uncomfortable

It would be so easy
To withdraw
Harden my heart
When the reason for God’s delay or His “No”
Is unknown to this frail human soul

But instead God has given me His word
By the power of the Holy Spirit
I can learn from the examples of others
I can stand strong, purpose in my heart to believe God
Or go down the path of unbelief which surely leads to destruction

Oft times His will is inscrutable, unknowable, a mystery
That’s when God calls me to trust Him
Believe that He is good, holy, righteous and just
He is working all things together for good
For this one who loves Him


Susan Bunts Wachtel
March 12, 2009

My Darkest Hour

In my darkest hour
You are my bright and Morning Star

When my head hangs low
You are the lifter of my head

When tears fall I remember
One day you will wipe every tear from my eyes

Even when I feel alone
You are my Friend who will never leave, nor forsake me

When life leaves me burnt, devastated and scarred
You bring forth life, growth and renewal

From the depths of sin
You redeemed my soul

From the edge of destruction
You snatched me from the enemy’s hand

When I feel as if I can’t go on
You lead me through dark ravines and narrow canyons

When my foot slips on the dangerous precipice
You uphold and steady me on the path again

When weakness overtakes me
You strengthen and sustain me

When doubts assail me
You keep my mind stayed on Thee

When my circumstances demand an explanation
Your presence is all that I need

When nothing around me makes sense
I trust that Your eternal plan being worked out

When I am heavy laden
I go to the One who bids me to come for His burdens are light

When decisions demand an answer
I come to You for wisdom

When I am restless with uncertainty
Peace and comfort are found in You

When pain consumes me
I turn to the Great Physician

When the wait seems long
I will wait upon the Lord

When no one seems worthy of my trust
I will trust in the One whom the Father declared worthy

When my trials seem big
I will run to Him who is bigger still

When this lamb is lost and has wandered far away
I cry out to the Shepherd who will seek and find me

When death presses down on me
I look forward with eternal vision


Susan Bunts Wachtel
February 23, 2009


Dedicated to the many people who are bearing heavy burdens, where explanations are few. May you continue to trust in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ…and cling to Him ever so tightly.

A Different Way

My heart is sad today

For God is calling my friend

To go a different way

Over the years

My dear sister in Christ

Stood with me through many trials and tears

Each of us had our own burden to bear

But it always seemed a little lighter

When we had someone to share it with

Between us we saw

Divorce and the challenges of single parenthood

Endless singlehood…and bearing the load of a sick parent

Through it all

We stood by one another

Lifting each other in prayer

Through it all

We saw the faithfulness of our God

Who never left us, nor forsook us

Our Lord delivered us

He brought love into our lives

And turned our burdens into joy

It is our God

To whom I commit you my friend

Knowing with confidence that He will bring you through

It is my prayer

That He will draw you close

Comfort you with the love of a Father

He will be your strength when you are weak

Your Light when your days are dark

You will find Him sufficient for your every need

God has gifted you in so many ways

I am excited to see how

He will guide and direct you

Allow those gifts

To be used

To bring Your Father in heaven much glory

I take the sadness in my heart

As a reminder

Of one I’ve been privileged to call friend

It’s a good kind of hurt that’s my heart feels today

A reminder of the love for a dear friend

Who has now been called to go a different way

Susan Bunts Wachtel

November 7, 2008

For Andrea…you will be missed