Hope Mangiafico (00:01)
I'm Hope.
Nikki Humphrey (00:02)
Hi, I'm Nikki. We're two Jesus Loving Friends on mission to share personal stories, resources, and real talk about our triumphs, breakthroughs, struggles, and strength. Why? Because we believe you are called to live victoriously and we're here to equip you with Holy Spirit led tools and strategies to strengthen your faith, transform your mindset, and walk.
Hope Mangiafico (00:12)
you
Nikki Humphrey (00:29)
boldly into God's promises because here's the truth. You have been given great and precious promises by God. So
grab your coffee, lean in and let's grow together. It's time to step into everything God has for you.
Hope Mangiafico (00:47)
And stepping into everything he has and having victories and all these wonderful things doesn't mean that there's not a little unknowns in the process.
Nikki Humphrey (00:54)
That's right. ⁓
Hope Mangiafico (00:59)
Man, in the unknowns, I mean, it almost feels like, you know, I love that scripture says you go from glory to glory because that's based on the character of God. But life also feels like you go from one unknown to the next to the next as soon as you're like, got that answer and figured that one out, something else happens, right? And so today we're talking about
Nikki Humphrey (01:19)
Right.
Hope Mangiafico (01:24)
waiting well in the unknowns. I don't know if it's a how-to. I don't know really how it's going to unfold because we're still human. We're still figuring it out, right, and walking with the Lord through it. But just deep diving into that conversation of waiting well when you don't know the answer. What's next?
Nikki Humphrey (01:44)
And I was thinking about that and I was thinking that waiting is not my favorite spiritual discipline at all.
Hope Mangiafico (01:54)
think we all could say that, ⁓ absolutely. Why do you think that is?
Nikki Humphrey (02:02)
like you touched on, it's the unknown. That there's no set timeline for it.
Hope Mangiafico (02:04)
Yeah.
Yeah. Security. Maybe it feels like you're not secure and safe.
Nikki Humphrey (02:15)
Right. And when you're waiting, you don't know like what's around the corner, what's going to develop, what stumbling blocks, are you almost there? Are you far away? Waiting is just...
Hope Mangiafico (02:26)
Mm.
Nikki Humphrey (02:29)
Again, I'll say it, there's like so many unknowns, so many moving parts, so many variables. And sometimes we are waiting for the wrong thing to happen. And we have to realize that in our waiting, like we shouldn't even be waiting for that.
Hope Mangiafico (02:38)
Mmm.
So as I'm thinking, this is interesting, what you're saying and all the unknowns and how you just don't know what's around the corner, it's almost what makes it harder is your anticipation or expectations that may be completely wrong anyways. And it takes you out of the present, which makes it that much more painful of a process.
Nikki Humphrey (02:59)
Yeah.
That's right. ⁓
Hope Mangiafico (03:12)
I had not thought about waiting being linked to my expectations and what may make that so much harder. I've not thought that. That makes a lot of sense. I have expectations more than I realize on a lot of things.
Nikki Humphrey (03:26)
Right, because a lot of times I'll create this storyboard in my head that is totally detached from God's purpose. It's my worldly purpose putting together this little quote unquote vision board in my head or how I want the outcome to be that I'm waiting for the wrong thing to happen. And it's never going to come just like my board is that I created just like that.
Hope Mangiafico (03:33)
Hmm.
and
Mm.
Nikki Humphrey (03:54)
purpose that I wanted to and I'm just waiting and waiting for something to happen that was never meant to be.
Hope Mangiafico (04:01)
Yeah.
That's very true, very good. Sorry, I'm just processing and thinking.
Nikki Humphrey (04:13)
what I want to learn to cultivate is I want to cultivate the beauty in the unknown. Because if I look back on my life, God's done his most transformative work in me, in the in-between.
Hope Mangiafico (04:26)
Yes.
Yes. ⁓ absolutely.
Nikki Humphrey (04:32)
Right
in that murky middle that we've talked about a lot, it's that refining, it's that closeness I develop with God, that dependency that I need. It's, I wrote down waiting is not a spiritual timeout, it's an act of trust. And a lot of times we feel like we're putting this time out or being punished for something, but it's an act of trust, like just
Hope Mangiafico (04:43)
Guess.
Yes.
Nikki Humphrey (05:01)
but full surrender that we talk about a lot to God and be like, I trust you. I trust you even though my timeline's vastly different, even though my wants and needs may be different than your goal for me. I'm trusting you that you are going to deliver me out of this and see me through to the end of what I'm supposed to be doing or accomplish.
Hope Mangiafico (05:27)
Right. Yeah. So that what you just shared kind of feeds right into what I wrote. I'll go ahead and kind of share it and create, I guess, just more conversation around it because I was like, ask you Lord, okay, what do want me to share?
I feel like God wanted me to say how he defines what waiting well is because we can even mess up on what we think waiting well means, right? Like what is well? Like how do I define that I'm doing it right, the correct way, you know? And so the first thing I felt like he said was it's not demon, excuse me. Don't know that was.
Nikki Humphrey (06:09)
We just switched topics.
Hope Mangiafico (06:13)
It's not denying your emotions or feelings, but rather speaking about them to him. And an example that I came across was Psalm 57, where David is fleeing ⁓ from Saul. He's on like, know, Saul's on this mad hunt to go find David and kill him. And sweet David, I mean, he doesn't know what's happening. He doesn't know if he's gonna live, but all he does is speak to God.
You we all know this in the book of Psalm. There's so much emotion and richness in the book of Psalm and that's rooted in having that open Way with the with the Lord right communication line ⁓ the other thing that was highlighted to me. I don't have a specific scripture because I think it's all the Gospels the disciples the whole time there with Jesus We're waiting in the unknown. They didn't know what was happening I didn't know what Jesus meant with his parables and something like the cool thing about walking with Jesus for them was like once
Jesus spoke the parables, he would then explain it to them. But like, they were in the, like the whole time they were in Unknown. And I thought that was so funny when God highlighted that to me.
Nikki Humphrey (07:22)
that a lot, you know, we're reading the Bible in a year, but it was just like, how many times did Jesus tell him he was going to die? You're gonna die? I'm gonna be risen from the dead. ⁓ all that and they were still shocked when it was happened. And then they were shocked when he wasn't in the tomb.
Hope Mangiafico (07:29)
You're right.
Yeah, we just read that recently. Yeah, it's so interesting and that kind of, I mean if you deep dive into each disciple, it'd be interesting to know like, yeah, where were they mentally in that process, right? While they were waiting and trying to figure all that out. So that was so funny. So you got Psalm 57, disciples the whole time they were with Jesus.
not denying their emotions, especially, like Peter, right? He was always so vocal about his emotions and very outwardly expressive. So they don't deny. They speak to either Jesus or the Heavenly Father. And then the next one is asking God questions, any and all of them. And once you ask, listen while you're on the journey. And the examples that came to mind were Moses with what he was doing and taking
his people out of Egypt, right? That didn't just fall into place. It required saying, hey God, what's next? What's next for rescuing my people? And then Abraham, there's stories of Abraham where he literally would go to God and be like, well, hey, if there are 10 righteous people, will you spare this city? And he would always be communicating, asking God questions. And I think that overall actually boils down to all the heroes of faith that are listed in scripture. Like they all had that
constant communication with the Father and then listening on the journey to direct their steps. And then the third one is our ability to look back and see all God's done for us so far. And we've talked about that plenty, like having that history, revisiting it. I know I have to do that often and I find that if I don't, there is no well-waiting ⁓ for this girl. Can you relate?
Nikki Humphrey (09:30)
I can
relate.
Hope Mangiafico (09:31)
And I was thinking, again, all of Psalms, it's all about recalling what God's done, how he's rescued. It's amazing. And that helped the waiting.
or the running, you know? I mean, it could be anything that you just don't know what's about to happen. And then this fourth point kind of ties the others together where it's making, pursuing God's peace your priority because that's where your clarity lies. The answers don't necessarily lie there. We want the answers. We want to figure it out. And that's part of our problem is like a little self-focused and that. So the answers don't lie there, but the clarity lives here.
And from that point, your questions begin to change how you ask them what you're even asking about and your perspective changes. And so it puts you back into like, now your emotions come out differently. Now your questions come out differently. And so your ability to to reflect back on all he's done comes out differently as well. Isn't that cool?
Nikki Humphrey (10:37)
It is so cool, yeah.
Hope Mangiafico (10:39)
I have one more or kind of like two more, but I wanted to pause for a moment and just see if you had anything you thought or anything to share.
Nikki Humphrey (10:50)
No, I like how you put it. It's like evolutionary process and building your relationship with God and he leads you one step and you move forward. But at the same time when you're stuck and you know, we've talked a lot about like Hope and I have this, we were in this like season for like eight years now where we feel our earthly selves feel like we haven't made a lot of progress maybe in some goals and dreams and things that we have wanted, right?
We're very open about that, but it's like, thinking about this topic, you know, I do have to look back and see how far I have come, how far hope has come, far we have come together. And just like those little things, they do add up. you know, right now I'm in a season with my daughter where she's questioning some things and it's making me question. It just feels like...
Hope Mangiafico (11:27)
Mm.
Nikki Humphrey (11:48)
you know, we are doing all the right things and depending on God our Father and like, I'm just like, is he coming through? I know he's coming through, but I don't feel it right now. And then Psalm 27, 14 came to me. was like, almost like a loving correction. Hopefully I read it right. it's Psalm 27, 14. Wait for the Lord. And then there's like a semi-photo.
Hope Mangiafico (11:56)
Ooh.
Huh.
Nikki Humphrey (12:16)
Be strong, and let your heart take courage, semicolon. Wait for the Lord.
Hope Mangiafico (12:29)
I love the way you're sharing that because it sounds like a commandment, right? Wow.
Nikki Humphrey (12:33)
Right, yes.
Like wait for the Lord, be strong. And I'm almost hearing like, it's gonna be hard. It is hard. Acknowledge that it's strong and let your heart take courage. Like that heart posture. Like we're not navel gazing. We have to look up and we have got to wait for the Lord, even though it's hard.
Hope Mangiafico (12:59)
Well, I love how that came to that it's going to be hard because when I did start this whole like journaling what today was going to be about, I felt like the Lord wanted to encourage people by saying, I know it's hard. And so it's not that he's disconnected from that process, but simultaneously while he knows it's difficult, he also loves it because he knows what the fruit can be. And also in that
fruit creates this depth in the relationship with him and boy not only does he want that so badly, we need that.
but it doesn't belittle how challenging it can be. ⁓ I love that. I love how you read that because honestly, when I've read that scripture before, I think of it more of encouragement instead of command.
Nikki Humphrey (13:46)
Yeah.
What do you think of all those songs like, wait, I'm Lord. Wait, never was waiting. We're happy that we're waiting.
Hope Mangiafico (13:56)
and I know it if you're happy and you know it clap your hands he's like ⁓
Yeah, I that's really good because if you read that as a commandment, it shifts you. You're like, wait, I don't want to step yet. I want to keep my foot planted because I don't feel real confident that he just said to take a right. Let me stay here because if you continue to stay and wait with active listening, like I mentioned, he will take care of you. But if you go, whoop, right, and he's like, I was gonna say,
Nikki Humphrey (14:20)
Right.
Hope Mangiafico (14:34)
You kind of step outside of that covering for a moment as long as you return back. Like, he's got you. It's all good. But you don't want to be in that place. He's like, I'm still under the umbrella, but you just got rained on. just saw.
funny. You step outside of the cover and get rained on and he's like, I'm still here. But he's like, but good news is that's some living water so you're siphoned. He's so funny. It's like every time we do something silly he somehow is able to use everything and make you a little unhappy for a moment because you did that now you're like a wet puppy but he's like, but I healed your, I healed you here and I healed your heart.
And I did this. It's just, it's so cool. And that act, that actually makes me think about, so I've shared four points and then the fifth one, this is a really interesting one that I was like, okay, God, this makes sense, is waiting well in the unknowns and how God defines it is disarming fear. Because as we're talking about this whole like wait on the Lord.
Nikki Humphrey (15:47)
Hmm.
Hope Mangiafico (15:52)
be patient, stand here. We don't want to be afraid to move. And we don't want to speak that. Like, we often talk about, like, being in alignment and with your identity and all of that. But that's not to speak fear of, like, like, mm, fear of making a mistake, I guess. Like, we don't want to speak that. But this is what was really interesting. When he said disarming the fear, this doesn't mean fear in the unknown.
is always talking loudly. So fear can be really sneaky. So he's like, it doesn't mean when you're in the unknown and you're to disarm it that it's yelling at you, but rather it can be a low chatter. And this was a really interesting example he gave me. Like when you're in a restaurant and you can hear all the conversations around you, but you only pick up on a few words.
Nikki Humphrey (16:41)
Mmm.
Hope Mangiafico (16:42)
⁓ You can't make out the full conversations, but you hear those random words and fear chatters knowing what words and ideas you've habitually in the past have locked in on.
Wow, that's good. ⁓ So you disarm it in the moment by putting it in its place, by speaking to it like a person and telling it to leave or telling it truth you found in scripture about God's promises or your identity or tell fear simply, this was my favorite part, I'm like, God, I can stand, I can stand confidently on this and continue to wait well, or tell fear simply your confidence in God.
Nikki Humphrey (16:58)
Hmm.
Hope Mangiafico (17:24)
Confidence in God's ability often comes easier than anything else and it scares all parts of the kingdom of darkness when you're confident in your God's ability.
Nikki Humphrey (17:34)
Hmm. Yes. I feel that. That's good.
Hope Mangiafico (17:36)
I was like, I would
not have really thought disarming fear was one of the defining points, to be honest.
Nikki Humphrey (17:45)
but it makes so much sense because fear stops us in our tracks. Fear makes us want to give up. Fear makes us want to retreat. Fear makes us doubt God's good plan.
Hope Mangiafico (17:51)
Yes!
⁓ gosh, we talk about doubt. That's the truth. And that's where it's like as he was unfolding that, it's like when you are, okay, so let's say you're in a season of waiting and there's a lot of unknowns and you hear all of that noise. It's not, you don't want to ignore it, but maybe plug your ears and speak about God's character. Speak it out loud. Because maybe you're not confident in your abilities and we're honestly, we're not supposed to be confident in our abilities. That's
That's another thing. And maybe you don't know, you're not able to regurgitate scriptures very easily. Or you can't recall them because the fear feels so loud and you habitually have latched on to all these words and so it's stirring the pot. Well, one thing I know that you do, if you have already been reflecting on how good he's been, you've got that history and you know him, you can plug those ears and just go to town.
Seriously though.
Nikki Humphrey (18:57)
It's so true. It's so true. Like a lot of times, I've talked about this in a couple podcasts where I've, in this season, I have to keep it really simple. Like you said, like sometimes it's hard. I'm just learning scripture. I'm just digging into it. So sometimes I just recalling a scripture or whatever can be hard, but I know that I can just speak the name Jesus. So sometimes I'm like, Jesus, Jesus come, Jesus come, Jesus come, please Jesus.
Hope Mangiafico (19:07)
Right
Nikki Humphrey (19:26)
come and it's just like saying that over and over either out loud or to myself. It just is the antidote to what the enemy is trying to throw at me in that moment.
Hope Mangiafico (19:42)
To compliment that, what I just heard while you speaking is if you want to feel even more empowered, like, ⁓ what's the word for armored up? Speak, I choose Jesus.
Nikki Humphrey (19:51)
Mm-hmm.
Yes, that's good. I love that. Yeah.
Hope Mangiafico (19:56)
That is good. I'm like, wait, that's a good one.
I choose Jesus. That's an invitation to tell Jesus to come. That's a get out of my face to the enemy.
Nikki Humphrey (20:09)
And it's
a linking. So when you said that, I imagine like two people just like linking arms together. we're locked and load. I'm locked and loaded with Jesus. So come at me, bro.
Hope Mangiafico (20:14)
Yes!
Yeah.
Nikki Humphrey (20:22)
Yeah. Yes, that's what we need. Like simple, easy, powerful strategies.
Hope Mangiafico (20:23)
And it's simple.
you
⁓ I like that. Wow, that was really good. I hope people are taking note of just how simple it can be.
Nikki Humphrey (20:39)
mean,
it's so powerful. I'm very excited about what you said, you're choosing. I choose Jesus, because a lot of time, like you said earlier, the enemy has those words, that background, that murmuring. So if we choose to lock on them, we're choosing the enemy side.
Hope Mangiafico (20:54)
Yes!
Ooooo
Nikki Humphrey (21:03)
We cannot
cancel out the enemy's chatter without choosing Jesus. Because in our own strength, we are unable to do that.
Hope Mangiafico (21:15)
Wow, this is fire. This is so good. And keep like, keep the forefront of your mind as you're being renewed and you're being formed into what God originally designed you for from the beginning of time. You have created habits and it's the only way the enemy knows what you may do. He watches or his kingdom watches. don't know how the whole, I don't know how his whole system works. I know I don't want it.
Nikki Humphrey (21:44)
There's Watchers. ⁓
Hope Mangiafico (21:44)
So, he's
got watchers. And the only way they know is because, oh, one time Hope heard this and she froze. So that means the next time she's gonna freeze. Because he understands all of that. And so just keep that in mind that your habit and your responses to things going on around you tells the enemy a lot. So choose Jesus in those moments and pause and put a hard block.
on that habit unfolding in that moment. I choose in Jesus. Because the enemy can only read you for so long and you will surprise the crap out of the enemy's camp when you start making some different actions.
Nikki Humphrey (22:26)
That's
Hope Mangiafico (22:34)
Now, I came across the scripture, 1 Peter 1, 3 through 7. And it's kind of long, so that's why I wanted to share it. 1 Peter 1, 3 through 7. This is so cool. ⁓ It says, ⁓
to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled, and that fades not away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation, ready to be revealed in the last time, where you greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, you are in heaviness through manifold temptations, that the trial of your faith
being much more precious than of gold that perishes, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ. Actually, nope, we're gonna keep going. Whom having not seen you love, and whom though you see him not for now, yet believing, you rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory.
receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.
And here's the thing. I have this broken up a little bit to highlight how all of that ties into what we've been talking about. But this, before I dive into how that breaks up, there was one more point in which I felt like the Father defined waiting well. And the question really is, are you letting your faith be tested and stretched? This current unknown can be used not only for you,
but for others and for his glory. God shows we can shut down his ability to grow us and shape us into his likeness because of free will and all through scriptures, he shares that with us. So.
That's the question is are you letting your faith be tested and stretched? And that links to the scripture I just read because you might have heard that I mentioned the term faith. And that's actually what he's going after in those unknowns is your faith and growing that. So in 1 Peter 1, 3 through 9 is what I ended up reading, verses 3 through 5, it's a looking back and speaking confidently in God's abilities.
not our own, which Nikki hit on that just moments ago about it's not in our abilities. Verse six is the open door and invitation of will you rejoice in what he's already done and promised you. It talks about these undefiled gifts waiting for you in heaven and I believe personally they're in heaven but because of Jesus we can bring them to earth. We are this open door because we're the body of Christ. So good. We're the body of Christ.
Nikki Humphrey (25:49)
Thank
Hope Mangiafico (25:52)
He's already done and promised it and this is the open door and invitation. Verse seven, and by doing so, are we letting our faith be tested? As we look back and we see this invitation, will we let our faith be tested? And then verse eight through nine, it produces glory, love, and joy that's inexpressible. That's what the scripture said. Leading to
your safety, which we talked about in the beginning how it feels unsafe, to your safety, deliverance, and preservation because you let your faith be tested and refined.
That scripture is unbelievable.
Nikki Humphrey (26:40)
It's so good.
Hope Mangiafico (26:47)
I mean, it's just, it's like, God, you literally gave me these points and how you define it. Then you're like, hey Hope, here's this chunk and you can actually reply everything I just told you that is my will. I mean, that's the living word in which I had people write through the Holy Spirit, which is part of me. So watch how these all come together. I just, I love it so much.
Nikki Humphrey (27:10)
And just talking about waiting, a lot of times we're just, we're waiting for all these things, but look all what God just gave you right there.
Like it's, like I said at beginning, maybe sometimes we're just waiting on the wrong thing when he just dropped a Holy Spirit bomb on you today.
Hope Mangiafico (27:34)
It was unbelievable and here's the thing about God and Nikki, I know you can attest to this. So we wait and we feel like we're waiting for all these months, years. We're getting ready, but then he can give you something like this in five minutes and all of a sudden you are washed with peace.
Nikki Humphrey (27:43)
And we're getting ready.
Hope Mangiafico (27:53)
We've talked about it, he works outside of time. And we have to remember that, that what we're waiting and getting ready for, and we feel like it's been forever, he can do it like that.
Nikki Humphrey (28:04)
Amen.
Hope Mangiafico (28:06)
We have to remember that because I forget that. And I build up all this angst. Here's a habit I've created that know the enemy watches. It's like I build up this whole, you talked about storyline, like I build up for a moment that I'm thinking is gonna be hard. It's gonna be taxing, it's gonna take forever and I finally get to it. And it wasn't at all what I was thinking and anticipating and rather it took.
five minutes instead of thinking it's gonna take two hours or whatever. And so the enemy knows that and he's able to continuously suppress me and prevent me from getting to that five minute thing that God wants to just connect the dots on for me.
Nikki Humphrey (28:52)
It's before we record, Hope was talking about frequency, but I'm thinking about it this way. Like the enemy just scrambles God's frequency all the time and just scrambles it. And when the frequency is not clear, you don't get a strong signal, right? So we can clear up our God frequency. Just imagine what we could tap into.
Hope Mangiafico (29:03)
Mmm.
Hmm
Nikki Humphrey (29:20)
how much clearer we could hear, how much more we could experience, you know, just by opening up the Bible like you did today and connecting the dots. It's like the enemy is just like turning all the knobs and creating all this scrambling, but it's like our God's frequency is just one straight line and we need to tap into it.
Hope Mangiafico (29:45)
Yeah, that reminds me of our sacred imagination episode, we talked about the hearing aid and adjusting.
Nikki Humphrey (29:48)
Yes. Yes.
Hope Mangiafico (29:52)
to the right frequency too. That's funny. I do too. I mean, I do too.
Nikki Humphrey (29:54)
Exactly. And I forget that all the time. And I just,
I just let my, my frequency get so scrambled, you know, because a lot of times I, I block, I mean, I'm just going to be honest, like a lot of times I just block out God because I'm just like, I just want this thing to happen so bad. I'm just going to try to make it happen. It's like you just scrambled your own frequency.
Hope Mangiafico (30:18)
Yeah.
You invited,
Nikki Humphrey (30:24)
Let alone the enemy
already got you way out of whack. You're scrambling it. I just need you to lock in with me girl.
Hope Mangiafico (30:33)
Yeah.
Nikki Humphrey (30:35)
stop trying to prove things and I think that for me comes from that little Nikki being hurt and a lot of times I'm still trying to prove my way through things and I don't need to prove anything.
Hope Mangiafico (30:49)
to compliment that as you're speaking that sometimes we want to force it early because we're wanting to prove and it's like, but God's timing isn't about proving anything. It's about refining us and about making us a reflection of him. And that's so interesting the thought about proving, because I don't think I've ever thought about me trying to force it coming from that place of wanting to prove.
instead of being like, I am one with Jesus and I'm a child of God and there is nothing to prove. And you know, I even think about you and I, Nikki. I mean, it's probably been at least five years where we felt like we were supposed to do something together. You know, I can't recall when we were doing the free bird fly stuff. But back then, it was like, we knew that we knew that we were supposed to do something beyond network marketing, being on the same team kind of thing.
And every time I wanted to force it, if I pause and think about it, it was because I wanted to prove that you and I could do it, that we had something, that God made us special. And then here we are, literally, I think at least five years. It was probably before 2020, don't you think?
Nikki Humphrey (32:06)
Yeah, it
was right around there. It probably started in 2019, trickled into 2020.
Hope Mangiafico (32:13)
Okay, and we both were like little Nikki little hope hurt little Nikki hurt little hope yeah, I'm just wanting to do it and prove and now here we are doing this and I believe God's gonna do so much more and I Can confidently say and it's going in my history book, so I don't forget it. I have more of a sound mind I Feel more prepared mentally emotionally spiritually
Nikki Humphrey (32:17)
Yeah.
right?
Hope Mangiafico (32:40)
Even physically, even though physically I'm not great, I'm still better than I was then. And I'm like, thank you God. And that probably is actually a little point that he just ding went off on me waiting well in the unknowns. And you, you're the queen of this. Ending it with gratitude because his timing will always be better.
Nikki Humphrey (33:03)
And that's why think that scripture came to mind that Psalm 27, 14, wait for the Lord. Like, just wait. Will you just pump the brakes for a second? Will you just wait? Like.
Hope Mangiafico (33:09)
Yeah. ⁓
Yeah.
Wow, this is so good.
The proving thing, I'm still not able to quite leave that thought. I mean, I can leave it here for the podcast, but I'm not leaving it personally.
Nikki Humphrey (33:27)
Well, I think, you know, just because I've been having a lot of conversations with me, little Nikki, God, and it's just like, what is all this coming from? But I think a lot of it, I always had to prove myself that I had worked when I was little. I always had to prove that I could do it. I always had to prove that I wasn't an idiot, you know, so I'm just like a lot of times that will in me, my default will be like, well, I'll show them, you know, like I can do it like.
⁓ I can manipulate it to like turn out this way. It's like, wait for the Lord. Be strong. Like it's hard. I know. But like you said, Hope, I can't tap into what the enemy's throwing out for me to grab. I just can't.
Hope Mangiafico (34:12)
That really is and that's that's a great way to say it you have that restaurant example with all the noise and catching on certain words But then also what is he throwing for you to grab because you're predictable fish?
Nikki Humphrey (34:24)
Yes.
Like I got
a big basket, I'm like, I'll catch it. Throw it at me.
Hope Mangiafico (34:31)
Alright, yeah, let's shrink our baskets. Yeah, man, that's very interesting. I feel that this conversation day for me shined a light on it in a different way. And to be honest, I tend to make things very complex. I mean, you know that. ⁓ God has obviously been working on me with simplicity for a long time.
But something that I felt like I already understood a little more simply, we just simplified it even more by giving some really great illustrations.
makes me so happy.
Nikki Humphrey (35:05)
I choose Jesus. I choose Jesus.
Hope Mangiafico (35:08)
I choose
Jesus. I'm getting the direct line to the Father, turning off all the noise. And I actually really like what you just said a moment ago. And I'm making my basket smaller so I can't catch what the enemy is throwing at me. I actually love that ⁓ because it makes me feel, there's a word that's coming to mind, like a harder target to hit. And that's empowering. It's true already.
Because if you're continuously communing with the Father, and we've talked about that, and you're focusing on Jesus, your target size does shrink.
Nikki Humphrey (35:47)
It does.
Hope Mangiafico (35:49)
And it may not feel, I was just having to, these were not the words shared in the conversation earlier today, but it was what I was feeling, now it's coming out in words. It may not feel that your target is shrinking, but it's a guarantee that as you walk more closely with him, you stay in your identity and you speak it out, you speak in your confidence of who he is. Your target on your back is shrinking.
I literally feel like I can say I promise you and you know, people like to say the closer you get to God, the harder the enemy comes. And I think that is not wrong, but it only really manifests that way because when you first come to Jesus and you start first start starting to walk with him, you're just beginning your healing. So your target is big because he knows, they just committed their life to Jesus. I bet they won't hang on long. So yeah, it feels like your target is bigger than your whole body.
Nikki Humphrey (36:40)
Mm-hmm.
Hope Mangiafico (36:45)
You know, but it will shrink and I have my own stories of that and I'm sure you do too, Nikki, where it was like holy cannoli was I targeted for years on top of that. wasn't like, because I didn't understand where the healing came, right? Where the deliverance came, that it was as simple as locking eyes with Jesus, using my sacred imagination, knowing who God is and just living life as that is my priority.
Nikki Humphrey (37:14)
I love that. I love that. One of the notes I wrote is that compliments what you just said is waiting well is not passive. It's partnering with God in trust, joy and preparation. If you can learn to praise him in the unknown, you'll be ready to walk boldly into the known when it arrives.
Hope Mangiafico (37:19)
Mm.
That's really good. They walk boldly in the known when it arrives. That is part of why you have to wait.
Nikki Humphrey (37:40)
and
Yeah.
Yeah, it just gave me goosebumps.
Hope Mangiafico (37:48)
That is a big part of why. ⁓ he's such a good father. Mmm.
Nikki Humphrey (37:51)
Mm-hmm. Yeah.
We would have never been able to walk boldly into the known. We wouldn't even have known it if it smacked us in our face.
God's like, you had to ride. We're like, where?
Hope Mangiafico (38:13)
Right, we're looking in a completely different direction. Focusing on some other little thing that's a carrot that's dangled in our face. Yeah, wow, I really loved that.
You said something else in the beginning. I'm better at reading and I try to listen to your nuggets. I have to re-listen to these so many times because I'm not a great audible learner. And you said something in beginning of that. I'll have to re-listen that. Hit a chord. It struck a chord and it was something I wanted to say on it. Yes. Yes. Thank you. You knew it.
Nikki Humphrey (38:46)
The waiting well is not passive, that part? Yes.
Hope Mangiafico (38:53)
Because that's the other thing about like proving and feeling like you need to force something because you feel lazy, you're worried about what people are thinking, how they're judging you. And let me just say, all of that is related to fear, which is one of the tools that God says how he defines it is you got to disarm the fear. Fear of man.
Fear failing.
You got to disarm that and know that laziness and productivity are like, they're not opposites. You know, like I don't know how to explain that, but like, if you're moving and grooving and doing random things, it doesn't mean you're not being lazy. I guess that's what I'm saying. Like, yeah, that's not, that's not what it is. You need to be doing the right things to produce the right fruit. ⁓
Nikki Humphrey (39:37)
Right.
Yes.
Hope Mangiafico (39:48)
And waiting not being passive can still mean sitting right here or you're in your Jesus corner, I'm in my little Jesus corner too, Jesus whatever space this is, and this isn't passive. With my journal here, reading is not passive and we have to redefine, redefine passivity, especially like you said, having little Nikki, having to prove herself. We have what passivity means all twisted.
Nikki Humphrey (40:01)
No. Right.
Hope Mangiafico (40:18)
the end.
So you started that sentence very similar to my next one. And I almost feel like this might be a that'll do it moment, so we'll see. Waiting well in the unknowns isn't about doing it right or getting the answer. It's about delivering you, into the Father's arms deeper through Jesus' love.
Nikki Humphrey (40:45)
Yes.
Hope Mangiafico (40:50)
That simple.
Nikki Humphrey (40:54)
When we're waiting and we don't know what else to do, we have to cling to our Father
Hope Mangiafico (41:03)
And when you're questioning the Father's love, He has all these wonderful examples in scriptures to show you Jesus' love. And let that be your connecting point to run to the Father.
And I love that it was given to me as, it's about delivering you into the father's arms. That's a big, that's a, that's a unique word to use.
Nikki Humphrey (41:30)
It is.
you're delivering like it's like you're lifting like presenting
Hope Mangiafico (41:37)
Mm-hmm.
That's how you wait well.
Nikki Humphrey (41:46)
That'll do it. That will do it. If today's episode reminded you that waiting can be holy ground, share it with a friend who's in the middle of their own in between. You never know, your encouragement could be the very thing that helps them hold on to their faith and their joy. Until next time, stay rooted and trust that God's the one.
Hope Mangiafico (41:46)
Not on TV.
Mmm.
Nikki Humphrey (42:15)
who's never late, he's right on time.
Hope Mangiafico (42:18)
Until next time.
