Long story short:
I had been working full time at a preschool,
a job I loved, when the earthquake in Haiti hit. It really shook me up, and for
weeks I just felt this deep sense of helplessness. All I wanted to do was pick
up and go do something, and yet I felt so stuck. I loved my job, yet I knew it
wasn’t what I was meant to do my whole life. So, I made the decision to quit.
My intentions were to finish school, so I would be ready when the time came for
me to go abroad.
a job I loved, when the earthquake in Haiti hit. It really shook me up, and for
weeks I just felt this deep sense of helplessness. All I wanted to do was pick
up and go do something, and yet I felt so stuck. I loved my job, yet I knew it
wasn’t what I was meant to do my whole life. So, I made the decision to quit.
My intentions were to finish school, so I would be ready when the time came for
me to go abroad.
Days after I put in my notice at my
job, my friend Bethany started telling me about the World Race,
and my heart leapt. Everything she told me sounded like exactly what I had been
waiting for, but I had decided I needed to get my degree so I would be able to
go when the time came. I left feeling that same helplessness I felt before. I
tend to be pretty stubborn when I make up my mind. It took multiple people
challenging me to wake up and realize I was being led already, and that I need
to trust God’s timing.
job, my friend Bethany started telling me about the World Race,
and my heart leapt. Everything she told me sounded like exactly what I had been
waiting for, but I had decided I needed to get my degree so I would be able to
go when the time came. I left feeling that same helplessness I felt before. I
tend to be pretty stubborn when I make up my mind. It took multiple people
challenging me to wake up and realize I was being led already, and that I need
to trust God’s timing.
Long story, well… long:
I can remember being at summer camp
in high school, hearing about missions for the first time. All of a sudden my
eyes were opened to a bigger world, and I could feel God stirring my heart all
week. I remember God putting in my head the thought of me living in Africa. And
I remember telling God no, but I would be happy to serve him in the US! The
truth is, at that point in my life I was very comfortable where I was. Things
felt like they were turning around, I was finally feeling happy, and I didn’t
want God to shake things up.
in high school, hearing about missions for the first time. All of a sudden my
eyes were opened to a bigger world, and I could feel God stirring my heart all
week. I remember God putting in my head the thought of me living in Africa. And
I remember telling God no, but I would be happy to serve him in the US! The
truth is, at that point in my life I was very comfortable where I was. Things
felt like they were turning around, I was finally feeling happy, and I didn’t
want God to shake things up.
By the end of high school, God had
given me a heart for poverty, and to my surprise, I was developing a heart for
Africa. By that point, a short term mission’s trip to Africa was something I
looked forward to. But I had a plan for my life. I was going to go to college,
graduate in 4 years, get married by the time I was 22, and have 3 kids by 30.
So, I went to Cornerstone University to get my teaching degree, and felt I was
well on my way to my goals.
given me a heart for poverty, and to my surprise, I was developing a heart for
Africa. By that point, a short term mission’s trip to Africa was something I
looked forward to. But I had a plan for my life. I was going to go to college,
graduate in 4 years, get married by the time I was 22, and have 3 kids by 30.
So, I went to Cornerstone University to get my teaching degree, and felt I was
well on my way to my goals.
Well, one thing God has taught me is
to stop making my own plans: I am 24 and single, not to mention 6 years out of
high school and still no degree. And yet, I honestly can’t stop thanking God
for allowing my plans to fail. Now, that’s not to say I wouldn’t love to already have
my degree, but it certainly has forced me to face a lot my weaknesses along the
way. As far as being single-I’m so glad God knows better than I do. Looking back at things now, I wouldn’t want it to be any different.
to stop making my own plans: I am 24 and single, not to mention 6 years out of
high school and still no degree. And yet, I honestly can’t stop thanking God
for allowing my plans to fail. Now, that’s not to say I wouldn’t love to already have
my degree, but it certainly has forced me to face a lot my weaknesses along the
way. As far as being single-I’m so glad God knows better than I do. Looking back at things now, I wouldn’t want it to be any different.
I have made
a lot of painful decisions these last few years (some extremely stupid), and
yet God has held on tight to me. He has taught me so much I know I wouldn’t
have learned any other way, and shown me to stop focusing on what I want
to do, and start asking him what he wants to do through me!
a lot of painful decisions these last few years (some extremely stupid), and
yet God has held on tight to me. He has taught me so much I know I wouldn’t
have learned any other way, and shown me to stop focusing on what I want
to do, and start asking him what he wants to do through me!
