Quick update on my life…
I am currently five weeks into my second to last semester of college…thank goodness. As much as I am ready for school to be over, I know that this is a temporary season that is necessary to the future plans that God has for me. He placed me at Grand Valley, even when I couldn’t see that, he gave me the direction my freshman year to change from Nursing to Writing, PR, and Advertising (what a terrifying switch) and he has brought me to the finish line.
Enough about school though…my support letters have gone out and I am truly leaning on Jesus to speak to the hearts of those who received them. This process is terrifying; trusting that you will raise close to $20,000 in a year on top of all of your other life obligations is INSANE, to say the least. But as I repeat “you’ve got this in your hands” in my head daily my fears subside slowly into the background…because He really does have this.
The true divine intervention though came within the last week and a half though…two things… new job and a new church.
Moving back to Grand Rapids with a huge desire to not have to serve in a restaurant for the third school year in a row, I begged for a job that would allow me to grow but also give me flexibility and a steady paycheck. Day two into my new job at MHR brands, I am astounded by Jesus and how well he knows me. This job is beyond perfect, my boss relays conversations about taking mission trips to Costa Rica while two of the other ladies in my department speak to me about their favorite Christian movies (Heaven is For Real, and Miracles From Heaven making the top of their lists). This job is 8 am to 5 pm, 3 days a week, with pay that allows me to live fairly comfortable (as comfortable as a college wage can be at least) and I spend each day talking to people about the healing aspects of CBD and Hemp Oil (so cool). It has been incredible learning about this business and working for such cool people, and it took over a month of Jesus closing job opportunity doors for him to place this one in my lap.
Then, of course, the second part of this divine intervention week is my new church. For the past three years at Grand Valley I have found it extremely difficult to find a church that I not only liked but that was close to campus and had pastors that really cared about the community, the environment of the church, and awesome worship. Two weeks ago I got a little postcard flyer in the mail with information about a brand new church called LifeWest starting Sunday, September 16th. I magnetized it to my fridge and decided to try it out… oh how He knows me…for real. LifeWest on their first Sunday greeted me with smiles, firm handshakes and laughter. Pastors Samuel and Becca showed their human side as they talked about the church they want to build in the tiny Allendale area. Pastor Samuel made me laugh during his sermon and titled the next four-week study “Divine Intervention” to which I responded…mhmmm… I hear you Jesus… I get it…I’m supposed to be here. Today, with soggy wet shoes and a mind full of chaos I sat ready to flag today as a terrible day, and then I received a phone call from Pastor Becca who talked to me not only about the church and the opportunities within but also the World Race and her true excitement and interest is another sign that He is pushing me in the right direction.
To those of you out there that are feeling lost and without direction I just want to say, trust me, I get it. I am a huge planner, I need to know what is coming up in the next day, week, year, or 10 years. I am constantly looking to the future and sometimes I really forget how to live in the moment… but this past week in a half I have had to step back and trust that He will unfold his plans at the right time, and he truly has. Let me preface this joy though with the fact that I also know how frustrating it can be waiting around for an answer and going through all the thoughts of “God isn’t listening”, “He doesn’t have a plan for me”, “I’m never going to hear from him”. I’ve wrestled with those thoughts my whole life because I was so convinced I needed to hear his loud roaring voice in my ear in order to believe he was actually guiding me. But, I have learned in this past year and especially in this past week how far from the truth that is. He is constantly guiding us, he is constantly listening to our cries, and he is ALWAYS planning out what is best for us. Sometimes it is as simple as a postcard in the mail or as frustrating as doors being slammed in your face…but like I said…trust me…He’s got this.
As always, I appreciate your prayer and would love to speak with anyone who needs prayer, would like to talk about the World Race, or is in need of some encouragement in a season of unknowns! I’m always up for coffee and a chat!
