Let me tell you that comparison is the killer of anything good. This month was a big struggle for me because I began comparing myself, my future, my strengths, my weaknesses, with others.
My new team has many different opportunities that are arising for what they will be doing next after this season of the race. All month I have been searching and doing all of these different things to try and figure out what is next for myself.
Did you catch what is wrong with that?
If not, I will let you in on the answer,,,,
I TRIED TO FIGURE IT OUT BY MYSELF.
I tried to DO all of theses things that I thought would help me see what the Lord wanted me to do and figure out what is next.
That is not what the Lord wants for us! We do not have to complete a long list of tasks to get answers.
We only have to do THREE things:
- PRAY- You have to pray without stopping, pray for the answers to what you are trying to find. Pray on your knees, in your car, wherever and don’t stop speaking to the Father about what is going on.
- TRUST- You have to trust that His plan for you is a whole lot better than yours ever could be. Sometimes you have to trust even when He is not speaking or He is telling you to stop asking (He has told me that many times this month).
- LISTEN- This one is the hardest one, in my opinion. I think it is so easy to ask and expect an answer. That is not the case every time. Sometimes you have to humble yourself, get on your knees, sit in silence and just listen.
A life with the Lord is simple, but not easy. He did not promise you it would be easy, just worth it.
So, back to the whole comparing…
I was very frustrated at the Lord and was tired of not hearing from Him, when I kept asking what my plan would be for after the Race. Let me tell you, thinking of what is after the Race is completely stressful. There are unlimited options personally for what is next.
I could go to grad school.
I could squad lead gap year.
I could be a bum and live off the rents for a long time.
I could go back out and do missions in a different country.
I could start my own orphanage.
I could go back to the life before the Race.
I could start up a Christian coffee shop (cause who doesn’t love coffee shops)
There are way more options, but I really don’t want to bore you.
I tried to ask the Lord, but He kept telling me to stop asking questions about what is next and that I just needed to be patient. So, of course I got frustrated and wanted an answer right then before I talked to my parents. So, I called my wonderful mom and dad, who are very wise and speak a lot of truth.
They said, “Amy you do know what is next”.
I am going to work for “the best boss ever,” this is something that I didn’t want to accept. Is that all that is next? In my mind, it wasn’t extravagant enough for what I have been doing the past 11 months. But after I sat on that for a little bit, I realized that I don’t have to freak out for what is to come. I am working for my Dad. That is what is next, very simple.
Why do we try and look for the extravagant steps that will make ourselves feel good?
I believe it is because we want to feel like we are accomplishing something bigger than someone else. Let’s be honest here guys, we all do it. We want to be better than someone else in any aspect so we can show off a little. I know I am not the only one that does that, be honest with me here.
I wanted something bigger after the Race to keep my life interesting and feel like I am doing something BIG for the Kingdom. But why can’t I further Kingdom working with my Dad in the small town of Millington? How is that any different then going back out to El Salvador or India or wherever to save all the starving babies or spread the Gospel to countries that are closed to Christianity?
The Lord told me back in El Salvador that He is going to reveal to me in the next year what He wants me to do next. So, working in Millington is going to be amazing because that is the next step the Lord has for me before He shows me the next thing.
But yet I still struggle with being content in that…
I can further Kingdom in any place I go. I have to remember, “it is simple”. It is as simple as speaking to the Starbucks cashier who just needs a little encouraging conversation. Or even speaking to the person next to you in the gym who is pumping iron. You can do big things anywhere, you just have to be willing to pray, trust and listen to what the Lord is doing in your life in that moment. We can spread Kingdom anywhere and at any time, but we have to be obedient to where He is placing us. He is putting us there for a reason. He is putting me back in Millington because that is where He is calling me to further Kingdom for the next season.
Where do you struggle with being content?
Why are you not content in your current situation?
Where can you show the love of the Lord to the people you are around each day?
Remember all you have to do is pray, listen and trust. Three simple, yet hard, things to do to further Kingdom.
So, I am now very excited to be back in Millington, working for my dad and resting because that is where the Lord wants me in this next season.
Congrats! You made it through this blog! Thanks for reading and I want you to tell someone if you are discontent in your current situation and have people to come around you in that! The Lord has you where you are for a reason! Trust in that!
