Last year I started studying Architecture and Interior Design at my dream school, the Savannah College of Art and Design. I have been in love with interior design ever since I was little. HGTV was my jam and I have redecorated my room fully at least seven times. I was passionate about design.
God allowed me to continue that passion for a year at SCAD and I ran with it full-force. I had plans. I planned on studying for six years, graduating with my Masters and Architecture License by the time I was 24 and thought I was going to dive straight into my passion for the rest of my life. If you asked me for a blueprint of my future plans, I would have an immaculate copy ready for anyone and everyone who wanted to see. I was proud of myself. I was proud of knowing what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. I was proud of my plan and how far it would take me and how happy it would make me.
God desires for us to be happy, so if I was happy he would be on board right?
God said no, and I thought He pulled me out. He said “go on gap year for me. Show me your obedience.”
I was furious because I was so selfishly happy.
Why would God ask me to leave my dream school I have worked so hard to get to?
Why would God ask me to leave the plans I was so proud of?
Why would He tell me to leave what makes me the happiest, my passion?
Yesterday, my perspective changed.
October 27th, 2018 in Quito, Ecuador, I painted a scripture on a blank wall in the new home of my hosts.
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.”
Jeremiah 29:11-12
I sat and painted for hours. Every stroke of my brush giving new life and love to the big, blank wall. I was filled with joy again, and I felt my passion working through my fingers. I was creating a space of love. Serving through my passion for Interior Design. God didn’t pull me away from my passion, He just made me step out of selfishly designing to designing with a purpose.
He told me that your passions will be used for My glory.
Every word was a reflection. As I stood back and looked at the verse, I knew that I didn’t just paint that for my hosts, but that God was directly speaking to me through my own work.
He KNOWS the plans he has for ME. Plans to PROSPER and not harm me. Plans to give me HOPE and a FUTURE. He’s still got me, and I don’t have to direct my own steps. His plans will be my joy.
He told me that his plan for my life is better than anything I could ever dream of.
I have the privilege of helping my hosts design the rest of their space and make their new house a home for the remainder of my time in Ecuador.
Thanks, God for using my passions to bring Kingdom here to earth.
Here’s to designing with passion and purpose.
