I had my life all figured out when I was a senior in high school. I would meet my husband in college, get married right after graduation, settle down near my parents, and teach at an elementary school as a choir teacher. It sounded Perfect. Structured. Comfortable. That's how my life was growing up, so why would it be any different down the road?
As anyone could tell you, life doesn't always work out the way you think it will. Mine sure didn't! Everything opposite to my future plans happened to me. I didn't meet my husband in college, I didn't graduate with a degree in choral education, and I'm not settling down. Our God has a sense of humor like that! He refined and changed my heart to follow His will and not my own. Besides, He designed my future even before I took my first breath! He knew me before I was formed in secret (Psalm 139:15-16), so how could I POSSIBLY plan my future? Only He knows what is good and perfect.
Four years ago, I received Dr. Seuss' book, Oh, the Places You'll Go! as a gift when I graduated from high school. I flipped through the book maybe once or twice, and as I did, I laughed to myself thinking, "I'm only going to college 2 hours away from home. I'm really not going 'places.'" Little did I know, God had this trip in store for me, let alone traveling to 11 countries after college!
South Africa, Mozambique, Swaziland, India, Nepal, Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia, Ireland, Romania, Ukraine.
Each country and every person belonging to it were made in His image and for His kingdom. I thank Jesus for paying the price on the cross so that I may be worthy to be His slave and servant to the nations, who so desperately need a Savior.
Oh, the Places You'll Go!–"You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You're on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the guy who'll decide where to go."
Thankfully, God is the "guy" who decides where I'll go. He led me to a different path than I thought I would take, and for everything He has to offer, I would take His way any day.
