3 words that we like to believe when everything is going our way! God IS Faithful. We tell ourselves, our friends, we tell Facebook, Twitter, the World, whoever will hear. When He has proven it by answering a prayer or by providing for our needs, it is so easy to see that God is indeed faithful.
In the last 2 weeks I have seen God's faithfulness crystal clear. I have seen His faithfulness through people who are supporting me on this trip financially. I've seen the dollar amount on the funds for this trip just multiple and I have been so thankful and so quick to say God IS faithful.
But what about when I received the email last Friday from my advisor at school that said:
Hi Whitney-
I hope you are enjoying your summer! In reviewing your file for graduation, I see that you have registered for fall classes but still have several classes outstanding to graduate. If you are planning to take your remaining classes in spring, I recommend that you contact the Graduation Office to change your graduation term to Spring 2014. If you have additional questions, please let me know.
My first though was WHAT?! You are wrong! All of my classes will be completed in Fall. My second though, I WAS enjoying my Summer! After several emails back and forth, it was determined that:
You need to satisfy the academic residency requirement. You will need 9 credit hours of 3000/4000 level electives from any subject to complete this requirement.
Ohhhh… so I have all my required classes completed… I just need 9 hours to graduate… just any class… that I could have taken between this Summer and Fall… even an extra class last semester? But instead of going into ALL of the what ifs and whys I simply had this peace that there was a reason for this and it is apart of God's will.
My options looked like this to me… I could still leave in January and when I return from my mission trip I could take my last 3 classes to graduate. OR I could change routes of my mission trip to a later date and take my last 3 classes in Spring Semester in January. After praying about it and talking to my close family and asking their advice, the overwhelming rule was that I need to finish college before my trip. I needed to have it done, because there was no way when I get back from a life changing year would I want to get back in school mode and take 3 more classes… And y'all, by 3 more classes I mean… I'm going to be taking Photography, or another Pyschology class that I will love, Philosophy, something purely entertaining! I can't believe this is really happening!
So I talked to my World Race mobilizer, the person who walks you step by step in preparing for your race and answering any questions you might have… and I told her my situation, and she said I can definitely change routes. So now I will be going on a July 2014 Route. I don't even know the countries yet… they will let me know the 4 Routes in a couple of weeks, and I will pick one, but I do know I have a peace about this. It feels right.
God IS Faithful. There is a reason I am not going on the January 2014 Route 3. There is a reason I needed to stay here for 7 more months than I originally planned. And I'm not thinking about it, or worrying about, because I know God is Faithful.
But there is one reason I already know WHY I will be here… My cousin Sherri is pregnant with a baby boy and she is due in January! I have been living with her, her husband, and daughter Ally Grace who is almost 4 since January as I was finishing my last year of school, we thought. Sherri has recently started looking for a nanny to help her with the baby/Ally Grace when they baby comes. I finish my job with the twins in December. Well, whattayaknow? I will be her Nanny from January until I leave for my race in July! That in itself IS a blessing! That in itself shows God is FAITHFUL, for both of us, as Sherri doesn't need to find a nanny, and I don't need to look for another job and I have a continued place to live until I leave for my race. God is faithful. And loving. And kind. And patient. And perfect. And on and on.
And all of this reminds me of some of my favorite verses!
Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails. Proverbs 19:21
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6
"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. Jeremiah 29:11
So when things are looking good and going your way and it is easy to say, "God is faithful!" And when God shakes things up after you think you know what your future looks like, you've planned it, you are counting on it… please, still remember, God is Faithful!
XOXOXO
Whitney
