Unexpected Opportunities Are Still Open Doors

This week, one of the most unexpected opportunities popped up. If it works out, I’ll be writing about it in a later blog—but for now I will just say this:

   God has the power to open up doors that we don’t even know exist.  

         We pray for God to act, for God to open doors, to guide us, and to show us His will, but we miss the answers to those prayers all the time. We blindly think, “God’s answer will either be yes or no.” But, we don’t always expect Him to say something like, “Nah, that isn’t quite what I want for you, I want you to do this instead.” In other words, I wasn’t praying for this opportunity at all, because I didn’t even know it existed before God pretty obviously placed the door right in front of my face.

         Now I don’t know how everything will play out, but I do know God thinks way bigger plans for me than I think for myself. The same is true in your life. Pursue your passions and gifts and follow where you think God is leading, but always be open to different opportunities. Don’t get stuck on the plans that you planned for yourself, and miss out on the bigger and better plans God has planned for you.

Be open to step out in faith and just go for something you think God is calling you to do. Because if it isn’t where God wants you, He’ll make it known. Also, be open to step out in faith, even if it is something you never imagined yourself doing. God is full of surprises, and I think we miss out on those surprise opportunities so often because they’re scary, we don’t feel qualified, or we convince ourselves that it wasn’t actually a God-given opportunity. Don’t be scared of the surprises, instead, learn to look for them. Learn to find those opportunities and those plans that seem so far beyond what you have planned for yourself.

“Let us allow ourselves to be surprised by God.” – Pope Francis

In Exodus, when God gives Moses the 10 Commandments, there is a verse at the end of the chapter that is pretty easy to miss. God speaks the commandments to Moses and the Israelites waited and watched from a distance as they saw “thunder and lightning and heard the trumpet and saw the mountain in smoke” (20:18). They watched, “trembled with fear," and “stayed at a distance” (18 cont.), too afraid to go see the glory of God for themselves. 

“The people remained at a distance, while Moses approached the thick darkness where God was.” –Exodus 20:21

Even if the door seemed uncertain, Moses took the opportunity and took part in one of the most incredible experiences of God’s glory and presence for himself. The Israelites, however, missed out on that chance because they ‘stayed at a distance,’ and didn’t go through that door. They didn’t even take the risk and let Moses do it instead.

How sad would it be if you missed out on an opportunity like that, simply because it was unexpected, caught you off guard, or scared you a little bit?

“You can make many plans, but the Lord’s purpose will prevail.”
-Proverbs 19:21

*****
A day after originally writing this post, I was informed of a spot on a trip with Compassion International to the Dominican Republic coming up here in May. It will be an incredible opportunity not only to meet many of the children who are being poured into by Compassion, but specifically to meet Esther, a little girl who I sponsor in the Dominican. It would be an incredible experience to meet these kids and share the love of Christ with them! I am beyond excited about this opportunity, but I do need to complete a significant amount of fundraising within the next couple weeks to be able to go. Please prayerfully consider supporting me financially and in prayer as I set out on this journey. God bless! Check out the link below!!!

https://www.gofundme.com/compassion-trip-to-dominican

The Waiting Room

There is something about the silence of God that seems like an answer louder than any other answer. You sit in that waiting room, desperately awaiting a ‘yes’ in some shape or form. This waiting room may be one of the greatest challenges you will ever face. The answer from God may be the second greatest challenge you will ever face. It’s the anticipation, expectation, and the waiting that tests and builds your faith in a deliberately uncomfortable manner.

Is it possible that sometimes the answer we’re waiting for, is the waiting itself? Is God’s answer a simple silence?

Because as I sit in this waiting room, sending up my prayers and my tears, I keep hearing a resounding silence. But I’ve always believed with the most fervent faith that God HAS to answer prayers. That is who He is—Our Father, the Most High, the One True God, who yet hears our gentle whispers, our shouts, our cries, all of our prayers—and answers.

“Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear.” –Isaiah 65:24

“Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help, and He will say: Here am I.” –Isaiah 58:9

Yet if God answers when we call, why is it that all I seem to keep hearing is silence? I’m still in this waiting room. I’m still hearing silence. But if God always answers, then maybe I missed the answer. Or, maybe He just hasn’t answered me yet. Or quite possibly, maybe the answer is just silence.

Sometimes, it seems like a simple ‘no’ would be a better answer than the waiting. Waiting is hard. Being patient, and trusting God’s timing in the silence, quite honestly is one of the greatest challenges I’ve faced in my faith.

I don’t want silence—I want a set in stone answer.

Yet, God answers…

Silence and waiting.

It’s as if God is gently saying,

“Just wait, you’re not quite ready yet.”

Because maybe if He is saying that, then right now is the chance for me to grow, to lean on Him, and to prepare myself for whatever is in store for me.

The simple truth is we don’t know when God will answer. We don’t know how He’ll answer. But we do know He will answer, and whenever He does answer, we have to be prepared.

Because what if that answer is “to go?” What if that answer is a yes and we’ve been sitting around just waiting for God to say it?

Don’t waste the times of waiting. Don’t ignore the silences.

I can’t say for sure, because God speaks differently to different people. However, I know in my own life that the times of silence and waiting have been huge periods of growth in my life. When it’s all said and done, maybe it was in that growth, that God answered.

So as you sit in the waiting room, don't doubt what God is doing. Instead, let the waiting room break you down, and get rid of everything that causes you to doubt and to fear. Let it build your faith, let it build your trust, and let it prepare you for whatever work God is going to do in your life next. 

In Every Season

In Every Season

To everything there is a season.

There’s a season for joy

For celebration and to sing.

A season of excitement,

Of welcoming new things.

A season of wonder,

Of laughter, and content.

These seasons give us hope,

These seasons help us mend.

But there’s also a season for tears

For loss and pain.

A season of mourning,

Of hurt and heartbreak.

A season of fear, of doubt, and questions.

This season seems to last forever,

Paving a way of hopelessness.

Even in all these seasons,

Regardless of the change,

There is always one constant.

One thing is the same.

In every season,

On every road of life

God is still present,

His presence is a light.

So as the seasons change,

Old things go, new things come.

He is stepping in right behind us,

Pushing us along.

Wherever this day finds you,

Whatever season you’re in,

Remember you’re not trapped there.

This season will still end.  

Remember in every season,

Whether it gives you hope or it gives you angst,

That little light, the small gentle nudge, that is Jesus by your side.

To everything there is a season,

To every joy, there is a pain.

To every smile, there is a tear.

To every wound, there is healing.

To every loss, there’s a win.

To every sorrow, there’s a light.

In every season, in every hour,

There’s an unchanging Presence,

A forever guiding light.

To everything there is a season,

In every season He is still God,

A steadfast anchor, an unbroken hope,
In each and every season, never let that go.

The Fight for Joy

Do you think we have to fight to be joyful?

I think many people would answer this question differently, especially depending on the current circumstances in their lives.

If I were to answer this question for myself, I don't even have to second guess it.

Yes, I have to fight to be joyful.

But it seems so wrong. Doesn't it? From all these articles I read, from Scripture, and from listening to other Christians, sometimes it seems like joy is so simple.

Now I'm not saying that it can't be simple, but I will share some personal things about myself for those people that also feel like sometimes they have to fight for joy.

I'm a perfectionist to the core. I almost always put pressure on myself in whatever I'm doing to do it right. I hate the idea of quitting or giving up. I struggle with anxiety and depression because I overthink and over analyze every little thing. I often struggle to relate and connect with people because of my anxiety. I tend to keep a lot of my feelings to myself, because it just seems easier than the risk of sharing them with other people. I love to be alone, but I also hate it because that's when I get into my head the most. I hate not knowing what comes next or having to make my mind up about big decisions, because I don’t want to make the wrong one. I put so much pressure on myself all the time, but I always end up letting myself down, letting others down, and sometimes I even feel like I’ve let God down. I let my thoughts dictate my mood. My brain truly is one of my worst enemies. I’m in a constant battle to keep my thoughts positive and to just live my life one day at a time. Let me tell you, it is extremely exhausting.

So yes, I have to fight for joy. I have to fight to keep myself from overthinking. I have to fight to think positively. I have to fight to not focus on all the mistakes and things that go wrong. I have to fight to not think about the things that I don't understand. I have to fight to keep my mind off of all of the unknowns. I have to fight to draw near to Jesus in the midst of those negative thoughts and just give them all to Him. I have to fight to be joyful.

I always feel so guilty about this. It seems wrong that a Christ-Follower would ever have to work to find joy. Maybe that's why I also just try to keep a lot of things to myself. But I’m beginning to learn that it’s okay. It’s okay that I’m fighting for joy. It sure beats not fighting for it.

Ever since my latest knee surgery, I made a commitment to stay in the Word and to come to Jesus with all my fears, worries, doubts, and negative feelings. I used to do a devotional in the mornings. Then one day I just stopped. Eventually, I got back into it again but it was just every now or then, or just when I really needed something.

But I realized the most difficult time of the day for me is usually at night, when I try to go to sleep. Why? Because I can never get my brain to shut off and that’s when I tend to panic the most.

A couple weeks ago, I was awake literally almost the entire night. I had just been told by the doctor that it wouldn’t be the best idea to play volleyball again, I was feeling abandoned by certain people I had higher expectations for, I was trying to figure out financial stuff, I was trying to get my classes figured out and how I could graduate, and I was trying to figure out what my next move after graduation would be, never imagining that it would be possible for it to be this soon. So, I did what I do best: started thinking and thinking and thinking. I was just sitting in bed, not even laying because I was so awake. Tears were streaming down my face. I was so caught up in my own thoughts, I was making myself miserable. I started going through old volleyball pictures and thinking about how much play time I’ve missed because of my injuries. I was angry that I wouldn’t get another chance to even play in just one more game. Then, I was upset with myself for being so ungrateful for the things I did have.

As you can see, it was a never ending cycle of negative thoughts. It was literally almost 4:30 in the morning. But I turned my lights on, and opened my Bible. Ever since then, I have made it a point to read Scripture and pray every single night before I go to sleep.

This is how I’m fighting to be joyful. It is amazing how much just a simple Bible verse can immediately refocus my thoughts. Spending this time in God’s Word and in prayer doesn’t stop me from overthinking, but it does help redirect my thoughts. It does help me find a place where I can think but also take a breath and find even just a little bit of joy in those moments.

If joy comes easy for you, then count that as a huge blessing. Because for me, and for others, it doesn’t always come so easy. If joy doesn’t come easy for you, then I promise you that you are not alone. Psalms 42 paints a perfect picture of what it looks like to be fighting for joy. I won’t post the whole chapter on here, but I do encourage you to go read it.  Then, keep fighting…keep hoping… and keep praying because God is seriously right with you, ready to provide you with all the joy He can.

“Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise Him, my salvation and my God.” –Psalm 42:11

Hope for Change

It always slightly irritates me when people make a joke of New Year’s resolutions. Of course, I understand that a lot of people make resolutions that don’t make it past January. Maybe those resolutions don’t even last a week. Yes, that may be a cause to laugh. But still, there is something beautiful about a new year and resolutions. There is something beautiful about being reminded that change is possible.

Too many people think our world, our society, our government, our nation, etc. is doomed. So many people, myself included, sometimes think that our world is the way it is and we’re just waiting around for God to do something, for the world to end, or for both. Well that doesn’t really paint an image of hope, does it?

But the new year—2017—should be a symbol of hope and a reminder that change is possible.

Hope has to be acted on.

            It drives me nuts when people hope for change, but don’t do anything about it. If we believe in a better world, more kindness, and a brighter future, why aren’t we doing anything about it? Are you getting upset and impatient that God isn’t intervening in all this commotion in our world? Because He did intervene. He did do something. He made YOU. You can be someone that intervenes. You can be that something that makes a change and brings hope to our world. You can be someone that acts on hope and makes the world a better place, even if it is in the smallest of means.

We don’t get to be here long. We can’t predict the future. We can only live and act according to our hope for the future.

Make 2017 the year that you actually make a change—even if it’s a small one.

You know that plan you had to fix a broken relationship but never did? Do it.

You want to change something about yourself? Do it.

Do you see a huge need in a family you know? Help them out.

That mission trip you keep thinking God is calling you to, but you really aren’t sure so you don’t go? Go.

Do something this year. Hope for God to do big things this year. Hope for God to do big things through your life this year. In fact, EXPECT God to work this year.

Faith isn’t just believing or hoping…Faith is expecting. Have a little hope, have a little faith, and expect that 2017 is a year that your life can change, and a year that you can change someone else’s life.

We’ve been given hope for the future. We’ve been promised hope for the future. What better time than right now to start acting on that hope. Be strong, take heart, and do something because of the hope you believe in. 

“Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord.”

-Psalm 31:24

“Without watchful expectation on our part, what is the sense in waiting on God for help?” –Charles H. Spurgeon

Live your life like you expect something incredible to happen because of it. 

             Yes, maybe this is yet another post about change and the new year. But I'm not telling you to change. I'm not telling you to make a resolution and try to stick with it. I'm asking you to believe that change is possible. More than believe, I'm asking you to hope and expect that change is possible. If more people truly expected and believed that change was possible for the people and things we care about, maybe then more people would find it in themselves to start acting because of that hope.