“You will do everything you have promised; LORD, your love is eternal. Complete the work that you have begun. “—Psalm 138:8 (GNT)
The past few weeks, I have shared how Jesus changed and restored me.This week is a little of the history of how God was working behind the scenes to prepare me after my life altering tragedy.
When I went off to college, I definitely wasn’t seeking God’s will for my life. I was living for Lisa, not for the Lord. I didn’t have a whole lot of direction. I went in as a business major. Not sure what I was thinking since in high school, accounting was one of the lowest grades on my transcript. I switched majors two more times before I landed in the school of Communications.
Public speaking was my least favorite class in high school and would not have been my choice for a college degree, but it was the only major that I could replace my one math class with two science classes. Since I couldn’t pass the basic math class (after 3 attempts), I pulled out my college catalog and went through every major to see which ones didn’t require math and that was Speech Communications. I would have never picked that major on my own, but I ended up loving it and thriving in it.
When I finally decided on my major, I wasn’t thinking, This would be a great major for me so I can lead and facilitate a grief support group. I thought I was going to get into corporate training. God had a plan when He directed me to get both my undergraduate and graduate degree in this field. From teaching a public speaking class at a junior college to forming, leading and facilitating a widowed support group to what I am doing now with knitting, writing and speaking about it. I can see God’s hand in it all and how He prepared me along the way.
Have you ever heard the term, “Godincidence?” It’s the word I use to replace, “Coincidence.” It is when you think, “the odds of that happening are not a coincidence.” That is how I view my education. It isn’t a “fluke” that I ended up in that major. It happened because that was exactly where God needed me. I see that now. This was not the path that I had planned or imagined, but God has been able to use the unimaginable and turn it into something for His glory.
You may be in a season where you aren’t sure what direction to go. It took God closing the door on the other college majors to get me to where I needed to be. He didn’t train me up with this background for me to sit around and be idle. He doesn’t want that for you either. God wants to use you and your gifts too.
When things don’t make sense, remember that God knows the bigger picture and trust that He will reveal to you in His time, why you are where you are right now. Is God trying to shut a door but you keep leaving it cracked open? God has a divine plan for each and every one of us. He can even use our hurts and disappointments for His glory.
Dear Lord.
Help me to focus on what Your Word says. You will complete the work in me that You have begun. While the enemy wants to fill my mind on what I can’t see, I praise You that you are behind the scenes and know exactly how and when things will unfold. I ask for discernment. When a door is closed, give me the wisdom to not try and pry it open. It is in the name of Jesus that I pray these things. Amen.
October/November Memory Verse
Because I have not imprinted Psalm 143:8 on my heart, it is my memory verse again for this month.
“Remind me each morning of your constant love, for I put my trust in you. My prayers go up to you; show me the way I should go.”—Psalm 143:8 (GNT)
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