What beautiful friendships I’ve been given with these women who love God, life and one another.
My move to So Cal was such an amazing experience God used in many different ways. As I reflect over those 5 years I’m humbled by how God loved me into a new season of healing, self reflection and most importantly – how he taught me to be happy single!
A few months back I told myself to get busy and blog about all God had done. His grace and life lessons were to be shared in hopes of encouraging others during life’s hard transitions. However, I did not realize my life was about to change in a BIG way. In a flash, and I mean in a flash God orchestrated some events and moved me back to the Bay Area.
Truly, I did not feel I’d ever move back…to live…to start again. It was not in my plan because I had fallen in love with So Cal, my church, the community, new friends and of course the beautiful weather and beaches. It was all so good!
However, what I missed the most about being away from the Bay Area was my precious family. Once again my heart overflows with gratitude for the time God is giving me back to love on the littles, and share in their life in a new way.
As I sit in my new apartment writing this morning there are streams of sunlight peeking in at me, and my heart is touched by God’s gentle reminder of what we all know so well.
“In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps”
Proverbs 16:9
Through it all God is faithful to fulfill all his promises and bring us what we need to accomplish all he has for us. So many things…whether it be new friends, new surroundings, or seasons of reflection and learning. May we never doubt God’s perfect plan and strategy in bringing his people to their greater purpose.
“Let’s go over to the other side of the lake.” So they got into a boat and set out. As they sailed, he fell asleep. A squall came down on the lake so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger. The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we’re going to drown!” He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters, the storm subsided, and all was calm. “Where is your faith?” he asked his disciples. In fear and amazement they asked one another, “Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him.”
Have you found yourself drowning in the trials of life, and crying out for God to rescue you?
I know when I’ve gone through trials of any kind I become anxious for God’s intervention. I long for my day of reprieve!
But recently I’ve been pondering the question, “Can we become all we were created to be without experiencing the storms of life?”
So as I reflect I begin to cringe over what might have become of me had I not gone through uncomfortable seasons where loss and sorrow came crashing in. What if I traveled this journey to never experience God’s hand of power over my life that refined me in the fire! Or, to see God work his power in the healing of broken hearts, broken dreams, and failed health. These are seasons we try hard to escape but they’re also the seasons which bring us closer to God. It’s when these storms have settled down we find ourselves clothed in His image reflecting the glory of his love and power over our lives! What a beautiful plan for the pain that is inevitable in life.
And I can’t help but wonder if I would hurt for a broken world or just be happy I am not that broken had I not walked through some seasons that produced storms?
And what about the faith needed to overcome the evil schemes of the enemy God cautions about in his Word? Would my compass reflect a woman of faith?
As much as I/we want our lives to be stress free we all know that is not “real” life.
Like the disciples that cried out and saw the power of God respond it’s my prayer we will continue our journey in confidence knowing we serve a powerful God. Our God who desires to bring us to complete knowledge and understanding of His love for us through an unshakable faith.
May all your seasons leave you amazed by his love for you and yours!
I have fallen in love with So Cal and it truly feels like home! Most days I have to remind myself I am not on vacation and this usually occurs Monday – Friday as I head down the hill for work in the morning. It would be so easy to take a wrong turn and head toward the beach because my view is literally the Pacific Ocean show casing Catalina and Balboa Islands. Sail boats lace the coast while the coast shows off palm trees and gorgeous landscape. It’s enticing and difficult to feel anything but free here as gratitude fills my heart for the things God has brought me through, placed me in and is working out in me. It truly is a refreshing season and great time of discovery as I experience more of God.
Did you know So Cal has what they call grey May and June gloom? It’s a reminder to me that sometimes we need to make the decision that no matter what is going on around us we won’t allow it to impact what is happening inside of us! Even the weather!
Now I am not saying I don’t have days where my heart becomes heavy over things from the past and regret creeps in over battles that did not end well. There is still the realization that I have fragmented pieces of my heart and soul still needing the healing touch of God. I feel like something has been unlocked inside of me and I am free to share and express so much of what I held so close to my heart because of concern over what people would think or say. None of us want to be judged because no matter what the season, good or bad it’s our season. We can only hope to be the best we can be as we go through it, and then have an opportunity to pay it forward by helping someone else in some way. The bottom line is nothing anyone experiences should be kept in lock down while there are others who may find comfort, encouragement or help from hearing it.
In Ecclesiastes 3 we are reminded of how there is a time for everything, and a time for every season under the heavens. My prayer would be if only we could always leave a positive impact on those we love making the most out of the time we’ve been given, and to find ourselves in a place with little or no regret.
There is a season for everything, and a time for every event under heaven;2 a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to uproot what was planted; 3 a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to tear down, and a time to build up; 4 a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; 5 a time to scatter stones, and a time to gather stones; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; 6 a time to search, and a time to give up searching; a time to keep, and a time to discard; 7 a time to tear, and a time to mend; a time to be silent, and a time to speak; 8 a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace.
Let me ask you to think about this a bit. Really, over 2000 years ago people were going through the same seasons of life only it was a different era. Can you imagine? We are not alone! There are others who have gone through, are going through and will go through many of the same life experiences we face today.
For centuries people have been getting married, building families, building homes, and building careers. They’ve experienced divorce, war, loss of life, loss of jobs, and all kinds of evil. The list goes on but you get the point. As I begin to share some of my own stories involving a very difficult season of my life, mainly divorce, and the ramifications it had on my family I hope to provide insight to those in need. If you’re currently walking through a divorce, contemplating divorce or experiencing issues of rebellion with your children then I hope you will learn from my experiences and come to know that God works all things together for good. Even in the midst of our worst mistakes God can bring something good. It’s a season. It too will pass.
Fear to Faith - A Journey to The Other Side 