When Christy invited me to write a guest post for Thanksgiving week, I thought it would be a good time to reflect on this season and all God is teaching me.
And then I thought, what better way to start a Thanksgiving-themed post, than with a little list of things I’m currently thankful for? ;)
So, without further ado…
In this season, I’m thankful for:
* Learning more about who God created me to be
* Being part of an incredible church family and learning what it really means to be the church
* Time to explore my art
* The dreams God has been placing on my heart
* And, even though I have to admit that I don’t always feel thankful for this one: the ways God is challenging me to grow in my faith
The reason I said I don’t always feel thankful for that last one on my list is because, although in hindsight, we can often view seasons of growth with appreciative eyes, it’s much harder when we’re experiencing them. Those challenges can add depth and meaning to our lives and our stories, though, and God can use them to shape us into the people He knows we are in the process of becoming.
***
Lately, one of the major ways God has been challenging me to grow in my faith is in the area of singleness.
As I wrote about in this post on my blog, the truth is, if I’m honest, I certainly thought by this point in my life I’d be engaged or married — or at least dating that person.
But to quote from a book I recently read by Shauna Niequist, “Life with God at its core is about giving your life up to something bigger and more powerful. It’s about saying at every turn that God knows better than we know, and that His Spirit will lead us in ways that we couldn’t have predicted.”
Those words bring me so much comfort and hope, because God certainly knows better than I know, and He can do immeasurably more than I could ever ask or even imagine.
The other night, as I was reading my Bible, I came across this note in the margin: “Lack of trust in God prevents us from receiving His best.” I’ve been thinking about that ever since I read it, because I think when we’re restless for something to change in our lives, this can be especially hard to remember. Trusting comes more easily when all is going smoothly or as we thought it would/should, right? But it’s in the midst of uncertainty that our faith and trust is so important. This is the time that our faith can really shine for others. And it’s the time that it does something amazing in our own hearts, as well, and opens us up even more to who God is and all He is capable of doing in our lives.
When I get restless in the waiting, I remind myself that each chapter in my story is important. When I start thinking about the fact that my story has been written especially for me by my loving Creator, I feel encouraged and even excited. I start noticing the everyday blessings more and thinking about how the challenges are shaping me and adding to the story I have to tell.
My prayer for you is that no matter what your story looks like right now, no matter what chapter you find yourself in, that you would celebrate it. I pray that your heart would be encouraged by the fact that your story is beautiful and important and uniquely yours.
xo,
K
