This summer has been interesting, to say the least, in my walk with Christ. The beginning of summer started out hopeful! I was finished with the busiest semester ever, celebrated the college graduations of my boyfriend and my sister, and I had applied for a few jobs that I thought were definitely going to work out. It was imperitive for me to get a job this summer. I wasn't able to land one last year, but I thought definitely this summer something was going to happen . I soon realized that God had other plans for me. After applying to a couple places, I still felt hopeful. A week went by and I hadn't heard anything. So I applied to a few more. After a little over a month of this, I realized that I had applied for seven different jobs and not heard a thing from one of them. It seemed no one was interested in hiring for part-time positions for only the summer. I had struggled with this for a while. Why would God not want me to have a job this summer??
After speaking with a few people and extensively praying, it became easier to understand what God had intended for me to do this summer. After having such an emotionally/ physically exhausting and busy semester, He wanted me to REST this summer. That may sound strange to some people, but it's what He called me to do. Not be lazy and do nothing, but proactively rest; enjoy this free time for myself and to spend it with family, friends, and most importantly Him. Proactively resting this summer has often meant stepping out of my comfort zone and leaping towards Him. Because I don't have a job, I have been able to do other things that He has called me to do.
I recently attended the Deeper Still Conference in Louisville, KY for women in mid-June. It had been mentioned one morning at Valley Bible Church (the church that I attend at school) that a group of women were going together and were hoping more people would go with them. At the time I was disraught over what I would do this summer and was looking for something, anything that I could do to further deepen my walk with the Lord. This was an answered prayer! I knew I was going to be home for the summer and this conference was about an hour away from my house. It would also give me the opportunity to get to know the other women at the church better, which was also an answered prayer. I quickly signed up. However, this was definitely out of my comfort zone. I only knew one of the other women going.
The three main speakers at this conference were Kay Arthur, Priscilla Shirer, and Beth Moore. All three sermons were very different from one another, yet all pertained to things that I had been struggling with recently. Here is a list of the main lessons that I learned that weekend:
1) I am still learning. I have sinned, a lot. But my sin is not who I am supposed to be. We're supposed to learn from our sins, not keep repeating them. I can't let guilt defeat me. God loves us too much for Him to let that happen to us.
This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 1 John 4: 9-10
2) The Sabbath day = leaving room for God. Use the free time I have this summer to spend with the Lord.
"Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth." Psalm 46:10
3) Do not compete with one another! Learn from each generation, and in my personal case, find a mentor. "Every generation is another step closer to Jesus coming back." -Beth Moore.
But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever,
the purposes of his heart through all
generations. Psalm 33:11
This conference was tough, but so so awesome! I not only heard what God had been trying to tell me for a while, but I also got closer to other believers. Definitely answered prayers! When I got home from that weekend, I found out the Bible study my sister goes to was doing "Discerning the Voice of God" by Priscilla Shirer. Katie invited me to join for the summer, and I leapt at the opportunity. (Again, out of my comfort zone. I only knew my sister in this Bible study.) But it has been so rewarding so far. I have also been volunteering at my church (St. Luke United Methodist) by helping with worship-which has been amazing! That was also a prayer God totally and completely answered. I definitely want to help with worship more often. But all of this has lead me to a mission trip. I recently was given the opportunity to help with tornado victims and their homes in Alabama, which I accepted. In the first week of August I will be going to Alabama (not sure exactly where yet) doing mission work (not sure exactly what yet). There are many unknowns for this trip, but I feel God leading me there. I'm at peace with this, but it still makes me a little nervous. Just pray that I can trust Him with my whole heart and not have any reservations. He will provide!
So that's been my journey with the Lord this summer. Long post, I know, but I felt I had to share. Look for a post about my trip to Alabama in a few weeks!
