You never know what is preparing you. Seriously, it is rather fascinating to consider. Do you ever look back at certain things in your past and suddenly have an epiphany of what that was preparing you for? Or even realize that if it weren’t for the experience you had had in one area, you never would have been able to consider what you’re doing now?
I love these ah-ha moments. Moments that just seem to explain everything. Well, not everything. But certainly something significant!
Anticipating the Future
I seem to talk about the future a lot. It’s what’s ahead, the direction I am going. The future, to me, represents growth and new opportunities. Hopes and dreams becoming a reality.
But with this growth, stepping into these hopes and dreams, comes change and discomfort. So in addition to praying about what’s ahead, I pray for grace and strength. Grace to navigate the changes well and strength to not grow weary in the process.
It is rather ironic, to be honest. I pray and hope for changes, and yet when those changes begin to present themselves I realize the extra work they will incur. I’m not one to sit on my hands and often find that my energy is about pushed to the max. So when extra work or effort comes knocking on my door at the end of a long week, my ambition makes itself scarce.
Obviously this is something I need to work on. And maybe you find yourself in the same predicament.
Stepping Into Opportunities
Sometimes I think I am too ambitious for my own good. I mean that as a joke! (kind of)
Recently I have been reminded of the element of grace. Grace to navigate what I have to do now well, grace to step into the direction I am praying for. Prayer changes things and change can be challenging – but oh, so rewarding!
So let me encourage you that as you pray for what God has placed on your heart, also pray for His hand on your life and grace for navigating things well. That will completely change your perspective when trials come.
We want to step into what He has next for us gratefully and gracefully! Though it will require work and effort, what a delight to know that when we follow Him, He makes our way easy and our load light. Walk in His ways and He will prepare the way. Not only that, but He will prepare you!
Understanding the Journey
You never know what is preparing you. It really is fascinating to consider! Some things just seem to find us, whether or not we are seeking them – or at least that’s how it has seemed to me.
In 2022, I was asked to help on a political campaign for a federal election. I have less than no experience and am even embarrassed to say I didn’t know how many representatives our state has. Since then I have certainly been learning and working to become more informed (and I would encourage you to do so also).
I’ll write more about being a part of a campaign at some point, but what I want to say is, I really didn’t know what I was being prepared for leading up to helping with that campaign. Incredibly enough, it would seem that many things had prepared me for that! One being, my sister and I had opened a boutique a few years prior and I had built relationships and developed skill interacting with people.
Another bonus: I had been helping with the finances for a sizeable, complex construction business, so when I was asked to be Treasurer, it just fit! Carefully and precisely handling money and details in amounts larger than my own is part of my job!
And I could go on! Fast forward a year and the idea to open a coffee shop with my sister presented itself. We were looking for this idea – something more than the boutique – but we didn’t know what it was. And then all of a sudden, we knew what, just not where. So we made calls and knocked on doors and along and along, God presented a beautiful spot to us – the perfect spot, I would say!
But the truth of the matter is, the coffee shop held difficulties we hadn’t even anticipated. It is high action, demanding work. Completely different gears from the boutique. And yet if we hadn’t had the opportunity with the boutique, we never would have had the courage and tenacity to go for the coffee shop! This coffee shop has proved to be so much more than a place to get delicious coffee. It is also a meeting place, community builder, random event hosting spot, unofficial campaign office, and so much more.
Take Courage
So let me just encourage you to encourage yourself in this: you never know what you is preparing you. There is more ahead, and yet there is something of value to glean in the here and now. Be faithful and expectant.
Know this beyond a shadow of a doubt: if you will give your best to God in all areas of your life and look to Him for direction, He will direct you.
You never know what is preparing you! May God bless you with grace as you follow His lead!
Until Next Time!
Hope.
PS. Keep reading: https://www.theamericanlady.com/