Tomorrow will mark my final day at Liberty University for the spring semester, and as the hours fade into twilight, I will have completed my first academic year at this incredible school! A lot has happened in a year's time, far more then even I had realized at first.
Who knew a mere year could change a person so much?
Yes, there have been ups and downs. Storms bigger then I've ever faced have raged, and at times, I've found myself questioning my calling. Then, there are the good days. The rainy, overcast afternoon accompanied with a cup of coffee and my computer, writing stories. The sunny, blustery morning that turns to a fiery evening when the sun illuminates the clouds and mountaintops with blazing glory. Such experiences fill my heart with such a fierce joy, there aren't enough words to describe it.
And that, my friends, is how I've discovered the unending, overflowing, encompassing love of God.
You see, it's easy to only see the darkness when you never take your eyes off the storm. If you only focus on the raging force of the wind, you never realize that you actually have what it takes to fly above it. I myself found a great storm in my path this semester, and for the longest time, I let it rule over me. I allowed the storm to become bigger then God. Despite this, He never left me or forsook me, and when I (finally) saw the truth, He was right there, arms open wide, ready to comfort me and tell me that everything was going to be okay.
If you ever want to change, to become more like Christ, are you willing to endure the cost?
I sure thought I had it all figured out. I thought I knew my major, my path, and dare say it, I was fairly confident in my ability to walk in my destiny. However, I forgot one not-so teeny detail. I was putting more faith in my own strength then in God's. Suddenly, when everything seemed to cave underneath my feet, I quickly discovered that I was nowhere near the "I've got it all figured out" stage of my life (If that stage even exists, let's be honest.) Instead of thinking I could handle it all myself, I have been learning how to trust God more then I ever have before.
Turns out, God's plan is ALWAYS much better than anything we can conjure.
Despite the road bumps and turbulence, God gave me the strength I needed to keep going. No matter the difficulty, He always had the answer. Looking back at this year, I am so blessed to say that I never went without anything, despite being jobless (to my greatest frustration), nor did I ever lack money when I needed it. Whether it was a surprise check from Kroger, my old job, or a gift, God always provided for my needs.
Just when you think you're at the end of your rope, it's actually only the beginning of God's.
I had to learn to trust God in more ways then ever before, and through this year, I've seen my faith in Him grow. If I were to talk to myself from a year ago, I know she'd be shocked to see what I've become. Not in a bad way, but in a mind-blowing one. Turns out the girl who thought she didn't have much gusto actually has veins of fire. Through this year, God has shown Himself to me in mighty ways, has always answered my prayers, and has ignited my passions more then ever before.
Do you trust God to work things out, even when circumstances are beyond your understanding?
I sure do. If I've learned one thing this year, it's that God is far greater then my fears. I look forward to this summer, that is true, but I also am very excited for what the fall will bring. There's still a bit of a long road to go, but with God's grace I will march on. I'm not entirely sure where this road is taking me, but I know that wherever I go, He will be with me, and I will be perfectly all right.
God is so good!
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