Welll it’s been awhile. Life is such a whirlwind! But the above 3 words pretty much sum up the last 5 months, and what’s happening now.
Uncertainty: I did my first semester in seminary, and did pretty well grade wise, learned a lot and made a few new friends. It was a blessing to have class with Dave and study together, and I learned to share my story with new people. However, I didn’t enjoy it as much as I hoped that I would. I had the opportunity to counsel weekly one of our wonderful youth girls, which I enjoyed, but I can’t see myself doing counseling professionally, at least not with adults. I could counsel and do play therapy with kids-but I’m not sure if seminary is the place to start for that. So the uncertainty is…what’s next?
Contentment: I have always struggled with contentment-in dating, working, school, living, marriage-pretty much anything in life. I struggle with being content with where God has put me. One thing I realized this semester is that by not being content, I wasn’t giving my whole heart to my marriage, school or youth ministry-which isn’t fair to anyone around me. My sweet husband, youth kids and classes deserve more than my discontentment that was constantly wondering what was next. So I stopped attempting to plan and tell God what to do and instead put my whole heart in every moment to embrace everything God has given me…no matter what is next.
Trusting: I don’t know what’s happening in our lives in the future-and I’m ok with that. Whether it’s in another country, another state or right where we are now-I am learning to trust that I am exactly where I’m supposed to be, and I’m continually searching for what God wants to teach me in the everyday moments. I trust that no matter how much longer I”m alive, no matter where we live or what we do that God is taking care of me, and his plan is better than anything I could ever imagine.
This new quote pretty much sums up all of these-it’s from the book “Dangerous Surrender” by Kay Warren, which my dad gave me for Christmas in 2008. ”Faith isn’t tested by how often God answers my prayers with a yes but by my willingness to continue serving him and thanking him, even when I don’t have a clue as to what he is doing.” Will you continue to serve and thank God, even when you don’t know what’s next or why something is happening? Live each day for the only one who matters.
Exciting News: Dave and I are changing this blog to be for both of us as we go through life together. Maybe about cooking, traveling, ministry, how God is working in our lives-whatever comes our way. Thanks for joining with us as we connect our cultures and learn together what it means to have a marriage centered on Christ.
<3 Emily
