Humbleness
Restoration
Promises fulfilled
Earlier today as I listened to the worship song “Do It Again,” I was reminded that God’s promises still stand. On this New Year’s Eve, the song reaffirms a big promise that He made to me, one which I’ve been waiting on for almost 20 years now.
Meanwhile during the wait, I’ve seen other promises and healings come to pass. Dreams have materialized. Family estrangements have been healed. Fears have been overcome. And through it all, I’ve followed the leading of the Lord, not the opinions of people that could have led me somewhere other than where God wanted me to go.
My heavenly Father led me out of a career path that I kept falling back into simply because those jobs paid the monthly bills. Every time I landed a new job pushing paper, I just knew He had something more for me. Something better. Something where I would use my God-given talents of photography and writing.
Over 10 years ago, that artistic direction which God was pointing me toward was scary. I couldn’t see where it was leading. However, I took the first step of obedience down His perfectly planned yet unknown path. At times, I veered off that pathway by inserting my own human logic in the mix.
Finally, God got my attention 11 months ago when my last office job didn’t pan out as I expected. This final disappointment made it very obvious that God’s plans are so much higher and better than my own, no matter how illogical His ways of doing things seem. By finally “letting go” and submitting to His will for my life, I’m where I’m supposed to be today.
This past holiday season, my passion for photography became a reality when I landed two part-time gigs. The pay for both jobs definitely started at the bottom of the pay scale, but at least they allow me to use my God-given photography skills. My passion for writing is still a work in progress.
As I continued to follow God’s lead for such a big life transition, He has provided the necessities—a roof over my head and food in my belly. In the process, He has squelched my pride in exchange for humility. Other people have played a major role in this humbling process by providing a place for me to live. How these living arrangements came to be can only be described as divinely orchestrated. In turn, I’ve paid room and board for the privilege of living with fellow Christians in Charleston, and now in Florida.
Another of His major promises in my life has been the healing of family rifts. He followed through with His promise of restoring those relationships. He helped me to overcome seemingly small but significant family strongholds that needed to be dealt with. He also taught me how to set boundaries, which was discouraged during my childhood and teenage years.
Yes, God has done “it” again. He kept His promise to restored and heal as I’ve been obedient to follow His directives. And I know He will fulfill more promises as more restoration and healing takes place. I believe God will continue do “it” again and again in this upcoming new year.
Have a blessed New Year’s day!
“Behold, I will do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.” - Isaiah 43:19 (NKJV)
