2018 was a year filled with transitions for our little family.
We started the year living in Ohio, with no idea that in several months we’d be preparing to move to Pennsylvania. We started and ended the year in different states, different homes, different jobs. And even now, we still have so much to figure out in our new location.
Seth stayed in the same field, but his job was still a big transition that came along with an even bigger learning curve. I moved from working in a college admissions office to working as a kindergarten teacher. That’s a big transition too. I also took a big step of faith in starting this blog. I love writing and wanted to take my writing more seriously, but blogging hadn’t really been on my radar. I didn’t love the idea of sharing my story and my heart with people I didn’t know.
But that’s where God was leading. Sometimes, God leads us in directions we don’t expect. Sometimes, God has other plans. Sometimes, God draws us into lovely surprises that don’t seem so lovely at first glance.
And Seth and I knew God was leading us to a new place. I knew He was leading me into this teaching position, even though I didn’t think I’d teach again after my semester in Peru. I knew He was leading me to share my story through this blog.
I think what God taught me most this year was simply to trust. Trusting in His timing. Trusting in His plans. Trusting that He sees the big picture, and even when things don’t turn out how we expect, they turn out exactly how God expects.
Trust also comes in another form. In my position as a kindergarten teacher, one feeling I’ve become familiar with is the feeling of inadequacy. There are times when, after a day at school, I am emotionally exhausted. I feel inadequate, because I just don’t always know what to do. There are problems I don’t know how to solve. There are things going on in my sweet students’ lives that I don’t know how to fix. There are behaviors that I know come from the depths of the heart and I don’t know how to help.
That feeling of inadequacy can drive me crazy.
But that’s where trust returns. That’s where I have to lean on God, and give up control to Him. That’s where I have to remember that God knows, so it’s okay if I don’t know. It’s not my job to solve all my students’ problems. God is here. God is in control. I can trust that He will use me in these situations exactly how He intends, if I am just willing to abide in Him.
Trust is a beautiful gift. It means we don’t have to have our lives all together. We don’t have to feel like we’re in control, like one wrong decision is going to shatter our future. Because that’s simply not true. We have the joy of being able to put our trust in God. Handing Him the reigns is the best thing you can do.
Sweet friend, trust isn’t easy. It’s a journey. It’s a process, and there will surely be some bumps along the way. But if you can trust God, your life will be filled with an abundance of peace and joy. If you can trust God, your life will be renewed with each new day.
We can trust that God is with us right where we are, that He’s given us purpose in the present moment, and that He loves us, His precious creation, dearly, beyond our imagination.
And never forget… you are onederfully created by the God you can put your trust in.
Love,
Becca
P.S. – I’d love to know, what did God teach you in 2018?
My big word for 2018 was also trust!! I picked that word at the beginning of the year, and I think God was like, ok, let’s test it! It’s crazy where He will lead you and how he will stretch you. I started making yogurt at a local dairy store in the spring, and have now branched out completely and have my own yogurt business! And it’s all because of his impeccable timing, bringing opportunities to me to find a new place to make it and the money to get started. Like you said, it can still be so emotionally and mentally draining, even when we are following God’s will and leading. But they joy comes when we are able to step back and see how he is using us and growing us!!
Kelsey, I love that! I think choosing a word at the beginning of the year helps us focus on what God is bringing us, and I love that you were able to see Him work as you grew in trust this year. That’s awesome that you have your own yogurt business now! What a journey I’m sure that was! God is so good, and you’re exactly right… joy comes when we reflect and see all He’s done in our lives 🙂
I love this post! It’s an awesome reminder! ?? Gosh, the Father taught me a lot in 2018! Trust was definitely one of them. It’s always good to remember that things will work out the way the Heavenly Father wants them to, and he’ll take care of us always.
Thank you for reading, Kyra! Yes… God is so good to us, even when we don’t understand what He’s doing!
God taught me to trust him last year as well. It was a year of great growth moments and I really had to lean into him and it was there, in his arms that he gave me strength and increased my faith. What a wonderful father we have!
Wendy, we’re at our best when we lean into God and fall back into His loving arms. We do have such a good Father 🙂
After an unexpected ending to a long-term missions trip in the fall of 2017, I had NO IDEA what God wanted of me. No job, no house, no car and no plans. Not long after my return, a friend gave me a pocket stone with the word TRUST engraved on it. I quickly took the message to heart, and TRUST became something I’ve had to work on daily. I’ve carried that stone everywhere for these last 15+ months, rubbing my thumb over those sweet letters as a reminder of where my trust lies…the ONE who holds the answers. I am still living by faith, with no clear direction for my future, but I refuse to stress about it….He’s got this, and that’s all I need to know!
Naomi, thank you so much for sharing this. I think the story of your friend giving you that stone paints such a beautiful picture of how God shows us His presence through others in our lives. And what a great way to look at the future – I love how you said you refuse to stress about it. Refuse is a strong word, and that’s good. We have the power to refuse to stress about the future or anything else because God’s got this! He’s in control!
I loved everything about this post! Trust is something that I struggle with so much when it comes to myself and my life. This was such an encouraging message.
Thank you Aneika! I’m glad this post was meaningful and encouraging to you 🙂
Becca I LOVE your heart and that you shared this. So many of us follow where God leads and feel completely at a loss. I think he does it on purpose to remind us to lean in to him and…TRUST. Just like you said. – Beth xo
Thank you, Beth! I love the reminder that it’s okay to feel lost. It’s okay to not know what’s next. It’s okay to feel inadequate, because we are inadequate on our own. That’s the story of grace! When we trust in God, amazing things happen.
I learned that things have a way of working out. Even when it doesn’t seem like it will. Everything happens for a reason, (even when it feels like the end of the world at the time) and I’m being set up for the future. To handle whatever else is set to come my way. I’ve had the opportunity to be able to look back on some really terrible events in my life, and see turning points. Where I grew from that and was able to handle the next big thing because of the turning points. Almost like, life didn’t screw me over as badly as I once thought, kind of thing. It gave me a very new perspective, and I became grateful for those experiences, no matter how bad they were or hw traumatic. Because of the growth that came from them.
Erica, I definitely find that to be true as well. Things don’t always work out how we expect, but they work out in a way that helps us to grow and learn and gain a new perspective. God is good! Thanks for commenting.
I love this. I love how faithful God is. I love that trust is truly the answer. I’m glad you went with it and began your blog. I’ve also been in the same place of not wanting to open up about my story with others but trusting the process has been worth it..
God is so faithful! It’s definitely challenging to open up and be vulnerable by sharing our stories. But I truly believe that God uses our stories to speak to each other. Of course… we have to share them first!
I love your blog, Becca. You are such an inspiration. Trusting God can be difficult at times but we know that He has a purpose and in control of everything. God bless you. PS. I currently live in PA. Good luck on your new journey!
Thank you so much, Jennabel! Your kind works are so encouraging to me. Blessings to you as well, PA friend 🙂