In summary, the message I was hearing from God, “YES! But, WAIT!!” My response, “I hate waiting!” The truth is that God’s message for me to WAIT has been a saving grace. Over the next two years from Spring 2020 to Spring 2022, my life changed in many ways including times of high stress, moves, COVID pandemic, a wedding, multiple illnesses, and more. (More details on this in a future blog post in Life’s Journey. Blog post number to be updated soon.) The WAITing was a blessing! Thank you, Jesus, for your perfect timing.
Wait for the Lord; be strong and let your heart take courage; yes, wait for the Lord. ~ Psalm 27:14
Below is a summary of the steps… forward and back… over the last two years. More details will be provided in a future blog post in Life’s Journey.
Two Steps Forward: I completed my Calling Workshop with Dave Rodriguez in the spring of 2020 (Behind the Scenes #1). I received several affirmations of my calling from multiple other sources over the summer and fall of 2020 (Behind the Scenes #2). I was ready to GO!!
One Step Back: August 2020, our daughter was moving from Plymouth, IN, to Corvallis, OR, to go to Oregon State University for Veterinary Medicine. The same weekend our daughter was driving to Oregon with my husband, our son requested help moving from one house to another house in West Lafayette, IN. I was packing, boxing, painting, organizing, cleaning and moving both of our kids within one month. WAITing for more time and less stress.
Another Step Back: By December 2020, I tested positive for COVID. Within two days, my husband tested positive for COVID. WAITing to feel better.
Two Steps Forward: I had a clear vision of the website flow, the tabs, the content ideas and the look & feel. It seemed easy enough. I will create my own website using YouTube videos. How bad can this be? Thank you, Jesus, for clarifying the purpose, flow for this website, and the online tutorial videos.
One Step Back: In the months of attempting to complete the website on my own, the instructions in the video no longer followed the reality of what I was experiencing online. WAITing for help.
Two Steps Forward: I set a budget and plan to find a website designer. No problem! I was introduced to a web designer by a group of men I bumped into at a coffee shop. Yay!! Jesus take the wheel! What a blessing!
One Step Back: I did contact the web designer who was recommended, but his offer and my needs did not align. WAITing again for new opportunity and a new contact. Ok, God. What now?
Two Steps Forward: In late Spring 2021, I was recommended two more website designer ideas through the church as well as through a friend of mine who had just published a book and started a website. (My Favorite Things – Book is called Finding Your Yes by Christine Wagoner) Fantastic! I love referrals. I interviewed the website designer from my friend Christine and we were a match! She loved the website idea and my story. And I loved her quote for her services and her excitement. We were moving forward.
“When God closes a door, He opens a window.” ~ Malachi 3:10
One Step Back: In the summer of 2021, I was experiencing multiple health issues: insomnia, headaches, muscle fatigue, trouble speaking complete sentences, exhaustion, brain fog, anemia, mouth blisters. I made a request to my website designer that we put a hold on our meetings until Fall 2021 with the hopes that I would feel better by then.
Another Step Back: In October 2021, I contacted my website designer to let her know I was ready to resume working on the design at a slow pace. I had upcoming treatment and tests to complete for my health. She offered her apologies as she had taken a new corporate job and would no longer be able to work on the website with me. WAITing for the next window!
Another Step Back: In November 2021, I had three weeks of IV iron infusions for the anemia. In December 2021, I had two biopsies in my mouth and tested positive for a rare autoimmune disease called Cicatricial Pemphigoid. I was emotionally and physically exhausted. WAITing for better health.
Two Steps Forward: I have a team of doctors now working with me to manage my autoimmune disease. Thank you, Lord, for your strength when I feel weak. Thank you for your support and encouragement through my friends and the doctors. I also bumped into another website designer in a coffee shop. Her name is Amy Durbin. (My Favorite Things – Other Stuff). She created this site and she ROCKS!!
“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” ~ 1 Thessalonians 5:11
WHAT DID I LEARN OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS?
- God asked me to WAIT. He was RIGHT! I learned to be patient through this process through the help of prayer, the support of my husband, family & friends, and the strength of the Holy Spirit. “The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.” ~ Lamentations 3:25-26
- Satan wants to slow me down. God has a better plan. “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[a] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” ~ Romans 8:37-39
- My timing is not so important. God’s timing is perfect and he has a reason for everything. “ In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.” ~ Proverbs 16:9
- Just because we have trials does not mean that God is saying, “STOP.” He may be saying, “WAIT! I am still refining you.” He uses our trials to build perseverance, character, and hope. “Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.” ~ Romans 5:3-5
- God will use all of our story for His greater purpose. We must NOT give up. “Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” ~ Philippians 1:6 AND “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” ~ Isaiah 41:10
My stretch goal for turning on this website was March 18th. My no-later-than goal was my birthday at April 10th, 2022.
We went LIVE on Good Friday, April 15th, 2022!!
I am grateful for ALL who helped me and prayed for me over the last two years. Thank you all for your encouragement, your kind words, your pushes when I felt like giving up, and your love through it all!
And most importantly, thank you, Jesus, for counseling, guiding, strengthening, and fulfilling your plan for me.
QUESTIONS TO PONDER:
- Where is God showing up in your life?
- In your trials, where do you see His helping hand and encouragement?
- In your celebrations, how is He celebrating with you? Are you giving Him the credit? Are you praising Him with gratitude?
- Do you feel like giving up? What is the NEXT small step you can take to move forward?
- If you are not seeing him in your daily life, take a moment to pray and invite Him in. Ask Him to reveal Himself to you in the small things. Ask Him to help you recognize Him in the daily moments. Then praise and thank Him!
PRAYER: Dear Lord, thank you for showing me your plan for me. You promised you would never leave us. You promised you had a plan for each of us. Help us all to see our next step in your plan and help us to have the courage to obey and take the next step. We are called to have no fear when we follow you, Lord. You have overcome death and evil. You will WIN always. May we trust you and allow our faith and hope to grown more and more each day as we let you lead in our lives. Amen.
Hugs & blessings, Sweet Circle,
Stacy
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