A New Season

Hello everyone! 

I've been taking a break the past few weeks and enjoying time with my family and my love. Sometimes you just need to get away and refocus. That's exactly what I've been doing. 

I had a great vacation in South Carolina, with my family, and now I'm enjoying the rest of what's in store for this summer. It's going to be a great one! 

I wanted to share a little bit about what I have been going through lately and what the Lord has been teaching me. It has been a humbling season where I am learning to trust God in every area of my life. Sometimes it is not always easy to learn these things, but God is the best teacher and He has provided us with all of the answers we may need, through His Word. 

Back in December of last year, the Lord spoke to my family about making a move that would help our family grow spiritually. We chose to be obedient to this call and will be moving from Chicago to Texas in August. We are very excited about this new season that God is bringing us into and we are expecting  great things! 

One of the things I have been having to fight off a lot is feelings of worry and fear because Illinois is the only place I've ever lived my whole life. My family, boyfriend, and friends live here and I have so many memories all across this state. The Lord has blessed my family and I with a great church here that I have been apart of since I was born and I will really miss that. Having said all of that, God has been comforting me through this whole process and reminding me of the greater plan He has for me. 

I know that when God calls you to do something, He's only doing it because He has your best interests at heart. He loves us so much and He has the best plan in mind for us. We know this because He says so in His word. Jeremiah 29:11 describes the plans of God for us as "...plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome."

Throughout all of the moments where I have felt worried, God has been telling me to trust Him more. Proverbs 3:5-6 talks about exactly what God has been showing me. It says, "Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insight or understanding. In all your ways know, recognize, and acknowledge Him, and He will direct and make straight and plain your paths." 

That verse brings me so much peace every time I read it because it reminds me that I don't have to know everything, I just need to put my trust in Him. I need to remind myself that the plans He has for me are good plans and they are to give me an expected end. I love thinking about how awesome God's plans are because even when I think of the best thing ever, His plans are even better than that! His thoughts and plans for me are so far beyond what I could ask or think (Ephesians 3:20). 

I am learning each and every day that God is doing awesome things in my life here in Illinois, and He's going to do even more great things in Texas. It doesn't matter where I am, because as long as I am obedient to Him, I'm right in the middle of His will for my life. 

Philippians 4:13 in the Message says, "Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One Who makes me who I am." Isn't that powerful?! I can make it through anything, no matter where I am, through Him. So, I made a decision not to be worried. Instead, I'm casting all my cares on Jesus (1 Peter 5:7), because He cares for me!!

I am so looking forward to this new season! I am embracing all that God has in store for me. My family and I are going to be joining an awesome church called Eagle Mountain International Church and we are so excited. I know that God will provide the opportunities for me to come back to Illinois to visit my family and my boyfriend. I also know that God will bring awesome, God-loving friends into my life to remind me of how faithful He is. I can be sure of this because He has promised me, and God always keeps His promises :)

I shared all of this to remind you all that, no matter what you're dealing with, you can trust God to lead and guide you. It may not be something as big as moving halfway across the country, or it could be something bigger, but God's plans for your life are only good. His plans are bigger than what you're facing right now so just lean on Him. God is going to do big things in this next season in everyone of our lives as we trust in Him. I know He's about to do some amazing things in my family and I'm ready! Everything's bigger in Texas right?! haha :)

God bless you all! Thanks, as always, for reading! I hope you all enjoy your week!

P.S. Here's a photo that my lovely sister took of me on the beach while my family was on vacation. I love how full of joy my expression is. Every time I look at it the Lord reminds me that only He can give me that true, fulfilling sense of joy! He is so good!