What If Road

Posted on by goldenlifemusings

We’ve all traveled down this road at least once in our lives. It’s a road that is so enticing, yet leads to nowhere. In fact, if we’re honest with ourselves, the road doesn’t even exist. That road, my friends, is called “What If” road.

You know that road that begins with “what if I had chosen differently?” Or “what if I had said this instead of that?” Or “what if I hadn’t said anything at all?” Or “what if I had just waited instead of reacting impulsively?” 

If you are someone who journals like me, you probably also know the benefit of reviewing those journal entries. (Hello, I wrote a whole book about it entitled God Doesn’t Make Mistakes!) I went back to a journal entry from two years ago where I found myself traveling down that all too familiar road. I started to ponder on what my life would have been like if I had made a different choice in a particular situation. Admittedly the last time I went down that road, I found anxiety and regret at the end of it. I created all these scenarios in my head of this beautiful life I would have lived had I chosen differently. It made me sick to my stomach to think about how I had ruined my happily ever after because I made a choice driven by my own sins and ignorance.

I’m sure I don’t have to tell you how dangerous it can be to continue down that road. The truth is we will never see all the myriad results that might have come from making one different move. We don’t even know if that different choice would have led to a better life or outcome. And here’s an even more empowering truth. God has factored all of our choices, free will, mistakes, etc. into His good purpose and plan for our lives. And since we’re still living, He’s not done with those plans yet.

I know, here I go getting all spiritual again but stay with me. One of the most beautiful things about having a personal relationship with God is that He is always with us. He’s constantly leading us and guiding us. And even when we stumble, He’s there to catch us and set us back on the path He has for us.

Though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the LORD upholds him with his hand.

Psalm 37:4

I believe God allows us to make certain choices, or what we may perceive as mistakes, so that we can learn. Sometimes it’s to grow us and prepare us for what’s ahead. Sometimes it’s to give us a heart check so we can make the necessary adjustments to live and love more like Christ. Whatever the reason is for God allowing us to make the choices we make, He uses it all for our good and His glory. 

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Romans 8:28

When he says all things, that means the good, the bad, and the ugly. That’s what keeps my spirits lifted when I realize in hindsight that I could have made a more wise decision. I’m grateful to serve a God of grace and mercy. 

If you find yourself traveling down that What If Road that leads to nowhere, I want you to remember these three things. 

  1. God is using your perceived failure for your good.
  2. Your story is not over yet. 
  3. What God has for you is still for you.

My friend, when you begin to question how your mistakes may have ruined God’s good plans for you I pray that you are comforted by these wonderful promises from our Father. Trust me, He’s got a very real, beautiful road ahead for you. Follow Him.

Let Me Tell You A Story

Posted on by goldenlifemusings

This week I participated in a podcast with my pastor Keith A. Battle and two other talented authors about the process of writing a book. One of the great conclusions of the podcast was that everyone has a story. In fact, we agreed that there is at least one book inside all of us.

Everyone loves a good story. That’s what I told myself when I sat down to write the first version of my new book God Doesn’t Make Mistakes. It was a fictional story about a dozen or so people who did not know one another but were somehow connected. And then 2015 and 2016 happened. It was quite a season of turmoil and transformation for me, and my journal reflected that. It was upon the review of those journal entries from that season that I realized the story I needed to tell was my own.

My story was filled with insights around struggling with purpose, being single and sexually abstinent, surviving as a full-time entrepreneur with a fledgling business, anxiety around the future, forgiveness, heartbreak, waiting. Any of these struggles sound familiar?

Sure, made up stories are entertaining, but there’s nothing like the juiciness and depth of a story that is well…real. You know how people say truth is sometimes stranger than fiction? True story.

Going back to my book…God spoke. He told me to use and write my story, so I was obedient. In God Doesn’t Make Mistakes, I actually publish ten of my journal entries from that season. Yes, journal entries that I wrote during a period of time that I felt the most lost, vulnerable, hurt, disappointed, and uncertain. Needless to say, it’s pretty transparent. But that’s what makes a good story right?

Except I don’t just tell a story. I really break down exactly what I was thinking at the time and use biblical principles to frame the lessons I learned. I’ll give you another cliché statement that is still an undeniable fact. Hindsight is always 20/20. The blessing of journal writing is that you get to look back at what you lived through, in your own words, and apply wisdom to it. That’s what I did here. Even though this book reveals things about myself that I never thought I would share publicly, I knew it was too good to keep to myself.

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Today, I share with you God Doesn’t Make Mistakes: Learning How Our Missteps Fit Into His Perfect Plan. It’s a story about how a time of turmoil and transformation in my life taught me how to trust God. More importantly, it taught me how to trust that His plans are much bigger than my mistakes. What a refreshing and comforting revelation! I pray the comfort and joy that I received as a result of that revelation extends to you as well as you read my book.

Like any good story it has lots of conflict, plenty of drama and some humor to balance it out. And even though our stories are different, I know there will be plenty of areas where you can relate and share in the “aha moments.”  If nothing else happens, perhaps after hearing my story you’ll have the courage and confidence to tell your story, because I hope you do know that there is one inside of you too.

To purchase an autographed copy of God Doesn’t Make Mistakes visit www.ourmistakeshisplans.com. If you are an Amazon or Barnes & Noble lover or you’d like to purchase the e-book, it’s available on those platforms as well. I look forward to hearing your experience with it!

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The Wait

Posted on by goldenlifemusings

Have you ever had to wait on something? That was an obvious rhetorical question, I know. Everyone in life has had to wait on something. Some of us handle it better than others, but I can’t imagine anyone really liking it. Even though it’s something none of us likes, did you know it’s actually a good thing, particularly as it relates to faith? Stay with me here, don’t check out.

There are all types of waiting – waiting in line at the grocery store, waiting in a doctor’s or dentist’s office, waiting for a friend to arrive for a dinner date. The type of waiting I particularly want to highlight right now is the wait of a desired outcome, a promise unfulfilled, a lifelong hope. You know the ones I’m talking about – the dream job, the spouse, the baby, the house, that one big break, your purpose revelation. Why is it a good thing to lie in wait of those things?

Well, it not only builds patience, which is a powerful virtue to have, it also builds faith. What is faith exactly? In Hebrews 11:1, the Bible describes it as “the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

None of us who believe in God have ever actually seen God with our own eyes but we believe that He exists and He is present with us at all times. That belief requires faith. But if we remain weak in our faith, and we never actually have a chance to grow it and build it, that belief will start to fade over time as we live more and interact with the world.

In my newest book, God Doesn’t Make Mistakes, I talk about what a review of the previous journals I wrote over the course of seven years did for me. I was able to see my life, in my own words, through the lens of hindsight – in a way, how God sees our lives. (Although, He’s able to see with hindsight and foresight – what an amazing God!) One of my greatest discoveries during that process was how my waiting seasons taught me lessons, helped me to draw closer to God and deepen my relationship with Him, and most importantly, taught me to trust Him. Over time, I started to really get that He knew what was best for my life.  

Some of the things I waited for came years after I prayed for them. When I did receive them, it seemed to have been “perfect timing.” Some of the things I waited for never came, and that was actually a good thing because I either wasn’t ready for them at the time or it was not His best for me. Some things I’m still waiting for, but now that I’ve learned to trust Him in the wait, I’m fully at peace and resting in His sufficient grace.

The greatest revelation of all? I have come to realize when I have a strong desire for something to happen, I don’t need my prayers to be answered; I need my faith to be strengthened. That oftentimes happens during the wait, in the silence.

If you are waiting for something to happen in your life right now, I encourage you to first thank God for this season of waiting because it’s building something in you. Next, I encourage you to pray this prayer:

Dear God, sometimes I don’t understand your timing. It’s hard to wait, but I trust you. I want to rely on your ways, your thoughts, your perfect timing. Help me learn what I need to learn as I wait, and help me resist rushing your plan. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

 

For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. James 1:3-4 NLT

 

Our Mistakes, His Plans

Posted on by goldenlifemusings

I used to be terrified to speak publicly on spiritual matters. In fact, years ago when someone told me I would go into ministry I laughed and told them they didn’t really know me well. But actually, they were onto something.

I’ve been a spiritual person pretty much my whole life. My relationship with God, however, went to a whole new level in 2015 when I was forced to be still and evaluate my life and my relationship with Him in a way that I had never done before. Like I’m sure many can relate to, it took being broken down to be built back up. That’s just how God works. The trials and tribulations we grow through are meant to strengthen us and build muscles in areas where we are weak. He gives us opportunities to fall down and make mistakes so we can learn how to fully trust and be obedient to His will.

That season of transformation that began in 2015, and continued into 2016, was the genesis of the new passion book project you’ve seen me allude to over these past several months in my posts. God Doesn’t Make Mistakes: Learning How Our Missteps Fit Into His Perfect Plan uses my journal entries as a discussion point for many of the lessons learned and revelations I experienced along my spiritual journey during that season. I didn’t know my journal entries would ever be published for the world to see, but I realized after reviewing them, there were insights and aha moments that I just could not keep to myself.

I’ve made mistakes, a lot of them. I’ve had stinking thinking. I’ve said things that hurt myself and others. I know, at times, I’ve delayed my own blessings because of my disobedience. But that’s exactly what qualifies me to write a book like God Doesn’t Make Mistakes.

I know I’ve been through some of the same things you’ve been through. While the characters and circumstances were slightly different, the results were the same – hurt, disappointment, shame, guilt, feelings of inadequacy – you name it, we’ve all felt it at some point in our lives.

But, we have a choice when those feelings arise — distance ourselves from God or draw closer to Him. I chose to draw closer to Him, and some magical things happened as a result of that stronger, deeper, more meaningful relationship. I found purpose. I heard very clearly my assignment in this season.

Share. Share your story, your testimony and yourself.

Out of obedience, I share God Doesn’t Make Mistakes with you. Today, I launch the pre-sale phase of this project, which gives you an opportunity to pre-order the book and receive the introduction, first chapter, and foreword written by my pastor Keith A. Battle immediately. The official book launch will take place on January 30, 2019.

I can’t tell you how excited I am to finally release what feels like my baby into the world. A lot of sweat, tears, and love went into creating it and I pray that it blesses you beyond what any of us could even imagine. If it does, my challenge to you is the same one God posed to me – Share it!

Visit www.ourmistakeshisplans.com to order your copy today!

 

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