Friday, June 3, 2011

Five Life Lessons

Inspired by Pat Layton's prompt in her post, 5 Lessons Learned in a Sunflower Maze

There is no script

It may feel like everyone else was handed the life script and you’re fumbling blind. This is not true. There is no script. There is only God, and knowing Him. Seek Him. Fellowship with Him. The rest will come, in His way and His timing. Speaking of timing…

It takes time

God is planting the seeds of dreams in my heart, and it is hard to wait for them to bloom. I want them now. The reality is that I am where I need to be right now, learning what I need to learn right now. We cannot know God’s timing, but we can see God’s faithfulness to His people in the past.

God gave Joseph gifts and dreams as a child, and He did put these talents to use – in HIS time. Joseph endured years of waiting and trials while God cultivated his heart and his gifts. Each of Joseph’s experiences prepared him for what lay ahead. Nothing that happened to him in his past was without purpose. Which brings me to…

Your past has a purpose

Your story is no accident. You may not understand why God is writing it the way He is, but that does not mean He doesn’t know what He’s doing. He does.

I have pain in my past. I survived domestic violence, sexual assault, and rape. Joseph had pain in his past. His brothers sold him to traders, he was sold into slavery, and he was unjustly imprisoned. God brought Joseph where He did for a purpose. He brought me where He did for a purpose. He brought YOU where He did for a purpose.

That purpose is not always clear. What is clear is that your story is perfectly told because ultimately, it is God’s. Our job is to serve Him faithfully, show up, and wait and see what He will do. Which leads me to…

Keep showing up

We do not know how God will use our experiences, and we do not need to know. What we do need is to show up. Meet God and serve Him faithfully, right where you are. All he calls us to do is the task set before us, whatever that is. In turn, He gives us grace for each task, each moment, and gives it in abundance. Because of that, we can…

Have Hope

He is faithful to us even when we cannot see it. God’s children always have hope, because they have Him.

For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence,
   for my hope is from him. –Psalm 62:5 (emphasis mine)

For you, O Lord, are my hope,
   my trust, O LORD, from my youth. –Psalm 71:5 (emphasis mine)

8 comments:

Michelle ~ Blogging from the Boonies said...

I hopped over from one of the Compassion Blogger posts. I think this is such a profound piece. Thank you for sharing!

Lisa said...

Thank you Michelle! And thanks also for your response to my comment on the Passionate Homemaking blog. I'm definitely going to look into being a child correspondent!

Stacey said...

Can't tell you how much I needed to read this today. Thank you, Lisa!

Momof4 said...

I'm visiting from Lysa's blog. Beautiful blog!

would love for you to visit mine sometime.


www.breakformom.com

Blessings!
Sharon

Lisa said...

Thank you, Sharon! I look forward to visiting your site!

Pat said...

So precious Lisa,
p

Pat said...

Lisa,
I am coming your way next month :)
I'll be in Dana Point. Are you nearby??
Pat

Lisa said...

Thank you, Pat! Sadly, I'm in the northern part of CA and Dana Point is down south. When will you be there?