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I remember the summer before I went off to college. My mom and I spent every day preparing me to go.
We shopped for a new wardrobe and bought furnishings for my dorm room, including a much-coveted rainbow comforter. I also spent several weeks in “mobility training”—that is, learning to walk with a cane so that I would be as self-sufficient as possible in my new setting.
Do you ever wonder if God has dropped the pen and stopped writing your life story? You know, when your life doesn’t happen like you wanted or seems less important or interesting than someone else’s life, you can question what God is up to. My friend, author Ashleigh Slater knows exactly how that feels and that’s why I’ve asked her to join us for Java today.
So, if you, like me, battle the tendency and temptation to compare your story with others’ stories, you’ll really benefit from these three truths Ashleigh reminds us to be purposeful to tell ourselves. I just love this and I know you will too.
Pour your coffee and settle in. Take it away Ashleigh!
“No matter what happens today,” I gently reminded my two daughters, “God is writing your individual stories, and you can trust Him.”
Both girls were about to audition in New York City for the national tour of a Tony-Award winning musical. It was an audition we’d spent weeks preparing for—not only vocally, but also emotionally.
I used to be a total control freak — a blind control freak. Today, though, I am a recovering blind control freak. It took me years to figure out that blindness demands I release my need for control.
Without being able to see, I have to risk trusting other people. I have to let go of my perfect timetable and my to-do list. It’s not always easy to let go and trust, but if I don’t choose to risk or release, I truly will never receive what I need.
So, for me, being a blind control freak is completely counterproductive!
And, can I be honest with the sisters?
As a college student, I volunteered at a youth camp for several summers. Most of the time, I led worship and hung out with the girls, but this night, the altar was full of teenagers and the youth minister asked if I would help counsel. Within 10 seconds of my “yes,” a young man made a beeline to me. He was middle school-aged. I knew his name but that was all I knew. I asked him why he came to the front and he told me it was because he wanted to ask Jesus into his heart.
I reviewed what that meant with him and then asked him to pray with me. “Nope.” was all he said.
Okay, so this is not what I expected! It made no sense. I explained the gospel and asked him again. “Do you want to pray to receive Christ?”
“Nope.”
I asked “Do you understand?” He answered, “Nope.”
So, I explained again and thought we had a breakthrough. Again I asked, “Do you want to receive Christ?” You guessed it! “Nope,” was his answer.
I was so frustrated and confused. I hadn’t had much experience with middle school boys, but, seriously? I just couldn’t tell if he was rebellious, pulling my leg or truly didn’t understand.
The youth minister must have seen me looking totally perplexed and helpless so he rushed over.
I found an old tattered audio book at our local used book store. It was recorded on cassette, so you can imagine how old it is, but I bought it because it was by Elisabeth Elliot. Oh my goodness! I am such a big fan so this audio book is a treasure — she even reads it herself. The book is called These Strange Ashes and it’s about her first year as a missionary to a small group of native women in the Ecuadorian jungle. She is gut-honest about her doubts and questions and the cost of obedience.
In the book, she recounts an African legend about Jesus. It is not in the Bible — it never happened! It’s a made-up story, but the message sure does preach the truth. The legend hit me right in the heart and made me consider why I obey the Lord… for whom do I carry the stone?
Here’s my version of the legend…
One of the things that drives me crazy about getting older is I know there is a lot that I don’t know. Unfortunately, I don’t know what I don’t know! Can you relate? But one of the things that makes me really really happy about getting older is realizing that knowledge is not nearly as important as wisdom. And sisters, wisdom has nothing to do with what we know or don’t know, and everything to do with Who we do know!
God is not greedy with His wisdom. If you need it, He’ll give it. Here are three surefire ways to make wisdom your BFF.
