God Always Fulfills His Promises

It’s amazing how things come together. I have never believed in coincidence. I believe that all things have been woven together for a purpose—God’s purpose. I believe that nothing happens without a reason, and I find that is proven to me daily. 

Starting back in November, I made the decision to return to school. After some reflection on the things in my life that have made me feel full of purpose, and the things in my life that I recognize as problems that I have an interest in fixing, I decided I was ready to complete my Bachelor’s degree then lead on to be a certified facilitator (Simple Definition: someone that teaches groups how to create and run effective meetings). This lead me to start searching for schools to attend and considering different options. This also meant taking into account the advice of people I highly respect. 

Based on my research and pondering, I made the decision to apply to University of Massachusetts Amherst and Boise State University. At this point, I have been accepted to Boise State and until today, I was impatiently waiting for a response from UMass.Don’t get me wrong, I am still waiting and still hoping for good news. The difference is a sense of ease. A sense of ease, I believe only comes from God. 

A few days ago, I had a conversation with my mother about being willing to let God’s will be done, no matter where that meant I was supposed to be. I told her frankly that I wasn’t ready to do that. I wasn’t ready to consider the option of not going back to school, of not moving, of not going on my own little adventure. Not that this is what she is saying would happen, but it was something that I would need to be willing to do for God to use me for his plans and purposes. And until I am willing, I will just have to wait. (Doesn’t stuff like that just make you want to gnash your teeth and shake your fist?)

Well today, I was praying…when I am deeply praying I will write them down as I say them—kinda like a letter to God. Well this is what I wrote:

“Lord, I want to trust you. I wasn’t to believe. I want to have faith. You are unfailing and I know this in my head. I know you have always provided. But my heart aches, it is anxious. How do I believe in my heart? How do I let go and let God? Please lead me. Please guide me. Please show me..." 

 And then I stopped and not with a complete thought. I stopped and began to weep, because what I wanted to write was “Your will” and wanted to ask God to “Please show me Your will.” But I couldn’t do it. I still couldn’t let go of my will. Of my wishes. Of my plans. So I did the best thing I could. I went to his word.

My church records the Sunday sermons and gives them away on CD, so I grabbed the first one in the study and threw it into my computer…it wouldn’t play. So I moved on the the next disc, and the next, and the next. I went through 5 discs and not a one would play. So of course, I tried number 6. And wouldn’t you know it, the darn thing played.And as the pastor opened the sermon, they said “Have you ever had to wait for something?” (I am sure you are going heck yes…I am waiting for the point of this post) Well as she said those words, I laughed. I thought “God you are so funny. Of course, you would work it out that the message I needed right here in this moment was the one that would play.”

So I listened; I was reminded that God always fulfills his promises. He never fails us. He never waivers, even when we do. And I know without a doubt that my whole life is an example of that. Then the pastor finished with Joshua’s challenge to the Israelites. He says to them in Joshua 24:14-15: “Now fear the Lord and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your forefathers worshipped beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord.  But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”

I begin to chuckle again, because another so-called coincidence was brewing. As the pastor said, “Choose who you will serve,” I was reminded that at the beginning of the year, I decided to do the one word challenge…basically you select one word to live by for a year. My #oneword365 for 2013 was…..any guesses…..CHOOSE. 

Well following the laughter came tears, and prayer, and surrender. I may not know where God will lead or when he will move me. But I know that when I accepted Christ as my Savior, it wasn’t conditional. It was a whole-hearted, full-fledged promise to live for Him, and not myself. So on this day, even in the midst of doubt, fear, stress, and worry, I choose to serve the Lord—the God of heaven above and earth below. For I know, his plans and purposes greatly exceed my own.

God bless,

Rebekah