Work, Worry, Rest--Weary Women in a World of Opportunity

 

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For Weary Women in a World of Opporutnity 
--Desiring God, March 2020

Being a college/grad student with a double major in Communications and Sports, Outdoor Recreation, and Tourism, pursuing an MBA, and NCAA athletic experience may seem like the most wonderful way to have endless doors open--which it is--I feel this message on a very personal and timely level. Don't get me wrong, I love the areas I am qualified in and feel so called to continue using them to share God's power with others in daily life, but when people ask me what I want to do when I graduate, I never have a good answer. I am always working on stuff, always seeing things I would love to do, but there is no clear path right now. Opportunity is wonderful, but it can also be very nerve-wracking.

 

Think of how much greater our opportunities as women today are (and ever-expanding) compared to our grandparents and even parents. What a time to be a woman! Yet, we are still so often depressed, stressed, and not living the lives we dreamed of as little girls. We display a good life on the outside--matching outfits, decorations, being in nature, pets, family and friends, fancy coffee, you know...but really, we're exhausted. (That's me, too!! Not going to hide it!)

 

Culture's messages to empower women are great in theory--You go girl! You can do it all! Boss Babe mentality. Get that perfect man! You don't need no man! (wait what?) Often, we take it too far. We do try to do it, go us, but we try more than we trust. More personal strength than powerful spirit. Then we crash. Girl power can only get you so far. Girls also tend to have mental breakdowns, as I can attest. 

By all means feel empowered! Believe in yourself! But we should be believing in ourselves because God is within us. "God is within her; she will not fall. God will help her at the break of day." Psalm 46:5. Culture also says that "You are enough," but as a Christian, on our own, we aren't enough. 

 

When we put our identity in that life we display, we crash when it fails. And it will at times. But God never will. However, when we are downcast, it draws us to look up. "Why are you downcast, O my soul? Put your hope in God. For I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God." Psalm 42:5. The only way to find true, lasting joy and satisfaction in life is to turn your heart away from your selfish pursuits and to God. If I let my ambitions to have a great race, buy the perfect gift, get all my homework done a day early, and post my favorite things on instagram dictate whether or not I am productive or successful, you bet I'm going to have an abundance of rough days. Shoot, I struggle to get to bed before midnight as it is. But when I make myself stop, breathe, and rest in the fact that God just wants me to trust Him and work for Him, I don't have to put on a display of my skills, just a display of my spirit. You can't go wrong that way. No one can take it from you, and it is forever protected by the Lord. While a race, hobby, boyfriend, or grade may bring you a reward on earth, a faithful spirit will bring you both joy and purpose on earth as well as eternity. 

 

So take these wonderful opportunities to be a woman in this world and use them for God's glory. Even in uncertainty, we know we have new mercies and new opportunities every day. Take it one day at a time and look for how God is opening doors right in front of you.

 

"The thief comes only to steal, kill, and destroy, but I have come that you may have life and have it to the full." John 10:10

Life-Giving Energy

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Strava:

I started out this day drained even though there were good things ahead. I had a lot to do before a wedding, grocery shopping, and work, but I ended up having a lot more time than I expected, so I took a devotion that I had gotten in an email out on the back deck. It was such a beautiful day that really helped set my mind and heart on a better track. God's Word has an amazing way of doing that.

I get the emails and follow on social media The Daniel Plan, because it is just so encouraging to living a healthy life for the glory of the Lord. This week's email was titled "Life Giving Energy" and that devotion was just what I needed! I have also been wanting to get my own health habits better, especially now that school is out, it's summer, and I'll be going away for school again next year, and running collegiality! I've always gone up and down with my health with a huge issue this time last year, so right now is a perfect time for God to really help me get it together. It's one of those inner motivations that you know can't come from anywhere else!

The opening verse was Genesis 1:29, "God said to them, 'I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of the earth and every tree with seed in its fruit. You shall have them for food." Since the very beginning of time, God created the world for us to live in and live off of. He gives us all that we need. You think nature is good now? Imagine when it was perfect, and we were in perfect peace with it and God. Because of our own sins, trying to take things into our own hands (life and food), we are never fully satisfied, and our relationship with God isn't perfect (but that's why we get grace). To enjoy nature is to enjoy the simplest form of God's blessings.

This is why when you eat healthy, real food, you start to crave it more and more. It's satisfying. You feel good and good about it. Same with God. The more time you spend with Him, the more you want to and the more you learn. Just like with sin or any bad habit, with food, you have to take out the bad and replace it with good. You can't just get rid of something. It's always a struggle, but struggle is necessary to change, and it's necessary to grow closer to God. If everything was easy, we wouldn't need Him.

Change is a big fear of mine, and I have so many little habits. I like routine and comfort. But to better myself physically and mentally, I have to try new things. To be of better use to God, I have to go outside of my comfort zone, go new places, do new things, talk to new people, do things that I don't really want to but know that He is telling me to. One of the best things to keep me going is to remember that God has been faithful to give me success, safety, and joy in the past, and He will surely do it again.

I also have a hard time doing things just for me; I always want others to benefit too, so if I was going to do something to help myself just for me, I would usually put it off. To counter this, I remember that God knows our hearts and rewards accordingly. I need to take care of myself in order to take care of others. He wants me to be my best so that He can use me more and more.

"How abundant are the good things that You have stored up for those who fear You!" Psalm 31:19
He always provides! We don't have to worry. As long as we put in the effort to follow God's plans, He will fill in the blanks (or change things when we mess up because He's in charge anyways).

So now I am even more motivated to get and keep myself healthier! For myself, for God, for my family, for Chattanooga, to be a positive influence on all those that see me. I can't pour from an empty cup.
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So about this day ahead that I mentioned earlier! Turns out it could've been way different, but work is disorganized, so I never totally know until it happens.
I went to a friend's wedding at 2, and it was so great! I don't know how I am going to make it through my own wedding. The past few I've been to I almost cry thinking of walking down the isle with my dad. He has my heart already. I didn't get to go to the reception later that day, but I ran in the store real quick, grabbed something to eat at home, and went right back out the door to work. It was supposed to be at Mayo Garden Center in Knoxville. Long story short, the schedule got changed, no one told me, I was totally unprepared to take everything down there by myself, a relatively new employee was by herself in the shop on a hot Saturday night...you see many things wrong here?? So I stayed and worked the night shift with her. That was another little way God was at work. I got to help someone out, and we had a great time. That's one of the best things about my job; I get to connect with people.

Finally, there were some holidays today! National dog mom's day and national babysitter's day, and I am both! Two more things that give me joy, those kiddos and my doggo.