School of God

I love how God teaches me. Well, sometimes I do.

But the truth is I haven’t always felt that way. You see, when I feel that God has given me a message to write about or teach, He then gives me the opportunity to live it.  Let me explain.

I often speak to groups about finding joy in life regardless of our circumstances.  It sounds great in theory but can be a bit more challenging to live out day to day.  The material is based on my book, but more importantly based on how I’ve come to know God. I absolutely believe the message that I’m sharing, but there are times when I struggle to stay focused on God and not let the little nuisances in life get to me.   

Many times as I was going out to speak to women about the topic of joy, something would inevitably challenge my joy.  Not major things.  Just minor irritations.  But, I learned over time, after much observation and reflection that God was giving me the opportunity to practice what I was preaching.  So, I would find gum in the dryer with the clean clothes as I walking out the door to go to a meeting.  Or the directions to the location would be incomplete and I’d get lost.  Or, it would be pouring rain as I tiptoed in heels to the car lugging all my things trying not to mess up my hair or fall flat on my face.  Isn’t it ironic that the title of my book is Dancing in the Rain and at least the first five times I went out to talk to women’s groups about this concept, it would rain? 

It got to the point that I would expect something to go wrong before a meeting.  And so, I could actually laugh about it when it did and work it into my presentation.  I love real world application… most of the time.

Now, here I sit preparing for a session on focusing on God and how to decrease busyness in our lives to make room for Him.  And of course, I find myself in the busiest season I’ve had in a long time.  This month I have a daily video devotion that I produce and post,  homeschooling to plan and execute 5 days per week,  4 speaking engagements, 3 classes to teach, 2 birthday parties to plan, a radio interview and a partridge in a pear tree. 

In the midst of it all, I’ve had to decline two very interesting opportunities.  I hate saying no to people, so it was painful.  “Will the opportunities present themselves again?” I worry.  But I prayed about it and felt clear that God was teaching me a lesson… again.  I shouldn’t be surprised.  I’m about to stand in front of a group of women and tell them that we need to prioritize which sometimes means saying “no” to good things.  In order to receive God’s best, we need to be attentive to Him and what He has planned for us – not what we think we should be doing.  We can be so consumed with good things that we miss His best.  And so, as He seems to like to do with me, He’s giving me the opportunity to live what I’m teaching.  I hope I catch on quickly because in the “School of God,” He keeps giving the test until we pass it. 

Study well, my friend, for your tests in life.  May you welcome them as opportunities for growth in your journey of faith.

For you, God, tested us; you refined us like silver.  Psalm 66:10

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