Life Changes

I did something I didn’t think I would ever do… I quit Chick-fil-A. Everybody knows how much I love the fil-A. Just ask my immersion team. I literally dreamed about those waffled potatoes once a week while we were gone! I knew at some point I would leave for graduate school but that isn’t going to be for another year and a half. I figured it was going to take Jesus coming directly to me and telling me to leave in order for me to really do it! Well, He used some other people to do it, but that’s basically what happened.

About a month ago, our youth pastor at Celebration approached me and asked me to be his student ministry assistant. I was honestly shocked when he asked me. I do lead a group of wonderful 11^th grade girls on Sunday morning, but I had never hinted or hoped for an actual job in student ministry. I just assumed God put those callings people’s hearts and that hadn’t happened to me. I was convinced Aaron had picked the wrong person for this. But I told him I would pray about it even though in the back of my mind I was sure God was going to tell me he was way off (no offense Aaron!).

As an added stressor to this decision, it was also finals week! I know God’s timing is perfect but I didn’t understand why He told Aaron this would be the best week to tell me. I could barely get any studying done because of all of the thoughts and feelings I was having about this decision. So I prayed. Hard. That God would make the right answer obvious soon because I had exams I needed to pass.

The day after Aaron talked to me, I set up a coffee date with Lori Cooley (Lemme tell you, God knew what He was doing putting that lady into my life a long time ago). Anyway, I was on my way to meet with her, crying and praying over what the right answer was. I remember asking God “I just want You to show what the best use of my time is”. And oh so clearly I heard this “Um excuse Me, I think you mean MY time!” This is definitely one of those things that makes me sound like a crazy person if you don’t know about hearing the voice of God. But I’m telling you, I knew it was Him. And that was just the beginning.

In a matter of 2 days, I knew what the answer was. I never did hear God say the words “this is the job I want you to have”. There isn’t a Bible verse with my name in it telling me the correct answer. But God crammed a whole lot of tiny messages and reminders in those 2 days. (which still gave me plenty of time to study for my finals!) There was no doubt in my mind that God had hand delivered this job to me. So I did it. I quit Chick-fil-A.

I know that this job at Celebration is going to be a challenge. And I know I’m way out of my league doing it. But I also know that I am going to have to depend on God’s direct leadership to be successful in this new adventure. And since when has needing to pray more been a bad thing? I am so excited for this new experience. I think it is going to grow me and shape me further into the person God wants me to be. So I’m following His guidance on this journey He has laid out for me. One step at a time.