God said, "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you." Jeremiah 29:11 (Emphasis mine)
I believe him. :) Time and time again God has proven this to me. Plans I've made that have fallen through, only to reveal God had something a million times better than I could have ever imagined. Heading in one direction, only to realize God had brought me to that point to get me where I need to be.
All this being said, my plans have been redirected. I will not be moving to Mexico in October. The funds just weren't there. However, there were enough funds to be summer staff with Back2Back this June and July! :) I am beyond excited to get the opportunity to work with these amazing people again, for an amazing organization, doing what I absolutely love- advocating for the orphan and widow and getting to learn more than I have ever imagined.
I thought I would be absolutely devastated. I thought if this didn't work out, I would feel like this dream would be crushed, and I would feel like this is never going to happen. I thought I would feel like maybe I heard God wrong, or that I was pushing through with my own plan instead of listening to where God was directing me.
This is (one of the million reasons) why God is awesome. After finding out I wouldn't be moving, never once did I feel like I've failed. Instead of being heartbroken like I thought I'd be, I'm excited! God has proven to me over and over that if He closes a door, He's got a plan. And it's going to be awesome! I am constantly reassured that God brought me right to this point in order to bring me to whatever's next! Instead of feeling defeated, thinking I was silly to think this could happen, I am confident that this is what God has called me to do- it's just not the right time yet. Instead of feeling like I "heard God wrong", through prayer and gettin' all up in God's word, I am constantly reassured that I was supposed to do this. I was made for this. And just because the door was closed right now, it doesn't mean it will be forever.
This all has been QUITE an adventure! I have met so many amazing people I wouldn't have without going through this process, and countless blessings for me and some pretty awesome people I know couldn't have played out had I not gone through this awesome experience. I know God is not done yet. :) He didn't take me to this point to say, "Ok, that was fun- I'm over it now." I have never felt more confident that this is what God wants me to do. I don't know what the rest of this story looks like. :) This story has only begun, and I can't wait to see what God's up to!
Thank you guys so much for taking this adventure with me! I can't wait to fill you in on what's next! I couldn't have done any of this without awesome people who love, support, and encourage me! :) You are all fantastic!
