Wait for the Lord

For the past 9 months (the amount of time I've been engaged to my husband-to-be, Alex) people have been coming up to me and asking me for all types of advice on countless topics from school to relationships. I think these people are under some type of impression that I have it together because I am engaged or because I somehow made it through college, but the truth is, I am just as clueless as to what life looks like now that I'm engaged as I was when I was in 3rd grade trying to understand the need for multiplication tables.

Ever since I was a little girl I thought women "had it all" once they got engaged to their prince charming and could finally start living their life.

That mentality was all types of wrong. 

First off, God can use anyone during ANY stage of their life. They don't have to have a high school degree, a diamond ring, or even the perfect apartment in order to impact God's Kingdom. I wish I had fully believed this when I came to college because I spent so much of my time praying for God to provide me with a husband that I neglected to see all the other wonderful opportunities He was giving me. So, that's why I'm writing this post: to encourage everyone to do what God is calling them to do now. Don't wait for perfect circumstances, because they never come. "Keep pressing on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 3:14) and be content with where God has placed you for today.

Some of the major things God has taught me during my time in college is the importance of strong female friendships. Guys, boyfriends, and fiances are great and all, but women in your community understand certain things you go through as a female that guys just simply cannot comprehend. (And PS-if you're dating someone/engaged/married, your guy needs good guy friends too). You need to know that you have some close girlfriends that have been with you through the different seasons of your life and can hold you accountable to certain areas of your life.

God also has shown me that getting a degree is not the only reason I am in school. This whole time I have been engaged my focus has either been on studying for school (or the CPA exam) or planning what little bits of the wedding I can. But, God has not placed me at the University of Alabama just to get a degree (and meet my future husband); He also led me here for the friendships. For the women that have sat next to me during the times that I cried until I literally ran out of tears, kidnapped me and made me learn to be spontaneous, and had slumber parties with. 

These are the things that matter. Getting a 4.0 GPA is great and all, but God has so much bigger plans for you than a certain GPA. He wants to use you. He wants to be close to you. He wants a relationship with you. Sometimes, you just need to curl up with your Bible and spend some quality time with your Lord and listen to what He is calling you to do. It might just be to sit next to someone at the Ferg, or it may be to change your major. The possibilities are endless, but the point is, you don't know what God is calling you to until you take the time to sit down and listen for your Shepherd's voice. He will lead you to where you need to be. But beware, it doesn't fit neatly into a planner. It will feel chaotic, it will be messy, and it will definitely be frustrating. But it will all be worth it.

Also, try to learn to live in the present. There will always be another test coming up you need to study for, another weekend you really need just to catch up, but if we keep waiting on the future to get here so we can finally "relax," it will never happen. We have to learn to embrace the present time that we are in. If we embrace the present that is when those crazy late night conversations can happen that cultivate life-long friendships. I only started to embrace this Spring semester of my junior year at UA and during that short time I have been blessed with at least 10 women that are have impacted my life in more ways than I can ever describe. 

Finally, if you are in a relationship, make sure you give your relationship over to the Lord and be content where you are at in your relationship. Regardless of who you are dating, you are dating a flawed individual who will always have things to work on in their life. Learn to accept them for who they truly are and love them where they are at. The reason why I say this is because this is how God treats us. He knows we have to improve and He loves us enough to challenge us to improve, but He also loves us just as we are. If we ever want to be the kind of wives that our husbands get excited to come home to, we have to show that we respect them and love them for who they are. Not who we want them to be like they are a project we are constantly working on, but who they are today. God loves them just as they are, and we should too. Women are supposed to be helpers who lift up their husbands, not women who criticize and nag and point out everything that is wrong. 

Be women of grace. Be women of courage. Be women who know their identity is daughter. Be women who know who their Father is. Be women who choose joy. Be women who constantly put their hope in the Lord. 

"It doesn't matter how long it's been I can talk to God like He's my best friend, take my heart and lay it down again right here, in a dirt road prayer."