Last week I met A, a senior at a local college, who is interning at the children's home. She and another one of the interns have started attending the Monday night group I lead at the home. Turns out A is the roommate of one of our local Young Life leaders and she has been reading the blog for a while. This morning we had the chance to go grab a cup of coffee and chat.
As I asked her about her post-graduation plans, she shared her desire to attend graduate school and pursue a career in counseling. As she gushed about her plans, the 'mature, responsible grown up' in me couldn't help but ask her some practical questions.
Where had she applied? One place.
Had she been accepted? No word yet.
How was she going to pay for it? With a flexible, well paying job she didn't have yet.
Was she going to live at home? No, she needed a roommate and a place to live.
She smiled the whole time. Apparently, her parents are asking her similar questions, reminding her that their financial support will cease on graduation day. Yet, A is not worried. She explained to me that she has always been a nervous, worried person--but for the first time in her life she is positive that this is God's plan for her and she is walking in faith that it will all fall into place.
Oh, to still have that idealism! I caught myself thinking. I hope she is not disappointed.
As I left there I felt very convicted. What if I am the one who should be worried--about my lack of faith--rather than worrying about her lack of 'realism?' The look on her face as we talked had not been ignorant overconfidence--it was faith and peace.
I wrestled with these thoughts as I ran errands. Then I remembered a passage I had read in Crazy Love as I was waiting for her to arrive for our meeting:
"Christians today like to play it safe. We want to put ourselves in situations where we are safe 'even if there is no God.' But if we truly desire to please God, we cannot live that way. We have to do things that cost us during our life on Earth but will be more than worth it in eternity."
I was challenged.
Two hours after I left her I received a text message from A. When she got home she had an e-mail waiting from her graduate college choice: She was in--and she gave God all the glory.
Oh, me of little faith.
9 comments:
I certainly struggle with little faith... I like the realism. I guess because it's just so natural. That has boosted my faith by her faith in her walk in life.
Yes, I tend to be a realist too. How I long to be that full of faith!
Thank you for sharing. I too stuggle the line of faith and "realism". I admit faith is needed more times than not. Yet sometimes faith calls us to actions as well that may seem as just being realistic.
To be in that place, that little,tiny place, of KNOWING you're in God's Will,can make you bullet proof. And those of us of little faith proof. I love that place. I need to be in it more often.
Because of your earlier blog post about "Crazy Love" we decided that this was THE study for our small group to start...well actually GOD decided it for us, but it's a really long and awesome God story. Anyway...we started Chapter 1 last night and let me tell you these folks are so excited about what God has in store for our group. Thank you for being a part of that journey leading us to "Crazy Love" and thank you for making another reference about it in this post as well.
I'm another person who thanks you for chiming up about "Crazy Love." I finished it last night, and I believe it was divinely ordained for where God has my husband and me right now.
I used to side more with realists; after all, I was raised by one. But lately, I'm feeling more and more comfortable (if you can call it that) with faith. God hardly ever does things in a practical, "that makes sense," kind of way. And I want Him.
P.S. My word verification for my last comment was "colon." Maybe it's because we're getting six inches of snow today and I'm feeling a little loopy, but that TOTALLY cracked me up.
P.S.S. My word for this post is "docest."
Kelly- I appreciate your humor!!
wow, that was encouraging.
thank you. and by the way, your children are darling. thanks for letting me stop by every once and while.
::taylor
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