Life Unexpected: God Provides

Hey all!

     Do you ever have those "a-ha!" moments with God? (Yes, I know- jumping head first into the topic today). Well, I just had a pretty great one- with one of my new best friends as it so happens. How awesome is that, to have a moment where you and someone else can sit in awe at how God has provided exactly what you needed when you needed it. . . when you weren't even aware it was happening?
     I met this girl in my speech class at school the beginning of 2nd semester. I'd known who she was for a long time before that because one of my old friends knew her and she'd often show up in pictures etc. So I friended her a while back thinking she was super cool. Little did I know I'd end up loving her and her sweet heart so much!
     The first day of speech neither one of us were very excited to be there, so we casually walked in last and took a seat on the opposite side of the room from everyone else together. (I didn't want to sit alone). We ended up becoming the 2 students who talk and laugh quietly during class (our teacher loves us the most regardless) and within the second week of class we were already talking a bunch.
     It was within a few weeks that we ended up really figuring out where we both were with our faith and with being single etc. At first it was just tagging each other in encouraging posts on Facebook and Instagram about God's faithfulness and waiting for the right guy. Then it flourished into a closer friendship where we would confide with each other about the difficulties we face with being single, laughing at how dorky we both are and how scary it is we are so alike with our personalities.
     Before I knew it she became a new best friend! Little did she know in the weeks leading up to 2nd semester I'd been talking to one of my best friends about how difficult it was to make good Christian friends at DMACC and how I was struggling with feeling lonely not having anyone I could confide in or who shared my same beliefs. and Little did I know that this girl had been confiding in friends and with her mom about how difficult it was for her in making new friends here, feeling like she was the only single one in her group etc.
     A few weeks later we became accidental best friends and I love this girl so much! She makes my 2 hour speech classes feel like nothing and I enjoy laughing at random things we do.
     Leaving in the fall is going to kill me because I've made a new best friend and I'll be moving 6 hours away, but God will continue to provide!
     While I'm on the topic of moving, this girl is thinking of applying to a school that's 11 hours away in Tennessee so I'm not the real culprit here :) (Hey, I've always wanted to go to Tennessee and now I've got a reason!)
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    Moral of the story: When you pray to God about something, expect Him to answer in His own time and in His own way! My friend sent me this picture tonight, and it was right after I'd been feeling sorry for myself that I was still single and I was having a difficult time being satisfied with God before a guy.

     We came to the conclusion that being single is a gift many let slip right past. We wanted to take ahold of that gift and really try to live it out! When we both came to the realization that God answered both of our prayers and provided exactly what we needed with each other we were blown away and both got super excited with how God had been SO GOOD!
     Don't ever let the enemy make a good thing bad for you. Our singleness and loneliness brought us together as friends and I'm forever thankful!


"A friend loves at all times. . ."
     -Proverbs 17:17a

Sarah

Solitude: Developing the Patience To Simply "BE"

Hey all! Welcome back to my blog!

     As you may notice, the background of my blog has changed once more. That is mainly due to the confusion on my side for uploading new posts- sometimes a simpler layout is better!

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     So for my Bible class (Developing Spiritual Disciplines) we had to spend an hour in solitude and silence then write a 2 paged paper reflecting how it went, what we did, etc. I was excited at first, but also nervous. I have a hard time sitting still or quieting my thoughts.

     Spending this time in solitude and silence was not an easy thing for me to do. With the weather not cooperating and having such a busy schedule I had a difficult time getting away for a while, especially without feeling rushed to my next commitment. I was able to take my puppy for a walk and jog down the road for a while, just enjoying the fresh air. I tried to take in the sights around me and be thankful for free time. I also just laid down and looked at everything outside. I talked to God as if He were right beside me giving me counsel and talking to me.

Different Christian songs I’ve been singing and listening to constantly over the past few days kept coming to me. These words especially be Tauren Wells new song “Hills and Valleys” kept coming to mind and I had a hard time clearing my head from them. “You’re God of the hills and valleys, and I am not alone.” I have a hard time quieting the thoughts in my head, but there were a few times I had quiet for a few seconds where I would just be still.

When I first laid down I simply asked, “God, what do you need me to know?” I already had a hard enough time going to lay down right before I did so, so I gathered Satan really must not want me to be in the quietness right now. Instantly God brought to mind someone I’ve been having a difficult time with the past few years. We were best friends at one point and then I felt like I just couldn’t do it anymore and I needed space from the friendship. After many hurt feelings on both sides I’ve felt God calling me to reach out one more time. So far I am determined to allow God to rebuild the friendship no matter how painful and difficult.

When this girl came to mind I simply asked God again, in the quiet of my heart, “what do You want me to do about it?” Nothing came to me, so I waited. That’s when the song “Hills and Valleys” came to mind again. I just could not, for the life of me, shake that song from my head. Granted the song is incredibly catchy, I tried and tried to quiet my head. Still, I didn’t hear an answer. I’m going to continue to listen for God to speak in His own time. Maybe something needs to happen with my heart before He can make it known to me. Otherwise this could be God’s way of teaching me patience (a quality I truly struggle with) or even how to listen for His instruction (something I am not skilled at or very familiar with.)

            I’m excited for the weather to improve so I can go drive away and sit outside in God’s creation, a place I love to go specifically. I looked forward to this time all week, but when it came I was almost nervous to enter into a time of quiet and stillness.

     Near the end of my time I began to notice my mind wandering to past heartaches and pain, things I do not like to spend much time pondering. I thought it was Satan trying to steer me from what God was trying to show to me, and that frustrated me when I wasn’t able to gain any insight into my situation.

            That’s when I was reminded of the purpose of this exercise: to spend time with God and enjoy His presence. However difficult it was for me to clear my thoughts and mind and just be with God for a while, I am anxious to give it another try and slowly become more and more experienced at spending time in solitude with God, whether He reveals any truths or insights to me or not.

     Prayers would be appreciated as I listen to and wait for God to show me how to handle this situation!

"Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song."

     -Psalm 95:1-2 NIV

Sarah