I love to read.
I love diving into a new story and exploring every detail of it.
I love meeting new characters, visiting new places, and experiencing new adventures. I get caught up in the language of tales, in the emotions of people, and in the excitement of looking forward to what is to come.
However, I have a love-hate relationship with turning new pages.
As I get half way down the right page of the story, I begin to pinch the corner of the page between my two fingers... I impatiently wait to turn the page, wondering what lies behind the words of the new page.. then finally, it's time to turn. New page.
I anticipate the next page with great excitement. That's a good thing, right?
I guess you could say that.. But here is the problem with me: I am a little too impatient. WAY too impatient, actually. Like, I'm talking "I-read-the-last-chapter-first" impatient. This character flaw of mine overflows to my page turning habit, also. Why? Sometimes I get too excited for the new page that I simply skim the last paragraph of the old page. I miss the details of it. I miss the emotions, the thoughts, the memories. I miss the stuff that you should remember.
You might be thinking, "Is she really going to keep babbling about her horrible reading habits??"
Yes. Yes I am.. just in a different context, so stick with me..
I am actually talking about turning new pages in my own life.
At this very moment, I am literally sitting on a figurative fence. One side of the fence is the past year of my life: my friends, my thoughts, my memories, my role, my team, my story. The other side of this figurative fence holds a new role, a new team, new experiences, new people, new stories.
I cannot wait to hop over the fence and see how that part of my story plays out.
I cannot wait to turn that new page.
Here is my problem and my fear: am I too impatient about turning this new page? Am I missing out on the last paragraph of this page?
By the grace of God, I can confidently tell you, "No. I'm not being impatient. I am savoring each word of this last paragraph before the page turns."
Why? Because even though I am impatient while reading books, God has taught me a few things about patiently waiting for the new page to turn in my life.
Maybe you find yourself on a fence just like myself.. Maybe you don't know how to gracefully balance the now with the excitement (or fear) of the future. I've been there before, dear friend. Many times. Hang in there... it might not get easier, but it does get more exciting. As I sit on this fence, gracefully balancing is a constant battle. Sometimes I start to fall one way or the other, but below is how God pulls me back to the graceful balance of waiting.
1.) Ecclesiastes 3:1 - "For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven."
- This season of your life is not an accident. It is supposed to be there. God placed you in this time for a reason. Waiting has a time in your life. Excitement has a time in your life. Anticipation has a time in your life. Enjoy this season, find the sweetness and laughter in it.
2.) Philippians 4:11 - "..for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content."
- Paul learned to be content. I am learning to be content. Contentment with the season of life you are in does not always come naturally. It can only be learned through experience. God has taught me that lesson through the countless times He has put me through experiences for the sake of my learning to be content. Remember this: He has put you in this season. He has provided everything you need for this season. He is right there with you. Pray for contentment. Seek contentment. Look to God's Word for contentment.
3.) Esther 4:14 - "...And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?"
- When Esther was forced to be a participant in the king's beauty pageant, she had no idea why. When she was chosen to be queen, she had no idea why. When her people were in danger, she still had no idea why she had been put into that position...until Mordecai wisely asked, "..and who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?" God knows. He knows exactly the steps you needed to take to be at this point in your life. He knows that in this moment, you are still taking the necessary steps to make it over the fence to the new page. Have patience, friend. Trust that He is in control and has a plan. It's a beautiful thing to look back on the story and see how God has perfectly placed the pieces together..
4.) 2 Corinthians 1:3-7 - "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer. Our Hope for you is unshaken, for we know that as you share in our suffering, you will also share in our comfort.
- What you are going through does not just impact you. God uses your life and your experiences to encourage and comfort others. Pretty amazing, right? Stay alert, pay attention, be fully committed to enjoying and learning in this season of life.. God will take your experiences and use YOU to help others grow. Don't give up, dear friend. Keep going.
5.) Enjoy life. Enjoy this moment. Do not allow yourself to mourn over what is ending, but be delighted by the memories God has given to you. Do not wish away the days, but bask in what He is doing right now. Seek Him. Love others. Enjoy this precious gift of today that he has given to you.
I love diving into a new story and exploring every detail of it.
I love meeting new characters, visiting new places, and experiencing new adventures. I get caught up in the language of tales, in the emotions of people, and in the excitement of looking forward to what is to come.
However, I have a love-hate relationship with turning new pages.
As I get half way down the right page of the story, I begin to pinch the corner of the page between my two fingers... I impatiently wait to turn the page, wondering what lies behind the words of the new page.. then finally, it's time to turn. New page.
I anticipate the next page with great excitement. That's a good thing, right?
I guess you could say that.. But here is the problem with me: I am a little too impatient. WAY too impatient, actually. Like, I'm talking "I-read-the-last-chapter-first" impatient. This character flaw of mine overflows to my page turning habit, also. Why? Sometimes I get too excited for the new page that I simply skim the last paragraph of the old page. I miss the details of it. I miss the emotions, the thoughts, the memories. I miss the stuff that you should remember.
You might be thinking, "Is she really going to keep babbling about her horrible reading habits??"
Yes. Yes I am.. just in a different context, so stick with me..
I am actually talking about turning new pages in my own life.
At this very moment, I am literally sitting on a figurative fence. One side of the fence is the past year of my life: my friends, my thoughts, my memories, my role, my team, my story. The other side of this figurative fence holds a new role, a new team, new experiences, new people, new stories.
I cannot wait to hop over the fence and see how that part of my story plays out.
I cannot wait to turn that new page.
Here is my problem and my fear: am I too impatient about turning this new page? Am I missing out on the last paragraph of this page?
By the grace of God, I can confidently tell you, "No. I'm not being impatient. I am savoring each word of this last paragraph before the page turns."
Why? Because even though I am impatient while reading books, God has taught me a few things about patiently waiting for the new page to turn in my life.
Maybe you find yourself on a fence just like myself.. Maybe you don't know how to gracefully balance the now with the excitement (or fear) of the future. I've been there before, dear friend. Many times. Hang in there... it might not get easier, but it does get more exciting. As I sit on this fence, gracefully balancing is a constant battle. Sometimes I start to fall one way or the other, but below is how God pulls me back to the graceful balance of waiting.
1.) Ecclesiastes 3:1 - "For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven."
- This season of your life is not an accident. It is supposed to be there. God placed you in this time for a reason. Waiting has a time in your life. Excitement has a time in your life. Anticipation has a time in your life. Enjoy this season, find the sweetness and laughter in it.
2.) Philippians 4:11 - "..for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content."
- Paul learned to be content. I am learning to be content. Contentment with the season of life you are in does not always come naturally. It can only be learned through experience. God has taught me that lesson through the countless times He has put me through experiences for the sake of my learning to be content. Remember this: He has put you in this season. He has provided everything you need for this season. He is right there with you. Pray for contentment. Seek contentment. Look to God's Word for contentment.
3.) Esther 4:14 - "...And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?"
- When Esther was forced to be a participant in the king's beauty pageant, she had no idea why. When she was chosen to be queen, she had no idea why. When her people were in danger, she still had no idea why she had been put into that position...until Mordecai wisely asked, "..and who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?" God knows. He knows exactly the steps you needed to take to be at this point in your life. He knows that in this moment, you are still taking the necessary steps to make it over the fence to the new page. Have patience, friend. Trust that He is in control and has a plan. It's a beautiful thing to look back on the story and see how God has perfectly placed the pieces together..
4.) 2 Corinthians 1:3-7 - "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer. Our Hope for you is unshaken, for we know that as you share in our suffering, you will also share in our comfort.
- What you are going through does not just impact you. God uses your life and your experiences to encourage and comfort others. Pretty amazing, right? Stay alert, pay attention, be fully committed to enjoying and learning in this season of life.. God will take your experiences and use YOU to help others grow. Don't give up, dear friend. Keep going.
5.) Enjoy life. Enjoy this moment. Do not allow yourself to mourn over what is ending, but be delighted by the memories God has given to you. Do not wish away the days, but bask in what He is doing right now. Seek Him. Love others. Enjoy this precious gift of today that he has given to you.