Navigating the Life God has Given Us

So, I am on Facebook . . . and Twitter.  Every day or hour or minute, if you like, you can post your status, ie, what you’re doing, thinking, eating, etc.  I recently noticed that a friend from years ago is in the middle of a move to another city.  So I wrote on her wall asking what motivated the move.  She wrote back telling me about her husband’s new job.  She asked if we’re still in St Louis.  I wrote on her wall, and I was trying to think of a polite way to say yes, we’re still in St Louis not doing anything that we really want to be doing–that we’re educated, capable people who are underemployed and trying to be grateful for that.  So I came up with: “we’re just navigating the life God has given us.”

We really are doing some things we want to be doing.  We are still married after 17 years and have 4 children we love.  Life is certainly never boring. But, we seem to be in a constant state of flux . . . of never having a definite destination, of wanting the world for our family, and having to learn over and over again that God has something more than the world for us–He just isn’t ready to share what exactly that is yet.

So what’s my point?  My point is that we are in good company.  It seems that God has a history of making His people wait for things.  This is what I am learning and relearning.  Sometimes I feel like I want to just scream, “God, I’ve already learned this lesson!”  But I don’t know God’s timing, and I don’t have all the information, so I need to comfort myself with the knowledge that God does have it all figured out.  I am preaching to myself.  I am learning to navigate the life God has given me.

5 thoughts on “Navigating the Life God has Given Us”

  1. I love your point: “…we are in good company. It seems that God has a history of making His people wait…”

    I started thinking about that, and immediately Abraham, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Ruth, Naomi, David, many of the prophets, etc., etc., etc., came to mind. We have a great cloud of witnesses! I think this is exactly what Paul is talking about when he says he’s learned to be content no matter what his circumstances are.

    Thanks so much for sharing this, and it goes without saying that you are in our prayers.

  2. Yes. All the people of the OT is who I had in mind. Paul hadn’t crossed my mind, but he really should have. How crazy his former Roman or Jewish Christian-bashing colleagues must have thought he was when he converted! After all he could have been in the world, it is really amazing to think that He became a jailed Apostle for Christ. Thinking of Paul’s contentment is a comfort to me, so thanks for mentioning him.

    As always, we appreciate your prayers.

  3. I continue to keep all of you in my prayers. In fact, I was praying for you at 4am today when I was wakened and then could not get back to sleep!! Your perspective of “navigating the life God gives us” is a good one for all of us to remember and embrace. Happy Valentines’ Day!!

  4. Tricia,

    I am sorry you were up at 4 am, but I appreciate the prayers then and the continued prayers.

    We also keep you all in our prayers, and we’re anxious to see what God will do for your future.

    Happy Valentines Day to all of you, too.

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