Free Indeed

I have truly been feeling free recently. Free from fear of the unknown, free from "responsibilities" that were never mine to begin with and free in letting God take control.

This has been a long learning process for me. I consider myself a "do-er" and somewhat of a control freak. I like to be involved in the decision-making process of everything I experience and more importantly, I want to know the outcome beforehand. Very rarely does this happen...

God has been so kind to me in this season, showing me that not only do I not need to worry, but that this responsibility is His - and He is good at it! I have genuinely been experiencing peace like no other. This does not mean my circumstances are always peachy, but my perspective on their outcome and the process has taken a big shift.

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Life is busy, every second my schedule feels full: Working full-time, being in grad school, packing and moving and still trying to have time to eat, sleep and have fun. How do we fit it all in! In the midst of the chaos I have found freedom in reminding myself that whatever God ordains, He also provides.

Philippians 4:19 is a beautiful reminder of this, "And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from His glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus" (NLT). Paul tells the church right before this that he has more than he needs due to the people's generosity. God provides for our needs!

Not only does He provide for our physical and financial needs, but also our emotional and spiritual needs. In the book of Isaiah we read "See, God has come to save me. I will trust in Him and not be afraid. The Lord God is my strength and my song; He has given me victory" (Isaiah 12:2, NLT). He has saved us from sin and from ourselves, giving us freedom in Christ.

We are told that wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom (2 Corinthians 3:17, NLT). This freedom is also our invitation to surrender everything to God: our plans (Proverbs 16:3), our anxiety (1 Peter 5:7) and most importantly ourselves (James 4:7).

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I remember being so plagued by the constant uncertainty in my life:

• Will I ever get married? That one turned out better than I prayed for :)

• Am I getting the right degree? Well you're on your third, but that's ok! God has used everything you've done to lead you to where you are now

• Should I transfer colleges? If you had you would not have met your husband, friends or walked through some of the plans God had for you that strengthened your faith

• Will I find a job I like? Will I make rent? Yes and yes!

All of these very legitimate thoughts and worries were answered over and over, and not always in the way that I had planned, but I have been blessed to see that God's plan is better time and time again! He provides all we need in His time. We are free to surrender, knowing He is in control.

Praise God for having it all together so that I do not have to, that is freedom.