THE PLAN
"10 years into what most would call a successful professional career, I was forced to realize and admit that the motivation behind my work was only for the benefit of myself. Looking back, chasing comfort and earthly pleasures fueled the worldly ambition that left me constantly burnt out and miserable. Thankfully, God loves you and me enough to offer us a tremendous amount of grace and mercy that, if we choose to receive it, can initiate change in our hearts.
Through Jesus' brother James, He tells us to consider it pure joy when we face trials of many kinds. Those words promised storms, but for many years, pride had me convinced I was avoiding them. Pride and passivity led me to mistake summer showers for normal things that happen in life, thunderstorms for things that were not my fault, and the occasional tornado for things I may have taken responsibility for but then also abused God's grace for by avoiding change.
Finally, a major hurricane opened my eyes and made me realize that I had been facing these storms all along and all alone. Rather than find out what could top a major hurricane, I chose to lean on what James tells us next, that the testing of our faith produces perseverance, perseverance produces maturity and completeness, and blessed is the one who perseveres under trial. I had to surrender and let God work.
If you're in the middle of a storm, recognize that. Choose to be blessed for the opportunity to become more like Jesus. Ask God what He's trying to reveal to you and what areas of your heart He may be trying to change. He may just begin to reveal the plan He's tailored for you to fulfill His purpose for your life."
