at 23
Plans are funny.
I didn’t imagine at 23 I would be an intern at a church, or be volunteering any time anywhere.
I didn’t imagine myself planted in a city—I’ve always been more of a runner than a root-grower.
I didn’t imagine myself on a creative team with some of the most talented individuals I’ve ever met, let alone having the self-confidence to realize I belong in that room.
I didn’t imagine at 23 I would play a crucial part in running the worlds largest hair awards competition.
I didn’t imagine myself building kingdom at 23, and I certainly didn’t imagine myself willingly showing up to 3 church services every Sunday.
I didn’t imagine myself with friends who knew the ins and outs of my life and loved me for it, and I really didn’t imagine any part of my crazy beautiful life.
So it was all unexpected...as the best gifts are. I didn’t plan for the life I have—man I tried but if I would’ve gone with my plan I’d be married, living in my hometown and working for a diaper company in Michigan (I wish I was kidding). That was as big as the dream got. That was the box my plan existed in.
That’s the thing about letting go of your plan. It looks like it isn’t going to be worth it for a while. For me it looked like a lot of things I prayed and dreamed for continually put on hold, and other things I never dreamed of the exact doors that opens the widest. Sometimes you find yourself thinking where God has you going is going to be completely wrong—until you realize it’s entirely right. Rest assured in this—He doesn’t make mistakes with that. Every single place He has put you, it’s there to be part of your story.
God wants us to succeed. He wants us to have the very best things for us. But are you in tune with what the very best things are for you?
Feelings lie. Emotions deceive. But those desires of the heart...what did God place there? What promises do you just know in your gut He’s going to come through on? The things you can’t shake, that seem almost laughable and crazy?
He will come through on the things He’s promised. He will not disappoint.
Do I have everything I wish I did at this point in my life? No, I’m human and I’m sure I’ll always be able to think of something else I could have. But I do know I have everything God needs me to have. And the deep desires I know he’s going to fulfill, He’s working on making me the version of myself I need to be before He gives it to me. How crazy is that? He literally protects us from ourselves so we steward the gifts He gives us in the best way.
God won’t withhold. He won’t give you second-best. It can look like it for a little while, but when you give it to Him, you look in the rear view and see that literally every single thing you went through built your story to get to where you are.
And it hasn’t just been for you. It’s been for the people you’ve touched along the way, the people who will go through the same things who will need your wisdom. That’s one of the best parts of God-plans. They involve more people than ours do.
So my life doesn’t look like I thought it would. It’s 100x better. I don’t have everything I might want. But I am 100% sure God is telling me He’s working on it, just to be patient while He does the work. And I just know this is only the smallest beginning of the wild things He is going to do in my life as I continue to give more and more of my plans to Him. Some things are His battles to fight, not mine. So what am I saying? Trust and have the faith that God is so good and so for you. And when you give your plan for His, crazy things happen⚡️
