“For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.”
Romans 15:14
“Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in the future.”
Proverbs 19:20
How do we let God handle it?
Last week my friend Michol sent me a text regarding a devotional she’d just read. It’s title: “When the next show begins, I’d like to be ready.” It talked about our preparing versus letting God handle it.
I quickly looked through notes on my desk and computer, wondering to myself, Did Michol and I already talk about this? You see I’d had the same thoughts in preparing for today’s message.
This is that time of year when we think about returning to school. A couple weeks ago I even posted a picture from first grade. I was wearing blue-framed glasses, a brown and gray shirtdress, and a really bad haircut. Yikes!
I loved going back to school, shopping and planning, organizing my school supplies, thinking about what I would we would do the first day.
You and I may no longer be getting ready for our first days of school, but it is that time of year when we think about new beginnings.
And thinking about our days when we would be getting ready for school made me think about what we might do as women of faith to get ready for fall in our own lives.
My grandsons Enzo and Austin will be in first grade this fall. Even before they’d finished kindergarten, I was wondering about their new teachers.
- They’ll be in new classrooms in new parts of the school building.
- In their classrooms will be friends from kindergarten and new children they’ve never met.
- There will be new routines, new expectations, new adventures.
- There will be days that go very, very well and days that don’t.
- Their teachers will guide them, direct and redirect them.
- They’ll share encouragement and their stern teacher voices when necessary.
So how do women of faith let God handle it?
What does this time look like for us?
Growing up, this was a season of change, new beginnings? How is this a season of change for us? What new beginnings await us?
Earlier Michol wondered how we prepare at the same time we’re letting God handle it.
What new people is God placing in our life? New teachers? New “classmates”? God is always surrounding us with the right people at the right time. Who is God bringing into our life “for such a time as this”?
If letting God handle it, how is our day changing? Do we have a new start time? New “classroom” in which to go? When’s recess? How might our day look as we think about this new season? Need to get to bed a little earlier? Start the day with a morning walk? Take time for an afternoon break?
What items has God placed on your supply list? My grandsons’ list included pencils, colored markers, glue sticks, spiral-bound notebooks, and backpacks. What items might God place on His list for you? A new journal and Bible study? A beautiful pink highlighter? Sticky notes for those quotable quotes?
Ladies, it’s a time of change for all of us. That can be exciting. That can also be a little stressful.
Yes, we can let God handle it!
The prophet Isaiah reminds us, we need not fear, for God is with us. We need not be dismayed. God will strengthen us and help us. He will uphold us with his righteous right hand.
We can let God handle it!
And all the people said, “Amen.”
Deanna Nowadnick is a writer and speaker.
She is also the author of three books, Fruit of My Spirit, Signs in Life, and Bouquet of Wisdom.
