Doing it all.

Over the past couple of weeks I've received comments here on the blog, as well as personal emails and Facebook messages encouraging me in my efforts with school and work and...life. The encouragement from so many of you is priceless...and confirms to me over and over again that I am headed in the right direction. Thank you, sweet friends near and far, for taking the time to send kind words my way. It means so much to me.

One thing many of you are saying is "I don't know how you're doing it all!" This is a common sentiment in your sweet messages to me and I've been thinking about it a lot lately...and thinking about the things that I am doing...and wondering to myself why it doesn't feel like I'm "doing it all". I mean, I know I'm doing a lot, I know I'm busy, my schedule is full, I have a lot on my plate. But the crazy thing is that it's not difficult. It's not stressing me out. In all honesty, it actually feels good.

You want to know why?

It feels good to be "doing it all" because I know that everything I am doing is exactly what I am supposed to be doing. I know that right now I am walking in God's will for my life. I am doing what He has planned out for me. And because of this He is giving me the strength and the peace and perseverance to "do it all". If I were to be doing this without God's provision and grace to handle all of these great opportunities then my mindset would be a LOT different. I would be stressed out and anxious and no fun to be around. And rather than saying "I don't know how you're doing it all!" you would be saying, "Girl, you need to slow down!"

There is such an amazing peace in knowing that everything I am doing each day is moving me one step closer to where I am supposed to be. Day by day I am getting closer to earning my degree...and closer to becoming a teacher...and closer to living my life the way that God planned for me when He formed me in my mother's womb. (Psalm 139:13)

God has good things in store for us...He has a plan for each and every one of our lives. Each of us was created for a specific purpose...whether we believe it or not. And it's really not that hard to realize what that purpose is...we need only listen to His whispers and follow His lead. As you can see...I am not always the best listener. I can be stubborn...and a bit dense at times. (And a LOT dense at other times!) But I think that, after all these years of floundering and wondering and trying to find my own way, I can finally say that I know that I know that I know that I am fully in God's will and I am walking the path He paved for me.

And it feels really, really good.

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. - Jeremiah 29:11