Greater Perspective

It has been one of those weeks where I feel incapable of fulfilling all of my responsibilities. I just came back from Thanksgiving break so logically I should be rested, right? It was a relaxing time at home, and I was able to have a lot of fun over break; however, I did not address much homework until the last couple of days of break which is honestly a first for me. I am the kind of person that has a hard time relaxing because I am so busy focusing on the next thing I have to do. Rarely do I sit in silence and focus on the present. When I try to do so, my mind begins to rush with all the other things I could be doing in my moment of rest. Thoughts run around in my mind of how unproductive I am being in the silence and relaxation and many times I end up stopping my rest time and starting another project. I just cannot be still and this is not a new thing for me.

Tuesday night, in the anticipation of my presentation and ten paper due that night along with the knowledge of the 30+ pages I would have to write for various classes before I go home in 14 days, I was stressed to the max. Thinking of how to manage my time so I had enough time for all of my responsibilities was so hard. I was on the verge of tears and on the brink of falling to pieces. The thing is, in my craziness of life between helping on the Women’s basketball team at Clarks Summit University, dorm leadership, 18 credits, work, etc. I had forgotten to remind myself why I was doing it all.

Tuesday night I presented to my Ethics and Professionalism in Counseling class on the subject of Ethical Issues involved in School Counseling Reference Transgenders. I was reminded through that presentation the love that I have for high school students and the excitement in my soul to be a School Counselor in the near future. I had allowed the stress and worry about my crazy life to let me forget the reason I am here at CSU studying Counseling. It gave my stress perspective! As I shared in my presentation about relying on God for guidance on how to love students of all backgrounds and lifestyles, I was reminded that even when things are stressful and crazy, I need to be relying on God for ALL of my strength. It sounds cliché and it is said all the time in Christian circles to trust God and rely on Him for strength, but it is a real need and important reminder! It is a real need of all of us to rely on God fully for our strength in all things both small and large!

I began to focus on the bigger perspective moving through my week and on Thursday I hit another bump in the road. My car that I had purchased this summer decided that its brakes wanted to stop working. The Coach I am shadowing this year was gracious enough to check my car for me and see if there was an easy fix before I took it to a mechanic. In finding that my brake fluid was low, I had the car towed Thursday afternoon. I knew there would be some sort of leak and it would be at least a couple hundred bucks; however, I was praying it was not any crazy fix. Friday morning, I returned a call to Kost Tire in Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania to find out that the driver’s side had a leak in the brake caliper and hydraulic fluid had spilled all over my brake pads. This caused me to have to get a new caliber and set of brake pads installed in my car. The bill was estimated at $425.56 for labor and parts. Once again, I am trying to keep a good perspective here in the bigger picture of my life. Although it was not easy this incident reminded me again of God’s Sovereignty. Now, how could a $425 expense for a Senior in College who is also pursuing her Master’s be a sign of God’s provision and sovereignty? Well, this incident showed God’s provision and sovereignty in more than one way:

1. He provided the funds in my bank account. You know that $425 was not just sitting there. I had a plan for what that was going to be used for and it was for various bills I have monthly including gas money to get home for Christmas. God has often used finances to teach me to trust Him and He knows it is effective. Money is something I struggle to trust God with. I have a natural talent with budgeting and handling the money I make well; however, God does not allow me to get prideful with that talent. God makes sure that I am occasionally challenged financially and referring back to Him with guidance with every step financially. In the end, He is the one that gave me the money, right? He provided the job that gave me the hours to make the money I make and I need not ever forget that it is His money.

“And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”

Philippians 4:19 (ESV)

2. He protected me from a car accident. I was originally going to bring my car home for Thanksgiving break and that would have been a 5.5+ hour drive to New Hampshire and 5.5+ hour drive back to Pennsylvania. Had I taken my car home for break there is no telling when my brake caliper would have leaked and my brakes would have stopped working. I could very well not be here right now typing this post had I taken my car home for break. When I realized this level of protection God had granted me, I had a moment of silence and true awe of how crazy it is that my God protected me from crazy possibilities of an accident on the highway. To think I was so close to driving home in my own car and I decided not to, but my brakes stopped working a few days after I came back from break is truly amazing!

The next couple weeks will begin to be crazy as I finish up the semester for Christmas break and it is so easy to get wrapped up in the stress itself. It is so tempting to let the stress of life consume me BUT there is hope. There is a God who is near to the heart of all His children and He can grant peace in the most overwhelmingly crazy times.

“You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.”

Isaiah 26:3 (ESV)

I challenge you to focus on the bigger picture this Christmas season. I challenge you to take hold of the moments you have with family and friends. Do not get so wrapped up in the crazy that you do not make memories this holiday season. There is beauty in a community, especially in times of stress. Spend quality time with loved ones even if you are finishing your semester of college. Take breaks in between assignments and let loose with your friends to destress. Finally, whatever your craziness is in life ask yourself a few questions: Why am I doing this? and How are God’s provision and sovereignty evident in the midst of the chaos? Let these answers energize you. It is not easy to pause and focus on the bigger picture; but, I promise you that in the midst of the chaos that is the Christmas season or even finishing up a semester of college, pausing to answer these questions will remind you of not only your purpose but of your Good Father who provides for your every need, including peace.