New Year, New Perspective

Since I was a young girl, I’ve dreamed of the day that I would publish a book. I have always had a place in my heart where I desired to be an author who wrote books that people related to. I wanted to create characters, storylines, in-depth people that readers could relate to and learn from. We are all so uniquely and intricately created. We each have different stories that make us who we are, as well as, different reasons we talk, think, or act the way that we do. I see characters as a great way to study that dynamic. I see books as amazing ways to inspire people to think, talk, and act with a brand new perspective.

Almost 4 years ago now, I started a manuscript that has been halfway done for quite a while. I’ve done a lot of researching, brainstorming, and planning on who my characters are going to be, what their story is, and what I want to teach people through my fiction book. It’s discouraging at times, honestly, to see that my book cannot be my number one priority in my life at the moment.

God has led me to be a counselor and so I must focus first on getting the education I need to excel in that field. Those who are students in an accelerated program understand that education takes up the majority of your life, especially when you get into the first job in your field and are working full-time. Throughout my time at college, I have played three sports, involved myself in leadership, worked, and took a full 18 credits each semester. I took advantage of every opportunity that God sent my way to grow and learn about my own talents and goals in life.

I have lost track over the last four years of the times that I promised myself I was going to finish the book by the end of the semester or by the end of the calendar year. I had such high expectations of myself, as I always have struggled with. Many times I even forgot that it was not my top priority in this current stage of life I am in. I forgot that because it is not my top priority in the stage of life I am in that I can not beat myself up for not making progress or finishing it yet.

I have had to learn over the years that this stage of life is not the right time for me to finish my book because right now God has set different priorities in my life. I can not tell you how many times I beat myself up over the last four years about not being done yet. Each time, I was met by a friend telling me that I can not expect myself to finish a manuscript while taking on all the responsibilities that I had in my life at college.

I had friends that saw my unrealistic expectation and who encouraged me to focus on my education and the opportunities I had at school first. These same friends would remind me that my skill in writing WOULD be a part of God's plan for me but that did not mean that I had to finish a book NOW. They showed me, and thank God they did, that I was already at my limit and responsibilities anything more would make me burn out. I thank God for these friends who encouraged me to wait on HIS timing and trust HIS plan for my manuscript and future as an author.

My top priority right now is to grow in my relationship with Christ each day. My second priority in life is to spend time making memories with my family. Next, I have a responsibility for finishing my education strong while gaining experience in my field at my job. I know that God has a future for me as an author, I know that God is going to use my writing for his good, and right now I have learned over the last few years that God‘s timing is better than anything I could think of. I do believe that at the right time, the perfect time, my book will be completed and eventually published.

I cling to that hope and that faith because I can only do so much. It can be so easy to set such high expectations on ourselves that we forget God‘s sovereignty in the matter. God's timing is perfect and we must have faith in HIS perfect timing. Even if you are an overachiever like me.

Right now, many are setting goals and resolutions for the new year. People are choosing what they will work on in the next year. Many will succeed and many will fail to reach their goals in the new year. When making goals, remember that you must not pursue so much that will cause you to burn out. Everyone has a bucket list and it can be easy to list all the things that you want to get done now. Maybe this is not a struggle for you or maybe you are like me and you set higher expectations for yourself than are realistic or capable of you reaching without burnout. I want to challenge you to do your best in every area of your life to grow this new year but do not feel guilty if your best is not good enough to reach your goal. Set goals that are achievable, goals that push you, but do not set goals that burn you out.

Almost 2 years ago now, I decided I was going to start a blog to share the grace and love of God in my life. This blog would also serve as a way to refine my craft as right now it is not God‘s plan for me to publish a book just yet. Right now, God, has me focusing on my degree in counseling and as I am focusing on that I am choosing to refine my craft in the skill that he gave me. This skill is something I know he’s going to use for great things but right now that great thing is my blog.

God has truly showered me with his grace of restoration, forgiveness, hope, and love over the last four years. I could not help to keep all of that to myself. In surrendering to God‘s timing I chose to start a blog so that I could still use my skill to glorify him. My hope is that over the last two years even if you just read one or two of my blogs that you could see God‘s grace, love, hope, and forgiveness through lessons I have learned in my life. My hope in the new year is as I finish my education path, continue to gain experience in my field, and refine my craft as an author that I pursue growth in all areas of my life however I can. My prayer is that each of my readers pursue the same growth in whatever skills you have. I truly believe when we are waiting for God's timing, it is our job to refine ourselves in whatever ways we can so we are ready when his timing comes.

Happiest of New Years to my supportive readers! I have been supported and encouraged by each of you over the last two years through my blog!