“So, here’s what I want you to do, God helping you–take your everyday life–your sleeping, eating, going to work and walking around life, and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to it’s level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you. [Romans 12:1-2 MSG]
As I approached the end of 2017, I prayed for a verse that would be a reminder for me in 2018, a symbol of hope. 2017 was a crazy year for my wife and I. There were definitely more lows than highs, and I was desperately seeking a breakthrough. Little did I know that 2017 was only the beginning of what God is doing. I found this verse in the Message version. Previously, I was never a fan of the message version, but as I’ve gotten older, something about it just speaks to ways I can’t describe, directly into my heart. My goals this year have been fairly simple: to grow professionally and spiritually, to not get dragged down by this world, and to come closer to God.
In the beginning of 2018, I had an interview for a promotion at a school that I’ve dreamed of working. It came down to myself and one other person. The other person was chosen. Then, in May, I had an opportunity again for two different positions. I didn’t receive an offer for those positions either. Many people would wonder, “Trey… why are you telling us this? Your resume must be horrible!” Maybe? Maybe not.
I’m telling you this because we all go through seasons in our life where nothing (and I mean NOTHING) works out the way we expect. True, I think I go through these seasons more times than not, but there’s something magical that is happening here that I’ll talk more about in the weeks and months to come. I feel like my eyes are opening wide and my breathes are deep. I’m seeing things in a completely new perspective, something I’ve prayed for so long.
I wonder… What if our most desperate prayers are being answered… just not in the way we expect? What if all of these set backs are preparing us for a move into something different and new that we didn’t think to be possible before? These are the questions I’m wondering because throughout this entire year, God has been doing something that I can’t seem to put my finger on. And I’m in the midst of it. I’m not sure what it is. Dreams that I didn’t think possible have been given new life. New desires to grow and learn are emerging. A journey is beginning, and to be honest, I’m here for it. I’m ready. I hope you’ll join me.
Trey Schruff 