The future.
It’s probably one of my greatest fears. What’s going to happen? When will I go to college? Meet my husband? Join the USHJA? What if I screw up my whole future and live a life away from the Lord and spend an eternity in the fire after death? These are questions I’ve probably asked myself a few million times. It’s natural for me – I am afraid for the future and I know a lot of others who are too.
If you didn’t know already, my family and I are moving to St. Augustine, FL this year and it really showed me that I don’t know anything that the future holds! I’ve never been there, never looked at it on Google Maps Streetview, or read any books about the place. The only concrete fact I know is that the Spaniards founded it in September of 1565 and it’s the first/oldest city in all the United States.
It’s a completely new world and life for me – a new start. I’m a bit fearful of what the future in Florida holds, yet excited to start the new lifestyle. I guess apprehensive. Which is probably why I couldn’t sleep last night and lay awake for 3 long hours.
I stayed up until 11:00 trying to finish my Nancy Drew Mystery (which I succeeded at), and turned out the light. As I waited patiently for sleep, 12 o’clock came and went, as did 1 – then 1:3o when I decided to listen to the Spirit beckoning me to the Word. So, I opened it.
I opened it to Isaiah Chapter 12 – my current spot in which I read every morning. The Chapter was called A Hymn of Praise. It said that “in that day” they (children of Israel) will rejoice and live in harmony with the Lord and each other. I instantly knew that “that day” was Florida. And moving there would bring us great joy. I was comforted – God had delivered a specific message just to me and spoke his exact words to my soul! Excitingly wanting to hear more of his voice, I went on to read my Walking with Frodo Devotional.
The topic was about King Theoden and the fear he faced of the unknown war he knew he had to face. He didn’t know all the details, but he was afraid of the ever advancing future. When he was finally broken out of the enchantment Wormtongue had placed on his mind, Gandalf heavily exhorted him and together they went off to battle.
Again, God was speaking right to me – telling me not to be afraid. Florida and the future are surprise presents that we can unwrap little by little everyday.
The last little piece God gave me early this morning was Psalm 18:1-20. I won’t list the whole psalm, but I encourage you to read it! The one verse that truly stuck out to me was Psalm 18:19 which reads:
“He brought me out into a broad place; he rescued me, because he delighted in me…”
My eyes almost teared up thinking that God had a message straight for me to give me hope: Don’t fear the future – it is a gift and I am saving you from something that could harm your walk with me, daughter. I delight in you and want you to be blessed in the life I’ve given you. Your future in Florida is a gift from me. Please, take it.
And one of the most amazing things about it, was that after I finished reading all I had to, I fell asleep. He kept me awake so he could give me a reassurance. I love my God.
Anyway, be encouraged dear readers! Your future has already been planned out by Christ! He’s giving it to us everyday! Little piece by little piece.
Before I end, I have to share something awesome with you that happened this week:
Jumping. It was complete awesomeness.
One of the greatest rules of jumping is this: A jumper looks ahead to the next jump – never do you look down or back.
It made me think of our lives. We should always look to the future and be ready for the next adventure, fiery trial, or blessing that God’s going to pour on us. We can’t look down at the hurdle itself or look back at how much easier the other oxers were 50 feet ago. We have to look ahead to the next one and work with a team with our horse to get the job done.
That’s the other component to show jumping: Horse and rider have to work as one. If the horse has his own agenda, the rider could get seriously injured or killed. If the rider wants things her way, the horse could seriously hurt itself or go lame – breaking a bone also means death for the horse.
So here is God’s message to us girlies: Don’t look back, to the side, or down. Look ahead and embrace whatever our futures hold as gifts.
Besides, Anastasia State Park, FL looks pretty jazzy.
Peace,
Emily 🙂
P.S. Just bought the pattern for my next cosplay: Legolas’ garb from the Lord of the Rings – I will try to get some tutorials up, my fellow cosplay junkies! Just hang in there! 🙂
P.P.S.   “Isn’t it funny how day by day nothing changes but when you look back everything is different…”
– C.S. Lewis
P.P.P.S. Another awesome quote by one of my mentors:
