Spring is the season of new. New flowers, new marriages, new everything, but something new is not always something easy. Today I wanted to share about a time in my life where I went through something new and it was hard and challenging.
We had a great comfortable life and then in the winter of 2017 everything began to change! In the span of 60 days, Jared and I got married, left our jobs, move to a new state and started new jobs. I always say I work better under pressure, so in my head why not do it all at once. I thought it was going to be fun and easy but little did I know.
It was a lot of new all at once and it was hard. Something new is not always something easy!
When we made our decision to move, I told my family and they were so confused. I remember them asking what is even in Arkansas? See Texas people think Texas is the only state that matters…
We had great jobs, an awesome church, an amazing group of friends. I wrestled with this decision for a long time, but ultimately went with my gut and looking back on it I relied more on my gut than God.
I had my career all planned out. We were going to live in Arkansas for 2-3 years and then move on, add it to my resume and be done.
About 6 months after moving, I began to regret my decision. I was very unhappy, I had a very unstable toxic work environment. It was definitely not what I thought I was signing up for when we uprooted our whole lives. We didn’t have any friends, we didn’t really have a home church and I was confused. Why did we come here and what was the point?
Looking back on it, it was our selfish desires that led the decision and got us here, but God’s plan was so much bigger, even though it was hard to see at the time.
Through this time I began to really ask God why did you bring us here? The company I was at was in a really bad place. Every morning I pulled into the parking lot I truly thought the doors would be closed and that would be it.
The instability was something I had to let go of and for a type 3 enneagram like me, that’s really hard! I played this worst-case scenario game in my head. Ok worst case, we would move back in with my parents in TX and live in their spare bedroom. If that’s the worst case then what’s the best case? What could God do that was so much bigger than I could imagine?
I would pray and worship God every single day on my drive to work because I didn’t know what that day looked like. I had to my trust in him every single day, because that’s all I had. AND I HAD TO WAIT…
Everything new that I expected wasn’t easy like I thought it was going to be.
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Isaiah 41:10
And just like the song New Wine by Hillsong, it says, “in the crushing and in the pressing He is making new wine” and he was making new wine in me at the time.
So flash forward to a year of waiting, God brought me to my current job and our life made a 180-degree turn for the better. I now have an awesome job, a great group of girlfriends, we bought a house, and a great church home now.
I had to let go of my plan and trust in his. AND OF COURSE, He knew all along! Through the hard of everything new, I had to put my trust in his faithfulness and his goodness.
I came to AR maybe through my own selfish desires but it was all part of his greater plan to bring me to my current job and Northwest Arkansas.
Something new is not always something easy but after waiting and trusting I was able to see the greater vision and I pray if you are in a challenging new time in your life that you are able to be patient and trust him.
Brittany says
What a wonderful post Angela! I love how personal and honest this post was. I can relate to the thoughts you shared in this post, I’m getting married in May and all the changes that are about to happen are overwhelming, but new and exciting. Here is to trusting God through it all!
Angela says
I am so glad you found this encouraging. It can definitely be overwhelming, but God’s got this! Congratulations on your upcoming wedding!