Everything that we go through, we’re slowly being prepared for something. My mom told me once I moved into my new apartment that I needed to keep it clean. I am notorious for not hanging up my clothes! Seriously, something that takes only five minutes, you think I’d be able to put them on a hanger and be done with it. But for whatever reason, this didn’t seem necessary to me. I was busy, I had other things to worry about, yadda yadda. She then said to me something that I will never forget: “Kirbie, how are you supposed to receive bigger blessings when you don’t appreciate the ones you already have?”
I never thought of it that way… that I wasn’t be appreciative by not keeping my room tidy. It was my room after all! For whatever reason, that really hit me hard. And I’ve kept the place nice and tidy, clothes hung up immediately when they’re finished being washed. Baby steps.
I think this example is a great way to transition into what I really want to talk about. Preparation. Preparation is all we have, since we are not in control. We can’t map out our lives and know when and where things are going to happen, only God does. But we can prepare for blessings. We can prepare for a great opportunity by practicing our craft, whether that be painting, a promotion, singing, basketball or writing. We can prepare for a larger house by taking care of the one we have now. We can always be doing something to prove to God that we are patiently awaiting those blessings and when we receive them, we will be ready.
Remember? God isn’t going to give us anything we can’t overcome or handle. That is the truth. And while he is almighty and can change anything for the better, you have to put in some work as well.
For me, I am convinced that the reason why I’m feeling lonely at this time in my life is because I am being prepared for the future. I have a very odd yet comforting confidence that a blessing is going to be bestowed upon me that requires that I have this time alone, to wonder, to think, to get my heart and my head straight. And feeling this way has allowed me to be comforted during times when I’m feeling like I have nobody to confide in.
Tell the people: ‘Consecrate yourselves in preparation for tomorrow, when you will eat meat. The LORD heard you when you wailed, “If only we had meat to eat! We were better off in Egypt!” Now the LORD will give you meat, and you will eat it.
See? The Lord hears you. He hears your desires. He hears what you’re most worried about, what you’re most excited about. And he wants to give you your heart’s greatest desires, but he wants you to be prepared for them as well. When something is happening in your life that you don’t understand, it’s to prepare you. Better when, when something isn’t happening, it’s to make sure you are ready when the time actually comes.
Anytime, I mean anytime you are feeling something: you are feeling blissfully happy, you are going through a struggle, you are put in a position where you’re not sure which way to go, or when there is nothing going on: things are still and you have to wait, just know that these are all ways God is preparing you for other experiences, and for the future. Anything worth having didn’t come easy, but that isn’t to say that God isn’t going to bestow an explosive blessing in your life either. Regardless of what may be happening, be prepared, and situate yourself into the best life you can have.
Kirbie Johnson 