I am in a season of my life where I am being tested. 

It seems every obstacle I overcome leads me to something new I must face, and while I'm grateful for the opportunities to grow- man do I need a break. The month of March is flying by, and it feels like I'm jumping hurdles and sprinting to keep up. 

At times like these, I really wonder what God is trying to teach me. He works miracles in brokenness, and it's all I can do but pray that that's exactly what He's doing in my heart right now. About a month ago, I attended a Midweek where they talked about pushing away from doubt and pulling into Him, and it feels like I'm in a tug of war. 

One thing that's comforting me right now is Matthew 6:34 (ESV). "Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble." If tomorrow already has it's own set of trials, why do we spend so much time consumed with worry? Why is letting go so intimidating? As someone who worries about quite literally anything, this is a really hard practice for me, but I feel like it's something God is calling me to strengthen. He may not author everything that happens in my life, but He sure does use it to build me up. 

It's hard work, trusting. Maybe not for everyone, but definitely for me. I am a skeptic and a self-proclaimed cynic, and I definitely try to control more of His design than I really should. It's no mistake that when I lean on Him I feel more at peace, but it's the pendulum of feeling His peace and thinking it's from my own accord that keeps me off kilter. This season of my life is teaching me I cannot do it on my own, but more importantly, that I don't have to. In 1 Peter 5:7, we are told to cast our anxieties on Him. He's with us; we are not alone. 

I think God must look down on us sometimes and laugh. Not in a mean way, but in a "if you could just see what I'm doing in your lives you would let me work" kind of way. He just wants our trust and for us to fear less. I'm very fearful, but that fear blocks strength. Fear, like shame, thrives in the dark, but when brought to light, it is powerless. For me, this has been evident in all aspects of my walk of faith. Even today in the verses following my devotional I am being called to walk with trust. 

My favorite verse, Psalm 61:2, is the constant that I cling to. "From the end of the Earth, I call to you when my heart is faint. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I." Maybe I just have a thing for mountains, but the imagery in that is just beautiful. He is not only our rock, but His perspective over all is that which can only be seen from the heights of a rock, or a mountain. When I am weary and tired and broken down, I can still rely on Him. How powerful and absolutely wonderful is that? 

At the end of it all, this is just one more opportunity to grow. I'm trying to look at most situations in that light- as a chance to mature in His view of me. After all, "It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect." (Psalm 18:32)

A Weekend in Canada (a photo story)

Lovin' on...

Hi friends! How crazy is it that it's March already?

I feel like 2017 has already been so good to me. Between a new (& seriously awesome job), travel plans (#OGFRoadtrip), and learning that I am one class away from completing my major, March has been a pretty sweet several days so far.

With all the hectic-ness of the new year, here's what I've been lovin' on:

A Drink With

Hillary Sawchuk came to my public relations class last week and fanned a spark within me. Holy moly- she is like superwoman. Having her speak to my class about her webseries, A Drink With, as well as her personal story, was the most inspired I have felt in any lecture. Adding a public relations minor to my degree has been hands down the best thing I've decided to do in my academic career, and she confirmed it. Most influential to me was her thoughts on mistakes. Seriously, we need to be making them now while we can still bounce back in a nanosecond! I highly recommend watching her videos and reading her interviews if you want to laugh and learn from some of the most prominent people in the media. (I'm guilty of binge watching them all more than once.)

Divide

Ed Sheeran has done it again, lemme tell you. With a new album full of the perfect balance of ballads and folk inspired songs, Divide is just amazing. I have been stuck between replaying Barcelona and Perfect on an endless loop- both of which are at polar ends of the album's sound spectrum. Have you gotten the chance to listen to divide yet? (Pssst, if not, it's all on Spotify!!)

Slip ons

Somewhere between always being late for Court's 9 am pick ups for our library dates and my incessant displeasure from having to tie shoes when I'm half awake, I found myself in need of some slip on shoes. I know- it's like I'm back to being three. But seriously, they are a game changer if you're someone who's frequently running late (#guilty). I just got this pair, but linked some other favorites below!

What have you been lovin' on? 

Anew.

{via}

With the start of this new blog series, I feel like 'anew' is only a fitting title.

Three months into the year, and I feel like I've gone through the biggest growth spurt of my life. Everything has been constantly in motion and changing. I can only thank Jesus for this, because my stagnant ways were starting to pull me down- but He knew that.

The 'One Word' Series.

One word.

That's all it takes. To strike up a conversation, to form a relationship, to change a life. 

If you were given one word, how would you use it? I believe that words are powerful, and it only takes one to set a story in motion. So I came up with the One Word series. 

Every week, I'm picking one word. One word that, sometimes, completely consumes me. With each word, I'm sharing a lesson, a thought, or a memory. 

A story starts with one word. These are mine. 

Welcome to the One Word series. 

Starting this Sunday.