God Has a Plan... Now Do Something

I grew up as the daughter of a Pentecostal preacher in a small country church that was roughly the size of your local KFC. This meant I was well-versed in everything from three-part harmony to speaking in tongues by the time I was old enough to walk upright. Side Note: If you’ve never heard a small southern Pentecostal congregation bust out their tambourines and go to town on an off-key version of Power in the Blood I’m not sure you’ve ever truly experienced a worship service!

All of that to say, I was raised in an environment filled with many sayings about God and the Bible and our relationship with them both. One of my all-time favorites is God has a plan and growing up I heard it about as often as I heard my own name. It was repeated so much that it became a part of my belief structure— a truth as assured as the earth rotating on its axis or John Stamos only getting more handsome with age. Even as a young girl I took comfort in the idea that God had a plan for me — and for you — and that if we only had the courage to live into it we could do mighty things just like Philippians 4:13 says.

But I wonder if perhaps I receive that truth differently than others do, and I honestly worry about how some might interpret it.

I believe that God has a plan for each of us… I believe is His plan is for us to live into the fullness of who He created us to be.

But so many women struggle with this idea; I know because they send me hundreds of emails and messages on social each and every day. Women from all over the world write in asking when it will get better. They want to know when their boss will finally offer them a promotion. They want to know when their kids will ever behave. They want to know when they’ll magically lose all the baby weight and start eating healthy. They always pepper the note with something along the lines of “I know God has a plan for my life but…” and friends I’ll tell you what, it makes me want to pull my hair out at the roots! It’s why I wrote my new book Girl, Wash Your Face. The book was an answer to all those women who write to me wondering when their husband, their boyfriend, their mama, or God Himself is going to step in and make their life better.

The truth is, God isn’t going to make your life better… but He certainly equipped you with the skills to take it on yourself.

God’s gift to us is our potential, our skill, our unique gifts and offerings… the special things that make us, well us. But what we do with that potential is our gift back to God. God having a plan doesn’t mean you get to float through life waiting for something to happen, it means that you do the work in prayer and reflection to discern what your divine calling is meant to be. It means that if you want more financial resources you do the work necessary to achieve them. It means if you want your children to be better behaved you read every resource available and talk with every mama and pediatrician you know and then do the work to help them be their best selves. It means if you want to be healthier and in better shape you give up a couple episodes of Fixer Upper and head out for a jog!

No matter your circumstances or the resources available, you are divinely equipped to affect change in your own life. You are fearfully and wonderfully made, my friend. You are capable of anything you set your mind to!

I hope you’ll live out this year striving for the full potential of all God made you to be and if you need a little help to get there, this book might be just the kick in the pants you’ve been looking for.

xo, Rach

Original article for Faith.Full written by Rachel Hollis, author of Girl, Wash Your Face.

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Your Turn

Do you need that kick in the pants? I do! Have you been waiting to have something happen or for someone to rescue you out of a frustrating circumstance? Let’s get to work! Come share your thoughts with us on our blog! We want to hear from you! ~ Laurie McClure, Faith.Full