For Such A Time As This

I am currently sitting outdoors at Liberty University’s library coffee shop. College students and some parents are walking, riding bikes, and driving cars onto campus. Two little birds just perched on the patio. I am so in awe of the goodness of my God and His faithfulness. 

Today is August 21, 2020 and my fourth day being a student on Liberty’s campus.

I was bottling up tears on Tuesday as I braced myself for my dad and I’s “see you later” hug and chat. After he told me to enjoy this new season, we parted ways and I went on a walk to my woods. I shared my emotions with God and asked that He would help me have a grip on them. Moving to Liberty in this season was not an option for me. It was happening. God placed me here. He made the way. This is the season that God has gone beyond me in provision for. Have you ever felt in your spirit that it was time to move on from something? I knew leaving home was God’s plan, and it is so freeing and confident boosting knowing we are in the will of God.

My family was able to pack up all of my college essentials and decorations. We had one empty seat in the car left after packing and then we filled it with more bags. 🙂

My mom, sister, brother, and I ate at O’Charleys and then explored the local Target store. It is so big and has a wood design in the front instead of red. I barely slept the night before moving onto campus. I kept waking up thinking where to place things in my dorm room.

On Wednesday, our borrowed Ford Expedition skirted onto LU’s campus near my dorm building. It took about three big red bins to take all of my things upstairs. Thankfully, my dorm has an elevator. After cleaning my little room and putting everything up, my family went to the airport to pickup my roommate Elise!

I was exhausted in most every way Wednesday night but sparked some energy after drinking a coke for dinner. Our hall had a meeting with girls and then we saw our brother dorm friends.

Thursday morning was the time I was kind of dreading for the sake of telling mom, Darby, and Remington “see you later.” I obviously know having emotions is a sign of being human, but I asked God to not let me be overcome by my emotions. God has truly sustained my family and I.

A lot of people assumed I was nervous for moving. I had a lot of people tell me, “Just wait until your family leaves and you are sitting in your dorm room all alone. That is when the tears hit!” I really did not relate to either of these common thoughts. I have been more social than ever these last few days. I LOVE the people I am getting to meet. 

I told my sister that the hearts of guys here are so astounding. I have noticed individuals who stop whenever they see someone excluded. Liberty is a family. No where and no one is perfect, but I am grateful for the details God has written for this new season of my life. 

Something I have been thinking a lot about is expectations. Before coming to Liberty, I followed certain friends groups and social media influencers from Liberty.

I do not want the story God has written for someone else. I do not want to follow the steps of someone who is not God.

We must be very careful of who we follow and who we allow to transform and shape our thoughts. God has a unique story written for me and for you.

I was mesmerized by the true story in Esther 2:19-23 (CSB). 

“When the virgins were gathered a second time, Mordecai was sitting at the King’s Gate. Esther still did not reveal her family background or her ethnicity, as Mordecai had directed. She obeyed Mordecai’s orders, as she always had while he raised her.

During those days while Mordecai was sitting at the King’s Gate, Bigthan and Teresh, two of the king’s eunuchs who guarded the entrance, became infuriated and planned to assassinate King Ahasuerus. When Mordecai learned of the plot, he reported it to Queen Esther, and she told the king on Mordecai’s behalf. When the report was investigated and verified, both men were hanged on the gallows. This event was recorded in the Historical Record in the king’s presence.”

You may be thinking, “Cool story, Haley. What is this about?”

I am newly amazed at the fact that Mordecai had such purpose sitting at the gate. Sitting at a gate could seem unimportant or tiring seeing everyone else walk by. He could have used his sitting to compare and stare, but Morecai’s position of sitting enabled him to save the king’s life. This was just a small part of significance in the grand scheme of the story. God used the king and his wife Esther to save the Jewish people from annihilation.

My Bible had a sweet devotion that shared, “Our refusal to take part in God’s work doesn’t thwart God. It limits our privilege to take part in what He is doing. God can even use unrepentant sinners to achieve His good purposes. God’s providence is comprehensive, wise, and holy. His timing and calling are no mistake, and He has placed us, like Esther, here, now, and for such a time as this. 

We, like Esther, can have courage, comfort, and peace. From a human perspective, our lives and circumstances can seem totally out of control and scary. But we can rest in God’s providence, knowing that He is working.

Look for God’s invitation to join Him in His work. Have courage, comfort, and peace-you can join Him!”

I love the invitation we have to be on God’s team and to make His family bigger.

I am letting go of expectations that contradict God’s written story for me. I am letting the leaves of old things fall to the ground as I am so excited to embrace every new thing from God that comes my way.

Much love to you in whatever season of life you are in,

Haley Wade