Watching and Waiting

Faith makes things possible - not easy. Simple enough advice, but easily forgotten and often difficult to follow.

Our school is entering its seventh year. Biblically speaking, this should be the year that we see great growth and return, the year the fruits of our labor should be most evident.

I have been looking forward to this school year for some time. I feel like I finally have my feet under me and have an excellent staff behind me. This past year, and years prior, it seemed we were always just surviving, not being progressive. It felt like I was on a treadmill. I really wanted this year to be the one where new ideas could blossom and be put into practice. It was going to be a growing year, not just another maintenance year. Last week, my hopes were diminished some as I read a letter of resignation from the strongest and probably most valuable teacher we've ever had. I hold no anger toward her at all, and I support her decision to move on fully - she has left on nothing but good terms. However, the void she leaves behind is one only I can fill - for the time being.

At first, this turn of events discouraged and worried me, but then I remembered the phrase above. "Faith makes things possible, not easy." And, then I remembered another one: "If things are going wrong, you must be doing something right."

For a long time, I have felt that I needed to be more heavily involved in a certain area of the school, and I've never pushed myself into it because the staff member that resigned did such an excellent job in that arena. Now, I have no choice but to step into that place. Isn't God a wise Father. I had my plans for this year, but He has some, too, no doubt. And His are better than mine. Through this change, I've learned that no matter how inconvenient or unlucky a circumstance may seem, I should step back and think about what God may be trying to accomplish through it. Where is He trying to lead me? What is He setting up?

I know this staff member prayed and sought God in her decision. Likewise, I have prayed that God will enable me to fill her shoes, and give me the strength to fill my own at the same time. And I know He will do it.

Many people believe a life lived for God is dull, that there is no excitement. They are wrong. When God changes a circumstance and you know it's for the purpose of something awesome, there is nothing more exciting than watching and waiting for His will to be perfected.