=)

For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope;

For why does one also hope for what he sees?

But if we hope for what we do not see,

with perseverance we wait eagerly for it.

(Romans 8:24, 25)

Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement

grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus;

That with one accord you may with one voice

glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

(Romans 15:5-7)

I read these verses two days after spending way too much time worrying. I really like Francis Chan's definition of worry... (which I also read this week).

"worry implies that we don't quite trust that God is big enough, powerful enough, or loving enough to take care of what's happening in our lives."

I was also stressing...

"Stress says that the things we are involved in are important enough to merit our impatience, our lack of grace toward others, or our right grip of control."

What was I stressing about? Life. College, mainly. I've been waiting and waiting and waiting to find out if I have been accepted into the PTA program I applied to last year. Honestly, I'm as impatient sometimes as I can be stubborn. I don't enjoy waiting! I knew the letter telling me the verdict was supposed to come sometime in February, but I was already anxiously awaiting it about halfway through January. It's hard not to think about something like that!

When I read the verses above on Thursday morning, I realized something.

I realized that I was NOT glorifying God with my worrying and stressing over a silly piece of paper. God gives us perseverance through His word and His Spirit, and quite honestly, I had hit the point where I wasn't allowing Him to give that perseverance. I wasn't even hoping for the letter, I was worried. Worried that I might not be good enough, smart enough, or whatever else the board making the decision was looking for.

I spent much time praying that morning... Apologizing, really. Apologizing for not trusting Him and allowing Him to give me encouragement and perseverance. Apologizing for stressing. Apologizing for worrying. After I finished that, I thanked Him for showing me that and told Him that I would wait hopefully until He showed me the plan He has in store for me.

That day at work, I didn't worry about it once. I even spent twenty minutes talking with a co-worker about the program, the expectations, and how I didn't know exactly when I would know if I got in or not. No worries, I felt completely calm about it all. And as I ate lunch, I once again thanked God for His timing.

Fast forward to that night when I get home...

I'm back in my room... Putting all my stuff away from the day and changing into comfy clothes (forget the khakis and dress shirt!). This is also the first day in the last couple weeks that I wasn't disappointed to see that there wasn't a letter waiting for me on my bed (where my mail is normally put, so I actually get it!).

Mom calls me out to the living room.

She has an envelope.

From Finlandia University.

I'm pretty sure my heart stopped for a second.

She had me sit next to her, and we opened it together...

I cried.

Mom and I sat there and prayed, thanking God for His provision and how He has worked so mightily in my life this past year... And I cried again(And then in typical college student style, I went and made my phone calls telling everyone and made it "Facebook Official.";-]).

ONE day. That's all it took... It really does floor me when I think that I had honestly surrendered it that morning for the first time, and then I got the letter when I got home roughly twelve hours after I told Him it was all His, and I was done spazzing over it.

Needless to say, I am excited! Not just because I got in the program, but because I have once again seen first-hand how amazing my God is. How much He Loves me. And how my ways are not His ways, which is why I have got to let Him do what He is going to do, in His time. I know 12 hours is probably a record of some sort for a quick reply on His end. Sometimes He asks us to wait for months, days, or even years.. Patiently, giving Him the glory He deserves.

One last picture... This will go in the mail tomorrow, officially holding my spot in the program =).

(I am sorry these are blurry... Blame my iPhone!)