Father Knows Best

Growing up, did your parents ever say that "they knew best" when it came to making decisions?

Thankfully, my parents were always really great about giving me a reason for their actions, and not simply saying something like "because I said so" or "because I know best". Everything they did for my brother and I was to either keep us happy, healthy, or safe - and that's taught me valuable lessons when its came to decision making as an adult: is what I'm about to do going to make me happier? What about healthier? Will it be safe or grow me spiritually? All very important things to know about a situation before going into it.

But what about when our own human distractions or concerns try to stop us from doing something, regardless of whether it will keep us safe, happy or healthy?

Have you ever held back from doing something simply because you were scared, or thought you were unprepared?

That is where our Heavenly Father steps in and gets to say "I know best because I know what will keep you safe, happy, and healthy" and not just that, but also: "I know what will grow you and glorify me".

This is where I begin telling you about all the wonderful things the Lord has shown me this summer, starting with girl's basketball camp:

I began working for FCA a little over a year ago when I graduated from high school, when I took on the position of Administrative Assistant for Greater Hall. As an administrative assistant I get to attend every event we have and check people in, and help huddle leaders serve our teams and campers. But I myself, had never been a huddle leader. And didn't think I would ever get to.

However, after attending Captains Camp at the start of the summer (more on that later 😉), I wanted so desperately to be a huddle leader myself! Coming back from that camp, I prayed to the Lord "God, I just want a chance to serve you like that", assuming, according to my plan and what I thought was best, that I would volunteer to help out later in the summer after I had plenty of time to prepare and recover from Captains Camp.

Instead, only a few days after I said that prayer, I got a call at 10 o'clock at night asking me to be a huddle leader for a basketball camp that was the very next week.

Me?! I know nothing about basketball! I've never been a huddle leader! I need more time to prepare! I need to think about it! I need to make arrangements! I need this to work with my schedule!

And then the Lord convicted me hard for hesitating - because it's not about my schedule. It's not about my preparedness or my plans - it's about the Lord knowing what was best for me.

That's the beautiful thing about the Lord: He knows our limits and abilities farrrr greater than we know ourselves, and even then, He brings comfort in the fear of our inadequacies.

When Moses was called to lead the Israelites out of Egypt not only was he angry, but he also felt inadequate. He forgot that it is God within us that gives us power and strength, and not the other way around. And even then, the Lord provided Moses with a partner to help him: Aaron (Exodus).

From the moment I arrived at camp and was presented with my "Aarons" (my fellow huddle leaders), the Lord made it abundantly clear that He was going to do something incredible that week.

I had the most beautiful, intentionally placed group of girls with hearts of gold. Every one of them was so perfectly positioned not only on their team, but also in my life, because each of them had a story I could relate to.

It didn't matter how much studying I did, or how much I knew, because it wasn't my brain knowledge that the girls needed from me - it was my heart. It was the story within me that the Lord had been crafting for a long time, one that was beautiful, and perfect, because it is the story of Jesus active in my life! It is not something I could practice, merely a purpose I could pursue, because the Father truly knew best.

This post is short, but the message is sweet: as cliche as it may be "let go, and let God". Let God move, let God call, ask Him fervently for the desires of your heart, and do not be afraid to let Him answer even if it is in ways you would never expect! Be open to a Father that knows you better than you know yourself because He is the one who made you.

If you are worried or afraid that you are not enough, that you need to prepare more, or that there is any earthly accomplishment that you can have that will somehow make you more worthy of the Lord's calling in your life, then go ahead and tell the Devil to go back to Hell where he came from, because that is a lie!

The Lord has never asked us, and never will, to come to Him all made up, ready to serve in our Sunday best. Instead, He holds our hands, while we wear our rags, and He shows us how our wounds, scars, struggles, and salvation can be used to further His kingdom.

Don't wait - say yes today! Be fearless in the pursuit of your calling. Be fearless in your pursuit of Him.

-Emma

"Be fearless in pursuit of what sets your soul on fire."