Originally published Thursday, 02 January 2014.
It’s a new 365.
I’m sitting in my office on this quiet morning thinking of our community; our God-struggles, the deep places He is taking us through, and the hunger we have to understand Him more.
As I’ve reflected on 2013 I saw God do a lot within you and I.
Just like you, I had highs but I also had lows. I quit some things and I even quit some people. I ran from conflict, hard conversations and things that made me feel uncomfortable. These were not my finest moments for sure.
But this morning, I also realized how much I almost missed with God.
While I had many flops in 2013, there were a few things I did endure and persist through. And I share this experience today for the one heart that is feeling abandoned by their God and is ready to give up on something.
For years I’ve felt like I’ve been this wandering soul for the Kingdom. A woman with so much passion but nowhere to land it. So, I’ve stayed open to what God was doing and transitioned here and transitioned there. But so much transition in so little time, makes one weary of picking up the pieces and starting all over {again.}
Through all this transition, there was one constant God spoke over me in 2013:
“Stay put and grow.”
This thought from God came from Psalm 1:3,
“He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.”
In 2013, I cried many tears of frustration. I said goodbye to people I never thought I would have to. I felt overlooked and unnoticed. I told God countless times I was quitting and finished, forever.
Oh how I am such a woman in need of the grace God offers.
Thankfully because of His grace, He gave me the strength to pursue the hard places of 2013. While I didn't always recieve His grace in certain areas, there were a few places I did.
And this past Monday, right before 2013 ended, I saw the fruit that is possible through this process of staying put and growing.
At 9am, I walked into a new position. One that fits my passion more than anything I’ve done before. One that only God could dream up.
And if this had happened in 2012, I don't think I would have valued this year-long process of staying put and growing.
While our list of goals and resolutions are all great things for 2014, perhaps one of the greatest lessons we can embrace is this place of learning to stay put and grow.
And oh how God is not finished with this woman right here. He’s reminding me of that verse in Psalm 1. He’s showing me how many times I’ll have the opportunity to quit and run again.
So He whispers,
-In 2014, when that relationship gets hard, don’t run…stay put and grow.
-In 2014, when you want to force success to happen, don’t…stay put and grow.
-In 2014, when you feel like I don’t hear your heart, your prayers or see your passion…stay put and grow.
Condemnation breeds quitters. Conviction produces change.
I’m so thankful for the way God loves us through our change process.
May 2014 be the best year yet.
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Nicki Koziarz is booking speaking events for Spring 2014/Fall 2014. For more information click here: http://nickikoziarz.com/speaking-2/
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