Peace of Mind...

And the peace of God, which surpasses
all understanding, will guard your
hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:7

Hello all. (I am not thoroughly convinced yet that there are many, or any for that matter, of you, other than my mom who is and will always be my biggest fan, that actually still read this, but I will proceed just in case.) It’s Monday, June 1, and as I type this I am still jobless and relentlessly looking. There are tons of resumes and applications with my name on them within a 5 mile radius of my apartment and yet, I sit and wait for the phone to ring. And it frustrates me. Please continue to pray that the LORD will provide a job for me in the very near future. While I trust Him, I don’t think my bills or the companies that expect those bills will accept that as payment. I have just never found it to work that way.

So, I will, in about one hour, make one of the biggest decisions of my academic career and I have quite the peace about it. About 3 posts ago, I expressed to each of you that I was on the threshold of officially applying to the AU Social Work program. That official application process consisted of several letters of recommendation, a 4-page personal statement, and a formal interview. I also listed several ways that each of you could be praying for me specifically within the process of application. Well, the Monday after returning to Auburn from my short vacation home, I turned in all my paperwork and the following Tuesday, I completed my formal interview with my departmental advisor, Angie. For the most part, the interview went quite well. I was challenged on several of the questions, one in particular (ask me about it if you want to know), but I stayed true to myself and the feel like I honored the LORD in my answers and attitude. At one point, I was even given an interview “gold star” because I answered a very hard question with complete honesty, which Angie went on to tell me was quite contrary to how most students would answer. She was impressed that I had the audacity to be honest when I knew it was the exact opposite of what she wanted to hear. Praise the LORD that He gives grace for the moment to reveal Himself through my character. All I want to do is honor Him. And I feel that I made that quite clear in my interview.

With all that said, today, I feel the LORD leading me to now officially withdraw my program application and finish my degree in Sociology. I know what you are all thinking. And the answer is no, to all! No, it will not extend my time at Auburn. I can complete my degree in 6 classes, and will still graduate in May because this degree does not require an internship for graduation. And no, I don’t feel like I am making a big mistake. I feel that the LORD has prepared my heart to make this decision and that it is not a rash choice. Late Wednesday night, I just couldn’t rest my heart on the matter. I did a little research and a lot of praying, over the next 4 days, and I honestly feel this is the LORD. I have said in weeks past that I don’t really know what the LORD is up to, but I feel like He has started preparing me for something big, and I truly believe this may be part of that. I don’t know that I have ever felt this “unanxious” regarding such a huge decision in my life. He has really provided quite the peace about it and I am ready to trust His leading. And last, but not least, no, I do not know what I will do with a sociology degree. I do know that I can do essentially the same thing with a degree in sociology that I could have done with a degree in social work, I just won’t have a BSW behind my name. This opens opportunities in social services, public relations, business administration, etc. (Plus we all know that I really hope I don’t have to use my degree a whole lot in my life, that is just not the desire of my heart!) Either way, pray for continued peace. Pray that, above all, my eyes and heart will stay fixed on Him.

There are other things in my life. To which I will not discuss on this post, that you can each be praying about. I may post on that later, but don’t count on it at this point!! (Sorry, some things just need to remain a mystery!) But you can be praying for clarity in those aspects. Pray that the LORD would guide my heart and mind in the way He would have it go and that I would accept that as good and follow His leading faithfully. Thank you to each of you for your commitment to me. I am blessed. God is good…

For God is not a God of confusion
but of peace...
1 Corinthians 14:33