in the place God has for her

 "A woman, who because of her deep love for Jesus and daily indulgence in His word, is one who is thriving right in the place God has for her. In the midst of whatever season she finds herself, because she has life giving truth that sustains her... that directs her. That grounds her. She's filled up and ready to spill out what God has given her to help those He's put in her life to impact and influence."

-Stephanie (Honey) Holden

I read this quote yesterday by Stephanie Holden describing what a woman of God looks like. The phrase "thriving right in the place God has for her" struck me. 

Right in the place God has for us. Not in the place we think we should be, ought to be, want to be. Not in the place society says we need to be. Not in the place we assumed we'd be by now. In this place. This very place. With all of its circumstances and struggles and disappointments and grace and glory. 

What in your life is not how you dreamt it, my friend? I'm sure there are spaces in which you wonder, "How in the world did I end up here?" We all have them. We all have circumstances and realities we never expected and, quite frankly, ache to be different.

We could swap stories. Talk about the dreams unrealized. The hopes thwarted and deferred. The longings unmet. The desires fulfilled but then nothing like we expected. The heartache. The reality of circumstances we can't change but wish we could. 

And yet.

God is here. With us. Working. He is using all things, every circumstance, every heartache. He is shaping us more into his likeness. More into who we were meant to be. And he is able and willing to use these very spaces that we might bring comfort to others.

I was talking with a friend recently, acknowledging how often just want things fixed. The comfort of God with us doesn't encourage us as much as seeing solutions to our problems.

But what it would be to learn that his presence is in fact our greatest blessing? That even though things might not be as we wished they were, they are written in the story of our lives, in the greater story of God and His kingdom, and will be used for our continual shaping and growth. Our continual knowing more of Jesus as our Friend in this life. And Lord willing, used for the greater comfort of our brothers and sisters.

Our mistakes are met with forgiveness and redemption.

Our unmet longings are met with hope and healing.

Our unrealized dreams are met with peace and glory.

And through it all we can experience deeper intimacy and friendship with our Father.

In this life we will not have all our dreams come true. We will not live as things were meant to be. But praise God we are heading to our lives completely redeemed and made right! We are promised life to come as it was meant to be. Where all our hopes and longings and dreams are met and completed. Where the true blessing of his presence is known in full. And as for now, we live our beautiful and sometimes disappointing lives in light of our God who is working evermore to bring his Kingdom here in these very places and in our hearts. Thanks be to God!