What do you see?

What do you notice in this picture? How does this picture relate to your life right now?

My first thought when I turned over my card was "eww, it's a worm!" In my women's small group one morning, our group leader had maybe twenty cards spread face-down throughout the table and asked everyone to pick one. "Pick a card, think about what's happening in the card, and how it might relate to what's currently going on in your life."

When I first turned over my card I was a little annoyed that it was "just a worm." Stephen and I have been working on an outdoor project which involved A LOT of digging! As we were digging one Saturday, all we saw were worms. I didn't want to see another worm and definitely not on a card that I was to somehow relate to my current state in life.

Everyone took turns going around describing what was on their card and what it could possibly mean for them. I scrambled to think of something other than disgust, as the numbers of ladies left to speak dwindled down to me. "What do you have Tiffany?" I showed everyone my card still unsure exactly how to make sense of anything.

Thankfully, one lady chimed in to fill my nervous silence. "Worms are usually described as slow moving, going about their everyday routine, inch by inch. Which could relate to you because maybe you're currently in a place in your life where you're not moving as fast as you would like to be." "Dang! That's exactly how I feel right now," I thought to myself. It's funny how God is able to speak to you through someone who barely knows anything about your life. Tears welled up in my eyes as she continued to speak. "Things aren't going at the pace you would like."

All of these things are very true, and I'm sure many can relate to the same feeling. I'm a goal-setter. I like to make lists and cross things off. I like the sense of accomplishment that comes from completing a task. Being newly married, living in a brand new city, and currently not in the career field that I would prefer, I've had to re-evaluate where my worth and value comes from. The slower "inch by inch" pace is scary for me. Just because things aren't happening in the timeframe that I've created in my own mind doesn't mean that God doesn't have a plan for me. God's timing is perfect! God's plan is way better than anything I could plan for myself!

Another lady also mentioned how God cares about even the smallest of details. In this photo someone took the time to crouch down and snap just the right shot of this tiny bug. The things that concern me and fill my thoughts throughout the day, those are just as important to God. It was a great reminder that morning in my small group, that God sees and knows exactly how I feel. All I have to do is trust Him, and trust His timing. He has a plan. He desires good things for me. If He so carefully and uniquely created this tiny bug, how much more does He care for my life?

Sometimes when you're believing for something or going through a challenging time, it's easy to forget who God is and what He's able to do. Moments like these remind me of God's faithfulness.

These are great verses to read and reflect on:

“The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22-23 (ESV)

“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?" Matthew 6:25-26 (ESV)

I hope this encourages you today.

With love,