Back in February or so, a lady came into one of my big lecture classes and briefly told us about an internship opportunity where we could make money, learn a bunch of really good skills, and make connections that would help our future careers. At this time I had no idea what I was going to do this summer so I put my name and contact info on a slip of paper and totally forgot about it. Come the last part of April I got a phone call late one night from a that same gal, asking is I was interested in coming to an information meeting the next day to learn more about the internship. I had a busy schedule last semester (still not as busy as this semester), and the only way I could make it was to skip part of class. I NEVER skip class unless I am sick.
I went to the meeting and learned more about the program. Southwestern Advantage is a company that has college students intern with them all over the country selling in-home educational tools door-to-door. Sounds crazy right? Well, when I saw some of the products the offered I recognized them as something I had used to help prepare to taking the SAT and ACT while I was in high school. The rest of a long story short...After three interviews, I was selected to be part of a team of interns from my school and I started working to learn what I needed to know going into our week of training in Nashville.
The day after finals ended we packed up and drove across the country to Nashville, spent a week in sales school, and then went off to work in Kentucky for the summer. I worked all summer averaging about 85 hours a week and learned a ton about people, running a business, working hard, and myself, all while meeting thousands of really awesome people, making new friends, and building friendships with other hardworking students.
Looking back on the summer I see the countless ways that God worked to teach me and grow me to be more like the woman he wants me to be. It wasn't always easy. Knocking on strangers doors isn't the easiest thing you can do with your summer, but it will push you into extreme personal growth. Not only did I grow in who I am as a person, but I also grew spiritually and as a child of God. When you are working alone all day every day you have to have something to hold onto. Something constant that you can go to when you feel down, defeated, or like giving up. I had to rely on God.
Here is real question, when things get tough, who do you turn to? Do you turn to your all loving Father in Heaven, or do you turn to things of the world? The world tries to solve our problems by handing us things to cover them up. We think that if we do more we will not have time to think about our problems and they will suddenly disappear. If we feel unaccepted we, at least women, tend to try and change the way we look, what we wear, how much we weigh, etc. Other times people start turning to things like drugs and alcohol that cause them to forget their struggles. Here is the truth though, these things don't solve our problems, they just temporarily cover them up while behind whatever cover we have, they are growing and festering. Its like covering up a wound in hopes that it will just get better, but we all know that that is not what happens. We cover it up, but it is still there, getting worse day by day. We forget to turn to God with our struggles no matter how big or small they may be. He is the only one who can give us help and complete healing.
In all those days this summer that I was alone, hot, tiered, feeling like I couldn't do my job well, like giving up, struggling with rejection, and wondering if all the work was really worth it, I had to turn to God. There was nothing else and no one else to go to. This grew my faith and reliance on God. When I was discouraged I went to him for encouragement. When I was rejected I prayed that I would be a blessing to someone. When I wondered if it was worth it I reminded myself of how God had put this opportunity in my life. When there is nothing else to turn except God we begin to realize how loving, caring, kind, and gentle He is. So why do we wait to turn to God until other things have failed us?
Pride. It is the root of all evil. Pride is what keeps us from going to God and asking for help. Pride is what makes our lives so much harder than they need to be. We are told "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you." (Matthew 7:7) God is our refuge and our strength, a very present help in time of trouble. (Psalm 46:1) Why then do we not go to God first?
It isn't easy to humble ourselves and admit that we can't do things on our own. We are prideful beings. However, as soon as we are willing to humble ourselves before God and admit that we need his help, He will help us. God sent his only son to die for us so we could live with him eternally. If God is willing to give his only son, why wouldn't he be willing to help us through our day to day struggles? He is always there, we just forget to ask.
What are you struggling with today? This week? This month? Have you taken it to your loving Father? Or have you tried to fix things on your own? Don't wait any longer, take these things to God for he cares for you. He loves you with love that we cannot even comprehend, and he wants the very best for you.
Through my summer I leaned just how important taking my cares to the Lord is. Will you join me in the journey of taking our cares to our loving Father in Heaven?
Lovingly Your Sister in Christ
