emotions and more on trust...

Excitement

Concern

Worry

Fear

Thrill

Cloud Nine

Concern

Worry

Fear

Trust

Speech Writing.  She knew all too well that each and every one of these emotions is quite present in this process, usually in that order, too. 

The Lord inspired her to write a speech on a great topic, she pondered for a while and then concern set in.  Nothing was getting written.  Every time she tried to write anything it came out a jumbled mass of thoughts with no logical flow whatsoever.  The concern then grew to worry when it had been quite a few months since she had decided on the topic and still nothing was taking shape.  The worry then escalated to full fledged fear when it was almost November and she had nothing saved in her speech folder on the computer.  "What am I going to do?  The first tournament is at the beginning of January and I have nothing!  I don't know what to do!" 

Then it happened.  Words started flowing from her pen almost too quickly.  She couldn't stop writing.

The introduction was written.

The first and second points were written.

The third point was written.

The conclusion was written.

Oh, the thrill! She then floated around the house entirely on cloud nine for some time. 

Then she timed her speech.

"What?  Fifteen minutes?  What's the matter with this stopwatch?  No!  I only have ten minuted to talk and I don't know what to cut!  What am I going to do?"

She spent days worried again about her now too-long speech.  She read it over and over and each time was able to cut only a sentence or two. 

But, as He always does, the Lord came through.  With the help of a dear friend of hers she was able to trim her speech down to a reasonable time. 

There's still work to be done on her speech, she still has lots to cut, it's not perfect by any stretch, but it is so glorious for her to know that God cares about every sentence in her speech.  He knows each and every word that needs to be said and He knows each and every word that should be cut.

She had recently finished reading Leviticus and Numbers.  As she read through incredibly obscure laws something dawned on her.  God cares about every single detail in our lives.  Every single thing.  There is nothing too small for Him to deeply, sincerely care about.  What a comfort!

Somehow, the burden of writing a speech becomes...well, not a burden anymore.  It becomes an adventure.  For her, speech writing is now becoming a great treasure hunt, and she is eagerly awaiting the next miracle, the next lesson, the next challenge that awaits.

Trust.

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths."
~Proverbs 3:5-6

Over and out,

~Emily