Do you remember that leap, that step into the unknown, the big jump of faith you took that completely changed your life for the better? Think about that moment for a second and think about all the thoughts before you leaped into the unknown. Think about the result of that leap, did it impact your life for the better?
Sometimes walking in faith and surrendering your entire life means trusting in Jesus through each step you have taken into the unknown. And I am sure each step you have taken has been very uncomfortable but the coolest thing about that is when you are comfortable you are not in a position where you can grow. And a lot of the times the Lord pushes us to take His hand in faith and become uncomfortable so we can grow.
My name is Alyvia Earle and that was just a little snippet of my story. I am currently a sophomore at Clemson University. But before I unfold my life now to you, I need to tell you how I got here. Almost three years ago I was in the summer of my senior year in my hometown of Windham, Maine. I was working at an ice cream shop and going on the boat everyday with my family but I was dreading my senior year. I was tired of the drama at school and fighting to keep friendships that were toxic and unfulfilling. As a 17 year old girl that to me was the end of the world. What was I gonna do my senior year in high school with no good friends beside me? I was dreading the days I was about to step into. The problem there though was that I was willing to settle into the devastation instead of praying about it and looking to the Lord for answers.
My whole life I have grown up in a Christian home but this was the turning point of taking my faith into my own “big girl” hands. The moment that changed my life forever was in a Marshalls parking lot with my mom. She could tell I was very upset but she did not know why but all of a sudden I just broke out into tears, those tears turned into heavy balling and shaking and I just felt all the bitterness and burdens just being let go as I sat in the parking lot laying down all the pain and hurt I felt. At that moment I laid out my options of transferring schools, being homeschooled or just going back to school but something in me was saying, “Alyvia it is ok to take a leap that is uncomfortable.” So even though I am one who hates change and loves being in control I looked at my mom and I said I feel like we need to move to South Carolina. My uncle and aunt and their five boys lived in Greenville, South Carolina so I knew there was going to be Chrisitan community there so my mom and I still in that Marshalls parking lot called my aunt and she explained to me all the peaceful opportunities that came within living in the south. It sounded perfect, but my mind was telling me “No you like where you are!” even though Jesus was screaming “GO YOU CAN DO IT HAVE FAITH MY CHILD.”
So my crazy family was willing to take this leap of faith with me and within three days of talking to my family and were called to move to South Carolina, we packed up two cars full of clothes and necessities and drove down to South Carolina to start our new life. So as we embarked on this journey, the one thing that I clung to was the verse Jerimiah 29:11; “For I know the plans declares the Lord plans to prosper and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.” He does know the plans for you, plans to prosper and not to harm.
I started my senior year in South Carolina at a brand new school and I saw His goodness. Jesus is so kind to us, He always wants the best for us. Sometimes, though, you have to give yourself a little push so the Lord can take you farther. I love relating this story to when Jesus was walking on water In Matthew 14:22-33: “Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” I love this story because during my time of trials I could have let my worries take over the plan of what I was going to do with my life but instead I looked towards Jesus and had to trust that His plan would be way better than mine could ever truly end up being.
So now as I am writing this in my apartment at Clemson University, I am so thankful that I trusted Him two years ago because it led me here. There are days when I want to follow my own plan and not trust His faithfulness but when I chose to truly stand firm on His foundation, I realized how much He loves His children. I see how good of a Father He is to always want the best plan for our lives. And even when we do not see Him moving and working, oh He sure is and what a blessing it is to see the fruit that has prospered from trusting in His timing and His plan.
“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the LORD, ‘My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.’” Psalm 91:1-2
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