Hi ThereFirst name / friend,
Merry Christmas and Happy almost New Year! This year has taught me a lot about trusting God with hopes and goals, and submitting to His ultimate, perfect will.
It's easy to compare our circumstances and hardships to one another's to soften our blows, but in all reality, it's ourselves and the Gospel that we should hold the mirror up to. Only we can compare our hardships to hardships past, and ultimately Jesus to see where we're falling short (or even ahead).
If this year taught me anything, it's how easy it is to lose sight of what's important, what's true, what's pure and God's way. It's so feasible to live under the false spotlight of culture and what's trendy, versus the true lamp lighting the narrow path to the eternal kingdom.
Being off social media has allowed to me withdraw, re-access, and refocus. I want to focus on exalting Jesus in everything I do. I want to withdraw into the practice of silence and solitude to hear God's voice through His living Word. I want to re-access my choices to make sure I'm submitting my daily plans to God, to affirm I'm on His track.
I almost capped out this year feeling afraid of setting goals again. I'm very goal oriented, and when life doesn't go according to plan, or goals aren't met (over and over and over) it feels very defeating.
It only took me until this exact moment to realize I'm functioning out of fear to say that.
Proverbs 16:9 says this:
“In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.”
I'm allowed to dream, plan, and orchestrate. However the glory belongs to God how those things are set in motion. It's not bad to make a decision one way or another if it's not one that leads to sin or away from God. However, I can trust that God knows what's best for me, when it's best for me, and His Will will always come through.
That plan is good enough for me to hold onto, and with God's creativity, I dare to be bold enough to dream big.
I came across this blog piece written by, "Blessed Is She," and found it to be really encouraging! I hope you'll make space today to read it and feel uplifted. 
