God Deliver's On His Promises- A blog from Emily

God is Good. He has been teaching me so much lately. I am reminded that we serve

an infinite God, which means there is always MORE OF HIM to be had. I am not one

who frequently “hears the voice of God”. But recently, in the midst of a challenging

time, he spoke clearly to me. So I am writing this so not to forget and maybe to

encourage those who come across this blog.

The last few months have been a whirlwind. They have challenged me beyond belief

yet within the challenges I have seen God and heard God more clearly than I have in

a very long time.

To back-track a little: What happened in the last few months is the product of 10

years of prayer, sacrifice and trust. 10 years ago, I graduated high school with the

calling to go into the healthcare field. I enrolled at Bethel University with hopes of

making it into their small nursing program, becoming a RN and eventually and

ultimately a Nurse Practitioner.

The last 3 years worked my butt off to balance graduate school while working as a

ER nurse. In addition, a year ago, my favorite miracle entered the world and God

taught me how to re-prioritize. I studied less, let go of some worry, and believe it or

not- ended up getting the best grades of my life! Guess I needed a lesson on

BALANCE in a big way... (an Evan-sized lesson!)

The last few months—I started to fall apart. 10 years in the making, I had finally

gradated as a nurse practitioner but stood before one big hurdle. My national board

exam. I was flooded with fear, doubt, anxiety. I gave myself one month to study

because we had this crazy, awesome opportunity to go to South Africa that I could

never have passed up. With one month to study for an exam that felt like would

dictate my future I imaged all the worst-case scenarios and was overtaken by fear. I

prayed that God would give me peace but it didn’t come easy. I tried to stay positive.

I poured myself into studying. Jon was traveling most of the month so I would study

as soon as Evan went down for nap or bed and some days bring him to my mom’s

house so I could study all day. Working? Cleaning? Cooking? Showering? Haha…they

were all put on the back burner. All I could focus on was passing this test. But the

more I poured myself into studying the more fear, doubt and anxiety was produced.

Finally, a few days before my test I went for a run and desperately prayed that God

would give me peace. And this is what he told me:

“Emily, you are a CHILD OF GOD. Fear, doubt, and anxiety have no place in your life.

YOU ARE A CHILD OF GOD and I am a God who delivers my people. I have shown you

this over and over again, in your own life and in the Bible. I didn’t open the Red Sea, let

my people get halfway through and then drown them, did I? NO, I let them walk ALL

THE WAY THROUGH. I didn’t tell my people to march around the walls of Jericho for

days and days only to make them look stupid and cause them to fail. No, I MADE THE

WALLS FALL DOWN. BECAUSE I AM A GOD WHO DELIVERS MY PEOPLE. I always

FINISH what I start.”

WOW. Who can argue with those words? I was flooded with peace and confidence. I

have to be completely honest and say I did still feel anxious during my test. I had to

stop and pause and pray several times throughout. And when I submitted it my

heart pounded like mad. But here’s the thing: I DID and I DO trust that God delivers

his people and no matter the result of my test—He is sovereign and he finishes what

he starts—HE DELIVERS HIS PEOPLE.

It’s such a great promise. I look back at the last 10 years in praise and awe. I also

look forward to all that will happen in the next 10 years. I am going from “expert

nurse” to “novice nurse practitioner”. I am still learning how to be a good mom, wife,

daughter and friend. I still have bigger hopes and dreams. I am still needed more of

God and less of myself. Yes, indeed the next 10 years will be equally as challenging

as the last; but God reminds me that if He didn’t challenge us then we would forget

to lean on Him. And isn’t that the truth?

Be encouraged friends. Wherever you are in life- remember you have access to a

God that delivers his people. It’s really like the best thing ever <3

Oh, and PS: I passed!