When You Don't Get the Gold Medal

I started running a race years ago and I still don't have my gold medal...I got a boat load of other stuff though. I honestly don't know if I ever made a specific goal. I always followed the rules and lived peacefully among others so I could glorify God. I wanted everyone to get along and I wanted to help others whenever I could. When I imagined my life as an adult, by this point in my life I wanted to have a career, a social life, and a family. In reality, I've had a lot of random jobs, I guess I have a social life and I just started my family (it's my husband and me). I don't see my life as a "gold medal". I love my life; it's just not what I expected. Not only do I feel like I don't have the gold medal, I feel like I'm not even on the path that I started anymore. Which can get confusing. It's like if you prepare to go to Canada and end  up in Hawaii. That's my life; I planned to go to Canada but ended up in Hawaii, which is why I feel so bad complaining about it. So I talked to a colleague to figure out what direction I should go in, and I didn't get the response I expected.

My colleague shared Hebrews 11:6 with me where it says without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. I had read it before, but she added a footnote to it. She said, "...it may not be the reward you expect". That statement lines up with another one of my favorite scriptures: 1 Corinthians 2:9 “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him." So obviously, the reward that God has for me won't be something that I expect. Still not really helping.

The thing about life is there is no "right way" to do it, you just have to lie. Unfortunately I've reached a point in life where I'm scared to live. I worry about even the smallest decisions because I don't know how I ended up where I am. I don't know which straw was the one that broke that poor camel's back. I think I want to open a studio. Last year, I officially started a business ByJRochelle We provide video, graphics, and photography services. My goal right now is to save enough money to buy a building and equip i with everything I need for 2 fully-functioning video studios and 1 fully-functioning audio studio. Sounds pretty lofty, but I'm sure I an do it if I can just stop worrying about what didn't happen. Oh well...until next time

Jeniro is on the Go! Catch of with her @TheJRochelle

...Impossible to Please God

I met with my new mentor Ashlee today and she is just such an awesome woman of God. She shared some of her wisdom and experience with me. She also encouraged me and we closed out with a prayer. Our meeting can be summed up into a scripture that she shared with me:

Hebrews 11:6 ...without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

WITHOUT FAITH IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO PLEASE GOD

When you really believe that God is in control, it takes the pressure off and opens you to live in freedom. God has plans to give me a hope and a future, He knit me together in my mother's womb, and his purpose for my life is too big for me to mess up. I don't need to know exactly what I'm "supposed" to do I just have to believe God is who He says He is.


GOD REWARDS THOSE WHO DILIGENTLY SEEK HIM

I may not not get what I'm expecting, but I will be rewarded. My main concern has been that I've put so much work into honing my skills and serving others; I've been blessed tremendously but I don't have the advantages that the world values (i.e. money, high-powered position, etc...). That scripture, Ashlee's personal testimony, and the things that God has spoken to my heart really helped. Sometimes you just need someone to remind you whose you are and who you are.Ashlee recommended that I stay faithful and tell those around me that they need to, "back me up or back off". She also recommended that I become more aggressive with asking people for advice. Not only is it good to get another perspective (in life, in work, etc...) but it helps build relationships. Jesus said in Matthew 22:37-39, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.

So, in conclusion have faith and know that you'll get results. Build relationships along the way because really we're called to love God and love people. When you realize that you have no control, that an omnipresent omnicient omnipotent God has my life in His hands, and that the only thing that lasts is love, it takes the pressure off.

-- Jeniro is on the GO! Follow her @TheJRochelle

Background: I recently asked a friend to mentor me because honestly, I got to a point in life where I gave up; for years I worked hard in all areas of my life but my dreams remained deferred so I figured that there was no point to all my work.