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At the beginning of the year I prayed over and picked one word to focus on for the entire year. It is a concept based off the book, My One Word by Mike Ashcraft.
Unlike New Year’s Resolutions, my word can morph and grow with me into new situations throughout the year. This year I have seen one word morph more times than I could have ever imagined in January–and it is only August.
My word this year is WHATEVER.
I’ve blogged about my word several times before but it has been a couple months. As I enter a new season of whatever, once again my word is taking on a new meaning and morphing into a different picture.
[Tweet “There is something freeing about telling #God, “Whatever.””]
As a person, I want to dictate my life. I want to control aspects and design what the outcome will be. Often I cannot see the exact outcome but I dream of what the best option is and I strive for that.
In the past when I’ve tried to maintain that control it has been very stressful. It is not easy to walk into the unknown–let alone walk with grace and peace.
Last Spring I struggled walking in the unknown. It is a beautiful story of a step of faith that you can read here: Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3.
As The Husband switched careers, I wanted to control things but I couldn’t. I stressed as I tried to imagine life without a paycheck. I stressed as I worried about what was to come. I stressed as I wondered what was in our future. I stressed as each self-made deadline came and went. I agonized about when God was going to answer our prayers.
I was certain He would, but I wanted an answer soon.
And I learned something:
God simply doesn’t work that way. The wonderful thing about our journey last spring is that God was always there, moving pieces into place behind the scenes to take care of us exactly when we needed it.
At the exact moment we took a step of faith, God provided a step. He gave us a landing zone, and waited for us to be ready to move again.
[Tweet “”Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase.” Martin Luther King Jr.”]
This week I’m stepping onto a new stair also marked Whatever. This is the girls’ 6th year attending an online charter school. I still feel strongly that it is the right school of choice for our family.
But something is different about school this year. Miss Crafty has moved from an elementary student to a middle school student. Like in many schools, there are lots of differences between elementary and middle school.
It has made a huge impact on our family this week. She works fairly independent but there are several things I cannot do while she is trying to do school work. Her classes take longer now, and therefore my schedule has to adjust.
The Inventor struggled in school last year. She wasn’t a failing student by far, but I could tell she was struggling. I am trying to focus on her and intently provide more help with her classes.
Spending extra time with the girls is something I planed on, but I didn’t realize what all was involved. I don’t have nearly the time to do other things as I thought I would.
I am adjusting and adapting. I’m finding new and creative ways to keep the house picked up, dinner cooked, and squeeze in a little personal time for myself.
Next week The Husband starts his trade school. It is 3 hours on Monday evenings which means he won’t get home for the day until almost 10 PM.
In addition to class, he also has an online class to complete and homework. Neither of us know what all that is going to involve. We are once again stepping out into the unknown on faith.
computerkugel / Pixabay
This time is different than it was 4 months ago. We are still going through major family transitions. Time together is slipping away. Roles within the family are being redefined. What my days and weeks look like are completely unknown. I cannot plan for this.
It is different because of what we went through 4 months ago. I have a new perspective and a recent reminder that God does provide when you have a need. It is not going to be easy for the next four years.
But I have faith that God will take care of us and provide for us whenever we have a need.
God will not provide it on my time, but in His perfect time.
This time I am giving God 100% of my whatever. I don’t have any expectations of how it should turn out. I have no plans as to what our lives will look like in 6 months or even years from now.
I know God is taking care of all those plans and this time, I’m letting him figure out all the details.
There is something freeing about telling God, “Whatever.” It gives me the freedom to live my daily life, taking care of the daily things without having to worry about what is to come.
As I wake up each day, I am trying to remember:
[Tweet “God has my best interest at heart, and He is taking care of all the details.”]
~Crystal
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Living In Green Grass 
Aug 28, 2014 @ 17:52:47
I love this – and how I struggle with this very thing. I want to see the entire staircase before I take a step. I long to live in a state of constant “whatever” but I’m learning it’s not a linear walk with my Lord. I take steps back and He’s always there to guide me forward again. Enjoyed your post!
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Sep 05, 2014 @ 08:04:58
Glad you liked it Melody. It is hard to take that step of faith. Many people say to do it but when you’re feet are stuck to the ground, it is very difficult to move. Keep walking and stepping, even if it is only by a centimeter at a time. Thanks for stopping by!
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Aug 29, 2014 @ 08:42:37
So appreciate these thoughts. The unknown used to hold an element of adventure that got me excited. Now with a family and more responsibility, I feel more weight with the unknown. But I put it on myself, and God is still on His throne and can be trusted with all of my whatever. Whatever He wants is still good enough, and more than enough. Again, thank you 🙂
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Sep 05, 2014 @ 08:06:29
You’re welcome Trina. Like you, the more responsibilities I had, the less I liked the unknown. I’m learning to let all that go and simply let God direct. As I do that, I’m seeing that it is more beautiful that what I could ever have imagined. It is a hard and long process, and one I’ll probably never be fully comfortable with. Thanks for stopping by!
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Aug 29, 2014 @ 08:48:44
i can relate to this. the unknown can be scary but when we focus on Jesus and trust Him, things work out great. thanks for sharing.
stopping by from the faith and fellowship blog hop.
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Sep 05, 2014 @ 08:07:46
It is scary and something that I’m still not fully comfortable with. I’m learning and growing. You’re welcome and thanks for stopping by from the faith and fellowship blog hop Gen.
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Aug 29, 2014 @ 10:18:19
Great post. I love your word for the year. I would have never come up with that. I also enjoyed the quotes in your post. Thanks for sharing. We are right there in that whatever…God wants to do place.
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Sep 05, 2014 @ 08:09:42
Ginger, picking a word is a process of prayer for me. I never would have picked it on my own, if you know what I mean. Even when I picked the word, I thought it applied to my health because I was having some major issues with that in January. I now see that it was something God led me to as a way to help me cope with all of the change and stress that we’ve had to face over these past 8 months. Thanks for taking the time to stop by, read, and comment!
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Aug 29, 2014 @ 11:57:42
I can really relate. It’s hard when your in the middle of the mess trying to trust that God is going to provide all that you need. That is something that I am working on right now. I know that he will come through, he always does. I just need to remember what he has done for me in the past and have faith that everything will work out for the better.
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Sep 05, 2014 @ 08:17:30
It is very hard Hillary. We want to know and we want to plan. To allow major life changes without knowing the end is one of the most difficult things I’ve ever done.
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Aug 29, 2014 @ 12:01:19
“Waited for us to be ready to move again…”
I often think God waits for me to be content in a current situation before he changes things on me. He works on and changes me before He even thinks about changing my circumstances. At least that’s how I see it…God’s ways are soo not my ways. Praise the Lord for that!
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Sep 05, 2014 @ 08:19:50
I think that does happen sometimes too Heather. That God waits for us to be ready to move before bringing on change. That in itself can be comforting as well. And thank God that He knows all and knows what is best for us. If things had gone as I’d planned, I’d be living on the other side of the country, single, and a professional classical musician. I can’t imagine living that life. This one is so much richer.
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Aug 29, 2014 @ 12:34:13
I love your calling to answer God with “Whatever.” He is so mighty and will use your life in amazing ways since you’re surrendering it to Him. This certainly challenges me to do the same. Thanks for linking up with the Faith and Fellowship blog hop!
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Sep 05, 2014 @ 08:21:16
My whatever has certainly been a challenge for me this year. It is a huge step of faith. Thanks for hosting the blog hop and stopping by Susannah.
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Aug 29, 2014 @ 16:31:55
I feel like this is the sort of lesson we all learn, and learn again over the course of life. We do like have some control and know what’s going to happen when–but learning to be okay with trusting God’s control is so needed!
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Sep 05, 2014 @ 08:23:09
I agree Rachel. It is a lesson that is learned through life. Sometimes it has to be relearned, sometimes just applied to different situations. Thanks for stopping by and taking the time to comment!
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Aug 29, 2014 @ 17:47:03
It sounds like God is increasing your faith daily, Crystal! Having just read Hinds Feet in High Places, I name you Acceptance-with-Joy! It’s interesting too, the post I have scheduled for tomorrow is about believing God is always choosing what is best for us. Have a blessed holiday weekend!
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Sep 05, 2014 @ 08:24:09
I haven’t heard of that book before. I will check it out. God does choose what is best for us, sometimes it is whether we accept that or not because it isn’t always the easiest road. Thanks for stopping by!
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