Then I received a 30-day renewal reminder. I dug out the paperwork, filled out the application, had the required physical and had my son's clearances done.
Once I received his clearances, I could mail everything. The days slipped off the calendar at an alarming rate. I kept asking my son if he received the clearances in the mail.
"Nooo, Mooooom."
Moms of teenagers, I'm sure you can hear it in your head. Then he realized I wasn’t talking about something for college, but for my business. He had received it, but couldn’t find it in the abyss of his bedroom. He started cleaning right away, but I needed a miracle.
I prayed and asked my writing support team to pray.
I had 7 days. Without my renewed license, my business—our primary bread and butter at the time—would close. My stress level was through the roof.
Then, I came to the realization—would closing my business be so terrible? I could work part-time and write a lot more than I do now. God must have a reason for all of this, right?
Maybe I needed to understand He could be sending me down a new path. Maybe I needed to be better organized.
Maybe I simply needed to trust.
I surrendered my fears and anxiety to Him. Whatever happened, I would embrace and move forward.
I mailed what I had with a note explaining the duplicate clearances had been mailed. After receiving my application, my rep called to say she was giving me an extension since she knew the documents were on their way. When I received them, I needed to fax her a copy.
I received the clearances in record time, faxed and mailed copies, and received my new license by the original date. No extension needed.
Why? All because of God.
When I opened the envelope containing my license, I laughed.
Why did I doubt God?
He always answers our prayers, but sometimes we may not like hearing Him say no. No means change. No means pain. No means uncertainty for the future.
Jeremiah 29:11-13 promises "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."
What an incredible Life Compass. Even if we have change in our lives, we're not walking toward it alone.
Your turn: Share a time in your life where God provided or pulled you through a situation in a way only He could.
Lisa is celebrating Lakeside Family with a month-long party of giveaways, including Coffee Lovers and Tea Lovers baskets. For more details and to join her party, click here.
