What Doors Will You Open Or Close In 2017?

Faith

If you get to know me, you'll learn that I'm very shy at times and I do not like attention at all. If I'm being honest, I've never had a great deal of confidence, so I never really took any risks and I never did much speaking up for myself. My family is really important to me, so I attended college close to home.  After college, I didn't even use my degree (social work) for a couple of years; just worked in the office at a family owned business, helped coach at another family owned business, and was a nanny for a few little ones in the family. 

It was a few ladies, alongside my mother and aunt, who God used to begin pulling me out of my shell after they finally showed me the value of personal growth and development. That came by way of a network marketing company and product that I fell in love with. I guess I can say I was finally sick and tired of being sick and tired. Not only did I need the product, but I needed the people.

The last 18 months seems like a blur: engaged, married, moved to a new city, new church family, building a business from home, first position using degree, moved again, second position using degree, attending another new church, launched another business from home (and that's not all). I absolutely HATE speaking in front of people and I'm doing more of that than I ever thought I would. Sharing these thoughts in this blog post is even uncomfortable. Now, I'm working on a second degree. In short, I have a dream of loving women and children back to life (restoration/biblical counseling) who have been rescued from human-trafficking, particularly sex slavery.

I share all of that to share this... It wasn't until I began trusting that God had something special for me that I really began to embrace the relationships and experiences around me, and how He was using them to shape me. I began learning how to take responsibility for what God has already given me (time, talent, touch, treasure), and I stopped wishing upon on a shooting star and I started working on my dream. I'm starting to see that what's behind one door will likely prepare you for what's behind the next door. 

And as I grow, I'm learning that it's not always about what door God opens or closes next... Often, it's about deciding what doors you will open or close, under the inspiration and guidance of the Holy Spirit. It's really about finding out where God is at work and choosing to join Him. There's an unexplainable holy confidence that comes with working with God. That confidence has helped me close doors I didn't think I could close and open ones I didn't believe I could open. And the beautiful thing about being married to someone who believes what you believe is the confidence that comes in knowing you don't have to walk through the next door alone.

Like Jeremy always says: love you guys, let's grow.

​Jaala