Bloom where you're planted

When I was about 9 years old, my parents decided we were moving to the Midwest. I was pretty upset about this, but  I remember my mom found this article titled "bloom where you're planted". I can't remember the details now, but I remember being pretty moved by it. Basically this idea of letting God use you wherever you are.

When I was finishing up 7th grade, we moved again (back to the south!). Again, I wasn't happy about moving and leaving my friends. But God sure had some surprises in store for me. From meeting one if my my dearest friends in 8th grade, to all the opportunities and friendships I had in academy, to the awesome experiences I had in college; all huge blessings from God. 

When I was 20, God called me to serve him in El Salvador. The night before I left was one of the scariest moments of my life. I told God that I just couldn't do it. But He helped me and worked through me and blessed me beyond measure. When God let me know it was time to come back to the states, I have to admit there was a little kicking and screaming on my part. Noticing a pattern here?

Last year I decided it was time to return to overseas work. It didn't work out. I was pretty upset. But I grew a lot in that time, and turns out God had much greater blessings in store. 

A few months ago I decided again that it was time for me to go out. I had been wrestling back and forth with the idea for months. But again, it hasn't worked out, and I've been struggling to figure out what God wants me to do. For the moment anyway, I think I've decided that it's time to learn to bloom where God has planted me. I often feel like I'm in one of the hardest times of my life, but I can also say without a doubt it's  a time most filled with blessings and joys. God is so good to me, way better than I deserve, certainly. His love and care overwhelms me.

  I still feel restless sometimes, and I'm still not sure what I'm going to end up doing, but as I look back over my life, I see plentiful evidence that God has never left me. He has been working out His plan all along, though I'm often oblivious to it.

So I'm still trying to trust, working on focusing on my blessings, and walking by faith day by day. I want to allow God to use me, right where I am, right where He's put me. And I want to praise Him for giving me everything I need to do that.