Today, I went to my first women’s Bible study class at my church here in Nashville. I have been a member of this particular church for almost 10 years and have participated in small groups, young adult groups, children’s ministry, etc. But I’ve always hesitated to join a women’s Bible study group. I think it’s because most, if not all, of the women my age in these groups are married and have children. And it has always bothered me to see these women at a place in their lives where I desire to be, a place to which God has not yet brought me. I always thought I would feel uncomfortable with the conversations regarding diapers, potty training, preschools, and so on; I thought I would be envious of what these women have that I do not have. So, hesitantly, I showed up at the 10AM class today, knowing that I would be the only person there at that hour who wasn’t a stay-at-home mom, the only person who just decided to quit her job and begin a sabbatical because God was calling her to do it. And I was reminded once again, when God calls us to do something, He completely provides for us and blesses us each step of the way.
Can I say that I was 100% comfortable today and that it was the best thing ever being the only single person in the group? Nope. However, I can say that God is bigger than all of my anxieties, my insecurities, and my hesitations. When we obey God’s calling to get out of our comfort zone, He can really work in our lives. Those women accepted me and totally celebrated the fact that I was able to be there with them in the middle of the day. I felt so encouraged and loved by them. I realized that regardless of marital status and mommy status, we all have similar struggles as women, and we all need a community to pray for us and encourage us, and that, of course, we all worship the same loving God. Those similarities are enough to overcome our differences.
Oh, and regarding God showing up and reminding me that I was exactly where I was supposed to be this morning. Each of us had to select a piece of paper with a question from a bag and then introduce ourselves while we answered the question. My question was: “What is your dream job?” Okay God, I hear ya. I was able to share my story about my sabbatical and then share my dream job. It was the first time that God basically asked me to have the courage to admit to a roomful of people (and now an internet full of people) that my dream job is to be a writer. Or more accurately, that God created me to be (and thus I am) a writer, and I need to get to it!
I praise God that he brought me to this place, a place where I am free to attend a Bible study at 10AM with no work (or family) commitments hanging over my head, a place where He keeps encouraging me to dream big and seek His purpose for my life, a place where I’m finally content – for once – to be just where He wants me to be.
P.S. God uses a lot of people to get us to the place He wants us, and I cannot end this post without giving props to Annie Downs, a gifted writer, who was willing to be used by God in my life this week in a major way.
Allison K. Flexer, Author 